2020–21 RFU Championship

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.

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]

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.[8]

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.[9] However, after a large donation, they were able to participate.[10]

London Scottish did not participate due to the costs associated with the pandemic.[11]

Club Stadium Capacity Area Previous season Ampthill Dillingham Park 3,000 Ampthill, Bedfordshire 5th Bedford Blues Goldington Road 5,000 (1,700 seats)[lower-alpha 1] Bedford, Bedfordshire 8th Cornish Pirates Mennaye Field 4,000 (2,200 seats) Penzance, Cornwall 3rd Coventry Butts Park Arena 4,000 (3,000 seats) Coventry, West Midlands 4th Doncaster Knights Castle Park 5,000 (1,650 seats) Doncaster, South Yorkshire 10th Ealing Trailfinders Trailfinders Sports Ground 4,000 (2,200 seats) West Ealing, London 2nd Hartpury University ALPAS Arena 2,000 Hartpury, Gloucestershire 11th Jersey Reds Stade Santander International 4,000 Saint Peter, Jersey 7th Nottingham Lady Bay Sports Ground 3,500 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 6th Richmond Athletic Ground 4,500 (1,000 seats) Richmond, London Promoted from National League 1 Saracens StoneX Stadium 8,500 Hendon, Greater London Relegated from Premiership Rugby

London Ampthill Bedford Cornish Pirates Coventry Doncaster Hartpury Jersey Reds Nottingham London teams: Ealing Richmond Saracens Locations of the 2020–21 RFU Championship teams Richmond Saracens Ealing Greater London RFU Championship teams

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.[12]

Ealing Trailfinders won the competition with one game remaining, they received a trophy and £20,000.[13]

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.[15]

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.[17]

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.[18]

First leg

13 June 2021 16:30

Ealing Trailfinders	0 – 60	Saracens
	Report	Try: Itoje 11' c Davies 24' c George 40' c B. Vunipola (2) 43' c, 54' c Penalty try 64' Tompkins 73' c Maitland 79' m Con: Farrell (6/7) 12', 25', 40+1', 44', 55', 74' Pen: Farrell (2/3) 5', 33'

Trailfinders Sports Ground Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

Team details

FB 15 David Johnston RW 14 Dean Hammond OC 13 Max Bodilly IC 12 Matt Gordon LW 11 James Cordy-Redden  47' FH 10 Craig Willis SH 9 Craig Hampson N8 8 Rayn Smid (c) OF 7 Simon Uzokwe  40' BF 6 Kieran Murphy RL 5 James Cannon LL 4 Bobby de Wee TP 3 Kyle Whyte  36' HK 2 Shaun Malton LP 1 Will Davis  40' Substitutions: HK 16 Michael van Vuuren PR 17 James Gibbons  40' PR 18 Lewis Thiede  36' LK 19 Simon Linsell FL 20 Guy Thompson  40' 64' to 74' SH 21 Jordan Burns FB 22 Luke Daniels  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

20 June 2021 15:30

Saracens	57 – 15	Ealing Trailfinders
Try: Mak. Vunipola 35' c Daly 42' c Koch 46' c George 52' c Tompkins 56' m Lewington 64' c Penalty try 72' Whiteley 77' c Con: Farrell (4/4) 37', 42', 47', 53' Man. Vunipola (2/3) 66', 78' Pen: Farrell (1/1) 7'	Report	Try: Penalty try 1' Burns 80' m Pen: Willis (1/1) 26'

StoneX Stadium Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)

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 Luke Daniels  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 Harry Casson  51' LL 4 Bobby de Wee TP 3 Elliot Millar-Mills  54'  72' HK 2 Shaun Malton  54' LP 1 Kyle Whyte  54' Substitutions: HK 16 Michael van Vuuren  54' PR 17 James Gibbons  54' PR 18 Lewis Thiede 72' to end'  54' LK 19 Simon Linsell  51' FL 20 Simon Uzokwe  54'  72' SH 21 Jordan Burns  62' FH 22 Bill Johnston  58' FL 23 Harry Dugmore  51'  54' Coach: Ben Ward Man of the Match: Jackson Wray (Saracens) Assistant referees: Matthew Carley Karl Dickson Television match official: Claire Hodnett

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.

Most points As of 20 June 2021 Source:[19] Rank Player Club Points 1 Owen Farrell Saracens 102 2 Brendan Cope Jersey Reds 84 3 Sam Olver Doncaster Knights 75 4 Tony Fenner Coventry 68 5 Craig Willis Ealing Trailfinders 63 6 Will Maisey Bedford Blues 54 Joshua Bragman Hartpury University 8 Louis Grimoldby Ampthill 47 9 Rayn Smid Ealing Trailfinders 45 10 Alex Lewington Saracens 40

Most tries As of 20 June 2021 Source:[19] Rank Player Club Tries 1 Rayn Smid Ealing Trailfinders 9 2 Alex Lewington Saracens 8 3 Sean Maitland Saracens 7 Jordan Burns Ealing Trailfinders Dan Frost Cornish Pirates 6 Nick Tompkins Saracens 6 Max Bodilly Ealing Trailfinders Tom Duncan Cornish Pirates Ben Foley Hartpury University 10 6+ players tied Various 5