2009–10 RFU Championship

The 2009–10 RFU Championship was the 1st season (of the professionalised format) of the second division of the English domestic rugby union competitions, played between August 2009 and May 2010. The league had been restructured from the 16 teams of the previous season down to just 12.[1] New teams included Bristol who had been relegated from the Guinness Premiership 2008–09 and Birmingham and Solihull who had been promoted from National Division Two 2008–09.[2][3] As well as a decrease in teams, the league would now consist of three parts - a standard league section, promotion/relegation pools and then playoffs to determine who would go up as champions.

2009–10 RFU Championship
Countries England
ChampionsExeter Chiefs
Runners-upBristol
RelegatedCoventry
Attendance402,209 (average 2,260 per match)[a 1]
Highest attendance11,550 Bristol at home to Exeter Chiefs on 26 May 2010
Lowest attendance200 Birmingham & Solihull at home to Doncaster Knights on 17 February 2010
Top point scorerIrelandGareth Steenson
(Exeter Chiefs) 280 points
Top try scorerScotland Blair Cowan
(Cornish Pirates)
South Africa Errie Claassens
(London Welsh)
England Matthew Jess (Exeter Chiefs) 14 tries

During this season, Exeter Chiefs won promotion to the Aviva Premiership 2010–11 by beating Bristol in the playoff final.[4] This marked Exeter's first ever promotion to the Premiership, which they would later win in 2017.

Despite finishing 11th of 12 after the first stage Coventry were relegated to the 2010–11 National League 1 as they finished bottom of the relegation pool.[5]

Participating teams

Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bedford Blues Goldington Road 6,000 Bedford, Bedfordshire
Birmingham & Solihull Sharmans Cross[b 1] 2,500 Solihull, West Midlands
Bristol Memorial Stadium 12,100 Bristol
Cornish Pirates Recreation Ground 9,000 Camborne, Cornwall
Coventry Butts Park Arena[b 2] 4,000 Coventry, West Midlands
Doncaster Knights Castle Park 3,075 Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Exeter Chiefs Sandy Park 10,000 Exeter, Devon
London Welsh Old Deer Park 5,850 Richmond, London
Moseley Billesley Common 3,000+ Birmingham, West Midlands
Nottingham Meadow Lane[b 3] 19,588 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Plymouth Albion The Brickfields 6,500 Plymouth, Devon
Rotherham Titans Clifton Lane 2,500 Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Notes
  1. Birmingham & Solihull would play a home game on 2 January 2010 at Goldington Road in Bedford, as well as two more home games at Billesley Common on 2 and 17 February 2010 due to adverse weather conditions effecting the Sharmans Cross pitch.[6]
  2. Coventry would play a home game on 4 December 2009 at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.[7]
  3. Nottingham would play a home game on 7 November 2009 at Welford Road in Leicester due to the Notts County football team playing a home match in the FA Cup on that date.[8]

Stage 1 League Table

2009–10 RFU Championship table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD B Pts Qualification
1 Bristol 22 19 0 3 630 337 +293 16 92 Promotion playoffs
2 Exeter Chiefs 22 19 0 3 699 360 +339 12 88
3 London Welsh 22 14 1 7 483 376 +107 9 62[lower-alpha 1]
4 Bedford Blues 22 12 1 9 581 436 +145 9 59
5 Nottingham 22 12 0 10 539 520 +19 11 59
6 Cornish Pirates 22 11 1 10 555 463 +92 9 55
7 Doncaster Knights 22 10 0 12 394 386 +8 8 48
8 Plymouth Albion 22 10 1 11 389 462 73 6 48
9 Moseley 22 10 0 12 444 543 99 6 46 Relegation playoffs
10 Rotherham Titans 22 7 0 15 451 520 69 15 43
11 Coventry 22 5 1 16 346 565 219 5 12[lower-alpha 2]
12 Birmingham & Solihull 22 0 1 21 293 836 543 4 9[lower-alpha 2]
Updated to match(es) played on 13 March 2010. Source:
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
    Notes:
  1. 5 points deducted
  2. 15 points deducted

