With 14 teams, two newly promoted clubs, and a broadcast landscape stronger than ever, the league enters 2026–27 with momentum, visibility, and genuine competitive depth.
A League Ready to Ignite
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Champ Rugby retains its familiar structure — home and away fixtures, a top‑six playoff, and a season that runs through to the end of May. Two innovations add extra spice:
• Rivals Round (Rounds 10 & 15) — derby weekends featuring fixtures such as Rotherham v Doncaster, Blackheath v Richmond, and Coventry v Bedford.
• Festive Double‑Header — reverse fixtures on 26 December and 2 January, creating quick‑fire rematches and momentum swings.
The arrival of Rotherham Titans and Blackheath injects fresh energy, while established contenders like Worcester, Bedford, Ealing, Coventry and Cornish Pirates ensure the top end of the table will be fiercely contested.
Broadcast & Coverage: A Breakthrough Year
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Champ Rugby enters the new season with its strongest media presence in years.
Blaze TV — Free-to-Air Coverage
Blaze TV will broadcast one live match every Sunday, typically at 4pm, giving the league a consistent national window.
Blaze TV channel numbers:
• Freeview: 64
• Freesat: 162
• Sky: 154
• Virgin Media: 216
Their opening broadcast — Cornish Pirates v Doncaster Knights on Sunday 20 September — brings the Championship to a wider audience than ever before.
Clubber TV — Every Game, Every Round
For supporters wanting full coverage, Clubber TV continues to stream every single match live, with flexible access options:
Clubber TV• Pay-per-game
• Monthly pass
• Annual pass (currently with a 20% discount)
Together, Blaze TV and Clubber TV give fans both national reach and complete coverage — a major step forward for the league.
Opening Weekend Fixtures (18–20 September)
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Friday 18 September
• Nottingham v Blackheath — Lady Bay
Season opener under the lights; Blackheath’s return to the Championship.
Saturday 19 September
• Caldy v Hartpury
• Rotherham Titans v Coventry
• Worcester Warriors v Bedford Blues
• Chinnor v Ealing Trailfinders
• Richmond v Ampthill
Sunday 20 September
• Cornish Pirates v Doncaster Knights — Blaze TV live (4pm)
Rolling Maul / LeagueRugby.co.uk: A Community Worth Celebrating
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For many years, Rolling Maul, now known as LeagueRugby.co.uk, has been the beating heart of rugby discussion below the Premiership. Under Richard Lowther’s stewardship, it became a unique meeting place — a forum where supporters from every club and every level could share previews, updates, reviews, opinions, humour, and build friendships across the rugby pyramid.
It has given countless supporters — myself included — a place to connect with like‑minded rugby people and I am deeply indebted to Richard for facilitating that.
In recent times, however, the site’s ageing infrastructure has made access increasingly difficult: slow loading, intermittent availability, and occasional complete lockouts. It still works, and many will continue to use it, but reliability is no longer guaranteed.
RugbyChat: Running Alongside the Old Home
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The new site — RugbyChat — is not a replacement for Rolling Maul. It simply runs alongside it, offering a modern, stable platform for those who want smoother access.
Registration is quick and pain‑free:
index.phpSupporters now have two homes — the historic forum many grew up with, and a modern alternative that ensures the community can continue without interruption.
Season Outlook
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This season feels wide open. The established contenders remain strong, the promoted clubs bring fresh energy, and the new broadcast landscape ensures the league will be more visible than ever.
Champ Rugby enters 2026–27 with a sense of renewal, competitiveness, and genuine excitement — a league ready to deliver.
Good luck to one and all & here’s to a great season.