Rugby union competition in England
2022–23 RFU Championship Countries England Jersey Date 9 September 2022 — 29 April 2023 Champions Jersey Reds Runners-up Ealing Trailfinders Relegated Richmond Matches played 132 Attendance 176,335 (average 1,336 per match) Highest attendance 5,000 – Bedford Blues v Ampthill, 26 December 2022 Lowest attendance 407 – Ampthill v Doncaster Knights, 18 March 2023 Tries scored 1029 (average 7.8 per match) Top point scorer 174 – William Maisey (Bedford Blues) Top try scorer 15 – Sean French (Bedford Blues) Carlo Trizzano (Ealing Trailfinders) [ 1]
The 2022–23 RFU Championship is the fourteenth season of the RFU Championship , the professional second tier of rugby union in England. It features eleven English teams and one from Jersey . Jersey Reds won the league with one match remaining.
The twelve 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 be promoted to Premiership Rugby , which means there will be no relegation to National League 1 . If the champions do not meet the criteria, and therefore not promoted, one team will be relegated. With both Wasps and Worcester Warriors entering administration and deemed unable to compete in the Championship the competition will include 12 teams in 2023–24.[ 2]
On 13 February 2023, the RFU confirmed that only Doncaster Knights were eligible for promotion.[ 3]
For the third 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.[ 4] [ 5] [ 6] Following news of the funding change, several clubs announced a switch to a semi-professional business model ahead of the 2020–21 season.[ 7] [ 8]
Locations of the 2022–23 RFU Championship teams
Greater London RFU Championship teams
Eleven of the twelve teams played in last season's competition. Having won the 2021–22 National League 1 , Caldy were promoted to the Championship. Owing to there being only eleven teams in the Championship last season there was no relegation.[ 9] [ 10]
Club
Stadium
Capacity
Area
Previous season
Ampthill
Dillingham Park
3,000
Ampthill , Bedfordshire
6th
Bedford Blues
Goldington Road
5,000 (1,700 seats)
Bedford , Bedfordshire
5th
Caldy
Paton Field
4,000
Thurstaston , Wirral , Merseyside
Promoted from National League 1
Cornish Pirates
Mennaye Field
4,000 (2,200 seats)
Penzance , Cornwall
3rd
Coventry
Butts Park Arena
4,000 (3,000 seats)
Coventry , West Midlands
8th
Doncaster Knights
Castle Park
5,183[ 11] (1,926 seats)
Doncaster , South Yorkshire
2nd
Ealing Trailfinders
Trailfinders Sports Ground
5,000 (2,115 seats)
West Ealing , London
1st
Hartpury University
ALPAS Arena
2,000
Hartpury , Gloucestershire
7th
Jersey Reds
Stade Santander International
4,000
Saint Peter , Jersey
4th
London Scottish
Athletic Ground
4,500 (1,000 seats)
Richmond , London
11th
Nottingham
Lady Bay Sports Ground
3,500
Nottingham , Nottinghamshire
10th
Richmond
Athletic Ground
4,500 (1,000 seats)
Richmond , London
9th
Updated to match(es) played on 29 April 2023. 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 Notes:
^ There is no promotion this season
Fixtures for the season was announced by the RFU on 24 June 2022.[ 12]
Dillingham Park Attendance: 671 Referee: Michael Hudson
Paton Field Attendance: 501 Referee: Nicholas David Wood
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,374 Referee: Dan Jones
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,114 Referee: Harry Walbaum
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 868 Referee: Karl Dickson
Athletic Ground Attendance: 482 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
[ 13]
Hartpury University 16 – 34 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 503 Referee: Simon Harding
Ampthill 17 – 32 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Attendance: 565 Referee: Charlie Gayther
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 49 – 36 London Scottish (1 BP)
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,218 Referee: Mike Hudson
(1 BP) Jersey Reds 40 – 14 Coventry
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,112 Referee: Jack Makepeace
(2 BP) Richmond 32 – 34 Caldy (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 685 Referee: Neil Chivers
(1 BP) Nottingham 19 – 23 Cornish Pirates
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,057
[ 14] [ 15]
London Scottish 21 – 55 Jersey Reds (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 525 Referee: Simon Harding
Cornish Pirates 21 – 41 Bedford Blues (1 BP)
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,491 Referee: Alex Thomas
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 48 – 24 Richmond (1 BP)
Castle Park Attendance: 925 Referee: Mike Hudson
Paton Field Attendance: 1,125 Referee: Harry Walbaum
(1 BP) Coventry 26 – 24 Ampthill (2 BP)
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 1,708 Referee: George Selwood
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 42 – 7 Hartpury University
