For years, James Leary has led from the front, put his body on the line week in, week out, and set the standard for everyone who has pulled on the Bangor shirt. A captain, a teammate, and one of our own.

As he hands over the captaincy, we’d like to thank him for everything he’s given to Bangor RFC. The armband may be changing hands, but his influence on this squad certainly won’t.

Our Chairman of rugby, Matt Nesbitt, wanted to share a few words…

“As we move into the 2026/27 season, we would like to place on record our sincere thanks to James Leary for his outstanding leadership over the past number of seasons. Through some challenging years for the club, James’ commitment, loyalty and professionalism have never wavered. You could count the matches he has missed on one hand, and whether it was leading from the front at prop, putting in the hard yards at training, or sharing a beer with teammates after the final whistle, he has embodied everything Bangor Rugby stands for. As James steps down to spend more time with his young son Arthur, we know he will continue to be a key figure within our 1st XV and a huge source of support for the new captain. On behalf of everyone at Bangor Rugby Club, thank you, James, for your exceptional service and leadership.

Cheers for everything, Leary. You’ve been brilliant!