Results

Round 1

4 September 2009
Coventry21 - 12Rotherham Titans
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,390
Referee: Darren Gamage
5 September 2009
Doncaster Knights12 - 26Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,248
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
5 September 2009
Moseley25 - 50Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 842
Referee: Martin Fox
5 September 2009
(BP) Plymouth Albion33 - 10Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,176
Referee: Luke Pearce
6 September 2009
Bristol28 - 23London Welsh (BP)
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,025
Referee: Sean Davey
6 September 2009
Nottingham13 - 24Cornish Pirates
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,232
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts

Round 2

12 September 2009
(BP) Bedford Blues42 - 6Coventry
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,852
Referee: Michael Tutty
12 September 2009
(BP) Birmingham & Solihull36 - 40Bristol (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 1,223
Referee: Chris Sharp
12 September 2009
Exeter Chiefs32 - 20Doncaster Knights
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,573
Referee: Rob Debney
13 September 2009
(BP) Cornish Pirates57 - 24Moseley (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,632
Referee: David Rose
13 September 2009
Nottingham23 - 16London Welsh (BP)
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,006
Referee: JP Doyle
13 September 2009
Rotherham Titans29 - 16Plymouth Albion
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,125
Referee: Terry Hall

Round 3

18 September 2009
Coventry13 - 27Exeter Chiefs
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Sean Davey
18 September 2009
Doncaster Knights10 - 21Cornish Pirates
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,728
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
19 September 2009
(BP) London Welsh37 - 12Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,650
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
19 September 2009
Moseley20 - 31Nottingham (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 754
Referee: Adrian Hartwell
19 September 2009
Plymouth Albion3 - 38Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,303
Referee: Keith Lewis
20 September 2009
(BP) Bristol36 - 10Rotherham Titans
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,305
Referee: Rowan Kitt

Round 4

26 September 2009
(BP) Bedford Blues5 - 6Bristol
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 4,067
Referee: Greg Garner
26 September 2009
Exeter Chiefs30 - 24Plymouth Albion (BP)
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 5,072
Referee: Dean Richards
26 September 2009
(BP) Moseley33 - 25Doncaster Knights
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 749
Referee: Paul Knowles
26 September 2009
(BP) Rotherham Titans22 - 28London Welsh
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,262
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
27 September 2009
Cornish Pirates20 - 14Coventry (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,695
Referee: JP Doyle
27 September 2009
(BP) Nottingham53 - 17Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,210
Referee: Mark Wilson

Round 5

2 October 2009
(2BP) Coventry25 - 28Moseley (BP)
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 2,003
Referee: Luke Pearce
3 October 2009
Birmingham & Solihull0 - 29Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 377
Referee: Rob Debney
3 October 2009
Doncaster Knights7 - 23Nottingham
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,323
Referee: Keith Lewis
3 October 2009
London Welsh28 - 17Bedford Blues
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 2,240
Referee: Rowan Kitt
3 October 2009
Plymouth Albion16 - 8Cornish Pirates
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 4,004
Referee: David Rose
4 October 2009
Bristol26 - 35Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,895
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts

Round 6

9 October 2009
(BP) Nottingham46 - 0Rotherham Titans
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,049
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
10 October 2009
(BP) Bedford Blues53 - 25Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,180
Referee: Terry Hall
10 October 2009
Exeter Chiefs13 - 9London Welsh (BP)
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 4,378
Referee: David Rose
10 October 2009
(BP) Doncaster Knights14 - 17Coventry
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,310
10 October 2009
Moseley26 - 15Plymouth Albion
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 950
Referee: Darren Gamage
11 October 2009
Cornish Pirates13 - 35Bristol (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 4,115
Referee: Keith Lewis

