English Championship

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

Five-try Reds book place in semi-final shoot-out

19 February 2023 1 comment

By TOM INNES Jersey Reds …31pts Tries: Hadfield 2, 41; Barnes 40, Brown 44, Chapman 72 Conversions: Pittman 2, 40, Burnell 44 Nottingham….. 10pts Tries: […]

Blues are blitzed by Doncaster fightback

19 February 2023 0 comments

By BEN REYNOLDS Bedford ……………………….. 42pts Tries: Uru 8, 20; Conway 12, Arthur 32, Worley 67, Frost 74 Conversions: Maisey 10, 14, 21, 33; Grimoldby […]

Strong finish sees Ealing march on

19 February 2023 1 comment

By XANDER CHEVALLIER Hartpury Uni ….28pts Tries: McNab 4, 46; Morris 20, Sranford 51 Conversions: Mathews 4, 20, 46 , 51 Ealing T………….38pts Tries: Bridge […]

Nothing to shout about as Caldy take the honours

19 February 2023 1 comment

By LUKE MARSH Caldy ……………. 24pts Tries: Aigbokhae 26, Hayes 34, 40; Royle 63 Conversions: Gourlay 35, 64 Richmond …….. 19pts Tries: Wakeling 4, Scott […]

High-flying Pirates make it six out of six

19 February 2023 1 comment

By JOHN LYON Ampthill…………14pts Tries: Ryan 26, Blackmore 51 Conversions: T Hardwick 27, 52 C Pirates ………..23pts Tries: Stevens 20, Cant 39, Andrew 66 Conversions: […]

We are taking the cup seriously, says Holden

19 February 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Doncaster have taken this season’s Championship Cup by storm and, while other teams are using the competition to experiment and field second […]

Snow glad to leave the bad days behind

19 February 2023 0 comments

By DAVID LAWRENCE Coventry scrum-half Joe Snow admits he visited a few dark places on his journey back to the first team following a nightmare […]

Anger as new owners close down Warriors

12 February 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Worcester Warriors will rebrand as Sixways Rugby next season and merge with National Two West side Stourbridge after their owners Atlas withdrew […]

We should have been out of sight says Rae

12 February 2023 0 comments

By DAVID LAWRENCE Coventry ………..33pts Tries: Ma’asi 9, 20; Wilson 33, Ball 40, Penalty 56 Conversions: Mitchell 9, 20, 33 Bedford ………… 24pts Tries: Garside […]

Richmond fight back to push Ampthill all the way

12 February 2023 0 comments

BY TIM FORRESTER Richmond …….. 19pts Tries: Spring 19, Monson 55, Caddy 67 Conversions: Johnston 20, 68 Ampthill ………..26pts Tries: Blackmore 21, Rankin 25, Skelcey […]

Doncaster power is too much for Scots

12 February 2023 1 comment

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster Knights …….. 66pts Tries: Ehizode 2, Dolly 5, Spittle 15, 23, Edgson 49, 57, Holden 51, 63, Edwards 71, Yarnell 75 […]

Storming Pirates cruise into semis

12 February 2023 0 comments

By MIKE SINCALIR C Pirates ………..52pts Tries: Williams 10, King 19, Elderkin 38, Nelson 42, Haylor 61, Crane 67, Cant 71, Stacey 76 Conversions: Bazalgette […]

Trailfinders fire 11 past Archers to hit top spot

12 February 2023 0 comments

By XANDER CHEVALLIER Ealing……………. 71pts Tries: Kelleher 3, Walker 8, 17; Uzokwe 25, 78; Bird-Tulloch 30, Burns 33, Holmes 36, Montgomery 40, Whyte 45, Bodilly […]

No let up as rampant Reds keep foot on gas

12 February 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Hartpury ………….. 7pts Tries: Lennon 55 Conversions: Lennon 56 Jersey ………….. 47pts Tries: Dun 6, Cook 12, Owen 21, Hutler 40, Penalty […]

Transition to hooker paying off for Terry

12 February 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK It’s almost two years since Cameron Terry made the transition from the back row to hooker at Ealing Trailfinders and despite a […]

Worcester Warriors name and Championship hopes gone

9 February 2023 1 comment

Worcester Warriors have withdrawn their application process to compete in the Championship for the 2023/24 season, with new owners Atlas also confirming the name will […]

No stopping Coventry as they thump Doncaster

5 February 2023 0 comments

By DAVID LAWRENCE Coventry ………. 42pts Tries: Wilson 8, Lane 26, Penalty 34, Titherington 36, Bridges 66, Trinder 80 Conversions: Mitchell 8, 26, 36, 66, […]

