The 2013–14 RFU Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the Greene King IPA Championship, was the fifth 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 held between 14 September 2013 and 4 June 2014. It was contested by eleven English clubs and one from Jersey in the Channel Islands. It was also the first Championship season with a title sponsor, as the Rugby Football Union and Greene King Brewery reached a deal by which the brewery would become the competition's main sponsor from 2013–14 through to 2016–17.[3]
| 2013–14 Greene King IPA Championship | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  England Jersey |
| Date | 14 September 2013 – 4 June 2014 |
| Champions | London Welsh |
| Runners-up | Bristol |
| Relegated | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Matches played | 138 |
| Attendance | 289,423 (average 2,097 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 10,905 Bristol at home to London Welsh on 4 June 2014 |
| Lowest attendance | 473 Ealing Trailfinders at home to Nottingham on 12 April 2014 |
| Tries scored | 807 (average 5.8 per match) |
| Top point scorer |  Juan Pablo Socino(Rotherham) 300 points[1] |
| Top try scorer | Miles Mantella (London Scottish) 19 tries[2] |
After being promoted after an appeal in the previous season, London Welsh were relegated back into the RFU Championship after finishing last in the 2012-13 English Premiership.[4] As a result of relegation, they remained at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford instead of returning to their home ground of Old Deer Park in London in order to strengthen their support base.[5] London Welsh replaced Newcastle Falcons who were promoted into the English Premiership after winning the play-off final against Bedford Blues.[6] Doncaster Knights were relegated to the 2013–14 National League 1[7] and were replaced by the champions of National League 1, Ealing Trailfinders who played in the RFU Championship for the first time.[8]
The twelve clubs in the 2013–14 RFU Championship also participated in the 2013–14 edition of the British and Irish Cup along with clubs from Wales, Scotland and Ireland.[9] Matches in the RFU Championship were broadcast on Sky Sports.[10]
Structure
editThe Championship's structure had all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis. In a change to previous years, this season commenced with an extra round of games in the "Greene King IPA Big Rugby Weekend". Matches were played on the weekend of 14 and 15 September with three double headers at neutral grounds: Saracens' Allianz Park, Doncaster's Castle Park and Exeter's Sandy Park.[11]
The play–off structure remained the same as the previous year.[12] The top four teams at the end of the home–and–away season qualified for the promotion play–offs, which followed a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system. The winners had to meet the RFU's Minimum Standards Criteria in order to be promoted to the Premiership. If they had failed to meet the criteria, then there would have been no promotion from the RFU Championship.[13] However, on 9 May 2014, the RFU announced that all four play-off participants had met the Minimum Standards Criteria, assuring that the champion would indeed be promoted to the 2014–15 Premiership.[14] There was no relegation play–off; the bottom team was automatically relegated.[12] Following an agreement with the RFU in 2012, each RFU Championship club received £355,000 in funding from the RFU for the season.[15]
Participating teams
edit
Locations of the 2013–14 RFU Championship teams
| Club | Stadium | Capacity | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Blues | Goldington Road | 6,000 | Bedford, Bedfordshire |
| Bristol | Memorial Stadium | 12,100 | Bristol |
| Cornish Pirates | Mennaye Field | 4,000 (2,200 Seats) | Penzance, Cornwall |
| Ealing Trailfinders | Trailfinders Sports Ground | 3,020 (1,200 seats) | West Ealing, London |
| Jersey | St. Peter | 5,000 | Saint Peter, Jersey |
| Leeds Carnegie | Headingley Rugby Stadium | 20,250 | Leeds, West Yorkshire |
| London Scottish | Athletic Ground, Richmond | 4,500 | Richmond, London |
| London Welsh | Kassam Stadium | 12,500 | Oxford, Oxfordshire[n 1] |
| Moseley | Billesley Common | 3,000+ | Birmingham, West Midlands |
| Nottingham | Meadow Lane | 19,588 | Nottingham, Nottinghamshire |
| Plymouth Albion | The Brickfields | 8,500 | Plymouth, Devon |
| Rotherham Titans | Clifton Lane Abbeydale Park[n 2] |
2,500 3,200 |
Rotherham, South Yorkshire Sheffield, South Yorkshire |
- Notes
- ^ Despite being relegated from the Premiership at the end of the 2012–13 season, London Welsh remained at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford instead of returning to their home ground of Old Deer Park in London in order to strengthen their support base.[5] However, they played two matches at their traditional home:[16]
- against Moseley in Round 18 on 9 March 2014
- against Nottingham in Round 23 on 26 April 2014
- ^ Rotherham would have to play their final league game and any playoff games at Abbeydale Park in Sheffield due to a dispute with Rotherham Cricket Club over ground sharing at Clifton Lane.[17][18]
League table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol (RU) | 23 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 786 | 505 | +281 | 18 | 3 | 96[a] | Promotion play-off |
| 2 | London Welsh (CH) | 23 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 724 | 348 | +376 | 10 | 2 | 88 | |
| 3 | Leeds Carnegie (SF) | 23 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 700 | 387 | +313 | 10 | 2 | 84 | |
| 4 | Rotherham Titans (SF) | 23 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 718 | 474 | +244 | 11 | 1 | 80 | |
| 5 | London Scottish | 23 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 554 | 423 | +131 | 10 | 2 | 68 | |
| 6 | Cornish Pirates | 23 | 10 | 2 | 11 | 456 | 554 | −98 | 4 | 3 | 51 | |
| 7 | Moseley | 23 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 449 | 575 | −126 | 4 | 2 | 44 | |
| 8 | Plymouth Albion | 23 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 467 | 588 | −121 | 5 | 9 | 40 | |
| 9 | Bedford Blues | 23 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 472 | 624 | −152 | 5 | 5 | 38 | |
| 10 | Nottingham | 23 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 413 | 610 | −197 | 3 | 9 | 34 | |
| 11 | Jersey | 23 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 423 | 629 | −206 | 1 | 6 | 29[b] | |
| 12 | Ealing Trailfinders (R) | 23 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 365 | 810 | −445 | 5 | 1 | 28 | Relegation |
Updated to match(es) played on 5 June 2014. Source: RFU
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
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:
Regular season
editThe 2013–14 RFU Championship kicked off on the weekend of 14 and 15 September with the "Greene King IPA Big Rugby Weekend", an extra round of matches played as three double headers at neutral grounds.[11] Thereafter, each team played the other twice on a home and away basis with the top four qualifying for the promotion phase.
