13 Elior Champ Rugby stars and seasoned pros to watch this season

The Welsh scrum-half joined Ampthill from Scarlets ahead of the 2025/26 season and wasted no time making an impression, establishing himself as a firm fan favourite with multiple Man of the Match awards.

You only have to see a highlight reel of last season to see that Jones is good enough for a United Rugby Championship return. He promises more of the same this season, which may be one where he earns a long-overdue international call-up.

There are some players who score the odd try here and there. Then there’s Billy Harding, who scores tries in his sleep.

You want high-scoring action? Just watch him play. Blackheath’s captain scored an astonishing 48 tries last season. Those are the sort of numbers that strike fear into any opposing player, and mark him out as one of the most dangerous attacking players in the entire competition. 

There’s no mistaking firm fan-favourite, Alun Walker, when he’s on the field. He’s spent more than a decade in the Champ, and for much of that time has earned a reputation as a notorious wind-up merchant towards opposition fans and players alike.

But there’s far more to Walker than just that. His highlight reel moments with the ball have helped establish Chinnor as a formidable force in the league. Whether you’re a Chinnor fan who views him as a cult hero, or the pantomime villain of your favourite club, Walker is set for another blockbuster season.

It’s a fresh start for Bailey Ransom this year, following the disappointment of the previous campaign. But while the London Scottish side he captained has been relegated from the league, Ransom’s stock has continued to rise and rise.

Consistently one of the league’s top performers, his physicality, work rate and on-field influence are sure to boost the Knights’ chances this season. But more than just being a strong and versatile player, he remains one of the most popular figures within the Champ.

There are very few who would dispute Telusa Veainu’s reputation as arguably the most skilled player in the league. The Tongan international is an irrepressible force of nature on the field, capable of turning games on their head when you least expect it.

He’s been a fixture of the Doncaster Knights since the 2024/25 season, and while you can never guarantee anything in Champ Rugby, Veainu is sure to pick up where he left off right from the first game of the season.

At 39, Semesa Rokoduguni may be nearing the end of his career. However, the ex-England international, who was capped five times for his country, is still more than capable of turning the clock back and producing magic moments. Expect plenty more displays of brilliance this season that will get the Castle Park crowd rocking.

With their remarkable strength and depth in talent, you could consider the Ealing Trailfinders to be the Harlem Globetrotters of the Champ. Their attacking talent is the stuff of nightmares for rival clubs – and a pivotal part of that is Munster legend, Rory Scannell. 

In 200 games for Munster, he scored nearly 200 points and was capped three times for Ireland. After bringing that experience to Ealing ahead of the 2025/26 season, the Trailfinders stepped up another gear, winning all 26 of their league games.

And with Scannell returning for another season, you’d be very brave to bet against them repeating that formidable form this time. 

Will Crane was one of the stories of last season, and for good reason. The Hartpury captain stole the headlines after being called up to play for Gloucester in the PREM, at the same time as balancing his full-time job as a mortgage advisor.

That experience in rugby’s top flight is only going to make Crane even more of a formidable force in the Champ this season. As the man said himself, he’s going to play until the wheels fall off.

If there was an off-season move to capture the attention, this was it. Russell Bennett makes the switch from Doncaster Knights to fierce rivals Rotherham Titans for the 2026/27 season, and is a serious addition to a club that’s on an upward trajectory.

He arrives at his new club with a sterling reputation – having been part of the Jersey Reds squad that won the league in 2022/23. During his time at the Knights, he also became one of the most dangerous number 10s in the league, finishing as top points scorer in back-to-back seasons.

Will he continue to score at such a devastating pace at his new club? It certainly wouldn’t surprise us.

Worcester Warriors enter the new season as defending champions – and with Siva Naulago back at the club for a second season, it’s hard to see how any of their rivals might be able to displace them. 

Naulago is unquestionably one of the stars of the Champ. A PREM-quality centre, Naulago is powerful, technical and lethal in the right areas of the pitch, and was instrumental in Worcester's playoff win last season. 

He’s been part of Worcester Warriors for so long that he’s basically part of the furniture at the Sixways. And now, after making 130 appearances for the club since 2009, he’s the new captain of the defending champions.

Kvesic stepped into the captaincy role last season in the absence of Matt Rogerson, and played a pivotal role in the Warriors’ victory over Bedford in the final. Plus, with his four England caps to his name, his leadership is sure to be invaluable for a side that’s looking to go back-to-back this season.

A second-row and back-row forward, Okafor has established himself as one of the key components of the Rotherham Titans squad. Since joining the club ahead of the 2023/24 season, he has won the supporters’ player of the year and was named in the National One Team of the Season as Rotherham secured successive promotions up to the Champ. 

But outside of his flourishing rugby career, he also works in finance recruitment and wealth management. He’s proof that Champ Rugby's talent pool comes from all walks of life, and he's not shy of sharing that double life on social media either. 

No list would be complete without the addition of last season’s top point scorer, Hartpury’s popular fly-half, Harry Bazalgette. He scored at a scorching pace, finishing the season on a total of 248. 

At 27, Bazalgette is in the form of his life - a player with genuine PREM quality that is capable of scoring points for fun. There’s no reason to suspect that Harry won’t be able to repeat what he did last season, or even surpass it. The big question for the opposition is, just how much further will he continue to raise the bar?

Want to see these stars (and many more) of Elior Champ Rugby go head-to-head? Tune in to BLAZE to watch nine tantalising fixtures free and live. Don’t miss the opening game of the new season as the Cornish Pirates host the Doncaster Knights on Sunday 20th September, with live coverage continuing through to 22nd November. 

Click here to find the full fixture list and get ready for kick-off. 

Catch Elior Champ Rugby live on BLAZE, free on Freeview 64, Sky 156, Sky Glass / Sky Stream 169, Freesat 161 and Virgin 174, or stream via the free BLAZE app. Sign up to the BLAZE newsletter for fixture updates and more from the second tier all season long.