2026–27 Champ Rugby

2026–27 Champ Rugby
Countries England

The 2026–27 Champ Rugby is the eighteenth season of Champ Rugby, the second tier of rugby union in England. It is the second season under the rebranded banner of Champ Rugby. The number of teams in the league remains at fourteen and the defending champions, Worcester Warriors, were not promoted to the PREM.

Ahead of the new campaign, Rotherham Titans and Blackheath were promoted from the 2025–26 National League 1. Rotherham secured their place automatically as National League 1 champions, while Blackheath earned promotion by winning the Champ Accession Final.[1][2] They replace London Scottish and Cambridge, who were both relegated to the third tier. Cambridge were automatically relegated by finishing bottom of the table, whereas London Scottish were relegated after being defeated by Blackheath in the play-offs.[2][3]

Participation teams and location

Fourteen teams will complete in the league – twelve of the teams from last season plus Rotherham Titans the champions of National League One and Blackheath the Champ ascension play-off winners. No team was promoted to the Premiership. Departing were Cambridge (14th) and London Scottish (13th / Champ ascension play-off losers) both relegated to National League One.

Table

2026–27 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 Blackheath 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Play-off
quarter-finals
4 Caldy 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Nottingham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Richmond 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation play-off
13 Rotherham Titans 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
First match(es) will be played: 2026. Source:
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

Notes

  1. ↑ Goldington Road capacity up from 5,000 to 5,531 for the 2025–26 season with capacity crowd achieved versus Richmond on 26 December 2025.[4]
  2. ↑ Chinnor upgraded their temporary 350 seater stand to a permanent grandstand containing 560 seats ahead of the 2025–26 season. Ground capacity was also adjusted to 3,000.[6][7][5]
  3. ↑ Due to storm damage to the Mennaye Field in January 2026, Cornish Pirates would play two home games at the 7,000 capacity Recreation Ground, home of Camborne RFC.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Westby, Nick (27 April 2026). "Rotherham Titans promoted: Harvey Biljon, Nick Cragg and JB Bruzulier on a golden day at Clifton Lane". Rotherham Advertiser. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 Morgan, Charlie (23 May 2026). "World's oldest club Blackheath seals 'accidental' promotion to Champ". The Times. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  3. ↑ Apicella, Liam (15 April 2026). "Relegation rubber stamped in positive display against leaders". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "Goldington Road". Napit.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  5. 1 2 "Heartbreak for most of Bath stars involved in Six Nations finale". Bath Echo. 17 March 2026.
  6. ↑ "Chairman's BIG August Update". Chinnor Rugby. 2 August 2024.
  7. ↑ "Minor/Major improvement works version 2". National League Rugby. 24 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "Cornish Pirates forced to move home match to Camborne RFC". Falmouth Packet. 23 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "A right mess entirely of the RFU's making". The RugbyPaper. No. 703. 6 March 2022. p. 11.
  10. ↑ "Hartpury Stadium renamed as Vodafone and 4Ed Foundation partnership unveiled". Hartpury University & College. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  11. ↑ "Richmond Athletic Ground". Richmond Rugby. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
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