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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Club Rugby
/ 2 days agoDoncaster Knights 31-33 Coventry: Coby Stanton-Ford grabs glory for Alex Rae’s men
Doncaster Knights looked set to claim victory after Penaia Tagutu’s double turned the game around, but late penalties allowed Coby Stanton-Ford...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 days agoHayden Hyde: I’ve enjoyed my dream start at Ealing Trailfinders
Former London Scottish centre Hayden Hyde has scored four tries in as many Champ games since joining Ealing Trailfinders, relishing the...
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Champions Cup
/ 4 days agoThe Rugby Paper Roundup: Champions Cup returns! Prem attendance issue, Wales back row + England v Canada
The Champions Cup returns, but are Prem rugby’s attendances becoming a concern? Ben Jaycock and Paul Williams discuss the big talking...
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Club Rugby
/ 1 week agoWorcester Warriors 49-24 Nottingham: Second-half surge wins it for Matt Everard’s side
Worcester Warriors extended their unbeaten start with a bonus-point 49-24 victory over Nottingham at Sixways.
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Club Rugby
/ 1 week agoBruce Houston targets 2027 Rugby World Cup showdown against England after Coventry return
Coventry fly-half Bruce Houston has his sights set on facing England at the 2027 Rugby World Cup representing Zimbabwe.
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Club Rugby
/ 2 weeks agoCornish Pirates 35-33 Ealing Trailfinders: Arwel Robson keeps his cool to seal stunning victory
Cornish Pirates snatched a dramatic 35-33 victory over Ealing Trailfinders as Matthew Pritchard’s added-time try and Arwel Robson’s conversion completed a...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 weeks agoZach Kerr thriving on consistency as Doncaster Knights mainstay
Zach Kerr has made consistency and availability his priorities as he continues to establish himself as one of Doncaster Knights’ most...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 weeks agoCoventry 73-40 Cornish Pirates: Alex Rae’s side turn on the style to cruise home
Coventry bounced back from their opening-day defeat in emphatic style, running in 11 tries as Jordan Poole and Jack Reeves both...
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Club Rugby
/ 4 weeks agoRotherham Titans chief Harvey Biljon has ambitions to coach at the top level
Harvey Biljon believes his remarkable run of success across three leagues has earned him the chance to coach at the highest...
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Club Rugby
/ 4 weeks agoWorcester Warriors 40-5 Bedford Blues: Tom Savage over the moon with ruthless start!
Tom Savage hailed Worcester Warriors’ ruthless start after the reigning champions opened their Elior Champ Rugby title defence with a thumping...
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Club Rugby
/ 1 month agoChamp 2026-27 preview: Trailfinders beef up for their bid to reclaim the title
Ben Jaycock looks ahead to next week’s Champ kick-off as Ealing Trailfinders try to make up for last season’s anguish
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Club Rugby
/ 1 month agoJordon Poole sets sights on Coventry captaincy record and top-four finish next season
Jordon Poole is targeting a sixth year as Coventry captain as he looks to lead the club back into the Champ...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoBlackheath back row Noah Sloot is setting his sights on making history
Blackheath have no intention of playing it safe on their return to the Championship.
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 months agoAll Stars XV: Bedford Blues – Mike Rayer leads brothers with real style
Brendan Gallagher picks his greatest-ever Bedford Blues XV, featuring club legends such as Budge Rogers, Mike Rayer, James Pritchard and Martin...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoPre-season round-up: Ampthill make a statement by prevailing over Champ holders Worcester Warriors
Ampthill have made an early pre-season statement by beating Champ holders Worcester Warriors, while Sale FC, Coventry and Connacht were also...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoWill Chudley: Henry Slade is a great role model for younger players
Former Exeter Chiefs, Bath and Worcester Warriors scrum-half Will Chudley speaks to Ben Jaycock about Chiefs’ resurgence, Warriors’ return, the Champ...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoPre-season round-up: Swashbuckling Gus Mawson the star for Cornish Pirates
Cornish Pirates and Bedford Blues enjoyed emphatic pre-season wins, with Gus Mawson and Marcus Kershaw among the standout performers in a...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoAll Stars XV: Coventry – David Duckham leads Cov dynamos
Brendan Gallagher picks his all-time Coventry XV, featuring club legends including David Duckham and Danny Grewcock.
