Everyone at Doncaster Knights is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of lifelong supporter, John Bullman.
John passed away on 21st December 2025. He was a hugely valued member of the Doncaster Knights community and supported the Knights both home and away.
The club would like to extend our deepest condolences to all John’s friends and family. Our thoughts are with everyone who knew him at this sad time.
Doncaster Knights are delighted to announce the signing of Hooker, Corey Tait for the remainder of the season.
Corey Tait is the younger brother of current Knights player, Rhys Tait, and has joined the Yorkshire club after spending the first half of the season captaining Selkirk RFC . Selkirk RFC compete in the Arnold Clark’s Scottish Premiership and Border League.
Tait started rugby at Jed Forest minis, then moved to Hawick RFC, playing for their youth team from 2014-2021 before moving up to their seniors and then onto Boroughmuir Bears in the FOSROC Super6.
Doncaster Knights suffered a 34-10 defeat to London Scottish in a festive away fixture at The RAG.
The hosts used the power of their pack to get over for the first score of the game, a penalty allowed them entry into the 22 and the driving maul finished the job. They added the extras to go 7-0 up.
A penalty at the breakdown allowed them to extend the lead by three. Shorty after, The Knights managed to slot three points of their own through Morgan Bunting’s boot. 10-3
The Knights then carried the momentum into the next play, and worked their way up to the 22. They executed the line out perfectly and Ehize Ehizode drove the ball over, but the referee deemed it disallowed for obstruction.
Scottish played to the momentum of the Knights disallowed try and soon found their way over the line again. It was the drive of their maul that sealed their final try of the half. A successful conversion meant the half time score was 17-3.
The hosts opened the scores in the second half with a break from full back, Josh Bellamy. He ran into space before drawing in the final defender and moving the ball to supporting scrum half Jonny Law. Conversion added, 24-3.
Doncaster’s highlight of the game followed, with a brilliant try from Matt McNab. Telusa Veainu broke the line out wide, and ate up meters on the wing, before the ball is moved between J Olowofela and Matt McNab.
McNab pops the ball to Veainu, allowing him to draw in the final defender, before giving it back to McNab to finish the job. Bunting adds the extras, 27-10.
London Scottish secure their win with one final try. The Knights defend the driving maul well, but the backs needed to get involved, leaving the space out wide for a long ball to the wing. With the conversion added, the final score was 34-10.
The Knights return to Castle Park next week to face Caldy on January 3rd. Secure your tickets now.
Doncaster Knights travel back to the Richmond Athletic Ground again tomorrow to face London Scottish in round 12 of Champ Rugby.
Darren Fearn and Sir Ian McGeechan have named their side to take on the challenge. Ben Chapman comes into the starting team at Hooker after a solid second half performance last week. The props either side of him remain unchanged in Conor Davidson and Lewis Thiede.
Our second row also remains unchanged in captain Ben Murphy and Ehize Ehizode. With our back row also staying the same, Josh Bainbridge and Adam Hopkinson will flank, with Japser McGuire at number eight.
Our replacement front row consists of Fred Davies at hooker, and props Logovi’i Mulipola and Ethan Hulme. Second Row Morgan Jones is named on the bench, alongside flanker, Rhys Tait who will make his return from a small head injury.
Cameron Kelemeti gets a start at scrum half, with Morgan Bunting returning to the squad at 10 to be his half back partner. Our centres remain unchanged, with Zach Kerr on the inside and Joe Margetts on the outside.
The Olowofela twins light up each wing, with Jordan at 11 and Ryan at 14. Telusa Veainu is the full back between them.
Nye Thomas is listed as the replacement scrum half after a good debut off the bench last week, with Connor Edwards and Matt McNab also named in the replacements.
SQUAD: 1. Conor Davidson 2. Ben Chapman, 3. Lewis Thiede, 4. Ehize Ehizode, 5. Ben Murphy (C), 6. Adam Hopkinson 7. Josh Bainbridge, 8. Jasper McGuire, 9. Cameron Kelemeti. 10. Morgan Bunting, 11. Jordan Olowofela, 12. Zach Kerr 13. Joe Margetts, 14. Ryan Olowofela, 15. Telusa Veainu
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Fred Davies, 17. Logovi’i Mulipola, 18. Ethan Hulme, 19. Morgan Jones, 20. Rhys Tait, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Connor Edwards, 23. Matt McNab.
