2012–13 RFU Championship

The 2012–13 RFU Championship is the fourth season of the professionalised format of the RFU Championship,[7] the second tier of English domestic rugby union competitions, played between August 2012 and May 2013.

2012–13 RFU Championship
Countries England
 Jersey
Date31 August 2012 – 29 May 2013
ChampionsNewcastle Falcons
Runners-upBedford Blues
RelegatedDoncaster Knights
Matches played138
Attendance308,320
(average 2,234 per match)
Highest attendance7,651 Newcastle Falcons at home to Bedford Blues on 29 May 2013
Lowest attendance653 London Scottish at home to Moseley on 24 November 2012
Tries scored691
(average 5 per match)
Top point scorerJimmy Gopperth
(Newcastle Falcons) 298 points[1][2][3]
Top try scorerMatt Evans
(Cornish Pirates) 14 tries[4][5][6]

After an appeal, last seasons champions, London Welsh were promoted to the Aviva Premiership and subsequently Newcastle Falcons relegated, due to finishing bottom of the Aviva Premiership during the 2011–12 season.[8][9] On 8 May 2012 it was announced that only Bristol and London Welsh (subject to further developments) were eligible for promotion under the RFU's minimum standards criteria;[10] London Welsh advanced to the Championship final,[11] whilst Bristol were defeated in their semi-final by the Cornish Pirates, a club that could not meet the standards criteria.[12] However, on 23 May, the day of the first leg of the final, the RFU announced that London Welsh would not be eligible for promotion due to "various failures". London Welsh's appeal was heard by an Independent Panel on 29 June which ruled ″... that the Exiles should be promoted on the basis that they play their home games at Oxford's Kassam Stadium and that the club meet the minimum entry criteria to the league as imposed by the Professional Game Board.″ Chief Executive Officer of the RFU, Ian Richie, subsequently announced that there would be a full review of the Minimum Standard Criteria.[13] Esher dropped out of the Championship after being relegated to the 2013–14 National League 1 and they will be replaced by a club from the Channel Islands, Jersey who won National League 1 last season and will compete in the Championship for the first time after three consecutive promotions. [14] [15][16]

The twelve clubs in the 2012–13 Championship will also participate in the 2012–13 edition of the British and Irish Cup along with clubs from Wales, Scotland and Ireland.[17]

On 30 August the RFU announced that, for the first time, a team coached by Mike Rayer of Bedford Blues and consisting of English Qualified Players from RFU Championship teams will play a touring team. The match took place on 17 November at Castle Park, Doncaster against the Māori All Blacks with the New Zealand team winning 52 – 21.

Structure

The Championship's structure has all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis. The play–off structure has been changed dramatically for the 2012–13 season. Previously, the top eight teams entered into a complex mixture of pool and knockout play to determine promotion to the Premiership, whilst the bottom four entered into a pool whose last–placed team was relegated to National League 1.[18] The play–off pools have been abolished beginning with this season. On the promotion side, the knockout stage, involving two–legged semi–finals followed by a two–legged final, will remain in place. Now, the top four teams at the end of the home–and–away season qualify for the promotion play–offs which follow a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system. There will be no relegation play–offs; the bottom team will now be automatically relegated.[18]

Competition funding

The RFU Championship clubs were in dispute with the RFU over funding for the competition and claimed that each club was owed £77,000 for the past three seasons and will be owed a further £120,000 over the next four seasons. The clubs also believed they should have receive £295,000 in 2009–10, rising to £400,000 by 2015–16 and further believed there was a breach of contract on the part of the RFU. The RFU stated that the original funding was an estimate and by 2015–16 the figure will be £359,400.[13] On 21 August the RFU unveiled the Championship funding structure for the next four seasons to 2015–16. The funding is based on the continuation of the "English Qualified Players scheme", where clubs are required to field fifteen English qualified players in the 22 man squad on each matchday. (In previous seasons teams were required to field fourteen.) Although the amount is not given in the press release, the RFU also stated they will "increase its financial underwritings in relation to a title sponsorship while efforts continue to secure a partner".

Participating teams
Locations of the 2012–13 RFU Championship teams
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bedford Blues Goldington Road 6,000 Bedford, Bedfordshire
Bristol Memorial Stadium 12,100 Bristol
Cornish Pirates Mennaye Field 4,000 (2,200 Seats) Penzance, Cornwall
Doncaster Knights Castle Park 3,075 Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Jersey St. Peter 5,000 Saint Peter, Jersey
Leeds Carnegie Headingley Carnegie Stadium 20,250 Leeds, West Yorkshire[n 1]
London Scottish Athletic Ground, Richmond 4,500 Richmond, London
Moseley Billesley Common 3,000+ Birmingham, West Midlands
Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park 10,200 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Nottingham Meadow Lane 19,588 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Plymouth Albion The Brickfields 8,500 Plymouth, Devon
Rotherham Titans Clifton Lane 2,500 Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Notes
  1. Leeds will play a number of their matches away from Headingley Stadium as part of a "strategy to grow our business by developing a closer partnership with all clubs in Yorkshire".[19] Following problems with the newly re-laid pitch at Headingley, Leeds decided to play some more games "on the road"[20]
    • the replayed match against Plymouth Albion (Sunday 3 February) at West Park Leeds R.U.F.C.
    • the match against Newcastle Falcons (Sunday 10 February) at Otley R.U.F.C.
    • the match against Cornish Pirates (Sunday 3 March) at Otley R.U.F.C.