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoMichael Le Bourgeois: After defeat in last year’s final, we’re determined to go one better this year
Bedford Blues centre Michael Le Bourgeois is determined to turn last season’s Champ Rugby final heartbreak into motivation as Bedford target...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoAll Stars XV: Worcester Warriors – The legends standing loud and proud
From Chris Pennell and Andy Goode to Ollie Lawrence and Matt Kvesic, Brendan Gallagher picks his greatest All Stars-XV to pull...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 months agoChamp Ins and Outs – Ealing Trailfinders add beef to get it right this time
Ben Jaycock looks ahead to the Champ season and says Ealing Trailfinders will once again be the team to beat as...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoRhys Tudor: People often describe fans as the 16th man but at Caldy it’s really true
Caldy winger Rhys Tudor speaks to Ben Jaycock about the demands of pre-season, the club’s Champ ambitions and the challenge part-time...
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Club Rugby
/ 3 months agoBedford Blues are quick to tempt Marcus Kershaw
Marcus Kershaw says he is “really excited” to return to the 15-a-side game with Bedford Blues after impressing on the 7s...
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Club Rugby
/ 4 months agoJoe Launchbury to lead academy at Worcester Warriors following retirement
Champ Rugby winners Worcester Warriors have appointed Joe Launchbury as their new head of academy.
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Club Rugby
/ 4 months agoWorcester Warriors boss Matt Everard says Champ triumph is “as special as it gets”
Worcester Warriors completed one of rugby’s great resurrection stories with a 27-14 victory over Bedford Blues at Goldington Road last Sunday...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoLloyd Williams looking to finish on a high as Worcester Warriors go for Champ glory
Former Wales scrum-half Lloyd Williams aims to bow out today as a Champ winner when Worcester Warriors clash with Bedford Blues...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoBedford Blues vs Worcester Warriors: Alex Day – A win would be pinnacle of my career
Bedford Blues and Worcester Warriors will battle it out for the Champ title today in front of a sold-out Goldington Road.
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoBedford Blues vs Worcester Warriors: Josh Bassett – What we’ve done this year has been fantastic
Josh Bassett believes Worcester Warriors are on the verge of completing one of the most remarkable comeback stories English rugby has...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoChamp Dream Team: Second tier alive with style and flair
The best XV of the 2025-26 Champ season, as voted for by our correspondents.
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoLloyd Williams to enjoy final send-off for Worcester Warriors
Worcester Warriors ensured scrum-half Lloyd Williams will play one more game before he retires after stunning Ealing Trailfinders in yesterday’s Champ...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoBedford Blues 58-24 Coventry: Cov cut down as Blues save best until last
Bedford Blues put in a performance for the ages as they overturned a half-time deficit to completely dismantle Coventry at Goldington...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoEaling Trailfinders 29-34 Worcester Warriors: Slick Jake Garside grabs the glory to stun Ealing
Jake Garside’s dramatic last-gasp try sent Worcester Warriors into the Champ final with a thrilling victory over Ealing Trailfinders in a...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoLondon Scottish 7-27 Blackheath: The Club far too strong for second-rate Scots
Blackheath returned to the second tier of English rugby for the first time since 1999 as they crushed London Scottish in...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoSaracens’ Charlie Bracken credits Championship stint as key step in his rise
Saracens’ Charlie Bracken is climbing up England’s scrum-half ranks and credits a stint in the Championship as being the crucial step...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoHard-grafting Bedford Blues and Michael Le Bourgeois are gearing up for big finale
Veteran centre Michael Le Bourgeois feels Bedford Blues thoroughly deserve their home Champ semi-final after a season built on consistency, resilience...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoRichmond 34-11 London Scottish: Derby joy for Rob Powell’s side has Scots on the brink
Richmond beat their most local of rivals by a convincing five tries to one to assure themselves of Champ rugby again...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoFrancis Moore: Ealing Trailfinders play and act like a Prem side
Ealing Trailfinders centre Francis Moore believes the unbeaten record-breaking Champ leaders are already operating like a Prem outfit as they build...
