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

Harry Bazalgette steps up to snatch late win for Hartpury

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Luke Jarmyn Hartpury ……….. 34pts Tries: Hunt 19, 39, 46; Austin 22, Lemon 33 Conversions: Bazalgette 20, 34, 47 Penalties: Bazalgette 80+2 L Scottish […]

Cambridge able to deal with Caldy’s huff and puff

29 September 2024 0 comments

By John Lyon Caldy …………….. 21pts Tries: Hearn 5, Wynn 77 Conversions: Curtis 77 Penalties: Curtis 23, 30, 52 Cambridge ……26pts Tries: Sylvester 34, Cardew […]

Nottingham keep calm to surprise Doncaster Knights

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Guy Williams Doncaster ……… 14pts Tries: Strong 30, Olowofela 44 Conversions: Dolly 30, 44 Nottingham …… 30pts Tries: Graham: 52, 75, Clayton 5, Manz […]

John Barnes knows he’s on a tough road with Hartpury

29 September 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Hartpury have improved year on year since joining the Championship but director of rugby John Barnes says they are up against it […]

Simon Halliday’s demand for clarity over promotion-relegation play-off

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Nick Cain The RFU is under fire from the Championship for its failure to provide clarity over the terms of the promotion-relegation play-off before […]

Matt Kvesic finds his feet to make it easy for Coventry

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Paul Smith London Scots .. 19pts Tries: Mpiko 60, Ferdinand 78, 80 Conversions: Sheppard 60, Lloyd-Seed 78 Coventry ………. 45pts Tries: Nayalo 8, Ma’asi […]

Ealing Trailfinders show why they are favourites to retain Championship title

22 September 2024 0 comments

By William Gupwell Ealing T …………55pts Tries: Williams 5, Reid 11, 78; Holgate 17, Taylor 35, Bird-Tulloch 53, Moore 60, Hampson 66, Wilson 73 Conversions: […]

New boys Chinnor open up in fine style

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Steve Jackson Cambridge ………………….. 24pts Tries: Caven 17, 77; Sylvester 48, Veness 67 Conversions: Grimoldby 49, 68 Chinnor………………………… 57pts Tries: Feeney 4, Wharton 6, […]

Jordan Olowofela shows the way for Semesa Rokoduguni

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Guy Williams Doncaster K …. 45pts Tries: Olowofela 1, 7, 46; Roberts 7, Tait 35, Bennett 40, Rokoduguni 80 Conversions: Bennett 7, 35, 40, […]

Will Maisey pulls the strings to set Bedford Blues on right road

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Andy Hastings Bedford B …….. 45pts Tries: James 3, Worley 17, 23; James 36, Le Bourgeois 58, Cousins 79 Conversions: Maisey 4, 18, 24, […]

Injury blow to John Stevens mars trip for Cornish Pirates

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Rob Wildman Nottingham…… 18pts Tries: Clayton 21, Ecclesfield 80 Conversions: Arden 21 Penalties: Arden 18, 60 Cornish P ……… 24pts Tries: Nelson 5, 27, […]

Bedford’s DNA impresses powerhouse Joel Matavesi

22 September 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Joel Matavesi has committed himself to Bedford Blues having been enticed by the club’s expansive and entertaining style of play. Matavesi, 28, […]

Richard Barrington ready to power up Ampthill

15 September 2024 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Richard Barrington has signed up to the Ampthill “Mob” and reassured that he’ll still have a target on his back most weeks. […]

Vilikesa Nairau leads the charge in Coventry’s power pack

15 September 2024 0 comments

By Tom Riley Coventry ………. 45pts Tries: Anstey 17, Ball 21, Nairau 28, Kvesic 34, Ma’asi 37, Opoku 76, Lane 80 Conversions: Mannion 17, 21, […]

Ealing Trailfinders show champion pedigree in second half

15 September 2024 0 comments

By James Orpin Ealing T ………….62pts Tries: Bird-Tulloch 15, Hampson 32, 48; Terry 38, 41; Ehizode 50, Newman 54, Collins 64, Gwynn 70, Shaw 79 […]

