2023–24 RFU Championship
Rugby union competition in England
2023–24 RFU Championship Countries England Date 20 October 2023 — 25 May 2024 Champions Ealing Trailfinders (2nd title)Matches played 110 Attendance 175,342 Highest attendance 5,047 – Coventry v Nottingham, 26 December 2023 Lowest attendance 481 – London Scottish v Doncaster Knights, 9 March 2024 Tries scored 895 Top point scorer 184 – Patrick Pellegrini , Coventry Top try scorer 16 – Matt Cornish , Ealing Trailfinders
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]
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] Premiership due to the minimum standard criteria.[ 3]
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.
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 .[ 4]
Club
Stadium
Capacity
Area
Previous season
Ampthill
Dillingham Park
3,000
Ampthill , Bedfordshire
8th
Bedford Blues
Goldington Road
5,000 (1,700 seats)
Bedford , Bedfordshire
4th
Caldy
Paton Field
4,000
Thurstaston , Wirral , Merseyside
10th
Cambridge
Grantchester Road
2,200 (200 seats)
Cambridge , Cambridgeshire
Promoted from National League 1
Cornish Pirates
Mennaye Field
4,000 (2,200 seats)
Penzance , Cornwall
5th
Coventry
Butts Park Arena
5,200 (3,000 seats)
Coventry , West Midlands
3rd
Doncaster Knights
Castle Park
5,183[ 5]
Doncaster , South Yorkshire
6th
Ealing Trailfinders
Trailfinders Sports Ground
5,000 (2,115 seats)
West Ealing , London
2nd
Hartpury University
ALPAS Arena
2,000
Hartpury , Gloucestershire
7th
London Scottish
Athletic Ground
4,500 (1,000 seats)
Richmond , London
11th
Nottingham
Lady Bay Sports Ground
3,500
Nottingham , Nottinghamshire
9th
Locations of the 2023–24 RFU Championship teams
Table
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 for the season was announced by the RFU on 29 June 2023.[ 6]
Round 1
Cornish Pirates 21 – 0 London Scottish
Mennaye Field George Selwood
(1 BP) Ampthill 28 – 26 Cambridge (2 BP)
Dillingham Park Dan Rhys Jones
Doncaster Knights 20 – 18 Hartpury University (1 BP)
Castle Park Hamish Grant
Bedford Blues 21 – 41 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Goldington Road Mike Hudson
(1 BP) Caldy 31 – 41 Nottingham (1 BP)
Paton Field Joe James
[ 7]
Round 2
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 18 – 20 Bedford Blues
Mennaye Fields Jonathan Cook
Hartpury University 28 – 36 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Richard Gordon
Cambridge 14 – 61 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Alexander Thomas
(1 BP) Nottingham 41 – 28 Ampthill (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Andrew Wigley
(1 BP) Coventry 45 – 5 Caldy
Butts Park Arena Harry Walbaum
[ 8]
Round 3
(1 BP) Ampthill 34 – 24 Coventry (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Andrew Wigley
(1 BP) Caldy 29 – 19 London Scottish
Paton Field Michael Hudson
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 64 – 7 Cambridge
Trailfinders Sports Ground Jonathan Cook
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 30 – 19 Nottingham
Castle Park Simon Harding
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 53 – 12 Hartpury University
Goldington Road Alex Thomas
[ 9] [ 10]
Round 4
London Scottish 10 – 36 Ampthill (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Jonathan Cook
(1 BP) Nottingham 26 – 38 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Andrew Jackson
(1 BP) Cambridge 22 – 40 Hartpury University (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Hamish Grant
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 49 – 22 Caldy
Mennaye Fields George Selwood
(1 BP) Coventry 51 – 7 Doncaster Knights
Butts Park Arena Sara Cox
[ 11]
Round 5
Hartpury University 20 – 32 Nottingham (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Mike Hudson
Ampthill 24 – 46 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Harry Walbaum
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 29 – 24 London Scottish (1 BP)
Castle Park Richard Gordon
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 31 – 13 Coventry
Trailfinders Sports Ground Matthew Carley
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 59 – 19 Cambridge
Goldington Road Craig Maxwell-Keys
[ 12]
Round 6
(1 BP) Nottingham 22 – 19 Cambridge (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Hamish Smales
