2025–26 Champ Rugby
The 2025–26 Champ Rugby will be the seventeenth season of the Champ Rugby, the professional second tier of rugby union in England. It is the first season under the rebranded banner of Champ Rugby, succeeding sixteen seasons under RFU Championship branding. The number of teams in the league will increase by two, as there was no relegation in the previous season. Ealing Trailfinders are the defending champions. Ealing were not promoted to the Premiership after failing to meet the minimum standards criteria. Richmond were promoted from National League 1 and newly-reestablished Worcester Warriors were added following the old club's period of administration.
Background
On 15 May 2025, the Rugby Football Union unveiled the new format and structure of English rugby's second division branded Champ Rugby. The competition will see a return of relegation to National League 1 and potential promotion to the Premiership, which Tier 2 board chair Simon Gillham said will create "aspiration and jeopardy".The league has been expanded to 14 teams, with 2024–25 National League 1 winners Richmond joining the competition alongside newly reestablished Worcester Warriors, who will mark their return to professional rugby following a period in administration.
Structure
League season
The fourteen teams will play each of the other teams twice, once at home and once away from home.The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
- 4 points are awarded for a win
- 2 points are awarded for a draw
- 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
- * 1 losing point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
- * 1 additional point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match
Play-offs and relegation
1st–6th placeThe top six sides, after the regular season, will enter into a play-off phase to determine the league champions. The teams that finish in first and second place in the regular season standings will earn automatic home semi-final places. The 3rd–6th placed teams in the league standings will play quarter-finals to determine who makes it to the semi-finals. The eventual champions will then face the bottom placed team in the Premiership Rugby|2025–26 Premiership] for a chance at promotion to the top tier.
12th & 13th
The teams placed 12th and 13th in the table will face each other in single-leg play-off, the loser playing the runner-up in 2025–26 National League 1. The eventual winner will be in Champ Rugby for the 2026–27 season.
14th
The bottom placed side will be automatically relegated to National League 1 for the 2026–27 season. They will be replaced by the National League 1 champions.
Participation teams and location
Fourteen teams will complete in the league – the twelve teams from last season, the champions of National League One and Worcester Warriors. No team was promoted to the Premiership. Last season the RFU's Tier 2 Board ran a tender process for any club, college or university to join this league, if they could meet a growth strategy and minimum operating standards. On 3 April 2025 the RFU announced that Worcester Warriors will return to professional rugby, two and half years after going into administration.| Club | Stadium | Capacity | Area | Previous season |
| Ampthill | Dillingham Park | 3,000 | Ampthill, Bedfordshire | 8th |
| Bedford Blues | Goldington Road | 5,531 | Bedford, Bedfordshire | 2nd |
| Caldy | Paton Field | 4,000 | Thurstaston, Wirral, Merseyside | 11th |
| Cambridge | Grantchester Road | 2,200 | Cambridge, Cambridgeshire | 12th |
| Chinnor | Kingsey Road | 2,500 | Thame, Oxfordshire | 10th |
| Cornish Pirates | Mennaye Field | 4,000 | Penzance, Cornwall | 4th |
| Coventry | Butts Park Arena | 5,250 | Coventry, West Midlands | 5th |
| Doncaster Knights | Castle Park | 5,183 | Doncaster, South Yorkshire | 3rd |
| Ealing Trailfinders | Trailfinders Sports Ground | 5,000 | West Ealing, London | Champions |
| Hartpury University | Hartpury Stadium | 2,000 | Hartpury, Gloucestershire | 6th |
| London Scottish | Athletic Ground | 4,500 | Richmond, London | 9th |
| Nottingham | Lady Bay Sports Ground | 3,700 | Nottingham, Nottinghamshire | 7th |
| Richmond | Athletic Ground | 4,500 | Richmond, London | Promoted from National 1 |
| Worcester Warriors | Sixways Stadium | 12,067 | Worcester | First season |
Table
Regular season
The regular season fixtures were announced on 10 July 2025.Round 1
----Round 2
----Round 3
----Round 4
----Round 5
----Round 6
----Round 7
----Round 8
----Round 9
----Round 10
----Round 11
----Round 12
----Round 13
- Postponed by match on referee grounds of player safety due to recent cold weather. Game to be rescheduled for 17 January 2026.
Round 13 (rescheduled)
- Game rescheduled from 3 January 2026.
Round 14
----Round 15
----Round 16
----Round 17
----Round 18
----Individual statistics
Top points scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Points | ||||
| 1 |  Top try scorers
|
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