2023–24 RFU Championship
Countries England
Date20 October 2023 — 25 May 2024
Matches played39
Attendance67,102
(average 1,721 per match)
Highest attendance5,047 — Coventry v Nottingham, 26 December 2023
Lowest attendance486 – Hartpury v Ealing Trailfinders, 28 October 2023
Tries scored315
(average 8.1 per match)
Top point scorer70 – Patrick Pellegrini, Coventry
Top try scorer9 – Seán French, Bedford Blues

The 2023–24 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]

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 2024–25 season.

Teams

Ten of the eleven teams played in last season's competition. Cambridge were promoted into the division as the champions of 2022–23 National League 1, replacing bottom placed Richmond who dropped down to the 2023–24 National League 1.[2]

Table

2023–24 RFU Championship Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Losing bonus Points
1Coventry8503266183837027
2Ealing Trailfinders65012271141135126
3Doncaster Knights7502205178274125
4Bedford Blues7502252170824024
5Nottingham8404229252-236022
6Cornish Pirates6402176112643120
7Ampthill7304193204-114117
8Hartpury8305205237-323217
9Caldy6303137197-603015
10London Scottish7106129193-64239
11Cambridge8107154333-179329
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background Champions (qualify for Promotion play-off if eligible).
Red background will be relegated (there is no relegation this season).
Updated: 1 January 2024
Source: "The Championship". England Rugby.

Fixtures & results

Fixtures for the season was announced by the RFU on 29 June 2023.[4]

Round 1

20 October 2023
19:30
Cornish Pirates21 – 0London Scottish
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,143
Referee: George Selwood
21 October 2023
14:00
(1 BP) Ampthill28 – 26Cambridge (2 BP)
Dillingham Park
Attendance: 708
Referee: Dan Jones
21 October 2023
14:30
Doncaster Knights20 – 18Hartpury (1 BP)
Castle Park
Attendance: 2,056
Referee: Hamish Grant
21 October 2023
15:00
Bedford Blues21 – 41Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,380
Referee: Mike Hudson
21 October 2023
15:00
(1 BP) Caldy31 – 41Nottingham (1 BP)
Paton Field
Attendance: 1,278
Referee: Joe James

[5]

Bye/s: Coventry

Round 2

28 October 2023
14:30
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates18 – 20Bedford Blues
Mennaye Fields
Attendance: 1,414
Referee: Jonathan Cook
28 October 2023
14:30
Hartpury28 – 36Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena
Attendance: 486
Referee: Richard Gordon
28 October 2023
15:00
Cambridge14 – 61Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Grantchester Road
Attendance: 1,308
Referee: Alexander Thomas
28 October 2023
15:00
(1 BP) Nottingham41 – 28Ampthill (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 979
Referee: Andrew Wigley
28 October 2023
16:00
(1 BP) Coventry45 – 5Caldy
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 2,611
Referee: Harry Walbaum

[6]

Bye/s: London Scottish

Round 3

4 November 2023
14:00
(1 BP) Ampthill34 – 24Coventry (1 BP)
Dillingham Park
Attendance: 757
Referee: Andrew Wigley
4 November 2023
14:00
(1 BP) Caldy29 – 19London Scottish
Paton Field
Attendance: 1,258
Referee: Michael Hudson
4 November 2023
14:00
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders64 – 7Cambridge
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 811
Referee: Jonathan Cook
4 November 2023
14:30
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights30 – 19Nottingham
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,872
Referee: Simon Harding
11 November 2023
15:00
(1 BP) Bedford Blues53 – 12Hartpury
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,414
Referee: Alex Thomas

[7][8]

Bye/s: Cornish Pirates

Round 4

17 November 2023
19:45
London Scottish10 – 36Ampthill (1 BP)
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 763
Referee: Jonathan Cook
17 November 2023
19:45
(1 BP) Nottingham26 – 38Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,208
Referee: Andrew Jackson
18 November 2023
14:00
(1 BP) Cambridge22 – 40Hartpury (1 BP)
Grantchester Road
Attendance: 1,085
Referee: Hamish Grant
18 November 2023
14:30
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates49 – 22Caldy
Mennaye Fields
Attendance: 1,454
Referee: George Selwood
18 November 2023
15:00
(1 BP) Coventry51 – 7Doncaster Knights
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 3,417
Referee: Sara Cox

