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Rugby union competition in England
2024–25 RFU Championship Countries England Date 20 September 2024 – May 2025 Matches played 102 Attendance 154,357 Highest attendance 5,000 – Bedford v Cambridge, 28 December 2024 Lowest attendance 324 – Caldy v Cornish Pirates, 7 December 2024 Tries scored 826 Top point scorer 165 – William Maisey (Bedford) Top try scorer 14 – Kehinde Olowofela (Doncaster)
The 2024–25 RFU Championship is the sixteenth season of the RFU Championship , the professional second tier of rugby union in England. It features twelve English teams. Ealing Trailfinders are the reigning champions, having been refused promotion to the Premiership due to failing to meet minimum standards.
The twelve teams will play each of the other teams twice.
The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
4 points are awarded for a win
2 points are awarded for a draw
0 points are awarded for a loss, however
1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match. Subject to meeting the minimum standards criteria the team finishing top of the league will qualify for a promotion playoff against the bottom side in Premiership Rugby while the team that finishes bottom will be typically relegated to National League 1 .
Relegation this season would be different as earlier in the season it had been indicated that the RFU Championship was due to increase from 12 to 14 teams for 2025–26. This was finally confirmed by the RFU with most of the season completed, meaning that no clubs would be relegated at the end of 2024–25.[ 1]
In March 2025 it was confirmed that only Doncaster Knights were eligible for promotion to the premiership.[ 2]
Locations of the 2024–25 RFU Championship teams
Eleven of the twelve teams played in last season's competition. Chinnor were promoted as the champions of the 2023–24 National League 1 with no side being relegated the opposite way due to Jersey Reds going into liquidation in September 2023 and there only being eleven sides.[ 3] [ 4]
Club
Stadium
Capacity
Area
Previous season
Ampthill
Dillingham Park
3,000
Ampthill , Bedfordshire
7th
Bedford Blues
Goldington Road
5,000 (1,700 seats)
Bedford , Bedfordshire
4th
Caldy
Paton Field
4,000
Thurstaston , Wirral , Merseyside
10th
Cambridge
Grantchester Road
2,200 (200 seats)
Cambridge , Cambridgeshire
11th
Chinnor
Kingsey Road
2,500
Thame , Oxfordshire
Promoted from National League 1 (champions)
Cornish Pirates
Mennaye Field
4,000 (2,200 seats)
Penzance , Cornwall
Runners up
Coventry
Butts Park Arena
5,250 (3,000 seats)
Coventry , West Midlands
3rd
Doncaster Knights
Castle Park
5,183[ 5]
Doncaster , South Yorkshire
6th
Ealing Trailfinders
Trailfinders Sports Ground
5,000 (2,115 seats)
West Ealing , London
Champions (not promoted)
Hartpury University
Hartpury Stadium[ 6]
2,000
Hartpury , Gloucestershire
5th
London Scottish
Athletic Ground
4,500 (1,000 seats)
Richmond , London
9th
Nottingham
Lady Bay Sports Ground
3,700[ a]
Nottingham , Nottinghamshire
8th
Updated to match(es) played on 20 April 2025. Source: Source: RFU Championship
[ 7] Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
Number of matches won
Number of matches drawn
Difference between points for and against
Total number of points for
Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled London Scottish 19 – 45 Coventry (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Hamish Grant
(1 BP) Nottingham 18 – 24 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Jack Makepeace
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 45 – 31 Ampthill (1 BP)
Castle Park Mike Hudson
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 45 – 19 Caldy
Goldington Road Harry Walbaum
(1 BP) Cambridge 24 – 57 Chinnor (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Richard Gordon
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 55 – 21 Hartpury University
Trailfinders Sports Ground Alex Thomas
[ 8]
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 24 – 29 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Mennaye Field George Selwood
Doncaster Knights 14 – 30 Nottingham (1 BP)
Castle Park Andrew Wigley
(1 BP) Hartpury University 34 – 33 London Scottish (2 BP)
4ED Hartpury Stadium, with Vodafone Richard Gordon
(1 BP) Ampthill 31 – 29 Chinnor (2 BP)
Dillingham Park Harry Walbaum
(1 BP) Coventry 45 – 7 Bedford Blues
Butts Park Arena Hamish Smales
(1 BP) Caldy 21 – 26 Cambridge
Paton Field Joe James
[ 9]
(1 BP) London Scottish 26 – 15 Cornish Pirates
Athletic Ground Harry Walbaum
(1 BP) Nottingham 38 – 14 Ampthill
Lady Bay Sports Ground Jonathan Cook
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 35 – 32 Hartpury University (2 BP)
Goldington Road Hamish Grant
Cambridge 19 – 36 Coventry (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Alex Thomas
(1 BP) Chinnor 31 – 17 Caldy