League table
2012–13 RFU Championship Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1Newcastle Falcons (CH)22210167725242513198
2Nottingham (SF)22150762440921510474
3Bedford Blues (RU)22141766448517911271
4Leeds Carnegie (SF)2213095854801059667
5Bristol221408524481436365
6Cornish Pirates2210210435480–455352
7Rotherham Titans2210111503569–666351
8London Scottish2210012456610–1544445[n 1]
9Plymouth Albion227015419518–994840
10Moseley226115377542–1651633
11Jersey226016385595–2102531
12Doncaster Knights (R)223118364592–2282723
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
  1. London Scottish were deducted 3 competition points for fielding an ineligible player.[21]
    Green background are promotion play-off places. Pink background is the relegation place.
    Updated: 21 April 2013 Source

    Regular season

    The 2012–13 RFU Championship kicked off on 31 August with Nottingham defeating Leeds Carnegie and will finish on 20 April 2013. Each team will play the other twice on a home and away basis with the top four qualifying for the promotion phase.[22]

    Round 1
    31 August 2012
    19:45
    Nottingham (BP) 34 – 29 Leeds Carnegie (BP)
    Report
    Meadow Lane
    Attendance: 1,536
    Referee: Llyr ApGeraint Roberts
    1 September 2012
    15:00
    Bedford Blues (BP) 50 – 6 Moseley
    Report
    Goldington Road
    Attendance: 2,104
    Referee: John Meredith
    1 September 2012
    15:00
    Jersey 6 – 20 Cornish Pirates
    Report
    St Peter
    Attendance: 2,470
    Referee: Steve Lee
    1 September 2012
    15:00
    Plymouth Albion 27 – 22 Doncaster Knights (BP)
    Report
    Brickfields
    Attendance: 1,364
    Referee: David Rose
    2 September 2012
    14:00
    London Scottish 26 – 20 Rotherham Titans (BP)
    Report
    Athletic Ground, Richmond
    Attendance: 894
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    2 September 2012
    15:00
    Bristol (BP) 20 – 37 Newcastle Falcons (BP)
    Report
    Memorial Stadium
    Attendance: 4,851
    Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

    Round 2
    7 September 2012
    19:45
    Doncaster Knights 9 – 18 Bristol
    Report
    Castle Park
    Attendance: 1,013
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    7 September 2012
    20:00
    Leeds Carnegie (BP) 32 – 19 Jersey
    Report
    Headingley Carnegie Stadium
    Attendance: 2,066
    Referee: Ian Tempest
    8 September 2012
    15:00
    London Scottish (BP) 32 – 49 Newcastle Falcons (BP)
    Report
    Athletic Ground, Richmond
    Attendance: 1,380
    Referee: Ross Campbell
    8 September 2012
    15:00
    Moseley 17 – 28 Nottingham
    Report
    Billesley Common
    Attendance: 938
    Referee: Sean Davey
    9 September 2012
    15:00
    Rotherham Titans (BP) 38 – 38 Bedford Blues (BP)
    Report
    Clifton Lane
    Attendance: 1,198
    Referee: Llyr ApGeraint Roberts
    9 September 2012
    15:00
    Cornish Pirates 19 – 17 Plymouth Albion (BP)
    Report
    Mennaye Field
    Attendance: 2,260
    Referee: Matthew Carley

    Round 3
    14 September 2012
    20:00
    Newcastle Falcons (BP) 37 – 3 Doncaster Knights
    Report
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 4,317
    Referee: Ian Tempest
    15 September 2012
    15:00
    Bedford Blues (BP) 55 – 20 London Scottish
    Report
    Goldington Road
    Attendance: 2,227
    Referee: Matthew Carley
    15 September 2012
    15:00
    Jersey 12 – 31 Moseley
    Report
    St Peter
    Attendance: 1,973
    Referee: David Rose
    15 September 2012
    15:00
    Plymouth Albion (BP) 32 – 31 Leeds Carnegie (2 BP)
    Report
    Brickfields
    Attendance: 1,862
    Referee: Ross Campbell
    16 September 2012
    15:00
    Nottingham 16 – 27 Rotherham Titans
    Report
    Meadow Lane
    Attendance: 2,078
    Referee: Steve Lee
    16 September 2012
    15:15
    Bristol 29 – 17 Cornish Pirates
    Report
    Memorial Stadium
    Attendance: 4,613
    Referee: Sean Davey

    Round 4
    22 September 2012
    15:00
    Bedford Blues 27 – 25 Nottingham (BP)
    Report
    Goldington Road
    Attendance: 2,298
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    22 September 2012
    15:00
    London Scottish (BP) 37 – 26 Doncaster Knights (BP)
    Report
    Athletic Ground
    Attendance: 1,029
    Referee: Steve Lee
    22 September 2012
    15:00
    Moseley (BP) 22 – 24 Plymouth Albion
    Report
    Billesley Common
    Attendance: 876
    Referee: Ian Tempest
    22 September 2012
    15:00
    Rotherham Titans (BP) 54 – 31 Jersey (BP)
    Report
    Clifton Lane
    Attendance: 1,131
    Referee: Ross Campbell
    23 September 2012
    15:00
    Cornish Pirates 3 – 25 Newcastle Falcons
    Report
    Mennaye Field
    Attendance: 1,745
    Referee: Greg Macdonald
    23 September 2012
    15:00
    Leeds Carnegie (BP) 50 – 31 Bristol (BP)
    Report
    Headingley Carnegie Stadium
    Attendance: 2,854
    Referee: Matthew Carley

