English Championship

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

First-half blitz puts Archers clear before late fightback

3 October 2021 0 comments

By ASH WILLIS Nottingham……22pts Tries: Farnoworth 2, 11; Stronge 30 Conversions: Hollingsworth 2, 30 Penalties: Hollingsworth 28 Hartpury …………20pts Tries: Short 46, Stratford 77, 80 […]

Big respect all round as Pirates plot response

3 October 2021 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON PREVIEW… Cornish Pirates v Ealing Trailfinders Today. Kick-off 3pm, Mennaye Field CORNISH Pirates are still ‘smarting’ from last weekend’s 37-18 defeat at Hartpury […]

Clarke grabs hat-trick as Blues suffer a mauling

26 September 2021 0 comments

By TOM INNES Jersey Reds ….40pts Tries: Barnes 13, Penalty 27, Olowofela 30, Clarke 35, 61, 71 Conversions: Mitchell 13, 35, 61, Owen 71 Bedford […]

Bennett’s magic boot gives Cov a kicking

26 September 2021 1 comment

By DAVID LAWRENCE Ampthill …………21pts Penalties: Bennett 5, 11, 18, 20, 24, 51, 72 Coventry …………19pts Tries: Burrows 58, Ashman 68, 75 Conversions: Curtis 58, […]

Richmond claim dramatic comeback win

26 September 2021 0 comments

By TIM FORRESTER Richmond……….27pts Tries: Bright 55, 61, 67; Carrick Smith 79 Conversions: Kane 67, 80 Penalties: Kane 22 Nottingham ……24pts Tries: Hollingsworth 9, Creed […]

Five tries, five points but Knights boss isn’t happy!

26 September 2021 0 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster ……..36pts Tries: Penalty 39, Edgson 47, Volpi 60, Paul 72, Spittle 80 Conversions: Olver 47, 60, 80 Penalties: Olver 3 L […]

Cornwell gets the response he wanted

26 September 2021 1 comment

By ANDREW BEACHAM Hartpury …………37pts Tries: Crane 16, R Smith 33, Short 47, 65 Conversions: Williams 17, 34, 48, 66 Penalties: Williams 32, 40, 57 […]

Yes, Ealing win..but they have to fight for it

19 September 2021 0 comments

By ANDREW BEACHAM Ealing …………….54pts Tries: Campher 8, Penalty 14, 20; Smid 28, Uzokwe 39, Al-Jiboori 68, Kernohan 70, Burns 73 Conversions: Willid 9, 29, […]

Sirker’s debut double gets Pirates on the front foot

19 September 2021 1 comment

By MIKE SINCLAIR Cornish Pirates..33pts Tries: Bolwell 6, Duncan 22, Cant 36, Sirker 48, 52 Conversions: Robson 6, 22, 36, 52 Richmond ……..18pts Tries: Homer […]

Reds are green for go-go with seven tries

19 September 2021 0 comments

By TOM SANSOM L Scottish …………7pts Tries: Nutton 2 Conversions: May 2 Jersey Reds ….47pts Tries: Thompson 27, 40, 58; Van Breda 52, Clarke 64, […]

Coventry comeback wipes out Knights fast start

19 September 2021 0 comments

By DAVID LAWRENCE Coventry ……….39pts Tries: Dacres 31, Peters 56, Bainbridge 58, Curtis 69, Burrows 78 Conversions: Fenner 31; Curtis 58, 69, 78 Penalties: Fenner […]

Hollingsworth is star turn as Archers hit the first target

19 September 2021 0 comments

By ASH WILLIS Nottingham ….36pts Tries: D Williams 13, 46; Thacker 23, 50; Hollingsworth 73 Conversions: Hollingsworth 23, 46, 50, 73 Penalties: Hollingsworth 40 Ampthill […]

