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

American international signs for London Scottish

22 August 2017 0 comments

London Scottish have added international quality to their front-row after completing the signing of American tighthead Dino Waldren. Waldren has earned seven caps for the […]

London Welsh double act with a five-year masterplan

18 August 2017 0 comments

The John Dawes suite at Old Deer Park is adorned with memorabilia from the bygone age when London Welsh were the finest club side in […]

Charles Piutau signs for Bristol

11 August 2017 0 comments

Bristol have made a major coup on the transfer market with the signing of All Black Charles Piutau from the start of the 2018/19 season. […]

Pitman out to prove how good he can be after mental health issues

11 August 2017 0 comments

Rory Pitman is loving his new life in Jersey but the big Welsh No.8 has revealed he needed the help of mental health specialists only […]

Lydon plots route to Ireland, via Ealing

26 July 2017 0 comments

Peter Lydon still dreams of playing Test rugby for Ireland and he believes switching from London Scottish to Ealing Trailfinders will help him in his […]

Richmond captain Warden on full alert for next test of endurance

5 July 2017 0 comments

Richmond retained their Championship status last season but club captain Will Warden reckons doing so again will pose a greater challenge. Being the only amateur […]

Front row pair signs new Bedford contract

15 June 2017 0 comments

Bedford Blues have increased their squad size for next Championship season with prop Dave Spelman and hooker Jacob Fields both signing new deals. Spelman, who […]

Flanker quits Newcastle for Ealing

16 May 2017 0 comments

Dan Temm will swap life beside the River Tyne for life near the Thames when he joins Ealing Trailfinders from Newcastle over the summer. The […]

Pressure on Ford to keep Carnegie moving

14 May 2017 1 comment

By JON NEWCOMBE JOE FORD admits that it will take a huge effort from Yorkshire Carnegie to beat London Irish and give him a winning […]

Bell ready for battle with friendly foe Joe

14 May 2017 1 comment

HOT shotsTommy Bell and Joe Ford used to battle it out in training but there will be much more at stake over the next two […]

Five-try Exiles put Knights to the sword

7 May 2017 1 comment

By STEWART McCULLOUGH LONDON Irish director of rugby Nick Kennedy cut a delighted figure after his side booked their place in the Championship final with […]

Ford puts boot into brave Ealing as Carnegie

7 May 2017 0 comments

By COLIN NEWBOULT On target: Joe Ford THIS battle may have been lost but, after a first leg dismantling of Ealing Trailfinders, the war was […]

Irish hold most aces, but there were plenty of kings in the pack and backs

7 May 2017 0 comments

by Nick Verdier London Irish were head and shoulders above any other side during the regular season but many individuals have stood out to make […]

Carnegie in control after their first half try blitz

30 April 2017 0 comments

By JEREMY INSON YORKSHIRE Carnegie ran in four tries away to Ealing Trailfinders to take a firm grip on their play-off semifinal. It came after […]

Griffiths: We musn’t squander possession again

30 April 2017 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE DONCASTER boss Clive Griffiths insists it won’t be game over for his side if they fail to beat London Irish at Castle […]

Exiles going back to basics

30 April 2017 1 comment

By NICK VERDIER PLAY-OFF rugby is finally here for London Irish and director of rugby Nick Kennedy has urged his players to keep it as […]

Smith aiming to bow out in style

23 April 2017 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Chasing another contract: Yorkshire Carnegie’s second row Matt Smith YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE centurion Matt Smith hopes he and his fellow leavers can sign […]

Munro thrilled to be in shop window

23 April 2017 0 comments

USING Bristol’s Will Hurrell as an inspiration, Ealing centre Joe Munro hopes that a series of good performances in the Championship play-offs, starting against Carnegie, […]

Cusack confident of upset

23 April 2017 0 comments

THE odds will be against Doncaster in the semi-final but fly-half Declan Cusack is adamant they have what it takes to send London Irish crashing. […]

