RFU Championship

The 2022–23 season had no playoff phase, and no team was promoted to the Premiership as Jersey Reds did not meet the minimum standards criteria.In November 2008, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) published a plan for a new professional tier below the Premiership.The RFU Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new proposal, and the first Championship season started the following year, in 2009.[14] The RFU plans to reintroduce possible promotion at the end of the 2023–24 season, by means of a play-off between the top placed team in the Championship and the bottom placed side in the Premiership.[17] In February 2021, a moratorium on relegation from the Premiership into the Championship was approved and it was confirmed that the RFU were working on a review of the minimum standards criteria for promotion and the league structure from 2021–22.

2024–25 RFU ChampionshipRugby unionEnglandEaling Trailfinders2023–24Bristol BearsLevel 2PromotionPremiershipRelegationNational League 1Premiership Rugby Cupmen's English rugbyRugby Football Union (RFU)2022–23 seasonBedford BluesCoventryNottinghamHartpury UniversityCornish PiratesDoncaster KnightsLondon ScottishChinnorAmpthillCambridge2023–24 National League 1Jersey RedsBedfordshireGoldington RoadBedfordPaton FieldThurstastonWirralMerseysideGrantchester RoadCambridgeshireOxfordshireMennaye FieldPenzanceCornwallButts Park ArenaWest MidlandsCastle ParkDoncasterSouth YorkshireTrailfinders Sports GroundWest EalingLondonHartpuryGloucestershireAthletic GroundRichmondNottinghamshire1987–88 season2009–10 season1987–881996–971997–981999–20002000–012008–09Guinness PremiershipNational Division OneRFU ChampionshipNational Division 22009–102016–172020–212017–182018–192019–202010–112011–122012–132013–142014–152015–162021–222022–232024–25COVID-19 pandemic2019–20 season2020–21 seasonRosslyn ParkLiverpool St Helens1988–89SaracensLondon Welsh1989–90Northampton1990–91London IrishHeadingley1991–92West HartlepoolPlymouth Albion1992–93Newcastle GosforthWaterlooBlackheathMorley1993–941994–95Wakefield1995–96Newcastle1998–99BristolRotherham1999–00Leeds TykesWorcesterOrrell2001–02HenleyBracknell2002–03MoseleyRugby Lions2003–04Manchester2004–05Exeter2005–06Harlequins2006–07Earth Titans2007–08Northampton SaintsExeter ChiefsPertemp BeesLauncestonSedgley ParkNewburyWorcester WarriorsNewcastle FalconsYorkshire CarnegieRotherham TitansRugby union in EnglandPremiership RugbyList of English rugby union teamsBirmingham-SolihullCornish All BlacksGosforthSale SharksRFU Championship CupRFU Championship XVAthletic Ground, RichmondThe MenayeAbbeydale ParkAshton GateThe AvenueBeacon Park (Plymouth)Billesley CommonHull Ionians R.U.F.C.BrickfieldsClifton LaneCollege GroveCopthall StadiumCoundon RoadCounty Ground (Exeter)Cross GreenDamson ParkFranklin's GardensHeywood RoadKassam StadiumKingston ParkKenwynMadejski StadiumMeadow LaneMemorial StadiumMolesey RoadOld Deer ParkRectory FieldSandy ParkSharmans CrossSixways StadiumStade Santander InternationalTwickenham StoopThreshfieldRugby Football UnionRugby Football Union for WomenEngland ABritish & Irish LionsEngland Counties XVWomen'sWorld CupSix NationsRugby World Cup SevensSevens World SeriesSevens Grand Prix SeriesCommonwealth GamesWorld Series SevensLondon and SE DivisionNorthern DivisionMidland DivisionSouth West DivisionUnited Hospitals CupPremiership Women's Rugby