National Leagues

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

Henley roar back to conquer Reds

3 September 2017 1 comment

By NICK PITSON Henley 28 R’gensians 24 HENLEY got their season off to a winning start by coming from behind to take local bragging rights […]

Shocked Devon club find their HQ wrecked

3 September 2017 1 comment

NEWS EXTRA By NICK VERDIER TORRINGTON Rugby Club were forced to start their season thinking about how to rebuild their clubhouse after it was vandalised […]

Depledge misses late shot at glory

3 September 2017 1 comment

By ROGER KEEGAN Sheffield 31 Luctonians 32 SHEFFIELD were denied a win on their first taste of National Two rugby as Steve Depledge pulled a […]

Double try joy for Hone as Cind bag win

3 September 2017 1 comment

By NIGEL WILCE Canterbury 17 Cinderford 39 A STRONG second half performance from Cinderford saw them eventually run out comfortable winners at Canterbury. The first […]

Macc are back as Barker pulls the strings

3 September 2017 0 comments

By MATT COLERIDGE Macclesfield 41 Wharfedale 15 MACCLESFIELD returned to National Two with a resounding win against Wharfedale, but had to weather a first-half storm […]

Delight for Nonu after Impressive Reds win

3 September 2017 0 comments

By BILL HOOPER Redruth 58pts Old R’cliffians 10pts Ecstatic: Redruth centre Neilson Webber goes over for the Reds PICTURES: Geoffry Hichens REDRUTH ran in nine […]

Big victory gets Sale back in the groove

3 September 2017 1 comment

By GEOFF LIGHTFOOT Sale 48pts Leicester Lions 10pts SALE put the disappointment of their near-miss last season firmly behind them with an impressive opening win […]

Titans spring into life to notch first win

3 September 2017 1 comment

By KEITH BROOKING Taunton 41 Broadstreet 21 TAUNTON produced a rousing second-half display to come from behind and finish with aplomb against Broadstreet. The hosts […]

High-flying Caldy earn the bragging rights after taking league by storm

28 May 2017 0 comments

Threat: Sale flier Jack Moorhouse CALDY were beaten just twice all season as they earned promotion to National League One with a very impressive campaign […]

TRANSFER WRAP

28 May 2017 0 comments

SCOTLAND wing Sean Maitland has signed a contract extension with Saracens until at least 2020. Sarries will have to do without back row Samuela Vunisa, […]

Hartpury’s history boys take top billing after finishing the term with honours

21 May 2017 1 comment

Star quality: Hartpury College’s former Italy U20 back row Jake Polledri HARTPURY College became the first team in history to win 30 from 30 in […]

Counties’ June tours set to be scrapped

21 May 2017 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY NEWS EXTRA OPPORTUNITIES for aspiring National League players to represent England Counties are to be dramatically scaled back because of cutbacks in […]

All White on the night as OEs hit the heights

7 May 2017 0 comments

By GEOFF LIGHTFOOT OLD ELTHAMIANS go through to National One next season after beating Sale FC at Heywood Road in the National Two North v […]

All change at Blackheath as Shanahan targets top four

7 May 2017 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY INCOMING Blackheath head coach James Shanahan promises sweeping changes after an abysmal end-of-season run of one win in 11 matches. Former Old […]

MrReliable, but Dan is MrForgotten for Wales

7 May 2017 2 comments

PETER JACKSON There are two reasons why Dan Evans stands out in any crowd of players. He never misses a match because his fitness is […]

Davies: Don’t vote Brexit, Dragons

7 May 2017 0 comments

SEVERAL hundred members of Newport RFC will squeeze into Rodney Parade on Tuesday night to vote on the WRU’s £3.75m take-over of the stricken Dragons […]

McKinley’s spirit forces IRFU to take the goggles off at last

7 May 2017 0 comments

PLAYERwelfare are the two most overworked words in the rugby lexicon, spouted parrotfashion by those whose organisations make increasing demands. But there is more to […]