Round 7

16 October 2009
Bristol19 - 9Moseley
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,149
Referee: Andrew Small
16 October 2009
(BP) Coventry13 - 18Nottingham
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,313
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
17 October 2009
Birmingham & Solihull21 - 51Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 367
Referee: Chris Sharp
17 October 2009
Plymouth Albion6 - 21Doncaster Knights
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,395
Referee: Roy Maybank
17 October 2009
(BP) London Welsh34 - 10Cornish Pirates
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,980
Referee: Rowan Kitt
17 October 2009
(BP) Rotherham Titans25 - 27Bedford Blues
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,304
Referee: Michael Tutty

Round 8

23 October 2009
Coventry26 - 10Plymouth Albion
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,076
Referee: Graham Knox
24 October 2009
Doncaster Knights26 - 22Bristol (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,907
Referee: Mark Wilson
24 October 2009
(BP) Exeter Chiefs43 - 10Rotherham Titans
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,828
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
24 October 2009
(BP) Moseley17 - 21London Welsh
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 964
Referee: Rob Debney
25 October 2009
(BP) Cornish Pirates62 - 10Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,530
Referee: Paul Knowles
25 October 2009
Nottingham30 - 29Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,584
Referee: Greg Garner

Round 9

30 October 2009
(BP) Bristol46 - 28Coventry
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,839
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
31 October 2009
Bedford Blues11 - 20Exeter Chiefs
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,297
Referee: Rob Debney
31 October 2009
(BP) Birmingham & Solihull16 - 23Moseley
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 1,084
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
31 October 2009
London Welsh9 - 20Doncaster Knights
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,690
Referee: Greg Garner
31 October 2009
(BP) Plymouth Albion31 - 25Nottingham (BP)
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,078
Referee: JP Doyle
31 October 2009
Rotherham Titans29 - 20Cornish Pirates
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,287
Referee: Andrew Small

Round 10

6 November 2009
Coventry10 - 19London Welsh
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,133
Referee: Paul Knowles
7 November 2009
(BP) Doncaster Knights36 - 7Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,312
7 November 2009
Moseley31 - 27Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 978
Referee: Andrew Small
7 November 2009
Nottingham11 - 42Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Welford Road, Leicester[8]
Attendance: 1,216
Referee: Keith Lewis
7 November 2009
Plymouth Albion8 - 33Bristol (BP)
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,993
Referee: Terry Hall
8 November 2009
Cornish Pirates25 - 24Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,465
Referee: David Rose

Round 11

13 November 2009
Bedford Blues23 - 7Moseley
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,282
Referee: Dean Richards
14 November 2009
Birmingham & Solihull6 - 21Coventry
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 477
Referee: Rowan Kitt
14 November 2009
Exeter Chiefs22 - 15Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 6,158
Referee: Mark Wilson
14 November 2009
London Welsh12 - 24Plymouth Albion (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 874
Referee: D May
14 November 2009
Rotherham Titans11 - 7Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,610
Referee: Adrian Hartwell
15 November 2009
(BP) Bristol35 - 11Nottingham
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,784
Referee: David Pearson

Round 12

4 December 2009
Coventry15 - 15Bedford Blues
Report
Ricoh Arena[7]
Attendance: 1,306
Referee: Darren Gamage
5 December 2009
(BP) Doncaster Knights9 - 14Exeter Chiefs
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,565
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
5 December 2009
London Welsh19 - 14Nottingham (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 910
Referee: Adrian Hartwell
5 December 2009
(BP) Moseley19 - 20Cornish Pirates
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 901
Referee: Luke Pearce
5 December 2009
Plymouth Albion20 - 15Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 1,795
Referee: Dean Richards
6 December 2009
(BP) Bristol28 - 0Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,440
Referee: Paul Knowles

Round 13

12 December 2009
(BP) Bedford Blues16 - 19Plymouth Albion
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,353
Referee: Luke Pearce
12 December 2009
Birmingham & Solihull6 - 29London Welsh (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 407
Referee: Chris Sharp
12 December 2009
(BP) Exeter Chiefs45 - 11Coventry
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,952
Referee: Terry Hall
12 December 2009
Rotherham Titans0 - 15Bristol
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,257
Referee: Rob Debney
13 December 2009
(BP) Cornish Pirates10 - 12Doncaster Knights
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,667
Referee: Roy Maybank
13 December 2009
(BP) Nottingham30 - 15Moseley
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,303
Referee: Dean Richards

