RFU Championship: Fixtures and 2011-12 season stru

[Communications Team]

RFU Championship: Fixtures and 2011-12 season structure Friday 17th June 2011

Issued by Dave Barton , RFU Corporate Communications Manager

The RFU Championship trophy

RFU CHAMPIONSHIP new boys London Scottish will kick off their campaign against visiting Rotherham Titans on the weekend of September 3.

Scottish, who saw off Barking to claim the National One League title, will then travel to Bristol Rugby, bidding to get back in the Aviva Premiership after a three-season break.

The season will start on the weekend of September 3 and include a two-legged semi final for the first time.

Fixtures
Round 1 (September 3): Moseley v Cornish Pirates, Doncaster Knights v Bristol Rugby, London Scottish v Rotherham Titans, Leeds Carnegie v London Welsh, Plymouth Albion v Esher Rugby, Nottingham Rugby v Bedford Blues

Round 2 (September 10): Cornish Pirates v Doncaster Knights, Esher Rugby v Bedford Blues, London Welsh v Plymouth Albion, Rotherham Titans v Leeds Carnegie, Bristol Rugby v London Scottish, Moseley v Nottingham Rugby

Round 3 (September 17): Doncaster Knights v Moseley, London Scottish v Cornish Pirates, Leeds Carnegie v Bristol Rugby, Plymouth Albion v Rotherham Titans, Bedford Blues v London Welsh, Nottingham Rugby v Esher Rugby

Round 4 (September 24): Cornish Pirates v Leeds Carnegie, Doncaster Knights v London Scottish, London Welsh v Nottingham Rugby, Rotherham Titans v Bedford Blues, Bristol Rugby v Plymouth Albion, Moseley v Esher Rugby

Round 5 (October 1): London Scottish v Moseley, Leeds Carnegie v Doncaster Knights, Plymouth Albion v Cornish Pirates, Bedford Blues v Bristol Rugby, Nottingham Rugby v Rotherham, Esher Rugby v London Welsh

Round 6 (October 8): Cornish Pirates v Bedford Blues, Doncaster Knights v Plymouth Albion, London Scottish v Leeds Carnegie, Rotherham Titans v Esher Rugby, Bristol Rugby v Nottingham Rugby, Moseley v London Welsh

Round 7 (October 15): Leeds Carnegie v Moseley, Plymouth Albion v London Scottish, Bedford Blues v Doncaster Knights, Nottingham Rugby v Cornish Pirates, Esher Rugby v Bristol Rugby, London Welsh v Rotherham Titans

Round 8 (October 22): Cornish Pirates v Esher Rugby, Doncaster Knights v Nottingham Rugby, London Scottish v Bedford Blues, Leeds Carnegie v Plymouth Albion, Bristol Rugby v London Welsh, Moseley v Rotherham Titans

Round 9 (October 29): Plymouth Albion v Moseley, Bedford Blues v Leeds Carnegie, Nottingham Rugby v London Scottish, Esher Rugby v Doncaster Knights, London Welsh v Cornish Pirates, Rotherham Titans v Bristol Rugby

Round 10 (November 5): Cornish Pirates v Rotherham Titans, Doncaster Knights v London Welsh, London Scottish v Esher Rugby, Leeds Carnegie v Nottingham Rugby, Plymouth Albion v Bedford Blues, Moseley v Bristol Rugby,

Round 11 (November 19):Bedford Blues v Moseley, Nottingham Rugby v Plymouth Albion, Esher Rugby v Leeds Carnegie, London Welsh v London Scottish, Rotherham Titans v Doncaster Knights, Bristol Rugby v Cornish Pirates

Round 12 (November 26): Doncaster Knights v Cornish Pirates, London Scottish v Bristol Rugby, Leeds Carnegie v Rotherham Titans, Plymouth Albion v London Welsh, Bedford Blues v Esher Rugby, Nottingham Rugby v Moseley

