November sets up a cracker of a December as festive fixtures begin in National League Rugby
Lymm find themselves in the top four of National Two West
©Gareth Lyons
It felt like the National League Rugby season burst into life last month, setting up a December packed with storylines waiting to be written.
National One
Round 11 in National One left us wanting more, as arguably one of the most unpredictable weekends of the season has set us up for a Christmas cracker of a December.
With leaders Rotherham Titans (1st) and Rosslyn Park (2nd) both suffering late defeats last time out, we begin the month with just five points separating the top five.
And we kick things off with a fascinating clash in the North-West as fifth-placed Sale FC host Blackheath (3rd).
November was one of Sale’s most satisfying months in recent memory. Not since April 2023 - when they were in the title hunt - have 'The Dogs' ended a month with a full house of victories, so three wins from three sends them into the festive period brimming with confidence.
With the teams above them stumbling, Sale are right in the mix, and with a trip to fourth-placed Plymouth coming next weekend, a victory over Blackheath would only heighten the feel-good factor at the Morson Stadium.
But Blackheath will provide a serious test. Tom Stradwick and his coaching staff have done an excellent job this season, with ‘Club’ sitting just three points behind Rotherham, and the visitors also head into Round 12 having won three of their last four.
As for their table rivals, Rotherham Titans (1st) begin their festive fixtures with a far-from-simple visit to Rams (6th), while Rosslyn Park (2nd) - stung by back-to-back defeats - will be after a reaction when they travel to bottom-of-the-table Leicester Lions, who, despite their position, continue to show spirit with a youthful squad.
Elsewhere, fourth-placed Plymouth Albion - buoyed by their superb 22–21 victory over Rotherham before the break - face Sedgley Park (8th) at Park Lane, though it is a ground where the Devonshire outfit have lost on their last two visits.
At the other end of the division, it has been a busy rest week for Birmingham Moseley (13th). The club announced the departure of Pete Glackin after six years at Billesley Common and have appointed former player Ollie Thomas as their new head coach.
Thomas, who came through the ranks at Moseley, will know exactly how important December is for a side with only two wins all season.
They face three teams in the bottom six, starting with a trip to Leeds Tykes (11th) on Saturday - a challenge made tougher by the hosts winning four of their last six.
Dings Crusaders (12th) will also be desperate to arrest their slump after four straight defeats, but they travel to a Bishop’s Stortford (10th) side full of confidence following three successive bonus-point wins.
Only Clifton (9th) can boast a better recent record in National One, with the Lavender and Blacks thoroughly enjoying life in the third tier.
Matt Salter and Luke Cozens’ side will be targeting a fifth consecutive victory when they welcome Tonbridge Juddians (7th) to Station Road.
National Two North
We said something similar about National One, but December really could be a key month in the race for promotion and the play-off place in National Two North.
And if any narrative is set to be written, it may well centre around second-placed Darlington Mowden Park, who face all three of their nearest rivals before the Christmas break.
Danny Brown and John Newton’s side sit two points behind leaders Sheffield (albeit having played a game more) and will meet the table-toppers, third-placed Macclesfield and fourth-placed Tynedale across the next three rounds.
DMP remain unbeaten since Round Two - eight wins and a draw - but they’ll be fully aware of the challenges ahead. First up is a trip to Macclesfield (3rd), who enjoyed a flawless November with three bonus-point victories.
Matt Coleridge and Rhys Davies’ tight-knit group sit just two points behind DMP and will also take real belief into this clash from their pulsating Round 10 home win over table rivals Tynedale.
If they triumph again at Priory Park on Saturday, there’s every chance this growing Macc outfit could enter the second half of the season inside the top two and right in the promotion conversation.
As for league leaders Sheffield, they were frustrated again last weekend as their rearranged fixture with Scunthorpe was postponed for the second time due to a waterlogged pitch.
It means Anthony Posa’s side remain on 10 wins from 10, but they would much rather have added to that record than be staring at eight straight matches to begin 2026.
Nevertheless, they resume their title push at home to an injury-hit Wharfedale (9th), while Tynedale (4th) - after narrow defeats to both Macclesfield and Sheffield - will be desperate to get back on track when they visit bottom-of-the-table Scunthorpe (14th).
Joining Scunthorpe in the relegation zone are Hull (13th), who host Otley (8th) this weekend.
Despite their position, Dec Cusack’s side can take real encouragement from their 27-24 loss at DMP in Round 11.
Hull pushed the high-flyers all the way, and that spirit will be vital if they are to begin steering themselves away from danger.
There’s also a massive game just above them, with Preston Grasshoppers (11th) hosting Rossendale (12th) in a crucial Lancashire derby.
Hoppers have won just one of their last five, while Rossendale make the trip to Lightfoot Green on a run of seven straight defeats.
