‘There can be no denying what a positive addition the play-offs have been to a brilliant season’

With the final day of a thrilling National League Rugby season almost upon us, the jeopardy created by our clubs – alongside the reintroduction of the play-offs – has made this campaign one to savour. (Photo Credit: John and Barbara Austin)

If 90 per cent of meetings, in rugby union in particular, yield nothing other than the date of the next meeting, let me take you back to one gathering a year ago that has produced this upcoming, most dramatic of weekends in National League Rugby.

The proposal on the table was to (re)introduce play-offs at the end of the season to increase jeopardy and interest, when far too many matches post-February were effectively wind-downs to the next season.

The motion passed with minimal dissent, and so began the road to April 25th, when each of our four leagues has matches that are fascinating, agonising, tantalising or unbearable – depending on where you stand and what’s at stake.

The battle for the National One title goes down to the wire, while historic clubs like Birmingham Moseley and Loughborough Students are staring at relegation or a play-off place in their respective leagues.

Just one final 80 minutes of the dice to be thrown.

Everywhere you look, there is still one more potential twist in the tale of a season that has brought National League Rugby more publicity and awareness than ever before.

A (long) love letter to this season’s National 1 promotion race, featuring chats with the players, coaches and business brains involved. Jeopardy everywhere, clubs with massive heritage. And a player with 42 tries in 23 games (so far).https://t.co/ke0T9PsFIo

— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) April 5, 2026

Also at the aformentioned meeting last summer, there was a motion to introduce a NLR app to further build on our increasing profile.

Great idea everyone said, although it unfortunately took longer to set up than any of us had imagined.

However, as we reach the crescendo this Saturday, we can all be on that app, checking live scores as they happen, without having to wonder how other clubs ‘in the mix’ are getting on.

When I was at Canterbury last weekend, dozens of spectators watched the game while simultaneously checking the app, keeping track of how the other league fixtures were unfolding.

It’ll be a tense last day of the season for some, resulting in despair and relief in equal measure.

But if we can all stand apart from vested interest – just for a moment – there can be no denying what a major and positive addition to National League Rugby the play-offs have been.

Sometimes, even if rarely, meetings can actually produce something worthwhile.

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