The second month of the National League Rugby season begins this weekend – and it may well provide us with a better indication of who could be the real deal this term. (Photo Credit: Gareth Siddons)

National One

When Rotherham Titans (4th) arrive at Clifton Lane on Saturday for their latest National One fixture against Dings Crusaders (8th), it will, in some ways, mark the end of a momentous 12 months for the Yorkshire club.

This time last year, the Titans were just about to record their sixth win in a row [a 34-19 victory over Fylde] in what would turn out to be a thrilling promotion-winning campaign from National Two North.

Back then, experienced head coach Gary Pearce was in charge but nine days after that success against Fylde, he and the club surprisingly parted ways.

Ex-Huddersfield boss Gareth Lewis and former Jersey Reds Director of Rugby Harvey Biljon were swiftly appointed to take over the reins and, as they say, the rest is history.

Following a titanic tussle, Rotherham pipped Leeds Tykes to the title and almost exactly a year since Biljon walked through the doors of Clifton Lane [Lewis departed the club at the end of last season], their upward trajectory has continued.

After three years away from National One, the Titans have had a very positive start to life back in the third tier. Three victories from their first four games is an excellent return with the only blot on their copybook being last week’s narrow 21-17 defeat away at Sale FC.

‘Really happy with where we are at,” Rotherham skipper Zak Poole told this week’s National League Rugby Preview Show. “We can get better and we know that, but we are not getting ahead of ourselves. Fifteen points out of 20 is a great start but it is only a start. Number one is enjoying it and enjoying being at Rotherham and it is a good time to be here.”

Relegation from the Championship in 2018 saw Rotherham drop into the third tier for the first time in 22 years and before last season, bringing back the glory days to Clifton Lane seemed like a distant dream.

However, under the guidance of Lewis and Biljon, the Titans are seemingly back on the right track with the latter now Director of Rugby at the club.

“I’ll give you two words,” added Poole. “Harvey has brought clarity and structure to the club which we thought we had before, but that is now looked at in so much detail. You can see the difference and you can probably feel the difference as a player. You go out on the pitch knowing what your job is. That is kind of our ethos; ‘Know our role, have clarity and enjoy ourselves’ and that is what we are going to continue to do.”

And a large slice of that enjoyment has been forged by Rotherham making Clifton Lane a fortress. No team since Sedgley Park in February 2023 have departed South Yorkshire with a victory so the Titans will be targeting a 19th successive home win when Dings Crusaders visit in Round Five.

Dings – who alongside Rotherham were also promoted into National One – have begun the term with two wins from four, as have Blackheath in seventh and Plymouth Albion (6th).

‘Club’ face a winless Darlington Mowden Park (13th) at The Utilita on Saturday while Albion welcome second-placed Birmingham Moseley to Brickfields, with the visitors aiming for a fifth straight victory.

Likewise, Richmond (3rd) and Rams RFC (1st) will be aiming to maintain their winning starts with Rob Powell’s troops entertaining Sale FC (5th) while the league leaders – who are celebrating their centenary fixture in Round Five – host Leicester Lions (11th) at Old Bath Road.

Elsewhere, Sedgley Park (9th) and Bishop’s Stortford (12th) meet at Park Lane with both sides keen to record their first victory since the opening day while Rosslyn Park (10th) take on bottom-of-the-table Esher.

National Two North

Since the 2024/25 National League Rugby season got underway, there have been several teams that have caught the eye. This, in the main, has been attributed to their excellent starts to the campaign but arguably Lymm (2nd) have grabbed our attention the most.

Last term was the club’s first-ever year at level four and Adam Fletcher and Andy Davies’ side navigated themselves to a highly respectable 10th-placed finish. So with that in mind, four consecutive wins and maximum points to begin this season is hard to turn a blind eye to.

Only last year’s runners-up Leeds Tykes can match that form while Lymm have scored the highest number of points in the division (167) so far.

“We definitely nailed pre-season,” Davies told the National League Rugby Preview Show when asked about the secret behind Lymm’s excellent start. “Last year, we felt like we were a little bit undercooked.

“We had some narrow losses in the first few games of last season where we were losing in the last five minutes so we thought fitness was an area to work on and it seems to be paying dividends. Also, the experience of last year of going into these games and understanding the league and how teams play. We have built on from that and learnt from it.”

“It is pretty clichéd as well but momentum,” added Fletcher. “We are riding that wave at the moment. Confidence is high with the lads, we’ve played some decent rugby so we are in a pretty healthy place.”

As Fletcher touches on, his side have the wind in their sails after victories away at Hull Ionains, Chester and Sheffield Tigers – as well as their home win over Fylde – and Lymm are back on their own patch on Saturday to face Harrogate (12th).

