National Two Promotion Play-Offs: Birmingham Moseley welcome Luctonians, Tynedale host Oundle
Birmingham Moseley look to preserve their National One status, while Tynedale, Oundle and Luctonians target a place in the third tier as the National Two Promotion Play-Offs begin. (Photo Credit: Matt Fleming Photography)
How it works
National 2 Promotion Play-Offs
Birmingham Moseley v Luctonians – Saturday 9th May – 3pm
Tynedale v Oundle – Saturday 9th May – 3pm
National 1 Accession Final
Winner of Birmingham Moseley v Luctonians VS winner of Tynedale v Oundle – Saturday 16th May – (Kick-Off TBC)
- If Birmingham Moseley beat Luctonians, they will be at home to the winner of Tynedale v Oundle.
- If Luctonians beat Birmingham Moseley, they will be away to the winners of Tynedale v Oundle.
Winner will play in National One next season.
Preview
Birmingham Moseley
Written by Chris Heal
While the three National Two runners-up enter the play-offs buoyed by momentum, the mood around Birmingham Moseley is more complex.
Avoiding automatic relegation from National One required a tense 35-33 victory over Bishop’s Stortford on the final day – a result that naturally pleased the famous old club.
Yet Moseley’s place in these play-offs does not quite carry the same feel-good factor as the other three sides.
That sense of difference has only been heightened by the news that Director of Rugby Adam Balding will step down following the play-offs, ending his seven-year tenure at Billesey Common.
“When you have been in a position for seven years, which I have, there comes a time when things organically come to an end,” said Balding, the club’s longest-serving professional Director of Rugby.
“The decision made was a joint decision. It was a decision which was made a while ago. Due to the league position and the pressure that was on us to stay in the league, there was never a right time to say anything.
“We felt now was the right time because we know what is ahead. I am here until the end of May to help with recruitment, retention and complete a handover so we make sure the club hits the ground running for next season.”
The timing of the announcement, ahead of this weekend’s clash with Luctonians, raised eyebrows on social media, but Moseley’s priority has rightly been survival.
Narrow defeats against Leeds Tykes and Clifton at the start of April left Moseley – who finished seventh last season – in the bottom three, but a late Tommy Taylor penalty against Bishop’s Stortford secured their place in the play-offs, a rare example this season of a tight game falling their way.
“I think we have lost eight games within like seven points,” Balding said. “That is a massive frustration, but we know we are a good side.
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“Concentration and application within the game itself have been downfalls for us. Every team will make mistakes because the opposition puts pressure on, but when you make mistakes when there is no pressure on you, those mistakes are avoidable. That is what has cost us in narrow losses.”
On the Bishop’s Stortford victory, Balding added: “It is the one thing about our group that I am always so proud of – the character and the belief that they show.
“That shows the qualities of a good side and the ability within the team. The character and nerve shown to go and get five points was outstanding as the pressure the boys would have felt would have been immense as this was a must-win game.
“We rose to the occasion, and I’m proud of all the players and staff for the way they handled that and came through an extremely tough test.”
Now comes another examination: National Two West runners-up Luctonians.
“They are a good side,” Balding said. “They finished second for a reason. They are going to be extremely competitive.”
Balding also hopes the Moseley home support can play a decisive role.
“Billesley Common, when it is packed out, is a great place to perform,” he said.
“Nothing needs to be said regarding Saturday. The stakes are high, and we must deliver that 80-minute performance that we know we can deliver. If we do that, then the result is taken care of.”
Luctonians
Written by Will Perringwood
Head Coach George Thomas says his Luctonians’ side will be revelling in their underdogs’ role for their trip to Birmingham Moseley on Saturday.
Lucs finished second in National Two West behind Cornish powerhouses Camborne and are relishing the chance to mix it with a side who once dined at English rugby’s top table.
Thomas said: “Obviously, it is a very exciting and a massive opportunity for our little club, and the boys have had a great season so far after picking up from last year (finished 5th). It is a big opportunity.
“Birmingham Moseley are a well-established club who have been right at the top of the English game in the past.
“For a side like ours to be competing against the likes of them, I think it is great. From what we have seen of them in our review of them, we are expecting a very big, very abrasive, very confident forward pack.
“We think they will be set-piece driven – with some athletes in their backs so it will be a challenge for us all the way across the park really.”
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Thomas will be delighted to welcome back No.8 Caleb Montgomery and physical forward Owien Harriott-Davis to his pack for their important end-of-season clash.
