2017–18 RFU Championship

2017–18 Green King IPA Championship
Countries  England
 Jersey
Date 2 September 2017 – May 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 Ireland Ian Madigan
(Bristol)
232 points
Top try scorer Australia 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. Subject to meeting minimum criteria they will be 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

In January 2017, London Welsh RFC 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 St Peter 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[lower-alpha 1] Leeds, West Yorkshire

Table

2017–18 RFU Championship Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
1Bristol (C)222101949417532181103
2Ealing Trailfinders22161576652224415283
3Bedford Blues2211296545767814668
4Cornish Pirates221201068157710410967
5Jersey Reds221318542480628365
6Yorkshire Carnegie221228518547-299263
7Doncaster Knights229112582615-3313657
8Nottingham2210111547619−727352
9Richmond229013444597-1536446
10Hartpury College226115480623-1439742
11London Scottish226115521707-1868640
12Rotherham Titans (R)222020376780−4042414
  • 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 is the promotion place. Pink background is the relegation place.
Updated: 28 April 2018
Source: "Greene King IPA Championship". NCA Rugby.

Fixtures

Fixtures for the season were announced by the RFU on 9 June 2017.[15]

Round 1

2 September 2017
14:00
London Scottish 30 – 12 Yorkshire Carnegie
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 827
Referee: Karl Dickson
2 September 2017
14:30
(BP) Jersey Reds 24 – 26 Doncaster Knights
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,244
Referee: Andrew Jackson
2 September 2017
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 29 – 28 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 650
Referee: Greg MacDonald
2 September 2017
17:00
Richmond 7 – 36 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 788
Referee: Christophe Ridley
3 September 2017
14:00
Rotherham Titans 10 – 46 Nottingham (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,017
Referee: Michael Hudson
3 September 2017
15:00
Bristol 26 – 15 Hartpury College
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 7,045
Referee: Matthew O'Grady

[16]


Round 2

8 September 2017
19:45
Nottingham 27 – 35 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,053
Referee: Matthew O'Grady
9 September 2017
14:30
(BP) Doncaster Knights 44 – 0 Rotherham Titans
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,389
Referee: Ian Tempest
9 September 2017
14:30
(BP) Hartpury College 19 – 20 Jersey Reds
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 755
Referee: John Meredith
9 September 2017
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 44 – 26 London Scottish (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,175
Referee: Simon Harding
10 September 2017
15:00
(BP) Richmond 26 – 33 Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 604
Referee: Fergus Kirby
11 September 2017
15:00
(2BP) Cornish Pirates 29 – 31 Bristol (BP)
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 2,236
Referee: Karl Dickson

[17]


Round 3

15 September 2017
19:45
Jersey Reds 19 – 13 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,629
Referee: Christopher Ridley
16 September 2017
14:00
Rotherham Titans 21 – 32 Hartpury College (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 882
Referee: Jack Makepeace
16 September 2017
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 45 – 25 Bedford Blues
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 735
Referee: Steve Lee
16 September 2017
15:00
(2BP) London Scottish 31 – 33 Nottingham (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 800
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
17 September 2017
14:00
(BP) Bristol 50 – 5 Richmond
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 6,509
Referee: Hamish Smales
17 September 2017
15:00
Yorkshire Carnegie 15 – 9 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Headingley Carnegie Stadium
Attendance: 2,160
Referee: Greg MacDonald

[18]


Round 4

23 September 2017
14:30
(BP) Doncaster Knights 32 – 26 Nottingham (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,039
Referee: John Meredith
23 September 2017
14:30
(BP) Hartpury College 29 – 29 Yorkshire Carnegie
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 1,026
Referee: Michael Hudson
23 September 2017
14:30
Richmond 23 – 14 Jersey Reds
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 821
Referee: Matthew Carley
23 September 2017
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 38 – 61 Bristol (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,607
Referee: Andrew Jackson
24 September 2017
14:30
(BP) Cornish Pirates 62 – 47 Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,244
Referee: Dean Richards
24 September 2017
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 72 – 12 London Scottish
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,006
Referee: Matthew O'Grady

[19]