Round 1 (Big Rugby Weekend)
edit| 14 September 2013 13:00 |
| Ealing Trailfinders | 13 – 44 | London Scottish (BP) |
| Ealing Scottish |
| Allianz Park Attendance: 1,550 Referee: Darren Gamage |
| 14 September 2013 13:00 |
| Moseley | 24 – 42 | Rotherham (BP) |
| Rotherham Moseley |
| Castle Park Attendance: 1,050 Referee: Ian Tempest |
| 14 September 2013 15:15 |
| London Welsh | 23 – 14 | Bedford Blues |
| Welsh Bedford |
| Allianz Park Attendance: 1,550 Referee: Matthew Carley |
| 14 September 2013 15:15 |
| Nottingham | 24 – 16 | Leeds Carnegie |
| Nottingham Leeds |
| Castle Park Attendance: 1,098 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 15 September 2013 13:15 |
| Plymouth Albion (BP) | 41 – 27 | Jersey |
| Plymouth Jersey |
| Sandy Park Attendance: 3,752 Referee: Simon Harding |
| 15 September 2013 15:30 |
| Cornish Pirates | 23 – 21 | Bristol (BP) |
| Pirates Bristol |
| Sandy Park Attendance: 3,752 Referee: David Rose |
Round 2
edit| 20 September 2013 19:45 |
| Cornish Pirates (BP) | 20 – 27 | Leeds Carnegie (BP) |
| Pirates Leeds |
| The Mennaye Attendance: 1,844 Referee: Ross Campbell |
| 20 September 2013 19:45 |
| Plymouth Albion (BP) | 34 – 34 | Moseley (BP) |
| Plymouth |
| Brickfields Attendance: 1,746 Referee: Matthew Carley |
| 21 September 2013 15:00 |
| Jersey | 26 – 14 | Bedford Blues |
| Jersey Bedford |
| St Peter Attendance: 2,265 Referee: Luke Pearce |
| 21 September 2013 15:00 |
| Rotherham (BP) | 79 – 9 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Rotherham Ealing |
| Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,257 Referee: John Meredith |
| 22 September 2013 15:00 |
| Bristol (BP) | 31 – 18 | London Scottish |
| Bristol Scottish |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 5,320 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 22 September 2013 15:00 |
| Nottingham | 19 – 46 | London Welsh (BP) |
| Nottingham Welsh |
| Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,164 Referee: Ian Tempest |
Round 3
edit| 28 September 2013 14:30 |
| London Welsh (BP) | 40 – 9 | Plymouth Albion |
| Welsh Plymouth |
| Kassam Stadium Attendance: 999 Referee: Ross Campbell |
| 28 September 2013 15:00 |
| Bedford Blues (2 BP) | 28 – 29 | Leeds Carnegie |
| Bedford Leeds |
| Goldington Road Attendance: 2,754 Referee: Steve Lee |
| 28 September 2013 15:00 |
| Ealing Trailfinders | 17 – 31 | Cornish Pirates (BP) |
| Ealing Pirates |
| Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Matthew Carley |
| 28 September 2013 15:00 |
| Jersey | 17 – 26 | Bristol (BP) |
| Jersey Bristol |
| St Peter Attendance: 2,590 Referee: Ian Tempest |
| 28 September 2013 15:00 |
| London Scottish | 27 – 6 | Nottingham |
| Scottish Nottingham |
| Richmond Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,394 Referee: Simon Harding |
| 28 September 2013 15:00 |
| Moseley | 21 – 47 | Rotherham (BP) |
| Moseley Rotherham |
| Billesley Common Attendance: 938 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
Round 4
edit| 4 October 2013 19:45 |
| Cornish Pirates (BP) | 28 – 13 | Moseley |
| Pirates Moseley |
| The Mennaye Attendance: 1,374 Referee: Simon Harding |
| 4 October 2013 19:45 |
| Plymouth Albion (BP) | 20 – 22 | London Scottish |
| Plymouth Scottish |
| Brickfields Attendance: 1,904 Referee: Darren Gamage |
| 4 October 2013 20:00 |
| Leeds Carnegie (BP) | 64 – 3 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Leeds Ealing |
| Headingley Attendance: 2,194 Referee: Ian Tempest |
| 5 October 2013 15:00 |
| Rotherham (2 BP) | 27 – 32 | London Welsh |
| Rotherham Welsh |
| Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,828 Referee: Steve Lee |
| 6 October 2013 15:00 |
| Bristol (BP) | 45 – 27 | Bedford Blues (BP) |
| Bristol Bedford |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 4,817 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| 6 October 2013 15:00 |
| Nottingham (BP) | 19 – 22 | Jersey |
| Nottingham Jersey |
| Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,562 Referee: Ross Campbell |
Round 5
edit| 25 October 2013 19:30 |
| London Scottish (BP) | 23 – 24 | Rotherham |
| Scottish Rotherham |
| Richmond Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,103 Referee: David Rose |
| 26 October 2013 14:30 |
| (BP) Jersey | 18 – 23 | Plymouth Albion |
| Jersey Plymouth |
| St Peter Attendance: 2,216 Referee: Martin Fox |
| 26 October 2013 15:00 |
| Moseley | 18 – 27 | Leeds Carnegie (BP) |
