The 2024–25 RFU Championship is the sixteenth season of the RFU Championship, the professional second tier of rugby union in England. It features twelve English teams. Ealing Trailfinders are the reigning champions, having been refused promotion to the Premiership due to failing to meet minimum standards.
Structure
The twelve teams will play each of the other teams twice.
The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
- 4 points are awarded for a win
- 2 points are awarded for a draw
- 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
- 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
- 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.
Promotion and relegation
Subject to meeting the minimum standards criteria the team finishing top of the league will qualify for a promotion playoff against the bottom side in Premiership Rugby while the team that finishes bottom will be typically relegated to National League 1.
Relegation this season would be different as earlier in the season it had been indicated that the RFU Championship was due to increase from 12 to 14 teams for 2025–26. This was finally confirmed by the RFU with most of the season completed, meaning that no clubs would be relegated at the end of 2024–25.
In March 2025 it was confirmed that only Doncaster Knights were eligible for promotion to the premiership.
Teams
Eleven of the twelve teams played in last season's competition. Chinnor were promoted as the champions of the 2023–24 National League 1 with no side being relegated the opposite way due to Jersey Reds going into liquidation in September 2023 and there only being eleven sides.
Table
Fixtures & results
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
- Game abandoned in 68th minute, with Chinnor leading 18–13, due to power cut caused by adverse weather. The RFU would later rule the result a victory for Chinnor subject to appeal.
Round 8
- Game abandoned due to injury to referee. Game to be rescheduled for 11 January 2025.
Round 9
Round 10
Round 8 (rescheduled game)
- Game originally rescheduled from 14 December 2024 but postponed again due to frozen pitch. Game to be rescheduled for 1 March 2025.
Round 11
Round 12
Round 8 (rescheduled game)
- Game originally rescheduled from 14 December 2024 and then rescheduled again from 11 January 2025.
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Attendances
Leading scorers
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.
See also
- 2024–25 Premiership Rugby
- 2024–25 Premiership Rugby Cup
References