    Round 5
    28 September 2012
    19:45
    Bristol (BP) 21 – 22 Moseley
    Report
    Memorial Ground
    Attendance: 4,797
    Referee: Ross Campbell
    28 September 2012
    19:45
    Doncaster Knights 18 – 18 Cornish Pirates
    Report
    Castle Park
    Attendance: 1,121
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    28 September 2012
    19:45
    Nottingham (BP) 54 – 9 London Scottish
    Report
    Meadow Lane
    Attendance: 1,187
    Referee: Ian Tempest
    28 September 2012
    19:45
    Plymouth Albion 15 – 3 Rotherham Titans
    Report
    Brickfields
    Attendance: 2,213
    Referee: David Rose
    28 September 2012
    20:00
    Newcastle Falcons (BP) 53 – 10 Leeds Carnegie
    Report
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 4,608
    Referee: Luke Pearce
    29 September 2012
    15:00
    Jersey 19 – 29 Bedford Blues (BP)
    St Peter
    Attendance: 2,071
    Referee: Martin Fox

    Round 6
    5 October 2012
    20:00
    Leeds Carnegie (BP) 42 – 7 Doncaster Knights
    Report
    Headingley Carnegie Stadium
    Attendance: 2,255
    Referee: Greg Macdonald
    6 October 2012
    15:00
    Bedford Blues (BP) 55 – 17 Plymouth Albion
    Report
    Goldington Road
    Attendance: 2,725
    Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
    6 October 2012
    15:00
    London Scottish 25 – 24 Cornish Pirates (BP)
    Report
    Athletic Ground
    Attendance: 1,126
    Referee: Ross Campbell
    6 October 2012
    15:00
    Moseley 13 – 53 Newcastle Falcons (BP)
    Report
    Billesley Common
    Attendance: 1,091
    Referee: Steve Lee
    6 October 2012
    15:00
    Rotherham Titans 23 – 16 Bristol
    Report
    Clifton Lane
    Attendance: 1,060
    Referee: John Meredith
    7 October 2012
    15:00
    Nottingham (BP) 48 – 16 Jersey
    Report
    Meadow Lane
    Attendance: 1,483
    Referee: Matthew Carley

    Round 7
    26 October 2012
    19:45
    Doncaster Knights 24 – 16 Moseley
    Doncaster

    Moseley
    Castle Park
    Attendance: 872
    Referee: Martin Fox
    26 October 2012
    20:00
    Newcastle Falcons (BP) 33 – 0 Rotherham Titans
    Newcastle

    Rotherham
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 3,518
    Referee: Llyr ApGeraint Roberts
    27 October 2012
    14:00
    Jersey 20 – 17 London Scottish (BP)
    Jersey

    Scottish
    St. Peter
    Attendance: 2,083
    Referee: Luke Pearce
    27 October 2012
    15:00
    Plymouth Albion 22 – 31 Nottingham (BP)
    Plymouth
    Nottingham
    Brickfields
    Attendance: 1,589
    Referee: Greg Macdonald
    28 October 2012
    14:30
    Bristol 23 – 13 Bedford Blues
    Bristol

    Bedford
    Memorial Stadium
    Attendance: 4,609
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    28 October 2012
    14:30
    Cornish Pirates 21 – 8 Leeds Carnegie
    Pirates

    Leeds
    Mennaye Field
    Attendance: 1,971
    Referee: David Rose

    Round 8
    3 November 2012
    14:00
    Rotherham Titans (BP) 38 – 20 Doncaster Knights
    Doncaster

    Rotherham
    Clifton Lane
    Attendance: 1,876
    Referee: Steve Lee
    3 November 2012
    15:00
    Bedford Blues 20 – 29 Newcastle Falcons
    Bedford

    Newcastle
    Goldington Road
    Attendance: 4,067
    Referee: Martin Fox
    3 November 2012
    15:00
    Jersey 16 – 14 Plymouth Albion (BP)
    Jersey

    Plymouth
    St Peter
    Attendance: 1,894
    Referee: Ian Tempest
    3 November 2012
    15:00
    London Scottish 14 – 37 Leeds Carnegie (BP)
    Scottish

    Leeds
    Athletic Ground
    Attendance: 1,168
    Referee: John Meredith
    3 November 2012
    15:00
    Moseley 9 – 9 Cornish Pirates
    Moseley

    Pirates
    Billesley Common
    Attendance: 1,003
    Referee: Matthew Carley
    4 November 2012
    15:00
    Nottingham (BP) 63 – 7 Bristol
    Nottingham

    Bristol
    Meadow Lane
    Attendance: 2,091
    Referee: Llyr ApGeraint Roberts

    Round 9
    9 November 2012
    19:45
    Doncaster Knights (BP) 21 – 22 Bedford Blues
    Doncaster

    Bedford
    Castle Park
    Attendance: 908
    Referee: Greg Macdonald
    9 November 2012
    19:45
    Plymouth Albion 24 – 20 London Scottish (BP)
    Plymouth Albion

    London Scottish
    Brickfields
    Attendance: 1,941
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    9 November 2012
    20:00
    Newcastle Falcons (BP) 29 – 9 Nottingham
    Newcastle

