Five Seasons in the Champ – How Far Have Caldy Come?

After a week away from league action, the Ravers return to the field this Saturday with a trip to the Richmond Athletic Ground to look forward to. With five games now behind them, it’s a good opportunity to take stock of the opening block, reflect on Caldy’s journey through five seasons of Champ Rugby and look ahead to the challenge awaiting them in south-west London.

One win from five matches is not the start the Ravers would have hoped for, but the statistics reveal a more interesting picture. While results have been frustrating at times, Caldy have demonstrated a significant attacking threat, scoring more tries in their opening five league games than in any of their previous four seasons at this level.

The question now is how that attacking promise can be converted into more consistent results.

An attack firing on all cylinders

The most encouraging statistic from the opening block is Caldy’s attacking output.

The Ravers crossed the whitewash 26 times in their first five league matches, the highest total the club has recorded at this stage in any of its five Champ campaigns.

To put that into perspective, Caldy scored 19 tries in their opening five matches in 2022/23, followed by 13 in 2023/24 and just 12 in 2024/25. Last season marked a significant improvement, with 25 tries across the opening five fixtures, but this campaign has already gone one better.

That equates to an average of 5.2 tries per game, underlining the attacking threat within the squad. The ability to create opportunities and put points on the board has been evident throughout the opening weeks, with Caldy scoring 174 points according to the latest England Rugby statistical comparison.

However, the challenge remains turning that attacking promise into results. The Ravers have also conceded heavily, highlighting the fine margins that have separated encouraging performances from victories.

The fine margins

Caldy’s opening five matches have followed a very different pattern to last season, when the Ravers won their first four league fixtures for the first time in the club’s Champ history.

This time around, the campaign began with a narrow 42–40 defeat against Hartpury. A dramatic last-minute victory at Blackheath followed, demonstrating the squad’s determination and ability to find a way through difficult contests.

A three-point defeat to Chinnor came next, before losses against Rotherham Titans and Ampthill brought the opening block to a close.

There have been plenty of points and tries to celebrate, but the results have ultimately been frustrating. Caldy’s average of 35.2 points per game is impressive, yet their opponents have found the scoreboard too frequently.

The contrast is striking. The Ravers have scored more tries than ever before at this stage of a Champ season, but have managed just one victory. Finding greater defensive consistency, particularly in the decisive moments of matches, could make a significant difference as the campaign progresses.

The opening block has therefore provided both encouragement and a clear challenge. The attacking foundations are there; the next step is to ensure that performances across the pitch are consistent enough to deliver the results the squad is capable of achieving.

Five seasons in the Champ

Caldy’s journey at this level began in 2022/23, marking a historic achievement for the club and bringing a new set of challenges against some of the most established sides in the competition.

The Ravers finished 10th in their first campaign and repeated that position in 2023/24, before finishing 11th in each of the following two seasons.

Those league positions only tell part of the story. Across four completed seasons, the club has gained experience, competed against increasingly familiar opposition and continued to build its foundations at a level that represents the highest standard in its history.

The opening five matches of this campaign have offered another interesting chapter. While the results have been mixed, the attacking numbers suggest a team capable of causing problems for any opposition.

Director of Rugby Gareth Davies believes the club is in a stronger position overall, both on and off the field, pointing to the depth of the playing group and the continued development of Caldy’s wider community.

“We’ve got two really strong teams that play every Saturday. It’s really competitive. We’ve got a group of young lads now who are really pushing the senior players to get in the team, and I don’t think it’s going to be too long before some of them are pushing past and going beyond.”

That competition for places is an encouraging sign for the future, with emerging talent providing pressure and opportunities throughout the senior setup. But Davies is equally keen to emphasise that the club’s progress extends well beyond the first XV.

“Off the field, we’re making conscious efforts to improve everything that we do. We’ve got a new CEO, Simon Palmer, who’s come in and is looking to make us even more professional off the pitch.”

The club’s community foundations remain central to that ambition. From matchday hospitality to the teams using the facilities throughout the week, Caldy continues to serve a much wider group than those who take to the field on a Saturday.

“We have 550 community members. We play rugby pretty much every Sunday, and as far as I’m concerned, that part of it is as strong as we’ve been.”

The growth of the girls’ section also offers a glimpse of what could come next, with the club working towards establishing a women’s team in the not-too-distant future.

“From a global point of view, the club’s in a much better place. We just need to pick up a few wins and ensure that the first team stays in the Champ, and gives everyone a platform to strive to, from our Under 6s up to the First Team.”

It is a clear assessment of where Caldy stand. The foundations are growing, the next generation is pushing through and the club is continuing to develop beyond the pitch. The immediate priority, however, remains ensuring that the first team can turn its potential into the results required to maintain its place at this level.

To Hear more of Gareth’s views on where we’re at, head to our social media channels!

Team news: The Ravers head to Richmond

Head Coach Matt Cairns has selected the following 23-man squad for Saturday’s trip to the Richmond Athletic Ground.

Richmond: A side looking for a response

Saturday’s opponents Richmond find themselves in a similarly difficult position, having lost all five of their opening league fixtures since returning to the Champ.

Their campaign began with a narrow 42–40 home defeat to Ampthill, before further losses against Ealing Trailfinders, Worcester Warriors, Chinnor and Rotherham Titans left them 14th in the league table, with just one league point to their name.

