2023–24 RFU Championship
Countries England
Date20 October 2023 — 25 May 2024
Matches played29
Attendance42,722
(average 1,473 per match)
Highest attendance3,417 — Coventry v Doncaster Knights, 18 November 2023
Lowest attendance486 – Hartpury v Ealing Trailfinders, 28 October 2023
Tries scored240
(average 8.3 per match)
Top point scorer57 – Craig Willis, Ealing Trailfinders
Top try scorer6 – Seán French, Bedford Blues, Marcus Ramage, Nottingham, David Williams, Nottingham

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
1Ealing Trailfinders65012271141135126
2Nottingham6402184166185021
3Doncaster Knights6501186154324024
4Cornish Pirates5302162105573116
5Ampthill530215014734016
6Bedford Blues430115390632014
7Coventry5203162124384012
8Hartpury6204165192-272111
9Caldy410387157-70206
10London Scottish510472132-60015
11Cambridge6006107274-167224
  • 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: 3 December 2023
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.[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

[12]

Bye/s: Ampthill

Round 7

16 December 2023
13:30
AmpthillvCaldy
Dillingham Park
16 December 2023
14:00
CambridgevCoventry
Grantchester Road
16 December 2023
14:30
HartpuryvLondon Scottish
ALPAS Arena
16 December 2023
15:00
Bedford BluesvNottingham
Goldington Road
16 December 2023
15:00
Ealing TrailfindersvCornish Pirates
Trailfinders Sports Ground

[13]

Bye/s: Doncaster Knights

Round 8

23 December 2023
13:30
AmpthillvBedford Blues
Dillingham Park
23 December 2023
14:00
CaldyvDoncaster Knights
Paton Field
23 December 2023
14:30
Cornish PiratesvHartpury
Mennaye Field
23 December 2023
15:00
London ScottishvCambridge
Athletic Ground
26 December 2023
15:00
CoventryvNottingham
Butts Park Arena

[14][15]

Bye/s: Ealing Trailfinders

Round 9

1 January 2024
13:30
Bedford BluesvCoventry
Goldington Road
12 January 2024
19:45
NottinghamvLondon Scottish
Lady Bay Sports Ground
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

[16][17]

Bye/s: Hartpury

Attendances

Club Home
Games		 Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
Ampthill32,31777285270826%
Bedford Blues37,7922,5972,9982,38052%
Caldy22,5361,2681,2781,25832%
Cambridge22,3931,1971,3081,08580%
Cornish Pirates22,5571,2791,4141,14332%
Coventry39,1743,0583,4172,61176%
Doncaster Knights36,1922,0642,2641,87240%
Ealing Trailfinders22,0481,0241,23781120%
Hartpury21,23161674548631%
London Scottish21,59879983576318%
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.

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. 1 2 3 "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 794. 3 December 2023. p. 24-25, 36.
  13. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 796. 17 December 2023. p. 30-31, 38.
  14. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 797. 24 December 2023. p. 30-31, 38.
  15. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 798. 27 December 2023. p. 30-31, 38.
  16. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 799. 7 January 2024. p. 30-31, 38.
  17. ↑ "Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 780. 14 January 2024. p. 30-31, 38.
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