Relton’s try seals bonus for unbeaten Pirates

5 February 2023 0 comments

By PHIL WESTREN C Pirates ……….25pts Tries: Britton 11, Beaton 29, Penny 66, Relton 78 Conversions: Bazalgette 30 Penalties: Bazalgette 5 Richmond …….. 12pts Tries: […]

Caldy go close but Ampthill keep cool

5 February 2023 2 comments

By KEVIN MILLER Ampthill ……………………….. 31pts Tries: Blackmore 2, 12; Harmes 6, Finlay 14, Hallett 19 Conversions: Hardwick 7, 14, 20 Caldy ……………………………. 26pts Tries: […]

Williams hat-trick seals first cup win

5 February 2023 1 comment

By SAM CARROLL Nottingham….. 24pts Tries: Williams 32, 37, 69; Clayton 65 Conversions: Bunting 66, Hollingsworth 70 Hartpury ………… 12pts Tries: Stratford 27, Denty 79 […]

Blues smash six to keep semi-final hopes alive

5 February 2023 1 comment

By MARK WILLIAMS Bedford …………38pts Tries: French 16, 65; Rylands 39, Garside 42, Hughes 54, Matavesi 73 Conversions: Grimoldby 17, 43, 55, 66 L Scottish […]

Reds hold on as Willis fires wide at the death

5 February 2023 0 comments

By TOM INNES Jersey ……………28pts Tries: Hadfield 22, Dun 28, Woollett 35, Barnes 73 Conversions: Bennett 22, 28, 35, 73 Ealing……………..27pts Tries: Walker 39, Hampson […]

Time to limit number of dual-registered players – Biljon

5 February 2023 1 comment

By LUKE JARMYN Concern: Harvey Biljon Jersey Reds’ Harvey Biljon is calling for new restrictions to be brought in around the number of dual-registered and […]

RFU sets deadline for new owners

5 February 2023 0 comments

The RFU has set the new owners of Wasps and Worcester Warriors a February 14 deadline to have their respective takeovers fully completed so that […]

Caldy have the power to see off Bedford

29 January 2023 1 comment

By JOHN LYON Caldy ………………36pts Tries: Pilgrim 5, Beer 16, Aigbokhae 22, Gourlay 64, Hearn 78, Royle 80 Conversions: Gourlay 5,17,23 Bedford B ……….28pts Tries: […]

Ealing go down to blow title race open

29 January 2023 0 comments

By XANDER CHEVALLIER Ealing …………………………… 19pts Tries: Tizzano 9, 23; Daniels 77 Conversions: Willis 9, 23 Coventry ……………………… 22pts Tries: Thomas 46, 55; Titherington 68 […]

Classy Brown keeps Jersey in the hunt for top spot

29 January 2023 1 comment

By PHIL WESTREN Cornish P ………25pts Tries: Smith 28, Schwarz 49, Wyatt 68 Conversions: Robson 29, 50 Penalties: Robson 2, 35 Jersey R ………. 34pts […]

Hartpury blitz too hot for Richmond

29 January 2023 2 comments

By JIM JONES Hartpury…………26pts Tries: Foley 4, Denty 16, Morris 24, Robinson 36 Conversions: Mathews 17, 25, 37 Richmond ……… 14pts Tries: Kiernan 55, 77 […]

McBryde’s breakaway earns bonus for Knights

29 January 2023 0 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster ……..32pts Tries: R Smith 4, Holling 20, T Smith 38, McBryde 79 Conversions: Dolly 4, 20, 38 Penalties: Dolly 30, 69 […]

Heartbreak for Exiles as Ampthill finish Strong

29 January 2023 0 comments

By DAVID CHALLIS London S ……….. 19pts Tries: Jurevicius 9, 25; Taulani 35 Conversions: Chamberlain 10, 26 Ampthill …………28pts Tries: Harris 34, Strong 41, 79; […]

Scottish link-up helping Scott to develop

29 January 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Edinburgh born and bred Cameron Scott has gone outside his comfort zone this season to play on loan at Championship side London […]

Caldy hold off late Nottingham challenge

22 January 2023 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Nottingham…… 17pts Tries: R Olowofela 16, Williams 54, Green 79 Conversions: Neville 16 Caldy ………………29pts Tries: Hearn 12, 39, Pilgrim 49, S […]

Freezing fog can’t stop Ealing taking their chances

22 January 2023 0 comments

By JIM BATES Hartpury Uni …. 13pts Tries: Jones 16 Conversion: Mathews 16 Penalties: Mathews 31, 48 Ealing T ………….26pts Tries: Uzokwe 25, 40; Penalty […]