| Moseley Leeds |
| Billesley Common Attendance: 774 Referee: Darren Gamage |
| 26 October 2013 18:30 |
| (BP) London Welsh | 41 – 6 | Cornish Pirates |
| Welsh Pirates |
| Kassam Stadium Attendance: 1,203 Referee: Ian Tempest |
| 27 October 2013 15:15 |
| (BP) Bedford Blues | 31 – 14 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Bedford Ealing |
| Goldington Road Attendance: 1,923 Referee: Dean Richards |
| 27 October 2013 15:15 |
| (BP) Bristol | 33 – 18 | Nottingham |
| Bristol Nottingham |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 5,071 Referee: Matthew Carley |
Round 6
edit| 1 November 2013 19:45 |
| Cornish Pirates | 16 – 8 | London Scottish |
| Pirates Scottish |
| The Mennaye Attendance: 1,449 Referee: Dean Richards |
| 1 November 2013 19:45 |
| Ealing Trailfinders | 6 – 15 | Moseley |
| Ealing Moseley |
| Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 692 Referee: Simon Harding |
| 2 November 2013 14:00 |
| Rotherham | 25 – 16 | Jersey |
| Rotherham Jersey |
| Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,287 Referee: John Meredith |
| 2 November 2013 15:00 |
| (2BP) Plymouth Albion | 31 – 38 | Bristol (BP) |
| Plymouth Bristol |
| Brickfields Attendance: 2,216 Referee: David Rose |
| 3 November 2013 15:00 |
| (BP) Leeds Carnegie | 24 – 31 | London Welsh |
| Leeds Welsh |
| Headingley Attendance: 2,444 Referee: Steve Lee |
| 3 November 2013 15:00 |
| Nottingham | 26 – 24 | Bedford Blues (BP) |
| Nottingham Bedford |
| Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,614 Referee: Darren Gamage |
Round 7
edit| 8 November 2013 19:45 |
| Ealing Trailfinders | 5 – 20 | Plymouth Albion |
| Ealing Plymouth |
| Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 562 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 9 November 2013 15:00 |
| Moseley | 29 – 15 | Nottingham |
| Moseley Nottingham |
| Billesley Common Attendance: 712 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| 10 November 2013 14:00 |
| (BP) London Scottish | 29 – 3 | Jersey |
| Scottish Jersey |
| Richmond Athletic Ground Attendance: 928 Referee: Thomas Foley |
| 10 November 2013 14:30 |
| London Welsh | 22 – 7 | Bristol |
| Welsh Bristol |
| Kassam Stadium Attendance: 1,821 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| 10 November 2013 15:00 |
| Cornish Pirates | 16 – 13 | Bedford Blues (BP) |
| Pirates Bedford |
| The Mennaye Attendance: 1,609 Referee: Simon Harding |
| 10 November 2013 15:00 |
| Leeds Carnegie | 19 – 10 | Rotherham |
| Leees Rotherham |
| Headingley Attendance: 2,345 Referee: Ross Campbell |
Round 8
edit| 15 November 2013 19:45 |
| Bedford Blues | 13 – 26 | Moseley |
| Bedford Moseley |
| Goldington Road Attendance: 2,545 Referee: Ross Campbell |
| 16 November 2013 12:30 |
| London Scottish | 26 – 15 | Leeds Carnegie |
| Scottish Leeds |
| Richmond Athletic Ground Attendance: 797 Referee: John Meredith |
| 16 November 2013 15:00 |
| Jersey | 27 – 25 | Cornish Pirates (BP) |
| Jersey Pirates |
| St Peter Attendance: 2,185 Referee: Matthew Carley |
| 17 November 2013 14:30 |
| (BP) London Welsh | 28 – 0 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Welsh Ealing |
| Kassam Stadium Attendance: 1,004 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| 17 November 2013 15:00 |
| (BP) Bristol | 36 – 26 | Rotherham |
| Bristol Rotherham |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 4,655 Referee: Tom Foley |
| 17 November 2013 15:00 |
| Nottingham | 15 – 10 | Plymouth Albion (BP) |
| Nottingham Plymouth |
| Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,261 Referee: Dean Richards |
Round 9
edit| 22 November 2013 19:45 |
| Plymouth Albion | 16 – 27 | Bedford Blues |
| Plymouth Bedford |
| Brickfields Attendance: 1,548 Referee: Ian Tempest |
| 23 November 2013 14:00 |
| Rotherham | 17 – 11 | Nottingham (BP) |
| Rotherham Nottingham |
| Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,390 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 23 November 2013 15:00 |
| Moseley | 8 – 24 | London Welsh |
| Moseley Welsh |
| Billesley Common Attendance: 1,081 Referee: Darren Gamage |
| 24 November 2013 15:00 |
| Cornish Pirates | 21 – 15 | Bristol (BP) |
| Pirates Bristol |
| The Mennaye Attendance: 2,176 Referee: John Meredith |
| 24 November 2013 15:00 |
| Ealing Trailfinders | 10 – 36 | London Scottish (BP) |
| Ealing Scottish |
| Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 669 Referee: Ross Campbell |