The latest statistical comparison between the two sides makes for interesting reading. Richmond have scored 19 tries and 123 points across their opening five matches, compared with Caldy’s 26 tries and 174 points. Both sides have demonstrated an ability to find the try line, but Caldy’s attacking numbers have been particularly encouraging.

For Richmond, the immediate challenge will be finding a way to turn performances into results. Their opening defeat to Ampthill was decided by just two points, while they have shown glimpses of attacking quality despite the difficult run of fixtures.

There have also been some changes to the Richmond selection ahead of Saturday. Compared with the side that faced Rotherham, eight players have come into their starting XV, including an entirely new front row and a new half-back pairing. Seven players have retained their starting places, suggesting a number of adjustments as Richmond look to find the right combination.

With both clubs looking to get their campaigns moving in the right direction, Saturday’s meeting carries plenty of importance for either side.

ELIOR CHAMP RUGBY · ROUND 6

Richmond v Caldy

Richmond

• Matt Marsh leads the league for kick metres, having accumulated 1,353 this season, contributing to Richmond’s position as the top team in the Champ for total kick metres with 3,779.
• Richmond have won 3 of their 4 head-to-head matches played at the Athletic Ground, giving them a formidable home record against Caldy at this venue.
• Richmond have made 770 successful tackles this season, the second highest total in the Champ, and won 32 turnovers, also 2nd in the league.
• Richmond rank 2nd in the Championship for box kicks with 58 this season, refl ecting a deliberate and structured kicking game that has yielded 37 bounced kicks, 3rd in the league.

Caldy

• Matt Gallagher was Caldy’s standout performer in their most recent match, earning an Impact Score of 9.1 with 3 tries scored and 35 carry metres.
• Caldy lead the Championship in jackals per match with 1.6, demonstrating their ability to disrupt opposition ball at the breakdown.
• Caldy hold the superior all-time head-to-head record against Richmond, winning 4 of the 7 meetings between these two sides, though they have never won away at the Athletic Ground.
• Caldy are leading the league in mauls won with 47 this season and have converted that dominance into tries, scoring 7 maul tries, 2nd in the Champ.

Looking ahead to Saturday

There is plenty riding on Saturday’s encounter at the Richmond Athletic Ground, with both sides looking to put their opening blocks behind them and build some momentum.

For Caldy, the positives are there for all to see. Twenty-six tries in five matches is a remarkable attacking return and evidence of the threat this squad possesses. The challenge is to marry that attacking ambition with the defensive discipline needed to close out games.

Five seasons into life in the Champ, the Ravers have accumulated valuable experience at this level. As Gareth Davies highlighted, the club is continuing to grow both on and off the field, with a strong community, an increasingly competitive playing group and a clear ambition to keep progressing.

Now it’s about delivering on the pitch.

With the opening block behind them, the Ravers will be looking to make a positive return to action and bring home a result from the Athletic Ground.

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Elsewhere this weekend: The 2s and 3s

It’s not just the first XV in action this Saturday, with both the 2nd and 3rd XVs also taking to the field.

The 2nd XV make the trip to Sale FC for a 2pm kick-off, with the squad meeting at 12pm.

Caldy 2nd XV

1. M Rabbette
2. M Wilson
3. M Sangare
4. R Williams
5. H Lightfoot
6. E Dale
7. L Denn
8. J Wilson
9. J Pickering
10. D Rabette
11. L Wiggins
12. G Mault
13. E Banks
14. H Williams
15. F McGrath

Replacements: T Williams, F Collins, M Faasavalu, A Boodhun, J Done.

Meanwhile, the Caldy Rav3rs are at home at Paton Field, welcoming Sefton 2s for a 2:15pm kick-off. The squad will meet at 1pm.

Caldy Rav3rs

1. T Hughes
2. K Austin
3. H Evans
4. B Wilson
5. H Wilson
6. L MacDonald
7. D Edge
8. M Mountney
9. A Horrocks
10. H Pickering
11. J Formela
12. R Hughes
13. T Shanahan
14. L Grist-Corf
15. S Roberts

Replacements: B Banks, H Alexander.

Best of luck to all three senior sides this weekend. Let’s make it a big Saturday for the Ravers!

Community Rugby – Sunday 1st November 

After Sunday’s blustery blow-out put paid to all mini and junior fixtures, we are back to the fray this week with most age groups having fixtures against our friends at Parkonians. The u14s have a double header at home versus Ellesmere Port and Fylde.

The Junior Colts are back at Paton Field for their first home NW Conference League A game of the season against Rochdale – kick off at 12.30pm

Sunday 1st November as follows :

• u6s, u11s training at home
• u7s, u9s, u10s, u12s away at Parkonians
• u8 at home v Ormskirk
• u12s Girls away at Winnington Park Festival 
• u14s – u18s Girls training at home
• u13s at home v Parkonians
• u14s at home v Ellesmere Port & Fylde
• u15s at home v Parkonians
• u16s to be confirmed
• u17s Junior Colts at home v Rochdale ko 12.30pm 
• u18s Senior Colts – no game

Please remember “No referees, No games” – disrespect or verbal abuse of rugby match officials is totally unacceptable & has no place in rugby.

Good luck to everyone & enjoy your rugby this weekend !