Rochdale Hornets News

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The players are back in training and the mood in the camp is better than ever before, according to Hornets head coach Ian Talbot.

“Everyone has reported back in reasonable shape and the feeling in the camp is good,” commented Talbot.

“I’ve changed the way we do things slightly this year- I am less reliant on testing and doing more work on shape and skills than in previous years. My contact time is limited with the team so we want to start work with ball in and as soon as possible.

“The new lads have fitted in well and there is a good, different mood around the place.”

Talbot's squad has been boosted by the early arrival of oversees recruit Dean Mignacca, who arrived in the UK on Thursday and trained with the squad on Saturday.

“Dean has arrived in very, very good shape. He is into his fitness and was working at a gym in Oz so is in very good nick. He seems to have settled well so far- he has a good energy and will add competition for the hooking role,” added Talbot.

Hornets have finalised pre-season plans, but there is some fluidity expected.

“We have a friendly with St Helen's planned at Langtree on 1 February and then we will play Hunslet Hawks for the Supporters Direct Shield at Spotland on 8 February. The game with Thatto is due to take place on 15 February at Spotland, but we may need to look at that nearer the time due to Challenge Cup commitments of the amateurs,” commented CEO Ryan Bradley.

“We got offered a chance to take part in the Swinton Lions Festive Nines as well, which is a great concept from John Duffy, but we are travelling for a training weekend away with the Navy in Portsmouth on 16 January so couldn’t really fit it in.

“We passed the invitation on to the Rochdale and District Town Team and Fiji UK, and we will support them in putting teams out,” added Bradley.

The draw for the first round of the League One Cup will take place in Coventry on Friday evening.

Hornets sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant

Rochdale Hornets have formalised their links with the Armed Forces and have been signed a Corporate Covenant Pledge.

The pledge the club has made is to honour the armed forces covenant and support the armed forces community, including all serving personnel, whether regular or reservists, veterans and military families who all contribute massively towards our society.

The club will continue to offer all veterans and serving personnel a concessionary ticket rate to Spotland Stadium and will work more closely with the armed forces community to further develop the club and the borough of Rochdale’s link with the armed forces.

Christmas stock due soon

With Christmas just around the corner Rochdale Hornets are stocking up on new 'Here Since 1871' and 'Sting 'Em Hornets' merchandise, providing perfect gifts for every Hornets fan.

The range will feature woolly hats, snapback baseball hats, hoodies and 'college' style jackets in the traditional red/blue Hornets colours as well as green- the new chosen away colour- and pink.

Some smaller items such as pens, mugs and the likes will also be stocked alongside the Kooga clearance range.

Season tickets are also on sale at the Early Bird Rate until Christmas closing and commemorative Heritage Festival Merchandise, featuring the four Hornets players who were killed in action during the First World War.

You can also pre-order your 2015 home and away replica shirts and receive a gift voucher if you wanted to buy as a present.