With the Summer coming to a close, club rugby is set to make it’s comeback across the country this weekend. England’s beloved National Leagues are back with a bang, with the opening round of action taking us across from Cornwall to Northumberland, for another scintillating season across England’s third and fourth tiers.
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This season, RUCK will be covering the National league’s in greater depth than ever before. Each week, we are setting out to recap the action from across the country, so that rugby fans from across England can keep up to date with their local side. There’s nothing quite like the atmosphere of a local rugby club on a match day, with the National Leagues’ long awaited return now only just a few days away.
National Leagues Preview
Richmond swept up the National League 1 title in 2024/25, with a dominant season that secured the silverware and a swift return back to the Championship. It was Richmond’s fourth National League 1 title, as the West Londoners enjoyed a stellar campaign of 21 wins from 26 matches. Rosslyn Park ran close second to Richmond’s title, with plenty of exciting building for a league title for Rosslyn this season.
Darlington Mowden Park and Esher were the relegated sides from the latest National 1 campaign, as DMP drop down to National 2 North, and Esher return to National 2 East for the upcoming season. Leicester Lions narrowly avoided the drop, and will live to fight another day in the third tier of English rugby. The regional champions of the respective National 2 leagues Leeds Tykes (North), Clifton (West) and Tonbridge Juddians (East) return to the division for the 2025/26 season.
Falling out of National 2 following their bottom placed finishes last season are Devonport Services and Bournville (West), Worthing and Colchester (East) and Harrogate (North).
ROUND 1: 2025/26 NATIONAL 1
SEPTEMBER 6TH 2025
Bishop’s Stortford v Birmingham Moseley – 15:00 KO, Silver Leys
Clifton v Blackheath – 14:30 KO, Shaftesbury Park
Leeds Tykes v Plymouth Albion – 15:00 KO, The Sycamores
Leicester Lions v Tonbridge Juddians – 14:00 KO, Westleigh Park
Rosslyn Park v Dings Crusaders – 15:00 KO, The Rock
Sale FC v Rotherham Titans – 14:30 KO, Heywood Road
Sedgley Park v Rams – 14:30 KO, Park Lane
ROUND 1: NATIONAL 2 (NORTH)
Fylde v Hull Ionians – 15:00 KO, Woodlands Memorial Ground
Hull v Rossendale – 14:00 KO, Ferens Ground
Macclesfield v Sheffield Tigers – 15:00 KO, Priory Park
Preston Grasshoppers v Billingham – 14:30 KO, Lightfoot Green
Scunthorpe v Darlington Mowden Park – 15:00 KO, Heslam Park
Sheffield v Otley – 15:00 KO, Abbeydale Park
Tynedale v Wharfedale – 15:00 KO, Tynedale Park
ROUND 1: NATIONAL 2 (EAST)
Barnes v Canterbury – 15:00 KO, Barn Elms
Dorking v London Welsh – 15:00 KO, The Big Field
Esher v Sevenoaks – 15:00 KO, Molesey Road
Guernsey Raiders v Westcombe Park – 15:00 KO, Footes Lane
Henley Hawks v Bury St Edmunds – 15:00 KO, Dry Leas
Tonbridge Juddians v Worthing Raiders – 15:00 KO, The Slade
Havant v Old Albanian – 15:00 KO, Hooks Lane
ROUND 1: NATIONAL 2 (WEST)
Taunton Titans v Exeter University – 19:45 KO (Fri 5 Sep), Veritas Park
Barnstaple v Old Redcliffians – 14:30 KO, Pottington Road
Chester v Camborne – 15:00 KO, Hare Lane
Cinderford v Syston – 15:00 KO, Beavis Memorial Ground
Hornets v Hinckley – 15:00 KO, The Nest
Luctonians v Lymm – 15:00 KO, Mortimer Park
Redruth v Bournville – 15:00 KO, Recreation Ground
EDITORS PICKS:
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- England Star Reverses Decision After Telling Steve Borthwick He Wanted to Play for Wales
- Most Underrated Players in World Rugby Today
- Team of the Week: Women’s Rugby World Cup – Round 2
- WRWC Round 2 – England break tournament record as USA and Australia draw an all-time classic