    Nottingham
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 3,458
    Referee: Steve Lee
    11 November 2012
    14:00
    Cornish Pirates (BP) 53 – 21 Rotherham Titans
    Cornish Pirates

    Rotherham
    Mennaye Field
    Attendance: 1,763
    Referee: John Meredith
    11 November 2012
    15:00
    Bristol (BP) 39 – 16 Jersey
    Bristol

    Jersey
    Memorial Ground
    Attendance: 4,620
    Referee: Matthew Carley
    11 November 2012
    15:00
    Leeds Carnegie (BP) 38 – 12 Moseley
    Leeds

    Moseley
    Wharfeside Avenue, Threshfield
    Attendance: 1,427
    Referee: Ross Campbell

    Round 10
    23 November 2012
    19:45
    Bedford Blues 32 – 6 Cornish Pirates
    Bedford

    Pirates
    Goldington Road
    Attendance: 3,155
    Referee: Greg MacDonald
    24 November 2012
    12:15
    London Scottish 23 – 18 Moseley (BP)
    Scottish
    Moseley
    Athletic Ground, Richmond
    Attendance: 653
    Referee: Matthew Carley
    24 November 2012
    14:00
    Rotherham Titans 13 – 24 Leeds Carnegie
    Rotherham

    Leeds
    Clifton Lane
    Attendance: 1,489
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    24 November 2012
    15:00
    Jersey 3 – 24 Newcastle Falcons (BP)
    Jersey

    Newcastle
    St Peter
    Attendance: 2,292
    Referee: Steve Lee
    24 November 2012
    15:00
    Plymouth Albion 8 – 21 Bristol
    Plymouth

    Bristol
    Brickfields
    Attendance: 1,358
    Referee: Ian Tempest
    25 November 2012
    15:00
    Nottingham (BP) 52 – 7 Doncaster Knights
    Nottingham

    Doncaster
    Meadow Lane
    Attendance: 2,015
    Referee: John Meredith

    Round 11
    30 November 2012
    19:45
    Bristol (BP) 43 – 16 London Scottish
    Bristol
    Scottish
    Memorial Ground
    Attendance: 4,682
    Referee: Greg MacDonald
    30 November 2012
    19:45
    Doncaster 22 – 17 Jersey (BP)
    Doncaster
    Jersey
    Castle Park
    Attendance: 1,194
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    30 November 2012
    20:00
    Newcastle 31 – 15 Plymouth Albion
    Newcastle
    Plymouth
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 3,331
    Referee: John Meredith
    1 December 2012
    12:45
    Moseley (BP) 16 – 20 Rotherham Titans
    Moseley
    Rotherham
    Billesley Common
    Attendance: 722
    Referee: Steve Lee
    2 December 2012
    14:00
    Cornish Pirates 11 – 10 Nottingham (BP)
    Pirates
    Nottingham
    Mennaye Field
    Attendance: 1,411
    Referee: Ross Campbell
    2 December 2012
    14:00
    Leeds Carnegie 25 – 45 Bedford Blues (BP)
    Leeds
    Bedford
    Cross Green, Otley R.U.F.C.
    Attendance: 1,546
    Referee: Ian Tempest

    Round 12
    22 December 2012
    15:00
    Jersey 20 – 17 Leeds Carnegie (BP)
    Jersey
    Leeds
    St Peter
    Attendance: 1,923
    Referee: Ross Campbell
    23 December 2012
    15:00
    Bristol 26 – 18 Doncaster
    Bristol
    Doncaster
    Memorial Stadium
    Attendance: 6,045
    Referee: John Meredith
    23 December 2012
    15:00
    Newcastle Falcons 12 – 9 London Scottish (BP)
    Newcastle
    Scottish
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 3,001
    Referee: Matthew Carley
    23 December 2012
    15:00
    Nottingham 18 – 9 Moseley
    Nottingham
    Moseley
    Meadow Lane
    Attendance: 1,658
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    26 December 2012
    15:00
    Bedford 22 – 16 Rotherham (BP)
    Bedford
    Rotherham
    Goldington Road
    Attendance: 4,418
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    26 December 2012
    15:00
    Plymouth Albion (BP) 5 – 9 Cornish Pirates
    Plymouth
    Pirates
    Brickfields
    Attendance: 3,058
    Referee: Greg MacDonald

    Round 13
    1 January 2013
    14:00
    (BP) Cornish Pirates 32 – 17 Bristol
    Pirates

    Bristol
    Mennaye Field
    Attendance: 2,954
    Referee: Steve Lee
    1 January 2013
    14:30
    Doncaster Knights 10 – 28 Newcastle Falcons (BP)
    Doncaster
    Newcastle
    Castle Park
    Attendance: 1,702
    Referee: Ian Tempest
    5 January 2013
    14:00
    Rotherham Titans 12 – 32 Nottingham (BP)
    Rotherham
    Nottingham
    Clifton Lane
    Attendance: 1,498
    Referee: Greg MacDonald
    5 January 2013
    15:00
    London Scottish 26 – 23 Bedford Blues (BP)
    Scottish
    Bedford
    Athletic Ground, Richmond
    Attendance: 1,705
    Referee: John Meredith
    5 January 2013
    15:00
    Moseley 23 – 19 Jersey (BP)
    Moseley
    Jersey
    Billesley Common
    Attendance: 1,001
    Referee: Luke Pearce
    6 January 2013
    15:00
    Leeds Carnegie R – R Plymouth Albion
    Headingley Carnegie Stadium
    Referee: Matthew Carley
    • The original result was 34 – 16 to Leeds. However, the match went to uncontested scrums within 13 minutes on the new pitch at Headingley.[23][24] A meeting of the Organising Committee of the Championship decided that the fixture should be replayed on the next available free weekend, being 1–3 February at a venue of Leeds' choice.[25]

