2017–18 RFU Championship
Ninth season of second division english rugby union league
2017–18 Green King IPA Championship Countries England Jersey Date 2 September 2017 – 28 April 2018 Champions Bristol (4th title)Runners-up Ealing Trailfinders Relegated Rotherham Titans Matches played 132 Attendance 251,953 (average 1,909 per match) Highest attendance 13,100 Bristol v Doncaster Knights 13 April 2018 Lowest attendance 426 Hartpury College v Nottingham 10 February 2018 Tries scored 907 (average 6.9 per match) Top point scorer Ian Madigan (Bristol) 232 pointsTop try scorer Luke Morahan (Bristol) 17 tries
The 2017–18 RFU Championship , known for sponsorship reasons as the Greene King IPA Championship , was the ninth season of the professionalised format of the RFU Championship , the second tier of the English rugby union league system run by the Rugby Football Union . It was contested by eleven English clubs and one from Jersey in the Channel Islands . The competition was sponsored by Greene King for a fifth successive season.[ 1] The twelve teams in the RFU Championship also competed in the British and Irish Cup , along with clubs from Ireland and Wales .
On 24 March 2018 Rotherham Titans were relegated with 3 games to go, after losing away to Jersey Reds. Despite seeing some improvements in the second half of the season, the Yorkshire club were easily the weakest side in the division, dropping to 2018–19 National League 1 , the lowest level the club have played at for 14 seasons.[ 2]
On 7 April 2018 Bristol were crowned champions with 2 games to go following title rivals Ealing Trailfinders defeat that day to Doncaster Knights . They met the minimum criteria and therefore were promoted into Premiership Rugby .[ 3] In winning the championship Bristol also became the most decorated tier 2 side in English league history with 4 league titles to-date.
Structure
The Championship's structure has all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis. The play-offs for promotion have been abolished and replaced by the first ranked team being promoted; providing that club's ground fulfills the Rugby Football Union 's Minimum Standards Criteria.[ 4] Under the play-off system some clubs qualified for the play-offs but did not meet the RFU's Minimum Standards Criteria which meant they could not be promoted.[ 4] The change was made to allow the promoted team additional time to prepare for playing in the English Premiership . As part of an agreement with the RFU, each club will receive £530,000 funding.[ 5] [ 6]
Teams
Locations of the 2017–18 RFU Championship teams
In January 2017, London Welsh was expelled from the RFU Championship and then liquidated due to debt.[ 7] [ 8] As a result, Rotherham Titans , who finished bottom of the league, were not relegated; a decision which former Championship club Plymouth Albion contested.[ 9] [ 10] Promoted in place of London Welsh were the winners of 2016–17 National League 1 , Hartpury College , who have moved from Gloucester 3 North , at the bottom of the English rugby pyramid, to the second tier within thirteen years of their founding.[ 11] [ 12] London Irish was promoted as champions and play-off winners of the 2016–17 RFU Championship and were replaced by Bristol following their last place in the 2016–17 English Premiership .[ 13] [ 14]
Greater London RFU Championship teams
Club
Stadium
Capacity
Area
Bedford Blues
Goldington Road
6,000
Bedford , Bedfordshire
Bristol
Ashton Gate Stadium
27,000
Bristol
Cornish Pirates
Mennaye Field
4,000 (2,200 Seats)
Penzance , Cornwall
Doncaster Knights
Castle Park
5,000
Doncaster , South Yorkshire
Ealing Trailfinders
Trailfinders Sports Ground
3,020 (1,020 seats)
West Ealing , London
Hartpury College
College Stadium
2,000
Hartpury , Gloucestershire
Jersey Reds
Stade Santander International
4,000
Saint Peter , Jersey
London Scottish
Athletic Ground, Richmond
4,500
Richmond , London
Nottingham
Lady Bay Sports Ground
3,000
Nottingham , Nottinghamshire
Richmond
Athletic Ground, Richmond
4,500
Richmond , London
Rotherham Titans
Clifton Lane
2,500
Rotherham , South Yorkshire
Yorkshire Carnegie
Headingley Carnegie Stadium
13,000[ a]
