National Leagues

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s National Leagues news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

Canterbury blow Colchester away

8 September 2024 0 comments

Canterbury…………..53 Colchester………….. 13 ■ By TAFF GWILLIAM CANTERBURY were in red-hot form on the opening day of the campaign, clocking up seven tries as they […]

Barnes treble helps TJs to dominate Dorking

8 September 2024 0 comments

Tonbridge J….. 45pts Dorking…………… 31pts ■ By GARETH WITHERS All action: Dorking on the attack and, right, Tonbridge take the battle to Dorking PICTURES: Adam […]

Star man Carr drives Havant to a super opener

8 September 2024 0 comments

Havant………………….25 Sevenoaks………….. 15 ■ By PETE MAYHEAD AFTER 15 years away, Havant roared back into the national leagues with a hard-fought victory, led by Harry […]

It’s no stroll in the Park for Combe

8 September 2024 0 comments

Westcombe P………29 Bury St Ed’s………….24 ■ By JOHN VALLELY COMBE were involved in another high-scoring encounter to start the 24/25 season, edging the win, despite […]

Hawks hang on to deny the hosts

8 September 2024 0 comments

Old Albanian……….. 21 Henley Hawks…….22 ■ By RICHARD HOMER HENLEY came out the right side of a tense one-point affair. The Hawks were first on […]

Shanahan: We need to create fear factor

1 September 2024 0 comments

National League 1 Preview By Ben Jaycock National One gets underway next weekend and supporters will expect another enthralling campaign with jeopardy throughout. Chinnor hoisted […]

Tykes out to get it right this time

1 September 2024 0 comments

National 2 North BY BEN JAYCOCK LEEDS Tykes are embracing their big club mentality and heavy favourites tag ahead of the new season getting underway […]

Rosslyn Park show Barnes how it’s done

25 August 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock National One Rosslyn Park illustrated their league superiority by dispatching their London rivals Barnes 52-12. Park took the lead after just two […]

National League One sides show superiority in pre-season games

18 August 2024 0 comments

Newly promoted Rotherham Titans proved they are a force to be reckoned with this season with a dominant win over Leeds Tykes.

Alex Lozowski, John Gallagher open rugby academy in Canterbury

18 August 2024 0 comments

Saracens centre Alex Lowzoski and ex-All Black John Gallagher will help launch an ambitious new rugby academy at Canterbury Rugby Club.

Pre-season: Premiership, Championship, National League fixtures

18 August 2024 0 comments

A pre-season fixture list involving teams from the Premiership, Championship, National Leagues, and Regional Leagues.

Holden keen to learn the McGeechan way

21 July 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Maliq Holden admits he couldn’t have asked for a better role model to learn from than Sir Ian McGeechan after landing his […]

Macclesfield ready for the long haul…

21 July 2024 0 comments

Q&A Ben Jaycock talks to new Macclesfield director of rugby Matt Coleridge, bottom, about the challenges his newly promoted side will face after being shifted […]

It’s a lot of work but we’ll be ready in time

14 July 2024 0 comments

Q&A Ben Jaycock talks to newly promoted Havant’s head coach Will Knight ahead of their National 2 East campaign How are preparations going for next […]

Steadman joins York

9 June 2024 0 comments

York RUFC have appointed former Great Britain rugby league star Graham Steadman as head coach. Steadman will replace long-term head coach Lee Denham at the […]

Northey leaving Liverpool

2 June 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Liverpool St Helens are on the lookout for a new head coach after Andy Northey’s decision to step down from the role […]

Stupple glad to be heading back to where he belongs

2 June 2024 0 comments

By MARK SMITH Herbie Stupple says he is ‘excited’ at the prospect of returning back to Plymouth Albion next season. The back row brought to […]

Find a style of play you believe in

2 June 2024 0 comments

Steve Hill talks to Peter Evans, below, the player/head coach at Billingham RFC who have just finished their first season at Level 4 Why did […]

Too many law changes-just let players play

26 May 2024 0 comments

Steve Hill puts the questions to James Shanahan, the head coach of Blackheath RFC and Cambridge University Why did you get into coaching rugby and […]

Camborne make impact but top two dominate final line-up

26 May 2024 1 comment

NATIONAL 2 WEST DREAM TEAM >> THE BEST XV FROM 2023-24 AS VOTED FOR BY OUR REPORTERS After Dings Crusaders’ National Two West title success, […]

Top three dominate but real gems to be found across entire league

19 May 2024 0 comments

THE BEST XV FROM 2023-24 AS VOTED FOR BY OUR REPORTERS Following Esher’s National Two East title success, Ben Jaycock canvassed the views of our […]

Southend’s Twickenham memories will last a lifetime

19 May 2024 0 comments

By CHRIS PHILLIPS A resurgent Southend Saxons are celebrating a superb league and cup double following their first ever Twickenham triumph. Southend were crowned Regional […]

Stevens steps up to take lead at St Ives

19 May 2024 0 comments

Former Leicester Tigers and London Irish hooker Jimmy Stevens is the new director of rugby at St Ives, his Cornwall home-town club. He has stepped […]

Dream Team with Alex Loney

12 May 2024 0 comments

The former Leicester, Nottingham, Avignon, Rotherham and Fylde hooker, now head coach of Fylde & Lancashire, chooses the best XV he has played with or […]

Northampton swoop to sign England U20s fly-half

12 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Northampton have signed England U20s fly-half George Makepeace-Cubitt. Having endured the hardship of London Irish folding, the tyro playmaker showed grit and […]

