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

Knights cling on as Blues miss chance to steal game

21 January 2024 0 comments

■By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster K …..26pts Tries: Metcalf 2, Courtney 42, Holden 72 Conversions: Bennett 72 Penalties: Bennett: 15, 40, 60 Bedford Blues .20pts Tries: […]

Barnes on a high as Hartpury romp to victory over struggling Ravers

21 January 2024 0 comments

■ By LUKE JARMYN Caldy ………………………………. 7pts Tries: Royle 45 Conversions: B Jones 46 Hartpury University……. 31pts Tries: R Smith 17, J Benz-Soloman 36, Mathews […]

Agony for Scottish as Coventry snatch win at death

21 January 2024 0 comments

By TOM JOHNSON London Scots ..38pts Tries: Mehson 7, Jurevicius 16, 30, Marshall 53, 57, Trenholm 71 Conversions: Slevin 30, 53, 57, 71 Coventry ………..40pts […]

All clubs must be able to reach top

21 January 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN SO it’s back to the future with the RFU CEO Bill Sweeney telling the Championship that they either don’t understand or have been […]

‘RFU deal would cut our funds by 50%’

14 January 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Championship clubs would be nearly 50 per cent worse off in real terms if they agree to the Tier 2 funding model […]

Dream Team with Craig Willis

14 January 2024 0 comments

Craig Willis, the Ealing Trailfinders and former Newcastle fly-half, chooses the best XV he has played with or against… 1. Mako Vunipola – Played against […]

RFU’s sorry failure to respond to flood

14 January 2024 0 comments

While the game in the East Midlands drowns, the RFU lifeboat is in the dry dock with the crew nowhere to be seen. If ever […]

Too few actually want to be promoted

14 January 2024 1 comment

Iain Sharpe makes some excellent points (Letters, Jan 7) in taking issue with views on the RFU’s second-tier revamp expressed in this column at the […]

Short raring to go as he sets sights on hitting 50

14 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Hartpury University flanker Harry Short is set to reach 50 appearances against Caldy on Saturday and having already scored 25 tries, he’s […]

Trailfinders turn up the intensity to move to top

14 January 2024 0 comments

By MATTHEW LUDDINGTON Ealing T………… 54pts Tries: Smid 3, 7; Williams 12, Holmes 19, 47; Willemse 29, Walker 51, 59 Conversions: Willis 4, 7, 12, […]

Doncaster left reeling after Ampthill go on rampage

14 January 2024 0 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster Knights …….. 24pts Tries: Tait 7, Holden 35, Doughty 49 Conversions: Olver 7, Dolly 35, 49 Penalty: Olver 2 Ampthill…………………………32pts Tries: […]

Cambridge revival is not enough to catch dashing Pirates

14 January 2024 0 comments

By STEVE JACKSON Cambridge …….33pts Tries: Asiedu 8, Caven 49, Brownlie 61, 80; Merigan 73 Conversions: James 9, 62, 74, 80 Cornish P ……….40pts Tries: […]

Nottingham launch bid to raise £50,000 after flooding

14 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK It’s been an unhappy new year for Nottingham as a record flood in the Lady Bay area last week has put the […]

Jones delight as Caldy hit heights

7 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Three years ago Caldy players could only have dreamt of competing in the Championship, but the Merseyside club are on a roll […]

Lloyd making the most of life in the capital

7 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Garin Lloyd made the move from the small town of Neath, Wales to the hustle and bustle of London this summer, balancing […]

As a coach, you are learning all the time

7 January 2024 0 comments

Former Richmond director of rugby Steve Hill talks to Matt Cairns, the ex-England and Harlequins hooker who is head coach at Caldy RFC in the […]

Halliday: No way we can agree RFU deal

31 December 2023 1 comment

By NICK CAIN Simon Halliday has condemned the threat by RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney to relegate the 11 Championship clubs if they fail to […]

