National 1 Accession Final Preview: Will Birmingham Moseley or Oundle be heading to the third tier?
A clash of rugby stalwarts and ambitious new challengers awaits as Birmingham Moseley face Oundle on Saturday – with victory carrying huge significance for both clubs. (Photo Credit: Dennis Dixon)
How it works
National 2 Promotion Play-Offs – May 9th
Birmingham Moseley 60-15 Luctonians
Tynedale 20-29 Oundle
National 1 Accession Final – May 16th
Birmingham Moseley v Oundle – 3pm – Billesley Common
- Winner will play in National One next season
- Loser will play in National Two
A spot in the third tier is on the line.
Last weekend, Birmingham Moseley found themselves faced with the uneasy prospect of relegation after an 11th-place finish in National One left them occupying the division’s unwanted play-off spot.
Yet if there was any pre-game anxiety, it was released emphatically against Luctonians, as the Midlands club powered their way to a 60-15 victory in the first phase of these particular play-offs.
Moseley have called Level 3 home for the last decade, and in front of their own supporters this Saturday, they will attempt to ensure it remains that way.
But their opposition, Oundle, will arrive at Billesley Common with the confidence of a side riding the crest of a wave.
After winning all 22 matches on their way to the Regional 1 South East title last season, and finishing second in National Two East this term, Aly Kachra’s side now sit tantalisingly close to back-to-back promotions and another piece of history.
Last Saturday’s 29-20 win away at National Two North runners-up Tynedale set up this clash against Birmingham Moseley.
For the winner, National One rugby awaits next season. For the loser, a return – or drop – into National Two.
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For Birmingham Moseley captain Ollie Stedman, this weekend carries a deeper significance.
The No.8 has confirmed the National One Accession Final will be the last time he laces up his boots, adding an extra layer of motivation as he looks to finish in style.
Stedman, who joined Moseley in 2022, said: “This will be my last ever game of rugby this week because I have decided to retire after this weekend’s game.
“After playing a total of 18 seasons since making my first-team debut, it has been a long, long journey, but I am getting older and my bones are slowing down. I will be 35-years-old next week, so it is kind of a nice, organic way to finish.
“I asked some of the boys when they were born and they said 2007, which is when I made my debut!
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“My game is certainly not what it used to be, but I am still managing to get out there, play and justify my position. For me personally, it will be my last ever game playing rugby, so I want to make sure we go out on a high.”
Stedman will be hoping to do just that, not only for himself, but also for Director of Rugby Adam Balding, who will part ways with the club at the end of this month after seven years at the helm.
The pair worked together during Stedman’s early career at Yorkshire Carnegie (now Leeds Tykes), with the No.8 never too far away from Balding before joining Birmingham Moseley four seasons ago.
He added: “I have known Adam for a long time, from being a 17/18-year-old at Leeds, and we then kind of followed the same career paths. We both went to Newcastle, and then we both ended up at London Welsh, so it kind of ended up that wherever one of us was, so was the other!
“He has done a fantastic job as Director of Rugby, and I cannot praise him enough. It has been difficult in our league in the last few years because teams who have come into it are bringing more and more money with them. Clubs are being very aggressive with the way they do that.
“But we have an opportunity to stay in National One on Saturday, and I want to make sure I enjoy it with the boys one last time.”
Looking to spoil the party will, of course, be Oundle, who are ready to write another chapter in their growing history.
Just 12 years ago, the Northamptonshire club were operating at Level 9. Now they are 80 minutes away from Level 3.
Founded in 1976 by Graham Snelling, the club has evolved – with his sons Grant and Toby part of the journey that has brought Oundle to the brink of this moment.
Defence coach and former Exeter Chiefs and Bath scrum-half Will Chudley said: “Their Dad founded the club – and both boys have played huge amounts of games for us over the years and have been a huge part of the squad this year.
“It is exciting because there is a lot of history there – and a lot of boys have come through different age groups together. We have got a good mix of players in there, but it will be awesome for their Dad – Graham – who will be at the game, of course. There is a real family feel around the club.”
After the pair missed last week’s victory over Tynedale, Chudley and the coaching staff will have everything crossed that the Snelling brothers are fit and firing for their trip to Billesley Common on Saturday.
Grant, who has scored 24 tries this season, has made more than 150 appearances for Oundle and has been involved since Under-8s, while Toby has racked up a total of 857 points in more than 200 games – which includes over a century of tries.
The brothers featured in over 70 per cent of Oundle’s National Two East campaign, in which they finished runners-up behind eventual champions Bury St Edmunds in a highly competitive division.
“I would say we know we have got a good squad – and when we play ‘our game’ we are tough to handle – and are tough to beat,” Chudley said. “There has been a lot of togetherness this past season, which has been our edge.
“There have been a lot of games which have only been seven-point games, and we have been on the right side of them.
“I think we have definitely got a team which does not rely on individuals and works together and thrives off of these sorts of games.”
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While the Snelling brothers have underpinned Oundle’s rise up the English rugby pyramid, the quality of National One and even Champ Rugby experience within their squad is evident.
Even in last Saturday’s victory against Tynedale, forwards Shay Kerry and Jac Arthur were playing second-tier rugby last season, while Kieran Frost and Anthony Maka were part of the Cambridge side that won National One in 2023.
Replacement back-row forward Joe Bercis also brings National League Rugby promotion nous, having stepped up from National Two with Ampthill via the play-offs in 2014-15.
Now Bercis and the rest of the Oundle squad will be aiming to take the next step, with Chudley admitting that it may simply come down to who handles the pressure best.
He added: “The squad is looking pretty strong for this week. You want to be fighting fit when you come to the play-off games, so we are in good health.
“I think for us, from our point of view, the play-offs are a bit different to a league game. Pressure can do funny things to people, but it is going to come down to who handles it better. We are pretty comfortable with that because all of this season we have had some pretty big games.
“We have just come up a league, so there are a lot of guys in there who played last year who have experienced promotion.
“A lot of our lads have played in some pretty big games over their careers. We have got a lot of players who have played a lot of Championship games, and are used to these sorts of ‘pretty big game moments.’”
So will it be Birmingham Moseley or Oundle in National One next season? We are about to find out.
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