Rotherham Titans to play in special shirts to mark centenary

The design, light blue at the top and bottom with a thick brown band in between, were sported in Rotherham Rugby Club’s inaugural fixture against Dewsbury on October 13, 1923.

A limited number have been made for Saturday’s match against Fylde at Clifton Lane, which is the nearest home fixture to the landmark date.

Numbers 1-15 have already been auctioned for the successful bidders to collect, “game worn,” after the final whistle on Saturday.

Numbers 16-20, covering the replacements’ bench, will be available via a raffle on the day of the match.

Rotherham lost that very first game to Dewsbury 9-6 but a week later 2,000 curious spectators turned up at Herringthorpe to see them take on The Bohemians, from Leeds.

The home team scored a last-minute try to draw 3-3.

On Saturday, Titans will be chasing a sixth straight win in National Two North against Fylde, who finished runners-up last season.

"There are lots of people coming along and we are expecting a really good game,” said commercial director John Whaling.

Kick-off is 2pm.

A book, When Men Became Titans – Celebrating 100 Years of Rotherham Rugby Club, is available from the club shop at Clifton Lane for £14.99 (softback), £45 (hardback).

Titans: page 53