English Championship

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

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Ampthill

Bedford Blues

Caldy

Cornish Pirates

Coventry

Doncaster Knights

Ealing Trailfinders

Hartpury University

Jersey Reds

London Scottish

Nottingham

Richmond

George must find some form… fast

5 March 2017 1 comment

WARREN Gatland is going to be spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting his 2017 Lions wings. The head coach has such a variety […]

Tom Arscott EXCLUSIVE: I thought it was the end of my career

1 March 2017 0 comments

By JON NECOMBE Yorkshire Carnegie signing Tom Arscott feared he was “damaged” goods and might never play professionally again after his abrupt sacking by Sale. […]

Trailfinders prove they’re proper play-off contenders

26 February 2017 0 comments

By MATT WRIGHT EALINGhad to fight hard in picking up their third win in a row, but a strong finish at Bedford – as well […]

Plunder in Leeds gives Pirates top four vision

26 February 2017 1 comment

By STEVE RIGBY Rested: Alex Cheesman PERFORMANCEhas been the Cornish Pirates’ focal point this season but following their stunning win at Yorkshire Carnegie, Alex Cheesman […]

Reds resist late charge to finally get one over Carnegie

26 February 2017 1 comment

By TOM INNES IN A tense, compelling contest Jersey held on to break a run of nine straight defeats to Carnegie, who have lost consecutive […]

All Black Franks is difference for Irish

26 February 2017 0 comments

By GEOFF WINTERS LONDON Irish boss Nick Kennedy insists his side need to improve following yesterday’s bonus-point derby victory. Kennedy, 34, who was a mainstay […]

Another big Richmond win brings Titans into range

26 February 2017 1 comment

By LUKE JARMYN ROCK-SOLIDdefence that kept a clean sheet for 77 minutes plus three first half tries saw Richmond win their second home game in […]

Bridge too far for Richmond as Trailfinders play it tough

19 February 2017 0 comments

By JEREMY INSON EALINGTrailfinders stayed in the play-off race after a four-try victory over their rivals from across Kew Bridge. There was little neighbourly love […]

Rampant Pirates put Carnegie to sword

19 February 2017 0 comments

By DAVE CRAVEN DELIGHTED jointhead coach Gavin Cattle hailed his Cornish Pirates side for “pushing to the next level” when stunning promotion-chasing Yorkshire Carnegie. They […]

Jersey are forced to hang on after

19 February 2017 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN A SEASON-high half-time away score of 31 points for Jersey sealed a bonus point win and completed a seasonal hat-trick over the […]

Blues cruise in as Calladine blasts Titans’ amateur hour

19 February 2017 0 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS ROTHERHAMTitans can be extremely grateful there is no relegation from the Championship this season because on current form they look mediocre at […]

Nottingham no match for Knights on charge

19 February 2017 0 comments

By STEVE KENNY DONCASTER maintained their push for a play-off place by sweeping aside a flimsy Nottingham challenge at muddy Lady Bay. A win by […]

Bryan Redpath: Coaches are now under soccer-style pressure

16 February 2017 0 comments

Yorkshire Carnegie head coach Bryan Redpath has revealed why a combination of declining job security and doubts over the future structure of English professional rugby […]

Pirates announce first signing of next season

10 February 2017 0 comments

Cornish Pirates have announced that Bedford prop Christian Judge is their first new signing ahead of the 2017/18 season. The 23-year-old has signed a two-year […]

Bedford duo sign new contracts

10 February 2017 0 comments

Bedford has secured the services of captain Michael Le Bourgeois and prop Ben Cooper who have both signed new deals to stay at the Championship […]

London Irish statement on move to Brentford

10 February 2017 0 comments

London Irish appear one step closer to securing a move back to London with the news that Hounslow Council has said that rugby can be […]

Penberthy drops in late to wreck Knights day

5 February 2017 0 comments

■ By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster …………21pts Tries: Heaney 49, Carpenter 75 Conversions: Flockhart 75 Penalties: Flockhart 17, 65, 69 Ealing ………………..29pts Tries: Maddison 59, Munro […]

Rayer’sblast at ‘shocking’ Blues after 7-try beating

5 February 2017 0 comments

Richmond…………49pts Tries: Davies 11, Allcock 19, Stuart 26, Mitchell 38, 77, Woodward 50, Browne 63 Conversions: Kirby 12, 20, 27, 39, 51, 64, Gabbitass 78 […]

Pirates primed for Exiles onslaught

5 February 2017 2 comments

Preview Cornish P v L Scottish CORNISH Pirates will be fresh to take on London Scottish at the Mennaye today but head coach Gavin Cattle […]

Kennedy brings back the big guns

5 February 2017 0 comments

Preview London Irish v Nottingham NICK Kennedy is gearing up for a stern test against play-off chasing Nottingham as Exiles look to maintain their unbeaten […]

Nilson knows lineout accuracy must improve for derby clash

5 February 2017 1 comment

By JON NEWCOMBE DOUBLE centurion Phil Nilsen hoping promotionchasing Carnegie can put in a complete 80-minute performance today after stuttering to victory over London Scottish. […]

EXCLUSIVE: RFU made Welsh survival ‘impossible’

1 February 2017 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY London Welsh chairman Gareth Hawkins has blasted the RFU over his club’s demise, accusing English rugby‘s governing body of “moving the goalposts” […]

London Welsh are no more

24 January 2017 0 comments

The days of London Welsh as a professional club are over after the RFU refused them permission to stay in the Championship. The Exiles went […]

Bristol fly-half loaned to Jersey

13 January 2017 0 comments

Bristol fly-half Callum Sheedy has joined Championship side Jersey on a dual-registration agreement. Sheedy has missed the majority of the 2016/17 campaign through injury and […]

