2026/27 Previews: National League One
Plymouth's strong recruitment - and excellent season last time out - makes them serious contenders in National One
©Plymouth Albion
With Rotherham Titans and Blackheath waving goodbye to the third tier last season as champions and play-off winners respectively, National One welcomes two sides from Champ Rugby - and both arrive with plenty to offer.
After promotion in 2023, Cambridge begin life back at this level against the side they beat to secure the National One title three years ago.
On a sun-kissed April afternoon at Ellgia Fields, the Blood and Sand beat Birmingham Moseley 59-10 to bring an absorbing title race to its conclusion.
Much has changed for both clubs since then. Cambridge, now under Craig Newby, found life tough in the second tier, particularly last season when they failed to win any of their 26 league games.
Now, though, a new-look side are excited by a fresh challenge, while Moseley - led by Ollie Thomas - are also at the beginning of what feels like a new era.
Long-serving Director of Rugby Adam Balding has moved on, along with experienced players like Ollie Stedman and David Langley.
But Thomas is Moseley through and through, and he will be keen to put last season’s relegation-threatened campaign behind them.
Joining Cambridge from the Champ are London Scottish.
After 15 years in the second tier, Scottish were relegated following their 27-7 defeat to Blackheath in the Champ Rugby Accession Final but, as their social media docuseries suggests, they are now focused on ‘restoring pride’, with a brand new group of players at the forefront of their plans.
Led by Director of Rugby Joe Gray, Scottish have assembled a squad containing plenty of recognisable Champ and National League talent. An immediate return to Level 2 will surely be high on their agenda.
First up for Scottish is a trip to one of the new boys, Bury St Edmunds. From the middle of November through to the final day of last season, James Shanahan’s side suffered just one defeat on their way to a stunning promotion from National Two East.
Their charge to the title means they will compete in National One for the first time in their history.
Given the squad the Wolfpack put together last year, coupled with what they have added over the summer, they certainly have the nous to make an impact - and their opening two fixtures against Scottish and Shanahan’s former side Cambridge will provide an immediate test.
Two clubs who ought to be in the conversation towards the top end of the table are Plymouth Albion and Rosslyn Park, who meet at The Rock in Round One.
Plymouth were very much part of an epic promotion battle last term, but with fine margins separating the leading sides, Albion - who finished third - narrowly missed out on a shot at Champ Rugby.
But that hasn’t dampened expectations. Far from it.
During the off-season, new club captain Huw Taylor said Plymouth 'are a top six Champ club in the making' and, on the face of it, it is difficult to argue with that.
Signings such as Chris Preen from Worcester, James Kenny from Ealing Trailfinders, Noah Fenton + Iwan Jenkins from Exeter Chiefs and former Bristol forward Morgan Eames underline the ambition at Brickfields.
As for Rosslyn Park, the arrivals of Rory Jennings, Josh Barton and Fred Davies have caught the eye, as has exciting back-three player Charlie Coe, formerly of Durham University.
Pre-season victories over Esher and London Scottish will also have provided strong preparation for Steve Neville’s side, who finished fourth in 2025/26 and have strength in depth across their squad.
Sale FC, who enjoyed a solid 40-33 pre-season victory over Caldy last weekend, may fancy themselves as top-two candidates after remaining in last season's title conversation right up until April.
The signings of James Mitchell, brother of Northampton Saints and England scrum-half Alex, and former Cheshire captain Ollie Longmore have added further quality to ‘The Dogs’ squad, with Jonathan Keep’s side making the trip to old foes Rams on opening weekend.
After a season of building and learning, Rams will be looking to improve on last year’s seventh-place finish. They appear to have recruited well, with Canada Sevens star Henry Kirwan moving to Old Bath Road alongside former Bath playmaker Darren Atkins and Clifton duo Shay Sainsbury and Ollie Stirling.
Despite being one of three newcomers to National One, Camborne are a side worth keeping an eye on.
The Cherry and Whites deservedly clinched the National Two West title last term, and possess a squad packed with talent that can raise their game in the third tier.
They have added another Matavesi brother to their armoury, with Joel joining Josh and Sam, while experienced campaigner Fraser Honey and Canada international Barnaby Waddell will complement the quality already at The Recreation Ground.
First up for Tom Kessell’s side is a trip to Leeds Tykes, who have seemingly laid out their ambitions for 2026/27.
In a recent interview with The Rugby Paper, head coach Pete Lucock said that given the way the Tykes ended last season - winning six of their final 10 matches to finish in ninth place - a top-six finish shouldn't be off the table.
One to watch could be winger Albert Bradshaw, who scored eight tries in nine appearances for the club last term.
Alongside Camborne and Bury St Edmunds, Sheffield also arrive in National One after winning National Two North at a canter last season.
Twenty-four wins and 121 points saw Anthony Posa’s side create history by clinching their first-ever league title, which secured promotion to the third tier.
The Steel City outfit have retained a large core of last year's squad and have also added quality with the likes of former Rotherham back Sinjin Broad moving to Abbeydale Park.
They begin with a trip to Tonbridge Juddians, who were pleased with an eighth-place finish on their return to National One last season.
Meanwhile, Bishop’s Stortford, who have retained well and finished seventh last year after winning seven of their final nine games, host Dings Crusaders in Round One.
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