The 2023β24 RFU Championship is the fifteen season of the
RFU Championship, the professional second tier of rugby union in England. It features eleven English teams, with the 12th team, and reigning champions,
Jersey Reds, withdrawing from the competition at the start of the season after going into liquidation.[1]
Ealing Trailfinders were crowned champions on 11 May 2024 with a game still to play, despite losing away to
Doncaster Knights, thanks to
Cornish Pirates defeating
Coventry on the same day.[2] It would be Ealing's second Championship title in three years, but once again they would be denied promotion to the
Premiership due to the minimum standard criteria.[3] No teams would be relegated this season due to Jersey's liquidation.
Structure
The eleven teams will play each of the other teams twice.
The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
4 points are awarded for a win
2 points are awarded for a draw
0 points are awarded for a loss, however
1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.
Promotion and relegation
Subject to meeting the minimum standards criteria the team finishing top of the league will qualify for a promotion playoff against the bottom side in
Premiership Rugby. Due to Jersey Reds dropping out of the league, and there being only eleven teams, there will be no relegation to
National League 1, although the champions of National League will be promoted to become the twelfth team for the 2024β25 season.
Updated to match(es) played on 25 May 2024. Source:
"The Championship". England Rugby. Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
Number of matches won
Difference between points for and against
Total number of points for
Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
There is no relegation this season (C) Champions (ineligible for
Promotion play-off)
Fixtures & results
Fixtures for the season was announced by the RFU on 29 June 2023.[6]
Round 1
20 October 2023 19:30
Cornish Pirates
21 β 0
London Scottish
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,143 Referee: George Selwood
21 October 2023 14:00
(1 BP) Ampthill
28 β 26
Cambridge (2 BP)
Dillingham Park Attendance: 708 Referee: Dan Rhys Jones
21 October 2023 14:30
Doncaster Knights
20 β 18
Hartpury University (1 BP)
Castle Park Attendance: 2,056 Referee: Hamish Grant
21 October 2023 15:00
Bedford Blues
21 β 41
Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,380 Referee: Mike Hudson
Goldington Road Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Andrew Jackson
12 January 2024 19:45
Nottingham
P β P
London Scottish
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Postponed due to severe flooding causing Lady Bay Sports Ground to be closed for the foreseeable future. Game to be rescheduled for 15 March 2024.[19][20]
13 January 2024 14:00
(2 BP) Cambridge
33 β 40
Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Attendance: 1,142 Referee: Harry Walbaum
13 January 2024 14:00
Doncaster Knights
24 β 32
Ampthill (1 BP)
Castle Park Attendance: 1,826 Referee: Andrew Jackson
Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under
World Rugby eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who have not yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.
The 2023β24 RFU Championship is the fifteen season of the
RFU Championship, the professional second tier of rugby union in England. It features eleven English teams, with the 12th team, and reigning champions,
Jersey Reds, withdrawing from the competition at the start of the season after going into liquidation.[1]
Ealing Trailfinders were crowned champions on 11 May 2024 with a game still to play, despite losing away to
Doncaster Knights, thanks to
Cornish Pirates defeating
Coventry on the same day.[2] It would be Ealing's second Championship title in three years, but once again they would be denied promotion to the
Premiership due to the minimum standard criteria.[3] No teams would be relegated this season due to Jersey's liquidation.
Structure
The eleven teams will play each of the other teams twice.
The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
4 points are awarded for a win
2 points are awarded for a draw
0 points are awarded for a loss, however
1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.
Promotion and relegation
Subject to meeting the minimum standards criteria the team finishing top of the league will qualify for a promotion playoff against the bottom side in
Premiership Rugby. Due to Jersey Reds dropping out of the league, and there being only eleven teams, there will be no relegation to
National League 1, although the champions of National League will be promoted to become the twelfth team for the 2024β25 season.
Updated to match(es) played on 25 May 2024. Source:
"The Championship". England Rugby. Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
Number of matches won
Difference between points for and against
Total number of points for
Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
There is no relegation this season (C) Champions (ineligible for
Promotion play-off)
Fixtures & results
Fixtures for the season was announced by the RFU on 29 June 2023.[6]
Round 1
20 October 2023 19:30
Cornish Pirates
21 β 0
London Scottish
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,143 Referee: George Selwood
21 October 2023 14:00
(1 BP) Ampthill
28 β 26
Cambridge (2 BP)
Dillingham Park Attendance: 708 Referee: Dan Rhys Jones
21 October 2023 14:30
Doncaster Knights
20 β 18
Hartpury University (1 BP)
Castle Park Attendance: 2,056 Referee: Hamish Grant
21 October 2023 15:00
Bedford Blues
21 β 41
Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,380 Referee: Mike Hudson
Goldington Road Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Andrew Jackson
12 January 2024 19:45
Nottingham
P β P
London Scottish
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Postponed due to severe flooding causing Lady Bay Sports Ground to be closed for the foreseeable future. Game to be rescheduled for 15 March 2024.[19][20]
13 January 2024 14:00
(2 BP) Cambridge
33 β 40
Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Attendance: 1,142 Referee: Harry Walbaum
13 January 2024 14:00
Doncaster Knights
24 β 32
Ampthill (1 BP)
Castle Park Attendance: 1,826 Referee: Andrew Jackson
Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under
World Rugby eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who have not yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.