Jump to content

2025–26 Champ Rugby

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2025–26 Champ Rugby
Countries England

The 2025–26 Champ Rugby will be the seventeenth season of the Champ Rugby, the professional second tier of rugby union in England. It is the first season under the rebranded banner of Champ Rugby, succeeding sixteen seasons under RFU Championship branding. The number of teams in the league will increase by two, as there was no relegation in the previous season. Ealing Trailfinders are the defending champions. Ealing were not promoted to the Premiership after failing to meet the minimum standards criteria.[1] Richmond were promoted from National League 1 and Worcester Warriors were added following a period of administration.

Background

[edit]

On 15 May 2025, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) unveiled the new format and structure of English rugby’s second division branded Champ Rugby. The competition will see a return of relegation to National League 1 and potential promotion to the Premiership, which Tier 2 board chair Simon Gillham said will create "aspiration and jeopardy".[2][3]

The league has been expanded to 14 teams, with 2024–25 National League 1 winners Richmond joining the competition alongside Worcester Warriors, who will mark their return to professional rugby following a period in administration.[4][5]

Structure

[edit]

League season

[edit]

The fourteen teams will play each of the other teams twice, once at home and once away from home.

The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:

  • 4 points are awarded for a win
  • 2 points are awarded for a draw
  • 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
    • 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
    • 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match

Play-offs and relegation

[edit]

1st–6th place
The top six sides, after the regular season, will enter into a play-off phase to determine the league champions. The teams that finish in first and second place in the regular season standings will earn automatic home semi-final places. The 3rd–6th placed teams in the league standings will play quarter-finals to determine who makes it to the semi-finals.[2] The eventual champions will then face the bottom placed team in the 2025–26 Premiership for a chance at promotion to the top tier.

12th & 13th
The teams placed 12th and 13th in the table will face each other in single-leg play-off, the loser playing the runner-up in 2025–26 National League 1. The eventual winner will be in Champ Rugby for the 2026–27 season.[2]

14th
The bottom placed side will be automatically relegated to National League 1 for the 2026–27 season. They will be replaced by the National League 1 champions.[2]

Participation teams and location

[edit]

Fourteen teams will complete in the league – the twelve teams from last season, the champions of National League One and Worcester Warriors. No team was promoted to the Premiership. Last season the RFU’s Tier 2 Board ran a tender process for any club, college or university to join this league, if they could meet a growth strategy and minimum operating standards. On 3 April 2025 the RFU announced that Worcester Warrior’s will return to professional rugby, two and half years after going into administration.[6][7]

Table

[edit]
2025–26 Champ Rugby table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Ampthill 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Play-off
semi-finals
2 Bedford Blues 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Caldy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Play-off
quarter-finals
4 Cambridge 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Chinnor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Cornish Pirates 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Coventry 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Doncaster Knights 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Ealing Trailfinders 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Hartpury University 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 London Scottish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Nottingham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation play-off
13 Richmond 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Worcester Warriors 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegated
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Number of matches drawn
  3. Difference between points for and against
  4. Total number of points for
  5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  6. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled

Regular season

[edit]

The regular season fixtures were announced on 10 July 2025.[12][13]

Round 1

[edit]
3 October 2025
19:45
Nottingham–Doncaster Knights
Lady Bay Sports Ground
4 October 2025
15:00
Richmond–Chinnor
Athletic Ground
4 October 2025
15:00
Caldy–London Scottish
Kingsey Road

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ealing fail to meet Premiership promotion criteria". BBC Sport. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Raisey, Josh (15 May 2025). "Extra drama added at both ends as RFU unveil new-look Champ Rugby". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  3. ^ Orchard, Sara (15 May 2025). "Championship becomes Champ Rugby in overhaul". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Trailfinders wrap up Championship title with win at Caldy". Yahoo Sport. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Round 24 Takeaways: Richmond + Leeds Tykes champions, TJs and Clifton take significant steps, survival battle rages on while relegations are confirmed". National League Rugby. 6 April 2025.
  6. ^ Kitson, Robert (3 April 2025). "Worcester wind back to life with second-tier return and vow to clear debts". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Worcester Warriors set for Championship return". BBC Sport. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  8. ^ "A right mess entirely of the RFU's making". The RugbyPaper. No. 703. 6 March 2022. p. 11.
  9. ^ "Hartpury Stadium renamed as Vodafone and 4Ed Foundation partnership unveiled". Hartpury University & College. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Richmond Athletic Ground". Richmond Rugby. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  11. ^ Kermack, Gavin (29 November 2024). "Worcester Warriors to submit Sixways plans". BBC News. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  12. ^ @Champrugby (1 July 2025). "LOCK THIS DATE IN" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 July 2025 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ "2025/26 Fixtures Confirmed". Champ Rugby. 10 July 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2025–26_Champ_Rugby&oldid=1299848557"