| 24 November 2013 15:00 |
| Leeds Carnegie | 29 – 13 | Jersey |
| Leeds Jersey |
| Headingley Attendance: 2,120 Referee: Steve Lee |
Round 10
edit| 29 November 2013 19:45 |
| Plymouth Albion | 17 – 28 | Rotherham |
| Plymouth Rotherham |
| Brickfields Attendance: 1,349 Referee: Tom Foley |
| 30 November 2013 14:30 |
| Jersey | 18 – 28 | Ealing Trailfinders (BP) |
| Jersey Ealing |
| St Peter Attendance: 1,902 Referee: Darren Gamage |
| 30 November 2013 15:00 |
| Bedford Blues | 28 – 26 | London Welsh (BP) |
| Bedford Welsh |
| Goldington Road Attendance: 2,599 Referee: John Meredith |
| 30 November 2013 15:00 |
| (BP) London Scottish | 38 – 17 | Moseley |
| Scottish Moseley |
| Richmond Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,128 Referee: Steve Lee |
| 1 December 2013 15:00 |
| (2BP) Bristol | 22 – 28 | Leeds Carnegie (BP) |
| Bristol Leeds |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 5,029 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 1 December 2013 15:00 |
| Nottingham | 27 – 27 | Cornish Pirates |
| Nottingham Pirates |
| Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,229 Referee: Ross Cambell |
Round 11
edit| 21 December 2013 14:30 |
| London Welsh | 5 – 13 | London Scottish |
| Welsh Scottish |
| Kassam Stadium Attendance: 1,359 Referee: Ian Tempest |
| 21 December 2013 15:00 |
| Ealing Trailfinders | 7 – 21 | Bristol |
| Ealing Bristol |
| Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 724 Referee: Simon Harding |
| 21 December 2013 15:00 |
| Moseley | 10 – 3 | Jersey (BP) |
| Moseley Jersey |
| Billesley Common Attendance: 948 Referee: Ross Campbell |
| 26 December 2013 14:00 |
| (BP) Rotherham | 35 – 6 | Bedford Blues |
| Rotherham Bedford |
| Clifton Lane Attendance: 2,217 Referee: Steve Lee |
| 26 December 2013 15:00 |
| Cornish Pirates | 10 – 3 | Plymouth Albion (BP) |
| Pirates Plymouth |
| The Mennaye Attendance: 3,050 Referee: Darren Gamage |
| 28 December 2013 15:00 |
| (BP) Leeds Carnegie | 30 – 19 | Nottingham |
| Leeds Nottingham |
| Headingley Attendance: 3,168 Referee: Dean Richards |
Round 12
edit| 28 December 2013 15:00 |
| (BP) Bristol | 29 – 8 | Moseley |
| Bristol Moseley |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 6,860 Referee: Thomas Foley |
| 1 January 2014 15:00 |
| Bedford Blues | 21 – 13 | London Scottish |
| Bedford Scottish |
| Goldington Road Attendance: 2,555 Referee: John Meredith |
| 4 January 2014 14:00 |
| (BP) Jersey | 26 – 33 | London Welsh |
| Jersey Welsh |
| St Peter Attendance: 1,617 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 4 January 2014 14:00 |
| (BP) Rotherham | 35 – 30 | Cornish Pirates (BP) |
| Rotherham Pirates |
| Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,735 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| 4 January 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Plymouth Albion | 14 – 15 | Leeds Carnegie |
| Plymouth Leeds |
| Brickfields Attendance: 1,835 Referee: Martin Fox |
| 5 January 2014 15:00 |
| (2 BP) Nottingham | 27 – 28 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Nottingham Ealing |
| Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,367 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
Round 13
edit| 25 January 2014 15:00 |
| Bedford Blues | 14 – 9 | Nottingham (BP) |
| Bedford Nottingham |
| Goldington Road Attendance: 2,189 Referee: Ross Campbell |
| 25 January 2014 15:00 |
| Jersey | 22 – 35 | Rotherham (BP) |
| Jersey Rotherham |
| St Peter Attendance: 2,044 Referee: John Meredith |
| 25 January 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) London Scottish | 25 – 6 | Cornish Pirates |
| Scottish Pirates |
| Richmond Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,675 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| 25 January 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Moseley | 22 – 12 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Moseley Ealing |
| Billesley Common Attendance: 700 Referee: Thomas Foley |
| 26 January 2014 14:30 |
| London Welsh | 19 – 10 | Leeds Carnegie |
| Welsh Leeds |
| Kassam Stadium Attendance: 1,538 Referee: Martin Fox |
Round 14
edit| 31 January 2014 20:00 |
| Nottingham | 15 – 3 | London Scottish |
| Nottingham Scottish |
| Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,197 Referee: Andrew Small |
| 1 February 2014 14:00 |
| Rotherham | 16 – 6 | Moseley |
| Rotherham Moseley |
| Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,287 Referee: Dean Richards |
| 1 February 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Plymouth Albion | 36 – 15 | London Welsh |
| Plymouth Welsh |
| Brickfields Attendance: 2,024 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| 2 February 2014 14:00 |
| Cornish Pirates | 18 – 18 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Pirates Ealing |
| The Mennaye Attendance: 1,127 Referee: Luke Pearce |
| 2 February 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Bristol | 54 – 14 | Jersey |
| Bristol Jersey |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 4,657 Referee: Francisco Pastrana (UAR) |
| 2 February 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Leeds Carnegie | 50 – 6 | Bedford Blues |
| Leeds Bedford |
| Headingley Attendance: 2,086 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
Round 15
edit- This match was postponed, as the surface of many parts of the pitch is under water.[24] It has been rescheduled to 21 February.[25]
| 8 February 2014 14:30 |
| (BP) London Scottish | 38 – 27 | Plymouth Albion (BP) |
| Scottish Plymouth |
| Richmond Athletic Ground Attendance: 819 Referee: David Procter |
| 8 February 2014 15:00 |
| Bedford Blues | 19 – 32 | Bristol (BP) |
| Bedford Bristol |
| Goldington Road Attendance: 2,009 Referee: Darren Gamage |
| 8 February 2014 15:00 |
| Ealing Trailfinders | 11 – 46 | Leeds Carnegie (BP) |
| Ealing Leeds |
| Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 631 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 8 February 2014 15:00 |
| Jersey | 17 – 13 | Nottingham (BP) |
| Jersey Nottingham |
| St Peter Attendance: 1,592 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| 9 February 2014 14:30 |
| (BP) London Welsh | 47 – 16 | Rotherham |
| Welsh Rotherham |
| Kassam Stadium Attendance: 1,061 Referee: Steve Lee |
Round 16
edit- This match was postponed as the pitch was deemed unplayable. It has been rescheduled to 22 February.[26]
| 15 February 2014 14:00 |
| Rotherham | 15 – 12 | London Scottish (BP) |
| Rotherham Scottish |
| Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,342 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
- This match was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.[27]
- This match was postponed after a pitch inspection at The Mennaye.[28] It has been rescheduled to 16 March.[29]
| 16 February 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Leeds Carnegie | 62 – 5 | Moseley |
| Leeds |
| Headingley Attendance: 3,902 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
| 16 February 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Nottingham | 24 – 25 | Bristol |
| Nottingham Bristol |
| Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,305 Referee: John Meredith |
Postponed matches
edit
| 21 February 2014 19:30 |
| Moseley | 28 – 20 | Cornish Pirates |
| Pirates |
| Billesley Common Attendance: 626 Referee: Ross Campbell |
- This match – originally scheduled to be played in Round 15 on 7 February 2014 – was postponed as many parts of the pitch was under water.[24]
- This match – originally scheduled to be played in Round 16 on 14 February 2014 – was postponed as the pitch was deemed unplayable.[30] The match was again postponed due to an unplayable pitch.[26] It will now be played on 15 March.[31]
| 23 February 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Bristol | 43 – 12 | Plymouth Albion |
| Bristol Plymouth |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 4,408 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
- This match – originally scheduled to be played in Round 13 on 26 January 2014 – was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.[21][22]
Round 17
edit| 28 February 2014 19:45 |
| Plymouth Albion | 22 – 12 | Nottingham |
| Plymouth Nottingham |
| Brickfields Attendance: 1,436 Referee: Steve Lee |
| 1 March 2014 15:00 |
| Ealing Trailfinders | 6 – 39 | London Welsh (BP) |
| Ealing Welsh |
| Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 1,571 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
| 1 March 2014 15:00 |
| Moseley | 24 – 13 | Bedford Blues |
| Moseley Bedford |
| Billesley Common Attendance: 1,090 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| 1 March 2014 15:00 |
| Rotherham | 26 – 34 | Bristol (BP) |
| Rotherham Bristol |
| Clifton Lane Attendance: 2,349 Referee: Ian Tempest |
| 2 March 2014 15:00 |
| Cornish Pirates | 19 – 15 | Jersey (BP) |
