2015–16 RFU Championship explained

2015–16 RFU Championship
Countries:
Date:4 September 2015 – May 2016
Champions:Bristol
Runnersup:Doncaster Knights
Relegated:Moseley
Matches:138
Highest Attendance:16,084 Bristol Rugby v Doncaster Knights on 25 May 2016
Lowest Attendance:310 Ealing Trailfinders v Nottingham Rugby on 28 November 2015
Top Point Scorer: Gavin Henson
Bristol 193 points
Top Try Scorer: Paul Grant
Nottingham Rugby 19 tries
Prevseason:2014–15
Nextseason:2016–17

The 2015–16 RFU Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the Greene King IPA Championship, is the seventh season of the professionalised format of the RFU Championship, the second tier of the English rugby union league system run by the Rugby Football Union. It is contested by eleven English clubs and one from Jersey in the Channel Islands. This is the third year of the competition's sponsorship with Greene King Brewery, which runs until 2017.[1] The twelve teams in the RFU Championship also compete in the British and Irish Cup, along with clubs from Ireland and Wales. Some matches in the RFU Championship are broadcast on Sky Sports.

Moseley are relegated into the 2016–17 National League 1 after finishing bottom of the table.[2] After seven years of trying for promotion (five of which they actually topped the league stage including during this season), Bristol finally did it. In front of a divisional and club record crowd of 16,084, Bristol managed to gain promotion to the Aviva Premiership despite losing 32–34 to away side (and league stage runners up), Doncaster Knights, due to an emphatic first leg victory, to go up 60 - 47 on aggregate.[3] [4]

Structure

The Championship's structure has all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis. The play-off structure will remain the same as the previous year.[5] The top four teams at the end of the home-and-way season qualify for the promotion play-offs which follow a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system. The winners have to meet the RFU's Minimum Standards Criteria in order to be promoted to the Premiership. There is no promotion if grounds fail to meet the criteria.[6] There are no relegation play-offs; the bottom team is automatically relegated.[5] This the last year of a 2012 funding agreement with the RFU, where each club would have been given a grant of £380,000.[7] Following claims, by Championship teams, including Plymouth Albion, that the current arrangement was not enough to sustain professional clubs, the RFU increased the annual funding to over £500,000 per club in a new agreement which will last until 2020.[8]

Teams

Ten of the teams, listed below, played in the championship last season. Worcester Warriors were promoted to the English Premiership defeating Bristol in the 2014–15 RFU Championship play-off final and are replaced by London Welsh, following their relegation from the 2014–15 English Premiership, after finishing bottom of the table and earning only one point.[9] [10] Plymouth Albion were relegated from the Championship after finishing bottom in the 2014–15 RFU Championship, ending a thirteen-year spell in the second tier of English rugby.[11] They are replaced by Ealing Trailfinders who were promoted as champions of 2014–15 National League 1, returning to the RFU Championship after relegation the previous year.[12]

ClubStadiumCapacityAreaCaptainDOR/Head Coach
Bedford BluesGoldington Road6,000Bedford, Bedfordshire Nick Fenton-Wells Mike Rayer
BristolAshton Gate Stadium16,600 Bristol Dwayne Peel Andy Robinson
Cornish PiratesMennaye Field4,000 (2,200 Seats)Penzance, Cornwall Chris Morgan Ian Davies
Doncaster KnightsCastle Park rugby stadium5,000Doncaster, South Yorkshire Michael Hills Clive Griffiths
Ealing TrailfindersTrailfinders Sports Ground3,020 (1,020 seats)West Ealing, London Danny Kenny Ben Ward
JerseySt Peter5,000Saint Peter, Jersey Alex Rae Harvey Biljon
London ScottishAthletic Ground, Richmond4,500Richmond, London Mark Bright Mike Friday
London WelshOld Deer Park5,850 (1,000 seats)Richmond, London Matt Corker Rowland Phillips
MoseleyBillesley Common3,000+Birmingham, West Midlands Mike Powell Kevin Maggs
Nottingham RugbyLady Bay Sports Ground2,000 (est)Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Daniel Montagu Martin Haag
Rotherham TitansClifton Lane
Herringthorpe Playing Fields
2,500
Unknown capacity
Rotherham, South Yorkshire Tom Holmes Lee Blackett
Yorkshire CarnegieHeadingley Carnegie Stadium21,062Leeds, West Yorkshire Ryan Burrows Ian McGeechan

