On the penultimate weekend of the season, the fight to avoid the drop in National One and National Two North comes under the microscope while victory for Tonbridge Juddians would seal the National Two East title. (Photo Credit: Martin Gray)

National One

Another exceptional year of National League Rugby is coming to a close.

Two games remain of the campaign – either side of the Easter break – and then that will be that for the 2024/25 season.

Last time out, the first flurry of promotions and relegations were confirmed with National One’s Richmond clinching the title in Round 24. After recording a bonus-point 47-24 victory over Rams (6th) last Friday night, they knew that if challengers Rotherham Titans failed to match that result away at fourth-placed Blackheath, then Rob Powell’s side would be champions.

And that proved to be the case with Rotherham falling to a 31-24 loss in the capital, and Richmond will now travel to Rotherham (3rd) this weekend with the title race already sewn up.

However, at the wrong end of the standings, there is the potential for another relegation fight to go to the wire.

With Darlington Mowden Park already down, it is a two-team shootout between Leicester Lions (13th) and Esher (12th) to see who remains in the third tier. As it stands, Esher are just a single point ahead of the Lions, who have reeled in the EEEs over the last two months.


Whilst Esher – who travel to fifth-placed Plymouth Albion in Round 25 – have lost their last seven games and picked up just three points during that time, Leicester Lions have collected 15 points across the same period to give themselves a real chance of pulling off a remarkable escape from relegation.

Their recent endeavours could be enough to convince those of a Lions persuasion that they will survive the drop for a second season running, but there is a scenario where hopes of a third successive campaign at this level could be ripped up in Round 25.

The Midlands outfit face Blackheath (4th) at Westleigh Park on Saturday but if Esher were to win at Plymouth and Leicester were to pick up one point or less, then Gareth Collins’ side could be relegated to National Two.

Just like last season, the Lions will be hoping to take it to the final day when they host Bishop’s Stortford (9th) while Esher entertain 11th-placed Sedgley Park.

But Round 25 will be the focus for both whilst elsewhere on the penultimate weekend of the campaign, Rosslyn Park (2nd) will be looking to nail down the silver medal spot when Kieran Power’s in-form charges visit Rams (6th) and the battle for a top-half finish may well be the narrative in the Midlands with Birmingham Moseley (8th) taking on Sale FC (7th).

Bishop’s Stortford (9th) could also have a say in the ‘top-half tussle’ as Tom Coleman’s side look to continue their strong conclusion to the season by claiming a fifth straight win against Dings Crusaders (10th) while it will be an emotional and special day at Park Lane for Sedgley Park’s (11th) Matt Riley who is set to play his 457th and final game for the club against Darlington Mowden Park (14th).

National Two North 

“Sometimes you have to go through adversity to get the rewards you deserve.”

Those were the words of Leeds Tykes Director of Rugby Pete Seabourne on this week’s National League Rugby Preview Show after his side were confirmed as champions in Round 24.

Their battling 27-24 success away at Sheffield Tigers – combined with Sheffield’s (2nd) 38-29 loss at Lymm (3rd) – was enough for Leeds to seal the title 12 months on from agonisingly missing out on promotion.

Despite winning 24 of their 26 matches last term, they were pipped to the post by Rotherham Titans but after another near-faultless campaign of 23 victories from 24 matches, the Tykes are marching on to National One.

And so with the title race wrapped up, as fate would have it, whether the National Two North relegation scrap goes the distance hinges on what occurs on Friday night in West Yorkshire when the Tykes entertain Harrogate (12th).

If the visitors were to upset the odds and become the first side in two years to beat the newly-crowned champions on their own patch, then bottom-of-the-table Hull would have to register at least a single league point from their home tie against fifth-placed Tynedale to potentially avoid the drop.

If truth be told, the battle for survival is likely to go down to the final day with five teams still embroiled in the fight to avoid the one relegation spot.