Thomas said the fixture represents a good chance to show everybody just how far the Herefordshire club has come in the past decade – with senior players taking on more responsibility.
He added: “The club brought in a Director of Rugby at the start of the season, Rob Lewis, and I took over as head coach.
“I previously spent the last four or five seasons as the forwards coach working with Ryan Watkins, who was the previous head coach, and then he finished at the end of last season, and then Rob came in as a Director of Rugby.
“I think that shift has gone really, really well. One of the big things the club has done is put more emphasis on the players to take more ownership and actually enjoy leading the club. The senior players have had a lot more responsibility and have led it very well.
“The key thing for me now is that the boys go and fire a shot and give a really good account of themselves, and the result will be what it will be.
“We want to go on the pitch and not let the occasion get to us.”
Tynedale
Written by Will Perringwood
Tynedale will fly the flag for North-East rugby in their National Two promotion play-off with Oundle on Saturday, according to Director of Rugby Peter Southern.
The region has seen huge investment in the sport this season, thanks to the rebranding of Gallagher Prem side Newcastle Red Bulls – formerly the Falcons.
The global energy drinks giant acquired the club for the 2025/26 campaign and set about bringing them in line with their other sporting acquisitions.
Southern said: “The region wants – the Newcastle Red Bulls would like – a Champ Rugby side or a side in National One.
“We want to get rugby back where it was in the North-East a few years ago.
“Many years ago, there were the likes of Darlington Mowden Park, Blaydon and Tynedale all in National One and the universities were strong back then as well.
“So hopefully the Newcastle Red Bulls can invest in the local area, and generate some excitement around the game in the North-East – which is only good for all of us.”
But Tynedale themselves have generated their own excitement this season.
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After a stunning campaign in National Two North, where Southern’s side finished only behind champions Sheffield in second place, the Tynedale boss says Saturday is a chance for his team to show how far they have come.
He added: “Ten years ago [in National Two North], we had to go away from home and beat Leicester Lions to make sure we did not get relegated for the second year in a row, which was a rather large game.
“We also played a 2007 Promotion Play-off against Westcombe Park, and this game [on Saturday] is right alongside those ones.
“We are not feeling any pressure at all in the squad, the coaches or the players. There is just a great excitement around the club because the players have worked hard for this. They can’t wait for this Saturday to come.
“It is not just about the 20 players who are lucky enough to be picked to play. It is all about those around the squad who are disappointed not to have been picked to play, but have still been down at training last week and this week, who have still helped the side.
“They have helped us prepare for that, and that is what our success this season has been built on.”
Oundle
Written by Will Perringwood
When Oundle travel to
Having finished just two points behind National Two East champions Bury St Edmunds this season following promotion last term, the Northamptonshire outfit will make the 400-mile-plus round trip to the North-East for a shot at playing in English rugby’s third tier.
After starting out at the club aged just 18, Kachra says he is looking forward to possibly being a part of history.
Kachra said: “It is exciting, isn’t it? It is obviously the first time the RFU have done the new promotion play-off system.
“Actually, it has kept the dream alive for all of the clubs who have finished second in their respective divisions, so it makes it quite an exciting couple of weeks across all of the leagues.
“Of course, there is pressure, but look, when you are preparing for a league game – it is not knock-out – so preparing for what is essentially a cup game is different, but we are confident.”
Compared to Tynedale, who are celebrating their 150th anniversary this year, Oundle are a relatively young rugby club having been formed in 1976.
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And Kachra acknowledges that this weekend is a reflection of the hard work put in by everyone involved at the club to reach this point.
He added: “It has been good to see us go from Level 10 on the rugby ladder all the way up to pushing to go into Level 3.
“I always go back to our first promotion with the club – so 11 years ago now – when we had been bumbling around Level 10 or whatever it was and with a lack of ambition. I was the captain for that year, and we managed to get out of it.
“I always think the first promotion is the hardest one because getting out of that first level and creating a story or an ambition is always a difficult one because you get a bit of momentum.
“While Saturday will be an enormous day, we have had big days in the past and have played other play-off games.
“Yes, it is massive. It is an opportunity to get into Level Three, but at the same time, it is an incredible achievement where we have got to.
“I don’t think many teams have come up from the level below – like we did last year – and competed at the top of National Two.
“So it is a great achievement so far, but I am always hugely ambitious, and for me, we want to push on and get these two wins and go up.”
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