The festive selection of derby day fixtures across National League Rugby is always a highlight, but any thoughts of a friendly game or two at Christmas don’t apply to Round 14. (Photo Credit: Daniel Rule Photography)

National One

We probably won’t fully know the significance of what a winning December could mean for Richmond’s (1st) season until March/April time, but it would give us a good gauge of their mentality heading into the New Year.

Coming out on the right side of tight and important contests against second-placed Rams and Rotherham Titans (3rd) has seen Rob Powell’s side build a six-point lead at the summit and if they were to make it a full house of victories for this month, then it would further strengthen their title bid.

A 7-5 away win at Rams and last week’s dramatic 31-29 success over Rotherham meant Richmond completed the first half of the season undefeated. The team harmony and cohesion created by Powell has served them well all term, particularly in their last two games against their rivals for top spot.

A run of matches which has seen them play their fellow top-four counterparts concludes this weekend as the league leaders welcome local rivals and fourth-placed Rosslyn Park to The RAG.


Last time out, Park defeated Rams 27-26 – which obviously aided Richmond – but expect absolutely no Christmas gifts to be shared between these two near neighbours, especially when you take into account how the reverse fixture ended in Round Two. A late Lewis Dennett drop-goal stunned The Rock as Richmond clinched a 21-19 victory so Kieran Power’s troops will be out for revenge as they look to spoil the 13-match unbeaten record of the table toppers.

By the time Richmond renew their rivalry with Rosslyn Park, their lead at the summit may have been cut to just a single point as Rams (2nd) kick off the action in National One on Friday night when they host 13th-placed Esher. After three successive and narrow defeats against their table rivals, Seb Reynolds’ Rams will be eager to enter the Christmas break on a positive note.

Elsewhere, third-placed Rotherham Titans welcome bottom-of-the-table Darlington Mowden Park to Clifton Lane, with the visitors looking to build on the 37-37 draw they achieved against Sedgley Park (11th) last weekend.

Speaking of Sedge, they welcome Sale FC (10th) to Park Lane with the away side having quite the afternoon last time out. In Round 13, The Dogs led 35-20 against Birmingham Moseley before a power surge caused the floodlights to fail at Heywood Road. This disruption led to the game being abandoned and it will now be replayed at the end of February meaning Sale are still searching for their first victory since the end of October.

Meanwhile, this round of festive fixtures sees Blackheath (5th) – who are targeting a seventh straight home win – take on Bishop’s Stortford (8th), Plymouth Albion (6th) entertain Dings Crusaders (9th) and it is an all-Midlands affair as Birmingham Moseley (7th) host Leicester Lions (12th).

National Two North

Talking to those at Leeds Tykes (2nd) this week, you get the sense they are right up for the battle. After missing out on the big prize last term, the Tykes are once again embroiled in a relentless fight for the National Two North title but this time around, it is seemingly a three-horse race.

As we prepare to pause for Christmas, Sheffield (1st), Leeds and Lymm (3rd) are all level on 60 points and have all won 12 of their 13 matches meaning it is just points difference which currently separates the leading trio. (For context, Sheffield have a +14 points difference over Leeds Tykes).

“That is why you are in sport, isn’t it?” Tykes General Manager and current 1st XV player Jake Brady told The National League Rugby Preview Show this week. “It is much more exciting to be a part of something where there is a battle. You’ve got to perform, you’ve got to give it your best every week and if you don’t, somebody – or two people – are going to nip above you in the league.”

That ‘need’ to be at your best is something Leeds are no strangers to having taken things to the wire with Rotherham Titans last season. Considering the way the current top three have all performed in the opening half of this campaign, you get the feeling that the Tykes are preparing themselves for another gruelling title tussle.

A sub-plot for Round 14 sees the Tykes host near neighbours Otley on Friday night at their spiritual home of Headingley while over in South Yorkshire, table-toppers Sheffield entertain rivals Sheffield Tigers (11th) at Abbeydale Park.

Of course, the outcome of Friday evening will impact the league standings and it will be over to Lymm (3rd) to respond – or react – on Saturday when they welcome Chester (8th) to Crouchley Lane.

Whilst Brady – as well as Director of Rugby Pete Seabourne and head coach Pete Lucock – didn’t want to be drawn too much into a promotion conversation, it will be hard for this talented Tykes side to ignore the outside noise if this three-horse race continues to gather momentum.

At the other end of the division, bottom club Billingham will be keen for some early Christmas cheer when they take on North-East counterparts Tynedale (7th) at Greenwood Road. Peter Evans’ men are without a win in six while Tyne are experiencing contrasting fortunes having extended their unbeaten run to five matches following their 38-17 success over Hull in Round 13.

Second from bottom Harrogate will want to keep collecting points when they visit fifth-placed Wharfedale while two blockbuster derby fixtures take place at Brantingham Park and Lightfoot Green respectively with Hull Ionians (6th) taking on Hull (12th) while Fylde (4th) take on Lancashire foes Preston Grasshoppers (10th).