[9]

Bye/s: Bedford Blues

Round 5

24 November 2023
19:45
Hartpury20 – 32Nottingham (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena
Attendance: 745
Referee: Mike Hudson
25 November 2023
14:00
Ampthill24 – 46Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Dillingham Park
Attendance: 852
Referee: Harry Walbaum
25 November 2023
14:30
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights29 – 24London Scottish (1 BP)
Castle Park
Attendance: 2,264
Referee: Richard Gordon
25 November 2023
14:30
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders31 – 13Coventry
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,237
Referee: Matthew Carley
25 November 2023
15:00
(1 BP) Bedford Blues59 – 19Cambridge
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,998
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

[10]

Bye/s: Caldy

Round 6

1 December 2023
19:45
(1 BP) Nottingham22 – 19Cambridge (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,243
Referee: Hamish Smales
2 December 2023
14:00
CaldyP – PBedford Blues
Paton Field
  • Postponed due to frozen pitch. Game to be rescheduled for 10 February 2024.[11]
2 December 2023
15:00
(1 BP) Coventry29 – 47Hartpury (1 BP)
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 3,146
Referee: Jonathan Cook
2 December 2023
15:00
London Scottish19 – 17Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 835
Referee: Luke Pearce
3 December 2023
14:30
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates28 – 39Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,286
Referee: Joe James

[12]

Bye/s: Ampthill

Round 7

16 December 2023
13:30
(1 BP) Ampthill21 – 26Caldy (1 BP)
Dillingham Park
Attendance: 1,276
Referee: Jack Makepeace
16 December 2023
14:00
Cambridge19 – 33Coventry (1 BP)
Grantchester Road
Attendance: 1,183
Referee: Jonathan Cook
16 December 2023
14:30
(1 BP) Hartpury33 – 31London Scottish (2 BP)
ALPAS Arena
Attendance: 743
Referee: Alexander Thomas
16 December 2023
15:00
(1 BP) Bedford Blues49 – 24Nottingham (1 BP)
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,514
Referee: Andrew Wigley
16 December 2023
15:00
Ealing TrailfindersA – ACornish Pirates
Trailfinders Sports Ground
  • Abandoned due to player suffering serious injury. Game to be rescheduled for 10 February 2024.[13]

[14]

Bye/s: Doncaster Knights

Round 8

23 December 2023
13:30
Ampthill22 – 31Bedford Blues (1 BP)
Dillingham Park
Attendance: 2,837
Referee: Alex Thomas
23 December 2023
14:00
Caldy24 – 19Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Paton Field
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Dan Jones
23 December 2023
14:30
Cornish Pirates14 – 7Hartpury (1 BP)
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 2,474
Referee: Joe James
23 December 2023
15:00
(2 BP) London Scottish26 – 28Cambridge (1 BP)
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 520
Referee: Mike Hudson
26 December 2023
15:00
(1 BP) Coventry37 – 21Nottingham
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 5,047
Referee: Harry Walbaum

[15][16]

Bye/s: Ealing Trailfinders

Round 9

1 January 2024
13:30
Bedford Blues19 – 34Coventry (1 BP)
Goldington Road
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Andrew Jackson
12 January 2024
19:45
NottinghamP – PLondon 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.[17][18]
13 January 2024
14:00
CambridgevCornish Pirates
Grantchester Road
13 January 2024
14:00
Doncaster KnightsvAmpthill
Castle Park
13 January 2024
14:30
Ealing TrailfindersvCaldy
Trailfinders Sports Ground

[19][20]

Bye/s: Hartpury

Round 10

20 January 2024
14:00
AmpthillvEaling Trailfinders
Dillingham Park
20 January 2024
14:00
CaldyvHartpury
Paton Field
20 January 2024
14:30
Cornish PiratesvNottingham
Mennaye Field
20 January 2024
14:30
Doncaster KnightsvBedford Blues
Castle Park
20 January 2024
15:00
London ScottishvCoventry
Athletic Ground

[21]

Bye/s: Cambridge

Round 11

26 January 2024
19:45
Bedford BluesvLondon Scottish
Goldington Road
27 January 2024
14:00
CambridgevCaldy
Grantchester Road
27 January 2024
14:30
HartpuryvAmpthill
ALPAS Arena
27 January 2024
15:00
CoventryvCornish Pirates
Butts Park Arena
27 January 2024
15:00
Ealing TrailfindersvDoncaster Knights
Trailfinders Sports Ground