Round 14

18 December 2009
(BP) Bristol37 - 16Bedford Blues
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,869
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
18 December 2009
Coventry12 - 27Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 802
Referee: Mark Wilson
19 December 2009
Birmingham & SolihullP - PNottingham
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 February 2010.
19 December 2009
Doncaster Knights14 - 3Moseley
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,334
Referee: Keith Lewis
19 December 2009
(BP) London Welsh30 - 24Rotherham Titans (2BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 961
Referee: Sean Davey
19 December 2009
Plymouth Albion23 - 13Exeter Chiefs
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 4,430
Referee: Rowan Kitt

Round 15

26 December 2009
Bedford Blues30 - 23London Welsh (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 4,033
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
26 December 2009
Moseley26 - 20Coventry (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 998
Referee: Rowan Kitt
27 December 2009
(BP) Cornish Pirates46 - 7Plymouth Albion
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 5,654
Referee: Terry Hall
27 December 2009
Exeter Chiefs16 - 25Bristol (BP)
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 7,405
Referee: Greg Garner
28 December 2009
NottinghamP - PDoncaster Knights
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 January 2010.
28 December 2009
Rotherham TitansP - PBirmingham & Solihull
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 January 2010.

Round 16

1 January 2010
(BP) Bristol31 - 15Cornish Pirates
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,714
Referee: JP Doyle
2 January 2010
Birmingham & Solihull10 - 49Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Goldington Road, Bedford[6]
Attendance: 1,407
Referee: Darren Gamage
2 January 2010
CoventryP - PDoncaster Knights
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 10 February 2010.
2 January 2010
London Welsh12 - 10Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,632
Referee: Mark Williams
2 January 2010
Plymouth Albion10 - 20Moseley
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,168
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
2 January 2010
Rotherham TitansP - PNottingham
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 February 2010.

Round 17

15 January 2010
BristolP - PDoncaster Knights
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 24 February 2010.
16 January 2010
(BP) Bedford Blues51 - 19Nottingham
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,088
Referee: Rowan Kitt
16 January 2010
Plymouth Albion20 - 3Coventry
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,151
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
17 January 2010
(BP) Birmingham & Solihull31 - 31Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 916
Referee: Wayne Barnes
17 January 2010
London Welsh22 - 6Moseley
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 910
Referee: Keith Lewis
17 January 2010
(BP) Rotherham Titans18 - 24Exeter Chiefs
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,076
Referee: Michael Tutty

Round 15 (Rescheduled Games)

20 January 2010
Nottingham27 - 21Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 808
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
  • Game rescheduled from 28 December 2009.
20 January 2010
(BP) Rotherham Titans42 - 15Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 812
Referee: Mark Wilson
  • Game rescheduled from 28 December 2009.

Round 18

23 January 2010
Coventry16 - 27Bristol (BP)
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,240
Referee: Darren Gamage
23 January 2010
(BP) Doncaster Knights10 - 17London Welsh
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,250
Referee: Dean Richards
23 January 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs45 - 19Bedford Blues
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,781
Referee: Chris White
23 January 2010
Moseley25 - 24Birmingham & Solihull (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 1,051
Referee: Paul Knowles
24 January 2010
(BP) Cornish Pirates29 - 24Rotherham Titans (2BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,459
Referee: Rob Debney
24 January 2010
Nottingham20 - 19Plymouth Albion (BP)
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,219
Referee: Terry Hall

Round 19

30 January 2010
Bedford Blues19 - 16Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,817
Referee: Keith Lewis
30 January 2010
Birmingham & SolihullP - PDoncaster Knights
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 February 2010.
30 January 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs42 - 12Nottingham
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 4,084
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
30 January 2010
(BP) London Welsh51 - 13Coventry
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,027
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
30 January 2010
Rotherham Titans7 - 19Moseley
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,214
Referee: Andrew Small
31 January 2010
(BP) Bristol24 - 14Plymouth Albion
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,537
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts

Round 14 (Rescheduled Game)

2 February 2010
Birmingham & Solihull0 - 39Nottingham (BP)
Report
Billesley Common[6]
Referee: Luke Pearce
  • Game rescheduled to 19 December 2009.

