RFU Knockout Cup

The RFU Knockout Cup was an English rugby union competition open to any member of the Rugby Football Union. First contested in 1971, it was the premier competition in English club rugby before the establishment of the English league structure in 1987.[1]

RFU Knockout Cup
SportRugby union
Founded1971 (1971)
Ceased2005 (2005)
Replaced byAnglo-Welsh Cup
CountriesEngland England
Last
champion(s)		Leeds Tykes (1st title)
Most titlesBath (10 titles)

The competition was replaced by the Anglo-Welsh Cup, involving 4 Welsh regional sides in addition to the 12 English Premiership clubs, beginning with the 2005–06 season.

History

Background

The RFU had long resisted national competitions as it was thought that they would encourage player payments. Thus, most club matches were only organised friendlies, with competitions such as the County Cups being the highest honours a club could win. The County Championship, established in 1889, was the only national competition for 82 years.

1971–75: RFU Knockout Cup

The first competition took place in the 1971-72 season, where Gloucester defeated Moseley in the final 17–6, to become the inaugural champions. Coventry RFC won two titles in succession in 1973 and 1974, followed by Bedford's championship win in 1975.

1976–88: John Player Cup

The competition gained its first sponsor in tobacco firm John Player & Sons in 1976.

Gosforth won the first two editions under this new name in 1976 and 1977. Gloucester won their second title in 1978. The competition was then dominated by Leicester, who won three championships in a row, until Gloucester won their third title in 1982. This was shared with Moseley after a 12–12 draw in extra time, and was the only time the cup was shared between two teams. Leicester were again in the final in 1983, but lost to Bristol. Leicester's record run was then broken by Bath from 1984 to 1987, who won the cup four times in a row, until Harlequins won their first in 1988.

1988–97: Pilkington Cup

The cup was named after glass manufacturing company Pilkington for the 1988-89 tournament.

Bath picked up from where they left off in the late 1980s, going onto win another six times from 1989 to 1996. Harlequins won their second title in 1991, and Leicester added to their three championships in 1993 and again in 1997.

1997–2000: Tetley's Bitter Cup

Tetley's Brewery became title sponsor in the 1997-98 season, naming the cup after their bitter.

Saracens won their first title, defeating Wasps in 1998. Wasps were again in the final in 1999, and defeated Newcastle to claim their first championship. Wasps also won the 2000 competition.

2000–05: Powergen Cup

In 2001, energy supplier Powergen became the final title sponsor.

Newcastle won the first Powergen Cup, defeating the Harlequins 30–27. London Irish won it for their first time the following season, and Gloucester won it for the first time since 1982 in 2003. Newcastle won in 2004, and in 2005, Leeds Tykes defeated Bath to win it for the first time.[2]

Demise
Main article: Anglo-Welsh Cup

Starting in 2005–06, the cup was replaced by a new format including only the twelve teams from the Guinness Premiership and the four Welsh regions, ending its status as an open competition. From this time until 2009, teams from the Championship and below played in the Powergen National Trophy.

List of winners
The Powergen Cup (centre) seen in the London Irish clubhouse at Sunbury in 2002
Key to list of winners
Match went to extra time
Cup shared
RFU Knockout Cup
Season Winners Score Runners-up Venue Attendance Ref
1971–72 Gloucester 17–6 Moseley Twickenham 10,500
1972–73 Coventry 27–15 Bristol Twickenham 11,500 [3]
1973–74 Coventry 26–6 London Scottish Twickenham
1974–75 Bedford 28–12 Rosslyn Park Twickenham 18,000 [4]
1975–76 Gosforth 23–14 Rosslyn Park Twickenham 7,500 [5]
1976–77 Gosforth 27–11 Waterloo Twickenham 10,000 [6]
1977–78 Gloucester 6–3 Leicester Twickenham 24,000 [7]
1978–79 Leicester 15–12 Moseley Twickenham 18,000 [8]
1979–80 Leicester 21–9 London Irish Twickenham 27,000 [9]
1980–81 Leicester 22–15 Gosforth Twickenham 24,000 [10]
1981–82 Gloucester 12–12 Moseley Twickenham 20,000 [11]
1982–83 Bristol 28–22 Leicester Twickenham 34,000
1983–84 Bath 10–9 Bristol Twickenham 25,000 [12]
1984–85 Bath 24–15 London Welsh Twickenham 32,000
1985–86 Bath 25–17 Wasps Twickenham 23,000 [13]
1986–87 Bath 19–12 Wasps Twickenham 35,500
1987–88 Harlequins 28–22 Bristol Twickenham 37,000 [14]
1988–89 Bath 10–6 Leicester Twickenham 59,300
1989–90 Bath 48–6 Gloucester Twickenham 52,000 [15]
1990–91 Harlequins 25–13 Northampton Twickenham 53,000 [16]
1991–92 Bath 15–12 Harlequins Twickenham 62,000
1992–93 Leicester 23–16 Harlequins Twickenham 54,000 [17]
1993–94 Bath 21–9 Leicester Twickenham 68,000 [18]
1994–95 Bath 36–16 Wasps Twickenham [19]
1995–96 Bath 16–15 Leicester Twickenham 75,000 [20]
1996–97 Leicester 9–3 Sale Twickenham 75,000 [21]
1997–98 Saracens 48–18 Wasps Twickenham 65,000 [22]
1998–99 London Wasps 29–19 Newcastle Twickenham 50,000 [23]
1999–00 London Wasps 31–23 Northampton Twickenham 48,000 [24]
2000–01 Newcastle 30–27 Harlequins Twickenham 71,000 [25]
2001–02 London Irish 38–7 Northampton Twickenham 75,000 [26]
2002–03 Gloucester 40–22 Northampton Twickenham 75,000 [27]
2003–04 Newcastle 37–33 Sale Twickenham 48,519 [28]
2004–05 Leeds Tykes 20–12 Bath Twickenham 60,300