This won’t be an easy ride – Jebb

23 April 2017 1 comment

By NICK VERDIER LONDON Irish were clear winners of the regular season but flanker Jebb Sinclair knows the Knights will be a different proposition next […]

Richards: RFU must bring in Championship age cap

22 April 2017 0 comments

London Scottish head coach Peter Richards reckons the Championship is failing English player development and says squad age limits are the answer. Richards, who is […]

Miserable end for Richards as Exiles cave again

16 April 2017 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN A SOLOtry by replacement Charles Thacker on the final play saw Nottingham end their hoodoo in the capital with a stylish eight-try […]

Paver fury as Pirates let slip big lead for second week

16 April 2017 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR C Pirates …40pts Tries: Duncan 10, 40, 43, Day 14, Arnott 22, O’Meara 69 Conversions: Cargill 10, 14, 22, 40, 43 Bedford […]

Reds finish on high and focus turns to Munster

16 April 2017 1 comment

By TOM INNES Jersey Reds …28pts Tries: Kolo’ofa’i 19, Argyle 32, Robling 67, Adair 77 Conversions: Cope 19, 32, 67, 77 Richmond …17pts Tries: Peters […]

Dogged Aylesford fight back to book final place

16 April 2017 1 comment

By NICK VERDIER WOMEN’S COLUMN THE Women’s Premiership will have a new winner next Sunday after Bristol and Aylesford Bulls reached the final for the […]

Kennedy calls for improved discipline in play-off return

16 April 2017 2 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster …5pts Tries: Lewis 80 London Irish …22pts Tries: Lewington 40, Penalty try 44, McKibbon 47 Conversions: Bell 44, 47 Penalties: Bell […]

Disjointed phony war goes way of Carnegie

16 April 2017 0 comments

By COLIN NEWBOULT Y Carnegie …33pts Tries: Beck 13, Thraves 28, Beesley 44, Forsyth 52, Mayhew 60 Conversions: Seals 14, 29, 54, 61 Ealing …20pts […]

Biljon fury as Jersey face Friday night Cup fiasco

14 April 2017 0 comments

Frustrated Jersey rugby director Harvey Biljon has blasted B&I Cup organisers for turning what should be his club’s biggest-ever day into an invisible sideshow. The […]

No mercy as Irish run in a devastating dozen tries

9 April 2017 0 comments

By STEWART Mc CULLOUGH London Irish …82pts Tries: Lewington 6, 39, 80, Tikoirotuma 15, 71, Cowan 28, 59, McKibbin 41, 66, Hoskins 50, Brophy Clews […]

Trailfinders book third place in super style

9 April 2017 1 comment

By JEREMY INSON Ealing T’finders…79pts Tries: Munro 3, Walker 9, 31, Mantella 14, 71, Clegg 26, Ellis 34, 67, Harries 48, 77, Davies 79 Conversions: […]

Flockhart shows his class again to

9 April 2017 0 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster…24pts Tries: Lewis 10, Flockhart 54 Conversion: Flockhart 10 Penalties: Flockhart: 2, 8, 30, 72 Jersey…20pts Tries: Penalty 21, Armstrong 80 Conversions: […]

Captain Ryan hits hat-trick to seal home play-off spot

9 April 2017 1 comment

By MARK WOOD Bedford …27pts Tries: Adamson 11; Tapley 26; Fields 59; Sharp 80+2 Conversions: Sharp 27, 60 Penalty: Sharp 8 Y Carnegie…43pts Tries: Burrows […]

Davies’ late strike lifts Richmond off bottom

9 April 2017 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Richmond…35pts Tries: Walford 19, McLean-Dents 28, Woodward 43, Grimstone 47, Davies 77 Conversions: Kirby 20, 29, 44, 48, 78 Cornish Pirates…32pts Tries: […]

