Game Preview: v Black Country Steelers
Sun Jul 26 2026
Yorkshire Rams vs Black Country Steelers
2 August 2026, 2:00pm
West Leeds RUFC, Leeds
Latest results:
- 5 July 2026: Yorkshire Rams 7-27 Newcastle Vikings
One To Watch
#5 Jonny Gritt
The Rams' most impactful defensive player of the 2026 season, Jonny Gritt has been a disruptive force at linebacker across all eight regular-season fixtures. Named Defensive MVP in the opening road trip to Newcastle and Ram of the Day in the return fixture at West Leeds, Gritt has delivered in the biggest games on the schedule.
His defining moment came against the Vikings in the final regular-season game, when Newcastle running back Eden Harrison hurdled a defender and broke into the open field for what looked a certain score. Gritt chased him down from behind in a full-field sprint and punched the ball loose, recovering the fumble himself to deny the touchdown. It was the kind of effort that turns games — and the kind the Rams will need in the post-season.
With interceptions against Chester Romans and Sheffield Giants also on his 2026 résumé, Gritt will be central to the Rams' defensive game plan as they face a Steelers offence that put up 281 points across the NFC 1 Midlands regular season.
Previous meetings:
These two sides have never met in a competitive fixture. The Black Country Steelers — formerly known as the Sandwell Steelers until their rebrand ahead of the 2026 season — have spent their history in the Midlands divisions, while the Rams have been a fixture in the North. The NFC Division 1 Playoffs bring them together for the first time.
Summary
The Rams begin their 2026 post-season campaign at West Leeds RUFC on Saturday 2 August, hosting the Black Country Steelers in the NFC Division 1 Wildcard Round. It is the first ever meeting between the two clubs, and the stakes could not be higher: the winner advances to the semi-finals, and the loser’s season is over.
Yorkshire head into the playoffs as NFC 1 North runners-up after finishing the regular season with a 6-2 record, scoring 288 points and conceding just 57. Five shutouts across the campaign underline the quality of the Rams’ defence, even if the 27-7 home defeat to the unbeaten Newcastle Vikings in the final game served as a reminder of the level required to compete at the top. The Rams will be eager to put that result behind them and channel the intensity of their earlier form into a knockout fixture.
The Steelers arrive from the NFC 1 Midlands with a 6-2 record, having scored 281 points and conceded 154. Formerly known as the Sandwell Steelers, the club rebranded ahead of this season and have backed up the new identity with a strong campaign, finishing second in their division behind the Leicester Falcons. Their offence has averaged over 35 points per game, making them one of the most potent attacks in NFC Division 1 outside of the top seeds.
With no head-to-head history to draw on, this fixture carries an added layer of uncertainty. Neither coaching staff will have tape of previous meetings to study, and the Rams will be relying on their own preparation and the home advantage at West Leeds to carry them through. If the defensive intensity that defined the regular season shows up on the day, the Rams will fancy their chances of booking a semi-final date with the Newcastle Vikings.