Round 13 (December 3): Cornish Pirates v London Scottish, Esher Rugby v Nottingham Rugby, London Welsh v Bedford Blues, Rotherham Titans v Plymouth Albion, Bristol Rugby v Leeds Carnegie, Moseley v Doncaster Knights

Round 14 (December 10): London Scottish v Doncaster Knights, Leeds Carnegie v Cornish Pirates, Plymouth Albion v Bristol Rugby, Bedford Blues v Rotherham Titans, Nottingham Rugby v London Welsh, Esher Rugby v Moseley

Round 15 (December 24): Cornish Pirates v Plymouth Albion, Doncaster Knights v Leeds Carnegie, London Welsh v Esher Rugby, Rotherham Titans v Nottingham Rugby, Bristol Rugby v Bedford Blues, Moseley v London Scottish

Round 16 (December 31): Leeds Carnegie v London Scottish, Plymouth Albion v Doncaster Knights, Bedford Blues v Cornish Pirates, Nottingham Rugby v Bristol Rugby, Esher Rugby v Rotherham Titans, London Welsh v Moseley

Round 17 (January 7): Cornish Pirates v Nottingham Rugby, Doncaster Knights v Bedford Blues, London Scottish v Plymouth Albion, Rotherham Titans v London Welsh, Bristol Rugby v Esher Rugby, Moseley v Leeds Carnegie

Round 18 (January 14): Plymouth Albion v Leeds Carnegie, Bedford Blues v London Scottish, Nottingham Rugby v Doncaster Knights, Esher Rugby v Cornish Pirates, Rotherham Titans v Moseley, London Welsh v Bristol Rugby

Round 19 (January 28) Cornish Pirates v London Welsh, Doncaster Knights v Esher Rugby, London Scottish v Nottingham Rugby, Leeds Carnegie v Bedford Blues, Bristol Rugby v Rotherham Titans, Moseley v Plymouth Albion

Round 20 (February 4); Bedford Blues v Plymouth Albion, Nottingham Rugby v Leeds Carnegie, Esher Rugby v London Scottish, London Welsh v Doncaster Knights, Rotherham Titans v Cornish Pirates, Bristol Rugby v Moseley

Round 21 (February 18); Cornish Pirates v Bristol Rugby, Doncaster Knights v Rotherham Titans, London Scottish v London Welsh, Leeds Carnegie v Esher Rugby, Plymouth Albion v Nottingham Rugby, Moseley v Bedford Blues

Round 22 (February 25); Bedford Blues v Nottingham Rugby, Esher Rugby v Plymouth Albion, London Welsh v Leeds Carnegie, Rotherham Titans v London Scottish, Bristol Rugby v Doncaster Knights, Cornish Pirates v Moseley

Structure
12 clubs - Bedford Blues, Bristol Rugby, Cornish Pirates, Doncaster Knights, Esher Rugby, Leeds Carnegie, London Scottish, London Welsh, Moseley, Nottingham Rugby, Plymouth Albion, Rotherham Titans

League programme -
Stage 1 (22 matches, starting weekend of September 3)
* 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 - Stage 2 (6 matches)*
promotion play-off matches March 10, 17, 24, 31 - April 14, 21
* 2 pools of 4 teams playing 6 matches (3 home & 3 away)
* teams finishing 1, 4, 5 & 8 from league play in Pool A and will be ranked 1 to 4
* teams finishing 2, 3, 6 & 7 from league play in Pool B and will be ranked 1 to 4
* the 1st ranked team in each pool will start the Play-Offs with three points, the 2nd two, the 3rd one and the 4th none
* 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 le
* after 6 pool matches, top 2 teams from Pools A & B progress to semi final and then the winners to the final

Relegation Play-Offs (6 matches)*
relegation play-off matches scheduled for March 10, 17, 24, 31 - April 14, 21
* 1 pool of 4 teams playing 6 matches (3 home & 3 away)
* each team will carry forward one point for every game won in Stage 1.
* 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
* after 6 pool matches played, lowest ranked team is relegated to National Division One (level three)

Knockout games - Stage 3 (3 matches)
* semi final draw - 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B & 1st Pool B v 2nd Pool A
* two-legged semi finals May 5 &12
* final May 23 & 30
* winner of Championship final promoted to Aviva Premiership subject to fulfilling entry criteria

[Communications Team]

The Moseley version..............