Elsewhere, fifth-placed Fylde return to Woodlands looking to convert their superb away form (five straight wins) into home results when they face a Sheffield Tigers side (10th) who have won their last three.
And Hull Ionians (6th) - who have claimed four consecutive victories on the road - head to Billingham (7th), themselves boasting a three-match winning streak at home.
National Two East
National Two East has felt finely poised from the very first whistle in September, and that theme has carried right through to December.
Whether you look at the top or the bottom half, intrigue is everywhere - so it might be worth taking a screenshot of the table now, because the odds are it will look different by Christmas.
Old Albanian (1st) will hope that prediction is wrong. The league leaders currently hold a four-point advantage at the summit, although that gap was slightly larger before Round 11, when 12th-placed Sevenoaks shocked them by downing the table-toppers 45-12.
With that in mind, James Osborn and Dan George’s side will be desperate for a swift response at home to sixth-placed Westcombe Park. Combe have been part of the chasing pack for much of the campaign, and the next fortnight - with fixtures against OAs and second-placed Oundle - could be big for them.
Speaking of Oundle (2nd), they were the form side in November, collecting three consecutive maximums.
Zoom out further, and the Northamptonshire club have won six of their last seven. Momentum is firmly with them, and they’ll hope it continues when they host Sevenoaks (12th) on Saturday, but we know what they did to OAs.
Dorking (3rd) have quietly climbed the standings with four efficient wins on the bounce. Armand Roux’s team sit just three points behind Oundle as they prepare to welcome Havant (11th), while Bury St Edmunds (4th) will be looking to build on their fine win over Barnes when they visit second-from-bottom Henley Hawks (13th).
It continues to be a season of tight margins for Henley, but only four points separate them from 10th-placed Esher, who travel to bottom side Oxford Harlequins (14th) this weekend.
Esher experienced a significant change over the rest weekend, with Director of Rugby Peter Winterbottom stepping down after six years - a period that included two promotions to National One.
Injuries, retirements and departures have all contributed to Esher’s slide, but the club have been quick to act, appointing former Harlequins and England full-back Mike Brown as their Sporting Director.
Brown will lead the 1st XV + oversee all senior sides, as the club looks to end a run of six straight defeats in Round 12.
Elsewhere, Barnes (5th) will aim to preserve their unbeaten home record when they host London Welsh (9th), while Canterbury (8th) will be targeting a third successive victory as they welcome Guernsey (7th) to The Marine Travel Ground.
National Two West
With just three more rounds to go before the Christmas interlude, how will National Two West look heading into 2026?
The top three has carried a familiar feel for a large portion of this season, but there is still room for change before the presents go under the tree.
Camborne (1st) have set the pace throughout, and Tom Kessell’s side will have been delighted to return to winning ways at the first attempt against third-placed Barnstaple in Round 11.
‘Town’ remain four points clear at the summit, but December may throw up some obstacles for the impressive league leaders.
Before a blockbuster festive derby with Redruth and the mouth-watering visit of second-placed Luctonians next weekend, Camborne must first travel to Cinderford (6th).
The Foresters have endured a mixed campaign - six wins and five defeats from their opening 11 games - but they resume on the back of consecutive victories.
Successes over Redruth and Loughborough Students have lifted the mood at Bell Sport & Rugby Park, and those with long memories will recall Cinderford getting the better of Camborne in this corresponding fixture just over a year ago.
Much has changed since then of course, but Clive Stuart-Smith’s side may look to that result for inspiration as they aim to halt the table-toppers.
Luctonians (2nd) might have one eye on events in Gloucestershire, but George Thomas’s team have recently excelled when it comes to focusing on the task in front of them.
Their last two outings - composed, efficient wins against Chester and Redruth - were the perfect reaction to their early November slip against Hinckley.
Lucs return to Mortimer Park this weekend to host second from bottom Loughborough Students, while it's third versus fourth as Barnstaple entertain Lymm.
Barum sit five points behind Luctonians and have taken maximums from all six home matches at Pottington Road. Lymm, meanwhile, return to the South-West having won four of their last five.
They are level on points with fifth-placed Hinckley, who sit joint-top of the National League Rugby form guide.
Alongside National One’s Clifton, the Midlands outfit have collected 21 points from their last five games, and they will be looking to extend their winning run to five matches when they face Exeter University (12th).
A spicy West Country derby awaits as Hornets (7th) welcome Old Redcliffians (10th) to The Nest in what is usually a tight affair while elsewhere, Taunton (8th) host bottom-of-the-table Syston (14th) and Redruth (9th) will be out to end a run of four straight defeats when they travel to Chester (11th).
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.jpg "Barnes are once again in the mix towards the top of National Two East")