Current season, competition or edition: 2023 Bill Beaumont Championship Division 1 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1889 |
| Owner(s) | Rugby Football Union |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Country | England |
| Most recent champion(s) | Kent (2024) (5th title) |
| Most titles | Lancashire (25) |
The County Championship is an annual rugby union competition in England between teams representing English counties. After restructuring in 2007 the top tier of the Championship has been known as the Bill Beaumont Cup, after the trophy awarded to the competition winners was named in honour of Bill Beaumont, a former England and British & Irish Lions captain.[1] In 2017 the competition was officially known as Bill Beaumont Division 1, with teams also competing in Division 2 and Division 3, which prior to 2017 were known as the Plate and Shield competitions.[2]
The Championship has a long history, being first officially recognised by the Rugby Football Union in 1889. The 2018 Championship was the 118th competition. The most successful county, Lancashire, has won the competition 25 times, followed by Gloucestershire (17) and Yorkshire (15). Lancashire (34) & Gloucestershire (33) have made the most appearances in contested finals.
On four occasions the tournament final has been tied at full-time and a second leg rematch has been played. Two of these rematches were also tied and on these occasions (1907 and 1967) the finalists were declared joint winners. In 1991 the final match between Cornwall and Yorkshire was tied at full-time and extra time was played, with Cornwall winning 29–20. In 2001 the Championship did not take place due to the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak; instead Yorkshire and Cornwall were invited to play at Twickenham.
The 2015 final was contested by Lancashire and Cornwall, with the teams meeting in the final for the third consecutive year.[3] Cornwall won the championship with an 18-13 victory, their fourth title overall and their first since 1999.[4] Cornwall retained their title in 2016, this time beating Cheshire, 35–13.[5] In 2017 Cornwall and Lancashire met in the final for the fourth time in five seasons. Lancashire won 19-8 and prevented Cornwall from completing a hat-trick of county titles.[6]
- ^ "2007 County Championship Renamed In Honour Of Bill Beaumont". Archived from the original on 28 April 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
- ^ "County Championships renamed to honour rugby legends". England Rugby. 27 March 2017.
- ^ "County Championship: Cornwall 25–18 Hertfordshire". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
- ^ "County Championship final: Cornwall 18–13 Lancashire". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
- ^ "County Championship final 2016: Cornwall beat Cheshire to retain title at Twickenham". BBC Sport. 29 May 2016.
- ^ "Lancashire win Bill Beaumont County Champs final". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 April 2018.