Round 5

29 September 2017
19:45
Nottingham 31 – 28 Hartpury College (2BP)
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,175
Referee: Hamish Smales
30 September 2017
14:00
Rotherham Titans 22 – 39 Richmond (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 768
Referee: Greg MacDonald
30 September 2017
15:00
(BP) Jersey Reds 13 – 15 Bedford Blues
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,441
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
30 September 2017
15:00
London Scottish 15 – 27 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 868
Referee: Fergus Kirby
1 October 2017
15:00
(BP) Bristol 32 – 23 Ealing Trailfinders
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 7,170
Referee: Christophe Ridley
1 October 2017
15:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 28 – 26 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Headingley Carnegie Stadium
Attendance: 1,520
Referee: Karl Dickson

[20]


Round 6

7 October 2017
14:30
(BP) Bristol 47 – 26 London Scottish (BP)
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 8,429
Referee: Steve Lee
7 October 2017
14:30
(BP) Hartpury College 29 – 27 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 793
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
7 October 2017
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 34 – 14 Rotherham Titans
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,237
Referee: John Meredith
7 October 2017
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 31 – 8 Jersey Reds
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 595
Referee: Dean Richards
7 October 2017
15:00
(BP) Richmond 31 – 20 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,020
Referee: Fergus Kirby
8 October 2017
14:30
(2BP) Cornish Pirates 31 – 34 Nottingham (BP)
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,309
Referee: Michael Hudson

[21]


Round 7

27 October 2017
19:45
(BP) Nottingham 34 – 17 Richmond
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,355
Referee: Karl Dickson
28 October 2017
14:00
(BP) Rotherham Titans 18 – 23 Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 714
Referee: Simon Harding
28 October 2017
15:00
Jersey Reds 17 – 36 Bristol (BP)
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 2,174
Referee: Dean Richards
28 October 2017
15:00
(BP) London Scottish 13 – 15 Hartpury College
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 956
Referee: Greg McDonald
29 October 2017
15:00
(BP) Doncaster Knights 29 – 46 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,897
Referee: Christophe Ridley
29 October 2017
15:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 38 – 36 Bedford Blues (2BP)
Report
Headingley Carnegie Stadium
Attendance: 1,788
Referee: Adam Leal

[22]


Round 8

10 November 2017
19:45
(BP) Bedford Blues 30 – 12 Nottingham
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,904
Referee: Simon Harding
10 November 2017
19:45
Jersey Reds 20 – 15 London Scottish (BP)
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,408
Referee: John Meredith
10 November 2017
19:45
Richmond 26 – 22 Doncaster Knights (2BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,054
Referee: Dean Richards
11 November 2017
12:30
(BP) Bristol 55 – 10 Rotherham Titans
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 8,184
Referee: Adam Leal
11 November 2017
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 44 – 19 Yorkshire Carnegie
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 759
Referee: Andrew Jackson
12 November 2017
14:30
Cornish Pirates 25 – 13 Hartpury College
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,432
Referee: Matthew O’Grady

[23]


Round 9

17 November 2017
19:45
(BP) London Scottish 32 – 26 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,385
Referee: Fergus Kirby
17 November 2017
20:00
Yorkshire Carnegie 14 – 44 Bristol (BP)
Report
Headingley Carnegie Stadium
Attendance: 2,478
Referee: Hamish Smales
18 November 2017
14:00
Rotherham Titans 14 – 45 Jersey Reds (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 812
Referee: Steve Lee
18 November 2017
14:30
(BP) Doncaster Knights 25 – 25 Bedford Blues
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,076
Referee: John Meredith
18 November 2017
14:30
(BP) Hartpury College 15 – 18 Richmond
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 733
Referee: Michael Harris
19 November 2017
15:00
Nottingham 28 – 27 Ealing Trailfinders (2BP)
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 919
Referee: Jack Makepeace

[24]


