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Biljon: Feels like RFU are trying to grow the divide
JERSEY boss Harvey Biljon has called on the RFU to address funding issues that are ‘dividing’ the sport and make a better attempt to bridge the gap. Biljon is appealing to the governing body to...
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Preview: Bath boys primed for Championhip debuts for Coventry
COVENTRY have added two more promising players from the Premiership ahead of today’s match against Ampthill. Director of rugby Rowland Winter has recruited hooker Tom Doughty and centre Will Butt from...
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Preview: McCall brings in heavies to avoid more slip-ups
MARK McCall has named a side with almost 400 Test caps admitting Saracens cannot afford another slipup if they are to make a quick return to the Premiership. England stars Maro Itoje, Mako Vunipola,...
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Jersey 10-22 Doncaster: Knights weather the early storm to ride for victory
DONCASTER, who’ve now won all their five games in the new season, took full advantage of the decision to switch this game to Castle Park because of the Covid restrictions in the Channel Islands....
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Cornish Pirates 10-38 Ealing: Six-hitting Trailfinders get ready for Sarries
EALING maintained their maximum haul as they powered their way to a fifth successive five-pointer over combative Cornish Pirates in what boss Ben Ward described as “by a long way” their toughest test...
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Dave Ward to leave Ampthill to become Bristol Bears Women head coach
Bristol Bears have appointed Dave Ward as head coach four months after Kim Oliver left the role at the Allianz Premier 15s club. Ward will vacates his position as forwards coach at Championship club...
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Rock-bottom, but Jake Farnworth finds silver lining at Green & Whites
DANIEL GALLAN talks to Nottingham vice-captain about life at bottom of Tier Two Jake Farnworth couldn’t help but feel a slight pang of jealousy this past week. As football fans rejected the notion of...
View ArticleBedford Blues chairman Geoff Irvine to stand down after 20 years
Former chairman of the Championship Clubs Committee Geoff Irvine will step away from Bedford Blues at the end of the season after 20 years in charge at Goldington Road. Part of the group that saved...
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Joe Ford’s arrival helps Sam Olver keep big dream in focus
JOE FORD’S arrival at Doncaster Knights has been a ‘breath of fresh air’ and kickstarted Sam Olver’s drive for a return to the Premiership. Fly-half Olver, 26, is working closely with backs coach Ford...
View ArticleRFU cuts move Jersey Reds to consider switch to French rugby
Jersey Reds have explored the possibility of leaving English rugby behind and switching to French competition, as a result of substantial cuts to Championship funding by the RFU. Reds chairman Mark...
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Championship is sinking: RFU won’t rescue it!
THIS week it emerged that the RFU’s vision for the Championship has plumbed the depths. It was encapsulated by an email exchange between a prolific campaigner against ringfencing, and an RFU Council...
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Richards: Players need fully pro Championship
DEAN Richards says he is “staggered” by the number of Premiership players who have not secured contracts for next season. And he believes it is a consequence of having only one tier of professional...
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Ealing’s drubbing should not open ring-fence door | Jeff Probyn
Ealing Trailfinders’ dream didn’t so much fade away last week as completely collapse against the might of a fullstrength Saracens team, revealing the differences between a side that has played for...
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Championship may get new Thursday night TV slot
PREMIER Sports believe a successful Lions tour would help them achieve a breakthrough in England as they extend their rugby coverage and are considering televising one Championship match a week....
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The Championship Team of the Season 2021: Ryan Burrows hits record high five
Jon Newcombe reveals the Championship Team of 2020-21, as picked by the league’s coaches (excluding the players at Saracens) It says a lot about the reputation the Championship has as a finishing...
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English Championship Preview
It’s another huge Saturday of English Championship rugby. Here, The Rugby Paper looks ahead to some thrilling ties in the second division of English rugby. Ampthill v Cornish Pirates – 13:30 Second...
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English Championship Preview
It’s another huge Saturday of English Championship rugby. Here, The Rugby Paper looks ahead to some thrilling ties in the second division of English rugby. Ampthill v Nottingham 13:30 Third bottom...
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New Years Day Championship Preview
Ampthill v London Scottish is the lone game to survive this New Years Day. Covid-19 infection rates continue to wreak havoc on rugby around the world, with table toppers Doncaster Knights game vs...
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Championship ‘deserves own TV show’
By LUKE JARMYN BEDFORD Blues skipper Richard Lane believes this year’s Championship promotion battle is one of the tightest in years and deserves full TV coverage. The full-back, who has had spells at...
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Doncaster Knights to appeal decision to deny them entry to Premiership
Doncaster Knights have said that they will appeal the decision denying them a chance of promotion to the Premiership. The RFU announced yesterday (Tuesday) that Championship leaders Doncaster and...
View ArticleChampionship cuts: Concerned chairmen issue open letter to Bill Sweeney
The Championship Clubs Committee (CCC) write to RFU CEO Bill Sweeney in The Rugby Paper The post Championship cuts: Concerned chairmen issue open letter to Bill Sweeney appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
View ArticleCain column: Championship should go down legal route in this bloody battle
Nick Cain questions whether Bill Sweeney is doing the bidding of the Premiership's shareholders The post Cain column: Championship should go down legal route in this bloody battle appeared first on The...
View ArticleRFU CEO Bill Sweeney responds to outcry from Championship clubs
Sweeney justifies cuts to Championship funding in reply to clubs' letter voicing grave concerns The post RFU CEO Bill Sweeney responds to outcry from Championship clubs appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
View ArticleEx-RFU chief raps cuts to Championship
Former RFU chairman Graeme Cattermole questions how the savings on the Championship budget cuts will be used elsewhere The post Ex-RFU chief raps cuts to Championship appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
View ArticleExclusive: Championship threaten to revive play-off system and add to...