Redpath to leave Yorkshire Carnegie at the end of the season

10 January 2017 0 comments

Yorkshire Carnegie have confirmed that Head Coach Bryan Redpath will leave the club at the end of the current Greene King IPA Championship season to […]

Canadian skipper links up with Doncaster

10 January 2017 0 comments

Canada captain Aaron Carpenter has joined Doncaster from Championship rivals London Welsh. The back-row arrives from the Exiles with a wealth of Championship experience having […]

It’s too tough here to ever relax, says Ben Franks

4 January 2017 0 comments

World Cup-winning Kiwi prop Ben Franks reckons Championship forwards are every bit as physical as those at international level – a fact that ensures he […]

EXCLUSIVE: Premiership giants will ‘buddy up’ to save the Championship

20 December 2016 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Premiership Rugby could assume control of the Championship as part of revolutionary plans to overhaul the top two tiers of English club […]

London Welsh face job losses to keep club from the cliffs

1 December 2016 0 comments

London Welsh‘s players face an uncertain future after new chairman Gareth Hawkins revealed the troubled club are abandoning their Premiership dream. Hawkins, who took charge […]

London Welsh statement on financial situation

24 November 2016 0 comments

“London Welsh Rugby Club can confirm that the publicised investment in to the Club from a Californian-based group has unfortunately failed to materialise as […]

New Year verdict for London Irish’s London return

17 November 2016 0 comments

London Irish chief executive Bob Casey has revealed the club will discover in January if they will be allowed to ground share with Brentford at […]

EXCLUSIVE: RFU face uproar over wage cap proposals

22 September 2016 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Controversial RFU plans to impose swingeing wage caps on clubs below the Championship from 2018-19 are set to meet widespread opposition, particularly […]

Future’s looking Bright now at Ealing – Alex Codling

24 August 2016 0 comments

No nonsense Ealing head coach Alex Codling says slackers will not be tolerated as the Championship outfit bid to improve their league position. Codling, who […]

Greig Tonks to spearhead Irish bid for promotion

17 August 2016 0 comments

London Irish might be down but they are definitely not out and Scotland international Greig Tonks hopes last season’s frustration will fuel a promotion-winning season […]

Ground move – London Irish statement

16 August 2016 0 comments

Over the past decade London Irish has been linked with a number of possible stadium developments in London as the club kept the possibility of […]

Rory Bartle benefitting from staying English qualified

12 August 2016 0 comments

London Scottish flanker Rory Bartle describes snubbing Wales‘ U20s as “a decision I had to make” as he ramps up his bid for a Premiership […]

Ben Pienaar named London Welsh captain

9 August 2016 0 comments

London Welsh have named Ben Pienaar as club captain for the upcoming Championship season. Pienaar, 29, joined the Exiles in 2013 and helped the club […]

London Irish confirm Championship squad

5 July 2016 0 comments

London Irish have confirmed their first team squad ahead of their first ever season in the Championship. Director of Rugby Nick Kennedy said: “It’s great […]

How Yorkshire Carnegie find those JWC gems

2 July 2016 0 comments

Made in Yorkshire, won in Lancashire. It may be stretching the point, but, with five players involved, there’s no disputing Yorkshire Carnegie played a significant […]

Top agent calls for RFU to address Tier Two welfare

23 June 2016 0 comments

The supply line of Championship players to the Premiership will dry up unless England’s second tier undergoes a major overhaul.

EXCLUSIVE: Tom Coventry quits to leave London Irish in turmoil

21 June 2016 0 comments

By Neale Harvey London Irish‘s plans have been plunged into turmoil following director of rugby Tom Coventry‘s decision to quit ahead of their return to […]

Gloucester stint made me a better player says Stevie McColl

17 June 2016 0 comments

Two years after leaving for Gloucester, Stevie McColl says he returns to the north for a second spell with Yorkshire Carnegie a much better player. […]

EXCLUSIVE: Championship playoffs set to be scrapped

7 June 2016 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY The controversial Championship play-offs are set to be discarded as part of a new £220m, eight-year agreement between Premiership Rugby and the […]

SRU pulls out of London Scottish partnership

31 May 2016 0 comments

The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) Board has ended the Development Partnership they had been operating with London Scottish since January. However, the Exiles Chairman Sir […]

Heavyweight Ben Glynn ready to land the knockout in Round 2

24 May 2016 0 comments

Bristol may already have one foot in the Premiership, but lock Ben Glynn has challenged his teammates to leave nothing to chance by winning the […]

Matt Challinor remains resolute on mammoth task ahead

24 May 2016 0 comments

Doncaster stalwart Matt Challinor says the Knights are determined to round their season off on a high note against Bristol at Ashton Gate on Wednesday […]

Ian Davies blasts RFU as Tier Two attendances dwindle

7 May 2016 0 comments

Outgoing Cornish Pirates rugby director Ian Davies has accused the RFU of “paying lip service” to the Championship. Davies insists there must be a root […]

Solomon Dacres’ battling to be champion like Anthony Joshua

27 April 2016 0 comments

Solomon Dacres has given up rugby because it hurts too much and now he wants to be the new Anthony Joshua. Joshua twice won […]

Miserable ending for a Bedford legend

22 April 2016 0 comments

JAMES Pritchard is resigned to the fact he won’t get the fairytale finish to his illustrious Bedford career that he desires, or quite possibly deserves, […]

Darryl Veenendaal signs new Nottingham deal

19 April 2016 0 comments

Nottingham announced the re-signing of scrum-half Darryl Veenendaal for next season, after arriving at The Bay from Bedford Blues last season. The South African was […]