Saturday 20th August Pre-Season Aberavon v Moseley
Saturday 27th August Pre-Season Moseley v Bedwas
Saturday 3rd September Championship Moseley v Cornish Pirates
Saturday 10th September Championship Moseley v Nottingham
Saturday 17th September Championship Doncaster v Moseley
Wednesday 21st September B&I Cup Moseley v Plymouth Albion
Saturday 24th September Championship Moseley v Esher
Saturday 1st October Championship London Scottish v Moseley
Saturday 8th October Championship Moseley v London Welsh
Wednesday 12th October B&I Cup Bristol v Moseley
Saturday 15th October Championship Leeds v Moseley
Saturday 22nd October Championship Moseley v Rotherham
Saturday 29th October Championship Plymouth Albion v Moseley
Saturday 5th November Championship Moseley v Bristol
Saturday 12th November B&I Cup Cross Keys v Moseley
Saturday 19th November Championship Bedford v Moseley
Saturday 26th November Championship Nottingham v Moseley
Saturday 3rd December Championship Moseley v Doncaster
Saturday 10th December Championship Esher v Moseley
Saturday 17th December B&I Cup Moseley v Munster
Monday 26th December Championship Moseley v London Scottish
Saturday 31st December Championship London Welsh v Moseley
Saturday 7th January Championship Moseley v Leeds
Saturday 14th January Championship Rotherham v Moseley
Saturday 21st January B&I Cup Quarter Final
Saturday 28th January Championship Moseley v Plymouth Albion
Saturday 4th February Championship Bristol v Moseley
Saturday 11th February Reserve Weekend
Saturday 18th February Championship Moseley v Bedford
Saturday 25th February Championship Cornish Pirates v Moseley
Saturday 3rd March Blank Weekend
Saturday 10th March Championship Play offs Round 1
Saturday 17th March Championship Play offs Round 2
Saturday 24th March Championship Play offs Round 3
Saturday 31st March Championship Play offs Round 4
Saturday 7th April B&I Cup Semi Final
Saturday 14th April Championship Play offs Round 5
Saturday 21st April Championship Play offs Round 6
Saturday 28th April B&I Cup Final
Saturday 5th May Championship Semi-Final 1st Leg
Saturday 12th May Championship Semi-Final 2nd leg
Saturday 19th May Championship Final 1st Leg
Saturday 26th May Championship Final 2nd leg

[observer]

Interesting comment from the Rolling Maul message board:
www.rolling-maul.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=6141&title=201112-fixtures

Not my words............
"Don't book your transport just yet as the RFU & NCA have managed to have both Scottish and Richmond down at home on the 3rd September and also on a number of other Saturdays in the season. They can't even use the excuse that they were not aware of it, as the clubs have been sharing the ground for over 100 years!!! "

As it happens, our fixture AT London Scottish is also the same day that Richmond are scheduled to host Old Albanians. Presumably there are others and therefore a re-think may effect all fixtures?

[CJB1]

Won't Pirates, Nottingham and possibly Leeds play on Sundays? Also, there may be some moves to Friday night.

[Communications Team]

Hi CJB1.
You are right. Please read Sat xth at being the weekend that includes that Saturday. It could be Friday or Saturday or Sunday - all will be confirmed as soon as poss.

[CJB1]

Also, are we intending to entertain L Scottish on Dec 26th as a Boxing Day game?

Whoops, I see we are.

[Steve@Mose]

Isn't the final round of matches usually played on the same day with a 3:00pm kick off?

And if the Pirates are unable to fulfil the appointed date and time couldn't we just swap dates - open the season away in Cornwall and finish the final round on Billesley Common?

[John]

Most hapy about the Boxing day game. London Scottish should create a good atmosphere at the Bills. Club should get Aiden the folk guy down to play a set at that game.