Life in the Championship next season might not be as straightforward as Saracens were expecting The post Exclusive: Championship threaten to revive play-off system and add to Saracens woe appeared...
View ArticleCain column: Pro D2 can show the RFU how to run a second tier
Former Bath captain and Worcester DoR, Richard Hill, is currently in charge at Rouen in the second tier of French rugby The post Cain column: Pro D2 can show the RFU how to run a second tier appeared...
View ArticleEngland ought to replicate the French system, says Grimoldby
Ampthill fly-half Louis Grimoldby speaks of the gulf between the Championship and the Pro D2 in France, where he played for Massy The post England ought to replicate the French system, says Grimoldby...
View ArticlePools panel may be created to decide final league positions
Football-style panels could convene to judge the results of unplayed matches The post Pools panel may be created to decide final league positions appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
View ArticleLevelling up – Regionalised leagues would strengthen the club game
A lop-sided National One leaves the North-South divide looking uncertain The post Levelling up – Regionalised leagues would strengthen the club game appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
View ArticleRFU declares end to the 2019-20 season in England
The Premiership has not been affected by the RFU's announcements The post RFU declares end to the 2019-20 season in England appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
View ArticleFormer Saracens CEO Ed Griffiths pledges to save the Championship
Griffiths plots how the Championship can overcome funding cuts imposed by the RFU The post Former Saracens CEO Ed Griffiths pledges to save the Championship appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
View ArticleCain column: These RFU cuts should be permanent
The RFU top brass can help Championship clubs and the grassroots by making their 25 per cent wage cuts permanent The post Cain column: These RFU cuts should be permanent appeared first on The Rugby...
View ArticleRFU confirm how promotion and relegation for the Championship and below will...
Outcomes for Championship, Premier 15s, National Leagues and below to be formalised on Friday The post RFU confirm how promotion and relegation for the Championship and below will work appeared first...
View ArticleRFU reveals final outcomes for leagues across England
Details of who is promoted and who is relegation have been released by RFU The post RFU reveals final outcomes for leagues across England appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
View ArticleRFU have reached a fair outcome says Hill, as Richmond bounce back
Richmond director of rugby Steve Hill has his say on how the RFU's formula to decide league outcomes fared The post RFU have reached a fair outcome says Hill, as Richmond bounce back appeared first on...
View ArticleThe briefest argument for why the Championship is invaluable to English rugby
Nottingham chairman Alistair Bow explains how some Premiership clubs still want to keep links with the Championship - but others aren't so keen The post The briefest argument for why the Championship...
View ArticleThe RFU have treated the Championship disgracefully, Nottingham’s chairman...
'Everyone below the Premiership has been left to fend for themselves', says Alistair Bow The post The RFU have treated the Championship disgracefully, Nottingham’s chairman explains appeared first on...
View ArticleExclusive: Championship clubs plan massive shake-up following review by...
Is the Championship heading towards a collective bargaining agreement and upheaval of its structure? The post Exclusive: Championship clubs plan massive shake-up following review by ex-Saracens CEO Ed...
View ArticlePlans for conference-style system in the Championship leads to talks at RFU
Ed Griffiths is leading reform to the structure of the second tier with a 76-page document on how to revolutionise the Championship The post Plans for conference-style system in the Championship leads...
View ArticleUnpaid Championship players may have contracts cancelled
Leicester Tigers loan signing David Williams, whose parent club is Nottingham, says Championship players are being left in limbo The post Unpaid Championship players may have contracts cancelled...
View ArticleGovernment hits pause button on return of fans to stadiums
Fears for RFU, Premiership and Championship finances as government orders matches to be played behind closed doors The post Government hits pause button on return of fans to stadiums appeared first on...
View ArticlePlayers will go from feast to famine, says Alan Solomons
The Worcester Warriors director of rugby is envisaging development players to bear the impact of unprecedented times in rugby The post Players will go from feast to famine, says Alan Solomons appeared...
View ArticleChampionship consider return to playoff system
NOTTINGHAM chairman Alistair Bow says he would welcome plans for a shorter, conference-based Championship season with the title decided by play-offs. A full 22-match programme […] The post Championship...
View ArticleChampionship consider a return to play-off system
Neale Harvey has the latest on the RFU finalising plans for the new Championship season to kick off in January The post Championship consider a return to play-off system appeared first on The Rugby...
View ArticleExclusive: Relegation scrapped in Premiership this season
Jon Newcombe reports on the increased likelihood that the Premiership will revert to a 13-team league at the end of the season The post Exclusive: Relegation scrapped in Premiership this season...
View ArticleFight to save Championship: Nick Cain talks to Coventry director Nick Johnston
The managing director of the Championship club fumes over the lack of collective agreement over the TEC and the absence of RFU directive The post Fight to save Championship: Nick Cain talks to Coventry...
View ArticleTier Two clubs set to pull out of season
Neale Harvey reports on the perilous state facing some of the Championship's 12 clubs The post Tier Two clubs set to pull out of season appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
View ArticleChampionship clubs reject deal with Premier Sports
Warren Muggleton reports on the Championship's search for a TV broadcast partner to source a much-needed cash injection ahead of the new season The post Championship clubs reject deal with Premier...
View ArticleBT Sport favourites to show key Championship games
A source tells TRP how close the Championship is to getting a TV broadcast partner The post BT Sport favourites to show key Championship games appeared first on The Rugby Paper.
View ArticleChampionship 2021 season preview: Shoot-out for the Premiership has Saracens...
Jon Newcombe finds Matt Challinor excited to get a tilt at the best in his swansong season IT may have been a long time coming […] The post Championship 2021 season preview: Shoot-out for the...
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