Round 10

24 November 2017
19:45
(BP) Bedford Blues 33 – 7 Hartpury College
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,775
Referee: Michael Hudson
25 November 2017
12:30
(BP) Bristol 50 – 21 Nottingham
Report
Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 6,789
Referee: Simon Harding
25 November 2017
14:00
(BP) Rotherham Titans 24 – 27 London Scottish
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 634
Referee: Matthew O'Grady
25 November 2017
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 57 – 14 Doncaster Knights
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 574
Referee: Steve Lee
25 November 2017
15:00
Jersey Reds 10 – 20 Yorkshire Carnegie
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,103
Referee: Fergus Kirby
25 November 2017
15:00
Richmond 15 – 28 Cornish Pirates
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 987
Referee: Dean Richards

[25]


Round 11

1 December 2017
19:45
Nottingham 19 – 19 Jersey Reds
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,191
Referee: Andrew Jackson
2 December 2017
14:30
Doncaster Knights 18 – 38 Bristol (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,191
Referee: Matthew O'Grady
2 December 2017
14:30
Hartpury College 7 – 31 Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 472
Referee: Christophe Ridley
3 December 2017
14:30
Cornish Pirates 24 – 17 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,407
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
3 December 2017
15:00
(BP) London Scottish 24 – 28 Richmond
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,849
Referee: Karl Dickson
3 December 2017
15:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 47 – 11 Rotherham Titans
Report
Headingley Carnegie Stadium
Attendance: 1,429
Referee: Dean Richards

[26]


Round 12

22 December 2017
19:45
(BP) Bristol 56 – 19 Cornish Pirates
Report
Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 11,184
Referee: Matthew O’Grady
22 December 2017
19:45
Jersey Reds 18 – 14 Hartpury College (BP)
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,257
Referee: Dean Richards
23 December 2017
14:00
Rotherham Titans 19 – 36 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,607
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
23 December 2017
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 40 – 24 Richmond (BP)
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,030[lower-alpha 2]
Referee: JP Doyle
23 December 2017
15:00
(BP) London Scottish 52 – 52 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,280
Referee: Christophe Ridley
23 December 2017
15:00
Yorkshire Carnegie 12 – 10 Nottingham (BP)
Report
Headingley Carnegie Stadium
Attendance: 2,128
Referee: Steve Lee

[27]


Round 13

29 December 2017
19:45
(2BP) Doncaster Knights 30 – 32 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 2,002
Referee: Greg MacDonald
29 December 2017
19:45
(BP) Nottingham 17 – 21 London Scottish
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,225
Referee: Karl Dickson
30 December 2017
14:30
Hartpury College 27 – 18 Rotherham Titans
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 826
Referee: John Meredith
30 December 2017
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 23 – 24 Ealing Trailfinders
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,401
Referee: Simon Harding
30 December 2017
15:00
(BP) Richmond 22 – 57 Bristol (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,425
Referee: Dean Richards
31 December 2017
14:00
(BP) Cornish Pirates 15 – 19 Jersey Reds
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 2,226
Referee: Jack Makepeace

[28]


Round 14

27 January 2018
14:00
Rotherham Titans 27 – 24 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 687
Referee: Fergus Kirby
27 January 2018
15:00
Jersey Reds 10 – 9 Richmond (BP)
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,184
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
27 January 2018
15:00
London Scottish 3 – 25 Ealing Trailfinders
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,145
Referee: Matt Carley
28 January 2018
15:00
Bristol 18 – 13 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 9,208
Referee: Tom Foley
28 January 2018
15:00
Nottingham 6 – 27 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,095
Referee: Dean Richards
28 January 2018
15:00
Yorkshire Carnegie 20 – 16 Hartpury College (BP)
Report
Headingley Carnegie Stadium
Attendance: 1,562
Referee: Hamish Smales

[29]


Round 15

9 February 2018
19:45
(2BP) Bedford Blues 29 – 33 Jersey Reds (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,431
Referee: Hamish Smales
10 February 2018
14:00
Richmond 11 – 3 Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 468
Referee: Greg MacDonald
10 February 2018
14:30
Doncaster Knights 19 – 17 London Scottish (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 887
Referee: John Meredith
10 February 2018
14:30
(BP) Hartpury College 39 – 20 Nottingham
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 426
Referee: Matthew O'Grady
10 February 2018
19:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 27 – 28 Bristol (BP)
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,589
Referee: Luke Pearce
11 February 2018
14:30
Cornish Pirates P – P Yorkshire Carnegie
Mennaye Field
  • Postponed due to waterlogged pitch caused by heavy rain. Game rescheduled to 25 February 2018.[30]