Students beaten on Morris’ farewell

30 April 2017 1 comment

By EVIE PROBERT Loughboro’ 22 Coventry 27 DIRECTOR of Rugby Dave Morris saw his Loughborough Students suffer a narrow defeat in his final game before […]

Relegated Blues set for changes

30 April 2017 0 comments

By MATT COLERIDGE Macclesfield 12 Esher 24 WITH Esher safe and Macclesfield down, there was little at stake and with a number of players playing […]

Sedgley sign off with win double at champs

30 April 2017 0 comments

By JOHN LYON Caldy 34 Sedgley Park 35 A BUMPER Paton Field crowd were treated to a an exciting game of attacking rugby with the […]

Bercis is the late hero for Ampthill in thriller

30 April 2017 1 comment

By RICHARD DORE Rosslyn Park 21 Ampthill 27 AMPTHILL clinched victory in the last minute of this exhilarating season climax to finish a successful campaign […]

A fitting finale as Bown bows out

30 April 2017 0 comments

By BEN JAMES Chester 22 Scunthorpe 8 CHESTER finished their season on a high as they ran in four tries to secure a bonus-point victory […]

Stortford start fast and then hold on

30 April 2017 0 comments

By JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s St 28 Barnes 21 CHAMPIONS Stortford started as they left off last week and within three minutes had scored a try […]

Harrogate denied by Avent’s late try

30 April 2017 1 comment

By MATTHEW JOHNSON Hinckley 32 Harrogate 31 HARROGATE were condemned to relegation in the cruellest way as they were denied a heroic, if ultimately academic, […]

Tom leaves Best until the very last

30 April 2017 0 comments

By NIGEL WILCE Canterbury 33 Cinderford 30 TOMBest’s third successful penalty for Canterbury five minutes before time proved to be the difference between these two […]

Fightback enough as Sheffield shine

30 April 2017 1 comment

By GEOFF LIGHTFOOT Rossendale 31 Sheffield 32 IN A TENSE and always exciting encounter at Marl Pits, visitors Sheffield came back from 31-18 down with […]

Lucs are clawed as Tigers scramble to safety

30 April 2017 2 comments

By GEOFF VICKRESS Luctonians 23 Sheffield T 36 TIGERS secured their league status for next season with an excellent all-round performance. Both sides had plenty […]

Clifton’s changes prove costly in defeat

30 April 2017 0 comments

By ROGER OPIE Clifton 30 Bury St Ed 33 WITH nothing to lose both teams committed themselves to playing expansive rugby. Clifton’s starting line up […]

Half-century puts Wimbledon up

30 April 2017 0 comments

By JACK BARKER Wimbledon 50 Dings Crus 5 WIMBLEDON will be joining Tonbridge Juddians in National Two South next season following a 50-5 win. It […]

Sale keep campaign alive with big victory

30 April 2017 0 comments

By JOHN FINCH Otley 14pts Sale 44pts SALE director of rugby Jonathan Keep was over the moon to secure a home play-off place with a […]

Levett’s delight as hot Raiders ensure safety

30 April 2017 1 comment

By OSCAR PAUL Worthing 50pts Exmouth 5pts Sprinting clear: Kariym Irving goes for the line to score while Scott Barlow breaks through, left PICTURES: Warwick […]

Dale celebrate awayday success at last

30 April 2017 1 comment

By HENRY WOODSFORD Preston G 34 Wharfedale 41 WHARFEDALE earned their maiden away victory of the campaign against relegated Grasshoppers. Hoppers led 34-19 with 33 […]

Henley nearly throw their early lead away

30 April 2017 0 comments

By NICK PITSON Henley 32 Redruth 26 LEADING 27-7 just after half-time, it looked like Henley Hawks would win at a canter. However, a combination […]