Powerful Blues march on as Pirates sink without trace

22 January 2023 0 comments

By DANNY WARD Bedford Blues ………………55pts Tries: Worley 3, 15; Uru 19, Conway 38, Williams 59, Adamson 72, Frost 79 Conversions: Maisey 4, 16, 20, […]

Knights dig deep to put squeeze on Richmond

22 January 2023 0 comments

By TIMOTHY FORRESTER Richmond ……… 17pts Tries: Kaye 37, Saysell 40 Conversions: Johnston 38, 41 Penalties: Johnston 58 Doncaster K …..27pts Tries: Metcalf 6, Penalty […]

Scottish push Jersey all the way but fail with final kick

22 January 2023 1 comment

By TOM INNES Jersey Reds … 24pts Tries: Clarke 7, Brown 35, 46, Owen B 62 Conversions: Bennett 7, 62 London S ………..22pts Tries: Taulani […]

Roberts: Knights can turn it around

22 January 2023 2 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Despite enduring a mixed and inconsistent start to the season, Doncaster Knights hooker George Roberts believes it’s not all doom and gloom […]

Beer’s ‘incredible feeling’ after Caldy bring down Ealing

15 January 2023 3 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Louis Beer was in disbelief after his hat-trick helped Championship newcomers Caldy down the previously unbeaten, reigning champions Ealing Trailfinders. Having trailed […]

Super-sub Norey seals the points for Pirates

15 January 2023 1 comment

By PHIL WESTREN Cornish P ………. 17pts Tries: Crane 32, Norey 45, 62 Conversions: Robson 63 Nottingham…….. 6pts Penalties: Neville 9 Drop-goals: Slatem 22 Cornish […]

Caldy keep on target to push Richmond in at the deep end

15 January 2023 1 comment

By JOHN LYON Caldy ………………27pts Tries: Hearn 14, 34 Royle 23 Conversions Gourlay 15, 24, 35 Penalties: Gourlay 10, 43 Richmond ……….. 7pts Tries: Saysell […]

Delight for Jersey as they score 14 in four

15 January 2023 0 comments

By PAUL SMITH Coventry ………………………. 19pts Tries: Dodd 48, Bainbridge 59, Poole 70 Conversions: Pellegrini 59, 70 Jersey Reds ………………… 19pts Tries: Woollett 35, Grey […]

Blues cut loose to sweep past Scots

15 January 2023 0 comments

By DAVID CHALLIS L Scottish ……… 13pts Bedford ………… 34pts Bedford cut loose to run in five tries in an emphatic victory to consolidate fourth […]

Wrafter takes charge as Hartpury put on a show

15 January 2023 1 comment

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster K ….. 10pts Try: Simpson 61 Conversion: McBryde 61 Penalty: Dolly 29 Hartpury Uni ….25pts Tries: Smith 2, Jones 43, Morris […]

Two penalty tries get Ealing back on track

15 January 2023 0 comments

By XANDER CHEVALLIER Ealing……………..35pts Tries: Holmes 21, Penalty 38, 74; Campher 47, Hampson 55 Conversions: Willis 21, 47, 55 Ampthill ……….. 24pts Tries: Strong 10, […]

Inoke has a new lease of life with Hartpury

15 January 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Fijian-born prop Mua Inoke is enjoying a career revival at Hartpury University and says his rejections in the past have given him […]

Hartpury hold on to quell Scottish fightback

8 January 2023 1 comment

By MO SHER L Scottish …….. 19pts Tries: Chisholm 13, Morris 47, Hyde 79 Conversions: Chamberlain 48, 80 Hartpury Uni … 20pts Tries: : Smith […]

Caldy joy as it all goes wrong for 14-man Ealing

8 January 2023 2 comments

By JOHN LYON Caldy ………………………….. 26pts Tries: Beer 59, 66, 79; Royle 45 Conversions: Gourlay 46, 60, 67 Ealing T………………………. 24pts Tries: Campher 15, 50; […]

Second-half blitz puts Pirates in control

8 January 2023 1 comment

By MIKE SINCLAIR Cornish Pirates ..37pts Tries: Crane 5, Wyatt 53, 79, Kessell 58, Tuima 75 Conversions: Bazalgette 53, Robson 75, 79 Penalties: Bazalgette 24, […]

Happy end to 2022 for Richmond

8 January 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Richmond … 22pts L Scottish…….. 8pts Richmond last weekend secured their first league victory since October – and just their third of […]