Championship Clubs Podcast

It's the last induction into the 2021/22 Team of the Season and it's a bumper episode to round off a fantastic two weeks of announcements!  Another challenging one with four really worthy candidates up for selection and a split decision from our panellists making it one of the hardest inclusions to decide upon.  In the end, it's a third inclusion for Doncaster Knights as their rising Welsh star ge...

Into the penultimate position where four speedster right wingers battle it out to join Dean Adamson in the wing positions of the 2021/22 Championship Clubs Podcast and Championship Rugby Team of the Season.  Less debate, more admiration this time as the player with the most inclusions into the Team of the Week of the whole Championship (6) this season secured his rightful place following 15 tries...

Just three to go until the Championship Clubs Podcast & Championship Rugby Team of the Season is revealed in full!  And this one, for the coveted outside centre jersey, leads to another healthy debate as four quality Championship stars go head-to-head.  In the end, Ampthill get their first inclusion following another impressive season from their versatile former Welsh 7s representative. 

Surely there's space in the Championship Team of the Season for the division's leading marksman?  The influential Hartpury 10/12 faced some stiff competition to retain the jersey from last season with others from the top four sides also in the discussion.  In the end, the soon to be Bristol Bear did retain his spot in another fantastic campaign from a personal perspective, pipping the likes of Wil...

Moving on the left wing and a unanimous decision on this one with one stand out candidate shining through above the rest.  It's back-to-back inductions for Bedford Blues as their returning homegrown winger, who scored his 100th club try just two weeks ago, gets the nod after another scintillating campaign.     

Another tough decision to separate some of the Championship Rugby's most lethal marksmen across the 2021/22 campaign, with the fly-halves of four of the league's top five up for nomination.  With Pirates, Bedford and Doncaster all represented in both the discussion and the debate, it was always going to be a close call. In the end, Judge Gulliver cast the final verdict as Bedford Blues get their f...

We move into the backs division and start with the coveted scrum half jersey, as another four tenacious candidates are put forward.  After a few difficult decisions in the back row, this one was relatively easier in comparison with a unanimous decision across the board to induct a fourth Ealing Trailfinders player into the side as the champions pull clear in terms of players selected. 

We conclude our forwards pack inductions with one of the toughest decision within the entire XV as four more than worthy winners go head-to-head for the coveted jersey.  Two Champ warriors, last year's winner and a new star on the block are discussed as the team struggle to separate them and decide on a winner.  In the end, the retiring Covskin just about gets the nod to bring a perfect ending to...

The penultimate position in the forwards pack sees the openside jersey up for discussion as Jersey's captain squares off against two Bedfordshire stalwarts and an Ealing bruiser.  In the end, there wasn't too much discussion on this one as the 16-try powerhouse, who helped Trailfinders towards the title with numerous impressive displays, comes out on top following another impressive campaign at Va...

The Team of the Season for the forwards is almost complete and we conclude the pack in the back row with more Champ warriors and young starlets in the hotly contested discussion for the respective 6, 7 and 8 jerseys.  We start with blindside as a formidable versatile back row forward moves across from the other side of the scrum following an impressive campaign which saw him named in the Team of t...

Another extremely tough decision as to who replaces the shirt vacated by Maro Itoje from last season.  In the end, the second row most nominated into the Championship Clubs Podcast Team of the Week throughout the campaign gets the rightful nod as Cornish Pirates get a second player selected in the pack.   

We move into the engine room for more hot debate as some real Championship warriors go head-to-head for the number four jersey.  But it's a first for this year's team in the end as the big bad South African retains his jersey and becomes Ealing Trailfinders' second inclusion into the side. 

We conclude the front row positions with one of the most important positions on the park, tighthead prop. Another four more than deserving nominees split opinion and range between former Premiership stars and potential future top-tier warriors.  A difficult decision but ultimately, it's a five-time Team of the Week representative from the 21/22 campaign who gets the nod and gives champions, Ealing...

One of the toughest choices to make in the entire XV as Championship rugby's top try scorer went head-to-head with a rising loan star, a returning Knight and a real Championship warrior with over 150 appearances in the second-tier.  A hotly fought debate between four more than deserving players eventually concluded with a real friend of the show just edging clear, following an impressive campaign...

This season, we've teamed up with Championship Rugby to decide the 2021/22 Team of the Season following a thrilling second-tier campaign which saw the title race go right down to the wire with Ealing Trailfinders just pipping Doncaster Knights and Cornish Pirates to the crown.  Over the next three weeks, we will exclusively reveal the Team of the Season and the reasonings why each player has been...

Mike & Gully reflect on a captivating 2021/22 Championship campaign which saw Ealing come out on top in one of the closest title races in recent memories.  Gully is then joined by Ealing DoR Ben Ward who charts the club’s rise from London 2 to this season’s Championship champions.  Ward also discusses the ongoing appeals process as Trailfinders continue their attempts to secure promotion into the...

Dave Rogers and Gully reflect on another exciting weekend of rugby as the Championship continues its three-horse race finish, before being joined by Ealing Trailfinders enforcer Bobby de Wee.

Mike, Gully & Gareth react to the bombshell this week that both Ealing Trailfinders & Doncaster Knights Premiership promotion applications had been rejected. Tune in for impassioned & informed reaction & discussion. 

The tightest Championship season ever!?! Mike & Gully are joined by Ampthill Captain Charlie Beckett to run through the scintillating end to the 21/22 Champ season.  Ahead of a mouth-watering round, all three talk up the chances of likely candidates before doing a deep dive in into Charlie's impressive rugby career - one that has taken a number of twists and turns despite him being still just 26 y...

𝙉𝙀𝙒 𝙋𝙊𝘿 𝘼𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙏 Gully and guest co-host Ross Hancock are joined by two Champ Legends  Nottingham Rugby Head Coach Craig Hammond  Richmond Rugby Coach Nic Rouse Enjoy!

With the 2021 done & dusted the Champ Clubs Pod founded trio Aka Gully, Mike & Gareth spend 35 minutes telling each other what a great idea starting the show was!!!  Mixed in with the self-indulgence & back patting the gents reflect on some of their favourite guests, the state of the league & what the future could hold both for the Championship & the Podcast. 

It's all change in the studio this week as Sam Roberts, regularly heard covering the game on Sky, BT Sport, DAZN & via many other outlets, takes on hosting duties capably assisted by Bedford COO Gareth Alred. The duo are joined by Jersey Reds Chairman Mark Morgan, who gives his assessment on the Reds season, talks about the A word & the merits of revitalised cup competition. Doncaster Knights Bill...

𝕬 𝕻𝖎𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖘 𝕷𝖎𝖋𝖊 🏴‍☠️  We've gone Cornwall crazy this week as Gully is joined by Pirates Marketing & Comms Manager Ross Hancock.  The duo are joined by Becki Thomas - The Pirates CEO talks Stadium For Cornwall & Championship strategy. Then Bristol Bears Women Backs Coach Tom Luke enters the virtual studio to reflect on a career that saw him strut his stuff at Bedford, Doncaster and the Pirates. Him...

The Rugby Journal's own Jack Zorab returns to the Championship Clubs Podcast for Episode 4 of Season 2.  Jack joins Gully alongside Ampthill boss Paul Turner & the one of the league's most in-form players, Bedford Blues Fly-Half Will Maisey! 

Editor of the Rugby Journal Alex Mead joins Mike & Gully to talk Champ rugby! The guys get stuck into the league's direction, coverage & plenty more besides!    Mr Championship Rugby Mark Bright is the second guest on the show! Few players have had more success within the league and the team go through the New Zealanders frankly ridiculous career!