Fixtures

Round 1

[13] ----

Round 2

[14] ----

Round 3

[15] ----

Round 4

[16] ----

Round 5

[17] ----

Round 6

[18] ----

Round 7

[19] ----

Round 8

[20] ----

Round 9

[21] ----

Round 10

[22] ----

Round 11

[23] ----

Round 12

[24] ----

Round 13

[25] ----

Round 14

[26] ----

Round 15

[27] ----

Round 16

[28] ----

Round 17

[29] ----

Round 18

[30] ----

Round 19

[31] ----

Round 20

[32] ----

Round 21

[33] ----

Round 22

[34]

Play-offs

Semi-finals

The semifinals follow a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system – with the games being played over two legs and the higher placed team choosing which leg they play at home. Both Bristol and Doncaster elected to play the second leg at home and therefore visited Bedford Blues and Yorkshire Carnegie respectively in the first legs on 1 May. The grounds of three of the teams met the minimum standards required to play in the Premiership next season. If Doncaster Knights were promoted they would initially play their matches at the Keepmoat Stadium, the home of Doncaster Rovers while Bristol and Yorkshire Carnegie would continue to their current stadia. Bedford Blues did not apply to have their ground audited and, therefore, could not win promotion; if they had won the play-off final, the last-placed team in the Premiership (London Irish) would not have been relegated.[35]

First leg

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Second leg

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Final

The final is played over two legs – with the higher placed team deciding who plays at home in the first leg.

Second leg

Attendances

ClubHome
Games
TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Bedford Blues 12 31,333 2,611 4,341 2,077 44%
Bristol Rugby 13 100,129 7,702 16,084 4,560 46%
Cornish Pirates 11 15,705 1,428 2,340 1,025 36%
Doncaster Knights 13 29,937 2,303 4,797 1,019 46%
Ealing Trailfinders 11 7,338 667 874 310 22%
Jersey 11 22,790 2,072 2,613 1,526 41%
London Scottish 11 12,809 1,164 1,850 884 26%
London Welsh 11 13,214 1,201 2,032 730 24%
Moseley 11 11,509 1,046 1,431 726 35%
Nottingham Rugby 11 11,202 1,018 1,864 623 51%
Rotherham Titans 11 12,980 1,180 1,721 887 48%
Yorkshire Carnegie 12 28,520 2,377 3,672 1,329 11%
[36]

Individual statistics

Top points scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Points
1 17 193
2 22 182
3 15 169
4 19 140
4 20 125
6 19 118
7 17 111
8 19 103
9 17 101
10 22 95
[34] [37] [38]

Top try scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Tries
1 22 19
2 25 18
3 22 17
4 19 14
5 14 12
21 12
6 10 11
11 11
20 11
7 12 10
[34] [39] [40]

Season records

Team

Largest home win — 53 pts63 - 10 Bristol Rugby at home to Ealing Trailfinders on 12 February 2016
  • Largest away win — 43 pts75 - 24 London Scottish away to Moseley on 23 April 2016
  • Most points scored — 7575 - 24 London Scottish away to Moseley on 23 April 2016
  • Most tries in a match — 1175 - 24 London Scottish away to Moseley on 23 April 2016
  • Most conversions in a match — 10London Scottish away to Moseley on 23 April 2016
  • Most penalties in a match — 6 (x3)Moseley away to London Scottish on 4 September 2015
    Doncaster Knights away to Bedford Blues on 5 December 2015
    Bristol Rugby away to Yorkshire Carnegie on 28 February 2016
  • Most drop goals in a match — 1N/A - multiple teams
  • [41] [42] [43] [44]

    Player

    Most points in a match — 25 Josh Bainbridge for Yorkshire Carnegie away to Bristol Rugby on 18 October 2015
  • Most tries in a match — 5 Josh Bainbridge for Yorkshire Carnegie away to Bristol Rugby on 18 October 2015
  • Most conversions in a match — 9 Peter Lydon for London Scottish away to Moseley on 23 April 2016
  • Most penalties in a match — 6 (x3) Glyn Hughes for Moseley away to London Scottish on 4 September 2015
    Dougie Flockhart for Doncaster Knights away to Bedford Blues on 5 December 2015
    Gavin Henson for Bristol Rugby away to Yorkshire Carnegie on 28 February 2016
  • Most drop goals in a match — 1N/A - multiple players
  • [45] [46] [47] [48] [49]

    Attendances

    Highest — 16,084Bristol Rugby at home to Doncaster Knights on 25 May 2016
  • Lowest — 310 Ealing Trailfinders at home to Nottingham Rugby on 28 November 2015
  • Highest Average Attendance — 7,702Bristol Rugby
  • Lowest Average Attendance — 667Ealing Trailfinders
  • [36]

