English Championship

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

National One in conflict over salary cap reduction

23 April 2020 0 comments

Not everyone in National League One is in favour of a financial reset

Doncaster Knights deducted five points for breaching RFU’s rules on agents

22 April 2020 0 comments

Championship club found to have breached intermediary regulations and docked points

Ex-Gloucester prop Gareth Denman one of two signings set to hit trail to Ealing

22 April 2020 0 comments

Neil Fissler reports on the two players set to switch Championship clubs, plus Exeter Chiefs extend deal for veteran

John Wells to leave Newcastle Falcons for role in Italy

20 April 2020 0 comments

Defence coach John Wells will take up a new challenge with Rugby Colorno

Dejected Otley go on the offensive after relegation by RFU

15 April 2020 0 comments

Otley are seething at their relegation from National League Two North under the RFU’s formula

Newcastle Falcons Test star to leave despite promotion back to Premiership

9 April 2020 0 comments

Mulling over his options after playing his last game for the Falcons

London Welsh aim to harness their steeped history in rebuild

9 April 2020 0 comments

The Exiles are putting things in place to climb through the leagues

RFU have reached a fair outcome says Hill, as Richmond bounce back

8 April 2020 0 comments

Richmond director of rugby Steve Hill has his say on how the RFU’s formula to decide league outcomes fared

Sale Sharks and Exeter Chiefs confirmed as Premier 15s clubs

6 April 2020 0 comments

Richmond Women and Waterloo Ladies lose place in Premier 15s

RFU reveals final outcomes for leagues across England

3 April 2020 0 comments

Details of who is promoted and who is relegation have been released by RFU

I don’t want a 73-26 thumping to be the last game of my career – Tom Varndell

3 April 2020 0 comments

The Premiership’s record tryscorer talks Yorkshire Carnegie, feeling old, and how important Leicester and Wasps are to him

RFU confirm how promotion and relegation for the Championship and below will work

2 April 2020 0 comments

Outcomes for Championship, Premier 15s, National Leagues and below to be formalised on Friday

Unbeaten Caldy urge RFU to honour their promotion

2 April 2020 0 comments

News that the RFU won’t be making the null and voiding the Men’s season will be welcomed by unbeaten Caldy

Nottingham furlough all playing staff in order to avoid redundancies

31 March 2020 0 comments

Nottingham will seek the government’s assistance in paying its wage bill

Newcastle Falcons place all players and staff on unpaid leave

26 March 2020 0 comments

Championship leaders Newcastle take steps to limit financial impact

Mike Te’o’s season ends at London Scottish before it starts

26 March 2020 0 comments

The unfortunate story of the USA international who landed in London to play in the Championship in the week the shutdown was announced

RFU paint dire picture of its financial security, but pledges rescue package for clubs

25 March 2020 0 comments

The RFU has forecast losses of £45m-50m over the next 18 months due to the coronavirus pandemic

Ealing Trailfinders skipper Rayn Smid pens extension

25 March 2020 0 comments

The Championship club have agreed new deals with senior figures Rayn Smid and Alun Walker

Former Saracens CEO Ed Griffiths pledges to save the Championship

25 March 2020 0 comments

Griffiths plots how the Championship can overcome funding cuts imposed by the RFU

Cornish Pirates director of rugby Chris Stirling to take sabbatical

23 March 2020 0 comments

Chris Stirling will return to Pirates once work begins on the Stadium for Cornwall

Newcastle boss Dean Richards reacts with fury to Ealing’s threat of legal action

23 March 2020 0 comments

“We no longer feel able to keep quiet” – Richards responds to Ealing seeking legal counsel over Championship promotion

We may sue if Newcastle are handed Championship title, say Ealing Trailfinders

23 March 2020 0 comments

Ealing Trailfinders director of rugby Ben Ward says the club will consider pursuing keeping the title fight alive in the Championship

RFU declares end to the 2019-20 season in England

20 March 2020 0 comments

The Premiership has not been affected by the RFU’s announcements

Rob Webber to reunite with old pal Harvey Biljon at Jersey Reds

18 March 2020 0 comments

Webber and Biljon both played together at Wasps

Pools panel may be created to decide final league positions

17 March 2020 0 comments

Football-style panels could convene to judge the results of unplayed matches

National One Rams are head-butted by RFU points deduction

5 March 2020 0 comments

Rams chief executive tells TRP how the RFU’s decision to fine and deduct the club five points was too excessive

Holsey in to bolster Scottish front row

1 March 2020 0 comments

Preview Y Carnegie v L Scottish Today, Kick-off 3pm WORCESTER loanee Lewis Holsey goes straight into a London Scottish front row depleted by injury. Forwards […]