National Two East

Observers of National Two East over the last two seasons will know that Barnes (2nd) and Dorking (3rd) currently find themselves in their natural habitat. In 2022/23 and 2023/24, the pair have finished in second and third respectively and those are the positions the duo occupy heading into the festive break.

But perhaps both sides will want to change the status quo this term. As things stand, they are both level on points and sit seven points behind table-toppers Tonbridge Juddians – (Dorking do have a game in hand) as they prepare to face one another in Round 14.

If Barnes and Dorking have been almost inseparable in terms of league position, the last five meetings between the teams might go some way to explaining why. The margin of victory during this period has been just over three points, and Jack Heald’s side come into the latest instalment of this fixture off the back of four straight wins. As for Dorking, they saw their 10-match winning run come to an end in Round 13 as they fell to a 35-34 loss to Canterbury.

It might sound self-explanatory but it feels like whoever comes out on top on Saturday will carry a psychological edge into the New Year, and that could be the catalyst for either team to mount a serious tilt for the title.

Of course, Tonbridge Juddians (1st) remain in the box seat and will be Christmas No.1 as the aptly named ‘The Slade’ prepares to host 13th-placed Colchester on Saturday, with the visitors focused on climbing out of the bottom two. Last weekend’s 31-31 draw at home to Havant (9th) would have been frustrating for Mike Haywood’s side as they saw a 12-point lead slip away in the final six minutes but the result leaves them four points behind nearest rivals Oxford Harlequins.

Oxford Quins (12th) themselves go to Old Albanian (10th) in Round 14 with both sides targeting the early Christmas gift of a victory while elsewhere, bottom club Worthing – who experienced a chastening afternoon last time out after a 68-19 loss to Westcombe Park – will be looking to bounce back away at Havant (9th).

Also across National Two East, fourth-placed Canterbury – fresh from their victory over Dorking which made it four wins from their last five games – take on in-form Kent rivals Sevenoaks (11th) who have won their last three matches while Guernsey Raiders (5th) go to Westcombe Park (9th) and Henley Hawks (6th) visit Bury St Edmunds (8th).

National Two West

“We know each other kind of inside out and everybody buys into that little bit of rivalry. These games never fail to disappoint and I hope on Saturday it is another beauty.”

These words from Camborne (1st) Director of Rugby Steve Larkins on this week’s National League Rugby Preview Show give you a sense of why, arguably, National Two West contains the biggest derby clash on this festive weekend of fixtures.

Of course down in Cornwall, the rivalry between Camborne and Redruth (6th) is an unparalleled one and after more than 140 years of local derby games, the latest chapter will be written at the home of the table-toppers.

Since promotion back into the National Leagues in 2023/24, Camborne have edged ahead of their very near neighbours in terms of league position and results with the Cherry and Whites finishing three places and 10 points clear of Redruth last year whilst also winning two of the last three meetings between the sides.

As things stand, Larkins’ troops are the ones to beat as they sit four points clear at the summit with a game in hand, but Redruth will not be short on confidence when they take the short trip down the A30 on Saturday afternoon. Nigel Hambly’s side will arrive at The Recreation Ground unbeaten in four games and will be hoping to stun their hosts as they look to avenge the 43-35 loss they suffered at the hands of Camborne back in Round Two.

Whilst this fixture brings the rivalry and the history, it also deals in amazing crowds. For the reverse game back in September, 2,800 were in attendance and Camborne are hopeful for a crowd of over 3,500 for Saturday’s encounter.

And those who make their way to The Rec should be treated to a high-energy, ultra-intense contest with both Camborne and Redruth aiming for the Christmas derby day bragging rights.

Camborne are yet to drop a point at home all season so those waiting in the wings will hope Redruth can upset the odds. The rest of the top four sides all picked up maximums in Round 13 so the likes of second-placed Taunton Titans and fourth-placed Clifton will be targeting a repeat outcome heading into 2025.

The Titans go to ninth-placed Hornets – who are actually unbeaten in five matches at home – while Clifton – who have won their last seven games –  visit Bristol rivals Old Redcliffians (6th). The battle between fifth-placed Luctonians and Cinderford (3rd) in Herefordshire is also one to keep an eye on.

The same can be said for a clash towards the bottom of the standings with Devonport Services (14th) visiting 12th-placed Exeter University. Devonport – who were beaten 70-7 by Camborne last time out – are currently 11 points from safety while Exeter are three points above the bottom two (with a game in hand) having lost their last three matches.

Macclesfield (13th) may well keep tabs on the Devon derby when they travel to 10th-placed Bournville as a first away win of the season could lift them out of the drop zone while elsewhere, the Midlands derby sees Loughborough Students (8th) go to Hinckley (11th).

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