[31]


Round 16

16 February 2018
19:45
(BP) Jersey Reds 24 – 32 Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,448
Referee: Christophe Ridley
16 February 2018
19:45
Nottingham 18 – 17 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,390
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
17 February 2018
14:00
(BP) Rotherham Titans 15 – 18 Bedford Blues
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 609
Referee: Fergus Kirby
17 February 2018
14:30
(BP) Doncaster Knights 48 – 38 Hartpury College (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,220
Referee: Steve Lee
17 February 2018
15:00
London Scottish 15 – 55 Bristol (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,863
Referee: Karl Dickson
18 February 2018
15:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 28 – 22 Richmond (BP)
Report
Headingley Carnegie Stadium
Attendance: 1,752
Referee: Andrew Jackson

[32]


Round 15 (rescheduled game)

25 February 2018
14:30
(BP) Cornish Pirates 22 – 12 Yorkshire Carnegie
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,112
Referee: Simon Harding
  • Game rescheduled from 11 February 2018.

Round 17

3 March 2018
14:30
Hartpury College P – P London Scottish
College Stadium
  • Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 10 March 2018.
3 March 2018
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 41 – 22 Yorkshire Carnegie
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 1,743
Referee: Andrew Jackson
3 March 2018
15:00
Ealing Trailfinders P – P Rotherham Titans
Trailfinders Sports Ground
  • Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 10 March 2018.
3 March 2018
15:00
Richmond P – P Nottingham
Athletic Ground
  • Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 30 March 2018.
4 March 2018
14:00
(2BP) Bristol 34 – 38 Jersey Reds (BP)
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 8,010
Referee: Ian Tempest
4 March 2018
14:30
Cornish Pirates 22 – 19 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,166
Referee: Sara Cox

[33]


Round 17 (rescheduled games)

10 March 2018
14:30
Hartpury College 14 – 11 London Scottish (BP)
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 677
Referee: Jack Makepeace
  • Game rescheduled from 3 March 2018.
10 March 2018
15:00
(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

16 March 2018
19:45
London Scottish 19 – 52 Jersey Reds (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,073
Referee: Maxwell Keys
17 March 2018
14:00
Rotherham Titans 3 – 24 Bristol
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 617
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
17 March 2018
14:30
(BP) Hartpury College 20 – 45 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 937
Referee: Fergus Kirby
17 March 2018
15:00
Doncaster Knights 12 – 22 Richmond
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 985
Referee: Hamish Smales
18 March 2018
15:00
Nottingham P – P Bedford Blues
Lady Bay Sports Ground
  • Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 24 April 2018.[35]
18 March 2018
15:00
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

23 March 2018
19:45
Bristol 18 – 13 Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
Report
Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 7,728
Referee: Karl Dickson
24 March 2018
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 41 – 32 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,316
Referee: Christophe Ridley
24 March 2018
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 45 – 20 Nottingham
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 696
Referee: Simon Harding
24 March 2018
15:00
(BP) Jersey Reds 38 – 16 Rotherham Titans
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,589
Referee: Mike Hudson
  • Rotherham Titans are relegated.[2]
24 March 2018
15:00
(BP) Richmond 28 – 22 Hartpury College (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 643
Referee: John Meredith
25 March 2018
15:00
(BP) Cornish Pirates 55 – 38 London Scottish (BP)
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,445
Referee: Sara Cox

[38]


Round 17 (rescheduled game)

30 March 2018
17:00
Richmond 12 – 20 Nottingham
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 668
Referee: Michael Hudson
  • Game rescheduled from 3 March 2018.

