OLDHAM will resume their rivalry with Rochdale Hornets in 2025 after confirming the return of the annual Law Cup as part of the club’s championship preparations, writes Kasey Smith.

The tie will be played at Boundary Park for the first time in over 20 years as Roughyeds look to maintain their grip on the trophy.

The annual pre-season fixture will be in its 71st instalment when the two sides meet on January 12 for the competition which dates back to 1921.

Last year’s top try scorer Cian Tyrer, who spent three seasons at Rochdale, is hoping to experience the competition for the first time.

“I’m buzzing for it,” said the 23-year-old winger.

“Rochdale did well last year and got a bit unlucky towards the end with a few injuries.

“I still have a few mates over there so I’m looking forward to playing against them.”

He added: “It’s always a big game with two rival towns right next to each other facing off and it’s always aggressive when you play in one of the games.”

With the game to be played on Oldham’s £1m hybrid pitch, both sides hope the game will not suffer the same fate as last year’s which was cancelled due to a frozen pitch at the Crown Oil Arena.

Roughyeds are the current holders of the trophy having staged a late comeback, scoring two tries in the last five minutes in an 18-14 win back in 2023.

It will be a completely different Oldham side which takes to the field next year, with each player that featured in Oldham’s 46th Law Cup win no longer at the club.

That means there will be a new name on the Heritage Trust Trophy – the award given to Oldham’s man-of-the-match – which has been tradition since that last game at Boundary Park in 2004 where Ian Watson, the former Salford and Huddersfield head coach, was named the first recipient of the trophy.

Tickets for the game are priced at £12 for adults and free for under-16s. To purchase visit roughyeds.co.uk