Round 20

5 February 2010
Coventry24 - 7Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,012
Referee: Andrew Small
6 February 2010
(BP) Moseley19 - 26Bedford Blues
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 759
Referee: Terry Hall
6 February 2010
Plymouth Albion13 - 13London Welsh
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,155
Referee: Rob Debney
7 February 2010
Cornish Pirates15 - 30Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 3,661
Referee: Rowan Kitt
7 February 2010
Doncaster Knights27 - 20Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 2,174
Referee: Martin Fox
7 February 2010
(BP) Nottingham16 - 22Bristol
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,796
Referee: Keith Lewis

Round 16 & 19 (Rescheduled Games)

10 February 2010
Coventry7 - 27Doncaster Knights
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 618
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
  • Game rescheduled from 2 January 2010.
16 February 2010
Rotherham Titans28 - 24Nottingham (2BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 521
Referee: Chris Sharp
  • Game rescheduled from 2 January 2010.
17 February 2010
Birmingham & Solihull7 - 33Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Billesley Common[6]
Attendance: 200
Referee: Michael Tutty
  • Game rescheduled from 30 January 2010.

Round 21

20 February 2010
Bedford Blues12 - 23Doncaster Knights
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,241
Referee: Cedric Marchat
20 February 2010
Birmingham & Solihull21 - 36Plymouth Albion (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 926
20 February 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs36 - 19Moseley
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,525
Referee: Darren Gamage
20 February 2010
London Welsh3 - 28Bristol
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 2,150
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
20 February 2010
(BP) Rotherham Titans41 - 11Coventry
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,019
Referee: Paul Knowles
21 February 2010
(BP) Cornish Pirates47 - 19Nottingham
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,321
Referee: Terry Hall

Round 17 (Rescheduled Game)

24 February 2010
(BP) Bristol42 - 7Doncaster Knights
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,315
Referee: Rowan Kitt
  • Game rescheduled from 15 January 2010.

Round 22

13 March 2010
Bedford Blues33 - 26Rotherham Titans (2BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 1,642
Referee: Keith Lewis
13 March 2010
(BP) Cornish Pirates24 - 28London Welsh
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 1,560
Referee: Wayne Barnes
13 March 2010
(BP) Doncaster Knights13 - 20Plymouth Albion
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,642
Referee: JP Doyle
13 March 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs62 - 12Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,477
Referee: Michael Tutty
13 March 2010
Moseley30 - 25Bristol (2BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 1,564
Referee: Martin Fox
13 March 2010
(BP) Nottingham37 - 10Coventry
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 790
Referee: Andrew Taylorson

Stage 2: Playoffs

Promotion

Winner of Pool A to play Runner-Up of Pool B, and Winner of Pool B to play Runner-Up of Pool A.

Group A:

Pos Team P W D L F A BP PTS
1 Bristol 6 5 0 1 189 86 4 24
2 Bedford 6 4 0 2 154 125 4 20
3 Cornish Pirates 6 2 0 4 98 158 2 10
4 Plymouth Albion 6 1 0 5 57 129 1 5

Round 1

19 March 2010
Bristol19 - 12Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,892
Referee: Rowan Kitt
20 March 2010
(BP) Plymouth Albion9 - 10Bedford Blues
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 1,384
Referee: David Rose

Round 2

27 March 2010
Bedford Blues17 - 16Bristol (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,611
Referee: JP Doyle
28 March 2010
Cornish Pirates17 - 0Plymouth Albion
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,849
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts

Round 3

2 April 2010
Bristol15 - 3Plymouth Albion
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,020
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
4 April 2010
Cornish Pirates22 - 18Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 3,359
Referee: Rowan Kitt