Kingsey Road Andrew Jackson
(2 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 35 – 36 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Trailfinders Sports Ground Tom Foley
[ 10]
(1 BP) Hartpury University 43 – 10 Cambridge
4ED Hartpury Stadium, with Vodafone Joe James
Nottingham 21 – 36 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Mike Hudson
(1 BP) Ampthill 33 – 19 Caldy
Dillingham Park Richard Gordon
(2 BP) Cornish Pirates 24 – 28 Bedford Blues (1 BP)
Mennaye Field Andy Wigley
Doncaster Knights 0 – 12 London Scottish
Castle Park Hamish Smales
(1 BP) Coventry 28 – 14 Chinnor
Butts Park Arena Joe James
[ 11]
London Scottish 14 – 48 Nottingham (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Sara Cox
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 34 – 18 Doncaster Knights
Goldington Road Joe James
(1 BP) Caldy 15 – 17 Coventry
Paton Field Ian Tempest
(1 BP) Cambridge 29 – 22 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Charles Gayther
Chinnor 19 – 34 Hartpury University (1 BP)
Kingsey Road Dan Jones
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 92 – 0 Ampthill
Trailfinders Sports Ground Alex Thomas
[ 12]
Cornish Pirates 15 – 13 Chinnor (1 BP)
Mennaye Field Alexander Thomas
(1 BP) Nottingham 10 – 17 Bedford Blues
Lady Bay Sports Ground Jack Makepeace
(1 BP) Ampthill 21 – 27 Coventry (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Charles Gayther
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 52 – 17 Cambridge
Castle Park Jonathan Cook
(1 BP) Hartpury University 40 – 24 Caldy (1 BP)
4ED Hartpury Stadium, with Vodafone Mike Hudson
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 63 – 28 London Scottish (1 BP)
Trailfinders Sports Ground Ian Tempest
[ 13]
Caldy 3 – 22 Cornish Pirates
Paton Field Jack Makepeace
Cambridge 10 – 43 Nottingham (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Hamish Grant
Bedford Blues 17 – 25 Ealing Trailfinders
Goldington Road Craig Maxwell-Keys
Chinnor 18 – 13 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Kingsey Road Mike Hudson
Game abandoned in 68th minute, with Chinnor leading 18–13, due to power cut caused by adverse weather.[ 14] [ 15] RFU would later rule the result a victory for Chinnor subject to appeal.[ 16] Coventry 14 – 13 Hartpury University (1 BP)
Butts Park Arena Sara Cox
(1 BP) London Scottish 14 – 15 Ampthill
Athletic Ground Richard Gordon
[ 17]
Nottingham 19 – 14 Chinnor (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Andrew Jackson
Ampthill A – A Hartpury University
Dillingham Park Alex Thomas
Game abandoned due to injury to referee.[ 18] (1 BP) Cornish Pirates 46 – 14 Coventry
Mennaye Field Harry Walbaum
Doncaster Knights 22 – 0 Caldy
Castle Park Craig Maxwell-Keys
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 95 – 7 Cambridge
Trailfinders Sports Ground Andy Wigley
(1 BP) London Scottish 20 – 22 Bedford Blues
Athletic Ground [ b] Jonathan Cook
[ 19]
Caldy 20 – 10 London Scottish
Paton Field Andrew Jackson
Cambridge 13 – 7 Ampthill (1 BP)
Grantchester Road George Selwood
Hartpury University 21 – 7 Nottingham
4ED Hartpury Stadium, with Vodafone Jamie Parr
Chinnor 18 – 5 Bedford Blues
Kingsey Road Joe James
Coventry 25 – 35 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Butts Park Arena Dan Jones
Cornish Pirates 19 – 14 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Mennaye Field Richard Gordon
[ 20] [ 21]
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 50 – 7 Cambridge
Goldington Road Jonathan Cook
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 55 – 26 Caldy (1 BP)
Trailfinders Sports Ground Alexander Thomas
London Scottish 26 – 15 Chinnor
Athletic Ground Jamie Parr
(1 BP) Nottingham 41 – 26 Coventry (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Dan Jones
Ampthill 17 – 33 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Charles Gayther
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 38 – 22 Hartpury University
Castle Park Hamish Grant
[ 22] [ 23]
[ edit ] Ampthill P – P Hartpury University
Game originally rescheduled from 14 December 2024 but postponed again due to frozen pitch.[ 24] Chinnor 8 – 28 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Kingsey Road George Selwood
(1 BP) Caldy 27 – 22 Nottingham (1 BP)
Paton Field Jack Makepeace
(1 BP) Cambridge 26 – 48 London Scottish (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Alexander Thomas
(1 BP) Hartpury University 34 – 10 Cornish Pirates
4ED Hartpury Stadium, with Vodafone Jonathan Cook
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 45 – 24 Ampthill
Goldington Road Richard Gordon
Coventry 24 – 23 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Butts Park Arena Craig Maxwell-Keys
[ 25]
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 27 – 23 Coventry (1 BP)
Goldington Road Luke Pearce
(1 BP) Nottingham 43 – 18 Doncaster Knights
