Saracens’ England stars will not play before Six Nations after Championship unveils March start date
Saracens’ England internationals will not play a competitive game before the Six Nations after the new Championship season was delayed until March.
It leaves players including captain Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and the Vunipola brothers without a game before England face Scotland on 6 February.
Saracens were relegated from the Premiership earlier this year after breaching salary cap rules.
English rugby’s second tier has not had a game since March due to Covid-19.
It had been suggested that the 2020-21 Championship season would start in January, but it will now not get under way until the weekend of 6 March.
The 12-team league will be split into two conferences with the winners of each playing a two-legged final for the right to earn promotion to the Premiership.
Saracens will be in Conference A and will face Cornish Pirates, Ampthill, Jersey Reds, London Scottish and Hartpury University.
Conference B is made up of Ealing Trailfinders, Coventry, Nottingham, Bedford Blues, Doncaster Knights and Richmond – who come up from National One in place of relegated Yorkshire Carnegie.
Each side will play their opponents in their respective conferences on a home and away basis.
Last season’s competition was ended early with Newcastle Falcons promoted to the top flight after the 2019-20 season was decided on a “best playing record formula”.
This season clubs are hoping they will be able to stream their fixtures online should they be unable to welcome supporters into their grounds because of Covid-19 restrictions.
“As a result of Championship clubs having little or no income for the last nine months the majority do not have the financial ability to meet the costs of Covid testing required under the elite sport framework,” a Rugby Football Union statement read.
“The clubs have chosen not to return to play under adapted laws and the March start date allows time for clubs to gain clarity from Sport England regarding the Sport Winter Survival Package before starting pre-season training.
“All Championship clubs are unanimously behind the intended competition as outlined, but require some weeks of full training, to make squads ‘match ready’, subsequent to the long absence of competitive rugby.”
The RFU also said clubs can continue to arrange pre-season friendlies, as Saracens have already done.
County Championship: Roland-Jones gives Middlesex control against Glamorgan
| Specsavers County Championship Division Two, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (day two): |
| Middlesex 384 Malan 166; Carey 4-54 & 189-5 Robson 73*, Simpson 56 |
| Glamorgan 171 Lloyd 67; Helm 5-53, Roland-Jones 4-45 |
| Middlesex (7 pts) lead Glamorgan (3 pts) by 402 runs |
| Scorecard |
Middlesex have a formidable lead of 402 over Glamorgan at 189-5 in their second innings, going into day three in Cardiff.
Sam Robson (73*) and John Simpson (56) have strengthened the visitors’ grip.
Toby Roland-Jones (4-45) made the most of a helpful pitch as Glamorgan were hustled out for an inadequate 171.
David Lloyd’s 67 was the top home score, while Tom Helm (5-53) wrapped up the innings with his fifth wicket after his first-evening purple patch.
Lloyd shared half-century stands with Billy Root and Chris Cooke before the visitors’ seamers re-established control, as Glamorgan’s last five wickets mustered just 28 runs.
A lead of 213 runs was not enough to persuade Dawid Malan to enforce the follow-on, wanting to avoid batting last on the most bowler-friendly Championship pitch of the season in Cardiff.
Although Middlesex slumped to 85-4, they were never under pressure thanks to their first-innings lead, and the Robson-Simpson century partnership blossomed in the evening sunshine to grind down Glamorgan hopes of avoiding a first defeat of the campaign.
Glamorgan vice-captain David Lloyd told BBC Sport Wales:
“A very difficult day, they hit their lengths more regularly than we did, then we started well with the ball in the second dig but it’s always tough when you’re chasing the game.
“It’s a wicket where you have to be positive and get forward because it’s starting to go more up and down- it’s about looking to score rather than sit there and wait for things to happen.
“We’ve showed in previous games that we can battle draws out so you never know, we’ll have to try to bat the rest of the game and we can do it if we get our mindsets right.”
Middlesex bowler Tom Helm told BBC Radio London:
“It took a bit longer to get the fifth one than I had in my head last night, but Toby had four and I’m very happy with it.
“If you get the ball in the right area, the odd one zips through and it changed a bit from day one.
“There’s so long left in this game, we can bat for as long as we want and it’ll be interesting to see how the morning goes, they’ll come out fired up but we’ll see how we go.”