Round 4

10 April 2010
Plymouth Albion7 - 38Bristol (BP)
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 3,275
Referee: Rowan Kitt
10 April 2010
(BP) Bedford Blues42 - 18Cornish Pirates
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,599
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts

Round 5

16 April 2010
Plymouth Albion19 - 14Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 4,141
Referee: David Rose
18 April 2010
(BP) Bristol41 - 32Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,701
Referee: Rob Debney

Round 6

1 May 2010
(BP) Bedford Blues35 - 19Plymouth Albion
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,302
Referee: Rowan Kitt
1 May 2010
Cornish Pirates15 - 60Bristol (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 3,190
Referee: Michael Tutty

Group B:

Pos Team P W D L F A BP PTS
1 Exeter 6 4 0 2 181 86 4 20
2 London Welsh 6 4 0 2 108 110 2 18
3 Nottingham 6 2 0 4 98 141 2 10
4 Doncaster 6 2 0 4 108 158 1 9

Round 1

21 March 2010
Nottingham20 - 9Exeter Chiefs
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,072
Referee: Rob Debney
20 March 2010
(BP) London Welsh26 - 10Doncaster Knights
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 520
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts

Round 2

27 March 2010
Doncaster Knights25 - 15Nottingham
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,011
Referee: Chris Sharp
27 March 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs32 - 6London Welsh
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 4,342
Referee: Keith Lewis

Round 3

3 April 2010
(BP) Doncaster Knights19 - 21Exeter Chiefs
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,050
Referee: Dean Richards
3 April 2010
London Welsh12 - 29Nottingham (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 960
Referee: Martin Fox

Round 4

10 April 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs51 - 15Doncaster Knights
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 4,181
Referee: David Rose
10 April 2010
(BP) Nottingham10 - 17London Welsh
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,339
Referee: Sean Davey

Round 5

17 April 2010
London Welsh16 - 15Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,100
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
18 April 2010
Nottingham14 - 25Doncaster Knights
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,354
Referee: Andrew Taylorson

Round 6

1 May 2010
Doncaster Knights14 - 31London Welsh (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,389
Referee: Rob Debney
1 May 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs53 - 10Nottingham
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 5,344
Referee: Sean Davey

Relegation

Bottom club in Group C relegated to National League 1

Group C:

Pos Team P W D L F A BP PTS
1 Rotherham 6 5 0 1 188 116 7 27
2 Moseley 6 2 0 4 153 132 7 15
3 Birmingham & Solihull 6 3 0 3 158 169 3 13*
4 Coventry (R) 6 2 0 4 82 164 2 10

Coventry are relegated to National League 1.

Round 1

20 March 2010
Birmingham & Solihull19 - 12Moseley (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 350
Referee: Dean Richards
20 March 2010
(BP) Rotherham Titans29 - 3Coventry
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 872
Referee: Shane Lewis

Round 2

27 March 2010
(BP) Coventry18 - 25Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,344
Referee: Rowan Kitt
27 March 2010
(2BP) Moseley29 - 30Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Billesley
Attendance: 832
Referee: Andrew Taylorson

Round 3

3 April 2010
Coventry6 - 3Moseley (BP)
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,123
Referee: JP Doyle
3 April 2010
(BP) Rotherham Titans33 - 20Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,223
Referee: Michael Tutty

Round 4

11 April 2010
Birmingham & Solihull19 - 29Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 250
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
11 April 2010
MoseleyP - PCoventry
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 24 April 2010.

Round 5

17 April 2010
(2BP) Rotherham Titans29 - 33Moseley (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,302
Referee: Rowan Kitt
18 April 2010
(2BP) Birmingham & Solihull35 - 38Coventry (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Referee: Greg Garner

Round 4 (Rescheduled Game)

24 April 2010
(BP) Moseley37 - 5Coventry
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 1,474
Referee: Rob Debney

Round 6

1 May 2010
Coventry12 - 38Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,613
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
1 May 2010
(2BP) Moseley34 - 38Birmingham & Solihull (BP)
Report
Billesley
Attendance: 850
Referee: David Rose

Stage 3

Semi-finals

The semifinals were one-off single ties held between the winner of Group A and the runner-up of Group B, and the winner of Group B and the runner-up of Group A. The matches took place at the home ground of the group winners.