List of champions
# Team Wins Years
1 Bath 10 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996
2 Leicester 5 1979, 1980, 1981, 1993, 1997
3 Gloucester 4 1972, 1978, 1982*, 2003
4 Newcastle 4 1976, 1977 (as Gosforth), 2001, 2004
5= Harlequins 2 1988, 1991
5= Wasps 2 1999, 2000
5= Coventry 2 1973, 1974
8= Saracens 1 1998
8= Bedford 1 1975
8= Moseley 1 1982*
8= Bristol 1 1983
8= London Irish 1 2002
8= Leeds Tykes 1 2005

* 1982 title shared between Gloucester and Moseley.

See also

References
  1. "Anglo-Welsh Cup: Previous winners". BBC News. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  2. "Moment in Time: Leeds and the 2005 Powergen Cup final". The Rugby Paper. 10 June 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  3. Jenkins, Vivian, ed. (1973). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1973-74. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 88–91. ISBN 0362001456.
  4. Jenkins, Vivian (1975). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook. Brickfield Publications Ltd. ISBN 0362-00221-5.
  5. Jenkins, Vivian (1976). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook. Brickfield Publications Ltd. ISBN 0362-00281-9.
  6. Jenkins, Vivian, ed. (1977). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1977–78 (6th ed.). London: Queen Anne Press Division. ISBN 0354-09020-8.
  7. Jenkins, Vivian, ed. (1978). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1978–79 (7th ed.). London: Queen Anne Press Division. ISBN 0354-09047X.
  8. Jenkins, Vivian (1979). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook. Brickfield Publications Ltd. ISBN 0354-09087-9.
  9. Jenkins, Vivian, ed. (1980). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1980–81 (9th ed.). London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0362-02018-3.
  10. Jenkins, Vivian, ed. (1981). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1981–82 (10th ed.). Aylesbury: Rothmans Publications Limited. ISBN 0-907574-05-X.
  11. Jenkins, Vivian, ed. (1982). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1982–83 (11th ed.). Aylesbury: Rothmans Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-907574-13-0.
  12. Jones, Stephen, ed. (1984). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1984–85 (13th ed.). London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0-356-10448-6.
  13. Jones, Stephen, ed. (1986). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1986–87 (15th ed.). London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0-356-12361-8.
  14. Jones, Stephen, ed. (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89 (17th ed.). London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0-356-15884-5.
  15. Williams, Tony; Mitchell, Bill, eds. (1990). Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 1-873057-024.
  16. Jones, Stephen, ed. (1991). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991–92 (20th ed.). London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0-356-20249-6.
  17. Jones, Stephen, ed. (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94 (22nd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing.
  18. Jones, Stephen, ed. (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95 (23rd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7850-4.
  19. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96 (24th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7816-4.
  20. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97 (25th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7771-0.
  21. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98 (26th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7732-X.
  22. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1998). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998–99 (27th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 84–98. ISBN 0-7472-7653-6.
  23. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1999). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1999–2000 (28th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7531-9.
  24. McCormack, Stephen, ed. (2000). The Official RFU Club Directory 2000–2001 (13th ed.). Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 1-85291-627-3.
  25. McCormack, Stephen, ed. (2001). The Official RFU Club Directory 2001–2002 (14th ed.). Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 1-85291-640-0.
  26. McCormack, Stephen, ed. (2002). The Official RFU Club Directory 2002–2003 (15th ed.). Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 1-85291-645-1.
  27. "Gloucester lift the cup". The Scotsman.
  28. "Rugby Union". BBC Sport.
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