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 620 Referee: Neil Chivers
[ 16]
Jersey Reds 21 – 10 Cornish Pirates
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,385 Referee: Harry Walbaum
(1 BP) Nottingham 30 – 15 Doncaster Knights
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,130 Referee: George Selwood
(1 BP) Ampthill 59 – 7 London Scottish
Dillingham Park Attendance: 743 Referee: Hamish Grant
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 52 – 29 Caldy (1 BP)
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,584 Referee: Simon Harding
Coventry 5 – 50 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,037 Referee: Andrew Jackson
Richmond 19 – 15 Hartpury University (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 475 Referee: Alex Thomas
[ 17]
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 50 – 19 Bedford Blues
Castle Park Attendance: 1,170 Referee: Hamish Smales
(1 BP) Hartpury University 39 – 31 Nottingham (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 975 Referee: Dan Jones
Caldy 19 – 34 Jersey Reds (1 BP)
Paton Field Attendance: 1,895 Referee: Charles Gayther
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 56 – 19 Richmond
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 1,134 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
(1 BP) London Scottish 32 – 46 Coventry (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 824 Referee: Neil Chivers
Cornish Pirates 15 – 13 Ampthill (1 BP)
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,352 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
[ 18] [ 19]
Jersey Reds 19 – 17 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,237 Referee: George Selwood
(1 BP) Nottingham 45 – 26 Richmond (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 880 Referee: Harry Walbaum
(1 BP) Ampthill 26 – 24 Caldy (2 BP)
Dillingham Park Attendance: 683 Referee: Hamish Smales
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 28 – 21 Hartpury University (1 BP)
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,429 Referee: Mike Hudson
(1 BP) Coventry 32 – 19 Cornish Pirates
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,552 Referee: Adam Wookey
London Scottish 21 – 57 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 674 Referee: Luke Rogan
[ 20]
Hartpury University 17 – 27 Jersey Reds (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 1,035 Referee: Simon Harding
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 32 – 0 London Scottish
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,564 Referee: George Selwood
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 35 – 19 Ampthill
Castle Park Attendance: 889 Referee: Joe James
Caldy 18 – 27 Coventry (1 BP)
Paton Field Attendance: 1,100 Referee: Michael Hudson
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 64 – 33 Nottingham (1 BP)
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 1,228 Referee: Nick Wood
(1 BP) Richmond 36 – 33 Bedford Blues (2 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,324 Referee: Charles Gayther
[ 21]
Dillingham Park Attendance: 650 Referee: Ian Tempest
Cornish Pirates 12 – 25 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,589 Referee: Charles Gayther
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 32 – 31 Nottingham (2 BP)
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,491 Referee: Neil Chivers
(1 BP) Coventry 47 – 7 Doncaster Knights
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,238 Referee: Jack Makepiece
(1 BP) Jersey Reds 34 – 19 Richmond
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,074 Referee: Harry Walbaum
London Scottish 19 – 10 Caldy
Athletic Ground Attendance: 601 Referee: Joe James
[ 22]
Nottingham 22 – 31 Jersey Reds (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,100 Referee: Hamish Smales
Caldy 15 – 14 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Paton Field Attendance: 721 Referee: Hamish Grant
Doncaster Knights 15 – 14 London Scottish (1 BP)
Castle Park Attendance: 922 Referee: Adam Wookey
(1 BP) Hartpury 45 – 36 Coventry (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 760 Referee: Charlie Gayther
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 42 – 17 Bedford Blues
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 910 Referee: Joe James
Athletic Ground Attendance: 757 Referee: Simon Harding
[ 23]
Caldy P – P Ealing Trailfinders
(1 BP) Jersey Reds 45 – 5 Bedford Blues
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,090 Referee: Mike Hudson
(1 BP) Coventry 48 – 12 Richmond
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,772 Referee: Joe James
London Scottish P – P Hartpury
Cornish Pirates P – P Doncaster Knights
[ 24]
Hartpury 22 – 16 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 960 Referee: Alex Thomas
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 43 – 22 Jersey Reds (1 BP)
