2026–27 National League 2 West
Rugby union competition in England
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The 2026–27 National League 2 West is the fifth season of the fourth-tier (west) of the English domestic rugby union competitions; one of three at this level. The others are National League 2 East and National League 2 North.
Structure
The league consists of fourteen teams who play the others on a home and away basis, to make a total of 26 matches each. The champions are promoted to National League 1 while the runner-up goes into the four team National 2 play-offs with the runners-up from National League 2 North and National League 2 East and the 11th placed side in National League 1.[1][2]
The bottom two teams are relegated to either Regional 1 Midlands or Regional 1 South West while the 12th placed side goes into the four team Regional 1 play-offs with the 12th placed sides from National 2 East and National 2 North, as well as the Regional 1 play-off winner.[3][2]
The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
- 4 points are awarded for a win
- 2 points are awarded for a draw
- 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
- 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
- 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.
Participating teams and locations
Departing were the champions Camborne promoted to National League 1, while Syston (14th) were relegated to Regional 1 Midlands. Also departing were Chester (11th), on a level transfer to National League 2 North.
Originally, Loughborough Students (13th) were also relegated to Regional 1 Midlands, with Macclesfield due to take a place in the league, having been moved on a level transfer from National League 2 North. However, Macclesfield declined to accept the league allocation and were consequently relegated to Regional 1 North West, while Burton were transferred from that league to Regional 1 Midlands. Consequently, Loughborough Students earned a reprieve from relegation and were reinstated to this league.[4]
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 Locations of the 2026–27 National League 2 West teams
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League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redruth | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 10 | +51 | 1 | 0 | 5 | Promotion place |
| 2 | Taunton Titans | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 17 | +36 | 1 | 0 | 5 | Promotion play-off |
| 3 | Barnstaple | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 24 | +29 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 4 | Lymm | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 27 | +23 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 5 | Clifton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 31 | +17 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 6 | Old Redcliffians | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 24 | +3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 7 | Luctonians | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 19 | +8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 8 | Hornets | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 27 | −3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 9 | Cinderford | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 48 | −17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 10 | Loughborough Students | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 50 | −23 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 11 | Exeter University | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 53 | −29 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 12 | Hinckley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 27 | −8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Relegation play-off |
| 13 | Devonport Services | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 53 | −36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Relegation place |