Unavailable for selection: Andrew Turner, Josh Williams, Thom Smith, Alex Dolly, Joe Jones, Russell Bennett, Olllie Fox, Semesa Rokoduguni, Aidan Cross, Connor Hancock, Tye Raymont
One of those improvements has been the introduction of live streaming of all games via Clubber TV and an on-demand game archive access. The new viewing platform and live streaming provided by Clubber TV marks a significant step forward for Champ Rugby providing the platform to showcase the quality, character and ambition of the league, while creating new opportunities to engage fans and strengthen club communities. It also supports the wider commitment to grow the second tier of rugby union and attract a new and wider audience.
Keen to showcase the wonderful facilities at Castle Park and our main De Mulder Lloyd Stand, Doncaster Knights were facing a financial dilemma with considerable costs in building a new viewing platform.
In stepped sponsor and local scaffolding company, Alti Access showing incredible support on this project, which has gone above and beyond in assisting Doncaster Knights. Lead by Mick Smith and the team provided and installed our viewing platform at minimal cost – enabling all fans and new fans to capture the tremendous facilities at Doncaster Knights.
As a local family run business, Alti Access have shown amazing commitment to Doncaster Knights and the local community, which is truly inspiring and this contribution makes a massive difference to our club and its supporters. An experienced, professional and innovative scaffolding company, Doncaster Knights would not hesitate to recommend them and their services, a true pleasure to work with.
This partnership with Alti Access exemplifies the power of local collaboration and community spirit. From all of us at Doncaster Knights we extend our deepest gratitude to Alti Access for helping us build for the future of rugby union.
Tracey Owen, Head of Commercial added “without the support of Alti Access with this project we would not have been able to provide the viewing expertise for our fans, fans of the game and to attract a wider audience – we cannot thank them enough”
Mick Smith of Alti Access added “At Alti Access we’re incredibly proud to support Doncaster Knights and to play a small part in helping the club showcase everything that makes it special. As a local business, supporting projects that benefit the community and the future of the sport is very important to us. This was a fantastic project to be involved in, and we’re delighted that our team could help deliver a solution that enhances the experience for supporters both at Castle Park and watching from home. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Doncaster Knights as the club and the league continue to grow.”
To find out more about the fantastic services of Alti Access please visit their website, www.alti-access.com
For details of sponsorship of Doncaster Knights please contact Tracey Owen, [email protected]
Doncaster Knights kicked off the festive away games with a 7-31 bonus point win in the capital.
Richmond were the first to get over the try line as they shipped the ball out wide to go over in the corner and added the extras. 0-7.
However, the Knights soon warmed into the game as Ben Murphy won the ball at the breakdown to give the Knights a chance to attack.
The back line moved the ball quickly between themselves in a nice play that brought Donny into the 22. Ollie Fox showed quick thinking by picking the ball at the breakdown before popping it to Josh Bainbridge. Bainbridge finished the job with a dive over the line. 7-5. Fox added the conversion 7-7.
Just two minutes later and Fox was working his magic yet again! Ryan Olowofela carried hard to gain a few extra meters before Telusa Veainu picked up the ball and used his notorious footwork to open up space. Fox ran the support line and received the final pass, before displaying a brilliant Dummy to get himself over the whitewash. Fox added the extras to his own try. 7-14.
With five minutes left of the first half, Fox contributed to yet another score. He picked the ball from the back of the breakdown and somehow slithered his way through three Richmond defenders. He played the ball out to Conor Davidson, who had a clear path to the line. 7-19.
Richmond didn’t make it easy for the Knights in the second half as it was scoreless until 65 minutes in. R Olowofela then kept the scoring alive with a nice finish in the corner after a well timed pass from Veainu opened the gap. Cameron Kelemeti added the extras 7-26.
Richmond worked their way down the other end of the pitch on a handful of occasions but the Knights put in some big defensive efforts to hold the hosts out.
With the clock in the red, Jordan Olowofela managed to score one final try for Donny. R Olowofela broke the line and tipped the ball to Veainu. Veainu then made the final pass out wide to J Olowofela, who finished the job in the corner. Full time score 7-31.
The knights are back at The Rag next weekend to face London Scottish on Saturday 27th of December.
