2020–21 RFU Championship

2020–21 RFU Championship
Countries	England  Jersey
Date	6 March 2021 — 20 June 2021
Champions	Saracens (3rd title)
Runners-up	Ealing Trailfinders
Matches played	56
Attendance	4,188 (average 75 per match)
Highest attendance	2,000 Saracens v Ampthill 17 May 2021
Tries scored	430 (average 7.7 per match)
Top point scorer	Owen Farrell (Saracens) 101 points
Top try scorer	Rayn Smid (Ealing) 9 tries
← 2019–20 2021–22 →

The 2020–21 RFU Championship, also known as the 2020–21 Greene King IPA Championship for sponsorship reasons, was the twelfth season of the RFU Championship, the professional second tier of rugby union in England. It featured ten English teams and one from Jersey. The competition was sponsored by Greene King for the eighth successive season.^[1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, this season featured a truncated timeframe of just 16 weeks with a later start and fewer rounds.

Structure[]

In a change from previous years, the eleven teams played each of the other teams once only, either home or away, to produce a ten-round season. The top two teams played each other in a two-legged play-off, with the winner promoted to the Premiership, if eligible. Due to the cancellation of the National League 1, there was no relegation.^[2] The season began on 6 March 2021, and the final round of matches were played in May 2021.^[3] Each team received one bye week, and there were three reserve weekends during the season.

RFU funding change[]

Each club received approximately £375,000 in funding from the RFU in a phased return to the level of funding provided prior to 2016–17 season.^[4][5] Following news of the funding change, several clubs announced their intention to switch to a semi-professional business model.^[6][7]

Teams[]

Nine of the eleven teams played in last season's competition. Yorkshire Carnegie, later renamed Leeds Tykes, were relegated to National League 1 after finishing bottom of the 2019–20 RFU Championship. They were replaced by Richmond who were promoted from 2019–20 National League 1 after just one year away from the Championship. Newcastle Falcons were promoted back to Premiership Rugby at the first attempt.^[4] They were replaced in the RFU Championship by Saracens who were relegated after finishing bottom of the 2019–20 Premiership Rugby table due to several points deductions throughout the season.^[8][9]

On 2 February 2021 Ampthill announced that due to funding cuts and the costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic they might not be able to take part in the season.^[10] However, after a large donation they were able to participate.^[11]

London Scottish did not participate due to the costs associated with the pandemic.^[12]

Pre-season competition[]

Ahead of the season, Ealing, Doncaster and Saracens participated in the Trailfinders Challenge Cup, as a pre-season warm-up. It took place between the 16 January and 20 February as a round-robin tournament where teams played each other home and away.^[13]

Ealing Trailfinders won the competition with one game remaining, they received a trophy and £20,000.^[14]

Table[]

Position	Team	Games				Points			Tries		Bonus points		Table points
		Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	Tries	Losing
1	Ealing Trailfinders (CH)	4	4	0	0	152	98	+54	21	13	3	0	19
2	Saracens	4	1	0	3	81	76	+5	12	9	2	1	9*
3	Doncaster Knights	4	1	0	3	56	115	-59	7	18	1	0	5*
* Cancelled Fixture: Doncaster Knights 4pts; Saracens 2pts

Fixtures[]

Table[]

2020–21 RFU Championship Table · · discuss
	Club	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points for	Points against	Diff	Try bonus	Losing bonus	Points
1	Ealing Trailfinders (RU)	10	9	0	1	505	161	+344	9	0	45
2	Saracens (CH)	9	8	0	1	444	101	+343	8	0	40*
3	Doncaster Knights	10	8	0	2	236	225	+11	4	0	36
4	Cornish Pirates	10	6	0	4	268	210	+58	5	3	32
5	Coventry	10	6	0	4	252	282	–30	5	1	30
6	Jersey Reds	10	5	0	5	256	284	−28	4	0	24
7	Ampthill	10	4	0	6	217	325	−108	4	2	22
8	Bedford Blues	10	3	0	7	213	268	−55	2	3	17
9	Hartpury	9	2	0	7	228	360	−132	3	1	12*
10	Nottingham	10	2	0	8	169	344	−175	2	2	12
11	Richmond	10	1	0	9	138	366	−228	0	0	4
* Cancelled Fixture: Saracens 0pts; Hartpury University 0pts
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won 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
Green background are the play-off places. Updated: 31 May 2021 Source: "Greene King IPA Championship". England Rugby.