County Championship: Joe Denly makes fine century for Kent against Notts
| Specsavers County Championship Division One, Tunbridge Wells (day three) |
| Kent 309 & 277-3: Denly 111*, Bell-Drummond 79; Pattinson 2-67 |
| Nottinghamshire 267: Nash 67, Patel 52; Milnes 5-68 |
| Kent (6 pts) lead Notts (5 pts) by 319 runs |
| Match scorecard |
England batsman Joe Denly scored a fine unbeaten century to help put Kent in charge against winless Nottinghamshire at Tunbridge Wells.
Denly made 111 not out off 176 balls as the hosts closed day three on 277-3 in their second innings, a lead of 319.
A 152 stand with Daniel Bell-Drummond (79) took the game away from Notts.
In the morning session the visitors collapsed from 208-4 to 267 all out, with paceman Matt Milnes (5-68) taking a first five-wicket haul of his career.
Denly, who was left out of England’s World Cup squad, had only scored 44 runs in five County Championship innings as he came to the crease at 19-1.
But the 33-year-old rediscovered the form which saw him score more than 2,000 first-class runs and nine hundreds in the 2017 and 2018 campaigns, hitting 13 fours and spending more than four hours in the middle.
Bell-Drummond was also impressive in making his second half-century in 14 innings this season before he nicked James Pattinson behind.
A heavy shower ended play 11 overs early, time out of the game that may well affect Kent’s chances of winning.
Nottinghamshire, who are bottom of Division One, had begun the day hoping of a first-innings lead – but once captain Steven Mullaney was bowled by Milnes to leave them 228-5, the innings folded.
Mullaney’s side are now likely to have to bat for the majority of three sessions on Thursday to prevent a fourth loss in seven matches.
County Championship: Robson gets Middlesex off to solid start against Glamorgan at Radlett
| Specsavers County Championship Division Two, Radlett |
| Middlesex 151-3 (51 overs): Robson 85* |
| Glamorgan: Yet to bat |
| Middlesex 0 pts, Glamorgan 1 pt |
| Match scorecard |
Sam Robson’s season-best score of 85 not out gave Middlesex a solid start as they reached 151-3 against Glamorgan on a rain-shortened first day at Radlett.
After a lost morning, Robson looked composed in bowler-friendly cloudy conditions, with a green-tinged strip for Radlett’s first Championship game.
Despite an opening stand of 77 with Stevie Eskinazi (31), Robson’s partners looked less assured.
David Lloyd, Graham Wagg and Marchant de Lange claimed a wicket each.
The hosts did well to survive relatively unscathed after being put in to bat by Lloyd.
But Glamorgan’s seamers notched up plenty of near-misses.
Middlesex batsman Sam Robson told BBC Sport Wales:
“It was tough. They bowled well, so it was pleasing. We’re happy with where we’re at.
“We’ve played a bit here and trained here so we knew what it was like. The ground staff have done a great job here considering the weather over the last week and a half.
“There was still good value for shots, so we knew if we could hang in, there were scoring opportunities.
“I’ve not got as many as I would have liked over the last few weeks, so it was good to be back in the runs. Hopefully I can keep going.”
Glamorgan captain David Lloyd told BBC Sport Wales:
“A frustrating day, we did bowl pretty well in parts and probably deserved a couple more wickets. Another day we could have got them five or six down but it wasn’t meant to be.
“We’ll look to go bang-bang in the morning and put the pressure back on them.
“When you come to out grounds you know what to expect. It’s a lovely ground and a nice wicket.
“The lads reacted well because it might have drifted away but we got wickets. It’s a shame we couldn’t have got one more but not a bad day.”
County Championship: Sussex bowl out Middlesex for 138 on day one at Lord’s
| Specsavers County Championship Division Two, Lord’s (day one) |
| Middlesex 138: Harris 38*; Wiese 5-26 |
| Sussex 169-4: Salt 50; Murtagh 3-34 |
| Sussex (3 pts) lead Middlesex (1 pt) by 31 runs |
| Scorecard |
Middlesex were skittled for just 138 by Sussex on day one as the visitors took early control of the game at Lord’s.
Sussex seamer David Wiese starred with 5-26 and paceman Ollie Robinson claimed three wickets with only James Harris (38 not out) passing 20 for Middlesex.
Captain Dawid Malan, who has been in superb form this season, was one of five batsmen to edge behind for 15.
Sussex closed on 169-4, a lead of 31, with opener Phil Salt (50) one of three wickets for Irishman Tim Murtagh.
