English Championship

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

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 […]