The 2021–22 RFU Championship was the thirteenth season of the RFU Championship, the professional second tier of rugby union in England. It featured ten English teams and one from Jersey. Saracens are the reigning champions and were promoted to the Premiership.
Quick Facts Countries, Number of teams ...
2021–22 RFU Championship |
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Countries | England Jersey |
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Number of teams | 11 |
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Date | 17 September 2021 — 2 April 2022 |
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Champions | Ealing Trailfinders |
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Runners-up | Doncaster Knights |
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Matches played | 110 |
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Attendance | 141,606 (average 1,287 per match) |
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Highest attendance | 4,153 – Bedford Blues v Jersey Reds, 26 December 2021 |
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Lowest attendance | 321 – Ampthill v Richmond, 19 February 2022 |
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Tries scored | 794 (average 7.2 per match) |
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Top point scorer | 150 – James Williams (Hartpury) |
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Top try scorer | 17 – Mark Bright (Richmond) Eoghan Clarke (Jersey Reds)[1] |
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In a return to the structure used prior to 2020–21, the eleven teams played each of the other teams twice. There was no end of season play-off and as no team met the minimum standards criteria, no team was promoted to Premiership Rugby.[2] For the second consecutive year no team was relegated from the league.
For the second 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.[3][4][5] Last season, following news of the funding change, several clubs announced a switch to a semi-professional business model.[6][7]
Locations of the 2021–22 RFU Championship teams
Greater London RFU Championship teams
Ten of the eleven teams played in last season's competition. Saracens having beaten Ealing Trailfinders in the 2020–21 final were promoted into Premiership Rugby with no team relegated.[8] London Scottish returned to the league following a one-year hiatus due to the costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] They intended to leave the Athletic Ground ahead of this season, however it was later confirmed they would remain at the Athletic Ground.[10][11]
More information Club, Stadium ...
Club |
Stadium |
Capacity |
Area |
Previous season |
Ampthill |
Dillingham Park |
3,000 |
Ampthill, Bedfordshire |
7th |
Bedford Blues |
Goldington Road |
5,000 (1,700 seats)[lower-alpha 1] |
Bedford, Bedfordshire |
8th |
Cornish Pirates |
Mennaye Field |
4,000 (2,200 seats) |
Penzance, Cornwall |
4th |
Coventry |
Butts Park Arena |
4,000 (3,000 seats) |
Coventry, West Midlands |
5th |
Doncaster Knights |
Castle Park |
5,183[12] (1,650 seats) |
Doncaster, South Yorkshire |
3rd |
Ealing Trailfinders |
Trailfinders Sports Ground |
4,000 (2,200 seats) |
West Ealing, London |
1st (runner up) |
Hartpury University |
ALPAS Arena |
2,000 |
Hartpury, Gloucestershire |
9th |
Jersey Reds |
Stade Santander International |
4,000 |
Saint Peter, Jersey |
6th |
London Scottish |
Athletic Ground |
4,500 (1,000 seats) |
Richmond, London |
N/A |
Nottingham |
Lady Bay Sports Ground |
3,500 |
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire |
10th |
Richmond |
Athletic Ground |
4,500 (1,000 seats) |
Richmond, London |
11th |
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More information Pos, Team ...
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Updated to match(es) played on 2 April 2022. 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
Fixtures for the season were announced by the RFU on 22 July 2021. The season commenced on 17 September and the final round of matches are due to take place in mid-March.
