English Championship

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

stdClass Object ( [id] => 11 [league_name] => English Championship [league_logo_id] => 0 [league_logo_url] => [parent_league_id] => 0 [wp_league_id] => 65 )

Ampthill

Bedford Blues

Caldy

Cornish Pirates

Coventry

Doncaster Knights

Ealing Trailfinders

Hartpury University

Jersey Reds

London Scottish

Nottingham

Richmond

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 […]

RFU’s still killing the dreams of investors

5 May 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK The RFU’s indecision is final. It does not know what to do about promotion-relegation – or, if […]

Pirates take control to close down Nottingham

5 May 2024 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Nottingham…….. 7pts Tries: van der Flier 22 Conversions: Arden 22 Cornish P ……….29pts Tries: Hocking 12, Schwarz 38, Stevens 58, King 64 […]

Eadie has the last laugh for Hartpury

5 May 2024 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Hartpury…………………….. 57pts Tries: Short 4, 14; Morgan 9, Austin 30, 42; Eadie 51, 62; Hunt 74 Conversions: Bazalgette 5, 15, 31, 43, […]

Scottish made us fight all the way, says Cov coach Rae

5 May 2024 0 comments

By PAUL SMITH Coventry ………..27pts Tries: Anstey 16, Wand 35, Chudley 44, Ma’asi 73 Conversions: Mitchell 44, 73 Penalty: Mitchell 27 London Scots ..14pts Tries: […]

Grimoldby drops late winner to stun Knights

5 May 2024 0 comments

By MICKY TAYLOR Bedford Blues..32pts Tries: Howard 14, King 56, O’Connor 62, Woolford 78 Conversions: Maisey 15, 63; Grimoldby 79 Penalty: Maisey 21 Drop Goal: […]

Trailfinders show class in nine-try rampage

5 May 2024 0 comments

By RICKY WESTABY Ealing T………….57pts Tries: Cornish 2, 49; Cordy-Redden 6, Willis 20, O’Brien 27, Willemse 63, Smid 67, Kelleher 72, Williams 77 Conversions: Willis […]