Round 15 Preview: Wild weather won’t wash out return of National League Rugby
National League Rugby returns after a two week break over the festive period
©Gareth Lyons
Storm Goretti and the wintry weather conditions have already impacted the return of National League Rugby, but at the time of publication, here is what we can look forward to in Round 15.
National One
With just six points separating the top five sides in National One, all the ingredients are in place for another gripping title race in the third tier.
Rotherham Titans (1st) remain at the summit, but two defeats from their final four matches before Christmas have allowed the chasing pack to apply pressure.
In recent weeks, injuries have forced Harvey Biljon to reshuffle his pack, but his side will be eager to return to action after ending 2025 with a 19-18 defeat against old rivals Leeds Tykes at Headingley.
Expect a response on Saturday in South Yorkshire as the league leaders entertain Clifton (11th). Following promotion, the Bristolians can be pleased with an encouraging first half of the campaign, having secured five wins so far.
The challenge now for the Lavender and Blacks is to replicate that in the second half of the season, but starting at Clifton Lane - where Rotherham have lost just once in almost two years - is a daunting prospect.
Second-placed Plymouth Albion (2nd) head into 2026 full of confidence after piecing together five straight wins before Christmas.
Ryan Lamb’s side are beginning to flex their muscles in this title race and resume their campaign, aiming for a seventh successive home victory at Brickfields.
Their visitors are Bishop’s Stortford (8th), who concluded 2025 in fine form. Tom Coleman’s men have won five of their last six matches, with their only setback coming just before Christmas in a narrow 29-27 defeat to Blackheath (3rd).
Despite that disappointment, Stortford showed they are capable of troubling the division’s frontrunners.
Blackheath (3rd) will be targeting a fifth consecutive home win when they host Leicester Lions (14th), who face a testing start to the second half of the season.
The Midlands club sit 13 points adrift of Clifton - who occupy the relegation play-off spot - after six straight defeats, and with the current top three awaiting them in January, Gareth Collins’ side will need to dig extremely deep to revive their survival hopes.
Elsewhere, Sale FC (5th) - winners of five of their last six games - renew acquaintances with Rams (6th) at Old Bath Road, while Tonbridge Juddians (7th), buoyed by their pre-Christmas victory at Rosslyn Park, host Dings Crusaders (12th).
Dings, who occupy the final relegation place, boosted their survival hopes in Rounds 13 and 14 with back-to-back home wins over Leicester Lions and Rams, while Leeds Tykes (13th) did likewise with their victory over Rotherham.
The Tykes remain in the bottom two, but just five points separate them from Sedgley Park (9th), who they face in the North-West on Saturday.
Birmingham Moseley (10th) vs Rosslyn Park (4th) has been postponed.
National Two North
Following the postponement of the 2026 National League Rugby curtain-raiser between Darlington Mowden Park and Wharfedale earlier this week, attention now turns to a busy Saturday in National Two North.
Not least at Brantingham Park, where Hull Ionians (4th) collide with Macclesfield (2nd). Both sides collected three bonus-point wins from three in December, with the hosts manoeuvring themselves into the promotion conversation.
The I’s sit nine points behind Macclesfield, who currently occupy the play-off spot, and their climb up the standings can be attributed to five wins from their last six matches.
It is perhaps the most consistent the Yorkshire outfit have been since finishing third in 2022–23, but frozen pitches this week may have disrupted their preparation to face a Macc side who very much have the bit between their teeth.
Six straight victories for the Blues have deservedly lifted them into second place, and a win on Humberside in Round 15 would further strengthen their bid to remain firmly in the promotion picture come April.
When it comes to automatic promotion, however, Sheffield (1st) are in the box seat. The league leaders begin 2026 with a perfect record of 13 wins from 13 and a four-point advantage at the summit.
Anthony Posa’s men also hold a game in hand over their nearest rivals, and they resume their pursuit of history when they host bottom side Rossendale (14th), who have suffered 10 consecutive defeats.
Elsewhere near the top, Fylde (6th) will be chasing a remarkable seventh successive away victory as they head to Billingham (11th).
Billingham currently sit 13 points clear of the danger zone, while 12th-placed Hull are hovering just above it.
Dec Cusack's side are level on points with second-from-bottom Scunthorpe and after being nilled in their final two matches of 2025, Hull will be hoping for brighter fortunes in 2026, starting with a visit to Preston Grasshoppers (8th).
Meanwhile, Tynedale's (3rd) trip to Otley (9th) and Sheffield Tigers (10th) vs Scunthorpe (13th) have been postponed.
National Two East
During the first half of the season, the unpredictability of National Two East delivered some brilliant storylines, so here’s hoping 2026 can serve up more of the same.
At the top, the title race is nicely poised, with Old Albanian (1st) and Oundle (2nd) separated by just two points.