[39]


Round 20

6 April 2018
19:45
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]
7 April 2018
14:30
(BP) Doncaster Knights 50 – 19 Ealing Trailfinders
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 957
Referee: Andrew Jackson
7 April 2018
14:30
(BP) Hartpury College 21 – 26 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 1,050
Referee: Simon Harding
7 April 2018
15:00
(BP) London Scottish 49 – 14 Rotherham Titans
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,330
Referee: Sara Cox
8 April 2018
14:30
Cornish Pirates 51 – 20 Richmond
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,360
Referee: Adam Leal
8 April 2018
15:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 26 – 21 Jersey Reds (BP)
Report
Headingley Carnegie Stadium
Attendance: 1,366
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe

[40]


Round 21

13 April 2018
19:45
(BP) Bristol 68 – 10 Doncaster Knights
Report
Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 13,100[lower-alpha 3]
Referee: Greg MacDonald
14 April 2018
14:00
Rotherham Titans 30 – 26 Yorkshire Carnegie (2BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 681
Referee: Dean Richards
14 April 2018
15:00
(2BP) Bedford Blues 29 – 34 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,575
Referee: Michael Hudson
14 April 2018
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 54 – 36 Hartpury College (BP)
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 679
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
14 April 2018
15:00
(BP) Jersey Reds 50 – 29 Nottingham (BP)
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,851
Referee: Steve Lee
14 April 2018
15:00
(2BP) Richmond 28 – 30 London Scottish (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,798
Referee: Andrew Jackson

[42]


Round 18 (rescheduled games)

17 April 2018
19:45
Yorkshire Carnegie 23 – 23 Ealing Trailfinders
Report
Headingley Carnegie Stadium
Attendance: 1,274
Referee: Adam Leal
  • Game rescheduled from 18 March 2018.
24 April 2018
15:00
(BP) Nottingham 41 – 21 Bedford Blues
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 463
Referee: Neil Chivers
  • Game rescheduled from 18 March 2018.

Round 22

27 April 2018
19:45
(BP) Nottingham 38 – 5 Rotherham Titans
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,055
Referee: Andrea Piardi
28 April 2018
15:00
(BP) Cornish Pirates 39 – 25 Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,778
Referee: Matthew O'Grady
28 April 2018
15:00
(BP) Hartpury College 24 – 61 Bristol (BP)
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 2,400[lower-alpha 4]
Referee: Christophe Ridley
28 April 2018
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 28 – 12 Richmond
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,669
Referee: Fergus Kirby
28 April 2018
15:00
(2BP) Doncaster Knights 26 – 30 Jersey Reds (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,675
Referee: Hamish Smales
28 April 2018
15:00
Yorkshire Carnegie 27 – 19 London Scottish
Report
Headingley Carnegie
Attendance: 1,720
Referee: Simon Harding

[44]

Attendances

Club Home
Games
Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
Bedford Blues1127,8332,5303,4011,74342%
Bristol1193,3568,48713,1006,50931%
Cornish Pirates1116,7151,5202,2361,11238%
Doncaster Knights1114,3181,3022,00288726%
Ealing Trailfinders118,9558141,58957427%
Hartpury College1110,0959182,40042644%
Jersey Reds1116,3281,4842,1741,10337%
London Scottish1113,3761,2161,86380027%
Nottingham1112,4961,1361,57546338%
Richmond1110,2769341,79846821%
Rotherham Titans119,0288211,60760933%
Yorkshire Carnegie1119,1771,7432,4781,27413%

[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

Notes

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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]
  4. Hartpury had temporary seating installed, allowing them to expand their capacity above 2,000 for their final league match against Bristol.[43]

