'Derby weekend' another prime opportunity for National League Rugby to show what it's all about
Sedgley Park visit Sale FC in the Manchester derby in the National One
©Gareth Lyons
In his column for The Telegraph on Tuesday, senior rugby writer Charlie Morgan focused on the Premiership and the need for English rugby's top tier to produce a 'season of fireworks' when it returns next weekend.
The piece touches on the start of the Top 14 (which got underway last Saturday) and how the 'buoyant' French game can eclipse what we witness on this side of the Channel.
Charlie's (always excellent) article discusses the 'increasingly tough battle for eyeballs' when it comes to the Premiership aiming to once again capture the imagination of rugby supporters, but perhaps this particular weekend in National League Rugby actually provides the perfect opportunity for those 'eyeballs' to be purely focused on levels three and four of the English game.
Round Two in National League Rugby is 'derby weekend' and on Saturday, many local rivalries will be renewed up and down the country.
But Round Two is also another prime opportunity for clubs to shine and put on a show - not just on the pitch but across the course of the day - because this weekend, National League Rugby remains the highest level of men's rugby union you can watch in England before the return of the Premiership.
This is emphasised in a piece written by Mark Nelson for the matchday programme of Fylde in National Two North. The club's Senior Coaching Consultant goes on to mention that because it is also 'derby weekend', teams will naturally 'draw in bigger numbers' in terms of spectators.
A quick glance back at Round Two from 2023/24 backs up Nelson's point. For Fylde's Lancashire derby at Preston Grasshoppers, 1,500 people were in attendance while over in National Two West at Camborne, over 2,600 watched the Cherry and Whites lock horns with near neighbours Redruth.
So when you combine the Premiership and Championship being dormant until next Friday with the amplification of 'derby weekend' in National League Rugby, the two go hand in hand to create an attractive proposition for those looking for their sporting fix this Saturday.
"I know this sometimes can be a bit controversial but I think it has been a breath of fresh air since Camborne came into the league last year for us," Redruth Director of Rugby Nigel Hambly told the National League Rugby Preview Show.
"It has reignited our love for rugby in our mining area. It makes for our area to be successful. People talk about [games like this], it gets in the news and that can only be good for both clubs.
"This [fixture] has been two, three months in the making. If anything, the rugby is the easy bit! It is everything else which goes around it. We want to get as many people as we can in there [The Recreation Ground - Redruth's home stadium] - and enjoying themselves. We want to highlight the club and how well it is run and what a good matchday experience it is.
"I think the RFU should look at places like this which sets the example of how important local rugby is. This is a good time to highlight what a great product we sell, not just Redruth and Camborne, but the whole of the National Leagues."
The latest instalment of Redruth against Camborne is, of course, one of the standout fixtures across National Two West highlighted by the fact that over 2,800 people watched the c orresponding fixture between the near neighbours last December. In terms of this Saturday, both sides will be looking to build on opening day victories against Hornets and Macclesfield respectively.
Elsewhere, Loughborough Students - who toppled Taunton in Round One - will be aiming for two wins from two when they host fellow Midlands outfit Hinckley while newly-promoted Devonport Services entertain Exeter University.
With Dings Crusaders gaining promotion to National One, it means the battles of Bristol in the fourth tier will be between Clifton and Old Redcliffians who finished third and fourth in 2023/24.
There are derbies galore in National Two North with the aforementioned Lancashire clash between Fylde and Preston Grasshoppers always one to watch. Hoppers haven't beaten their local rivals in their last seven attempts.
In Yorkshire, the Hull derby - Hull vs Hull Ionians - is never short of a storyline or two whilst the closest derby across the whole of National League Rugby - Sheffield Tigers vs Sheffield is certainly one to highlight.
Just two miles separate the clubs with Tigers Director of Rugby Jack Howieson and Head Coach Adam Byron both having connections with their Abbeydale-based rivals.
Over in National Two East, Canterbury - who blitzed past new boys Colchester 53-13 in Round One - come up against Sevenoaks with Matt Corker's side looking to avenge last year's 23-22 defeat against their Kent counterparts. Havant - who last week beat the aforementioned Sevenoaks 25-15 in their first match back at this level for 15 years - take the trip across the A27 to face Worthing.
Meanwhile, it may not be classed as a 'derby' but duals between Barnes and Dorking have been tight and tense affairs in recent seasons. The duo have finished in the silver and bronze medal positions for the last two years and being side by side in the table suitably reflects their contests. In the last four meetings, an average of three points has separated the clubs with Barnes prevailing 33-38 in the most recent clash back in January.
And last, but certainly not least, National One has served up some crackers. The Manchester derby between Sale FC and Sedgley Park jumps out of the page with both clubs aiming to back up victories over Plymouth Albion and Esher by claiming North-West bragging rights.
Elsewhere it is another London derby on the road for Richmond, who saw off Blackheath 31-20 in Round One. They go to Rosslyn Park with the hosts eager for a reaction after their opening day loss to National One newcomers Rotherham Titans.
In his Telegraph column, Morgan also unsurprisingly gave a nod towards Round One in National League Rugby by referencing Rotherham and Havant's victories. In terms of Havant, over 700 people watched their National Two East opener at Hooks Lane and numbers like this - and higher - should be more frequent across levels three and four this weekend.
And those who will be lured in by that 'derby day feeling' will once again see some highly competitive rugby after Round One produced entertainment across the board.
While the Premiership and the Championship remain in hibernation for one final Saturday, derby weekend in National League Rugby seems like the perfect destination for eyeballs to be focused on.
Round Two Fixtures
National One: Rosslyn Park v Richmond, Leicester Lions v Birmingham Moseley, Dings Crusaders v Plymouth Albion, Sale FC v Sedgley Park, Esher v Rams, Darlington Mowden Park v Rotherham, Bishop's Stortford v Blackheath.
National Two North: Chester v Lymm, Fylde v Preston Grasshoppers, Harrogate v Wharfedale, Hull v Hull Ionians, Otley v Leeds Tykes, Sheffield Tigers v Sheffield, Tynedale v Billingham.
National Two East: Colchester v Tonbridge Juddians, Dorking v Barnes, Guernsey v Westcombe Park, Henley v Bury St Edmunds, Oxford Harlequins v Old Albanian, Sevenoaks v Canterbury, Worthing v Havant.
National Two West: Cinderford v Luctonians, Clifton v Old Redcliffians, Devonport Services v Exeter University, Loughborough Students v Hinckley, Macclesfield v Bournville, Redruth v Camborne, Taunton v Hornets.
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