By Frank Stormont
August 26 2009

Just over a week before the first match and we are in the CHAMPIONSHIP!  

It has all started now.

ENGLISH Rugby's new Championship was launched today with the ultimate prize - a place in the Guinness Premiership!

With the 12 teams playing off for the position in one of the three pools when the real competition. The top 8 play for a promotion into the Guinness and the bottom 4 play to stay in the Championship.

A quirk of the system will mean that the team that finish in 8th could win promotion where as the 9th team, which could be just one point below 8th finish up in National League 1!

RFU Chief Executive Francis Baron said: "The RFU Championship will be a vital part of the structure of rugby in this country.

"Significant investment from the RFU and Premier Rugby Ltd, coupled with more matches and television coverage under the SkySports contract, will give the clubs more financial security than ever before and create a vibrant and viable structure to take the game forward."

RFU Elite Rugby Director Rob Andrew said: "The Championship will provide quality rugby for spectators as well as developing players, coaches and referees in a competitive and professional environment.

The nuts and bolts

Bedford Blues, Birmingham & Solihull, Bristol Rugby, Cornish Pirates, Coventry, Doncaster Knights, Exeter Chiefs, London Welsh, Moseley, Nottingham Rugby, Plymouth Albion, Rotherham Titans

League programme (22 matches)
* all teams playing 22 matches (11 home & 11 away)
* 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 bonus point for either a) scoring * 4 or more tries or b) losing by 7 points or less
* top 8 teams from league progress to promotion play-offs
* teams 9-12 from league progress to relegation play-offs

Promotion play-offs (8 matches)
* 2 pools of 4 teams playing 6 matches (3 home & 3 away)
* 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 bonus point for either a) scoring * 4 or more tries or b) losing by 7 points or less
* teams ranked 1, 4, 5 & 8 from league play in Pool A
* teams ranked 2, 3, 6 & 7 from league play in Pool B
* after 6 pool matches, top 2 teams from Pools A & B progress to semi final and then the winners to the final
* semi final draw - 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B & 1st Pool B v 2nd Pool A
* promotion play-off matches scheduled March 13 - April 17
* semi finals May 1 & final May 8 at Twickenham
* winner of Championship final promoted to Guinness Premiership subject to fulfilling entry criteria

Relegation play-offs (6 matches)
* 1 pool of 4 teams playing 6 matches (3 home & 3 away)
* 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 bonus point for either a) scoring
* 4 or more tries or b) losing by 7 points or less
* relegation play-off matches scheduled for March 13 - April 17
* after 6 pool matches played, lowest ranked team is relegated to newly-named National Division One (level three)

Launched

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 26/08/2009 20:24

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
26/08/2009 20:24

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Cider Drinker
26/08/2009 21:31

does the league have sponsor (such as bulmers?)

Don't let anything get in the way of a good game of Rugby

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Frank S
26/08/2009 22:26

None reported!

So I think NO!!!

Always forwards never backwards!

Albi Albi Albi

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stonehousealbion
26/08/2009 23:50

Is is just my PC or does nothing come up on others' machines every time launches a feature story? I have to go to Home to find the link. Grrrrrr!

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p.a.f
27/08/2009 00:37

i thought they said the championship would have sponsorship.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:27:00:38:08 by p.a.f.

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Cider Drinker
27/08/2009 11:28

that's what I thought as well paf

Don't let anything get in the way of a good game of Rugby

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Barzillai Beckerleg Bennetts
27/08/2009 20:41

well according to the Brizzle site only themselves and Exeter have the ground criteria for the Prem,so lets not bother next season,mind you, most of the Brizzle fans think they have a god given right to be in the Prem anyway.

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noibla
27/08/2009 20:53

I think we need to have proof of a larger capacity for the prem and possibly more seats both of which are readily available I believe when needed, so the Bris fans are probably right in that score B.B.B.

An inspector of some sort was checking out your seat today by the way, something about being out of bounds or something he said, not sure as to wether he was refering to your seat or S.B.E's, if you don't get your season ticket you'll know why won't you.

Semper Sersum.

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Rinkadink
28/08/2009 01:08

Quote:

Barzillai Beckerleg Bennetts
mind you, most of the Brizzle fans think they have a god given right to be in the Prem anyway.

Care to back that up with evidence?

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noibla
28/08/2009 07:37

Perhaps he meant to say "some" of the fans Rinkadink, you coming down to brickfields in November ?

Semper Sersum.

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scoreboardender
28/08/2009 08:18

he does have inside info that i do know,(no doubt more freeloading will be done there)

crouch........touch...........pause..........engage

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Elburton Albion
28/08/2009 12:20

Will there be a dedicated website, like the GP, I wonder?

Not long to go now!

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stonehousealbion
28/08/2009 14:02

Rebranded ND1 site, maybe?

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Barzillai Beckerleg Bennetts
28/08/2009 17:55

rinkadink,just this little bit of evidence.

Two quotes off your site but there were many more.

'Happily ignored that league since 2005'

'Lets make this a flying visit to a league we spend only one season in and get back IMMEDIATELY to where we belong.

Talking of freeloading, there are a few pretenders to my crown out there so i will going all out to keep it .This season im going to push for that family weekend (all free of course )for the Brizzle game.Then beat this one,the Memsahib is one telephone call away to family in Leicester to an all inclusive fun filled jolly to a Tigers PREM home match.No wonder my wallet is always full.

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ianbol
28/08/2009 18:25

. . . and the moths breed.

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