Resurgent Blues make it four wins on the bounce

1 March 2020 2 comments

■By RYAN ROBINSON BEDFORD Blues produced their most complete performance of the season to secure a commanding bonus point victory over Doncaster Knights. A near […]

Five-try Falcons produce best yet

1 March 2020 1 comment

■By TOM INNES Ruck time: Falcons and Reds contest the ball Star turn: Brett Connon on the attack for Falcons, tackled by Kyle Hatherell and […]

Reliable boot of Grimoldby secures Amps win

1 March 2020 1 comment

■By ANDREW BEACHAM AMPTHILLwere good value for this victory on a dismal Gloucestershire evening. Neither side produced much on a saturated pitch, but the visitors […]

Fowkes adds fresh blood for trip down to Pirates

1 March 2020 2 comments

■By ADAM ELLIS Back: Nick De Battista NOTTINGHAMhead coach Neil Fowkes is not underestimating the challenge of facing Cornish Pirates at the Mennaye today despite […]

Korczyk shows his class for Trailfinders

1 March 2020 0 comments

■By NEALE HARVEY DYNAMIC flanker Adam Korczyk shone as Trailfinders survived rotten conditions and a furious second half fightback from Coventry to remain in Newcastle’s […]

Scrum-half to make step up from the Championship to sign for Northampton Saints

27 February 2020 0 comments

Unbeaten Newcastle Falcons are also set to sign a player as they look set to return to the Premiership

England ought to replicate the French system, says Grimoldby

27 February 2020 0 comments

Ampthill fly-half Louis Grimoldby speaks of the gulf between the Championship and the Pro D2 in France, where he played for Massy

Exclusive: Championship threaten to revive play-off system and add to Saracens woe

25 February 2020 0 comments

Life in the Championship next season might not be as straightforward as Saracens were expecting

Ex-RFU chief raps cuts to Championship

25 February 2020 0 comments

Former RFU chairman Graeme Cattermole questions how the savings on the Championship budget cuts will be used elsewhere

Simonds’ guile lights up grim affair in Nottingham

23 February 2020 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN GRIM is a fair word to use to describe this windswept quarter-final but one moment of guile by Nottingham’s centre Will Simonds […]

Deano rues missed tries and lack of organisation

23 February 2020 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Flyer: Adam Radwan scored his second for Falcons JOHNNY Williams’ scintillating break split Scottish’s defence for Adam Radwan to score his second […]

Iona sin-bin helps Ealingblast into last four

23 February 2020 0 comments

By OLI SHAPLEY EALING Trailfinders booked their place in the semi- finals with an outstanding display to see off Jersey Reds at Trailfinders Sports Club. […]

Pirates ready for another ding-dong in Mennaye mud

23 February 2020 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Aspirational: Alan Paver Scoring ace: Pete White PIRATES expect another epic ‘ding-dong’ at Mennaye Field today when Coventry come to town following […]

Eight-try Amps flick switch in second half

23 February 2020 0 comments

By DAN HAWKHEAD IT WAS another tough afternoon for Yorkshire Carnegie as they suffered an eight-try defeat to Ampthill at Emerald Headingley Stadium. Despite conceding […]

RFU CEO Bill Sweeney responds to outcry from Championship clubs

19 February 2020 0 comments

Sweeney justifies cuts to Championship funding in reply to clubs’ letter voicing grave concerns

England prop Harry Williams anticipates damaging impact on second two

18 February 2020 0 comments

The Exeter Chiefs prop speaks out about how cuts to the second tier ‘are not ideal’

Championship cuts: Concerned chairmen issue open letter to Bill Sweeney

18 February 2020 0 comments

The Championship Clubs Committee (CCC) write to RFU CEO Bill Sweeney in The Rugby Paper

Soaring Falcons planning for Prem

16 February 2020 1 comment

Preview Newcastle v Cornish Pirates Today, Kick-off 3pm taking down their Championship opponents ‘man and ball’, with a more aggressive defensive system paying dividends in […]

Trailfinders hit six to gear up for cup quarter-final

16 February 2020 0 comments

By OLI SHAPLEY EALING Trailfinders braved Storm Dennis and did so in impressive style to register a six-try victory over Bedford Blues. Pat Howard, Reon […]

General Jennings puts Cov in command

16 February 2020 0 comments

By DAVID LAWRENCE Eye an opening: Coventry drive forward in the 22 COVENTRY overcame atrocious weather conditions to run in eight tries against basement boys […]

Photo finish as Gillespie wins late foot race

16 February 2020 2 comments

By WARREN KAY A LAST minute try against the run of play by replacement wing Josh Gillespie made the game safe for Ampthill as Scottish […]

Charged up Knights put on a show for captain Matt

16 February 2020 2 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS DONCASTER skipper, second row Matt Challinor, celebrated his 250th appearance for the club by inspiring the Knights to their best performance of […]