English Championship

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

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Ampthill

Bedford Blues

Caldy

Cornish Pirates

Coventry

Doncaster Knights

Ealing Trailfinders

Hartpury University

Jersey Reds

London Scottish

Nottingham

Richmond

Confident Ealing win a game of patience

11 September 2022 1 comment

By XANDER CHEVALLIER Ealing Trailfinders ….29pts Tries: Willis 20, Smid 48, Metcalf 56, Tizzano 80 Conversions: Willis 48, 56, 80 Penalties: Willis 40+1 Doncaster Knights […]

Ampthill caught out as Jersey get off to a flier

11 September 2022 0 comments

By KEVIN MILLER Ampthill …………21pts Tries: Stonham 33, Ma’asi-White 48, Dan 64 Conversions: Hardwick 34, 49, 65 Jersey …………….36pts Tries: Woollett 7, 17, Penalty 25, […]

Caldy have a lot to learn as Hartpury get in the swing

11 September 2022 0 comments

By JOHN LYON Caldy ………………22pts Tries: Bibby 18, Jones 26, Darlington 42, Caine, 79 Conversions: Jones 42 Hartpury…………33pts Tries: Benz Solomon 2, Bruzulier 36, Howard, […]

Bonus for Coventry as indiscipline costs Blues

11 September 2022 1 comment

By DAVID LAWRENCE Coventry ……….26pts Tries: Poole 31, 45, Penalty 40, Ma’asi 64 Conversions: Pellegrini 31, 45, 64 Bedford Blues ..18pts Tries: Adamson 1, Woolford […]

Relton returns home to take the Pirates route

4 September 2022 0 comments

Arthur Relton is returning to his Cornwall rugby roots this season keen to follow a well-trodden path into a Premiership career. The most important thing […]

Richmond back from voyage of discovery

4 September 2022 2 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A famous old club sets sail from London this week on a south-westerly course towards a coastline […]

Bear’s learnt from the school of hard knocks

28 August 2022 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Having had his ‘world ended’ by being dropped from the Harlequins academy at just 14, Bear Williams says he hopes to use […]

Stronge aims to be the top scrum-half in his division

21 August 2022 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK Ambition: Nottingham’s Michael Stronge Michael Stronge has set a clear goal to become the best scrum-half in the Championship. The 24-year-old was […]

Ruthless Ospreys fly past helpless Hartpury

21 August 2022 1 comment

Hartpury ……..14 Ospreys ……….41 By JOHN BARNES The first hit out for both Hartpury University and Ospreys of pre-season 2022/23 was an entertaining contest with […]

Sanderson’s ready to fire for Caldy

21 August 2022 0 comments

On the up: Caldy skipper Josiah Dickinson lifts the National One trophy last season Caldy are preparing for their first-ever Championship campaign and new signing […]

Stadium for Cornwall will happen – Durkin

14 August 2022 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR Cornish Pirates chairman Paul Durkin has reassured fans that plans for a proposed Stadium for Cornwall – and the dream of Premiership […]

Big names moving into a new home

7 August 2022 3 comments

Ben Jaycock looks at how the Championship squads are shaping up for the coming season As a consequence of the Premiership lowering its salary cap […]

Best leaving Knights in search of a new home

26 June 2022 1 comment

■By BEN JAYCOCK In the hope of setting himself up for life after rugby, Mark Best has decided to find a new challenge and leave […]

Newcastle Falcons sign Coventry scrum-half Josh Barton

7 June 2022 1 comment

Coventry scrum-half Josh Barton will make the step up to the Premiership after signing a two-year deal with Newcastle Falcons. Having played 26 games in […]

Ealing double up to sink gutsy Cov

22 May 2022 1 comment

By DAVID BALLHEIMER Ealing………………19pts Tries: Gordon 62 Conversions: Shingler 63 Penalties: Shingler 5, 23, 55, Willis 73 Coventry …………13pts Tries: Barton 7 Conversions: Fenner 8 […]

Championship XV of the season: ‘Buzz’ hits six to bow out in style

22 May 2022 0 comments

Now that the Championship season has run its course, Jon Newcombe canvassed the views of the league’s directors of rugby and head coaches to compile […]

Joe Gray announced as London Scottish head coach

19 May 2022 0 comments

After announcing his retirement earlier this week, Harlequins hooker Joe Gray has been named the new head coach of London Scottish from next season. The […]

Resilient Reds battle through adversity to reach last four

8 May 2022 0 comments

Jersey won 49 -33 on aggregate By TOM INNES Jersey …………..30pts Tries: Clarke 9, Grey 21, Barnes 46, Harris 78 Conversions: Cope 21, 46 Penalties: […]