Jersey end Exiles’ run to give Biljon his greatest day

26 March 2017 2 comments

Jersey 15pts Tries: Scott 32, Graham 74 Conversion: Sheedy 74 Penalty: Sheedy 39 London Irish 11pts Tries: Steele 15 Penalty: Brophy Clews 48 Drop goal: […]

Burns runs hot as Scots get lesson in finishing

26 March 2017 0 comments

London Scottish 22pts Tries: Atkinson 58, Fergusson 61, 79; Holland 80 Conversions: Lydon 79 Bedford Blues 41pts Tries: Adamson 5, 39; Tapley 23, Burns 56, […]

Boyce determined to leave Carnegie a farewell present

26 March 2017 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Yorkshire Carnegie v Richmond Today. Kick-off 3pm, Headingley HARLEQUINS-bound prop Lewis Boyce insists there is no panic in the Yorkshire Carnegie […]

Timid Titans given 7-try thumping after Burnell’s exit

26 March 2017 0 comments

Rotherham 7pts Tries: Tresidder 19 Conversions: Ryan 19. Nottingham 46pts Tries: Thacker 24, Evans 40, Stevens 58, 63, Stephenson 69, Langley 74, Worth 76 Conversions: […]

Knights are charging on in pursuit of derby clash

26 March 2017 0 comments

PREVIEW… Cornish Pirates v Doncaster Today. Kick-off 3pm, Mennaye Field By JON NEWCOMBE Expectation: Paul Jarvis DONCASTER KNIGHTS’ centurion Paul Jarvis says he would love […]

Premiership must take control of Championship

23 March 2017 0 comments

Nottingham chairman Alistair Bow fears Championship rugby will continue its downward spiral unless Premiership Rugby are handed control of the league. Amid a backdrop of […]

Haining on high for Jersey to leave Titans grounded

19 March 2017 0 comments

By TOM INNES Jerseym…17pts Tries: Kerrod 45, Haining 72 Conversions: Sheedy 34, 72 Penalties: Sheedy 52 Rotherham …9pts Penalties: Millar 10, 22, Ryan 51 JERSEY […]

13-man Exiles snap their losing streak with early derby onslaught

19 March 2017 1 comment

By LUKE JARMYN Richmond …8pts Tries: Uren 72 Penalties: Kirby 17 L Scottish …19pts Tries: Stevenson 4, Lydon 8, Sheppard 19 Conversions: Lydon 5, 9 […]

Carpenter: Knights are charged for play-off run

19 March 2017 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Doncaster Knights v Yorkshire Carnegie Today. Kick-off 3pm DONCASTER’S Canadian star Aaron Carpenter is predicting a titanic back row battle as […]

Wages of sin don’t prove too costly for Trailfinders

19 March 2017 1 comment

By JEREMY INSON Ealing .59pts Tries: penalty 3, Lewis Jones 12, 31, Harries 22, Mantella 26, 48, Davies 71, Munro 79 Conversions: Clegg 3, 12, […]

Just topping from Topsy but Pirates fire warning

19 March 2017 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY London Irish …39pts Tries: Ojo 7, 80, Paice 14, De Chaves 22, Ransom 25, 30, Lewington 28 Conversions: Marshall 22, 25 Cornish […]

Lichfield in shock as they miss out on Super league

10 March 2017 0 comments

Lichfield Ladies director of rugby Becky Williams reckons the RFU have made a “mistake” in excluding the “best club in the country” from the newly […]

Trailfinders hit Titans for six after red card for Normandale

5 March 2017 0 comments

By JEREMY INSON Rotherham 12pts Tries: Rees 47, Collins 60 Conversions: Ryan 60 E Trailfinders 51pts Tries: Murphy 15, 23, Carter 29, Harries 37, Smid […]

Ruthless Knights put Scottish to the sword

5 March 2017 2 comments

By LUKE JARMYN London Scottish 14pts Tries: Kenny 12, Atkinson 45 Conversions: Lydon 13, 4 Doncaster 48pts Tries: Lewis 26, Flockhart 31, 65, Challinor 37, […]