English Championship

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

TJ Ioane brings Samoan pedigree to London Irish

25 July 2018 0 comments

Declan Kidney has added a prop, a lock, and now the double-barrel guns of a back row

Hartpury sign five Gloucester players on dual registration

18 July 2018 0 comments

‘He’s got a big future in the game’ says Hartpury head coach Mark Cornwall of one of the quintet

Richie Vernon brings Test pedigree to London Scottish

5 July 2018 0 comments

By Neale Harvey Marquee signing Richie Vernon is ready to spearhead London Scottish‘s charge for a top six Championship place after quitting Glasgow for a […]

Stephen Myler relishing new challenge at London Irish

28 June 2018 0 comments

After the release of the GK IPA Championship fixtures last week, Exiles fly-half Stephen Myler talked to Neale Harvey

Steve Boden banking on that Yorkshire grit

14 June 2018 0 comments

“There are a lot of teams out there spending a lot of money and, for one of the first times in many years, we are not one of them,” says the Carnegie head coach

Declan Kidney appointed director of rugby at London Irish

22 May 2018 0 comments

Declan Kidney takes the top job at London Irish

The Rugby Paper’s Championship Team of the Season

12 May 2018 0 comments

Bristol dominate our XV, but there are some worthy mentions for other stars who were certainly in with a shout…

Williams bolts from the blocks but Carnegie hit back

29 April 2018 1 comment

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL MATT WILLIAMS scored one of the fastest tries in rugby history but it was Yorkshire Carnegie who ended their campaign with a […]

Merciless Bristol give Premiership performance

29 April 2018 1 comment

By EMMA SMITH PROMOTED Bristol enjoyed a champagne send-off as they hit back from 17-7 down to romp to a 61-24 victory at Hartpury. After […]

Nottingham run riot to secure first half bonus

29 April 2018 0 comments

By GEORGE LAWRENCE Nottingham …41 Bedford …21 NOTTINGHAM secured a big bonus point win over Bedford at The Bay on Tuesday night. Vili Hakalo, Will […]

Notts give Costello the perfect send off

29 April 2018 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN NOTTINGHAM capped their campaign by winning a second game in four days at Lady Bay. After the 41-21 victory over Bedford on […]

Magnificent 7 for resurgent Pirates

29 April 2018 2 comments

On fire: Chris Morgan of Cornish Pirates surges for the try-line PICTURE: JackDawe Photography By RHOD MITCHELL IT WAS a magnificent five-try, record-breaking seventh win […]

Fans bring the glory days back to Pooler

29 April 2018 1 comment

Saying thanks: Ben Jeffreys takes the trophy to see Pooler volunteer Pat Sheppherd During the half-century since his Pontypool debut as a 17-year-old schoolboy, Graham […]

Andy’s right, we don’t know what’s going on!

29 April 2018 2 comments

THERE are still eight months to go but the prize for the most ironic quote of the sporting year looks as though it has been […]

Double at the death sees Tupai off in style

29 April 2018 0 comments

By MARK WOOD A GRANDSTAND finish saw Bedford score two tries at the death to claim a bonus point victory and secure a third-place Championship […]

Slow start lets Slowik set pace for Jersey

29 April 2018 0 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS Tense: Thomas James beats Kieran Hardy to score IN AN extraordinary end of season game at Castle Park, Jersey finished their campaign […]

Reds weather early storm to bring up half ton in style

15 April 2018 1 comment

By TOM INNES JERSEY battled back from a 22-point deficit to claim an eventually comfortable win in their final home league outing. Visitors Nottingham enjoyed […]

Morahan’s the party pin-up boy for Bristol

15 April 2018 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Going up in the world: Bristol celebrate their promotion Irresistible: Luke Morahan scores LUKE Morahan scored four tries to celebrate his 28th […]

Duncan’s the hat-trick hero again for Cornish Pirates

15 April 2018 1 comment

By MARK WOOD PIRATES’ hat-trick hero Tom Duncan admitted it is becoming a bit of a habit after notching a treble against Bedford for a […]

Ealing bag early bonus but Students prove mettle

15 April 2018 0 comments

By JONATHAN LANDI EALING rebounded from their shock defeat at Doncaster by running in eight tries against a game Hartpury outfit. Head coach Alex Codling […]

Cheshire helps Titans go down with a bang

15 April 2018 1 comment

By GUY WILLIAMS RELEGATED Rotherham bid goodbye to home matches in the Championship in truly dramatic style with an amazing victory against their West Yorkshire […]

Sharp nails late kick to give Scots local pride

15 April 2018 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN A COOLLY-taken penalty kick at the death by Scottish fly-half Jake Sharp saw the Exiles get their second win in a row […]

14-man Esher stun Cambridge

15 April 2018 0 comments

By STEVE JACKSON Cambridge …22 Esher …32 CAMBRIDGE contrived to put themselves under pressure by failing to beat a 14-man Esher side who deserved their […]

Caldy seal their Nat One status

15 April 2018 0 comments

By JAMIE RUSSELL Caldy …42 Blackheathh ..18 A GLORIOUS day with stunning rugby from Caldy confirmed their National One status for another year. They thrived […]

Promoted Coventry humbled by Amps

15 April 2018 0 comments

By WARREN KAY Ampthill …22pts Coventry …10pts Threat: Ampthill’s try-scorer Joe Bercis makes a break PICTURES: Tim Bartlett AMPTHILL head coach Paul Turner was thrilled […]