    Round 14
    25 January 2013
    19:45
    Bristol 12 – 9 Leeds Carnegie (BP)
    Bristol
    Leeds
    Memorial Stadium
    Attendance: 4,070
    Referee: JP Doyle
    25 January 2013
    20:00
    Newcastle Falcons P – P Cornish Pirates
    Kingston Park
    • Game postponed to 23 February 2013 after a pitch inspection (Kingston Park pitch snow-covered).[26]
    26 January 2013
    14:30
    Jersey 13 – 10 Rotherham Titans (BP)
    Jersey
    Rotherham
    St Peter
    Attendance: 1,808
    Referee: Steve Lee
    26 January 2013
    15:00
    (BP) Plymouth Albion 6 – 9 Moseley
    Plymouth
    Moseley
    Brickfields
    Attendance: 1,303
    Referee: Ross Campbell
    27 January 2013
    14:45
    Nottingham 25 – 17 Bedford Blues
    Nottingham
    Bedford
    Meadow Lane
    Attendance: 2,136
    Referee: Matthew Carley
    1 February 2013
    19:45
    (BP) Doncaster Knights 9 – 14 London Scottish
    Doncaster
    Scottish
    Castle Park
    Attendance: 706
    Referee: Steve Lee
    • Game postponed from 25 January due to concerns about the weather.[27]

    Round 13 replay
    3 February 2013
    14:30
    (BP) Leeds Carnegie 28 – 26 Plymouth Albion (BP)
    Leeds

    Plymouth Albion
    The Sycamores, West Park Leeds RUFC[20]
    Attendance: 1,460
    Referee: Llyr ApGeraint Roberts

    Round 15
    9 February 2013
    12:15
    London Scottish 25 – 13 Nottingham
    Scottish
    Nottingham
    Richmond Athletic Ground
    Attendance: 1,266
    Referee: Ross Campbell
    9 February 2013
    14:30
    Rotherham Titans 34 – 31 Plymouth Albion (2 BP)
    Rotherham
    Plymouth
    Clifton Lane
    Attendance: 935
    Referee: John Meredith
    9 February 2013
    15:00
    (BP) Bedford Blues 38 – 21 Jersey
    Bedford
    Jersey
    Goldington Road
    Attendance: 2,242
    Referee: Greg Macdonald
    9 February 2013
    15:00
    Moseley P – P Bristol
    Billesley Common
    Referee: David Rose
    • Game postponed to 15 March 2013 due to a water-logged pitch at Billesley Common.[28]
    10 February 2013
    12:00
    (BP) Leeds Carnegie 9 – 13 Newcastle Falcons
    Leeds
    Newcastle
    Cross Green, Otley R.U.F.C.[20]
    Attendance: 1,461
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    10 February 2013
    14:30
    (BP) Cornish Pirates 31 – 18 Doncaster Knights
    Pirates
    Doncaster
    Mennaye Field
    Attendance: 1,309
    Referee: Matthew Carley

    Round 16
    15 February 2013
    20:00
    (BP) Newcastle Falcons 36 – 3 Moseley
    Newcastle
    Moseley
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 3,030
    Referee: Llyr ApGeraint Roberts
    16 February 2013
    14:30
    Doncaster Knights 23 – 17 Leeds Carnegie (BP)
    Doncaster
    Leeds
    Castle Park
    Attendance: 1,271
    Referee: Ross Campbell
    16 February 2013
    15:00
    Jersey P – P Nottingham
    St Peter
    • Match postponed as the pitch was deemed unplayable.[29]
    16 February 2013
    15:00
    (2 BP) Plymouth Albion 27 – 28 Bedford Blues (BP)
    Plymouth
    Bedford
    Brickfields
    Attendance: 1,548
    Referee: Steve Lee
    17 February 2013
    14:30
    (BP) Cornish Pirates 17 – 20 London Scottish
    Pirates
    Scottish
    Mennaye Field
    Attendance: 1,857
    Referee: Simon Harding
    17 February 2013
    15:00
    (BP) Bristol 30 – 20 Rotherham Titans
    Bristol
    Rotherham
    Memorial Stadium
    Attendance: 4,504
    Referee: Matthew Carley

    Round 14 catch up
    23 February 2013
    19:00
    (BP) Newcastle Falcons 50 – 3 Cornish Pirates
    Falcons
    Pirates
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 2,208
    Referee: Steve Lee
    • Game rescheduled from 25 January 2013.[30]