| 14 | Bournville | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 61 | −51 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 5 September 2026. Source: National League Rugby [18]
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- Number of matches drawn
- Difference between points for and against
- Total number of points for
- Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
- Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Fixtures & results
Round 1
| 4 September 2026 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Taunton Titans | 53 – 17 | Devonport Services |
| Try: Akinrowo 33' c Mead 37' c Elliott 43' c Parsons 47' m Whitlock 59' c Holmes 66' c Batty 78' c Con: Putt (6/7) 34', 38', 44', 60', 67', 79' Pen: Putt (2/2) 23', 54' | Report | Try: Brown 19' c McFarlane 25' m Rickard 52' m Con: Jarvis (1/1) 20' Brown (0/2) |
| Summerfield Stadium Referee: James Milliner-Woodcock |
| 5 September 2026 14:15 |
| (1 BP) Lymm | 50 – 27 | Loughborough Students (1 BP) |
| Try: Hampson 4' c, 79' c Penalty Try Manaton 45' m, 72' c Lilley 57' c Heaton 76' c Con: Shard (5/6) 5', 58', 73', 77', 80' Pen: Shard (1/1) 62' | Report | Try: Rodriguez-Davies 9' m, 21' c, 42' c Roberts 64' m Con: Webb (1/1) 37' Pen: Webb (2/4) 22', 43' |
| Crouchley Lane Referee: Thomas Hurdley |
| 5 September 2026 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Cinderford | 31 – 48 | Clifton (1 BP) |
| Try: Saint 13' c, 27' c Perkins 20' m, 35' m Baker 71' c Con: Winfield (3/5) 14', 28', 72' | Report | Try: Talbot 6' m Tovey 23' c, 43' c Carter 53' c Malone 56' m Hamid 76' c Thomas 80+4' c Con: Quinlan (5/7) 24', 44', 54', 77', 80+5' Pen: Quinlan (1/1) 65' |
| Beavis Memorial Ground Referee: Peter Connor |
| 5 September 2026 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Exeter University | 24 – 53 | Barnstaple (1 BP) |
| Try: Clark 11' c Warren 41' m Woodman 62' c Thomas 72' m Con: Walker (1/2) 12' Lane (1/2) 63' | Report | Try: Lee 7' c Stretch 23' m, 66' c, 69' m Saunders 26' m Moore 33' m Johnson 45' m, 55' c Petherbridge 76' c Con: Johnson (1/3) 8' Saunders (3/6) 56', 67', 77' |
| Topsham Sports Ground Referee: Cameron Livingstone |
| 5 September 2026 15:00 |
| Hinckley | 19 – 27 | Luctonians |
| Try: Callan 16' c, 70' c Read 21' m Con: Smith (2/3) 17', 71' | Report | Try: Kelly 27' c Link 47' c, 53' c Con: Randell (3/3) 28', 48', 54' Pen: Randell (2/2) 3', 34' |
| Leicester Road Referee: Mark Hyde |
| 5 September 2026 15:00 |
| (2 BP) Hornets | 24 – 27 | Old Redcliffians (1 BP) |
| Try: Hawkins 9' m Sheppard 39' c Lockwood 67' m Russell 70' c Con: Gapper (2/4) 40', 71' | Report | Try: Mclean 17' m, 27' m, 59' m Murphy 77' c, 80' m Con: Tomlin (0/3) Stapleton (1/2) 78' |
| The Nest Referee: Haydn Davies |
| 5 September 2026 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Redruth | 61 – 10 | Bourneville |
| Try: Clifford 1' m Counter 8' c, 31' c James 21' c, 27' c,37' c, 55' c Cowan-Dickie 69' c Baragwanath 78' c Con: Cummins (8/9) 8', 22', 28', 32', 38', 55', 70', 78' | Report | Try: van Deventer 72' m Collingwood 80' m Con: Fewtrell (0/2) |
| Recreation Ground Referee: James Walker |
Round 2
| 12 September 2026 14:00 |
| Loughborough Students | 17 – 26 | Hinckley |
| Try: Temperley 14' m Finch 73' m Webb 80' c Con: Webb (1/3) 80' | Report | Try: James 5' c, 24' c, 63' c Catcheside 68' m Con: Smith (3/4) 6', 25', 64' |
| East Park Referee: Thomas Hurdley |
| 12 September 2026 14:30 |
| Barnstaple | 12 – 24 | Taunton Titans |
| Try: Moore 51' c Johnson 72' m Con: Johnson (1/2) 52' | Report | Try: Guy 14' c Vickery 44' c Johns 75' c Con: Putt (3/3) 15', 45', 76' Pen: Putt (1/1) 68' |
| Pottington Road Referee: James Walker |
| 12 September 2026 14:30 |
| Devonport Services | 33 – 68 | Redruth |
| Try: Bond 12' c Gliddon 52' c, 59' m Penalty Try White 79' c Con: Brown (3/4) 13', 52', 80' | Try: Cowan-Dickie 3' c Bray 8' c, 40' c Simmons 16' c Wolstencroft 24' m Clifford 32' c Baragwanath 67' c, 79' c Love 70' c Cummins 80' c Con: Cummins (9/10) 4', 9', 17', 33', 40', 68', 72', 79', 80' |
| The Rectory Referee: Spencer Pearce |
| 12 September 2026 15:00 |