Harris gave Middlesex a late boost by removing Laurie Evans lbw for 31, but Stiaan van Zyl went to stumps on 46.
County Championship: Bottom club Warwickshire battle back against champions Surrey
| Specsavers County Championship Division One, Edgbaston (day one): |
| Warwickshire 275-8: Norwell 58*, Hain 47; Dunn 3-59 |
| Surrey: Yet to bat |
| Warwickshire (2 pts), Surrey (2 pts) |
| Scorecard |
Warwickshire fast bowlers Liam Norwell and Henry Brookes transformed the first day at Edgbaston as they shared an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 89 to stun reigning county champions Surrey.
After slumping to 186-8 despite gritty knocks from Sam Hain (47), Will Rhodes (39) and Adam Hose (38), the Bears were set to go without batting points again.
Instead, Norwell slammed 58 and Brookes made 35 as Surrey’s attack wilted.
The pair both belted some fine shots to reach the close unparted on 275-8.
That earned two batting points, plus the prospect of a potential third in the morning, which would double the Bears’ previous haul for the season.
Prior to that, on a weather-affected day which brought two separate short breaks in play, injury-hit Surrey’s bowlers had dominated, including three victims for recalled fast bowler Matt Dunn.
After being put in to bat, a painstaking first half-century stand of the season for Bears openers Dom Sibley and Rhodes was ended by veteran spinner Gareth Batty, who removed both in successive overs just before lunch.
But after Dunn had seemingly put Surrey right in control, Norwell, on his home debut, and Brookes transformed the contest in the final hour.
They started to go for their shots when Dean Elgar came on for an over of spin just before the new ball was due – and 17 came from it, capped by two sixes in three balls from Brookes.
But they then kept up the attack, twice taking 16 off an over from South Africa paceman Morne Morkel, thanks to seven boundaries off in the space of 11 deliveries off him from the free-spirited Norwell.
Warwickshire all-rounder Liam Norwell told BBC WM:
“Henry and I are both naturally quite attacking players so we just played out natural game and played our shots and luckily it came off.
“It was a mixture of good shots and a bit of luck. I rode my luck at times but it was just good to be out in the middle with Henry. He is a lot of fun to bat with.
“The lads up top did the hard graft. Now we are in a pretty strong position and we have just got to focus in the morning and try to get up to 300 for that third batting point.”
Surrey fast bowler Matt Dunn told BBC Radio London:
“All day, the bowlers worked so hard together. We knew it was going to be tough but everyone bowled in partnerships and bowled for each other.
“It was a shame that it just got away from us a little bit at the end because we were in a great position but I think we would have taken this at the start of the day.
“It is great to be back in the team. I am so proud to wear the Surrey badge. It is everything to me. It is nice to get out there again and perform.”
County Championship: Kent collapse leaves them in trouble against Surrey
| Specsavers County Championship Division One, Beckenham (day two): |
| Surrey 439: Jacks 120, Borthwick 95, Clarke 88 & 11-0 |
| Kent 294: Dickson 128; Batty 3-49, S Curran 3-54 |
| Surrey (8 pts) lead Kent (5 pts) by 156 runs |
| Scorecard |
Kent collapsed after tea to hand the initiative to defending champions Surrey on the second day at Beckenham.
Kent were 227-2 in response to Surrey’s 439 all out, but fell to 238-6 with Gareth Batty dismissing Heino Kuhn and Ollie Robinson in consecutive balls.
Opener Sean Dickson compiled an excellent 128 for the hosts before he was dismissed by Sam Curran with the new ball as Kent were all out for 294.
Surrey closed on 11-0 in their second innings, leading by 156.
After adding 19 to their overnight 420-9 in the morning, Surrey’s chances of picking up their first win of the campaign appeared to be fading on a pitch that had flattened out under sunny skies.
But 41-year-old off-spinner Batty (3-49) turned the game either side of tea, first bowling Daniel Bell-Drummond for 37 and then finding the edges of captain Kuhn and in-form Robinson.
Right-hander Dickson, who had only made 85 runs in six innings in 2019, looked at ease against an attack that included England all-rounder Curran (3-54) for the first time this season.
However, with wickets tumbling around him, he eventually nicked Curran’s opening delivery with the second new ball behind to leave them 272-8.
Matt Milnes and Harry Podmore did manage to take Kent past the follow-on target of 290, although they face an uphill battle to avoid a third defeat in four matches.