    Round 17
    2 March 2013
    14:00
    (BP) London Scottish 41 – 33 Jersey (BP)
    Scottish
    Jersey
    Richmond Athletic Ground
    Attendance: 1,552
    Referee: Matthew Carley
    2 March 2013
    15:00
    Bedford Blues 6 – 18 Bristol
    Bedford
    Bristol
    Goldington Road
    Attendance: 2,933
    Referee: Ian Tempest
    2 March 2013
    15:00
    Moseley 23 – 9 Doncaster Knights
    Moseley
    Doncaster
    Billesley Common
    Attendance: 1,030
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    2 March 2013
    15:00
    Rotherham Titans 22 – 34 Newcastle Falcons (BP)
    Rotherham
    Falcons
    Clifton Lane
    Attendance: 1,890
    Referee: Greg MacDonald
    3 March 2013
    14:30
    Leeds Carnegie 37 – 25 Cornish Pirates
    Leeds
    Pirates
    Cross Green, Otley R.U.F.C.[20]
    Attendance: 1,363
    Referee: John Meredith
    3 March 2013
    15:00
    (BP) Nottingham 30 – 22 Plymouth Albion
    Nottingham
    Plymouth
    Meadow Lane
    Attendance: 1,370
    Referee: Simon Harding

    Round 18
    8 March 2013
    19:45
    (BP) Bristol 19 – 23 Nottingham
    Bristol
    Nottingham
    Memorial Stadium
    Attendance: 5,555
    Referee: David Rose
    8 March 2013
    20:00
    Newcastle Falcons 17 – 15 Bedford Blues (BP)
    Falcons
    Bedford
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 3,967
    Referee: Llyr ApGeraint Roberts
    9 March 2013
    14:30
    (BP) Doncaster Knights 19 – 25 Rotherham Titans
    Doncaster
    Rotherham
    Castle Park
    Attendance: 1,517
    Referee: Matthew Carley
    9 March 2013
    15:00
    (BP) Plymouth Albion 15 – 19 Jersey
    Plymouth
    Jersey
    Brickfields
    Attendance: 1,544
    Referee: Steve Lee
    10 March 2013
    13:15
    Cornish Pirates 17 – 14 Moseley (BP)
    Pirates
    Moseley
    Mennaye Field
    Attendance: 1,223
    Referee: Ross Campbell
    10 March 2013
    15:00
    (BP) Leeds Carnegie 26 – 3 London Scottish
    Leeds
    Scottish
    Brantingham Park, Hull Ionians R.U.F.C.
    Attendance: 1,261
    Referee: Greg MacDonald

    Round 15 and 16 catch up
    15 March 2013
    19:45
    Moseley 23 – 14 Bristol
    Moseley
    Bristol
    Billesley Common
    Attendance: 798
    Referee: Llyr ApGeraint Roberts
    • Game rescheduled from 9 February 2013.[31]
    16 March 2013
    14:15
    (BP) Jersey 13 – 20 Nottingham
    Jersey
    Nottingham
    St Peters
    Attendance: 1,410
    Referee: Martin Fox
    • Game rescheduled from 16 February 2013.[32]

    Round 19
    22 March 2013
    19:45
    (BP) Nottingham 12 – 14 Newcastle Falcons
    Nottingham
    Newcastle
    Meadow Lane
    Attendance: 2,516
    Referee: Steve Lee
    23 March 2013
    15:00
    Bedford Blues P – P Doncaster Knights
    Goldington Road
    • Postponed due to heavy overnight snowfall in Bedfordshire. Game rescheduled to 17 April.
    23 March 2013
    15:00
    (BP) Jersey 23 – 29 Bristol
    Jersey
    Bristol
    St Peter
    Attendance: 3,074
    Referee: Ross Campbell
    23 March 2013
    15:00
    (BP) London Scottish 9 – 16 Plymouth Albion
    Scottish
    Plymouth
    Richmond Athletic Ground
    Attendance: 967
    Referee: Thomas Foley
    23 March 2013
    15:00
    Moseley P – P Leeds Carnegie
    Billesley Common
    • Postponed due to heavy snow in Birmingham. Game rescheduled to 5 April.
    23 March 2013
    15:00
    Rotherham Titans P – P Cornish Pirates
    Clifton Lane
    • Postponed due to snowfall at Rotherham. Game rescheduled to 10 April.

    Round 20
    29 March 2013
    16:45
    (BP) Doncaster Knights 21 – 27 Nottingham
    Doncaster
    Nottingham
    Castle Park
    Attendance: 1,319
    Referee: Llyr ApGeraint Roberts
    29 March 2013
    17:00
    (BP) Newcastle Falcons 34 – 12 Jersey
    Newcastle
    Jersey
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 4,066
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
    30 March 2013
    15:00
    (BP) Moseley 20 – 25 London Scottish
    Moseley
    Scottish
    Billesley Common
    Attendance: 914
    Referee: Simon Harding
    31 March 2013
    15:00
    Cornish Pirates 18 – 26 Bedford Blues
    Pirates
    Bedford
    Mennaye Field
    Attendance: 2,032
    Referee: Greg MacDonald
    31 March 2013
    15:00
    Leeds Carnegie 24 – 7 Rotherham Titans
    Leeds
    Rotherham
    Headingley Carnegie Stadium
    Attendance: 2,007
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    31 March 2013
    16:05
    (BP) Bristol 34 – 20 Plymouth Albion
    Bristol
    Plymouth
    Memorial Stadium
    Attendance: 5,064
    Referee: Luke Pearce

    Round 19 postponed games
    5 April 2013
    19:45
    Moseley 20 – 29 Leeds Carnegie (BP)
    Moseley
    Leeds
    Billesley Common
    Attendance: 850
    Referee: Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts
    • Postponed from 23 March due to heavy snow in Birmingham.
    10 April 2013
    17:15
    (BP) Rotherham Titans 41 – 28 Cornish Pirates (BP)
    Rotherham
    Pirates
    Clifton Lane
    Attendance: 1,012
    Referee: Dean Richards
    • Postponed from 23 March due to snowfall at Rotherham.