Lady Bay Sports Ground Harry Walbaum
(1 BP) Cambridge 27 – 41 Caldy (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Hamish Smales
(1 BP) London Scottish 39 – 14 Hartpury University
Athletic Ground Richard Gordon
Chinnor 19 – 32 Ampthill (1 BP)
Kingsey Road Hamish Grant
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 84 – 29 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Trailfinders Sports Ground Joe James
[ 26]
[ edit ] (2 BP) Ampthill 32 – 36 Hartpury University (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Richard Gordon
Game originally rescheduled from 14 December 2024 and then rescheduled again from 11 January 2025. [ 27]
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 41 – 31 London Scottish (1 BP)
Mennaye Field George Selwood
(1 BP) Ampthill 43 – 32 Nottingham (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Jonathan Cook
Doncaster Knights 20 – 18 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Castle Park Craig Maxwell-Keys
(1 BP) Hartpury University 29 – 26 Bedford Blues (2 BP)
4ED Hartpury Stadium, with Vodafone Jack Makepeace
(1 BP) Caldy 23 – 24 Chinnor
Paton Field Harry Walbaum
(1 BP) Coventry 43 – 33 Cambridge (1 BP)
Butts Park Arena Dan Jones
[ 28]
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 45 – 24 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Goldington Road Charles Gayther
(1 BP) Caldy 22 – 27 Ampthill (1 BP)
Paton Field Hamish Smales
Cambridge 19 – 33 Hartpury University (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Andy Wigley
(1 BP) Chinnor 37 – 45 Coventry (1 BP)
Kingsey Road Hamish Grant
(1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 82 – 5 Nottingham
Trailfinders Sports Ground Alexander Thomas
London Scottish 5 – 42 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Joe James
[ 29]
(2 BP) Nottingham 28 – 33 London Scottish (1 BP)
Lady Bay Sports Ground Henry Pearson
(1 BP) Doncaster Knights 41 – 32 Bedford Blues (1 BP)
Castle Park Craig Maxwell-Keys
Hartpury University 17 – 17 Chinnor
4ED Hartpury Stadium, with Vodafone George Selwood
Ampthill 17 – 53 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Dillingham Park Dan Jones
(1 BP) Coventry 49 – 31 Caldy (1 BP)
Butts Park Arena Jonathan Cook
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 64 – 35 Cambridge (1 BP)
Mennaye Field Mike Hudson
[ 30]
(1 BP) Bedford Blues 87 – 19 Nottingham
Goldington Road Alexander Thomas
Caldy 10 – 41 Hartpury University (1 BP)
Paton Field Hamish Grant
Cambridge 17 – 52 Doncaster Knights (1 BP)
Grantchester Road Henry Pearson
(2 BP) Chinnor 31 – 33 Cornish Pirates (1 BP)
Kingsey Road Craig Maxwell-Keys
(2 BP) Coventry 26 – 31 Ampthill (1 BP)
Butts Park Arena Hamish Smales
(1 BP) London Scottish 24 – 41 Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP)
Athletic Ground Charles Gayther
[ 31]
(1 BP) Cornish Pirates 27 – 24 Caldy (2 BP)
Mennaye Field Andrew Wigley
Doncaster Knights 38 – 14 Chinnor
Castle Park Jamie Parr
(1 BP) Hartpury University 31 – 24 Coventry (2 BP)
4ED Hartpury Stadium, with Vodafone Richard Gordon
(1 BP) Ampthill 38 – 19 London Scottish
Dillingham Park Ben Wood
(2 BP) Ealing Trailfinders 24 – 30 Bedford Blues (1 BP)
Trailfinders Sports Ground Hamish Grant
(1 BP) Nottingham 61 – 22 Cambridge
Lady Bay Sports Ground
[ 32]
Hartpury University v Ampthill
4ED Hartpury Stadium, with Vodafone
Bedford Blues v London Scottish
Cambridge v Ealing Trailfinders
[ 33]
Cornish Pirates v Hartpury University
Doncaster Knights v Coventry
Ealing Trailfinders v Chinnor
Trailfinders Sports Ground
London Scottish v Cambridge
[ 34]
Caldy v Ealing Trailfinders
Hartpury University v Doncaster Knights
4ED Hartpury Stadium, with Vodafone
[ 35]
Nottingham v Hartpury University
Doncaster Knights v Cornish Pirates
Ealing Trailfinders v Coventry
Trailfinders Sports Ground
[ 36]
Ampthill v Doncaster Knights
Cornish Pirates v Nottingham
Hartpury University v Ealing Trailfinders
4ED Hartpury Stadium, with Vodafone
[ 37]
Club
Home
Total
Average
Highest
Lowest
% Capacity
Ampthill
8
7,598
950
1,400
742
32%
Bedford Blues
9
26,314
2,924
5,000
1,981
58%
Caldy
8
9,089
1,136
1,850
324
28%
Cambridge
9
12,018
1,335
1,794
847
61%
Chinnor
8
13,834
1,729
2,146
782
69%
Cornish Pirates
8
12,072
1,509
1,766
1,272
38%
Coventry
8
25,004
3,126
4,523
2,459
60%
Doncaster Knights
9
11,820
1,313
1,878
1,058
25%
Ealing Trailfinders
9
11,656
1,295
2,712
700
26%
Hartpury University
8
7,238
905
1,034
670
45%
London Scottish
9[ c]
6,838
855
1,042
569
19%
Nottingham
9
10,876
1,208
1,925
935
33%
[ 8] [ 9] [ 10] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 17] [ 19] [ 20] [ 22] [ 25] [ 26] [ 27] [ 28] [ 29] [ 30] [ 31] [ 32]
Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under World Rugby eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who have not yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.
