RFU Championship

Championship Rugby
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024–25 RFU Championship
SportRugby union
Founded1987; 37 years ago (1987)
AdministratorRFU
No. of teams12
Countries England
Most recent
champion(s)
Ealing Trailfinders (2nd title)
(2023–24)
Most titlesBristol Bears (4 titles)
Level on pyramidLevel 2
Promotion toNo promotion
Relegation toNational League 1
Domestic cup(s)Premiership Rugby Cup
Official websitechampionshiprugby.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]

  1. ^ "What next for rugby's Championship?". BBC Sport.
  2. ^ "RFU cuts turn London Scottish semi-pro but Championship could become development league | SWLondoner". 2 April 2020.
  3. ^ 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.