[22]

Bye/s: Nottingham

Round 12

3 February 2024
12:00
Doncaster KnightsvCambridge
Castle Park
3 February 2024
14:00
AmpthillvNottingham
Dillingham Park
3 February 2024
14:00
CaldyvCoventry
Paton Field
3 February 2024
15:00
Ealing TrailfindersvHartpury
Trailfinders Sports Ground
3 February 2024
16:00
Bedford BluesvCornish Pirates
Goldington Road

[23]

Bye/s: London Scottish

Rounds 6 & 7 (rescheduled games)

10 February 2024
14:00
CaldyvBedford Blues
Paton Field
  • Game rescheduled from 2 December 2023.
10 February 2024
15:00
Ealing TrailfindersvCornish Pirates
Trailfinders Sports Ground
  • Game rescheduled from 16 December 2023.

[24]

Round 13

23 February 2024
19:45
NottinghamvDoncaster Knights
Lady Bay Sports Ground
24 February 2024
14:00
CambridgevEaling Trailfinders
Grantchester Road
24 February 2024
14:30
CoventryvAmpthill
Butts Park Arena
24 February 2024
14:30
HartpuryvBedford Blues
ALPAS Arena
24 February 2024
14:30
London ScottishvCaldy
Athletic Ground

[25]

Bye/s: Cornish Pirates

Attendances

Club Home
Games		 Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
Ampthill56,4301,2862,83770843%
Bedford Blues515,3063,0615,0002,38061%
Caldy34,0361,3451,5001,25834%
Cambridge33,5761,1921,3081,08579%
Cornish Pirates57,7711,5542,4741,14339%
Coventry414,2213,5555,0472,61168%
Doncaster Knights36,1922,0642,2641,87240%
Ealing Trailfinders22,0481,0241,23781120%
Hartpury31,97465874548633%
London Scottish32,11870683552016%
Nottingham33,4301,1431,24397933%

Leading scorers

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.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Jersey Reds' financial challenges lead to club ceasing trading". Jersey Reds. 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  2. ↑ "Cambridge Rugby Club celebrate being crowned National League 1 champions and a place in the RFU Championship after Birmingham Moseley victory". Cambridge Independent. 2023-04-29. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  3. ↑ "A right mess entirely of the RFU's making". The RugbyPaper. No. 703. 6 March 2022. p. 11.
  4. ↑ "2023/24 FIXTURES ANNOUNCED". Championship Rugby. 29 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 788. 22 October 2023. p. 32-33, 39.
  6. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 789. 29 October 2023. p. 36-37, 41.
  7. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 790. 5 November 2023. p. 28-29, 38.
  8. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 791. 12 November 2023. p. 20, 34.
  9. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 792. 19 November 2023. p. 28-29, 38.
  10. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 793. 26 November 2023. p. 24-25, 36.
  11. ↑ "OFFICIAL STATEMENT- CALDY V BEDFORD BLUES". Caldy Rugby Club. 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  12. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 794. 3 December 2023. p. 24-25, 36.
  13. ↑ "MATCH POSTPONED - EALING TRAILFINDERS V CORNISH PIRATES". Ealing Trailfinders. 16 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 796. 17 December 2023. p. 22-23, 40.
  15. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 797. 24 December 2023. p. 22-23, 28.
  16. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 798. 27 December 2023. p. 30-31, 38.
  17. ↑ "MATCH POSTPONED!". Nottingham Rugby. 8 January 2024.
  18. ↑ "NOTTINGHAM RUGBY NEEDS YOUR HELP AT A VERY DIFFICULT TIME". Nottingham Rugby. 8 January 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 799. 7 January 2024. p. 14, 32.
  20. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 780. 14 January 2024. p. 30-31, 38.
  21. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 781. 21 January 2024. p. 30-31, 38.
  22. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 782. 28 January 2024. p. 30-31, 38.
  23. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 783. 4 February 2024. p. 30-31, 38.
  24. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 784. 11 February 2024. p. 30-31, 38.
  25. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 786. 25 February 2024. p. 30-31, 38.
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