Postponed due to frozen pitch. Game to be rescheduled for 10 February 2024.[ 13] (1 BP) Coventry 29 – 47 Hartpury University (1 BP)
Butts Park Arena Jonathan Cook
London Scottish 19 – 17 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Luke Pearce
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 28 – 39 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Mennaye Field Joe James
[ 14]
Round 7
(1 BP) Ampthill 21 – 26 Caldy (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Jack Makepeace
Cambridge 19 – 33 Coventry (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Jonathan Cook
(1 BP) Hartpury University 33 – 31 London Scottish (2 BP)
ALPAS Arena Alexander Thomas
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 49 – 24 Nottingham (1 BP)
Goldington Road Andrew Wigley
Ealing Trailfinders A – A Cornish Pirates
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Abandoned due to player suffering serious injury. Game to be rescheduled for 10 February 2024.[ 15] [ 16]
Round 8
Ampthill 22 – 31 Bedford Blues (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Alex Thomas
Caldy 24 – 19 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Paton Field Dan Rhys Jones
Cornish Pirates 14 – 7 Hartpury University (1 BP)
Mennaye Field Joe James
(2 BP) London Scottish 26 – 28 Cambridge (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Mike Hudson
(1 BP) Coventry 37 – 21 Nottingham
Butts Park Arena Harry Walbaum
[ 17] [ 18]
Bye/s : Ealing Trailfinders
Round 9
Bedford Blues 19 – 34 Coventry (1 BP)
Goldington Road Andrew Jackson
Nottingham P – P London Scottish
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] (2 BP) Cambridge 33 – 40 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Harry Walbaum
Doncaster Knights 24 – 32 Ampthill (1 BP)
Castle Park Andrew Jackson
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 54 – 28 Caldy (1 BP)
Trailfinders Sports Ground Craig Maxwell Keys
[ 21] [ 22]
Bye/s : Hartpury University
Round 10
Ampthill P – P Ealing Trailfinders
Game postponed due to frozen pitch. Game to be rescheduled for 30 March 2024.[ 23] Caldy 7 – 31 Hartpury University (1 BP)
Paton Field Charles Gayther
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 41 – 12 Nottingham
Mennaye Field Hamish Grant
Doncaster Knights 26 – 20 Bedford Blues (2 BP)
Castle Park Joe James
(2 BP) London Scottish 38 – 40 Coventry (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Richard Gordon
[ 24]
Round 11
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 32 – 25 London Scottish
Goldington Road Hamish Smales
(1 BP) Cambridge 33 – 14 Caldy
Grantchester Road George Selwood
(1 BP) Hartpury University 54 – 34 Ampthill (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Alex Thomas
(1 BP) Coventry 19 – 21 Cornish Pirates
Butts Park Arena Joe James
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 49 – 31 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Trailfinders Sports Ground Dan Rhys Jones
[ 25]
Round 12
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 29 – 19 Cambridge
Castle Park Hamish Grant
(2 BP) Ampthill 36 – 43 Nottingham (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Andrew Wigley
(1 BP) Caldy 26 – 22 Coventry (1 BP)
Paton Field Craig Maxwell-Keys
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 36 – 20 Hartpury University
Trailfinders Sports Ground Michael Hudson
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 21 – 27 Cornish Pirates
Goldington Road Andrew Jackson
[ 26]
(1 BP) Caldy 22 – 26 Bedford Blues
Paton Field Dan Rhys Jones
Game rescheduled from 2 December 2023. (1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 40 – 12 Cornish Pirates
Trailfinders Sports Ground Alexander Thomas
Game rescheduled from 16 December 2023. [ 27]
Round 13
(1 BP) Nottingham 14 – 20 Doncaster Knights
Lady Bay Sports Ground Alex Thomas
Cambridge 7 – 57 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Joe James
(1 BP) Coventry 34 – 6 Ampthill
Butts Park Arena Dan Rhys Jones
(1 BP) Hartpury University 41 – 35 Bedford Blues (2 BP)
ALPAS Arena Richard Gordon
London Scottish 33 – 33 Caldy (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Sara Cox
[ 28]
Round 14
(1 BP) Hartpury University 61 – 10 Cambridge
ALPAS Arena Sara Cox
(1 BP) Ampthill 35 – 12 London Scottish
Dillingham Park Christophe Ridley