Jersey 0-19 Sale: Quickfire treble puts Sharks in open water

5 September 2021 0 comments

SALE’S first pre-season match, and their first trip to the Channel Islands to play Championship side Jersey Reds ended in a solid three try win. […]

Cornish Pirates 55-3 Royal Navy: Blackmore injury leaves Pirates light at hooker

5 September 2021 0 comments

NEW recruits Carwyn Penny, Callum Sirker and Caleb Montgomery made impressive debuts as the Pirates sunk the Royal Navy with an eight-try display in the […]

Coventry 21-52 Wasps: Thomas Young puts his toe down for Wasps in 11-try thriller

5 September 2021 2 comments

A SCINTILLATING 90-metre sprint to the line by Thomas Young was the pick of the 11 tries served up by Wasps and Coventry in a […]

Ealing Trailfinders 34-29 Gloucester: Uzokwe at the double to down Gloucester

29 August 2021 0 comments

First blood to Ealing ahead of their reverse fixture with Gloucester next week at Kingsholm

Richmond 26-7 Ampthill: Richmond power too much for Amps

22 August 2021 0 comments

Match report from the all-Championship pre-season friendly

Championship 2021-22: All the summer ins and outs

15 August 2021 0 comments

Looking at all the summer activity at Championship clubs, with prop Alfie Petch heading to Cornish Pirates on dual-registered terms from Exeter

Visionary Alf Wyman was beaten to the punch

15 August 2021 0 comments

COVENTRY fixture secretary Alf Wyman was a rugby visionary, well before his time in many respects as a strong advocate of sponsorship and league rugby. […]

Henry Trinder opts for Ampthill over top flight return

15 August 2021 1 comment

The Gloucester stalwart discusses his return to English rugby in the Championship with Ampthill, where he will start coaching as well as playing

Maliq Holden feels at home among Doncaster Knights

8 August 2021 0 comments

Jon Newcombe discovers how the former Cornish Pirates winger discovered rugby on Cyprus

The Championship Team of the Season 2021: Ryan Burrows hits record high five

1 August 2021 0 comments

Jon Newcombe reveals the Championship Team of the Season 2021, as voted by the league’s head coaches

Evergreen Mark Bright, 42, swaps London Scottish for Richmond

11 July 2021 1 comment

The future still burns bright for the veteran Championship back row

Lowes leaves Ealing for DoR job

11 July 2021 0 comments

Jimmy Lowes has left Ben Ward’s coaching staff to return to Yorkshire

Jersey prop Dan Richardson joins Tigers

11 July 2021 0 comments

LEICESTER have brought in loosehead prop Dan Richardson from Championship side Jersey Reds. The 25-year-old, who has spent time at Fylde and Rotherham, started nine […]

Championship may get new Thursday night TV slot

4 July 2021 1 comment

PREMIER Sports believe a successful Lions tour would help them achieve a breakthrough in England as they extend their rugby coverage and are considering televising […]

England interim assistant coach Ed Robinson to leave Jersey Reds

2 July 2021 0 comments

Jersey Reds have confirmed backs coach Ed Robinson will be leaving the Championship this summer to join an unnamed Premiership club. As exclusively revealed by […]

Ex-Wasps wing Callum Sirker lands at Cornish Pirates

1 July 2021 1 comment

Cornish Pirates have announced the signing of former Wasps flyer Callum Sirker on a one-year deal. Sirker was released by Wasps this summer as he […]

RFU approves 14-team Premiership expansion and voids relegation for further two seasons

29 June 2021 1 comment

Relegation from the Premiership has been suspended for two further seasons after the RFU, in collaboration with Premiership Rugby, approved plans for to aid clubs’ […]

Exclusive: Robinson lands the job as Wasps’ new attack coach

20 June 2021 1 comment

RISING coaching star Ed Robinson has been chosen by Wasps to become their new attack coach. Wasps have a vacancy because former Great Britain RL […]