| Pirates Jersey |
| The Mennaye Attendance: 1,183 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 2 March 2014 15:00 |
| Leeds Carnegie | 27 – 18 | London Scottish |
| Leeds Scottish |
| Headingley Attendance: 1,960 Referee: Darren Gamage |
Round 18
edit| 8 March 2014 15:00 |
| Bedford Blues | 18 – 33 | Plymouth Albion |
| Bedford Plymouth |
| Goldington Road Attendance: 2,199 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 8 March 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Jersey | 13 – 18 | Leeds Carnegie |
| Jersey Leeds |
| St Peter Attendance: 2,012 Referee: Martin Fox |
| 9 March 2014 12:00 |
| (BP) London Welsh | 42 – 18 | Moseley |
| Welsh |
| Old Deer Park Attendance: 2,006 Referee: Dean Richards |
| 9 March 2014 12:30 |
| (BP) London Scottish | 42 – 13 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Scottish Ealing |
| Richmond Athletic Ground Attendance: 856 Referee: Thomas Foley |
| 9 March 2014 13:00 |
| (BP) Bristol | 46 – 33 | Cornish Pirates (BP) |
| Bristol Pirates |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 5,035 Referee: John Meredith |
| 9 March 2014 13:00 |
| Nottingham | 7 – 51 | Rotherham |
| Nottingham Rotherham |
| Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,329 Referee: Darren Gamage |
Postponed matches (2)
edit
| 15 March 2014 15:00 |
| Ealing Trailfinders | 23 – 39 | Bedford Blues (BP) |
| Ealing Bedford |
| Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 528 Referee: John Meredith |
- This match – originally scheduled to be played in Round 16 on 14 February 2014 – was postponed as the pitch was deemed unplayable.[30] The pitch was again found to be unplayable on the new date of 22 February, and the match was postponed for the second time.[26]
| 15 March 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Plymouth Albion | 23 – 30 | Jersey |
| Plymouth Jersey |
| Brickfields Attendance: 1,036 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
- This match – originally scheduled to be played in Round 16 on 15 February 2014 – was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.[27]
| 16 March 2014 15:00 |
| Cornish Pirates | 5 – 20 | London Welsh |
| Pirates Welsh |
| The Mennaye Attendance: 1,387 Referee: Martin Fox |
- This match – originally scheduled to be played in Round 16 on 16 February 2014 – was postponed after a pitch inspection at The Mennaye.[28]
Round 19
edit| 21 March 2014 19:45 |
| Ealing Trailfinders | 25 – 23 | Jersey (BP) |
| Ealing Jersey |
| Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 843 Referee: Matthew Carley |
| 22 March 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Moseley | 20 – 23 | London Scottish |
| Moseley Scottish |
| Billesley Common Attendance: 902 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
| 22 March 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Rotherham | 45 – 10 | Plymouth Albion |
| Rotherham Plymouth |
| Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,386 Referee: Martin Fox |
| 23 March 2014 14:30 |
| (BP) London Welsh | 29 – 11 | Bedford Blues |
| Welsh Bedford |
| Kassam Stadium Attendance: 1,353 Referee: Darren Gamage |
| 23 March 2014 15:00 |
| Cornish Pirates | 17 – 11 | Nottingham (BP) |
| Pirates Nottingham |
| The Mennaye Attendance: 1,235 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| 23 March 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Leeds Carnegie | 27 – 33 | Bristol (BP) |
| Leeds Bristol |
| Headingley Attendance: 3,297 Referee: Thomas Foley |
Round 20
edit| 29 March 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Plymouth Albion | 20 – 26 | Cornish Pirates |
| Plymouth Pirates |
| Brickfields Attendance: 2,598 Referee: Darren Gamage |
| 29 March 2014 17:00 |
| Bedford Blues | 12 – 33 | Rotherham |
| Bedford Rotherham |
| Goldington Road Attendance: 1,844 Referee: Thomas Foley |
| 30 March 2014 14:00 |
| London Scottish | 21 – 32 | London Welsh |
| Scottish Welsh |
| Richmond Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,807 Referee: John Meredith |
- This result means that London Welsh will finish in the top four and therefore are into the playoffs.
| 30 March 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Bristol | 82 – 28 | Ealing Trailfinders (BP) |
| Bristol Ealing |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 4,852 Referee: David Procter |
- This result means that Bristol will finish in the top four and therefore are into the playoffs.
