2021–22 RFU Championship
The 2021–22 RFU Championship is the thirteenth season of the RFU Championship, the professional second tier of rugby union in England. It features ten English teams and one from Jersey. Saracens are the reigning champions and were promoted to the Premiership.
| 2021–22 RFU Championship | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  England Jersey |
| Number of teams | 11 |
| Date | 17 September 2021 — 20 March 2022 |
| Matches played | 55 |
| Attendance | 59,941 (average 1,090 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 2,825 – Bedford Blues v Doncaster Knights, 1 October, 2021 |
| Lowest attendance | 475 – London Scottish v Hartpury, 23 October, 2021 |
| Tries scored | 397 (average 7.2 per match) |
| Top point scorer | 90 – Will Maisey (Bedford Blues) |
| Top try scorer | 10 – Mark Bright (Richmond)[1] |
Structure
In a return to the structure used prior to 2020–21, the eleven teams will play each of the other teams twice. There is no end of season play-off and the winner will be promoted to the Premiership subject to meeting the minimum standards criteria.
RFU funding
For the second year in a row each club will receive approximately £161,500 in funding from the RFU as part of the reduction of funding introduced ahead of the 2016–17 season.[2][3][4] Last season, following news of the funding change, several clubs announced a switch to a semi-professional business model.[5][6]
Teams
Ten of the eleven teams played in last season's competition. Saracens having beaten Ealing Trailfinders in 2020–21 final are promoted into Premiership Rugby with no team relegated.[7] London Scottish return to the league following a one-year hiatus due to the costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] They intended to leave the Athletic Ground ahead of this season, however it was later confirmed they would remain at the Athletic Ground.[9][10]
|
  London Locations of the 2021–22 RFU Championship teams Greater London RFU Championship teams
|
Table
| |||||||||||||||||
| Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Diff | Try bonus | Losing bonus | Points | |||||||
| 1 | Ealing Trailfinders | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 495 | 191 | 304 | 8 | 1 | 41 | ||||||
| 2 | Cornish Pirates | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 256 | 141 | 125 | 6 | 0 | 38 | ||||||
| 3 | Jersey Reds | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 259 | 180 | 79 | 6 | 2 | 34 | ||||||
| 4 | Doncaster Knights | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 259 | 185 | 74 | 3 | 0 | 31 | ||||||
| 5 | Bedford Blues | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 302 | 285 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 29 | ||||||
| 6 | Hartpury | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 285 | 258 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 26 | ||||||
| 7 | Coventry | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 201 | 270 | −69 | 2 | 2 | 20 | ||||||
| 8 | Richmond | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 235 | 292 | −57 | 4 | 3 | 19 | ||||||
| 9 | Ampthill | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 230 | 313 | −83 | 4 | 1 | 19 | ||||||
| 10 | Nottingham | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 183 | 334 | −151 | 2 | 1 | 15 | ||||||
| 11 | London Scottish | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 177 | 418 | −241 | 2 | 2 | 9 | ||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Green background will be promoted to Premiership Rugby subject to minimum standards criteria. Updated:11 December 2021 Source: "Greene King IPA Championship". England Rugby. | |||||||||||||||||
Fixtures & results
Fixtures for the season were announced by the RFU on 22 July 2021. The season commenced on 17 September and the final round of matches are due to take place in mid-March. All fixtures are subject to change.
Round 1
17 September 2021 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Nottingham | 36 – 26 | Ampthill (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,047 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
| Bye/s: Bedford Blues |
Round 2
25 September 2021 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Hartpury | 37 – 18 | Cornish Pirates |
|---|---|---|
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 1,247 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
25 September 2021 15:00 |
| Ampthill | 21 – 19 | Coventry (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Dillingham Park Attendance: 842 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
| Bye/s: Ealing Trailfinders |
Round 3
1 October 2021 19:45 |
| Nottingham | 22 – 20 | Hartpury (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 937 Referee: Adam Leal |
| Bye/s: Jersey Reds |
Round 4
9 October 2021 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Ampthill | 34 – 53 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Dillingham Park Attendance: 1,924 Referee: Hamish Smales |
| Bye/s: Cornish Pirates |
Round 5
22 October 2021 19:30 |
| Nottingham | 8 – 32 | Cornish Pirates (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,233 Referee: Mike Hudson |
23 October 2021 14:30 |
| Jersey Reds | 17 – 17 | Ampthill |
|---|---|---|
Stade Santander International Attendance: 941 Referee: Joe James |
23 October 2021 15:00 |
| (2 BP) Bedford Blues | 32 – 37 | Richmond (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,735 Referee: George Selwood |
23 October 2021 15:00 |
| Coventry | 24 – 73 | Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,363 Referee: Sara Cox |
23 October 2021 15:00 |
| London Scottish | 19 – 62 | Hartpury (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Athletic Ground Attendance: 475 Referee: Alex Thomas |
| Bye/s: Doncaster Knghts |
Round 6
30 October 2021 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Ampthill | 18 – 20 | Doncaster Knights |
|---|---|---|
Dillingham Park Attendance: 579 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
30 October 2021 14:15 |
| (1 BP) Richmond | 20 – 26 | Jersey Reds |
|---|---|---|
Athletic Ground Attendance: 855 Referee: Brendon Pickerill |
30 October 2021 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Cornish Pirates | 40 – 5 | Coventry |
|---|---|---|
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,897 Referee: Nick Wood |
30 October 2021 14:30 |
| Hartpury | 19 – 42 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 1,047 Referee: Sara Cox |
30 October 2021 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 101 – 7 | London Scottish |
|---|---|---|
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 850 Referee: Neil Chivers |
| Bye/s: Nottingham |
Round 7
6 November 2021 14:15 |
| ( 1 BP) Jersey Reds | 32 – 17 | Hartpury |