Leeds , West Yorkshire
Table
Updated to match(es) played on 28 April 2018. Source:
"Greene King IPA Championship" . NCA 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
Fixtures
Fixtures for the season were announced by the RFU on 9 June 2017.[ 15]
Round 1
London Scottish 30 – 12 Yorkshire Carnegie Report
(BP) Jersey Reds 24 – 26 Doncaster Knights Report
St Peter Attendance: 1,244 Referee: Andrew Jackson
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 29 – 28 Cornish Pirates (BP) Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 650 Referee: Greg MacDonald
Richmond 7 – 36 Bedford Blues (BP) Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 788 Referee: Christophe Ridley
Rotherham Titans 10 – 46 Nottingham (BP) Report
Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,017 Referee: Michael Hudson
Bristol 26 – 15 Hartpury College Report
Ashton Gate Attendance: 7,045 Referee: Matthew O'Grady
[ 16]
Round 2
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,053 Referee: Matthew O'Grady
(BP) Doncaster Knights 44 – 0 Rotherham Titans Report
Castle Park Attendance: 1,389 Referee: Ian Tempest
(BP) Hartpury College 19 – 20 Jersey Reds Report
College Stadium Attendance: 755 Referee: John Meredith
(BP) Bedford Blues 44 – 26 London Scottish (BP) Report
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,175 Referee: Simon Harding
(BP) Richmond 26 – 33 Ealing Trailfinders (BP) Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 604 Referee: Fergus Kirby
(2BP) Cornish Pirates 29 – 31 Bristol (BP) Report
[ 17]
Round 3
Jersey Reds 19 – 13 Cornish Pirates (BP) Report
St Peter Attendance: 1,629 Referee: Christopher Ridley
Rotherham Titans 21 – 32 Hartpury College (BP) Report
Clifton Lane Attendance: 882 Referee: Jack Makepeace
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 45 – 25 Bedford Blues Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 735 Referee: Steve Lee
(2BP) London Scottish 31 – 33 Nottingham (BP) Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 800 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
(BP) Bristol 50 – 5 Richmond Report
Ashton Gate Attendance: 6,509 Referee: Hamish Smales
Yorkshire Carnegie 15 – 9 Doncaster Knights (BP) Report
Headingley Carnegie Stadium Attendance: 2,160 Referee: Greg MacDonald
[ 18]
Round 4
(BP) Doncaster Knights 32 – 26 Nottingham (BP) Report
Castle Park Attendance: 1,039 Referee: John Meredith
(BP) Hartpury College 29 – 29 Yorkshire Carnegie Report
College Stadium Attendance: 1,026 Referee: Michael Hudson
Richmond 23 – 14 Jersey Reds Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 821 Referee: Matthew Carley
(BP) Bedford Blues 38 – 61 Bristol (BP) Report
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,607 Referee: Andrew Jackson
(BP) Cornish Pirates 62 – 47 Rotherham Titans (BP) Report
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,244 Referee: Dean Richards
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 72 – 12 London Scottish Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 1,006 Referee: Matthew O'Grady
[ 19]
Round 5
Nottingham 31 – 28 Hartpury College (2BP) Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,175 Referee: Hamish Smales
Rotherham Titans 22 – 39 Richmond (BP) Report
Clifton Lane Attendance: 768 Referee: Greg MacDonald
(BP) Jersey Reds 13 – 15 Bedford Blues Report
St Peter Attendance: 1,441 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
London Scottish 15 – 27 Doncaster Knights (BP) Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 868 Referee: Fergus Kirby
(BP) Bristol 32 – 23 Ealing Trailfinders Report
Ashton Gate Attendance: 7,170 Referee: Christophe Ridley
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 28 – 26 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Headingley Carnegie Stadium Attendance: 1,520 Referee: Karl Dickson
[ 20]
Round 6
(BP) Bristol 47 – 26 London Scottish (BP) Report
Ashton Gate Attendance: 8,429 Referee: Steve Lee
(BP) Hartpury College 29 – 27 Doncaster Knights (BP) Report
College Stadium Attendance: 793 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
(BP) Bedford Blues 34 – 14 Rotherham Titans Report