Ealing find their feet to cruise into semis

8 May 2022 0 comments

Ealing won 87 -45 on aggregate By DAVID BALLHEIMER Ealing …………….56pts Tries: Terry 17, 22; White 29, Walker 52, 70; Porter 56, 63; Gordon 79 […]

Pirates hold nerve to steal it in a thriller

8 May 2022 0 comments

By TOM CARR Bedford …………..32pts Tries: Worley 24, 29, Stedman 62, Adamson 96 Conversions: Maisey 24, 30, 62 Penalties: Maisey 6, 12 C Pirates…………33pts Tries: […]

Rae: Great opportunity to lift rare silverwear

8 May 2022 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Coventry v Doncaster Today. Kick-off 3pm, Butts Park Arena Driven: Alex Rae Changes: Steve Boden ALEX Rae sees the Championship Cup […]

Last-minute touchdown gives Pirates narrow lead

1 May 2022 0 comments

By NATHAN EDWARDS C Pirates ……….38pts Tries: Channon 8, De Battista 18, Wyatt 26, Blackmore 60, Penny 69, Bolwell 80 Conversions: Bazalgette 9, 18, 26; […]

Cov take advantage as Knights let it slip

1 May 2022 1 comment

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster ……..22pts Tries: Holden 36, 50; Smith 70 Conversions: Olver 50, 70 Penalties: Olver 59 Coventry ……….35pts Tries: Poole 11, Betteridge 22, […]

Brave Ampthill fight back to keep tie alive

1 May 2022 0 comments

By KEVIN MILLER Ampthill …………21pts Tries: Jack 14, Vukasinovic 55, Penalty 66 Conversions: Bennett 15, 56 Ealing………………31pts Tries: Johnston 16, Terry 21, Walker 27, Cordy-Redden […]

Hero Holsey’s late rumble levels game for Hartpury

1 May 2022 0 comments

By LUKIE JARMYN Hartpury …………19pts Tries: Forrester 14, Simpson 35, Holsey 64 Conversions: Williams 15, 65 Jersey…………….19pts Tries: Owen 7, Van Breda 24, 30 Conversions: […]

Cornish Pirates’ Tom Channon announces retirement

29 April 2022 0 comments

Cornish Pirates hooker and top try scorer Tom Channon will be retiring after his final game for the club tomorrow. The Championship Cup quarter-final 1st Leg […]

Eight-try Bedford cruise into quarter-finals

24 April 2022 1 comment

By TOM CARR Bedford …………..52pts Tries: Adamson 3, Grayson 8, Fish 19, Worley 23, Heffernan 30, Penalty 40, Stedman 60, Hughes 70 Conversions: Grimoldby 4, […]

Cope shows his class as Reds turn up the power

24 April 2022 1 comment

By LUKE JARMYN L Scottish …………7pts Tries: Trenholm 50 Conversions: May 51 Jersey …………..54pts Tries: Thompson 1, 55; O’Connor 30, Penalty 38, 78; Cope 42, […]

Captain Scott leads Richmond to victory

24 April 2022 1 comment

By TIM FORRESTER Hartpury …………36pts Tries: Crane 4, Short 10, Bailey 20, 29; Capon 64, Wood 71 Conversions: Williams 11, 21, 30 Richmond……….40pts Tries: Wakeling […]

Fenner keeps his nerve to snatch it for Coventry

24 April 2022 0 comments

By ANDY MITCHELL Coventry ……….31pts Tries: Thomas 15, Betteridge 27, Ma’asi 67, Bainbridge 71 Conversions: Mitchell 16, 28; Fenner 68, 71 Penalties: Fenner 76 Ampthill […]

Holden on song to give edge to Knights

24 April 2022 0 comments

By NATHAN EDWARDS C Pirates …………20pts Tries: Petch 7, Sirker 39, Parata 73 Conversions: Bazalgette 8 Penalties: Bazalgette 23 Doncaster ……..32pts Tries: Hudson 27, 36; […]

Ealing withdraw Premiership appeal

22 April 2022 1 comment

Ealing Trailfinders have withdrawn their appeal of the RFU‘s decision to not grant them promotion to the Gallagher Premiership. The RFU denied this season’s Championship […]

Hallett helps Ampthill fight back to take upper hand

10 April 2022 0 comments

By ZAK CARR Ampthill…………27pts Tries: Cambriani 16, Stonham 44, Finlay 61, Harding 80 Conversions: Bragman 17, 62 Penalties: Bragman 40 Coventry ……….21pts Tries: Poole 3, […]

Pirates penetrate Castle Park fortress

10 April 2022 1 comment

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster ……..24pts Tries: Best 26, Penalty 62, Holling 74, Smith 80 Conversions: McBryde 74 C Pirates…………26pts Tries: Wedlake-Millecam 15, Tucker 42, Walker […]