References

  1. "Greene King to be title sponsors of RFU Championship". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  2. 1 2 "Titans officially relegated after defeat". Rotherham Advertiser. 24 March 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Champions! Bristol Rugby win promotion to the Aviva Premiership". Bristol Post. 7 April 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Premiership: RFU Championship promotion play-off scrapped". BBC Sport. 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  5. Last Updated: 03/03/17 5:43pm. "Championship play-offs to be scrapped with top team promoted automatically". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  6. "'The RFU Championship has become the wild west of professional rugby'". The Guardian. 2014-03-13. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  7. "London Welsh: RFU refuses permission for Exiles to stay in Championship". BBC Sport. 2017-01-24. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  8. Press Association. "London Welsh kicked out of professional rugby by RFU". The Guardian. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  9. Hello (2017-04-10). "London Irish 82 Rotherham Titans 3: Worst ever defeat as Titans finish bottom". The Star. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  10. Metcalf, Rupert (2017-01-24). "RFU makes it clear what London Welsh's demise means for Plymouth Albion and National One". Plymouth Herald. Archived from the original on 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  11. Steven Cotton (2017-03-10). "Eves relishing potential reunion with Bristol Rugby as Hartpury College close in on Championship". Bristol Post. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  12. Heal, Chris (2017-03-10). "Hartpury on the edge of history". Talkingrugbyunion.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  13. Charlie Morgan, Madejski Stadium. "London Irish 55 Yorkshire Carnegie 48: Irish back in the Premiership after action-packed victory". Telegraph. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  14. "Premiership: Bristol Rugby 21–36 Wasps – Bristol relegated to Championship". BBC Sport. 2017-04-16. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  15. "Greene King IPA Championship fixtures confirmed for 2017/18". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  16. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (468). Rugby Paper Ltd. 3 September 2017. pp. 30–31 & 40.
  17. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (469). Rugby Paper Ltd. 10 September 2017. pp. 28–29 & 38.
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  20. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (472). Rugby Paper Ltd. 1 October 2017. pp. 22–23 & 38.
  21. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (473). Rugby Paper Ltd. 8 October 2017. pp. 22–23 & 38.
  22. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (476). Rugby Paper Ltd. 29 October 2017. pp. 26–27 & 38.
  23. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (478). Rugby Paper Ltd. 12 November 2017. pp. 26–27 & 38.
  24. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (479). Rugby Paper Ltd. 19 November 2017. pp. 28–29 & 34.
  25. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (480). Rugby Paper Ltd. 26 November 2017. pp. 26–27 & 38.
  26. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (481). Rugby Paper Ltd. 3 December 2017. pp. 26–27 & 38.
  27. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (484). Rugby Paper Ltd. 24 December 2017. pp. 24–25 & 34.
  28. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (485). Rugby Paper Ltd. 31 December 2017. pp. 22–23 & 26.
  29. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (489). Rugby Paper Ltd. 28 January 2018. pp. 12–13 & 38.
  30. "Cornish Pirates v Yorkshire Carnegie – Match Postponed". Cornish Pirates. 9 February 2018.
  31. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (491). Rugby Paper Ltd. 11 February 2018. pp. 28–29 & 40.
  32. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (492). Rugby Paper Ltd. 18 February 2018. pp. 28–29 & 38.
  33. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (494). Rugby Paper Ltd. 4 March 2018. pp. 30 & 38.
  34. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (495). Rugby Paper Ltd. 11 March 2018. pp. 28–29 & 38.
  35. "Bedford game postponed due to poor weather". Nottingham Rugby. 18 March 2018.
  36. "YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE V EALING TRAILFINDERS POSTPONED". Ealing Trailfinders. 18 March 2018.
  37. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (496). Rugby Paper Ltd. 18 March 2018. pp. 28–29 & 38.
  38. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (497). Rugby Paper Ltd. 25 March 2018. pp. 28–29 & 38.
  39. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (498). Rugby Paper Ltd. 1 April 2018. pp. 18 & 32.
  40. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (499). Rugby Paper Ltd. 8 April 2018. pp. 28–29 & 38.
  41. "Magic Morahan steals the show as Bristol Rugby party their way to promotion". Bristol Post. 13 April 2018.
  42. "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (500). Rugby Paper Ltd. 15 April 2018. pp. 28–30 & 38.
  43. "Hartpury looking forward to the big day". Hartpury RFC. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  44. 1 2 3 "RFU Championship". The RUGBYPaper (502). Rugby Paper Ltd. 29 April 2018. pp. 26–27 & 38.
  45. 1 2 "Championship 17/18 Home attendances". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2018.
  46. "Championship 17/18 Leading top scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2018.
  47. "Championship 17/18 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2018.
  48. "Championship 17/18 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2018.
  49. "Championship 17/18 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2018.
  50. "Championship 17/18 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2018.
  51. "Championship 17/18 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2018.
  52. "Championship 17/18 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2018.
  53. "Championship 17/18 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2018.
  54. "Championship 17/18 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2018.
  55. "Championship 17/18 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2018.
  56. "Championship 17/18 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2018.
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