|---|---|---|
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1013 Referee: Alexander Thomas |
6 November 2021 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Doncaster Knights | 37 – 5 | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
Castle Park Attendance: 947 Referee: Neil Chivers |
6 November 2021 15:00 |
| Bedford Blues | 14 – 50 | Ealing Trailfinders ( 1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,172 Referee: Joseph James |
6 November 2021 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Coventry | 35 – 12 | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 1,804 Referee: Simon Harding |
6 November 2021 15:00 |
| (1 BP) London Scottish | 17 – 19 | Cornish Pirates |
|---|---|---|
Athletic Ground Attendance: 662 Referee: Harry Walbaum |
| Bye/s: Ampthill |
Round 8
19 November 2021 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Nottingham | 41 – 31 | London Scottish (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Lady Bay Sports Ground |
20 November 2021 12:30 |
| (1 BP) Cornish Pirates | 39 – 24 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Mennaye Field |
20 November 2021 13:00 |
| (2 BP) Richmond | 36 – 38 | Ampthill (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Athletic Ground |
20 November 2021 13:30 |
| (1 BP) Hartpury | 15 – 20 | Doncaster Knights |
|---|---|---|
ALPAS Arena |
20 November 2021 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 35 – 29 | Jersey Reds (2 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Trailfinders Sports Ground |
| Bye/s: Coventry |
Round 9
27 November 2021 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Ampthill | 24 – 39 | Hartpury (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Dillingham Park Attendance: 754 Referee: Michael Hudson |
27 November 2021 14:15 |
| Jersey Reds | 15 – 5 | Cornish Pirates |
|---|---|---|
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,803 Referee: Neil Chivers |
27 November 2021 14:30 |
| Doncaster Knights | 22 – 5 | Ealing Trailfinders |
|---|---|---|
Castle Park Attendance: 703 Referee: Ian Tempest |
27 November 2021 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Bedford Blues | 40 – 9 | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|
Goldington Road Attendance: 1,083 Referee: Dan Jones |
27 November 2021 15:00 |
| (1 BP) London Scottish | 36 – 23 | Coventry |
|---|---|---|
Athletic Ground Attendance: 903 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
| Bye/s: Richmond |
Round 10
4 December 2021 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Hartpury | 38 – 20 | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 853 Referee: Neil Chivers |
4 December 2021 15:00 |
| Coventry | 15 – 14 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,047 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
4 December 2021 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 54 – 17 | Ampthill |
|---|---|---|
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 828 Referee: Dan Jones |
5 December 2021 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Cornish Pirates | 29 – 7 | Doncaster Knights |
|---|---|---|
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,630 Referee: Adam Leal |
| Bye/s: London Scottish |
Round 11
11 December 2021 13:30 |
| Ampthill | 13 – 26 | Cornish Pirates (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Dillingham Park Attendance: 508 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
11 December 2021 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Doncaster Knights | 45 – 12 | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|
Castle Park Attendance: 812 Referee: Sara Cox |
11 December 2021 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Bedford Blues | 24 – 19 | London Scottish (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,070 Referee: Harry Walbaum |
11 December 2021 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Jersey Reds | 29 – 24 | Coventry (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,090 Referee: Adam Leal |
11 December 2021 15:00 |
| Richmond | 24 – 33 | Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP) |
|---|---|---|
Athletic Ground Attendance: 940 Referee: Joe James |
| Bye/s: Hartpury |
Round 12
18 December 2021 14:00 |
| Ampthill | – | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|
Dillingham Park |
18 December 2021 14:30 |
| Doncaster Knights | – | Coventry |
|---|---|---|
Castle Park |
18 December 2021 14:30 |
| Hartpury | – | Ealing Trailfinders |
|---|---|---|
ALPAS Arena |
18 December 2021 15:00 |
| Jersey Reds | – | London Scottish |
|---|---|---|
Stade Santander International |
18 December 2021 15:00 |
| Richmond | – | Cornish Pirates |
|---|---|---|
Athletic Ground |
| Bye/s: Bedford Blues |
Notes
- Goldington Road's capacity down from 6,000 to 5,000.
References
- "Championship". The RugbyPaper (691). 12 December 2021. p. 38.
- "Update on RFU Funding of Greene King IPA Championship". Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
- "Update on RFU Funding of Greene King IPA Championship". Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2020-02-23.
- "RFU Council Vote in Favour of COVID Recovery Plan". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
- "RFU funding cut update". London Scottish Rugby. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- "PLANNING FOR NEXT SEASON". Nottingham Rugby. 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- "RFU Council votes in favour of no Premiership relegation". England Rugby. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- "London Scottish decline DCMS loans to play 1st XV". London Scottish Rugby. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- "London Scottish to leave Richmond Athletic Ground after 127 years". London Scottish Rugby. 2020-07-02. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
- "London Scottish to remain at the RAG". London Scottish Rugby. 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-05-16.
- "Results". The Rugby Paper (679). 19 September 2021. p. 38.
- "Results". The Rugby Paper (680). 26 September 2021. p. 38.
- "Results". The Rugby Paper (681). 3 October 2021. p. 38.
- "Results". The RugbyPaper (682). 10 October 2021. p. 38.
- "Results". The RugbyPaper (684). 24 October 2021. p. 38.
- "Results". The RugbyPaper (685). 31 October 2021. p. 38.
- "Results". The RugbyPaper (686). 7 November 2021. p. 28, 29 &39.
- "Championship". The RugbyPaper (688). 21 November 2021. p. 38.
- "Championship". The RugbyPaper (689). 28 November 2021. p. 38.
- "TONIGHT'S GAME POSTPONED". Nottingham Rugby. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- "Championship". The RugbyPaper (690). 5 December 2021. p. 38.
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