Rae: Championship has much to offer

31 December 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Coventry head coach Alex Rae has launched a staunch defence of the Championship in the wake of Bill Sweeney’s disparaging comments about […]

Roberts loving life in ‘rugby mental’ Portugal

31 December 2023 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK Ciaran Roberts swapped life in west London for Portugal this summer to play in the promising Portuguese Top 10 and has fallen […]

Pellegrini on target to impress the crowds

31 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Coventry………..37pts Tries: Martin 9, 58, Pellegrini 17, Wilson 26, Poole 46 Conversions: Pellegrini 18, 27, 59 Penalties: Pellegrini 40, 80 Nottingham……21pts Tries: […]

Jersey boys happy to stay on island

31 December 2023 1 comment

By LUKE JARMYN Despite it being three months since Jersey Reds collapse and the club’s dream of climbing to the Premiership bursting, you’re still likely […]

Rayer: Our defence must be in working order

31 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Bedford vCoventry January 1. Kick-off 3pm, Goldington Road BEDFORD are chomping at the bit after winning their last five as they […]

At last we are going in right direction

31 December 2023 0 comments

It is always easier to bury English rugby’s alleged leaders than to praise them, but it would run counter to the seasonal spirit not to […]

I’m honoured, says Sir Dicky with NY award

31 December 2023 0 comments

Cornish Pirates owner Sir Richard ‘Dicky’ Evans says he is ‘surprised’ and ‘honoured’ to be awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours. Kenya-based Evans […]

Sweeney’s words causing deep anger

24 December 2023 1 comment

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK There is something radically wrong when the chief executive of the RFU – who is responsible for […]

Grimoldby leads the charge on carnival day

24 December 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Ampthill…………22pts Tries: Strachan 5, Parks 35, Jackson 80 Conversions: Parks 36, Barton 80+1 Penalties: Parks 47 Bedford ………….31pts Tries: French 14, J […]

Exceptional Caldy stun title-chasing Doncaster

24 December 2023 0 comments

By GUY WILLIAMS Caldy…………….. 24pts Tries: Royle 8, Dickinson 32, Hearn 75 Conversions: Jones 8, 32, 75 Penalties: Jones 66 Doncaster ……..19pts Tries: Roberts 20, […]

Pirates put on power show to contain Hartpury rally

24 December 2023 0 comments

By MIKE SINCLAIR Cornish Pirates ……………14pts Tries: Johnson 17, Penalty 32 Cons: Houston 17 Hartpury University……… 7pts Try: Crane 40 Conversion: Bazalgette 40 AN awesome […]

Rae banking on a big Boxing Day crowd to lift Cov

24 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Coventry v Nottingham December 26. Kick-off 3pm, Butts Park Arena COVENTRY are expecting a record crowd of near 5,000 for their […]

Benson holds his nerve for Cambridge history boys

24 December 2023 0 comments

By MATTHEW LUDDINGTON London Scots ..26pts Tries: Ingall 7, Gjaltema 30, Bradley 37, Hyde 52 Conversions: Lloyd-Seed 8, 31, 38 Cambridge …….28pts Tries: Richards 19, […]

Pirates putting their faith in youth

24 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Gavin Cattle says the influx of Cornish youth has brought increased enthusiasm at Pirates which he describes as a ‘pleasure to coach.’ […]

Fears ‘it will take years’ to sort sport out

17 December 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Hartpury University’s senior coaches believe it will take several years before English Rugby’s landscape across the Premiership and other national leagues smooths […]

Bazalgette steals it with the final kick of the game

17 December 2023 0 comments

■By NATHAN EDWARDS Hartpury Uni ….33pts Tries: Gray 13, Benz-Solomon 46, Smith 51, Crane 62, 79 Conversions: Bazalgette 14, 47, 52, 63 London Scots .. […]

Cov hold together to despatch Cambridge

17 December 2023 0 comments

■By STEVE JACKSON Cambridge ……. 19pts Tries: Brownlie 51, Caven 60, Collins 70 Conversions: Benson 52, 61 Coventry ………..33pts Tries: Hutler 8, Ryan 26, Martin […]