Seven points separate Hull – who gave their hopes a major shot in the arm last week after beating table rivals Harrogate 31-26 – and 10th-placed Otley, who after three straight defeats, might be looking over their shoulder slightly as they prepare to travel to Hull Ionians (8th).

Also occupying a spot in this unwanted relegation pack are Billingham who dropped to 13th last time out following a 22-12 loss at Fylde. However, the final two games for the North-East side present a huge opportunity for Peter Evans and Dan Finney’s men because before travelling to Harrogate in Round 26, they are back at Greenwood Road to face Sheffield Tigers (9th) – and Billingham have won their last two matches at home.

And the final character in this engrossing relegation scrimmage are Preston Grasshoppers (11th). Dan Orwin’s troops may be entering Round 25 having lost their last six games, but the fight and determination they displayed in a thrilling 53-52 defeat at Hull Ionians last time out will be a source of encouragement for Hoppers despite falling on the wrong side of the result.

The Lancashire outfit entertain Lymm on Saturday, who will end this term in a club record finish of third place while Sheffield (2nd) will do the same as they wrap up their home campaign against Chester (7th).

National Two East and West

With the relegation situation decided last weekend, all eyes will now be on the respective title races in National Two East and West.

The duos of Colchester + Worthing (National Two East) and Bournville + Devonport Services (National Two West) both had their fates sealed in Round 24 so now all that is left is to see who will be crowned champions.

In National Two East, that could happen this weekend with league leaders Tonbridge Juddians needing just a victory over 11th-placed Oxford Harlequins to confirm promotion.

Seb Sherwood and Jordan Turner-Hall’s men have led the way for a fair chunk of this campaign and after hitting a slight blip in form in the middle of March, TJs are on course for a return to National One for the first time since 2021/22.

A 22nd win from 25 matches would seal the deal for the Kent outfit and TJs – who are at home this weekend – have won 16 of their last 18 at The Slade and have suffered just one setback this season on their own patch.

So, those statistics seem to point to a Tonbridge Juddians title win on Saturday but second-placed Dorking will hope that a fearless Oxford Quins side can pull off a shock result. If they were to do that, Armand Roux’s troops would have to win at Canterbury (4th) in Round 25 to take the title race to the final day of the season when Dorking actually host TJs.

Other National Two East Fixtures – Round 25: Barnes (3rd) v Henley (8th), Guernsey (7th) v Sevenoaks (10th), Havant (12th) vs Colchester (13th), Old Albanian (5th) v Bury St Edmunds (9th), Worthing (14th) vs Westcombe Park (6th).

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Followers of National Two West would more than likely suggest that the title race will go down to the final day on April 26th, but the destination of the championship is now in the control of Clifton who moved into pole position following last Saturday’s title showdown.

Their excellent 41-26 victory over promotion rivals Camborne means the Lavender and Blacks are now three points clear at the summit, and the simple equation for Clifton is if they can win their final two games, they will be champions.

Not since the 1996-97 season have the Bristol outfit plied their trade in the third tier, and Matt Salter and Luke Cozens’ troops can take another step towards a fresh slice of history when they visit already relegated Bournville (13th) in Round 25.

Clifton head into this one having won 18 of their last 19 matches, while their final game of the campaign comes at home against 11th-placed Exeter University.

There is some symmetry about Camborne’s (2nd) remaining fixtures as the Cherry and Whites also finish against two teams in the bottom four. They end away at Macclesfield (12th) while this weekend, they will be targeting a full season unbeaten at home when they entertain Devonport Services (14th).

The only way the door would be open for Clifton to win the title on Saturday would be if Camborne picked up two or fewer league points against Devonport Services but considering Steve Larkins’ men have won all 12 of their home matches to date, the likelihood is that promotion from National Two West will be decided in two weeks time.

Other National Two West Fixtures – Round 25: Exeter University (11th) v Cinderford (4th), Hornets (6th) v Macclesfield (12th), Loughborough Students (5th) v Redruth (8th), Old Redcliffians (10th) v Luctonians (7th), Taunton (3rd) v Hinckley (9th).

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