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 1,471 Referee: Luke Pearce
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 52 – 14 Caldy
Castle Park Attendance: 1,125 Referee: Sara Cox
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 38 – 14 Ampthill
Goldington Road Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Jack Makepeace
Nottingham 17 – 45 Coventry (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,411 Referee: Hamish Smales
Richmond 22 – 8 London Scottish
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,898 Referee: Nicholas Wood
[ 25] [ 26] [ 27]
Rescheduled matches (Round 10)[ edit ]
(1 BP) Caldy 26 – 24 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Paton Field Attendance: 1,150 Referee: Ian Tempest
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 37 – 15 Doncaster Knights
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,377 Referee: George Selwood
(1 BP) London Scottish 19 – 20 Hartpury
Athletic Ground Attendance: 430 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
[ 28]
Cornish Pirates 17 – 6 Nottingham
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,460 Referee: Harry Walbaum
Paton Field Attendance: 1,298 Referee: Mike Hudson
Doncaster Knights 10 – 25 Hartpury
Castle Park Attendance: 948 Referee: Jonathan Cook
Coventry 19 – 19 Jersey Reds
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 3,183 Referee: Nick Wood
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 35 – 24 Ampthill (1 BP)
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 781 Referee: Andrew Jackson
London Scottish 13 – 34 Bedford Blues (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 700 Referee: Joe James
[ 29]
Nottingham 17 – 29 Caldy (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,237 Referee: Jonathan Cook
Hartpury 13 – 26 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 980 Referee: Nick Wood
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 55 – 13 Cornish Pirates
Goldington Road Attendance: 3,267 Referee: Alex Thomas
(1 BP) Jersey Reds 24 – 22 London Scottish (2 BP)
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,275 Referee: Sara Cox
Richmond 17 – 27 Doncaster Knights
Athletic Ground Attendance: 897 Referee: Joe James
[ 30]
(1 BP) Caldy 36 – 28 Bedford Blues (1 BP)
Paton Field Attendance: 1,875 Referee: Hamish Smales
Cornish Pirates 25 – 34 Jersey Reds (1 BP)
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,683 Referee: Dan Jones
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 32 – 17 Nottingham
Castle Park Attendance: 1,238 Referee: Ian Tempest
(1 BP) Hartpury 26 – 14 Richmond
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 376 Referee: Mike Hudson
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 19 – 22 Coventry
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 987 Referee: Sara Cox
London Scottish 19 – 28 Ampthill (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 414 Referee: George Selwood
[ 31] [ 32]
Rescheduled matches (Round 10)[ edit ]
(1 BP) Ampthill 36–24 Nottingham (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Attendance: 509 Referee: Harry Walbaum
[ 33]
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 48 – 25 Doncaster Knights
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,585 Referee: Michael Hudson
(1 BP) Nottingham 31 – 45 Hartpury (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 952 Referee: Hamish Grant
Ampthill 22 – 61 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Attendance: 589 Referee: Nick Wood
Richmond 0 – 50 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 723 Referee: Joe James
(1 BP) Coventry 31 – 13 London Scottish
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,745 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
(1 BP) Jersey Reds 71 – 14 Caldy
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,271 Referee: Jack Makepeace
[ 34] [ 35]
Hartpury 14 – 35 Bedford Blues (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 850 Referee: Sara Cox
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 31 – 26 Coventry (2 BP)
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,718 Referee: Mike Hudson
Richmond 17 – 28 Nottingham (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 445 Referee: Neil Chivers
Doncaster Knights P – P Jersey Reds
(1 BP) Caldy 16 – 17 Ampthill
Paton Field Attendance: 657 Referee: Hamish Grant
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 66 – 0 London Scottish
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 898 Referee: Alex Thomas
[ 36]
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 39 – 5 Richmond
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,543 Referee: Hamish Smales
(1 BP) Coventry 48 – 19 Caldy
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,407 Referee: Joe James
(1 BP) Jersey Reds 36 – 22 Hartpury
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,068 Referee: Hamish Grant