OAs hit a rocky patch at the end of November which carried into early December, but James Osborn and Dan George’s side got back on track with victories over Havant and London Welsh, respectively.
They begin 2026 on the road, travelling to Guernsey Raiders (10th) - a side who have been impacted by injuries and have lost their last four matches.
Like OAs, Oundle also begin the New Year away from home as they head to London Welsh (9th), aiming to pick up from where they left off.
Just before Christmas, Anthony Maka’s late try salvaged a thrilling 29-29 draw with third-placed Bury St Edmunds, extending Oundle’s unbeaten run to six matches.
However, a trip to Old Deer Park is unlikely to be straightforward. Welsh have won their last four home games and are showing clear signs of progress following promotion last season.
As for Bury St Edmunds (3rd), they enter 2026 having lost just once in their last eight outings and may well be favourites to extend that run when they host bottom club Oxford Harlequins (14th) on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Dorking (4th) travel to Barnes (6th) for the latest chapter in their rivalry.
The theme of tight encounters between the pair continued earlier this season, as a converted Dan Robertshaw try two minutes from time secured a 22-21 victory for Barnes at The Big Field.
At the other end of the table, both Henley (13th) and Havant (12th) will be keen to build on welcome pre-Christmas victories.
Henley edged past Barnes 24-21, while Havant boosted their survival hopes with a 48-26 away win over Oxford Harlequins.
The Hawks now sit three points adrift of Havant and begin January with a challenging trip to Canterbury (5th), the current form side in National Two East.
The City Men were the only team in the division to win all three of their festive fixtures, while Havant are at Hooks Lane to face Esher (8th), who claimed their first success under new head coach Mike Brown in Round 14.
Last but certainly not least, Round 15 serves up a Kent derby, with Westcombe Park (7th) hosting Sevenoaks (12th).
If the reverse fixture is anything to go by - when Sevenoaks snatched a dramatic 27-26 victory with a late intercept try - then a cracker could be in store at Goddington Dene.
National Two West
Over the festive period, the National Two West table would have made for good reading for those of a Camborne (1st) persuasion.
Their last four results before Christmas have given 'Town' a great platform to make 2026 a memorable year for the club, as Tom Kessell’s side resume seven points clear at the summit.
Since their agonising loss to Taunton back in Round 10, Camborne have beaten both Luctonians (2nd) and Barnstaple (3rd), won away at Cinderford (5th), and defeated their near neighbours Redruth.
To begin the New Year, the Cherry and Whites have announced the appointment of former Exeter Chiefs coach Ricky Pellow to their backroom staff ahead of their first fixture of 2026 at home to Loughborough Students (13th).
Camborne have won their last 19 matches on their own patch, while, by contrast, Loughborough return to action in the bottom two and without a win in five.
In fairness, during that run, Martin Webdale’s troops have lost narrowly to both Luctonians and Barnstaple, but a trip to Cornwall will be a difficult assignment to kick off January.
Second-placed Luctonians (2nd) continue to be Camborne's nearest challengers and, despite losing 29-15 to their title rivals last month, Rob Lewis and George Thomas' side were able to get back on the horse with a solid win over bottom club Syston (14th) before Christmas.
With five victories from their six away matches this season, there may be a quiet confidence about Lucs when they head to Old Redcliffians (11th), who are currently six points above the relegation zone.
However, Dan Cox’s men are displaying encouraging signs, with three of their five wins this term coming in their last six games, and they have also won their last two at Scotland Lane.
If someone had told Barnstaple (3rd) fans at the start of the season that their side would be third going into 2026, you wonder how many Chiefs supporters would have believed it.
The promoted side have been a mainstay in the top three during the first half of the campaign and currently sit six points behind the aforementioned Luctonians. This weekend, they head to Weston-super-Mare to face Hornets (8th), who have won all seven of their home fixtures this term.
Behind Barnstaple, it has become congested, with just eight points separating Hinckley (4th) down to Chester (9th).
Six victories from their last seven games have propelled Hinckley up the standings and their opponents on Saturday, Taunton (6th), are experiencing something similar thanks to some strong home form.
The key now for Tony Yapp’s side is to translate that onto the road in Round 15 as they aim to secure their first away win since October.
Cinderford (5th) also appear to be in a good moment after four victories from their final five matches of 2025. This weekend they travel to Exeter University (12th).
Elsewhere, it may not have been the merriest of Christmases for Lymm (9th).
The men from Crouchley Lane lost all three festive fixtures so will be keen to put that behind them when they entertain Redruth (11th) on Saturday, while there were contrasting fortunes for Cheshire counterparts Chester (10th).
Rhys Hayes’ men went unbeaten last month and begin January with a trip to bottom club Syston (14th), who, after successive home wins, have breathed new life into their season and now have their sights set on reeling in table rivals Loughborough and Exeter.
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