| Bournville | 43 – 38 | Lymm |
| Try: Tanner 2' c Shaw 17' c, 53' m van Deventer 25' c Smith 62' c Grimshaw 78' c Con: Fewtrell (5/6) 3', 18', 26', 63', 79' Pen: Fewtrell (1/1) 22' | Report | Try: Lilley 33' c Cope 38' c Mukherjee 45' Reynolds 58' c, 70' c Con: Shard (5/5) 34', 39', 46', 59', 71' Pen: Shard (1/1) 80' |
| Avery Fields Referee: Mark Hyde |
| 12 September 2026 15:00 |
| Clifton | 35 – 26 | Old Redcliffians |
| Try: Hutchinson 8' c Anderson 26' c Hamid 35' c Power 59' c Grundy 64' c Con: Quinlan (5/5) 9', 27', 36', 60', 65' | Report | Try: Hamilton 19' c Van Keergergen 23' c Bailey 48' c Stapleton 72' m Con: Tomlin (3/4) 20' , 24', 49' |
| Station Road Referee: Philip Russell |
| 12 September 2026 15:00 |
| Exeter University | 36 – 54 | Hornets |
| Try: Benson 12' c Woodman 32' m Starkey 39' m Dowse 59' m Barrow 69' c Golden Clark 71' c Con: Lane (3/6) 13', 70', 72' | Report | Try: Sheppard 5' c, 47' c Griffith 20' c, 25' c Davis 29' c, 72' m Lockwood 53' c Gapper 63' c Con: Gapper (7/7) 6', 21', 25', 30', 48', 54', 64' Russell (0/1) |
| Topsham Sports Ground Referee: Dan Parrott |
| 12 September 2026 15:00 |
| Luctonians | 47 – 0 | Cinderford |
| Try: Goodall 7' m, 44' c Harriott-Davis 25' c, 67' c Mear 30' c Link 35' c, 39' c Con: Goodall (6/7) 26', 31', 36', 40', 45', 68' | Report |
| Mortimer Park Referee: Nathan Howarth |
Round 3
| 19 September 2026 14:00 |
| Exeter University | v | Taunton Titans |
| Bonfire Field |
| 19 September 2026 14:15 |
| Lymm | v | Devonport Services |
| Crouchley Lane |
| 19 September 2026 15:00 |
| Cinderford | v | Loughborough Students |
| Beavis Memorial Ground |
| 19 September 2026 15:00 |
| Hinckley | v | Bournville |
| Leicester Road |
| 19 September 2026 15:00 |
| Hornets | v | Clifton |
| The Nest |
| 19 September 2026 15:00 |
| Old Redcliffians | v | Luctonians |
| Scotland Lane |
| 19 September 2026 15:00 |
| Redruth | v | Barnstaple |
| Recreation Ground |
Round 4
| 26 September 2026 14:00 |
| Barnstaple | v | Lymm |
| Pottingham Road |
| 26 September 2026 14:00 |
| Loughborough Students | v | Old Redcliffians |
| East Park |
| 26 September 2026 14:30 |
| Devonport Services | v | Hinckley |
| The Rectory |
| 26 September 2026 15:00 |
| Bournville | v | Cinderford |
| Avery Fields |
| 26 September 2026 15:00 |
| Exeter University | v | Redruth |
| Topsham Sports Ground |
| 26 September 2026 15:00 |
| Luctonians | v | Clifton |
| Mortimer Park |
| 26 September 2026 15:00 |
| Taunton Titans | v | Hornets |
| Summerfield Stadium |
Attendances
- Does not include promotion/relegation play-offs.
| Club | Home
Games |
Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstaple | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Bournville | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Cinderford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Clifton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Devonport Services | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Exeter University | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Hinckley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Hornets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Loughborough Students | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Luctonians | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Lymm | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Old Redcliffians | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Redruth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Taunton Titans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Individual statistics
- Does not include promotion/relegation play-offs.
Top points scorers
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Top try scorers
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Notes
- Exeter University would also play one home game at Bonfire Field, home of nearby Topsham RFC.
- Since relegation from the 2018–19 National League 1 Loughborough Students have switched games from the Loughborough University Stadium to nearby East Park.