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Club Rugby
/ 5 months agoEaling Trailfinders 52-14 Bedford Blues: A perfect finish for Ben Ward’s invincibles
Ealing Trailfinders completed a perfect winning league season in Elior Champ Rugby as they ran in eight tries to see off...
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Club Rugby
/ 6 months agoWorcester Warriors 28-34 Ealing Trailfinders: Visitors find an extra gear to preserve unbeaten run
Ealing Trailfinders are one game away from going the season unbeaten after they came from behind to beat Worcester Warriors at...
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Club Rugby
/ 6 months agoLondon Scottish 17-24 Richmond: Rob Powell’s side secure ‘home’ tie in relegation play-off
Richmond denied London Scottish their ‘home’ win for the most local of derbies and secured a five-point win and ‘home’ advantage...
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Club Rugby
/ 6 months agoNorthampton Saints move to sign Josh Taylor from Ealing Trailfinders
Prem leaders Northampton Saints have signed back row Josh Taylor from Championship front-runners Ealing Trailfinders for next season.
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Club Rugby
/ 6 months agoOllie Hearn happy to keep Caldy afloat in the Champ
Caldy hooker Ollie Hearn has fired himself towards the top of the Champ try-scoring charts with a remarkable campaign built on...
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Club Rugby
/ 6 months agoChinnor gunning for a top six spot in the Champ
Second row forward Conor-Terrah Brockschmidt believes Chinnor’s rise from relegation battlers to top-six contenders has been built on adapting to the...
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Club Rugby
/ 6 months agoHartpury 52-19 Nottingham: Harry Bazalgette calls the shots as Mark Cornwell’s side waltz home
Fly-half Harry Bazalgette put in a scintillating performance as Hartpury hammered Nottingham, orchestrating the game perfectly and getting a full house...
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Club Rugby
/ 6 months agoWorcester Warriors 14-28 Bedford Blues: Mike Rayer’s men stun Warriors to move up to second
Bedford Blues secured their first ever victory at Sixways to leapfrog Worcester Warriors into second position in the Elior Champ Rugby...
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Club Rugby
/ 7 months agoCoventry 69-12 Caldy: Jack Reeves on a rampage as Cov put on the burners
Play-off hopefuls Coventry extended their unbeaten run to six games with a Jack Reeves-inspired 11-try home win over Caldy.
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Club Rugby
/ 7 months agoFive-star Api Bavadra has Coventry flying high in the Champ
Coventry winger Api Bavadra admits even he has been surprised by his recent try-scoring form after he crossed in five consecutive...
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Club Rugby
/ 7 months agoCornish Pirates 7-29 Worcester Warriors: Five-try visitors too strong for Pirates
Second-placed Worcester Warriors proved too strong for a combative Cornish Pirates side as they delighted their big away fan following with...
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Club Rugby
/ 7 months agoJosh King is happy to be leading Cornish Pirates
Cornish Pirates lock Josh King feels stepping into a leadership role has given him a renewed sense of purpose this season.
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Club Rugby
/ 7 months agoNottingham vs Chinnor: Notts looking to celebrate ladies’ day
Nottingham will look to use last weekend’s landmark victory at Bedford Blues as a springboard when they host Chinnor today, with...
Autumn Internationals
Ben Spencer targets 2027 Rugby World Cup place with England after surgery
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