Castec Rural Pioneers Set for Round 1 Road Double-Header

The Castec Rural Pioneers will begin their 2026 NBL1 South season with a Round 1 double-header on the road, taking on the Ringwood Hawks on Saturday before facing the Melbourne Tigers on Sunday.

The opening weekend provides a strong early test for the group, with back-to-back games set to challenge both the squad’s depth and ability to execute under pressure.

It has been a challenging preseason for the Castec Rural Pioneers as we have battled injury availability and player movement across our three preseason weekends. Leading into Round 1 it will provide opportunity to step up in NBL1 competition.

The Pioneers tip-off their season against Ringwood on Saturday, with the Hawks traditionally proving a tough opponent on their home floor.

Head Coach Peter Godfrey will make his debut as a Pioneers head coach and will be looking to build on combinations and providing opportunities across both the core group and our extended roster.

Jon Lawton & Tom Carrol return for the Hawks whilst adding Kilsyth junior Mitch Dielemans who adds additional depth to their roster in the guard spot.

Further to the above Ringwood have added Junior Garbrah who steps up from the Wyndahm Devils in the Big V competition along with Christian Brandon who played with South Adelaide in the NBL1 Central Conference in 2025.

The Pioneers will then travel to face Melbourne on Sunday, completing a demanding double-header to open the season.

The quick turnaround will test the group’s conditioning and adaptability, with strong contributions across the roster expected to play a key role.

Melbourne’s experience and depth make them a valuable early-season opponent, providing another opportunity for the Pioneers to measure themselves against quality competition.

After an appearance in last years NBL1 South Grand Final the Melbourne Tigers return with a star-studded line up including last years NBL1 South MVP Tom Wilson and sharpshooter Jack Purchase.

The Tigers have also added experienced big man Josh Sykes who will give the Pioneers bigs some challenges in the key.

Ringwood Hawks vs Castec Rural Pioneers

Melbourne Tigers vs Castec Rural Pioneers