Nottingham 21 – 41 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,082 Referee: Jack Makepeace
(1 BP) Ampthill 31 – 12 Doncaster Knights
Dillingham Park Attendance: 407 Referee: Henry Walbaum
(2 BP) London Scottish 31 – 34 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 467 Referee: Sara Cox
[ 37]
(2 BP) Hartpury 26 – 32 Ampthill (1 BP)
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 1,030 Referee: Tom Foley
Richmond 0 – 64 Jersey Reds (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,153 Referee: Charlie Gayther
(2 BP) Doncaster Knights 39 – 45 Coventry (1 BP)
Castle Park Attendance: 865 Referee: Sarah Cox
Caldy 26 – 19 London Scottish (1 BP)
Paton Field Attendance: 1,895 Referee: Alexander Thomas
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 50 – 12 Cornish Pirates
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 1,005 Referee: Mike Hudson
(1 BP) Nottingham 26 – 24 Bedford Blues (2 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 871 Referee: Harry Walbaum
[ 38] [ 39]
(1 BP) Coventry 42 – 19 Hartpury
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,009 Referee: Alex Thomas
(1 BP) Ampthill 33 – 19 Richmond
Dillingham Park Attendance: 547 Referee: Hamish Grant
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 31 – 40 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,504 Referee: Simon Harding
(1 BP) Jersey Reds 52 – 10 Nottingham
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,242 Referee: Joe James
London Scottish 24 – 33 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 603 Referee: Mike Hudson
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 28 – 21 Caldy (1 BP)
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,510 Referee: Harry Welbaum
[ 38] [ 40]
Rescheduled matches [ edit ]
Doncaster Knights 24 – 52 Jersey Reds (1 BP)
Castle Park Attendance: 1,007 Referee: Harry Walbaum
Ampthill 21 – 45 Coventry (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Attendance: 896 Referee: George Selwood
[ 41]
Hartpury 12 – 22 London Scottish
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 258 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
(1 BP) Nottingham 39 – 0 Ampthill
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 910 Referee: Hamish Smales
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 13 – 14 Cornish Pirates
Castle Park Attendance: 872 Referee: Joe James
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 19 – 26 Jersey Reds (1 BP)
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,510 Referee: Dan Jones
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 73 – 14 Caldy
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 1,031 Referee: George Selwood
(1 BP) Richmond 18 – 22 Coventry
Athletic Ground Attendance: 990 Referee: Harry Walbaum
[ 42]
Jersey Reds 19 – 13 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Stade Santander International Attendance: 3,032 Referee: Christophe Ridey
Cornish Pirates 21 – 12 Hartpury
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,481 Referee: Harry Walbaum
(2 BP) Ampthill 27 – 33 Bedford Blues (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Attendance: 2,600 Referee: Charlie Gayther
Caldy 7 – 38 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Paton Field Attendance: 1,950 Referee: Dan Jones
(1 BP) Coventry 38 – 24 Nottingham (1 BP)
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 3,721 Referee: George Selwood
(1 BP) London Scottish 49 – 3 Richmond
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,622 Referee: Mike Hudson
[ 43]
(1 BP) Nottingham 19 – 20 London Scottish
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,782 Referee: Henry Walbaum
Doncaster Knights 14 – 35 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Castle Park Attendance: 1,723 Referee: Andrew Jackson
Bedford Blues 19 – 43 Coventry (1 BP)
Goldington Road Attendance: 3,256 Referee: Hamish Grant
(1 BP) Hartpury 35 – 13 Caldy
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 1,209 Referee: Nick Wood
(1 BP) Jersey Reds 43 – 15 Ampthill
Stade Santander International Attendance: 2,767 Referee: Mike Hudson
(2 BP) Richmond 29 – 34 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,042 Referee: Dan Jones
[ 1]
Club
Home Games
Total
Average
Highest
Lowest
% Capacity
Ampthill
11
8,860
805
2,600
407
27%
Bedford Blues
11
31,387
2,853
5,000
2,218
57%
Caldy
11
14,167
1,288
1,950
501
32%
Cornish Pirates
11
16,599
1,509
1,718
1,352
38%
Coventry
11
27,486
2,499
3,721
1,708
62%
Doncaster Knights
11
11,684
1,062
1,723
865
20%
Ealing Trailfinders
11
10,933
994
1,471
620
20%
Hartpury
11
8,936
812
1,209
258
41%
Jersey Reds
11
16,553
1,505
3,032
1,068
38%
London Scottish
11
7,342
667
1,622
414
15%
Nottingham
11
12,412
1,128
1,782
871
32%
Richmond
11
10,389
944
1,898
445
21%
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.
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