English Championship

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

Rotherham Titans want Alex Codling after coach Andre Bester walks out

9 November 2012 0 comments

Alex Codling has confirmed his interest in becoming Andre Bester’s full-time replacement at Rotherham Titans. Bester resigned from his post on Thursday after a breakdown […]

‘Brilliant’ Bedford Blues have Newcastle Falcons in their sights

24 October 2012 3 comments

James Pritchard believes Bedford can do the Championship a favour and knock leaders Newcastle off their perch, when the Falcons visit Goldington Road in a […]

Redruth move fast in race abuse row

24 October 2012 2 comments

The RFU have praised Redruth‘s handling of an incident of suspected racial abuse which involved a visiting black player being jeered by a minority of […]

Bedford Blues’ attacking style pays off for Ben Ransom

22 October 2012 0 comments

Ben Ransom says there is no better place to be than Bedford Blues as he awaits his Saracens first-team chance. Full-back Ranson, 20, who has […]

RFU Championship Preview: team by team

31 August 2012 0 comments

Bedford Blues The shortening of the play-off format from a top eight to a top four will assist part-time outfit Bedford Blues’ quest for promotion […]

“We’ll have fun rising to challenge,” says Newcastle’s Dean Richards

30 August 2012 0 comments

Dean Richards will warn his Newcastle troops to expect the unexpected when they finally get their Championship campaign up and running at Bristol on September […]

SSE National Leagues preview

29 August 2012 1 comment

With the National Leagues competitions starting on Saturday, we take a look at how Fylde, Ealing, Caldy and Redruth are preparing. SSE National League One […]

Championship winners must go up says chairman Geoff Irvine

29 August 2012 0 comments

Championship clubs’ chairman Geoff Irvine, right, says their Premiership counterparts need worry about only one thing – to avoid finishing bottom of the table – […]

Falcons have strength in depth to make a quick return says Glen Delaney

24 August 2012 1 comment

With the honourable exception of Bedford’s Mike Rayer, there is no coach with more experience of English rugby’s second tier than Glenn Delaney who left […]

Age is no worry for new Esher coach Ollie Smith

23 August 2012 1 comment

Having made his Leicester debut a few months after leaving school and toured with the Lions, aged 22, Ollie Smith’s appointment as Esher head coach […]

New funding deal for Championship clubs revealed

22 August 2012 0 comments

As revealed in our The Rugby Paper on August 5th, the RFU has unveiled today a new four-year funding deal for Championship clubs. Each club […]

Final offer from RFU would see Championship clubs receive £4.3m backing

7 August 2012 0 comments

Championship clubs are close to agreeing a funding deal for the next four seasons after receiving what has been described by one insider as a […]

I was fed up facing the same teams all the time says Jersey new boy Richard Haughton

31 July 2012 1 comment

Richard Haughton has revealed how he turned down offers to remain in the Premiership in favour of a move to Championship newcomers Jersey. The 31-year-old […]

New Leeds boss Ian McGeechan keen to embrace Leeds Rhinos

31 July 2012 2 comments

John Bentley has hailed the appointment of Sir Ian McGeechan as being massive for the profile of Leeds Carnegie. Bentley, selected by McGeechan for the […]

Coventry Nathan Jones: “Some Championship players earn no more than minimum-wage”

24 July 2012 0 comments

Coventry‘s new signing Nathan Jones has hit out at Championship clubs’ pay structures, revealing some of his former Nottingham teammates earn no more than minimum […]

Cornish Pirates Aaron Penberthy ready to unleash full range of skills

24 July 2012 1 comment

Cornish Pirates supporters might have thought they had seen Aaron Penberthy’s full range last season, but the 20-year-old fly-half has said they have not seen […]

We’re doing things even better than the Natal Sharks says Bristol head coach Liam Middleton

24 July 2012 0 comments

Bristol head coach Liam Middleton hopes a recent fact-finding mission to South Africa will make the difference as his side targets Championship glory. Middleton spent […]

New Nottingham boss Marting Haag can make the step up says Ian McGeechan

24 July 2012 1 comment

Sir Ian McGeechan has backed Martin Haag to be a big hit in his first head coach role after Nottingham appointed the former England lock […]

Newcastle Falcons revival will be key for Jon Golding’s England call

24 July 2012 2 comments

A Newcastle pack getting the better of their Wasps counterparts at Adams Park sounds a familiar tale but this scene took place two years ago […]

Newcastle Falcons wanted to swoop on Gavin Henson

20 July 2012 0 comments

Newcastle made a bid to sign Gavin Henson before the RFU reversed their decision barring London Welsh from promotion to the English Premiership. Their offer […]

Diccon Edwards ‘got it wrong’ with Leeds’ youth policy says departing Lee Blackett

20 July 2012 0 comments

Lee Blackett has revealed his anger at the way senior players were jettisoned at Leeds by Diccon Edwards’ youth-based policy. The versatile Blackett has crossed […]

New Bristol signing James Grindal gears up for big time again

20 July 2012 1 comment

James Grindal ended a 13-year consecutive run in the top flight when he swapped Leicester for Bristol this summer, but such is the first impression […]

Rugby League legend Keith Senior returns to rugby Union 20 years later

10 July 2012 1 comment

Talk to anyone in either code about legendary Rugby League centre Keith Senior and the soundbites are always the same. “Great player for Leeds Rhinos […]

Dean Richards’s tough love will revive Newcastle Falcons says Simon Keogh

10 July 2012 2 comments

Newcastle players had better get ready to roll up their sleeves on the field – and in training – under Dean Richards, according to members […]

Give our tier-two English coaches a chance says coaching guru Kevin Bowring

3 July 2012 0 comments

The RFU’s Head of Elite Coach Development, Kevin Bowring, wants to see more English-qualified coaches follow Glenn Delaney’s example and make the step up from […]

Nottingham fly-half James Arlidge plans farewell to remember

3 July 2012 0 comments

James Arlidge wants to set alarm bells ringing in opposition defences, as well as airport security. The 32-year-old Nottingham fly-half is refreshed ahead of what […]

Former Lion tourist Andy Titterrell still has what it takes

26 June 2012 0 comments

Former Lion Andy Titterrell insists he hasn’t given up hope on his playing career despite finding himself without a club in pre-season. The 31-year-old captained […]