Imbalance of northern sides may push up travel costs

12 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK DESPITE his side being shifted back to National Two North, Chester fourth official Martin Buck said it doesn’t solve the bigger problem […]

Titans time their run to perfection and finish with the lion’s share

12 May 2024 0 comments

Following Rotherham’s late run to secure the National Two North title, Ben Jaycock canvassed the views of our reporters to select The Rugby Paper’s Team […]

Essex facing tough start to county champs

12 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK At the end of last season, Essex were promoted to Division 2 but faced a daunting start to this season’s Bill Beaumont […]

I’d love to coach at top level, says Biljon

5 May 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE It is one of rugby’s cruel ironies that Harvey Biljon, who has transformed the careers of so many players, is still waiting […]

With selection, you can’t keep every player happy

5 May 2024 0 comments

Steve Hill puts the questions to Chris Wilkins, below, the head coach at Esher, champions of National Two East Why did you get into coaching […]

Delighted to see Titans stand tall

5 May 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER There are some teams you grow particularly attached to over the decades […]

Chinnor and Rams dominate in toughest league in the country

5 May 2024 0 comments

The best XV from 2023/24 as voted for by our correspondents Following Chinnor’s run to secure the National One title, Ben Jaycock canvassed the views […]

Brooks and Hill link up to work at Wimbledon

5 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK New Wimbledon head coach James Brooks is excited to work with experienced director of rugby Steve Hill again as the pair attempt […]

I want to get the best out of every individual

28 April 2024 0 comments

COACH TO COACH Former Richmond director of rugby Steve Hill puts the questions to Scott Barrow, the head coach at Sedgley Park Tigers Why did you get […]

Redruth hopeful they can build on young talent

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Redruth director of rugby Nigel Hambly questioned if he was taking a school register rather than leading a bus trip to a […]

Moseley exorcise demons of last weekend

28 April 2024 0 comments

By JON MEADOWS B Moseley …….39 Rams …………….. 31 AFTER a heavy home defeat to the champions last time out, Moseley could be forgiven if […]

Sinclair stands tall for Titans in classic

28 April 2024 0 comments

By GRAHAM COX Blackheath …………32 Taunton Titans ….47 THE immaculate goal-kicking of Louie Sinclair paved the way for this deserved victory for Taunton, despite being […]

Cinderford reply is scant consolation

28 April 2024 0 comments

By THOMAS LLEWELLYN Cinderford…………..22 Bishop’s S……………27 BISHOP’S Stortford edged a must-win relegation battle match against Cinderford. It was the away side’s half from the off, […]

Lions survive as Patrick heroics seal late glory

28 April 2024 0 comments

By GARETH DANIELS Sale FC…………… 14pts Tries: Doherty 31, Walsh 50 Conversions: Robins 32, 51 Leicester L …….23pts Tries: Patrick 27, 76 Conversions: Lewis 28, […]

Passman treble helps champions avoid a slip-up

28 April 2024 0 comments

By TOM BULMER Darlington MP…….40 Chinnor………………..42 CHAMPIONS Chinnor survived a scare at the Darlington Arena as they ended the season with a thrilling win over […]

Balding casts admiring look at Chinnor as a benchmark

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Birmingham Moseley director of rugby Adam Balding has tipped his hat to National One winners Chinnor after his side were victims of […]

Eastgate try seals Albion fourth spot

28 April 2024 0 comments

By PADDY MARSH Plymouth A………….33 Rosslyn Park……….28 PLYMOUTH Albion secured fourth after an amazing finish saw them beat Rosslyn Park. Trailing by two in added […]

Richmond rack up 50 as Park cave in

28 April 2024 0 comments

By TIMOTHY FORRESTER Richmond……………. 50 Sedgley Park……… 18 AFTER a tightly contested first half, Richmond pulled away with six expansive second-half tries to run up […]

Dean is the hero for Hull in tightest triumph

28 April 2024 0 comments

By RICHARD GORE Hull…………………37 Otley……………….36 ANOTHER immaculate goal-kicking display by Hull’s Reece Dean saw Hull win a thoroughly entertaining game. Otley were quickly into their […]

Records tumble as Ionians stay up

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BRIAN NORMAN Hull Ionians…………94 Huddersfield……….26 HULL Ionians smashed the record books as they put a difficult season behind them to stay in National 2 […]

Irvine makes the Tykes’ difference

28 April 2024 0 comments

By ANGELA RIMMINGTON Leeds Tykes………..47 Sheffield………………42 THIS thrilling season finale was a high-scoring, entertaining match fitting of the teams who finished second and third in […]

Late Leslie penalty seals victory for Tynedale

28 April 2024 0 comments

By TOM KELLY Preston G……………..35 Tynedale……………..36 ONE point was all that could split Preston Grasshoppers and Tynedale as both teams ran in five tries in […]

It’s title delight for the Titans!

28 April 2024 0 comments

By MIKE BROWN Billingham……..26pts Rotherham T….40pts Rotherham Titans are the champions! On a day to remember, the South Yorkshire side took the title with this […]

Townsend is just terrific for Tigers

28 April 2024 0 comments

By ANDREW SMITH Sheffield Tigers… 21 Fylde……………………. 15 REPLACEMENT scrumhalf Louis Townsend was hero of the hour as Sheffield Tigers ended their season on a […]

Davidson proves so deadly for Dale

28 April 2024 0 comments

By EDWIN WILLIAMS Wharfedale…………59 Lymm…………………… 31 THE crowd were treated to 13 tries in an end-of season spectacular. Sam Dickinson opened the scoring for Dale […]

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