Championship Clubs Podcast

As we prepare for a rebrand of the league to Champ Rugby from 1st July, we're looking back on what has been a fantastic 15 years of the Championship and pick our squad of 'Legends' with a whole host of impressive names up for discussion.  Let us know your thoughts as Ross, Charlie and Gareth try to pick the very best to ply their trade in the league - some extremely difficult decisions trying to a...

In a week where the new brand and format for the league has been launched, Ross catches up with Worcester Warriors CEO, Stephen Vaughan and Bedford Blues COO, Gareth Alred to talk all the latest developments.  - Name rebrand to 'Champ Rugby' for 25/26 - Play-offs at both ends of the table next season  - Worcester's return to the league - Usual preview / review with just three rounds of action to g...

As Richmond prepare to lift the National One Title this afternoon, their skipper Alex Schwarz talks to Ross Hancock about how the Londoners are preparing for a return to the second-tier of English rugby.  Plus there's the usual preview/review and chat about all the latest news coming from the game in this country including discussions of a franchise system moving forward and Worcester continuing t...

An instant reaction piece to today's announcement which saw the Tier 2 Board confirm the clubs for next season, which sees a return to rugby for Worcester Warriors.  Ross and Charlie catch up with Bedford Blues Chief Operating Officer, Gareth Alred to discuss all the latest news including the recent SGM.  Plus there's still time for a little nausing with the familiar preview/review of recent Champ...

As Championship Rugby prepares to make it's long awaited return after a six week hiatus, Ross and Charlie are back talking all the latest news from the second tier.  Discussion points this episode include results from the minimum standards audit for promotion to the Premiership, Newcastle's expected loan payments as well as the usual preview / review ahead of a jam packed weekend of high octane ac...

We're back for another episode as clubs like Ealing Trailfinders, Bedford Blues and Doncaster Knights secure big wins against Premiership opposition in the second phase of the Premiership Rugby Cup.  Six giant killings throughout the pool stage including an away victory at Leicester for Coventry, and extremely proud to see Ealing representing the Champ in the knockout phases.  Plus Charlie & R...

Ahead of his competitive debut at Premiership heavyweights, Bristol Bears, on loan from Hartpury University RFC, we're delighted to hear from Harry Bazalgette regards all the latest news in the second tier.  The Champ warrior has spent the last five seasons in the division firstly with Cornish Pirates and now with the Gloucestershire based side.  Plus there's the usual preview and review of the Pr...

We're back for more in 2025 and it's another enthralling round of Championship Rugby to kickstart the New Year with four sides in contention to end the day in second place.  Lots to talk about for Ross & Charlie including the fantastic news that Ellis Mee, who starred for Nottingham last season, has been called up by Wales for the upcoming Six Nations Championship.  The usual preview / review...

Final episode of 2024! And it's a huge bumper edition to round off the year as Ross and Charlie hear from Coventry Head Coach, Alex Rae then Nottingham Chairman, Alistair Bow.  So much has happened in the game recently, including the RFU pay-row, potential votes of no confidence with intense calls for change at the top of the game.  But don't let that distract you too much from what is a massive w...

A whole host of topics for Ross & Charlie to discuss following a hectic two weeks, including reflections on the final round of this initial phase of Prem Cup action which sees Ealing and Coventry in contention for the knockout stages.  Following the RFU's announcement of financial losses of close to £38 million in the latest set of accounts, the duo also reflect on how this could impact the se...

After two pulsating rounds of Premiership Rugby Cup action, Ross and Charlie are back to discuss all the latest from the Second Tier.  - Latest Cup Results  - Coventry's flying start to the season - Simon Gillham appointed chair of new Tier 2 Board - Wasps & Worcester apply for Tier 2 - Not The Premiership Cup begins this week (Cambridge v Chinnor)    

We're back with another bumper episode as Premiership Rugby Cup action gets underway tonight, lasting throughout the majority of November.  After some outstanding results for Championship clubs in this competition last year against top flight sides, we're hoping for more 'cupsets' this time around. 