[newby]

The Rfu statement says we play London Scottish on Christmas eve (round 15) but the Moseley fixtures say boxing day. Which is it?

[billesleynomad]

Do read the rest of the thread Newby

[newby]

So sorry Billesleynomad, my mistake, I will try and keep up next time.

[johnnie1958]

can anyone conconfirm the london scottish game with 2 dates for the game 24 and 26 december thanks

[newby]

Fixtures now on the NCA website which state Scottish game is 24th

[CJB1]

NCA site is wrong. The game will be on Boxing Day.

[standsitter]

"In the Championship, Bristol will play four home matches – against Nottingham (October 7), London Welsh (October 21), Bedford (December 23) and Moseley (February 3) – on Friday evenings."

www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-bring-Bath-players-complete-squad/story-12806446-detail/story.html

[CJB1]

Leeds are also playing home games on Sundays, so our away game there will be Sunday 16th October, not Saturday 15th.

Nothing on the Nottingham site yet, but I think we can anticipate what they'll do (Sunday 2pm seems to be usual).

In the past, Plymouth and Bedford have sometimes entertained us on Friday nights, but nothing on their sites yet, nor for Esher.

Doncaster have us down for 3pm on Saturday. Scottish also have us down for Saturday, no kickoff time given. Roth confirm Saturday, but with a 2pm kickoff. Welsh also confirm Saturday, this must be 2pm as they don't have lights.

[CJB1]

Jun 17, 2011 13:07:01 GMT Steve@Mose said:

Isn't the final round of matches usually played on the same day with a 3:00pm kick off?

And if the Pirates are unable to fulfil the appointed date and time couldn't we just swap dates - open the season away in Cornwall and finish the final round on Billesley Common?

Pirates site has this fixture down for the Saturday (in bold, in case the unwary don't notice), with time "TBC", but must surely be 3pm to fit in with the usual requirements.

[Communications Team]

The fixture list released by the RFU indicated the weekends for matches to be played by showing dates for the Saturday of the weekend in question. the final day that the game is to be played is determined by the home club and can include Friday, Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.

The process of finalising the dates Moseley will play on is ongoing via discussions with the other Championship clubs.

As soon as we can release confirmation of our final fixture list we will do so.

[CJB1]

Jun 23, 2011 9:36:21 GMT Communications Team said:

The process of finalising the dates Moseley will play on is ongoing via discussions with the other Championship clubs.

As soon as we can release confirmation of our final fixture list we will do so.

Yes, I do know that, but some of our opponents are already putting up their lists, so only fair to report what they're saying.

[steveplant]

On the plymouth site our away game is now on the friday night 7:45 ko 28/10/11

[steveplant]

dose the club know when we are to play London Scottish away as Richmond are down to play St Albanians at home on the same day same time 15:00

[newby]

Although they share the ground,Richmond play on a different pitch to scottish.

[londonexile]

I'm almost certain they do play on the same pitch, the one over-looked by the main stand. Having said that I've only been to watch Ricmond play, back in the days when they had Brian Moore, the quinnell bros. and Ben Clark.

[newby]

We went to watch London Scottish on 2 occasions last season, (visiting friends who are LS supporters.) If you enter the ground through the main entrance off the high street the pitches at the front of the ground are used by Richmond. These pitches are overlooked by a line of buildings, a cafe, a very large bar, a kit shop, toilets and changing rooms. London Scottish pitch is accessed throu a gap in the line of buildings and their stand makes up the back wall of the bar and cafe. The only prob I can see is with both teams playing it might be a bit tight for parking.

[steveplant]

London scottish away is now on the sunday 2/10 and leeds away sunday 16/10

[Admin]

Here is the most up to date fixture list, after trawling through everyones websites.

www.moseleysupporters.co.uk/Moseley_Supporters_Association/Fixtures_%26_Results_2011_12.html

[James Hopkins]

gutted London Scottish have moved game from sat to sun. was really looking forward to watching Eng v Scot in the club house with a cooked brekkie then onto the coach down to London. GUTTED.