    Round 21
    13 April 2013
    15:00
    (BP) Bedford Blues 24 – 33 Leeds Carnegie
    Bedford
    Leeds
    Goldington Road
    Attendance: 2,649
    Referee: Ian Tempest
    13 April 2013
    15:00
    Jersey 13 – 10 Doncaster Knights (BP)
    Jersey
    Doncaster
    St Peter
    Attendance: 3,154
    Referee: Andrew Small
    13 April 2013
    15:00
    London Scottish 19 – 38 Bristol (BP)
    Scottish
    Bristol
    Richmond Athletic Ground
    Attendance: 1,585
    Referee: Darren Gamage
    13 April 2013
    15:00
    Plymouth Albion 10 – 25 Newcastle Falcons
    Plymouth
    Newcastle
    Brickfields
    Attendance: 2,211
    Referee: Ross Campbell
    13 April 2013
    15:00
    Rotherham Titans 26 – 22 Moseley (BP)
    Rotherham
    Moseley
    Clifton Lane
    Attendance: 1,037
    Referee: John Meredith
    14 April 2013
    13:15
    (BP) Nottingham 28 – 26 Cornish Pirates (2 BP)
    Nottingham
    Pirates
    Meadow Lane
    Attendance: 1,469
    Referee: Luke Pearce

    Round 19 postponed game
    17 April 2013
    19:45
    (BP) Bedford Blues 38 – 26 Doncaster Knights (BP)
    Beford
    Doncaster
    Goldington Road
    Attendance: 1,552
    Referee: David Rose
    • Postponed from 23 March due to heavy overnight snowfall in Bedfordshire.

    Round 22
    20 April 2013
    15:00
    Cornish Pirates 28 – 24 Jersey (BP)
    Pirates
    Jersey
    Mennaye Field
    Attendance: 1,955
    Referee: Tom Foley
    20 April 2013
    15:00
    (BP) Doncaster Knights 22 – 26 Plymouth Albion (BP)
    Doncaster
    Plymouth
    Castle Park
    Attendance: 1,020
    Referee: Simon Harding
    20 April 2013
    15:00
    Leeds Carnegie 30 – 26 Nottingham (2BP)
    Leeds
    Nottingham
    Headingley Carnegie Stadium
    Attendance: 2,481
    Referee: John Meredith
    20 April 2013
    15:00
    (BP) Moseley 29 – 41 Bedford Blues (BP)
    Moseley
    Bedford
    Billesley Common
    Attendance: 1,455
    Referee: Matthew Carley
    20 April 2013
    15:00
    (BP) Newcastle Falcons 14 – 19 Bristol
    Newcastle
    Bristol
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 4,590
    Referee: Ian Tempest
    20 April 2013
    15:00
    (BP) Rotherham Titans 33 – 26 London Scottish
    Rotherham
    Scottish
    Clifton Lane
    Attendance: 1,463
    Referee: Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts

    Play–offs

    Semi–finals

    The semi–finals followed a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system - with the games being played over two legs and the higher placed team deciding who played at home in the first leg.

    Newcastle Falcons finished the regular season in first place and played fourth-placed finishers Leeds Carnegie, with both matches being shown on SkySports. The other semi–final was between second placed Nottingham and Bedford who finished third.[33]

    Following the findings of an independent audit report, Leeds Carnegie, Newcastle Falcons and Nottingham Rugby met the ″Minimum Standards Criteria″ (MSC), and were eligible for promotion to the 2013–14 Aviva Premiership should they win the RFU Championship. Bedford Blues failed to meet the MSC but have the right to an appeal.[34]

    First leg
    4 May 2013
    15:00
    Bedford Blues 26 – 17 Nottingham
    Bedford
    Nottingham
    Goldington Road
    Attendance: 2,533
    Referee: J P Doyle
    6 May 2013
    15:15
    Leeds Carnegie 24 – 19 Newcastle Falcons
    Leeds
    Newcastle
    Headingley
    Attendance: 4,259
    Referee: David Rose

    Second leg
    10 May 2013
    20:00
    Nottingham 21 – 23 Bedford Blues
    Nottingham
    Bedford
    Meadow Lane
    Attendance: 3,070
    Referee: Martin Fox
    • Bedford Blues won 49 – 38 on aggregate.
    12 May 2013
    13:15
    Newcastle Falcons 15 – 6 Leeds Carnegie
    Newcastle
    Leeds
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 6,003
    Referee: Wayne Barnes
    • Newcastle Falcons won 34 – 30 on aggregate.

    Final
    23 May 2013
    19:45
    Bedford Blues 9 – 18 Newcastle Falcons
    Bedford
    Newcastle
    Goldington Road
    Attendance: 4,588
    Referee: Luke Pearce
    29 May 2013
    19:45
    Newcastle Falcons 31 – 24 Bedford Blues
    Newcastle
    Bedford
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 7,651
    Referee: Greg Garner
    • Newcastle Falcons won 49 – 33 on aggregate and are promoted to the Aviva Premiership.