| 30 March 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Nottingham | 20 – 27 | Leeds Carnegie |
| Nottingham Leeds |
| Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,315 Referee: Martin Fox |
Round 21
edit| 12 April 2014 14:00 |
| (BP) London Welsh | 45 – 7 | Jersey |
| Welsh Jersey |
| Kassam Stadium Attendance: 1,082 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 12 April 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 37 – 35 | Nottingham (2BP) |
| Ealing Nottingham |
| Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 473 Referee: Dean Richards |
| 12 April 2014 15:00 |
| Moseley | 24 – 33 | Bristol (BP) |
| Moseley Bristol |
| Billesley Common Attendance: 1,437 Referee: Thomas Foley |
| 13 April 2014 14:00 |
| London Scottish | 19 – 15 | Bedford Blues (BP) |
| Scottish Bedford |
| Richmond Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,057 Referee: Martin Fox |
| 13 April 2014 15:00 |
| Cornish Pirates | 20 – 40 | Rotherham (BP) |
| Pirates Rotherham |
| The Mennaye Attendance: 1,372 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
| 13 April 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Leeds Carnegie | 40 – 14 | Plymouth Albion |
| Leeds Plymouth |
| Headingley Attendance: 1,870 Referee: Ian Tempest |
Round 22
edit| 18 April 2014 19:45 |
| (BP) Bristol | 25 – 21 | London Welsh (BP) |
| Bristol Welsh |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 8,061 Referee: Luke Pearce |
| 18 April 2014 20:00 |
| (BP) Nottingham | 29 – 24 | Moseley (2 BPs) |
| Nottingham |
| Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,402 Referee: Ian Tempest |
| 19 April 2014 14:00 |
| Jersey | 17 – 25 | London Scottish |
| Jersey Scottish |
| St Peter Attendance: 2,345 Referee: Darren Gamage |
| 19 April 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Bedford Blues | 48 – 36 | Cornish Pirates (BP) |
| Bedford Pirates |
| Goldington Road Attendance: 2,365 Referee: Thomas Foley |
| 19 April 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Plymouth Albion | 21 – 26 | Ealing Trailfinders (BP) |
| Plymouth Ealing |
| Brickfields Attendance: 1,555 Referee: Steve Lee |
| 19 April 2014 15:00 |
| Rotherham | 17 – 34 | Leeds Carnegie |
| Rotherham Leeds |
| Abbeydale Park, Sheffield Attendance: 2,477 Referee: Martin Fox |
Round 23
edit| 25 April 2014 20:00 |
| (BP) Leeds Carnegie | 36 – 3 | Cornish Pirates |
| Leeds Pirates |
| Headingley Attendance: 2,017 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 26 April 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) Bedford Blues | 31 – 41 | Jersey (BP) |
| Bedford Jersey |
| Goldington Road Attendance: 2,659 Referee: Andrew Small |
| 26 April 2014 15:00 |
| (2 BPs) Ealing Trailfinders | 29 – 36 | Rotherham (BP) |
| Ealing Rotherham |
| Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 842 Referee: Dean Richards |
| 26 April 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) London Scottish | 31 – 55 | Bristol Rugby (BP) |
| Scottish Bristol |
| Richmond Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,155 Referee: Ian Tempest |
| 26 April 2014 15:00 |
| (BP) London Welsh | 64 – 12 | Nottingham |
| Welsh Nottingham |
| Old Deer Park Attendance: 1,236 Referee: John Meredith |
| 26 April 2014 15:00 |
| Moseley | 16 – 11 | Plymouth Albion (BP) |
| Plymouth |
| Billesley Common Attendance: 1,105 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
Play–offs
editSemi–finals
editThe semi–finals followed a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system - with the games being played over two legs and the higher placed team deciding who played at home in the first leg.[3]
First leg
edit| 10 May 2014 14:45 |
| Bristol Rugby | 17 – 14 | Rotherham |
| Bristol Rotherham |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 5,839 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| 11 May 2014 13:00 |
| Leeds Carnegie | 38 – 31 | London Welsh |
| Leeds Welsh |
| Headingley Attendance: 2,844 Referee: Andrew Small |
Second leg
edit| 17 May 2014 18:05 |
| Rotherham | 11 – 22 | Bristol Rugby |
| Rotherham Bristol |
| Abbeydale Sports Club (Sheffield RUFC) Attendance: 3,267 Referee: Matthew Carley |
- Bristol won 39 — 25 on aggregate
| 18 May 2014 12:45 |
| London Welsh | 29 – 20 | Leeds Carnegie |
| Welsh Leeds |
| Kassam Stadium Attendance: 2,324 Referee: Greg Garner |
- London Welsh won 60 — 58 on aggregate
Final
edit| 28 May 2014 19:45 |
| London Welsh | 27 – 8 | Bristol Rugby |
| Welsh Bristol |
| Kassam Stadium Attendance: 5,021 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| 4 June 2014 19:45 |
| Bristol Rugby | 20 – 21 | London Welsh |
| Bristol Welsh |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 10,905 Referee: Luke Pearce |
- London Welsh won 48–28 on aggregate and were promoted to Premiership Rugby
Total attendances
edit- Note attendance statistics include 1st round with each team playing at the neutral venue considered the 'home team' as well as playoff games
| Club | Home Matches | Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Blues | 12 | 27,137 | 2,261 | 2,754 | 1,550 | 37% |
| Bristol | 14 | 79,261 | 5,662 | 10,905 | 3,752 | 47% |
| Cornish Pirates | 12 | 21,558 | 1,797 | 3,752 | 1,127 | 40% |
| Ealing Trailfinders | 12 | 10,085 | 840 | 1,571 | 473 | 25% |
| Jersey | 12 | 27,184 | 2,265 | 3,752 | 1,592 | 42% |
| Leeds Carnegie | 13 | 30,028 | 2,310 | 3,902 | 1,098 | 13% |
| London Scottish | 12 | 15,269 | 1,272 | 2,155 | 797 | 27% |
| London Welsh | 14 | 24,121 | 1,723 | 5,021 | 999 | 16% |
| Moseley | 12 | 11,363 | 947 | 1,437 | 626 | 29% |
| Nottingham | 12 | 15,843 | 1,320 | 1,614 | 1,098 | 9% |
| Plymouth Albion | 12 | 22,999 | 1,917 | 3,752 | 1,036 | 22% |
| Rotherham Titans | 13 | 22,872 | 1,759 | 3,267 | 1,050 | 66% |
Top scorers
edit
Top points scorersedit
|
Top try scorersedit
|
Season records
edit
Teamedit
79 – 9 Rotherham Titans at home to Ealing Trailfinders on 21 September 2013
51 - 7 Rotherham Titans away to Nottingham on 9 March 2014
82 – 28 Bristol at home to Ealing Trailfinders on 30 March 2014
Bristol at home to Ealing Trailfinders on 30 March 2014
Bristol at home to Ealing Trailfinders on 30 March 2014