Round 1
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,047 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
[13]
Round 2
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 1,247 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
Dillingham Park Attendance: 842 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
[14]
Round 3
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 937 Referee: Adam Leal |
[15]
Round 4
ALPAS Arena Attendance: 1,194 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
Dillingham Park Attendance: 1,924 Referee: Hamish Smales |
[16]
Round 5
Nottingham | 8 – 32 | Cornish Pirates (1 BP) |
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Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,233 Referee: Mike Hudson |
Jersey Reds | 17 – 17 | Ampthill |
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Stade Santander International Attendance: 941 Referee: Joe James |
(2 BP) Bedford Blues | 32 – 37 | Richmond (1 BP) |
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Goldington Road Attendance: 2,735 Referee: George Selwood |
Coventry | 24 – 73 | Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP) |
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Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,363 Referee: Sara Cox |
London Scottish | 19 – 62 | Hartpury (1 BP) |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 475 Referee: Alex Thomas |
[17]
Round 6
(1 BP) Ampthill | 18 – 20 | Doncaster Knights |
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Dillingham Park Attendance: 579 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
(1 BP) Richmond | 20 – 26 | Jersey Reds |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 855 Referee: Brendon Pickerill |
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates | 40 – 5 | Coventry |
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Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,897 Referee: Nick Wood |
Hartpury | 19 – 42 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
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ALPAS Arena Attendance: 1,047 Referee: Sara Cox |
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 101 – 7 | London Scottish |
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Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 850 Referee: Neil Chivers |
[18]
Round 7
( 1 BP) Jersey Reds | 32 – 17 | Hartpury |
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Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,013 Referee: Alexander Thomas |
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights | 37 – 5 | Richmond |
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Castle Park Attendance: 947 Referee: Neil Chivers |
Bedford Blues | 14 – 50 | Ealing Trailfinders ( 1 BP) |
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Goldington Road Attendance: 2,172 Referee: Joseph James |
(1 BP) Coventry | 35 – 12 | Nottingham |
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Butts Park Arena Attendance: 1,804 Referee: Simon Harding |
(1 BP) London Scottish | 17 – 19 | Cornish Pirates |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 662 Referee: Harry Walbaum |
[19]
Round 8
(1 BP) Nottingham | 41 – 31 | London Scottish (1 BP) |
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Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,141 Referee: Charlie Gayther |
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates | 39 – 24 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
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Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,686 Referee: Dan Jones |
(2 BP) Richmond | 36 – 38 | Ampthill (1 BP) |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 530 Referee: George Selwood |
(1 BP) Hartpury | 15 – 20 | Doncaster Knights |
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ALPAS Arena Attendance: 827 Referee: Joe James |
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 35 – 29 | Jersey Reds (2 BP) |
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Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 900 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
[20]
Round 9
(1 BP) Ampthill | 24 – 39 | Hartpury (1 BP) |
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Dillingham Park Attendance: 754 Referee: Michael Hudson |
Jersey Reds | 15 – 5 | Cornish Pirates |
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Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,803 Referee: Neil Chivers |
Doncaster Knights | 22 – 5 | Ealing Trailfinders |
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Castle Park Attendance: 703 Referee: Ian Tempest |
(1 BP) Bedford Blues | 40 – 9 | Nottingham |
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Goldington Road Attendance: 1,083 Referee: Dan Jones |
(1 BP) London Scottish | 36 – 23 | Coventry |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 903 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
[21]
Round 10
Nottingham | P – P | Jersey Reds |
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Lady Bay Sports Ground [22] |
(1 BP) Hartpury | 38 – 20 | Richmond |
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ALPAS Arena Attendance: 853 Referee: Neil Chivers |
Coventry | 15 – 14 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
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Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,047 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 54 – 17 | Ampthill |
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Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 828 Referee: Dan Jones |
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates | 29 – 7 | Doncaster Knights |
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Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,630 Referee: Adam Leal |
[23]
Round 11
Ampthill | 13 – 26 | Cornish Pirates (1 BP) |
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Dillingham Park Attendance: 508 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights | 45 – 12 | Nottingham |
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Castle Park Attendance: 812 Referee: Sara Cox |
(1 BP) Bedford Blues | 24 – 19 | London Scottish (1 BP) |
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Goldington Road Attendance: 2,070 Referee: Harry Walbaum |
(1 BP) Jersey Reds | 29 – 24 | Coventry (1 BP) |
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Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,090 Referee: Adam Leal |