^ "Promotion/Relegation 2024-25" . London & SE Division Rugby Football Union. 2 March 2025.^ "Minimum Standards Criteria Audit for Premiership Rugby" . Championship Rugby . 18 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025 .^ "Champions! Chinnor celebrate in fine style". The RugbyPaper . No. 813. 14 April 2024. pp. 28– 29. ^ "Jersey Reds' financial challenges lead to club ceasing trading" . Jersey Reds. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023 .^ "A right mess entirely of the RFU's making". The RugbyPaper . No. 703. 6 March 2022. p. 11. ^ "Hartpury Stadium renamed as Vodafone and 4Ed Foundation partnership unveiled" . Hartpury University & College. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024 .^ "RFU Championship" . England Rugby .^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 836. 22 September 2024. pp. 18– 19, 38. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 837. 29 September 2024. pp. 18– 19, 38. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 838. 6 October 2024. pp. 18– 19, 40. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 839. 13 October 2024. pp. 18– 19, 38. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 840. 20 October 2024. pp. 20– 21, 38. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 846. 1 December 2024. pp. 26– 27, 36. ^ "68' Before the play begins, the power has cut out at Kingsey Road!" . X Thame . 7 December 2024.^ "After we are unable to continue. The referee has decided to abandon the game" . X . Chinnor Thame RFC. 7 December 2024.^ "RFU statement regarding the outcome of Chinnor v Doncaster Knights" . Doncaster Knights. 13 December 2024.^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 847. 8 December 2024. pp. 22– 23, 38. ^ "1st XV v Hartpury – Game Abandoned" . Ampthill RUFC. 14 December 2024.^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 848. 15 December 2024. pp. 22– 23, 38. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 849. 22 December 2024. pp. 20– 21, 36. ^ Phil Westren (22 December 2024). "Cornish Pirates 19 Doncaster Knights 14" . Cornish Pirates. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 850. 29 December 2024. pp. 22– 23, 32. ^ Phil Westren (29 December 2024). "Ampthill 17 Cornish Pirates 33" . Cornish Pirates. ^ "POSTPONED: 1st XV v Hartpury" . Ampthill RUFC. 11 January 2025.^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 853. 19 January 2025. pp. 22– 23, 38. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 854. 26 January 2025. pp. 16– 17, 38. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 869. 2 March 2025. pp. 24, 35. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 862. 23 March 2025. pp. 22– 23, 36. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 863. 30 March 2025. pp. 24– 25, 32. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 864. 6 April 2025. pp. 20– 21, 34. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 865. 13 April 2025. pp. 20– 21, 36. ^ a b c d "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 866. 20 April 2025. pp. 26– 27, 36. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 868. 4 May 2025. pp. 26– 27, 36. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 869. 11 May 2025. pp. 26– 27, 36. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 870. 18 May 2025. pp. 26– 27, 36. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 871. 25 May 2025. pp. 26– 27, 36. ^ "Results". The RugbyPaper . No. 872. 1 June 2025. pp. 26– 27, 36.
^ Lady Bay capacity increased from 3,500 to 3,700 for the 2024–25 season.
^ There is no record the London Scottish v Bedford Blues attendance anywhere online or in media - neither London Scottish or Bedford Blues posted an attendance figure on their respective website's and The Rugby Paper did not publish the figure in the following weeks edition.
^ The London Scottish home attendance v Bedford Blues on 15 December 2024 was unreported.
2024–25 teams Former clubs Seasons
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