English Championship

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

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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: […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]