Caldy 14 – 32 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Paton Field Ian Tempest
Doncaster Knights 12 – 27 Coventry
Castle Park Luke Pearce
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 52 – 26 Nottingham (1 BP)
Trailfinder Sports Ground Adam Leal
[ 29]
Round 15
(1 BP) Nottingham 0 – 3 Hartpury University
Lady Bay Sports Ground Hamish Grant
London Scottish 20 – 34 Doncaster Knights
Athletic Ground Matthew Carley
(1 BP) Coventry 34 – 32 Ealing Trailfinders (2 BP)
Butts Park Arena Tom Foley
Cambridge 12 – 22 Bedford Blues (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Anthony Woodthorpe
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 33 – 14 Ampthill
Mennaye Field Hamish Grant
[ 30]
(1 BP) Nottingham 31 – 28 London Scottish (2 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Craig Maxwell-Keys
Game rescheduled from 12 January 2024. [ 31]
Round 16
Doncaster Knights 27 – 27 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Castle Park George Selwood
Hartpury University 17 – 47 Coventry (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Dan Rhys Jones
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 27 – 14 Caldy
Goldington Road Hamish Grant
(1 BP) Cambridge 15 – 20 Nottingham
Grantchester Road Alexander Thomas
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 52 – 35 London Scottish (1 BP)
Trailfinders Sports Ground Charles Gayther
[ 32]
(1 BP) Ampthill 29 – 21 Ealing Trailfinders
Dillingham Park Harry Walbaum
Game rescheduled from 20 January 2024. [ 33]
Round 17
Cornish Pirates 17 – 26 Ealing Trailfinders
Mennaye Field Dan Rhys Jones
(1 BP) London Scottish 29 – 26 Hartpury University (2 BP)
Athletic Ground Michael Hudson
Nottingham 24 – 34 Bedford Blues (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Richard Gordon
(1 BP) Coventry 64 – 12 Cambridge
Butts Park Arena Hamish Grant
Caldy 20 – 29 Ampthill (1 BP)
Paton Field Alexander Thomas
[ 34]
Round 18
(1 BP) Hartpury University 25 – 30 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Alex Thomas
(2 BP) Bedford Blues 24 – 29 Ampthill (1 BP)
Goldington Road Jack Makepeace
Cambridge 13 – 43 London Scottish (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Richard Gordon
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 29 – 7 Caldy
Castle Park Michael Hudson
(1 BP) Nottingham 26 – 52 Coventry (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Meadow Joe James
[ 35]
Bye/s : Ealing Trailfinders
Round 19
(1 BP) Ampthill 49 – 9 Doncaster Knights
Dillingham Park George Selwood
Caldy 18 – 49 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Paton Field Craig Maxwell-Keys
(1 BP) Coventry 54 – 19 Bedford Blues
Butts Park Arena Harry Walbaum
(1 BP) London Scottish 45 – 27 Nottingham (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Jonathan Cook
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 45 – 18 Cambridge
Mennaye Field Andrew Wigley
[ 36]
Bye/s : Hartpury University
Round 20
Nottingham 7 – 29 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Hamish Grant
(1 BP) Coventry 27 – 14 London Scottish
Butts Park Arena Joe James
(1 BP) Hartpury University 57 – 36 Caldy (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Dan Rhys Jones
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 32 – 29 Doncaster Knights (2 BP)
Goldington Road Craig Maxwell-Keys
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 57 – 14 Ampthill
Trailfinders Sports Ground Sara Cox
[ 37]
Round 21
Cornish Pirates 22 – 12 Coventry
Mennaye Field Harry Walbaum
Doncaster Knights 20 – 12 Ealing Trailfinders
Castle Park Alex Thomas
Ealing Trailfinders are champions.[ 2] (1 BP) Ampthill 36 – 44 Hartpury University (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Simon Harding
(1 BP) Caldy 31 – 28 Cambridge (2 BP)
Paton Field Andrew Jackson
(2 BP) London Scottish 31 – 34 Bedford Blues (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Richard Gordon
[ 38]
Round 22
(1 BP) Nottingham 28 – 8 Caldy
Lady Bay Sports Ground Andrew Wigley
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 59 – 12 Bedford Blues
Trailfinders Sports Ground Harry Walbaum
(1 BP) Hartpury University 43 – 14 Doncaster Knights
ALPAS Arena Jonathan Cook
(1 BP) Cambridge 28 – 37 Ampthill (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Craig Maxwell-Keys
(1 BP) London Scottish 28 – 37 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Simon Harding
