Champ Rugby 2026/27 line-up to include world's oldest club

The 14 teams who’ll compete in English Rugby’s second tier have now been confirmed following Blackheath Rugby’s 27-7 win over London Scottish in the Champ Accession Final.

Blackheath, who were founded in 1858, will be playing at their highest level since 1999, when they were relegated from the old Allied Dunbar Premiership 2 division.

Tries from Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas, Billy Harding – his 49th of a remarkable campaign – and Tom Hughes and 12 points from the boot of Sam Morley saw Blackheath, who finished runners-up to Rotherham Titans in National 1, replace London Scottish in the Champ.

Rotherham have taken the place of the Champ’s bottom club, Cambridge, with the other 12 sides remaining the same.

Either Worcester Warriors or Bedford Blues will go into next season as the reigning champions following their play-off semi-final victories over Ealing Trailfinders and Coventry.

Worcester ended Ealing’s season-long unbeaten record when Jake Garside scored in the last play of the game to hand the Sixways outfit a shock 34-29 win.

Meanwhile, Bedford will host Sunday’s final at Goldington Road after seeing off old rivals Coventry, 58-24, thanks to a dominant second-half performance, which saw them overturn a 12-10 half-time deficit.

Champ Rugby 2026/27 teams:

Ampthill
Bedford
Blackheath
Caldy
Chinnor
Cornish Pirates
Coventry
Doncaster
Ealing
Hartpury
Nottingham
Richmond
Rotherham
Worcester