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,237 Referee: John Meredith
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 31 – 8 Jersey Reds Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 595 Referee: Dean Richards
(BP) Richmond 31 – 20 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,020 Referee: Fergus Kirby
(2BP) Cornish Pirates 31 – 34 Nottingham (BP) Report
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,309 Referee: Michael Hudson
[ 21]
Round 7
(BP) Nottingham 34 – 17 Richmond Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,355 Referee: Karl Dickson
(BP) Rotherham Titans 18 – 23 Ealing Trailfinders (BP) Report
Clifton Lane Attendance: 714 Referee: Simon Harding
Jersey Reds 17 – 36 Bristol (BP) Report
St Peter Attendance: 2,174 Referee: Dean Richards
(BP) London Scottish 13 – 15 Hartpury College Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 956 Referee: Greg McDonald
(BP) Doncaster Knights 29 – 46 Cornish Pirates (BP) Report
Castle Park Attendance: 1,897 Referee: Christophe Ridley
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 38 – 36 Bedford Blues (2BP)
Headingley Carnegie Stadium Attendance: 1,788 Referee: Adam Leal
[ 22]
Round 8
(BP) Bedford Blues 30 – 12 Nottingham Report
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,904 Referee: Simon Harding
Jersey Reds 20 – 15 London Scottish (BP) Report
St Peter Attendance: 1,408 Referee: John Meredith
Richmond 26 – 22 Doncaster Knights (2BP) Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,054 Referee: Dean Richards
(BP) Bristol 55 – 10 Rotherham Titans Report
Ashton Gate Attendance: 8,184 Referee: Adam Leal
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 44 – 19 Yorkshire Carnegie
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 759 Referee: Andrew Jackson
Cornish Pirates 25 – 13 Hartpury College Report
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,432 Referee: Matthew O’Grady
[ 23]
Round 9
(BP) London Scottish 32 – 26 Cornish Pirates (BP) Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,385 Referee: Fergus Kirby
Yorkshire Carnegie 14 – 44 Bristol (BP)
Headingley Carnegie Stadium Attendance: 2,478 Referee: Hamish Smales
Rotherham Titans 14 – 45 Jersey Reds (BP) Report
Clifton Lane Attendance: 812 Referee: Steve Lee
(BP) Doncaster Knights 25 – 25 Bedford Blues Report
Castle Park Attendance: 1,076 Referee: John Meredith
(BP) Hartpury College 15 – 18 Richmond Report
College Stadium Attendance: 733 Referee: Michael Harris
Nottingham 28 – 27 Ealing Trailfinders (2BP) Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 919 Referee: Jack Makepeace
[ 24]
Round 10
(BP) Bedford Blues 33 – 7 Hartpury College Report
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,775 Referee: Michael Hudson
(BP) Bristol 50 – 21 Nottingham Report
Ashton Gate Stadium Attendance: 6,789 Referee: Simon Harding
(BP) Rotherham Titans 24 – 27 London Scottish Report
Clifton Lane Attendance: 634 Referee: Matthew O'Grady
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 57 – 14 Doncaster Knights Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 574 Referee: Steve Lee
Jersey Reds 10 – 20 Yorkshire Carnegie Report
St Peter Attendance: 1,103 Referee: Fergus Kirby
Richmond 15 – 28 Cornish Pirates Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 987 Referee: Dean Richards
[ 25]
Round 11
Nottingham 19 – 19 Jersey Reds Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,191 Referee: Andrew Jackson
Doncaster Knights 18 – 38 Bristol (BP) Report
Castle Park Attendance: 1,191 Referee: Matthew O'Grady
Hartpury College 7 – 31 Ealing Trailfinders (BP) Report
College Stadium Attendance: 472 Referee: Christophe Ridley
Cornish Pirates 24 – 17 Bedford Blues (BP) Report
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,407 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
(BP) London Scottish 24 – 28 Richmond Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,849 Referee: Karl Dickson
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 47 – 11 Rotherham Titans
Headingley Carnegie Stadium Attendance: 1,429 Referee: Dean Richards
[ 26]
Round 12
(BP) Bristol 56 – 19 Cornish Pirates Report
Ashton Gate Stadium Attendance: 11,184 Referee: Matthew O’Grady