Adamson gets his ton up as Blues run riot

10 April 2022 2 comments

By NATHAN EDWARDS Nottingham ……14pts Tries: Peachey 4, Stapley 60 Conversions: Bunting 5, 61 Bedford …………..38pts Tries: Atkinson 11, Adamson 40, 79; Penalty 75 Conversions: […]

Hartpury pull away with second-half masterclass

10 April 2022 0 comments

By TIM FORRESTER Richmond ……..26pts Tries: Torpey 2, Penalty 16, Saysell 37, Bentley 80 Conversions: Bradbury 2, 37; Ffitch 80 Hartpury …………61pts Tries: Ward 7, […]

Clarke hits high five as Reds’ pack power tells

10 April 2022 0 comments

By TOM INNES Jersey …………….57pts Tries: Clarke 3, 15, 28, 33, 38; Olowofela 39, 43, Everard 52, Barnes 72 Conversions: Leeming 3, 15, 33, 40, […]

Knights finish with a bonus but resilient Archers dig in

3 April 2022 0 comments

By JOHN BRINDLEY Nottingham ……..5pts Tries: Bunting 80 Doncaster ……..26pts Tries: Holden 8, Evans 10, Edgson 52, Wheeldon 77 Conversions: Olver 10, 52, 77 DONCASTER […]

I hope we end up in the Prem, says Ward

3 April 2022 2 comments

By TIM FORRESTER Ealing …………….60pts Tries: Uzokwe 2,16, 58; Hampson 22, Bodilly 26, 46; Smid 38, Daniels 67, Kernohan 72, 74 Conversions: Willis 27, 39,47; […]

Super sub Harding denies Pirates at the death

3 April 2022 1 comment

By MIKE SINCLAIR C Pirates…………28pts Tries: Kiri Kiri 10, Wyatt 15, Channon 26, Blackmore 66 Conversions: Robson 10, 15, 26, Bazalgette 66 Ampthill …………28pts Tries: […]

Championship is losing its ‘Buzz’

3 April 2022 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE CHAMPIONSHIP warrior Ryan Burrows has bowed out from the league he has served stoically over 14 years with a parting shot aimed […]

Six-try Cov turn on style for Burrows’ league finale

27 March 2022 0 comments

By TIM FORRESTER Richmond ……..28pts Tries: Cardew 29, 50; Kaye 67, Bright 79 Conversions: Kane 30, 51; Landrew 68, 80 Coventry ……….40pts Tries: Burrows 19, […]

Trailfinders go top with one to play

27 March 2022 3 comments

By DAVID BULHEIMER Ealing …………44pts Tries: De Wee 15, Hampson 21, Bodilly 26, Henning-Campher 31, Kernoghan 60 Conversions: Willis 16, 22, 28, 32, 61 Penalties: […]

Simmons treble helps Reds to best ever finish

20 March 2022 0 comments

By CIARAN THOMAS Coventry ……….38pts Tries: Nayalo 8, Stanton 12, Ma’asi 22, Tyas 48, Owen 64, Martin 73 Conversions: Mitchell 8, 12, 48; Knox 64 […]

Adamson grabs four as Blues hit turbos

20 March 2022 1 comment

By TOM SANSOM L Scottish ……….21pts Tries: Anderson 3, Tuilangi 30, Dawes 40 Conversions: Nutton 3, 30, 40 Bedford …………..62pts Tries: Little 21, Conway 26, […]

Duncan at the double to keep heat on leaders

20 March 2022 2 comments

By NATHAN EDWARDS C Pirates…………31pts Tries: Channon 10, 49; Duncan 13, 56; Sirker 76 Conversions: Robson 14, 50, 76 Hartpury ……….24pts Tries: Short 5, Britton […]

Uzokwe focussed on his job of winning

20 March 2022 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK EALING flanker Simon Uzokwe isn’t getting carried away with the club’s appeal to get into the Premiership insisting the players “still have […]

Dolly hopes to join younger brother Nic in top-flight mix

20 March 2022 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE DONCASTER sit proudly on top of the table with one of their 20 league games left to play and scrum-half Alex Dolly […]

Ealing smash big six to keep destiny in their own hands

13 March 2022 0 comments

By ZAK CARR Ampthill …………..5pts Tries: Dan 34 Ealing …………….38pts Tries: Kernohan 4, 64; Penalty 20, Uzokwe 41, Smid 58 Conversions: Willis 5, 42, 59, […]

Doncaster on top with one match left to play

13 March 2022 1 comment

By NATHAN EDWARDS Doncaster ……..22pts Tries: Edgson 12 40; Kelly 27, Smith 36 Conversions: Olver 40 C Pirates …………15pts Tries: Bolwell 16, Caulfield 64 Conversions: […]