7 May 210
Bristol28 – 15London Welsh
Report
Memorial Stadium, Bristol
Attendance: 5,717
Referee: David Rose
8 May 210
Exeter Chiefs37 – 8Bedford Blues
Report
Sandy Park, Exeter
Attendance: 4,549
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Final

The two-legged final took place at the home grounds of the two clubs involved, rather than at Twickenham.

19 May 2010
Exeter Chiefs9 - 6Bristol
Report
Sandy Park, Exeter
Attendance: 10,021
Referee: David Pearson
26 May 2010
Bristol10 - 29Exeter Chiefs
Report
Memorial Stadium, Bristol
Attendance: 11,550
Referee: Andrew Small

Exeter Chiefs win the Championship and earn promotion to the 2010–11 Premiership.[4]

Total Season Attendances

  • Figures include playoff semi finals and final
Club Home
Games
Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
Bedford Blues1439,3642,8124,0671,64247%
Birmingham & Solihull12[a 2]7,9846651,40720023%
Bristol1694,7525,92211,5504,30549%
Cornish Pirates1442,1573,0115,6541,56033%
Coventry1417,4731,2482,00361829%
Doncaster Knights1420,2431,4462,1741,01147%
Exeter Chiefs1677,6704,85410,0213,47749%
London Welsh1418,6041,3292,24052023%
Moseley1413,6529751,56474933%
Nottingham1416,9781,2131,7967906%
Plymouth Albion1437,4482,6754,4301,38441%
Rotherham Titans1415,8841,1351,61052145%

[9][10]

  1. Note that 2 home attendances are missing (see below) - so the total attendance will not be 100% accurate. The average attendance has also been taken into account with the missing games not included.
  2. Missing home attendances v Nottingham on 2 February 2010 and Coventry on 18 April 2010.

Individual statistics

  • Player stats include playoff games as well as regular season games. Also note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.

Season records

References

  1. "Championship plan gains support". BBC News. 14 November 2008.
  2. "Bristol relegated after defeat at London Irish". Reuters. 4 April 2009.
  3. "Birmingham & Solihull win promotion on glorious day". Birmingham Post. 27 April 2009.
  4. Tuckett, Phil (2010-05-26). "Bristol 10–29 Exeter (Exeter win 38–16 on aggregate)". BBC Sport. Memorial Stadium, Bristol: BBC. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  5. "Coventry promise to play on despite relegation from the Championship". The Telegraph. 2 May 2010.
  6. "Championship round-up: Exeter's slump gives Bristol advantage". The Telegraph. 3 January 2010.
  7. "Coventry Rugby Club play on at Ricoh Arena". rugbynetwork.net. 3 December 2009.
  8. "Nottingham switch Chiefs match to Welford Road". Nottingham Post. 27 October 2009.
  9. "Championship 09/10 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  10. "Championship Playoffs 09/10 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  11. "Championship 09/10 Leading top scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  12. "Championship Playoffs 09/10 Leading top scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  13. "Championship 09/10 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  14. "Championship Playoffs 09/10 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  15. "Championship 09/10 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  16. "Championship Playoffs 09/10 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  17. "Championship 09/10 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  18. "Championship Playoffs 09/10 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  19. "Championship 09/10 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  20. "Championship Playoffs 09/10 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  21. "Championship 09/10 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  22. "Championship Playoffs 09/10 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  23. "Championship 09/10 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  24. "Championship Playoffs 09/10 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  25. "Championship 09/10 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  26. "Championship Playoffs 09/10 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  27. "Championship 09/10 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  28. "Championship Playoffs 09/10 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  29. "Championship 09/10 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  30. "Championship Playoffs 09/10 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  31. "Championship 09/10 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  32. "Championship Playoffs 09/10 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
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