The newly-promoted Yorkshire outfit are yet to secure a win this season but their recent showings against Wharfedale and Preston Grasshoppers will make them a challenge for one of the early frontrunners.

“Four weeks ago, if you had said to us we’d have 20 points, we’d probably have said no!” Fletcher added. “You want to get carried away and we don’t want to be a flash in the pan. You play to win and it is great when you’re winning but ultimately, it is each week at a time. Harrogate like to play and we don’t take anyone for granted.”

As mentioned previously, Leeds Tykes (1st) are the only other team in National Two North with a 100 per cent record and Pete Seabourne’s side go to Billingham (6th) in Round Five while Sheffield (3rd) – who have won four from four themselves – host Otley (8th).

Elsewhere, after losing their unbeaten start against Otley last time out, Wharfedale (4th) will be aiming for an immediate response at home to Hull (10th) while Preston Grasshoppers (5th) host Tynedale (13th), Sheffield Tigers (14th) go to 11th-placed Chester and Hull Ionians (7th) welcome Fylde (9th) to Brantingham Park.

National Two East

Yet another early top-of-the-table battle has emerged in National Two East and for the second week running, it involves high-flying Guernsey Raiders (2nd). Jordan Reynolds’ side – who finished 10th last term – enter October with four wins from four to their name after maintaining their excellent home form last time out.

The Raiders won 41-23 against Canterbury – ending the visitors’ unbeaten start in the process – but Round Five’s clash away at Tonbridge Juddians (1st) could be the real acid test for Guernsey.

TJs have also collected maximum points and have scored an average of just over 45 points in their opening four fixtures. The deadly Curtis Barnes has been key to this with the winger – who starts at full-back on Saturday – scoring three hat-tricks in September. If Guernsey are to be successful at The Slade, halting Barnes might be key.

Below the top two are Barnes (the team) in third with Dorking (4th) and Westcombe Park in fifth. Barnes host a winless Worthing (12th) on Saturday while Dorking travel to Henley (7th). Westcombe Park – who continue to catch the eye – host Oxford Harlequins (11th). 

The aforementioned Oxford Quins are still searching for their first victory as are fellow newly-promoted side Colchester (13th) and bottom-of-the-table Sevenoaks. Craig Burrows’ side visit Bury St Edmunds (10th) in Round Five while Sevenoaks go to Old Albanian (8th). Sixth-placed Canterbury take on Havant (9th) at The Marine Travel Ground.

National Two West

The connection between Exeter University (5th) and Taunton Titans (9th) makes Saturday’s meeting at Topsham an interesting dynamic. In a sense, Exeter Chiefs link the National Two West clubs together and that is perhaps best encapsulated by Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

The Chiefs winger – who was named in England’s recent 36-player training squad for the upcoming autumn internationals – played in National One for Taunton in 2022/23 and just over 12 months ago, he was hoping to break into Exeter University’s plans.

Of course, the immense talent of the 21-year-old has seen him become one of the most exciting players in the game and both institutions will be proud to have played a part on his road to stardom.

Many of the current Exeter University roster will have ambitions to follow the same path such as winger Conor Byrne, centre Nick Lilley and lock Oscar Beckerleg as well as notable names like Will Becconsall (scum-half) and England U20 World Rugby Championship winners Ben Coen (fly-half) and Kane James (centre).

 

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On the other hand, the association between the Chiefs and the National Leagues can work in the opposite direction with Ollie Devoto the obvious example of this. The former England international – who won two Premiership titles and the Champions Cup during his eight years at Sandy Park – joined Taunton in the summer where he has a role across the whole of the club, ‘from playing on the pitch to pitching to sponsors’.

Bringing the 31-year-old to Veritas Park was described as a “statement of intent” by Titans chairman John Wrelton and Devoto – along with former Chiefs scrum-half Joe Snow – were paired together at nine and 10 last week for Taunton’s 27-20 win over Bournville.

Devoto is back at inside centre for Round Five while Exeter will be aiming to bounce back from last Saturday’s 45-30 defeat against Redruth.

Also across National Two West this weekend, early league leaders Loughborough Students travel to Bournville (6th) aiming for a fifth consecutive bonus-point win while the only other unbeaten team – Luctonians (2nd) – welcome Macclesfield (10th) to Mortimer Park.

Following Round Four’s 49-31 loss to Loughborough, Camborne (3rd) will be after an immediate reaction when they host Hornets (12th) and Old Redcliffians (4th) entertain Redruth (8th) while the bottom two of Devonport Services (14th) and Hinckley (13th) will be keen to dig out their first victories of the season when they face Cinderford (7th) and Clifton (11th) respectively.

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