Schedule - Sunday 11 May, Aylestone St James RFC, LE7 9SP
11:00 Women’s Div 1 Final - Guildford Gators x Cheltenham
12:45 Mixed Final - Oxford City x Cambridge City
14:30 Women’s Premiership Final - Oxton x Centaurs
16:15 Men’s Premiership Final – Poynton x Spencer
This Sunday (11 May) sees the crowning of our 2025 English champions with the annual National Club Finals featuring our league champions from across the Men’s, Women’s and Mixed games in competition at Aylestone St James Rugby Club, Leicester.
The finals represent the culmination of the domestic club season as the top teams from our regions across the three formats go head to head for national bragging rights.
And the prize at stake for our Men’s and Women’s winners is not only the title of English National champions, but a coveted place at the European Club Championships, Ken Galluccio Cup, to compete for European honours in Prague for the 2025 finals.
In the men’s final, both teams are going for a perfect year as Poynton and Spencer look to put the icing on top of their respective league and flags doubles.
Poynton secured the NEMLA Premiership, followed up by a Northern Senior Flags win against Brooklands, while in the south, Spencer defeated Camden in the Southern Senior Flags final to add to their SEMLA Premiership success secured with a 100% winning record.
The contest is set to feature a number of international stars on both sides, Poynton featuring England and GB stars Alex Russell and William Baxter while the Spencer side is again brimming with talent across Hal Dwobeng, Lyndon Bunio and Dan Watson among others, that should create a thrilling spectacle on field.
In the women’s final, again there will be no shortage of top level talent on display as North of England champions Oxton look to go one better than their runners-up finish last year, while Centaurs return to the National Club Final for the first time in five years after winning the SEWLA premiership.
The Centaurs squad is packed full of English talent, with internationals Charlie Wilson, Dylan Whittington, Liv Thomas, Hannah Thurston and Anna Saunter creating a formidable line up.
But Oxton will come with their own talents, a club renowned for producing a pipeline of skilled young players, supplemented by the huge experience of World Championship medallists Liv Wimpenny and Sophie Graham, England Box goalkeeper Lucy Mayers, and Scottish international Georgie Greenwood.
In the Mixed final, Oxford City are in their fourth consecutive final and chasing back-to-back victories after finally taking the mixed Championship at the third attempt last year.
Cambridge City are appearing in their first National final, with the university side of Cambridge claiming the national crown in its first two years the city has strong pedigree in the mixed game and now the City team will look to continue that record on Sunday.
In the Division 1 Women’s final, winners of the South West Women’s region, Cheltenham, will play South East Women’s Division 1 winners Guildford.
Guildford capped off an impressive season in which they finished with a 100% record and earned promotion to the Premier Division for the first time in the club’s history and will look for another victory in our opening match of the day.
We welcome all to attend National Finals, with free entry and car parking available at the venue. The Club café will also be open with hot and cold options available throughout the day.