Jersey Reds 18 – 14 Hartpury College (BP) Report
St Peter Attendance: 1,257 Referee: Dean Richards
Rotherham Titans 19 – 36 Doncaster Knights (BP) Report
Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,607 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 40 – 24 Richmond (BP) Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 1,030[ b] Referee: JP Doyle
(BP) London Scottish 52 – 52 Bedford Blues (BP) Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,280 Referee: Christophe Ridley
Yorkshire Carnegie 12 – 10 Nottingham (BP)
Headingley Carnegie Stadium Attendance: 2,128 Referee: Steve Lee
[ 27]
Round 13
(2BP) Doncaster Knights 30 – 32 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP) Report
Castle Park Attendance: 2,002 Referee: Greg MacDonald
(BP) Nottingham 17 – 21 London Scottish Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,225 Referee: Karl Dickson
Hartpury College 27 – 18 Rotherham Titans Report
College Stadium Attendance: 826 Referee: John Meredith
(BP) Bedford Blues 23 – 24 Ealing Trailfinders Report
Goldington Road Attendance: 3,401 Referee: Simon Harding
(BP) Richmond 22 – 57 Bristol (BP) Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,425 Referee: Dean Richards
(BP) Cornish Pirates 15 – 19 Jersey Reds Report
Mennaye Field Attendance: 2,226 Referee: Jack Makepeace
[ 28]
Round 14
Rotherham Titans 27 – 24 Cornish Pirates (BP) Report
Clifton Lane Attendance: 687 Referee: Fergus Kirby
Jersey Reds 10 – 9 Richmond (BP) Report
St Peter Attendance: 1,184 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
London Scottish 3 – 25 Ealing Trailfinders Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,145 Referee: Matt Carley
Bristol 18 – 13 Bedford Blues (BP) Report
Ashton Gate Stadium Attendance: 9,208 Referee: Tom Foley
Nottingham 6 – 27 Doncaster Knights (BP) Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,095 Referee: Dean Richards
Yorkshire Carnegie 20 – 16 Hartpury College (BP)
Headingley Carnegie Stadium Attendance: 1,562 Referee: Hamish Smales
[ 29]
Round 15
(2BP) Bedford Blues 29 – 33 Jersey Reds (BP) Report
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,431 Referee: Hamish Smales
Richmond 11 – 3 Rotherham Titans (BP) Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 468 Referee: Greg MacDonald
Doncaster Knights 19 – 17 London Scottish (BP) Report
Castle Park Attendance: 887 Referee: John Meredith
(BP) Hartpury College 39 – 20 Nottingham Report
College Stadium Attendance: 426 Referee: Matthew O'Grady
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 27 – 28 Bristol (BP) Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 1,589 Referee: Luke Pearce
Cornish Pirates P – P Yorkshire Carnegie
Postponed due to waterlogged pitch caused by heavy rain. Game rescheduled to 25 February 2018.[ 30]
[ 31]
Round 16
(BP) Jersey Reds 24 – 32 Ealing Trailfinders (BP) Report
St Peter Attendance: 1,448 Referee: Christophe Ridley
Nottingham 18 – 17 Cornish Pirates (BP) Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,390 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
(BP) Rotherham Titans 15 – 18 Bedford Blues Report
Clifton Lane Attendance: 609 Referee: Fergus Kirby
(BP) Doncaster Knights 48 – 38 Hartpury College (BP) Report
Castle Park Attendance: 1,220 Referee: Steve Lee
London Scottish 15 – 55 Bristol (BP) Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,863 Referee: Karl Dickson
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 28 – 22 Richmond (BP)
Headingley Carnegie Stadium Attendance: 1,752 Referee: Andrew Jackson
[ 32]
Round 15 (rescheduled game)
(BP) Cornish Pirates 22 – 12 Yorkshire Carnegie Report
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,112 Referee: Simon Harding
Game rescheduled from 11 February 2018.
Round 17
Hartpury College P – P London Scottish
Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 10 March 2018.
(BP) Bedford Blues 41 – 22 Yorkshire Carnegie
Goldington Road Attendance: 1,743 Referee: Andrew Jackson
Ealing Trailfinders P – P Rotherham Titans
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 10 March 2018.
Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 30 March 2018.