Doncaster Knights will travel to Richmond on Friday night for the first of two festive fixtures at the RAG. Darren Fearn and Sir Ian McGeechan have named there squad as follows.
In the front row Lewis Thiede comes into the starting line up to partner up with loose head Conor Davidson. Fred Davies remains our starting hooker, with Ben Chapman on the bench alongside props, Logovi’i Mulipola and Ethan Hulme. Hulme is a player who comes from Newcastle University, who provided cover in the front row last season, and has returned to us for a short period as injury cover again.
The second row remains unchanged with captain Ben Murphy and Ehize Ehizode. Jasper McGuire returns to number eight, with Josh Bainbridge and Adam Hopkinson the flankers either side of him.
Second Row Morgan Jones is named on the bench, as well as newly announced loan player Reuben Parsons.
Ollie Fox starts at scrum half again, with Cameron Kelemeti starting at fly half. Joe Margetts comes back into the squad to start in the centres with Zach Kerr, shifting Semesa Rokoduguni back out to the wing. Aidan Cross starts on the other wing, with Telusa Veainu at fullback.
Nye Thomas, our newly announced scrum half loan is named at 21. With the final two spaces on the bench being filled up by the Olowofela twins.
SQUAD: 1. Conor Davidson 2. Fred Davies, 3. Lewis Thiede, 4. Ehize Ehizode, 5. Ben Murphy (C), 6. Adam Hopkinson 7. Josh Bainbridge, 8. Jasper McGuire, 9. Ollie Fox. 10. Cameron Kelemeti, 11. Aidan Cross, 12. Zach Kerr 13. Joe Margetts, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 15. Telusa Veainu
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Ben Chapman, 17. Logovi’i Mulipola, 18. Ethan Hulme, 19. Morgan Jones, 20. Reuben Parsons, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Ryan Olowofela, 23. Jordan Olowofela.
Unavailable for selection: Andrew Turner, Josh Williams, Thom Smith, Alex Dolly, Joe Jones, Connor Edwards, Russell Bennett, Morgan Bunting, East Timor Viliamu, Rhys Tait, Connor Hancock, Tye Raymont
Doncaster Knights have added to their squad with the addition of scrum half, Nye Thomas from Sale Sharks and Back Row, Reuben Parsons from Newcastle Red Bulls.
Parsons is a Cumbrian back-rower who joined the senior academy at Newcastle in the summer of 2024, having come through the club’s ACE programme at Gosforth Academy. Appearing eight times for Newcastle in the Premiership U18s League, Reuben was invited to an England U18s camp but unfortunately missed out on selection due to injury. Reuben made his first team debut for Newcastle in 2024-25 during the EPCR Challenge Cup home game against French club Montpellier, going on to score one try in his five appearances that season.
Thomas is a product of the Sale Sharks Academy. He shot to prominence in the early stages of the 2021/22 season when he made his Sharks debut just six months after completing his studies at Liverpool College.
Nye appeared as a second half replacement in the Gallagher Premiership fixture against Northampton Saints and in doing so, became the youngest Sale Sharks scrum-half in the league’s history. Nye had been a stand-out player as he rose through the age groups at Liverpool College and his local rugby club, Sefton RUFC.
Doncaster Knights would like to give both a warm welcome to Castle Park.
Doncaster Knights Rugby Club were delighted to support the Cash4Kids Christmas Mission by delivering a kit van full of toys and presents to their South Yorkshire headquarters today.
First-team players Ollie Fox and Russell Bennett helped drop off the donations at Mission HQ, where volunteers were working tirelessly to sort gifts into age categories and organise deliveries to families who would otherwise go without presents on Christmas Day.
During their visit, the players toured the warehouse and spoke with volunteers to learn more about the incredible work that goes on behind the scenes, helping to “save Christmas” for so many local families.
The Knights are proud to support such an important cause within the local community and would like to thank everyone involved in donating, sorting, and delivering gifts to ensure children across South Yorkshire can experience some festive magic this Christmas.
We would like to thank anyone who contributed to the club’s collection of toys and gifts! If you missed out, Mission Christmas are still taking donations up until tomorrow (Dec 18th) so find you’re nearest drop off point ASAP: https://cashforkids.org.uk/mission-christmas/drop-off-points/
