The Previews: National One
After a thrilling 2025/26 National One campaign – which caught the attention of the national media – we’re strapping ourselves in for another breathless season of third-tier action. (Photo Credit: Plymouth Albion) With Rotherham Titans and Blackheath waving goodbye to the third tier last season as champions and play-off winners respectively, National One welcomes two sides from Champ Rugby – and both arrive with plenty to offer. After promotion in 2023, Cambridge begin life back at this level against the side they beat to secure the National One title three years ago. On a sun-kissed April afternoon at Ellgia Fields, the Blood and Sand beat Birmingham Moseley 59-10 to bring an absorbing title race to its conclusion. Much has changed for both clubs since then. Cambridge, now under Craig Newby, found life tough in the second tier, particularly last season when they failed to win any of their 26 league games. Now, though, a new-look side are excited by a fresh challenge, while Moseley – led by Ollie Thomas – are also at the beginning of what feels like a new era. View this post on Instagram A post shared by National League Rugby (@nationalleaguerugby) Long-serving Director of
The Previews: National Two West
There are some eye-catching opening round fixtures in National Two West, with Friday Night Lights kicking off another season at Levels Three and Four. (Photo Credit: Gary Brown) When two of last season’s leading sides meet on opening weekend, it is hard to ignore the potential for that clash to set the tone for the long campaign ahead. With Hinckley hosting Luctonians in Round One, the sides who finished third and second respectively will lock horns straight away after both pushed hard for a top-two finish in 2025/26. In the end, it was Lucs who secured an excellent second place behind eventual champions Camborne, but Rob Lewis and George Thomas’ side were overwhelmed at the first hurdle of the play-offs, losing 60-15 to Birmingham Moseley. However, there is plenty of encouragement to take from Thomas’ comments this week, with the head coach saying he feels this particular group is ‘hitting their peak’ in terms of their age profile. That cohesion could prove valuable. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Luctonians (@luctonians) For Hinckley, having equalled the highest finish in the club’s history last term, the Midlands club will be keen to build on that achievement.
The Previews: National Two East
A look ahead to the new season in National Two East, where Oundle have attracted plenty of attention – but don’t sleep on last season’s challengers or the emerging sides looking to make their mark. (Photo Credit: Jonathan Knight) After winning promotion from Regional 1 South East in 2024/25, Oundle nearly went back-to-back. With a squad built around homegrown talent alongside Champ Rugby and National League Rugby experience, Aly Kachra’s side took last year’s title race to the final day before ultimately falling short of Bury St Edmunds. Their second-place finish earned them a place in the National One Accession Final, but Oundle were edged out 19-15 by Birmingham Moseley. Nevertheless, expectations will be high at Occupation Road this term. The quality of their recruitment has certainly caught the eye, with former Northampton winger Tom Collins and ex-Saracens centre Oli Morris among the arrivals. But perhaps the most eye-catching addition is former Leicester Tiger Harry Wells, who has opted to step into National Two East. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oundle RFC (@oundlerfc) Wells will link up with Bristol Bears on a three-month deal before returning to Oundle to continue his playing and coaching
The Previews: National Two North
With Sedgley Park dropping down to National Two North, and three clubs being promoted, this division could be more unpredictable than ever. (Photo Credit: Bev Clough Photography) After Sheffield’s superb run to the title last season, how will the promotion race unfold in National Two North this time around? With the play-off system once again in place, the battle for the top two could be more intense than ever, with Sedgley Park possibly among the leading candidates. After three seasons in National One, Scott Barrow’s side were relegated last term, but the noises coming out of Park Lane suggest an immediate return is in their thoughts. The departures of players such as Rhys Henderson and club legend Andy Riley represent something of a changing of the guard for the Tigers, but with the likes of Joe Bedlow arriving from Sale Sharks, there is still plenty of quality in their ranks and they will be one of the sides to watch. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sedgley Park Rugby Club (@sedgleytigers_rufc) In fact, Darlington Mowden Park head coach Darren Fearn pointed to exactly that ahead of the North-East side’s visit to Sedge on Saturday. A
Darlington Mowden Park and Newcastle Red Bulls – Striking the balance between ambition and realism
Interview: Newcastle Red Bulls transition coach and Darlington Mowden Park head coach Darren Fearn discusses the clubs’ new long-term partnership and how it could boost player development and shape the future of rugby in the North East. (Photo Credit: Newcastle Red Bulls) There is a new ‘Red Bull world’ taking shape at Newcastle. And for Darren Fearn, that can only mean one thing. Excitement. As rugby finds its place within Red Bull’s growing sporting empire, the scale of ambition surrounding Newcastle’s new era is difficult to ignore. The Prem club feels transformed. Expectations are rising. New faces have arrived, but the optimism does not begin and end with the Red Bulls themselves. It is being felt further down the rugby pyramid, and perhaps nowhere more clearly than at Darlington Mowden Park, where Fearn finds himself at the heart of a partnership designed to ‘strengthen player development and elevate rugby across the North East.’ View this post on Instagram A post shared by Darlington Mowden Park (@mowdenpark) His role as Newcastle Red Bulls’ transition coach will dovetail with a return to DMP as head coach, taking charge of a club he represented as a player a decade ago. For
National League Rugby renews agreement with Troo
National League Rugby is delighted to announce the continuation of its relationship with nationwide energy consultancy, Troo, for a further two years. Troo joined the National League Rugby network in 2024 and has established reliable partnerships with a number of our 56 clubs, including a long-standing association with National 2 North side Darlington Mowden Park. The renewed agreement enables Troo to continue introducing its energy procurement, consultancy and management services to more clubs across National League Rugby. Rising energy prices are a huge headache, so understanding energy use and the associated costs and carbon impact is increasingly relevant for clubs. Troo also provides an Energy and Carbon Health Check service, designed to provide an overview of energy use, costs and carbon impact. The assessment can identify opportunities to save money, provide greater certainty and help your team comply with complex regulations. As part of the renewal, Troo is offering all clubs a FREE Energy and Carbon Emissions Assessment. Further insights about the assessment are available via the link below. Find out more For more information about Troo, please contact Sean Gleeson: sean.gleeson@troocost.com Make sure you follow National League Rugby on social media! Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Threads