(2BP) Bristol 34 – 38 Jersey Reds (BP) Report
Ashton Gate Attendance: 8,010 Referee: Ian Tempest
Cornish Pirates 22 – 19 Doncaster Knights (BP) Report
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,166 Referee: Sara Cox
[ 33]
Round 17 (rescheduled games)
Hartpury College 14 – 11 London Scottish (BP) Report
College Stadium Attendance: 677 Referee: Jack Makepeace
Game rescheduled from 3 March 2018.
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 37 – 35 Rotherham Titans (2BP) Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 642 Referee: John Meredith
Game rescheduled from 3 March 2018.
[ 34]
Round 18
London Scottish 19 – 52 Jersey Reds (BP) Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,073 Referee: Maxwell Keys
Rotherham Titans 3 – 24 Bristol Report
Clifton Lane Attendance: 617 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
(BP) Hartpury College 20 – 45 Cornish Pirates (BP) Report
College Stadium Attendance: 937 Referee: Fergus Kirby
Doncaster Knights 12 – 22 Richmond Report
Castle Park Attendance: 985 Referee: Hamish Smales
Nottingham P – P Bedford Blues
Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 24 April 2018.[ 35]
Yorkshire Carnegie P – P Ealing Trailfinders
Headingley Carnegie Stadium
Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 17 April 2018.[ 36]
[ 37]
Round 19
Bristol 18 – 13 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP) Report
Ashton Gate Stadium Attendance: 7,728 Referee: Karl Dickson
(BP) Bedford Blues 41 – 32 Doncaster Knights (BP) Report
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,316 Referee: Christophe Ridley
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 45 – 20 Nottingham Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 696 Referee: Simon Harding
(BP) Jersey Reds 38 – 16 Rotherham Titans Report
St Peter Attendance: 1,589 Referee: Mike Hudson
Rotherham Titans are relegated.[ 2]
(BP) Richmond 28 – 22 Hartpury College (BP) Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 643 Referee: John Meredith
(BP) Cornish Pirates 55 – 38 London Scottish (BP) Report
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,445 Referee: Sara Cox
[ 38]
Round 17 (rescheduled game)
Richmond 12 – 20 Nottingham Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 668 Referee: Michael Hudson
Game rescheduled from 3 March 2018.
[ 39]
Round 20
Nottingham 17 – 60 Bristol (BP) Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,575 Referee: Jack Makepeace
Bristol are champions following Ealing's defeat to Doncaster on the following day.[ 3]
(BP) Doncaster Knights 50 – 19 Ealing Trailfinders Report
Castle Park Attendance: 957 Referee: Andrew Jackson
(BP) Hartpury College 21 – 26 Bedford Blues (BP) Report
College Stadium Attendance: 1,050 Referee: Simon Harding
(BP) London Scottish 49 – 14 Rotherham Titans Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,330 Referee: Sara Cox
Cornish Pirates 51 – 20 Richmond Report
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,360 Referee: Adam Leal
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 26 – 21 Jersey Reds (BP)
Headingley Carnegie Stadium Attendance: 1,366 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
[ 40]
Round 21
(BP) Bristol 68 – 10 Doncaster Knights Report
Ashton Gate Stadium Attendance: 13,100[ c] Referee: Greg MacDonald
Rotherham Titans 30 – 26 Yorkshire Carnegie (2BP)
Clifton Lane Attendance: 681 Referee: Dean Richards
(2BP) Bedford Blues 29 – 34 Cornish Pirates (BP) Report
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,575 Referee: Michael Hudson
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 54 – 36 Hartpury College (BP) Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 679 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
(BP) Jersey Reds 50 – 29 Nottingham (BP) Report
St Peter Attendance: 1,851 Referee: Steve Lee
(2BP) Richmond 28 – 30 London Scottish (BP) Report
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,798 Referee: Andrew Jackson
[ 42]
Round 18 (rescheduled games)
Yorkshire Carnegie 23 – 23 Ealing Trailfinders
Headingley Carnegie Stadium Attendance: 1,274 Referee: Adam Leal
Game rescheduled from 18 March 2018.
(BP) Nottingham 41 – 21 Bedford Blues Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 463 Referee: Neil Chivers
Game rescheduled from 18 March 2018.