South settle after series of fumbles

30 April 2017 0 comments

By MICK MCNEILL South Leics 46 Stourbridge 26 SOUTH Leicester finally clinched it after missing three tries through knock-ons. Stourbridge spent the early minutes in […]

Geese avoid drop despite the defeat

30 April 2017 0 comments

By JORDAN DAVIES London IWG 22 Chinnor 33 LONDON Irish Wild Geese avoided relegation from National League 2 South despite losing. Barnes’ loss to the […]

Dallavalle delight as Lions roar back

30 April 2017 1 comment

By BRIAN TILLEY Tynedale 28 Leicester Lns 32 A SERIOUSLY depleted Lions side who could muster only three replacements just edged a thriller at Corbridge. […]

Lespierre delivers five-star showing

30 April 2017 0 comments

By JON EDWARDS Old Elthamians 68 Barnstaple 21 TRY machine Dom Lespierre scored five as rampant Elthamians booked their place in next weekend’s divisional play-off […]

Fraser’s magical display is key for Taunton

30 April 2017 0 comments

By KEITH BROOKING Taunton T 33 R’dingensians 32 THIS was a game that had a very end of the season feel to it with both […]

Blaydon down as Lunnon breaks hearts

30 April 2017 0 comments

By BRIAN QUINN Old Albanian 29 Blaydon 24 BLAYDON were relegated after Sam Lunnon scored a try for Old Albanian with the final move of […]

Cambridge suffer sixth straight loss

30 April 2017 0 comments

By STEVE JACKSON Cambridge 15 Plymouth Alb 40 CAMBRIDGE finished their season with a sixth successive defeat and no win at Grantchester Road since beating […]

Moseley’s Maggs gets perfect end

30 April 2017 0 comments

By DAVE LAWRENCE Moseley 57 Fylde 0 MOSELEY’S outgoing Director of Rugby Kevin Maggs watched his side storm to a nine-try victory – the perfect […]

Hartpury end their perfect season with 30th triumph

30 April 2017 0 comments

By GRAHAM COX IT WAS not their most serene performance of the campaign, but a comprehensive victory nonetheless gave Hartpury their record-breaking thirty wins from […]

Ionians seal their survival with a stunning final day victory

30 April 2017 0 comments

By KEVIN ROBINSON Darlington 26 Hull Ionians 41 NO calculators were needed as Hull Ionians deservedly won this game and with it cemented their National […]

Tonbridge finish top season as champs

23 April 2017 0 comments

National League 3 London & SE AS EXPECTEDTonbridge Juddians ended their campaign as champions and will complete in National Two South next season but they […]

Six of the best for in-form Tigers

23 April 2017 0 comments

By ANDREW SMITH Sheffield T ….49 S Leicester ….22 SHEFFIELD Tigers continue their’ remarkable turnaround with a six-try demolition of South Leicester. The South Yorkshire […]

Geese come back and are still alive

23 April 2017 2 comments

By BILL HOOPER Redruth …21 LI Wild Geese…22 BEN Kitchen’s conversion of George Drye’s try in time added on proved to be the match-winning kick […]

Hurst hails performances of youngsters

23 April 2017 0 comments

National League 3 Midlands BROADSTREET won the title in style with a merciless 64-7 battering of a Sandbach side that was relegated as a result. […]

Hawks off to flyer to cruise to victory

23 April 2017 0 comments

By NICK PITSON Henley…52 Barnstaple…27 HENLEYHawks comfortably saw off struggling Barnstaple – scoring eight tries in the process at Dry Leas. The Hawks were quick […]

Huddersfield continue to smash records

23 April 2017 2 comments

National League 3 North HUDDERSFIELDhave taken the National Three North title with a record breaking 26 wins from 26 after beating Sandal 37-35 in a […]

Old Redcliffians forced to dig very deep

23 April 2017 0 comments

National League 3 South West OLD REDCLIFFIANS were run all the way as they finished their National League 3 South West campaign in style with […]

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