Richmond | 24 – 33 | Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP) |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 940 Referee: Joe James |
[24]
Round 12
Ampthill | 20 – 15 | Nottingham (1 BP) |
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Dillingham Park Attendance: 539 Referee: George Selwood |
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights | 31 – 9 | Coventry |
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Castle Park Attendance: 800 Referee: Alexander Thomas |
Hartpury | P – P | Ealing Trailfinders |
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(1 BP) Jersey Reds | 31 – 13 | London Scottish |
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Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,028 Referee: Nick Wood |
Richmond | P – P | Cornish Pirates |
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[26]
Round 13
(1 BP) Coventry | 26 – 22 | Ampthill (1 BP) |
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Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,501 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
Bedford Blues | 28 – 19 | Jersey Reds |
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Goldington Road Attendance: 4,153 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
London Scottish | 19 – 39 | Doncaster Knights (1 BP) |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 909 Referee: Adam Leal |
Lady Bay Sports Ground [27] |
Cornish Pirates | P – P | Hartpury |
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Bye/s: Ealing Trailfinders |
[29]
Round 14
(1 BP) Ampthill | 36 – 17 | London Scottish |
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Dillingham Park Attendance: 749 Referee: Sara Cox |
Doncaster Knights | P – P | Bedford Blues |
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Ealing Trailfinders | P – P | Cornish Pirates |
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Trailfinders Sports Ground[30] |
(1 BP) Hartpury | 30 – 26 | Nottingham (2 BP) |
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ALPAS Arena Attendance: 381 Referee: Sara Cox |
[29]
Round 15
Nottingham | 21 – 34 | Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP) |
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Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 851 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
Bedford Blues | 10 – 20 | Ampthill |
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Goldington Road Attendance: 3,431 Referee: Adam Leal |
(1 BP) Coventry | 34 – 33 | Hartpury (2 BP) |
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Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,136 Referee: Joe James |
Jersey Reds | 19 – 35 | Doncaster Knights (1 BP) |
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Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,274 Referee: Sara Cox |
London Scottish | 12 – 31 | Richmond (1 BP) |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,532 Referee: Nick Wood |
[31]
Round 16
(1 BP) Hartpury | 31 – 31 | London Scottish (1 BP) |
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ALPAS Arena Attendance: 1,503 Referee: Hary Walbaum |
(1 BP) Ampthill | 12 – 17 | Jersey Reds |
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Dillingham Park Attendance: 627 Referee: Charlie Gayther |
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates | 52 – 17 | Nottingham |
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Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,848 Referee: Dan Jones |
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 47 – 5 | Coventry |
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Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 901 Referee: George Selwood |
Richmond | 22 – 19 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,740 Referee: Sara Cox |
[32]
Round 17
(1 BP) Jersey Reds | 29 – 13 | Richmond |
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Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,272 Referee: Hamish Smales |
Doncaster Knights | 19 – 13 | Ampthill (1 BP) |
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Castle Park Attendance: 1,131 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
Bedford Blues | 10 – 34 | Hartpury (1 BP) |
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Goldington Road Attendance: 2,073 Referee: Alex Thomas |
Coventry | 21 – 31 | Cornish Pirates (1 BP) |
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Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,534 Referee: Mike Hudson |
London Scottish | P – P | Ealing Trailfinders |
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[33]
Rounds 10, 12 & 14 (rescheduled matches)
(1 BP) Nottingham | 31 – 41 | Jersey Reds (1 BP) |
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Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 838 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
Richmond | 24 – 24 | Cornish Pirates (1 BP) |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 630 Referee: Dan Jones |
Doncaster Knights | 24 – 0 | Bedford Blues |
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Castle Park Attendance: 1,112 Referee: Nick Wood |
Hartpury | 14 – 33 | Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP) |
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ALPAS Arena Attendance: 811 Referee: Michale Hudson |
[34]
Round 18
(1 BP) Nottingham | 27 – 15 | Coventry |
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Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 919 Referee: Hamish Smales |
(1 BP) Hartpury | 31 – 40 | Jersey Reds (1 BP) |
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ALPAS Arena Attendance: 966 Referee: Dan Jones |
Cornish Pirates | 19 – 0 | London Scottish |
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Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,440 Referee: Alex Thomas |
Ealing Trailfinders | 19 – 31 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
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Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 1,250 Referee: George Selwood |
(2 BP) Richmond | 30 – 33 | Doncaster Knights (1 BP) |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 700 Referee: Charles Gayther |
[35]
Round 19
Ampthill | 13 – 8 | Richmond (1 BP) |
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Dillingham Park Attendance: 321 Referee: Nick Wood |
Doncaster Knights | 11 – 10 | Hartpury (1 BP) |
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Castle Park Attendance: 1,214 Referee: Joe James |
Bedford Blues | 12 – 20 | Cornish Pirates |