Round 22
(BP) Nottingham 38 – 5 Rotherham Titans Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,055 Referee: Andrea Piardi
(BP) Cornish Pirates 39 – 25 Ealing Trailfinders (BP) Report
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,778 Referee: Matthew O'Grady
(BP) Hartpury College 24 – 61 Bristol (BP) Report
College Stadium Attendance: 2,400[ d] Referee: Christophe Ridley
(BP) Bedford Blues 28 – 12 Richmond Report
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,669 Referee: Fergus Kirby
(2BP) Doncaster Knights 26 – 30 Jersey Reds (BP) Report
Castle Park Attendance: 1,675 Referee: Hamish Smales
Yorkshire Carnegie 27 – 19 London Scottish
Headingley Carnegie Attendance: 1,720 Referee: Simon Harding
[ 44]
Attendances
Club
Home Games
Total
Average
Highest
Lowest
% Capacity
Bedford Blues
11
27,833
2,530
3,401
1,743
42%
Bristol
11
93,356
8,487
13,100
6,509
31%
Cornish Pirates
11
16,715
1,520
2,236
1,112
38%
Doncaster Knights
11
14,318
1,302
2,002
887
26%
Ealing Trailfinders
11
8,955
814
1,589
574
27%
Hartpury College
11
10,095
918
2,400
426
44%
Jersey Reds
11
16,328
1,484
2,174
1,103
37%
London Scottish
11
13,376
1,216
1,863
800
27%
Nottingham
11
12,496
1,136
1,575
463
38%
Richmond
11
10,276
934
1,798
468
21%
Rotherham Titans
11
9,028
821
1,607
609
33%
Yorkshire Carnegie
11
19,177
1,743
2,478
1,274
13%
[ 45]
Individual statistics
Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. Appearance figures also include coming on as substitutes (unused substitutes not included).
Season records
Team
Largest home win — 60 points
72 - 12 Ealing Trailfinders at home to London Scottish on 24 September 2017
Largest away win — 43 points
60 - 17 Bristol away to Nottingham on 6 April 2018
Most points scored — 72 points
72 - 12 Ealing Trailfinders at home to London Scottish on 24 September 2017
Most tries in a match — 10 (2)
Ealing Trailfinders at home to London Scottish on 24 September 2017
Bristol at home to Doncaster Knights on 13 April 2018
Most conversions in a match — 9
Bristol at home to Doncaster Knights on 13 April 2018
Most penalties in a match — 6
Bristol at home to Yorkshire Carnegie on 23 March 2018
Most drop goals in a match — 2
Nottingham at home to Hartpury College on 29 September 2017
[ 48] [ 49] [ 50] [ 51]
Attendances
Highest — 13,100
Bristol at home to Cornish Pirates on 13 April 2018
Lowest — 426
Hartpury College at home to Nottingham on 10 February 2018
Highest average attendance — 8,487
Bristol
Lowest average attendance — 814
Ealing Trailfinders
[ 45]
Player
Most points in a match — 25
Laurence May for Cornish Pirates at home to London Scottish on 25 March 2018
Most tries in a match — 4 (2)
Max Crumpton for Bristol at home to Richmond on 17 September 2017
Luke Morahan for Bristol at home to Doncaster Knights on 13 April 2018
Most conversions in a match — 9
Ian Madigan for Bristol at home to Doncaster Knights on 13 April 2018
Most penalties in a match — 6
Ian Madigan for Bristol at home to Yorkshire Carnegie on 23 March 2018
Most drop goals in a match — 2
Tiff Eden for Nottingham at home to Hartpury College on 29 September 2017
[ 52] [ 53] [ 54] [ 55] [ 56]
Notes
^ Although Headingley's full capacity is 21,062, it will be 13,000 for most of the season due to the south stand being redeveloped.
^ The Rugby Paper reported an attendance of 405 for Ealing Trailfinders v Richmond on 23 December compared to the Ealing Trailfinders website report which had it as 1,030. The official attendance is much more likely, given that it was a local derby at Christmas where attendances tend to be higher than normal.
^ Bristol's attendance of 13,100 was a RFU Championship regular season record. Note this does not include the RFU Championship playoff games used in previous seasons or games in the old National Division One prior to the Championship's inception in 2009-10.[ 41]
^ Hartpury had temporary seating installed, allowing them to expand their capacity above 2,000 for their final league match against Bristol.[ 43]
References
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