[ 39]
Attendances
Club
Home
Total
Average
Highest
Lowest
% Capacity
Ampthill
10
10,598
1,060
2,837
523
35%
Bedford Blues
10
30,621
3,062
5,000
2,380
61%
Caldy
10
11,816
1,182
1,500
895
30%
Cambridge
10
14,192
1,419
2,054
1,085
65%
Cornish Pirates
10
16,242
1,624
2,474
1,143
41%
Coventry
10
33,733
3,373
5,047
2,507
65%
Doncaster Knights
10
18,512
1,851
2,264
1,382
36%
Ealing Trailfinders
10
11,354
1,135
2,155
732
23%
Hartpury
10
9,340
934
1,603
486
47%
London Scottish
10
7,322
732
1,053
481
16%
Nottingham
10
11,612
1,161
1,417
938
33%
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.
Most points
As of 25 May 2024 Source: [ 39]
Most tries
As of 25 May 2024 Source: [ 39]
See also
References
^ "Jersey Reds' financial challenges lead to club ceasing trading" . Jersey Reds. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023 .^ a b "Doncaster win the battle but Ealing are champions". The RugbyPaper . No. 817. 12 May 2024. p. 22-23. ^ "Doncaster Knights has met the Minimum Standards Criteria for promotion" . Championship Rugby. 20 March 2024.^ "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 .^ "A right mess entirely of the RFU's making". The RugbyPaper . No. 703. 6 March 2022. p. 11. ^ "2023/24 FIXTURES ANNOUNCED" . Championship Rugby . 29 June 2023.^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 788. 22 October 2023. p. 32-33, 39. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 789. 29 October 2023. p. 36-37, 41. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 790. 5 November 2023. p. 28-29, 38. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 791. 12 November 2023. p. 20, 34. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 792. 19 November 2023. p. 28-29, 38. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 793. 26 November 2023. p. 24-25, 36. ^ "OFFICIAL STATEMENT- CALDY V BEDFORD BLUES" . Caldy Rugby Club. 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-02 .^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 794. 3 December 2023. p. 24-25, 36. ^ "MATCH POSTPONED - EALING TRAILFINDERS V CORNISH PIRATES" . Ealing Trailfinders. 16 December 2023.^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 796. 17 December 2023. p. 22-23, 40. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 797. 24 December 2023. p. 22-23, 28. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 798. 27 December 2023. p. 30-31, 38. ^ "MATCH POSTPONED!" . Nottingham Rugby. 8 January 2024.^ "NOTTINGHAM RUGBY NEEDS YOUR HELP AT A VERY DIFFICULT TIME" . Nottingham Rugby. 8 January 2024.^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 799. 7 January 2024. p. 14, 32. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 800. 14 January 2024. p. 22-23, 40. ^ "MATCH POSTPONED - AMPTHILL V EALING TRAILFINDERS" . Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club. 20 January 2024.^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 801. 21 January 2024. p. 24-25, 36. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 802. 28 January 2024. p. 16-17, 40. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 803. 4 February 2024. p. 26-27, 40. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 804. 11 February 2024. p. 26, 40. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 806. 25 February 2024. p. 20-21, 40. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 807. 3 March 2024. p. 14-15, 32. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 808. 10 March 2024. p. 18-19, 40. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 809. 17 March 2024. p. 18, 40. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 810. 24 March 2024. p. 20-21, 40. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 811. 31 March 2024. p. 24, 34. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 812. 7 April 2024. p. 20-21, 40. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 813. 14 April 2024. p. 20-21, 40. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 814. 21 April 2024. p. 24-25, 35. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 816. 5 May 2024. p. 16-17, 32. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 817. 12 May 2024. p. 22-23, 32. ^ a b c "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 819. 26 May 2024. p. 16-17, 38.
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