Vaioleti helps Darlington past poor Fylde

15 April 2018 4 comments

By KEVIN ROBINSON Darlington …40 Fylde …7 TALITE Vaioleti grabbed a pair of tries as Darlington made light work of relegated Fylde Although already consigned […]

Stapley double sees the Students through

15 April 2018 1 comment

By OSCAR MORTIMER L’boro Stu …32 Bishop’s S …14 JACK Stapley scored two tries as Loughborough Students eased past Bishop’s Stortford. The visitors were first […]

Late Hamilton try offers OAs hope

15 April 2018 0 comments

By JON EDWARDS Old Eltham …29 Old Alban …34 A TRY five minutes from time by Ross Hamilton clinched a vital victory for Old Albanian […]

Shepherd leaves it late for winner

15 April 2018 1 comment

By PADDY MARSH Plymouth Alb 28 B’ham M …24 PLYMOUTH Albion snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when fullback Matt Shepherd scored the match-winning […]

Green is the hero with late Ionians penalty

15 April 2018 1 comment

By WARREN MUGGLETON Rosslyn Pk …36 Hull Ionians ..37 ISAAC Green’s late penalty gave Hull Ionians a vital victory against battling Rosslyn Park at the […]

Howard Packman makes switch from Bedford Blues to Ealing

12 April 2018 0 comments

Former Saints winger becomes latest recruit for Ben Ward’s Ealing

Carnegie look to build on improved showing

8 April 2018 1 comment

Preview York’ Carnegie v Jersey Reds Today, Kick-off 3pm YORKSHIRE Carnegie return to Emerald Headingley today to face rivals Jersey Reds looking to cement a […]

Packman try steals victory at the death for Bedford

8 April 2018 2 comments

By EMMA SMITH HARTPURY staged a remarkable comeback to head into the final three minutes 21-19 up against high-flying Bedford only to be denied victory […]

Champions Bristol vow to wow the home fans

8 April 2018 1 comment

By ROB WILDMAN JORDAN Crane has ordered his Bristol team to finish off their Championship promotion season in style next Friday at home to Doncaster. […]

Seven-try Scottish celebrate maiden win of 2018

8 April 2018 2 comments

By LUKE JARMYN SCOTTISH winger Matt Williams stepped inside opposite number Jake Henry and raced past two Rotherham defenders to round off a dominant seven-try […]

Outstanding Knights inflict biggest defeat on Trailfinders

8 April 2018 0 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS IN ONE of the biggest shocks of the Championship season, Doncaster destroyed the Londoners by seven tries to three as second placed […]

Cattle rallies troops after painful cup exit to Ealing

8 April 2018 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN CORNISH Pirates coach Gavin Cattle wants his side to bounce back from being knocked out 28-25 of the British & Irish Cup […]

Lyons takes centre stage after Eden’s early exit

1 April 2018 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN NOTTINGHAMplaymaker Gearoid Lyons’ class made the difference as both teams struggled at a swamp-like Athletic Ground. The Green & Whites adapted better […]

Ealing hold firmto deny spirited late fight-back

1 April 2018 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY No stopping him: Sam Dickinson powers to the line for Ealing PICTURES: Lissy Tomlinson EALING captain Kieran Murphy set his sights on […]

Reds roll into semis with Hardy at the double

1 April 2018 0 comments

By TOM INNES JERSEY Reds scored two tries in each half to claim a home semi-final, overcoming a battling Doncaster Knights side in difficult conditions. […]

Bristol prop Jack O’Connell to make switch to Ealing Trailfinders

29 March 2018 0 comments

Loosehead to make switch from Ashton Gate to Bristol’s main promotion challengers

Pirates confident of revenge mission

25 March 2018 0 comments

Preview Cornish Pirates v London Scottish Today, Kick-off 2.30pm CORNISH Pirates welcome London Scottish to the Mennaye Field keen to avenge as 32-26 defeat suffered […]

Bristol bailed out by boot of Irish ace Madigan

25 March 2018 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING IAN Madigan kicked six penalties to save Bristol from the embarrassment of successive home defeats and gain a valuable four points towards […]

Nottingham made to pay for failing to get Carter

25 March 2018 1 comment

By PAUL THOMAS Spreading the play: Nottingham’s Darryl Veenendaal EALING Trailfinders made it three wins in a row with a six-try victory over Nottingham at […]

Ronnie roars home to steal bonus point win

25 March 2018 1 comment

By LUKE JARMYN INSIDE-CENTRE Ronnie McLean-Dents’ dash for the line completed Richmond’s revival and led to scenes of jubilation as the home side stole a […]

Time’s up for Rotherham after 14-year stay in tier two

25 March 2018 0 comments

By TOM INNES A FINAL quarter rally by the home side saw Jersey claim maximum points and condemn Rotherham to relegation from the Championship after […]

Lane points way with first half try-double

25 March 2018 0 comments

By MARK WOOD DEPARTING Blues hooker Tom Lindsay was delighted to get one over on his old friend Tom Hicks as Bedford claimed a thrilling […]

Captain Mayhew commits to Carnegie

18 March 2018 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Upbeat: Richard Mayhew FRESH from the news that first-team coaches Jimmy Lowes and Steve Boden have agreed one-year contract extensions, inspirational captain […]

Blues aim to make it four wins from four

18 March 2018 1 comment

Preview Nottingham v Bedford Blues Today, Kick-off 3pm BEDFORD head into the game off the back of an impressive 41-22 win over Yorkshire Carnegie which […]