English Championship

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

Deadeye Bragman edges battle of the boots

27 October 2019 1 comment

By JENNY BATES HARTPURY won the kicking battle to take a tight game in miserable conditions at the Alpas Arena on Friday night. Neither team […]

Ealing power up in first half but then switch off

20 October 2019 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN EALING kick-started their season with a record win over Jersey to redeem themselves after last Sunday’s surprising opening defeat to Cornish Pirates. […]

Alvarez leads the charge to leave Knights shellshocked

20 October 2019 0 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS ANoutstanding individual performance by Pirates’ fly-half Javier Alvarez, finishing with 24 points, ensured his team continued their excellent start to the new […]

Job done as Ward’s new boys get 50 up

20 October 2019 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY AMPTHILL skipper Dave Ward hailed a terrific all-round display as the newcomers hit shell-shocked Carnegie for eight. The visitors showed signs of […]

Kessell’s injury-time snipe kills off Blues

20 October 2019 0 comments

By DAVID LAWRENCE COVENTRY claimed maximum points from this nerve-jangling clash thanks to a try in the eighth minute of added time. Replacement scrum-half Tom […]

McConnell marshals his big men to a gutsy victory

20 October 2019 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN VERY gritty was Neil Fowkes’ succinct description of Nottingham’s determined victory over London Scottish on a wet evening at Lady Bay. Nottingham […]

Students given a physical education

20 October 2019 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON NEWCASTLE made it two wins from two in the league with a dominant display over Hartpury that saw them lead 21-0 at […]

Pirates ready for toughest of starts

13 October 2019 1 comment

Preview Cornish Pirates v Ealing T’finders Today, Kick-off 2.30pm CHRIS Stirling sees today’s contest at Mennaye Field as a chance to gauge how his squad […]

Hartpury old boy Hunter puts Knights on the charge

13 October 2019 0 comments

By ANDREW BEACHAM IN A game of few chances and even less entertainment, it was Doncaster who made slightly fewer mistakes and narrowly deserved to […]

Exiles give Falcons an early ‘wake up call’

13 October 2019 1 comment

By DAVID WOODHALL NEWCASTLE got their Championship campaign off to a winning start but it was far from the dominant display expected of the Premiership’s […]

Ill-discipline undoes Amps good work on debut

13 October 2019 1 comment

By WARREN KAY AMPTHILL were given a tough introduction to the Championship by a physical and clinical Nottingham side. Trailing just 17-13 with a minute […]

Reds ride out triple sin-bin to kick of with a bonus win

13 October 2019 2 comments

By TIM PRYOR JERSEY embarked on their eighth consecutive season in the second tier of English rugby with a hard-fought victory over a battling Coventry. […]

I’ll make us competitive but it takes time – Wood

13 October 2019 1 comment

By JON NEWCOMBE YORKSHIRE Carnegie director of rugby Martyn Wood admits the first few weeks of the season have been a steep learning curve for […]

Dream Team: Coventry and former Northampton Saints forward Ben Nutley

10 October 2019 0 comments

We talk to Ben Nutley and ask him to pick a XV of the top players he’s played alongside or against

Champions Trailfinders state case for defence

6 October 2019 0 comments

By DAVID LAWRENCE EALING Trailfinders director of rugby Ben Ward delivered a simple message after watching his side maintain their perfect start in the Championship […]

Eliet’s treble helps Exiles maintain their perfect run

6 October 2019 3 comments

By NEALE HARVEY MATT Eliet’s hat-trick headlined an eight-try salute that made it three wins out of three for London Scottish in the Championship Cup. […]

Knights hit back after mauling by Newcastle

6 October 2019 1 comment

By GUY WILLIAMS Sniper: Knights No.9 Tom James scores the winning try PICTURES: Gareth Lyons DONCASTER recovered well from their thrashing by Newcastle a week […]

Freescoring Falcons hit students for six

6 October 2019 0 comments

By ANDREW BEACHAM FALCONS won comfortably in the end but Hartpury gave a decent account of themselves after last week’s defeat to Jersey. “We were […]

O’Meara grabs four to grow feelgood factor around Pirates

6 October 2019 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN WINGAlex O’Meara had a night to remember in this dominant win for the Pirates over a below-par Nottingham at Lady Bay. The […]

Amps take derby spoils with Aseidu try-double

6 October 2019 2 comments

By THOMAS CARR AMPTHILL took the spoils in the ‘Battle of Bedfordshire’ with winger Kwaku Aseidu a constant thorn in the Blues’ side. Head coach […]

Mikalcius makes the difference for Scottish

29 September 2019 0 comments

London Scottish… 22pts Tries: Hibberd 19, Mikalcius 30, 36, Toolis 43 Conversions: Barnes 43 Nottingham…17pts Tries: Foley 12, Peters 58 Conversions: Dolly 12, 58 Penalties: […]

Set-piece sparkles to get 7-up for Trailfinders

29 September 2019 0 comments

Ealing T’finders… 43pts Tries: Durutalo 11, Joseph 14, Sloan 17, Tovey 40, West 64, 80, Johnston 75 Conversions: Willis 11, 40, Shingler 64, 75 Ampthill…5pts […]

Cut-throat Pirates put Carnegie to sword

29 September 2019 1 comment

Y Carnegie…0pts C Pirates…48pts Tries: Patterson15, 37, 60, Bruzulier 23, Walker 46, Wilson 68, Channon 80 Conversions: Rojas Alvarez 16, 38, 47, 61, 69 Penalties: […]

Nayalo try clinches it for wasteful Cov

29 September 2019 0 comments

■ By DAVID LAWRENCE Coventry…26pts Tries: Dawidiuk 52, Nayalo 64 Conversions: Jennings 52, Maisey 64 Penalties: Jennings 6, 1, 23, Maisey 75 Bedford …17pts Tries: […]

