Current season, competition or edition: 2024–25 RFU Championship | |
 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1987 |
| Administrator | RFU |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Countries |  England |
| Most recent champion(s) | Ealing Trailfinders (2nd title) (2023–24) |
| Most titles | Bristol Bears (4 titles) |
| Level on pyramid | Level 2 |
| Promotion to | No promotion |
| Relegation to | National League 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Premiership Rugby Cup |
| Official website | championshiprugby.co.uk |
The RFU Championship is an English rugby union competition comprising eleven clubs. It is the second level of men's English rugby and is played by both professional and semi-professional players.[1][2] The competition has existed since 1987, when English clubs were first organised into leagues.[3]
- ^ "What next for rugby's Championship?". BBC Sport.
- ^ "RFU cuts turn London Scottish semi-pro but Championship could become development league | SWLondoner". 2 April 2020.
- ^ Williams, Peter (2012). "Any given Saturday: Competitive balance in elite English rugby union". Managing Leisure. 17 (2–3): 88–105. doi:10.1080/13606719.2012.674388. S2CID 154035466.