As we enter the second reserve weekend of the National League Rugby season, we have new leaders at the top of National One. (Photo Credit: Tim Anger)

Richmond’s 21-6 win over Sedgley Park in Round 11 – combined with Rams’ 21-14 loss at Rotherham Titans – saw Rob Powell’s side edge themselves to the summit whilst also maintaining their unbeaten record.

Ten wins and one draw means the London-based club will go into next Friday night’s trip to second-placed Rams level on points with their hosts but on top of the pile. It is set to be a big Christmas period for Richmond with fixtures against third-placed Rotherham and local rivals Rosslyn Park (4th) also on the horizon.

Part of Powell’s backroom staff this term has been Harlequins winger Cadan Murley and the 25-year-old recently spoke to Talking Rugby Union’s Will Gupwell about his involvement with the National One side but also why levels three and four of the English game continue to be so important for the development of players.

See below a snippet from the interview…

Murley’s ambitions as a player – for both club and country – are evident but adding to his rugby diet this season has been his involvement within National League Rugby.

In August, National One club Richmond announced Murley would be joining the coaching staff and he explained how much he has been enjoying his role.

“I love it down there,” he says. “It’s a great group of boys. It’s a great club with a lot of history. I come as and when I can and it’s brilliant to be involved just adding input where I can.

“Obviously it’s nice to have someone who is involved in the professional game giving them some tips and stuff so I massively enjoy it.”

Murley also added how he thinks the role is helping him improve his own game as a player.

“I think it lets me see the games through a coach’s lens so then with my relationship with the coaches here at Harlequins, it has really helped with my sort of questioning around what I’m seeing in the game and what I know they’re seeing, and our understanding and working together on that.”

Richmond currently sit top of National One with 10 wins from 11 games, the only blip being a 31-31 draw away to 10th-placed Dings Crusaders back in October.

Next up, they face Rams RFC on December 6th who sit second in the standings but are level on points with Richmond.

“Ultimately, these are the small margins that it comes down to in that league,” Murley adds. “There are so many teams fighting at the top. Us, Rams, Rosslyn Park (4th) around there and Rotherham (3rd) as well. So these games playing against the top teams are ones we want to play, but I back the boys.”

Richmond face all three of their fellow top four sides between now and the Christmas break and Murley is no stranger to the quality and demands of National One rugby having played for current third-tier side Esher during his first season at Quins.

“I played for Esher in Nat One in my first year so 2017/18. We’ve got some Quins boys on loan at Richmond at the moment [Lucas Schmid and Frank McMillan as examples] who go down there on Tuesday and Thursday night.

“Because that step up from schoolboy rugby can be quite tough, the level of physicality changes so those leagues are massive for the development of young players.

“During my time at Esher, I had Tommy Williams, who was Quins Academy coach, so being under his eye down at Esher definitely helped me develop and then I ended up playing Prem in my second year.

“So a lot goes to that club, and I know how much those boys care. It kind of brought my love back. Not that I didn’t have my love for the game, but you see those boys coming down, working nine till five and still coming along and grafting, wanting to get better, always willing to learn. It definitely brought my love back for the game in that way.”

Make sure you follow National League Rugby on social media + hit like and subscribe on our YouTube channel!

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | TikTok | Threads