This weekend's fixtures conclude the first block of Championship fixtures before attentions turn to cup competition throughout November. Feature games include Ladies Day at Goldington Road, the reigning champions at home and the current league leaders in the North West.  All those games are previewed in this week's episode where Ross is joined by one of the longest serving Media Managers in the se...

Following a few pieces of breaking news concerning the second tier breaking in recent weeks, we are delighted to be joined by Bedford Blues Chief Operating Officer, Gareth Alred to discuss all the latest feeling from within the league.  Usual co-hosts Ross & Charlie also conduct their usual preview/review segments in this bumper episode. 

We're back for one final time in the 2023/24 Championship campaign as we look towards naming our Podcast Team of the Season this Friday!  We've amassed a huge list of contenders which Ross Hancock and Charlie Beckett dissect in this latest episode - it's been another cracking season of Championship rugby!  They also look back on the final round of fixtures as Cornish Pirates and Hartpury both secu...

A bumper issue as Championship Rugby prepares to bring the curtain down on another fantastic season this weekend.  Delighted to welcome one of Ealing's integral members of their champions squad, Reuben Bird-Tulloch to talk to Charlie Beckett about the importance of English rugby's second-tier and excitement to lift the trophy for the second time in three seasons.  As usual, we also have the tradit...

We're back with a shorter episode this week as Ross & Charlie preview a huge weekend of Championship Rugby including a Top Four battle between Bedford and Doncaster, and Coventry trying to keep pace with Ealing at the top.  It's still all to play for with three rounds of action remaining and all sides are capable of moving up the table before the campaign draws to a close.  In addition, we als...

A few weeks since our last Pod and we're delighted to be joined by Chinnor back row forward, Max Clementson to discuss the Oxfordshire club's imminent arrival in Championship Rugby.  The former Hartpury man has helped Chinnor into the second-tier for the very first time, after they secured the National One title in victory over Birmingham Moseley two weeks ago.  He spoke to Charlie Beckett about t...

Delighted to be joined this week by Ampthill skipper, Morgan Strong after the Mob's historic victory over Ealing Trailfinders last weekend.  The Welshman talks need for consistency from Mark Lavery and Paul Turner's side as they try to climb higher up the table before the season's conclusion.  Elsewhere, Ross and Charlie preview this weekend's HUGE round of Championship action which includes four...

Delighted to be joined by rugby royalty this week as Doncaster Knights' Consultant Director of Rugby, Sir Ian McGeechan, joins us on the pod.  Following the news this week that Doncaster remain the only Championship club with eligibility to go up to the Premiership, Sir Ian talks minimum standards, eventual promotion ambitions and his opening few weeks at the Knights.  As usual, Ross Hancock and C...

Delighted to be joined for our International Women's Day podcast by broadcaster, Megan Seward who was the Communications Lead for Gloucester-Hartpury Women in their title winning campaign last season.  She joins Ross Hancock and Charlie Beckett to talk all things Championship Rugby ahead of her lead commentary debut on Sunday as Cornish Pirates take on Ampthill. 

The latest in the long conveyor belt of Championship to higher, Exeter Chiefs' new centre, Will Rigg join us to talk his first week at Sandy Park.  Elsewhere, Ross and Charlie Beckett give their mid-season review as well as previewing this weekend's fixtures and the upcoming involvement of Ealing Trailfinders in the Premiership Rugby Cup Semi-Finals. 

As we prepare for the first full round of Championship Rugby in 2024, regular favourites Ross Hancock and Charlie Beckett discuss all the latest from English Rugby's second tier - including recent state of the league updates and all five games this coming weekend. 

After another statement from all 11 Championship clubs dropped on Wednesday 10th January, we catch up with the Non Executive Director of the Championship Clubs Committee, Simon Cohen to discuss the current state of the game.  The former longstanding CEO of Leicester Tigers, Cohen shares his thoughts on the current second-tier structure as well as hopes for the future across the game at all levels....