    Total attendances
    Club Home Matches Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
    Bedford Blues1339,6673,0514,5881,55251%
    Bristol1153,4104,8556,0454,07040%
    Cornish Pirates1120,4801,8622,9541,22347%
    Doncaster Knights1113,6391,2401,70287240%
    Jersey1124,1522,1963,1541,41044%
    Leeds Carnegie1223,6941,9754,2591,26129%
    London Scottish1113,3251,2111,70565327%
    Moseley1110,6789711,45572232%
    Newcastle Falcons1353,7484,1347,6512,20841%
    Nottingham1222,6091,8843,0701,18710%
    Plymouth Albion1119,9911,8173,0581,30321%
    Rotherham Titans1114,5891,3261,89093553%

    [35][36]

    Top scorers

    RFU Championship XV

    The RFU Championship fielded a representative team for the first time against the Maori All Blacks, a touring team from New Zealand.[37]

    17 November 2012
    1205
    RFU Championship XV 21 – 52  Māori All Blacks

    Other tour match

    Newcastle Falcons played a match against Tonga on Tuesday 13 November 2012 winning 24 – 13.[38]

    • See 2012 end-of-year rugby union tests for details.

    Season records
    gollark: --radio connect
    gollark: --magic reload_ext
    gollark: --radio disconnect
    gollark: --magic reload_ext
    gollark: --radio disconnect

    See also

    References
    1. "RFU Championship Statistics". www.rugbyroundup.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
    2. "Championship Semi-Finals Statistics". www.rugbyroundup.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
    3. "Championship Finals Statistics". www.rugbyroundup.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
    4. "RFU Championship Statistics". www.rugbyroundup.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
    5. "Championship Semi-Finals Statistics". www.rugbyroundup.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
    6. "Championship Finals Statistics". www.rugbyroundup.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
    7. "Competitions & Tournaments". RFU. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
    8. "London Welsh win Premiership promotion, Newcastle relegated". BBC Sport. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
    9. "Wasps 10–14 Newcastle". BBC Sport. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
    10. "Newcastle Falcons half-back Chris Pilgrim extends contract". BBC Sport. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
    11. "London Welsh 17-24 Bedford Blues (agg 30-27)". BBC Sport. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
    12. "Championship semi-final play-off: Bristol 29-18 Cornish Pirates". BBC Sport. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
    13. Straughan, Dick (5 July 2012). "Falcons relegated as Welsh win RFU promotion appleal". The Cornishman. p. 80.
    14. "Esher RFC president says club will cope with relegation". BBC Sport. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
    15. "Jersey promoted to Championship by beating Coventry". BBC Sport. 21 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
    16. Tim Pryor (23 April 2012). "Jersey promoted: The rise and rise of an island side". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
    17. "Rugby Football Union to fund travel for Cup games". BBC Sport. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
    18. "Championship: RFU to abolish play-off pool stages". BBC Sport. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
    19. "On The Road". Leeds Carnegie. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
    20. "Leeds Carnegie announce fixture re-arrangements". Leeds Carnegie. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
    21. "RFU Upholds London Scottish Verdict". London Scottish. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
    22. "RFU Championship Fixtures & Results". rugby round up. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
    23. "Leeds Carnegie 34 Plymouth Albion 16". Leeds Carnegie. 6 January 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
    24. "6th January 2013 Leeds". Plymouth Albion. 6 January 2013. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
    25. "Championship Organising Committee rules on Leeds Carnegie v Plymouth Albion game". RFU. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
    26. "Cornish Pirates match postponed". www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
    27. "Doncaster Knights v London Scottish postponed to next Friday". Doncaster RFC. 25 January 2013. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
    28. "Billesley Common Fixture Postponed". www.bristolrugby.co.uk. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
    29. "POSTPONED: Jersey Vs Nottingham Rugby". www.nottinghamrugby.co.uk. 16 February 2013. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
    30. "Newcastle v Cornish Pirates Game Postponed". www.cornish-pirates.com. 23 January 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
    31. "Moseley Rearranged Fixture Date Confirmed". www.bristolrugby.co.uk. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
    32. "Re-arranged fixture v Nottingham". www.jrfc.je. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
    33. "Play off update". Leeds Carnegie. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
    34. "Minimum Standards Criteria Audit results". RFU. Archived from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
    35. "Championship 12/13 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2013.
    36. "Championship Play offs 12/13 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 29 May 2013.
    37. "Cornish Pirates boss Ian Davies to coach Championship XV". BBC. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
    38. "FALCONS 24 TONGA 13". The Journal. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
    39. "Championship 12/13 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2013.
    40. "Championship Play offs 12/13 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 29 May 2013.
    41. "Championship 12/13 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2013.
    42. "Championship Play offs 12/13 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 29 May 2013.
    43. "Championship 12/13 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2013.
    44. "Championship Play offs 12/13 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 29 May 2013.
    45. "Championship 12/13 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2013.
    46. "Championship Play offs 12/13 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 29 May 2013.
    47. "Championship 12/13 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2013.
    48. "Championship Play offs 12/13 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 29 May 2013.
    49. "Championship 12/13 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2013.
    50. "Championship Play offs 12/13 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 29 May 2013.
    51. "Championship 12/13 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2013.
    52. "Championship Play offs 12/13 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 29 May 2013.
    53. "Championship 12/13 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2013.
    54. "Championship Play offs 12/13 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 29 May 2013.
    55. "Championship 12/13 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 20 April 2013.
    56. "Championship Play offs 12/13 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 29 May 2013.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.