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Goldington Road Attendance: 2,571 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
Jersey Reds | 10 – 22 | Ealing Trailfinders |
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Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,464 Referee: Adam Leal |
London Scottish | 24 – 36 | Nottingham (1 BP) |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 480 Referee: Michael Hudson |
[36]
Round 20
(1 BP) Hartpury | 20 – 21 | Ampthill |
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ALPAS Arena Attendance: 1,073 Referee: Nicholas Wood |
(1 BP) Coventry | 62 – 12 | London Scottish |
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Butts Park Arena Attendance: 1,977 Referee: Dan Jones |
Ealing Trailfinders | 17 – 25 | Doncaster Knights |
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Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 983 Referee: Hamish Smales |
Cornish Pirates | 21 – 17 | Jersey Reds (1 BP) |
| | |
Mennaye Field Attendance: 2,042[37] Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
Nottingham | 22 – 47 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
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Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,288 Referee: Harry Walbaum |
[38]
Rounds 13 & 17 (rescheduled matches)
(1 BP) Nottingham | 12 – 19 | Richmond |
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Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,270 Referee: Joe James |
London Scottish | 0 – 81 | Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP) |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 584 Referee: Charles Gayther |
[38]
Round 21
(1 BP) Bedford Blues | 15 – 17 | Coventry |
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Goldington Road Attendance: 2,818 Referee: Sara Cox |
Ampthill | 5 – 38 | Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP) |
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Dillingham Park Attendance: 795 Referee: Neil Chivers |
Athletic Ground Attendance: 669 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights | 22 – 15 | Cornish Pirates (1 BP) |
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Castle Park Attendance: 1,285 Referee: Mike Hudson |
(1 BP) Jersey Reds | 48 – 12 | Nottingham |
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Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,432 Referee: Alex Thomas |
[39]
Rescheduled matches
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates | 31 – 24 | Hartpury (2 BP) |
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Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,843 |
London Scottish | 21 – 62 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 521 |
(1 BP) Coventry | 38 – 66 | Jersey Reds(1 BP) |
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Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,341 |
[40]
Rescheduled matches
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 44 – 24 | Cornish Pirates (1 BP) |
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Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 1,741 Referee: Mike Hudson |
(1 BP) Richmond | 28 – 40 | Coventry (1 BP) |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,225 Referee: Joe James |
[41]
Rescheduled matches
Nottingham | 5 – 26 | Doncaster Knights (1 BP) |
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Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,250 Referee: Nick Wood |
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates | 28 – 28 | Ampthill (1 BP) |
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Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,678 Referee: Harry Walbaum |
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 60 – 10 | Richmond |
| | |
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 800 Referee: Sara Cox |
[1]
More information Club, Home Games ...
Club |
Home Games |
Total |
Average |
Highest |
Lowest |
% Capacity |
Ampthill | 10 | 7,63 | 764 | 1,924 | 321 | 25% |
Bedford Blues | 10 | 25,931 | 2,593 | 4,153 | 1,083 | 52% |
Cornish Pirates | 10 | 16,963 | 1,696 | 2,042 | 1,263 | 42% |
Coventry | 10 | 20,979 | 2,098 | 2,534 | 1,453 | 52% |
Doncaster Knights | 10 | 9,836 | 984 | 1,285 | 703 | 19% |
Ealing Trailfinders | 10 | 10,056 | 1,006 | 1,741 | 800 | 25% |
Hartpury | 10 | 9,902 | 990 | 1,503 | 381 | 50% |
Jersey Reds | 10 | 12,676 | 1,268 | 1,803 | 941 | 32% |
London Scottish | 10 | 7,166 | 717 | 1,532 | 475 | 16% |
Nottingham | 10 | 10,774 | 1,077 | 1,288 | 838 | 31% |
Richmond | 10 | 9,685 | 969 | 1,740 | 530 | 22% |
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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.
More information Rank, Player ...
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Goldington Road's capacity down from 6,000 to 5,000.
"Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 707. 3 April 2022. p. 38.
"A right mess entirely of the RFU's making". The RugbyPaper. No. 703. 6 March 2022. p. 11.
"Results". The Rugby Paper. No. 679. 19 September 2021. p. 38.
"Results". The Rugby Paper. No. 680. 26 September 2021. p. 38.
"Results". The Rugby Paper. No. 681. 3 October 2021. p. 38.
"Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 682. 10 October 2021. p. 38.
"Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 684. 24 October 2021. p. 38.
"Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 685. 31 October 2021. p. 38.
"Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 686. 7 November 2021. p. 28, 29 &39.
"Championship". The RugbyPaper. No. 688. 21 November 2021. pp. 22–23, 38.
"Championship". The RugbyPaper. No. 689. 28 November 2021. p. 38.
"Championship". The RugbyPaper. No. 690. 5 December 2021. p. 38.
"Championship". The RugbyPaper. No. 691. 12 December 2021. p. 38.
"Championship". The RugbyPaper. No. 692. 19 December 2021. p. 32.
"Championship". The RugbyPaper. No. 694. 2 January 2022. p. 32.
"Championship". The RugbyPaper. No. 696. 16 January 2022. p. 38.
"Championship". The RugbyPaper. No. 697. 23 January 2022. p. 38.
"Championship". The RugbyPaper. No. 698. 30 January 2022. p. 38.
"Championship". The RugbyPaper. No. 699. 6 February 2022. p. 39.
"Championship". The RugbyPaper. No. 700. 13 February 2022. p. 38.
"Championship". The RugbyPaper. No. 701. 20 February 2022. p. 38.
"Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 703. 6 March 2022. p. 34.
"Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 704. 13 March 2022. p. 38.
"Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 705. 20 March 2022. p. 37.
"Results". The RugbyPaper. No. 706. 26 March 2022. p. 38.