2021–22 RFU Championship Cup

The 2021–22 RFU Championship Cup was the third season of the annual rugby union Championship Cup competition for second tier, professional English clubs playing in the RFU Championship.[1] The competition returned after a 14-month hiatus, following the cancellation of the previous year's tournament and the mid season cancellation of the 2019–20 tournament.

2021–22 RFU Championship Cup
Tournament details
Countries England Jersey Jersey
Tournament format(s)Knockout
Date9 April – 21 May 2022
Tournament statistics
Teams11
Final
ChampionsEaling Trailfinders (2nd title)
Runners-upCoventry
← 2019–20 (Previous)
(Next) 2022–23 →

Competition format

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The competition format is two-legged knockout ties with a first round of five matches, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. The Championship winners, Ealing Trailfinders received a bye to the quarter-finals. The first round matches took place on 9 April, following the final round of Championship fixtures. In the competition's inaugural season, the RFU had set out the pool matches in a regional format to encourage derby games, but this year's competition format is more loosely structured.

Participating teams and locations

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First round

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First leg

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8 April 2022
19:45
Nottingham14 – 38Bedford Blues
Lady Bay
9 April 2022
15:00
Ampthill27 – 21Coventry
Dillingham Park

Second leg

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  • Jersey Reds win 111 – 21 on aggregate
  • Doncaster Knights win 56 – 46 on aggregate
24 April 2022
14:30
Hartpury University35 – 40Richmond
ALPAS Arena
  • Hartpury University win 96 – 66 on aggregate
24 April 2022
15:00
Coventry31 – 22Ampthill
Butts Park Arena
  • Coventry win 52 – 49 on aggregate
24 April 2022
15:00
Bedford Blues52 – 19Nottingham
Goldington Road
  • Bedford Blues win 90 – 33 on aggregate

Knock-out stage

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The four overall winners from round 1 along with the best two losing teams and Ealing Trailfinders will contest the two-legged quarter-finals. The competition will then be played in a single-leg straight knockout format.

Quarter-finals

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1st leg

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29 April
19:45
Hartpury University19 – 19Jersey Reds
ALPAS Arena
30 April
14:30
Cornish Pirates38 – 37Bedford Blues
Mennaye Field
30 April
14:30
Doncaster Knights22 – 35Coventry
Castle Park
30 April
15:00
Ampthill21 – 31Ealing Trailfinders
Dillingham Park

2nd leg

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6 May
19:45
Jersey Reds30 – 14Hartpury University
Stade Santander International
  • Jersey Reds won 49 - 34 on aggregate
7 May
15:00
Bedford Blues32 – 33Cornish Pirates
Goldington Road
  • Cornish Pirates won 71 – 69 on aggregate
7 May
15:00
Ealing Trailfinders56 – 24Ampthill
Trailfinders Sports Ground
  • Ealing Trailfinders won 87 – 45 on aggregate
8 May
15:00
Coventry27 – 31Doncaster Knights
Butts Park Arena
  • Coventry won 62 – 53 on aggregate

Semi-finals

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13 May
19:00
Jersey Reds17 – 20Coventry
Stade Santander International
14 May
15:00
Ealing Trailfinders36 – 26Cornish Pirates
Trailfinders Sports Ground

Final

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21 May
Ealing Trailfinders19 – 13Coventry
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,400
Referee: Michael Hudson

[3]


See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Fixture update & Championship Cup". Cornish Pirates. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  2. ^ "A right mess entirely of the RFU's making". The RugbyPaper. No. 703. 6 March 2022. p. 11.
  3. ^ Ballheimer, David (22 May 2022). "Ealing double up to sink gutsy Cov". The RugbyPaper. No. 714. p. 22.
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