Fixtures & results[]

Fixtures for the season were announced by the RFU on 8 February 2021.^[3] Jersey Reds played only 3 games at home, having switched with their opponents for their rounds 3 and 5 games based on travel concerns.^[16]

Round 1[]

Bye/s: Jersey Reds

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Round 2[]

Bye/s: Nottingham

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Round 3[]

Bye/s: Saracens

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Round 4[]

Bye/s: Ampthill

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Round 5[]

Bye/s: Richmond

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Round 6[]

Bye/s: Coventry

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Round 7[]

Bye/s: Bedford Blues

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Round 8[]

Bye/s: Hartpury

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Round 9[]

Bye/s: Doncaster Knights

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Round 10[]

Bye/s: Cornish Pirates

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Round 11[]

Bye/s: Ealing Trailfinders

Final[]

The top two teams took part in a two-legged final to determine the champion. The top ranked team at the end of the league season chose which leg they play at home. The matches were played on 13 and 20 June 2021. Subject to meeting the minimum criteria, the champion would be promoted to Premiership Rugby. On 22 May, both Ealing Trailfinders and Saracens qualified for the final. The final was confirmed on 3 June, with Ealing Trailfinders playing the first leg at home.

In June 2021, it was confirmed that only Saracens were eligible for promotion, as Ealing Trailfinders did not meet an RFU deadline, despite having a groundshare in place. Trailfinders intended to appeal the decision, as they claim they were not given adequate information from the league.^[18]

With an aggregate score of 117–15, Saracens won the final to take their first second-tier title since 1995 and earn promotion to the Premiership.^[19]

First Leg[]

Team details

FB 15 David Johnston RW 14 Dean Hammond OC 13 Max Bodilly IC 12 Matt Gordon LW 11  47' FH 10 Craig Willis SH 9 Craig Hampson N8 8 Rayn Smid (c) OF 7  40' BF 6 Kieran Murphy RL 5 James Cannon LL 4 Bobby de Wee TP 3 Kyle Whyte  36' HK 2 LP 1 Will Davis  40' Substitutions: HK 16 Michael van Vuuren PR 17 James Gibbons  40' PR 18  36' LK 19 Simon Linsell FL 20 Guy Thompson  40' 64' to 74' SH 21 FB 22  47' FL 23 Malon Al-Jiboori Coach: Ben Ward FB 15 Alex Goode  76' RW 14 Alex Lewington OC 13 Elliot Daly  62' IC 12 Nick Tompkins LW 11 Sean Maitland FH 10 Owen Farrell (c)  76' SH 9 Aled Davies N8 8 Billy Vunipola OF 7 Jackson Wray BF 6 Michael Rhodes  49' RL 5 Tim Swinson  66' LL 4 Maro Itoje TP 3 Vincent Koch  60' HK 2 Jamie George  62' LP 1 Mako Vunipola  57' Substitutions: HK 16 Tom Woolstencroft  62' PR 17 Ralph Adams-Hale  57' PR 18 Alec Clarey  60' LK 19 Callum Hunter-Hill  66' FL 20 Sean Reffell  49' SH 21 Tom Whiteley  76' CE 22 Duncan Taylor  62' WG 23 Rotimi Segun  76' Coach: Mark McCall Man of the Match: Tim Swinson (Saracens) Assistant referees: Paul Dix Jamie Leahy Television match official: Stuart Terheege

Second Leg[]

Team details

FB 15 Alex Goode RW 14 Alex Lewington OC 13 Elliot Daly  54' IC 12 Nick Tompkins LW 11 Sean Maitland FH 10 Owen Farrell (c)  54' SH 9 Aled Davies  58' N8 8 Billy Vunipola  62' OF 7 Jackson Wray 1' to 11' BF 6 Michael Rhodes  51' RL 5 Tim Swinson LL 4 Maro Itoje  54' TP 3 Vincent Koch  54' HK 2 Jamie George  54' LP 1 Mako Vunipola  54' Substitutions: HK 16 Tom Woolstencroft  54' PR 17 Ralph Adams-Hale  54' PR 18 Alec Clarey  54' LK 19 Callum Hunter-Hill  54' FL 20 Andy Christie  62' SH 21 Tom Whiteley  58' FH 22 Manu Vunipola  54' CE 23 Duncan Taylor  54' Coach: Mark McCall FB 15 David Johnston RW 14  51' OC 13 Max Bodilly IC 12 Pat Howard  62' LW 11 Angus Kernohan  58' FH 10 Craig Willis SH 9 Craig Hampson N8 8 Rayn Smid (c) OF 7 Guy Thompson BF 6 Malon Al-Jiboori RL 5  51' LL 4 Bobby de Wee TP 3 Elliot Millar-Mills  54'  72' HK 2  54' LP 1 Kyle Whyte  54' Substitutions: HK 16 Michael van Vuuren  54' PR 17 James Gibbons  54' PR 18 72' to end'  54' LK 19 Simon Linsell  51' FL 20  54'  72' SH 21  62' FH 22 Bill Johnston  58' FL 23  51'  54' Coach: Ben Ward Man of the Match: Jackson Wray (Saracens) Assistant referees: Matthew Carley Karl Dickson Television match official: Claire Hodnett

Notes[]

References[]