Chairman’s Notes: Looking ahead to the new National League Rugby season
With the blue skies being replaced intermittently by the occasional downpour, let’s hope that, for the overwhelming majority of our clubs, the season can start as scheduled across September 4th and 5th. (Photo Credit: Tim Anger) To that end, I thought it was an opportune time to mention a few things about the months ahead. We are constantly striving to make National League Rugby a better proposition for sponsors, a better spectacle for spectators and a better experience for players. To that end, the introduction of minimum facilities across the National Leagues should be finalised very shortly. Further information will be provided in due course. Our Live Scores service on our National League Rugby app and website was hugely successful last season, and the ambition is to make it quicker and even more effective this year. For those clubs that have not yet contacted our Media Manager Chris Heal – nationalleaguerugbymediateam@gmail.com – to confirm how they will provide live score updates for this season, please could you do so before Friday 4th September. For those clubs who have, thank you! For many of you who spent the final, anxious few weeks of last season clutching your phone in one hand to check
Introducing ‘For Our Clubs’
National League Rugby is built on the strength of its clubs. (Photo Credit: Jonathan Knight) With that in mind, our new ‘For Our Clubs’ page will bring together news, ideas, opportunities and support that should help our clubs grow, connect and thrive. From league updates and best practice to information from our partners, live streaming and everything in between, it’s a place to share what’s happening across National League Rugby in order to keep our clubs better informed. Because when our clubs are stronger, National League Rugby is stronger. National League Rugby. Administering, campaigning and caring for your game at our level. Make sure you follow National League Rugby on social media! Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Threads
Pre-Season Latest: Clubs step up preparations with new campaign just around the corner
Catch up on the latest pre-season action as clubs step up their preparations with the new campaign edging ever closer. (Photo Credit: Andrew Hargraves) National One Friday night saw Cambridge take on old foes Bedford Blues at Goldington Road, but last season’s Champ Rugby semi-finalists proved too strong for the National One outfit. The Blood and Sand fell to a 76-5 defeat, with back-row Ted Warner scoring Cambridge’s only try of the evening. Birmingham Moseley – Cambridge’s first opponents in National One on September 5th – had a double-header in Wales, coming away with a win and a defeat. On Friday, they edged past Llanelli Wanderers 14-12 before suffering a 21-7 defeat to Carmarthen Quins on Saturday. Two National One sides went head-to-head at The Rock, with Rosslyn Park coming from behind to beat London Scottish 34-19. Park trailed 19-17 with 10 minutes remaining before tries from Luke Mehson, Sam Kennaugh and Sam Winter sealed victory. In the North West, Sale FC ran riot against National Two North newcomers Heath, winning 83-14 at Heywood Road. Emerging talent Arthur Scrase was among the scorers and crossed four times. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bury St
Pre-Season: Rams impress, Cornish derby draws epic crowd, Havant shine and Cinderford catch eye
A round-up of selected pre-season fixtures involving National League Rugby teams. Photo Credit: (Kairos Sports Photography) National One Tonbridge Juddians, who finished eighth in National One last season, got their pre-season off to an impressive start as they defeated Kent rivals Canterbury 58-14 under the Friday night lights of The Slade. New boys Camborne, meanwhile, were beaten 50-28 by Champ side Cornish Pirates in front of an impressive crowd of 2,389 at The Recreation Ground. Cambridge were involved in a double-header on Saturday at Colchester, with Craig Newby’s side taking on both the National Two East outfit as well as Hertford. Tries from new signings Will Wood and Josh Carr helped the Blood and Sand to a 21-0 victory over Hertford before Cambridge made it two wins from two with a 38-11 success against Colchester. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cornish Pirates (@cornishpirates) Rosslyn Park recorded a 26-7 away win at Esher, with Luke Mehson – who finished second in National One’s try-scoring charts last season – crossing the whitewash. Potential title contenders Plymouth Albion, meanwhile, played out an entertaining 33-33 draw at Swansea RFC and Bishop’s Stortford beat Welsh Premiership champions Merthyr 27-19. Elsewhere, Birmingham
“I’m still as competitive as ever”: Former Premiership winger Tom Collins embraces new challenge at ‘ambitious’ Oundle
Former Northampton and Ealing winger on swapping the top levels of the English game for National Two, balancing rugby with his business and why the ambition of Oundle made his decision an easy one. (Photo Credit: Rob Brewer) For more than a decade, rugby dictated Tom Collins’ life. Now, he’s learning to fit rugby around it. The 32-year-old spent 10 years at Northampton Saints before his recent spell with Ealing Trailfinders, but the decision to step away from a full-time environment has brought a very different routine. Training now takes place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with work and his construction company filling the rest of the week. It is an adjustment, but one he has embraced. “It’s been good,” Collins says. “It’s a tad different to obviously being full-time, trying to balance work with doing gym and training in the evenings. “It’s been a bit difficult to structure, especially when it’s on your own terms as well. You’re so used to having your days structured out for you! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oundle RFC (@oundlerfc) “But no, it’s been good. I’m enjoying it. There’s a lot of drive around Oundle at the
Opening Weekend Protocol Following Extreme Summer Weather
The Rugby Football Union has confirmed that the National League Rugby Executive has been granted devolved authority to determine whether fixtures scheduled for the opening weekend of the 2026/27 season can proceed should the extreme summer weather continue to impact playing conditions. Where fixtures are deemed unable to take place, the Executive will also have the authority to consider and suggest alternative arrangements. The decision follows an exceptionally dry summer across England, with many parts of the country experiencing prolonged heatwave conditions and some central regions recording their longest dry spell in almost 30 years. With temperatures reportedly set to climb north of 30C this week, several clubs have raised concerns over pitch conditions and the ability to prepare players safely for competitive, contact rugby. This is the fourth time in the past five seasons that this issue has occurred. With the 2026/27 campaign due to begin across the 4th and 5th of September, the Executive has agreed to a protocol to help manage and mitigate any impact on the league programme: a) NLR Exec should liaise directly with National League clubs, who may by virtue of their status have made appropriate plans for both training and matches. b) NLR