With promotion back Ealing Trailfinders will be gunning for Championship glory

15 September 2024 0 comments

Ben Jaycock looks at who could challenge Ben Ward’s west London side as the season prepares to kick off next weekend As the new Championship […]

Rob Powell hoping Richmond can be on right end of fine margins

15 September 2024 0 comments

By Saope Soko Richmond head coach Rob Powell hopes his side can mount a title challenge this season if they turn the narrow defeats from […]

Barney Maddison the new Ealing Trailfinders Women coach

1 September 2024 0 comments

Barney Maddison is the new head coach of Ealing Trailfinders Women following the departure of Giselle Mather.

Caldy make Sharks work hard for their victory

25 August 2024 0 comments

By John Lyon Caldy ……………. 24pts Tries: Penalty 20, Rushton 31, Mitchell 44, Booth 46 Conversions: Barker 44 Sale Sharks … 42pts Tries: Wills 7, […]

Matt Gallagher Foundation: Charity cricket match entertains

18 August 2024 0 comments

Bumper crowds supported a charity all-star cricket match between The Matt Gallagher Foundation and Knowle & Dorridge Cricket Club last week.

Coventry face rivals Birmingham Moseley in first pre-season game

18 August 2024 0 comments

Coventry are only a week out from their first pre-season game against Birmingham Moseley and the pulse is starting to quicken.

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.

Tonga’s Pat Pellegrini quits Coventry for Super Rugby

4 August 2024 0 comments

Coventry’s Premiership promotion bid has been dealt a blow with star man Pat Pellegrini leaving to join Super Rugby’s Moana Pasifika.

Cambridge and Chinnor ruled out of Premiership Cup

4 August 2024 0 comments

Last year’s bottom Championship side Cambridge and newly promoted Chinnor are to be excluded from the 2024/25 Premiership Cup.

Cornish Pirates: Richard ‘Dicky’ Evans knighted

4 August 2024 0 comments

In terms of Rugby Royalty, the Cornish Pirates’ Richard ‘Dicky’ Evans certainly ranks among the historical greats.

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 […]

Halliday calls for clarity on Championship funding issues

7 July 2024 0 comments

By NICK CAIN Championship clubs are calling for the funding issues surrounding next season’s reintroduction of promotion-relegation to be ratified urgently. While a home and […]

Deadlock broken as promotion restored

16 June 2024 0 comments

By NICK CAIN Promotion and relegation between the Premiership and Championship has been restored from next season after the Championship clubs secured significant concessions from […]

Cov’s chief: We’ll drop to Nat leagues

16 June 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Coventry chief executive Nick Johnston says the Championship club remains prepared to drop down to the national leagues if they can’t reach […]

Fresh calls to get rid of the caterpillar ruck

16 June 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Hartpury’s director of rugby John Barnes has called for the eradication of the caterpillar ruck – and for scrums to be left […]

Return of relegation is reason to cheer

16 June 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN The restoration of promotion and relegation, which this column has advocated non-stop since the RFU’s ring-fence moratorium in 2021, is cause for celebration. […]

Championship clubs seeking more talks

9 June 2024 0 comments

Championship clubs have called for more talks with the RFU and claim they face being pushed into bankruptcy unless they receive a fairer deal in […]

Hampson can keep on playing and coaching

9 June 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Craig Hampson has come to an agreement that will allow him to continue playing with Ealing Trailfinders while also remaining as head […]

Pirates move for prop Andrews

2 June 2024 0 comments

Cornish Pirates have signed Coventry prop Ollie Andrews. The 24-year-old spent two years at Coventry having come through Exeter’s academy. “We expect Ollie to be […]

Coventry half-backs the heartbeat with Ealing muscle to add power

2 June 2024 0 comments

CHAMPIONSHIP DREAM TEAM >> THE BEST XV FROM 2023-24 AS VOTED FOR BY OUR REPORTERS Now that the Championship season has run its course, Ben […]

