[citation needed] Despite making a number of appearances in the Super League, Royle returned to rugby union for the 2005-06 season and was signed by Premiership side Sale Sharks, who loaned him out to local Lancashire side, Fylde, who were playing in the fourth division.
In September 2007 Royle's form saw him picked by the England Counties XV for the FIRA/AER Rugby Festival held in south-west France.
[8][9][10] Royle was also involved with the Lancashire country side that won the Bill Beaumont Cup in the summer of 2009 - scoring a try in the 32 - 18 win against Gloucestershire at the final at Twickenham.
[11][12][13][14] A second county championship win with Lancashire would be repeated in the 2010 Bill Beaumont Cup, as Royle played in the 37-27 victory over Cheshire.
[15] He would also be picked by England Counties XV for their 2009 tour of South Korea and Japan - playing all 3 games and scoring 2 tries.
[22][23] While at Vale of Lune, Royle was also called up to the Lancashire county rugby side, with whom he helped win the 2013 Bill Beaumont Cup (his third successive cup victory for his county), scoring 2 tries as Lancashire defeated Cornwall at the final held at Twickenham, and finishing the tournaments top try scorer with 5.