Dominant Caldy get in gear to enjoy life on the road

17 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN WHITE Ampthill ……………………….. 21pts Tries: Moore-Aiono 3, Elliot 36, Pearce-Paul 76 Conversions: Parks 4, 37, 77 Caldy………………………………26pts Tries: Aigbokhae 8, 28; Hearn 20, […]

Bedford blow away Nottingham to move into top four

17 December 2023 0 comments

■By PAUL ROBINSON Bedford B ……… 49pts Tries: Fish 12, Pollock 16, 40; French 31, 43; Maisey 36, Grimoldby 74 Nottingham….. 24pts Conversions: Maisey 13, […]

Pirates game abandoned after serious Grubb injury

17 December 2023 0 comments

By MATTHEW LUDDINGTON Cornish Pirates’ game at Ealing was abandoned on Sunday following an injury to Pirates forward Ben Grubb. Back rower Grubb was taken […]

Championship is a class competition – Hammond

17 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Despite the lack of jeopardy at both ends of the Championship, Nottingham head coach Craig Hammond relishes battling the full-time outfits and […]

Williams: I’d back call to get rid of Sweeney

10 December 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN The Championship’s joint top try scorer David Williams has called for Sport England or another organisation to get involved and provide some […]

Rocketing ticket prices proving tough on fans

10 December 2023 0 comments

Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock surveys the top two divisions to find out which clubs charge the most – and where you could find a bargain […]

Is promotion to Championship far too big a gamble to take?

10 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Blackheath have aspirations to go as far as they can in the rugby pyramid, but head coach James Shanahan questions why any […]

Boden backing for minimum standards

3 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Doncaster Knights head coach Steve Boden believes it’s important Championship clubs meet the Premiership’s minimum standards criteria for promotion – but says […]

Pirates rule out move for new Truro stadium

3 December 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Cornish Pirates have sold Truro City FC to the Canadian sports consortium that owns Cornwall Rugby League FC, Ontario Inc (OI) meaning […]

Gray inspires Hartpury to leave Cov at starting gate

3 December 2023 0 comments

By PAUL SMITH Coventry ………..29pts Tries: Tries: Kvesic 9, Chilvers 19, Rigg 55, Wand 80 Conversions: Mitchell 9, 55, 80 Pens: Mitchell (52) Hartpury Uni […]

Delight for Scottish as they grab first win of season

3 December 2023 0 comments

By MATTHEW LUDDINGTON London Scots ………………. 19pts Tries: Ingall 2, Marshall 40, Musk 80 Conversions: Lloyd-Seed 40, 80 E Trailfinders ………………. 17pts Tries: Willemse 18, […]

Winless Cambridge push scrappy Nottingham all the way

3 December 2023 0 comments

By ROB WILDMAN Nottingham……22pts Tries: Woodward 9, Ramage 13, Owen 29, Dickinson 46 Conversions: Hollingsworth 13 Cambridge ……. 19pts Tries: Caven 4, Hanks 6, Edwards […]

Doncaster hoping to make most of long trip

3 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Cornish v Doncaster Pirates Today. Kick-off 2.30pm Mennaye Field DONCASTER Knights embark on one of the longest trips of the season […]

Dallaglio: We need clarity on Prem 2

26 November 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Lawrence Dallaglio is calling for clarity from the RFU and Premiership Rugby over plans for a Premiership 1/Premiership 2 which could see […]

Coventry show right style to pull in crowds

26 November 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Rugby attendances are mostly on the decline in the top two divisions in England, but Coventry’s scintillating style of play is getting […]

Sam steps up to make sure for Nottingham

26 November 2023 0 comments

■By LUKE JARMYN Hartpury Uni …. 20pts Tries: Hayler 13, Smith 19 Conversions: Bazalgette 14, 20 Penalties: Bazalgette 40, 56 Nottingham……32pts Tries: Harris 25, Williams […]