Leeds Carnegie at home to London Welsh on 11 May 2014
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Nottingham on 12 April 2014 [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]
|
Playeredit
N/A - multiple players [42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51] Attendancesedit
Bristol at home to London Welsh on 4 June 2014
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Nottingham on 12 April 2014
Bristol
Ealing Trailfinders
|
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "RFU Championship Statistics - Top Point Scorers". Rugby Round Up. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
- ^ a b "RFU Championship Statistics - Top Try Scorers". Rugby Round Up. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Greene King IPA to sponsor RFU Championship" (Press release). Rugby Football Union. 26 June 2013. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
- ^ Mick Cleary (16 April 2013). "London Welsh's agony proves that relegation is a must in the Aviva Premiership". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ^ a b Ed Mezzetti (31 May 2013). "Most fans want London Welsh to stay in Oxford, says chairman". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ^ Matt Newsum (29 May 2013). "Newcastle beat Bedford to seal promotion to Premiership". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ^ "FT Bedford 38 Knights 26 - Doncaster Knights relegated to National One". Doncaster Free Press. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ^ John Wilkinson (29 April 2013). "Ealing Trailfinders 41 Coventry 17". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ^ "Rugby Football Union to fund travel for Cup games". BBC Sport. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ "RaboDirect Pro12 games to be shown on Sky Sports from 2014". Sky Sports. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Tickets on sale for Greene King IPA Big Rugby Weekend". Rugby Football Union. 10 July 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
- ^ a b "Championship: RFU to abolish play-off pool stages". BBC Sport. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ^ Jonathan Reilly (13 March 2011). "Premiership is no go for now admits chief Irvine". Bedfordshire News. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ^ "Minimum Standards Criteria audit results" (Press release). Rugby Football Union. 9 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ^ Pilnick, Brent (22 August 2012). "RFU unveils new funding deal for Championship clubs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ^ "Rugby - Fixtures & Results". London Welsh RFC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
- ^ "Rugby Union: Damage fears for Abbeydale outfield". thestar.co.uk. 10 April 2014.
- ^ "Titans secure Abbeydale for massive semi final against Bristol". rotherhamrugby.co.uk. 30 April 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
- ^ "Bristol Rugby deducted one point for breach of regulations". BBC Sport. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "Championship: Jersey docked two points and fined £5,000". BBC Sport. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
- ^ a b "POSTPONED: Bristol Rugby Vs Plymouth Albion". Bristol. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ a b "Bristol v Plymouth Albion Postponed". Plymouth Albion. 26 January 2014. Archived from the original on January 27, 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- ^ "Bristol Match Rearranged". Plymouth Albion. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
- ^ a b "Moseley POSTPONED". Cornish Pirates. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
- ^ "1st XV Team Fixtures for 2013 - 2014". Moseley Rugby Football Club. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ a b c "ETRFC v Bedford Blues – Rescheduled for Saturday 22 Feb". Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club. 14 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ a b "Plymouth Albion v Jersey match Postponed". Plymouth Albion. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
- ^ a b "Welsh Home". Cornish Pirates. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
- ^ "Welsh Home : New Match Date". Cornish Pirates. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ^ a b "EALING TRAILFINDERS RESCHEDULED". Bedford Blues. 13 February 2014. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ "Bedford visit rescheduled for 15 March". Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
- ^ a b "Championship 13/14 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Championship Playoffs 13/14 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Championship 13/14 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2014.
- ^ "Championship Playoffs 13/14 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Championship 13/14 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2014.
- ^ "Championship Playoffs 13/14 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Championship 13/14 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2014.
- ^ "Championship Playoffs 13/14 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Championship 13/14 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2014.
- ^ "Championship Playoffs 13/14 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Championship 13/14 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2014.
- ^ "Championship Playoffs 13/14 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Championship 13/14 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2014.
- ^ "Championship Playoffs 13/14 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Championship 13/14 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2014.
- ^ "Championship Playoffs 13/14 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Championship 13/14 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2014.
- ^ "Championship Playoffs 13/14 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Championship 13/14 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 April 2014.
- ^ "Championship Playoffs 13/14 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 4 June 2014.