Champ Rugby has introduced a significant change to its try bonus point system for the upcoming season, moving away from the Gallagher Premiership model and aligning with a new approach to reflect high-scoring matches. From Friday’s opening fixture, teams will now only be rewarded for scoring three tries or more than their opponents, a departure from the previous four-try bonus.
New Bonus Point System for English Champ Rugby
The new system, detailed by Rugbypass.com, means that the automatic bonus point for scoring four tries, regardless of the match outcome, will no longer apply in the Elior Champ. Instead, a try bonus point will only be awarded to teams that score at least three tries and also score more tries than their opposition. The losing bonus point, awarded for a defeat by seven points or fewer, will remain unchanged.
This strategic shift aims to address the “glut of blow-out scorelines” observed in the second tier of English Rugby last season, particularly in matches with little at stake. As an example, the final round saw three out of seven matches in the 14-team league exceed 90 aggregate points, including a fixture between Ampthill and Cambridge which topped 100 points (75-33). Last season, Ampthill, despite finishing 10th, secured 18 try bonus points from 26 league games, while table-topping Ealing gained a try bonus point in all but three of their regular season matches. Overall, nine teams achieved try bonus points in over half their fixtures.
Opening Fixtures and Broadcast Details
The new season is set to kick off this Friday with Nottingham hosting newly-promoted Blackheath. Reigning champions Worcester will begin their title defence at home against Bedford on Saturday, 19 September. This fixture is a repeat of last year’s play-off final, which Worcester won 27-14 in front of a sellout crowd at Goldington Road. For fans, every match of the Champ season will be available to stream via the online subscription broadcaster Clubber TV.
Cornish Pirates Expand Ownership Group
Off the pitch, Cornish Pirates are strengthening their club with the addition of a final new investor to their ownership consortium. Financial advisor Adam Brooks has joined the group, according to the BBC. He joins existing investors including television presenter Nick Knowles, American investors Kenn Moritz and John H Tippins, and locally-based investors Richard Wastnage, Martin Hudson, Phillip Champ, and Anthony Whyte. The club aims to develop and eventually play in the Premiership. Brooks expressed excitement, stating, “We are building something very special here in the county and have a great core team behind us.”
Marcus Rhodes Joins Coventry with Premiership Ambitions
In player news, 24-year-old Marcus Rhodes, formerly of London Irish and Durham University, has signed with Coventry in the Championship. Rhodes, who made 77 appearances for Durham’s BUCS Super Rugby team and was awarded the BUCS Super Rugby Player of the Season, expressed his ambition to become a Premiership player. Speaking to Talking Rugby Union, Rhodes acknowledged disappointment after not securing a Premiership move following a trial at Saracens in the summer of 2025. However, he sees his move to Coventry, one of the “biggest clubs in England’s second tier,” as a significant step towards his dream.
Implications for Rugby Enthusiasts
The changes in the Champ Rugby bonus point system and ongoing developments within its clubs reflect a dynamic period for the league. While the specific impact on Oxford and Oxfordshire clubs is not detailed in current reports, these broader league developments will shape the competitive landscape for any local teams aspiring to or competing within this level of professional rugby.