Nagle-Taylor stars as Reds take spoils in scrappy affair

29 September 2019 0 comments

Hartpury …13pts Tries: Tanner 39, Safe 78 Penalties: Bragman 14 Jersey Reds…24pts Tries: Williams 23, 58, Slowick 29, Van Dam 48 Conversions: Dyer 29, 58 […]

Stuart aims to get rusty Falcons back flying

29 September 2019 0 comments

PREVIEW… Newcastle v Doncaster Today, Kick-off 3pm ■ By JON NEWCOMBE DEPLETED Newcastle will go into today’s Championship Cup encounter with Doncaster looking to get […]

Bizarre end sees Blues bag unlikely bonus point

22 September 2019 1 comment

By MARK WOOD Late try: Joe Atkinson scores Threat: Try-scorer James Cordy- Redden on the attack for Trailfinders PICTURE: Nigel Rudgard POTENT Ealing Trailfinders roasted […]

Wacokecoke inserts fizz to Falcons attack

22 September 2019 2 comments

By TOM INNES NEWCASTLE’S first game since relegation from the Premiership saw them overcome a plucky effort from Jersey Reds thanks to a strong last […]

Pitman injury puts dampner on promising Knights start

22 September 2019 0 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS DONCASTER’S first competitive match of the new campaign produced a convincing win by six tries to three at Castle Park. The Knights’ […]

Carnegie part-timers given the runaround

22 September 2019 1 comment

By ROB WILDMAN NOTTINGHAM’S processional victory by 13 tries to nil served to highlight the severe problems facing Yorkshire Carnegie. “No one said it was […]

Barnes fires late Scottish winner

22 September 2019 0 comments

By MARTIN WOOLLATT THE boot of Dan Barnes decided proceedings, with the London Scottish flyhalf making amends for an earlier penalty miss to kick the […]

Plucky Amps given a nasty welcome by Cov big guns

22 September 2019 1 comment

By CIARAN THOMAS AMPTHILL were given a harsh welcome to life in the second tier as they were overwhelmed in the opening quarter as Coventry […]

Long-distance Joe Rees gets close and personal for Bournemouth’s new season

6 September 2019 0 comments

Bournemouth are the new team in National Two South and captain Rees has been a dedicated figure behind their roaring success

Mennaye Field remains at the heart of Cornish Pirates plans

29 August 2019 0 comments

The Championship club don’t plan on abandoning their current home when the Stadium for Cornwall is completed

RFU ratify Yorkshire Carnegie’s CVA process, meaning no points deduction

9 August 2019 0 comments

Yorkshire Carnegie, who ran up debts of £6m last season, have spared themselves a 28-point deduction and will play in the Championship this season

Yorkshire Carnegie’s financial woe raises player welfare risks, says Dan Temm

6 August 2019 0 comments

After starring for Carnegie despite their off-the-field problems last season, flanker Daniel Temm reflects on what next for the Championship club and the medical bills sent to some players

Martyn Wood hunts 32 new players at bare-bones Yorkshire Carnegie

2 August 2019 0 comments

Carnegie’s new director of rugby talks to TRP about the sizeable task on his hand rebuilding the squad

Cipriani can inspire me to get back to my best, says Newcastle’s Dominic Waldouck

2 August 2019 0 comments

Varsity Cup winner Waldouck talks about his time spent at Wasps with Danny Cipriani

Name change for Premier 15s runners-up Harlequins

30 July 2019 0 comments

“Our name is our identity, it’s what we stand for and what we are about”

Aspiring Coventry

14 July 2019 0 comments

JON NEWCOMBE reveals another big signing as Coventry aim to mount challenge Ampthill IN: Kwaku Asiedu (Coventry), Dave Ward (Harlequins), Darryl Veenendaal (Nottingham) OUT: Karl […]

splurge on Purdy

14 July 2019 1 comment

(Wasps) also boost the squad. Bell said: “Ealing’s a club on the up who like to throw the ball around and, from playing against them, […]

Sale Sharks to partner with troubled Yorkshire Carnegie?

4 July 2019 0 comments

There are concerns for the future of Carnegie’s famed academy after members agree CVA

REVEALED: Sneak peek at GK IPA Championship fixtures 2019-20

26 June 2019 0 comments

The Rugby Paper can reveal who all fixtures on the opening and final day of the Championship season

EXCLUSIVE: Yorkshire Carnegie facing oblivion after failure to pay debts

4 June 2019 0 comments

Yorkshire Carnegie and chief executive Gary Hetherington issue statement after TRP’s story

Ealing Trailfinders back Premiership-Championship play-off plan on one condition

30 May 2019 0 comments

Ealing Trailfinders owner Mike Gooley wants more reward for the likes of Jersey and Cornish Pirates for developing top tier players

London Scottish confirm Nic Rouse to leave, Graham Steadman named head coach

16 May 2019 0 comments

London Scottish backs and attack coach Graham Steadman will assume first-team duties for the 2019-20 season, replacing current head coach Nic Rouse. An off-season restructure […]

TRP’s Championship Dream Team XV 2018-19

11 May 2019 0 comments

Jon Newcombe has canvassed opinion from the second tier to select a dream XV

Willis leads Trailfinders to Cup – now for the Prem!

5 May 2019 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY First blood: Seb Steggman breaks for the opener PICTURE: PRiME Media Images CRAIG Willis showed why Ealing Trailfinders were so keen to […]

Cipriani on shortlist for star player

5 May 2019 0 comments

GLOUCESTER fly-half Danny Cipriani, 31, has been nominated for the Rugby Players Association Player of the Year award. Northampton’s Cobus Reinach, Sale’s Faf de Klerk […]