Deadeye Bazalgette on target to steer Hartpury home

26 May 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Hartpury……….. 43pts Tries: Morgan 18, Forrester 33, Short 37, S Smith 79 Conversions: Bazalgette 19, 34, 38, 80 Penalties: Bazalgette 16, 53, […]

Champion Trailfinders cut Blues to shreds

26 May 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Ealing Trailfinders…… 59pts Tries: Uzokwe 9, Bird-Tulloch 21, 30, 72; Kernaghan 28, 51; Terry 60, Collins 67, Sleightholme 76 Conversions: Lancaster 9, […]

Pirates seal runners-up spot with strong finish

26 May 2024 0 comments

By DAVID BALLHEIMER L Scottish ………27pts Tries: Ransom 10, Wilkinson 26, Brown 29, Hobson 41 Conversions: Lloyd-Seed 26, 31 Penalties: Lloyd-Seed 35 C Pirates ………..38pts […]

Mee makes his mark as Nottingham end on high

26 May 2024 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Nottingham……28pts Tries: Mee 26, Graham 32, Stapley 35, Cherry 43 Conversions: Arden 26, 32, 35, 43 Caldy ……………….. 8pts Tries: Barker 18 […]

Parks finds his range to swing it for Ampthill

26 May 2024 0 comments

By STEVE JACKSON Cambridge …….28pts Tries: Asiedu 15, Brownlie 25, Merigan 59, Veness 76 Conversions: James 16, 26, 60, 77 Ampthill …………37pts Tries: Bracken 7, […]

Uzokwe: Championship has got tougher to win

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Despite not getting the chance to secure promotion to the Premiership, back rower Simon Uzokwe says Ealing Trailfinders’ Championship title win means […]

Cattle prods for a proper pathway

19 May 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Cornish Pirates’ coach Gavin Cattle believes this season’s success for the Penzance-based club is a clear indicator that Cornwall could sustain a […]

Tiueti out to make most of Cov move

12 May 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Inspired by his old Uni mate Will Rigg, Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti is hoping that joining Coventry this summer will do wonders for his […]

Morgan has final say to make sure for Hartpury

12 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN WHITE Ampthill …………36pts Tries: Elliott 3, 27; Bracken 24, Jackson 32, 59 Conversions: Parks 4, 25, 28, 33 Penalty: Parks 52 Hartpury……….. 44pts […]

Coventry denied by powerful Pirates

12 May 2024 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR Cornish Pirates ………… 22pts Tries: Hocking 69, Johnson 79 Coventry ……………………..12pts Penalties: Tries: Houston 15, 18, 22, 51 Martin 5, Trinder 32 […]

Doncaster win the battle but Ealing take the title

12 May 2024 0 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster……… 20pts Tries: Fox 25, Margetts 59 Conversions: Bennett 25, 59 Penalties: Bennett 40, 68 Ealing T …………. 12pts Tries: Cornish 9, […]

Barker steps up to snatch it for Caldy at the death

12 May 2024 0 comments

■By JOHN LYON Caldy ……………… 31pts Tries: Royle 9, 23; Gerrard 19, Booth 75 Conversions: Kilcourse 10, 20, 24; Barker 76 Penalties: Barker 80 Cambridge […]

Blues take the honours to land top four finish

12 May 2024 0 comments

By MO SHER L Scottish ……… 31pts Tries: Nutton 3, Ferdinand 14, Musk 40, Osborne 48, Ingall 79 Conversions: Lloyd-Seed 4, 15, Law 80 Bedford […]

Don’t only blame RFU for lack of confidence

12 May 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME IT WAS interesting to read last week’s comments by Simon Halliday in The Rugby Paper and […]

Blame RFU for lack of confidence – Halliday

5 May 2024 0 comments

By NICK CAIN The Cornish Pirates statement that the future of professional rugby in Cornwall is in jeopardy – citing RFU prevarication over promotion as […]