Saracens v Ealing: Vincent Koch set for a double celebration in second leg

20 June 2021 0 comments

SARACENS have named an unchanged line-up for today’s second leg of the Championship play-off final against Ealing Trailfinders. The north London club, who are looking […]

Matt Challinor joins the Knights exodus to Titans

20 June 2021 0 comments

ROTHERHAM’S rapidly expanding group of ex-Doncaster players will include Knights legend Matt Challinor next season. Challinor has retired from full-time rugby after more than a […]

Guy Thompson to leave Ealing Trailfinders

16 June 2021 0 comments

Guy Thompson will leave Ealing Trailfinders and return to old club Jersey Reds this summer. The No.8 spent two years at the Island club after […]

Richards: Players need fully pro Championship

13 June 2021 0 comments

DEAN Richards says he is “staggered” by the number of Premiership players who have not secured contracts for next season. And he believes it is […]

Championship final 1st leg preview: Pack must peak for miracle challenge

13 June 2021 0 comments

DANIEL GALLAN talks to Ben Ward ahead of Ealing Trailfinders’ battle with Goliath Today. Kick-off 4.30pm, Trailfinders Sportsground In any other context, Ben Ward’s Ealing […]

James Stokes driven by imposter syndrome at London Irish

10 June 2021 0 comments

The ex-Nottingham and Coventry back didn’t feel worthy of being in the Premiership when he first joined the Exiles, but that soon changed

Ex-Saints flanker Ben Nutley announces retirement at Coventry

8 June 2021 1 comment

The Coventry back row explains his feelings around making his retirement call at the age of 29

Ex-Wales prop Craig Mitchell retires at Cornish Pirates

1 June 2021 0 comments

Mitchell also represented Exeter Chiefs, Ospreys and Cardiff Blues throughout his career

Leinster back Cian Kelleher wings his way into Ealing Trailfinders

30 May 2021 1 comment

Ealing Trailfinders add ex-Connacht wing to their squad for 2021-22

Jersey 32-31 Cornish Pirates: Macfarlane gets magic touch to edge Reds ahead

30 May 2021 1 comment

Harvey Biljon and Alan Paver give their respective views on a dramatic climax to the Championship season

Doncaster 29-24 Nottingham: Super sub Sam steals in for last gasp winner

30 May 2021 1 comment

Sam Pocklington denies Nottingham victory at the death in Neil Fowkes’ final match in charge

Bedford Blues 32-28 Ampthill: ‘Brilliant’ Blues end on high of derby win

30 May 2021 0 comments

Bedford Blues come out on top in battle of the Championship’s two Bedfordshire clubs

Richmond 22-42 Coventry: Coventry finish in style with big six at Richmond

30 May 2021 0 comments

Xander Chevallier reports from the RAG as Coventry ended their season on a high over Richmond

RFU cuts move Jersey Reds to consider switch to French rugby

27 May 2021 2 comments

How much more funding do clubs in the second tier of French rugby receive from the LNR?

Reuben Bird-Tulloch finds new club after being among quartet to leave Saints

26 May 2021 1 comment

Tommy Mathews, Ryan Olowofela and Tui Uru will also depart Northampton Saints this summer

No rules broken this time by Wray, says legal expert

23 May 2021 0 comments

NIGEL Wray broke no rules when he bought a substantial stake in Owen A Farrell Limited, a leading sports lawyer has told Blindside. Wray’s Cyprus-registered Euroblue […]

Preview: Trimble shooting for high places

23 May 2021 0 comments

MAX TRIMBLE is backing Richmond to get one over on Ampthill as the two long-standing semi-professional squads meet at Dillingham Park. Richmond are without […]

Hartpury 19-50 Jersey: Free-scoring Reds put in a bit extra for Argyle’s 100th

23 May 2021 0 comments

JERSEY’S Harvey Biljon was delighted after his teams’ eight-try demolition of an off-colour Hartpury who conceded 50 for the second week running. And, with Saracens […]