Success for National 1 clubs promoted to The Championship

It's the final step before reaching the big time, but it’s not often you see clubs attaining successive promotions to catapult themselves from National League One to the Premiership, via the Championship.

But there have been glimmers of hope in recent efforts as to what teams can achieve in the near future, with Jersey’s victories over London Irish in the last week, proving that clubs that are merely finding their feet in the Championship are well within their rights to strive for greater things.

The Reading-based side had won 17 games in a row before travelling to the Channel Islands, achieving try-scoring bonus points in 13 of those. Although they’ve cemented their place in the playoffs, a win over Jersey would’ve sealed top spot on wrapped up their season with four games remaining.

But last weekend in The Championship, a late try from forward Gary Graham was the score that would finally turn Irish over, putting the Reds just one point outside of the playoffs, and keeping their visitors from celebrating just yet.

But over the past 10 years, has anyone come close to reaching the promised land of Premiership rugby having been promoted from the National Leagues?

Three of the top five teams in the current Championship standings have plied their trade in National League One at some point in the past decade, with Jersey gaining promotion in 2012, Doncaster Knights in 2014 and Ealing Trailfinders as recently as 2015.

Ealing haven’t had it all their own way in the Championship though. They had previously been promoted in 2013, before being relegated the following season and once again returning in 2015. English rugby’s yo-yo club of late, if you will.

But a much stronger showing this time around sees them pushing to become the third London based top-tier club alongside Saracens and Harlequins next term.

And while London begins to clog up, Doncaster are hoping to put the Premiership on the map in Yorkshire for the first time since Leeds Carnegie’s two year stay in the top flight came to an end in 2011. They lead Harvey Biljon’s Jersey by a single point with four games left to play.

But while this remarkable season unfolds at the top of the table, this year’s Championship newbies Richmond are fortunate not to be battling relegation. The demise of London Welsh, who went in to liquidation late last year, has saved them from that fate after tallying up just 21 points from 18 games so far. They do, however, have a game in hand on Rotherham, who are just a point ahead.

Beyond that, you can only go back to 2011 to find another promoted side who has been able to sustain their status. London Scottish, who re-entered the English rugby pyramid in 1999 having effectively been relegated nine divisions due to administration issues, regained third tier status in 2009 before being promoted two years later, and subsequently became a fully professional outfit the following season.

Before 2011, Birmingham and Solihull, Otley and Esher had all gained promotion, but none of them make up the current cohort. The most remarkable downfall, perhaps, is that of Birmingham and Solihull, who currently reside in fifth place of the National League 3 Midlands division.

A financial scare in 2010, with the possibility of liquidation, looked to have passed over before a year later, they were eventually relegated from the Championship. Since then, the club have been unable to rebuild and have suffered two relegations, falling to the regional leagues.

One step ahead of them lie Otley, who have also seen better days. After winning 10 games of 26 so far this season, they are all but safe from relegation worries while sitting too far adrift to challenge for a return to National League One.

Esher, meanwhile, have gained Championship status twice in the past 10 years – doing so first in 2007 before returning in 2010. Despite finishing second in 2013, they have finished mid-table for the past three seasons without ever looking like making a return. They currently sit in 11th place in the third tier, 15 points clear of the relegation places.

An honourable mention goes out to Birmingham Moseley, who last year fell out of the Championship for the first time in nine seasons. They currently sit in fourth place in National League One, but have no chance of returning to the Championship at the first time of asking following Hartpury College’s dominance, which has seen them win the division with four games remaining.

Fallen giants speckle the landscape of English rugby, with the divide between the top two levels of the game seeming to grow further apart. The top division hasn’t seen a new face in its ranks since Exeter Chiefs first arrived in 2010.

The question isn’t who will be the next, but when?