    See also

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Greene King IPA to sponsor RFU Championship . . 26 June 2013 . 29 May 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130701022502/http://www.rfu.com/news/2013/june/news-articles/260613_greene_king_championship . 1 July 2013 .
    2. Web site: Problems in key areas cost Moseley RFC Championship place. Birmingham Mail. 20 April 2016.
    3. Web site: Bristol Rugby are back! Defeat to Doncaster doesn't stop Premiership promotion. Bristol Post. 25 May 2016.
    4. Web site: GALLERY: RECORD CROWD FOR BRISTOL. Bristol Rugby. 26 May 2016.
    5. News: Championship: RFU to abolish play-off pool stages . BBC Sport. 17 May 2012 . 29 May 2015.
    6. Web site: Premiership is no go for now admits chief Irvine . Bedfordshire News . 13 March 2011 . 29 May 2015.
    7. Web site: Pilnick . Brent . RFU unveils new funding deal for Championship clubs . BBC Sport . 22 August 2012 . 29 May 2015.
    8. Web site: Championship: 'Extra RFU funding is not enough', Plymouth chief . BBC Sport . 13 March 2015 . 29 May 2015.
    9. Web site: Scott . Ged . Championship play-off: Worcester 30–30 Bristol (Agg 59–58) . BBC Sport . 13 May 2016.
    10. Web site: English Premiership Table . BBC Sport . 13 May 2016.
    11. Web site: Plymouth Albion are relegated from the Championship . BBC Sport . 18 April 2015 . 29 May 2015.
    12. Web site: Wilkinson . John . Scott Morgan: 'If you want to win this league you've got three lives, and unfortunately we lost all ours in January' . Coventry Telegraph . 29 April 2015 . 29 May 2015.
    13. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 364. 6 September 2015. 30–31 &40.
    14. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 365. 13 September 2015. 28–29 & 38.
    15. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 366. 20 September 2015. 36–37 & 46.
    16. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 367. 27 September 2015. 36–37 & 46.
    17. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 368. 4 October 2015. 38–39 & 49.
    18. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 369. 11 October 2015. 36–37 & 46.
    19. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 370. 18 October 2015. 30–31 & 40.
    20. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 371. 25 October 2015. 28–29 & 40.
    21. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 373. 8 November 2015. 26–27 & 38.
    22. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 376. 29 November 2015. 22–23 & 40.
    23. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 377. 6 December 2015. 20–21 & 38.
    24. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 380. 27 December 2015. 26–27 & 30.
    25. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 381. 3 January 2016. 24–25 & 36.
    26. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 385. 10 January 2016. 16–17 & 38.
    27. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 386. 7 February 2016. 28–29 & 36.
    28. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 387. 15 February 2016. 28–29 & 38.
    29. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 389. 28 February 2016. 30–31 & 38.
    30. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 390. 6 March 2016. 28–29 & 38.
    31. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 393. 27 March 2016. 28–29 & 36.
    32. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 394. 3 April 2016. 24–25 & 34.
    33. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 396. 17 April 2016. 26–27 & 38.
    34. News: Championship. RugbyPaper. 397. 24 April 2016. 24–25 & 34.
    35. Web site: Bristol, Yorkshire Carnegie and Doncaster meet Premiership promotion criteria. BBC Sport. 29 April 2016.
    36. Web site: Championship 15/16 Home attendances . Rugby Statbunker. 25 May 2016.
    37. Web site: Championship 15/16 Leading top scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
    38. Web site: Championship Playoffs 15/16 Leading top scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 25 May 2016.
    39. Web site: Championship 15/16 Leading try scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 22 April 2016.
    40. Web site: Championship Playoffs 15/16 Leading try scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 25 May 2016.
    41. Web site: Championship 15/16 Most tries in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 23 April 2016 .
    42. Web site: Championship 15/16 Most conversions in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 23 April 2016 .
    43. Web site: Championship 15/16 Most penalties in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 23 April 2016 .
    44. Web site: Championship 15/16 Most drop goals in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 23 April 2016 .
    45. Web site: Championship 15/16 Most points in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 23 April 2016 .
    46. Web site: Championship 15/16 Most tries in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 23 April 2016 .
    47. Web site: Championship 15/16 Most conversions in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 23 April 2016 .
    48. Web site: Championship 15/16 Most penalties in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 23 April 2016 .
    49. Web site: Championship 15/16 Most drop goals in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 23 April 2016 .