2015–16 RFU Championship

2015–16 RFU Championship
Countries	England  Jersey
Date	4 September 2015 – May 2016
Relegated	Moseley
Matches played	90
Attendance	175,647 (average 1,952 per match)
Highest attendance	11,170 Bristol Rugby v London Welsh on 27 December 2015
Lowest attendance	310 Ealing Trailfinders v Nottingham Rugby on 28 November 2015
Tries scored	532 (average 5.911 per match)
Top point scorer	Gavin Henson Bristol Rugby 193 points
Top try scorer	Paul Grant Nottingham Rugby 19 tries
← 2014–15 2016–17 →

The 2015–16 RFU Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the Greene King IPA Championship, is the seventh season of the professionalised format of the RFU Championship, the second tier of the English rugby union league system run by the Rugby Football Union. It is contested by eleven English clubs and one from Jersey in the Channel Islands. This is the third year of the competition's sponsorship with Greene King Brewery, which runs until 2017.^[1] The twelve teams in the RFU Championship also compete in the British and Irish Cup, along with clubs from Ireland and Wales. Some matches in the RFU Championship are broadcast on Sky Sports.

Moseley will be relegated into the 2016–17 National League 1 after finishing bottom of the table.

Structure

The Championship's structure has all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis. The play-off structure will remain the same as the previous year.^[2] The top four teams at the end of the home-and-way season qualify for the promotion play-offs which follow a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system. The winners have to meet the RFU's Minimum Standards Criteria in order to be promoted to the Premiership. There is no promotion if grounds fail to meet the criteria.^[3] There are no relegation play-offs; the bottom team is automatically relegated.^[2] This would have been the last year of a 2012 funding agreement with the RFU, where each club would have been given a grant of £380,000.^[4] Following claims, by Championship teams, including Plymouth Albion, that the current arrangement was not enough to sustain professional clubs, the RFU increased the annual funding to over £500,000 per club in a new agreement which will last until 2020.^[5]

Teams

Bedford

Bristol

Cornish Pirates

Doncaster

Jersey

London

Moseley

Nottingham

Rotherham

Yorkshire Carnegie

London teams

Ealing Trailfinders
London Scottish
London Welsh

Locations of the 2015–16 RFU Championship teams

Ealing

London Scottish

London Welsh

Greater London RFU Championship teams clubs

Worcester Warriors were promoted from the Championship to the English Premiership defeating Bristol Rugby in the 2014–15 RFU Championship play-off final.^[6] They are replaced by London Welsh following their relegation from the 2014–15 English Premiership, after finishing bottom of the table and earning only one point.^[7] Plymouth Albion were relegated from the Championship after finishing bottom in the 2014–15 RFU Championship, ending a thirteen-year spell in the second tier of English rugby.^[8] They are replaced by Ealing Trailfinders who were promoted as champions of 2014–15 National League 1, returning to the RFU Championship after relegation the previous year.^[9]

Club	Stadium	Capacity	Area	Captain	DOR/Head Coach
Bedford Blues	Goldington Road	6,000	Bedford, Bedfordshire	Nick Fenton-Wells	Mike Rayer
Bristol Rugby	Ashton Gate Stadium	21,497	Bristol	Dwayne Peel	Andy Robinson
Cornish Pirates	Mennaye Field	4,000 (2,200 Seats)	Penzance, Cornwall	Chris Morgan	Ian Davies
Doncaster Knights	Castle Park rugby stadium	5,000	Doncaster, South Yorkshire	Michael Hills	Clive Griffiths
Ealing Trailfinders	Trailfinders Sports Ground	3,020 (1,020 seats)	West Ealing, London	Danny Kenny	Ben Ward
Jersey	St Peter	5,000	Saint Peter, Jersey	Alex Rae	Harvey Biljon
London Scottish	Athletic Ground, Richmond	4,500	Richmond, London	Mark Bright	Mike Friday
London Welsh	Old Deer Park	5,850 (1,000 seats)	Richmond, London	Matt Corker	Rowland Phillips
Moseley	Billesley Common	3,000+	Birmingham, West Midlands	Mike Powell	Kevin Maggs
Nottingham Rugby	Lady Bay Sports Ground	2,000 (est)	Nottingham, Nottinghamshire	Daniel Montagu	Martin Haag
Rotherham Titans	Clifton Lane Herringthorpe Playing Fields	2,500 Unknown capacity	Rotherham, South Yorkshire	Tom Holmes	Lee Blackett
Yorkshire Carnegie	Headingley Carnegie Stadium	21,062	Leeds, West Yorkshire	Ryan Burrows	Ian McGeechan

Table

2015–16 RFU Championship Table
	Club	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points for	Points against	Points diff	Try bonus	Loss bonus	Points
1	Bristol Rugby (Q)	22	20	0	2	718	397	321	14	1	95
2	Doncaster Knights (Q)	22	15	2	5	588	470	118	10	5	79
3	Yorkshire Carnegie (Q)	22	14	0	8	655	466	189	15	7	78
4	Bedford Blues (Q)	22	12	0	10	623	599	24	10	6	64
5	London Welsh	22	11	1	10	442	528	-86	9	3	58
6	Jersey	22	11	1	10	465	466	-1	5	6	57
7	Nottingham Rugby	22	10	0	12	494	483	11	9	7	56
8	London Scottish	22	10	0	12	463	453	10	2	7	49
9	Cornish Pirates	22	8	1	13	530	570	-40	8	7	49
10	Rotherham Titans	22	8	0	14	454	621	-167	3	3	38
11	Ealing Trailfinders	22	6	1	15	523	605	-82	5	6	37
12	Moseley (R)	22	4	0	18	416	715	-299	6	4	26
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background are promotion play-off places. Pink background is the relegation place. Updated: 23 April 2016 Source: "Greene King IPA Championship". NCA Rugby.

Fixtures

Round 1

4 September 2015 19:45

(BP) London Scottish	19 – 23	Moseley
	Scottish Moseley

Athletic Ground Attendance: 888 Referee: Darren Gamage

5 September 2015 14:30

(2BP) Doncaster Knights	33 – 35	London Welsh (BP)
	Welsh

Castle Park Attendance: 1,019 Referee: Greg MacDonald

6 September 2015 14:00

Rotherham Titans	24 – 23	Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
	Rotherham Ealing

Herringthorpe Playing Fields[a 1] Attendance: 887 Referee: Matthew O’Grady

6 September 2015 15:00

(BP) Bristol Rugby	23 – 29	Bedford Blues (BP)
	Bristol Bedford

Ashton Gate Attendance: 6,063 Referee: Tom Foley

6 September 2015 15:00

Cornish Pirates	18 – 14	Nottingham (BP)
	Pirates Nottingham

The Mennaye Attendance: 1,447 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

6 September 2015 15:00

(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie	39 – 22	Jersey
	Carnegie Jersey

Headingley Attendance: 2,037 Referee: Andrew Jackson

1. Rotherham Titans played at Herringthorpe Stadium due to the local cricket club using Clifton Road on the same date.^[10]

^[11]

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Round 2

12 September 2015 15:00

(BP) Bedford Blues	38 – 32	Moseley (2BP)
	Bedford Moseley

Goldington Road Attendance: 2,239 Referee: Simon Harding

12 September 2015 15:00

Ealing Trailfinders	17 – 37	London Scottish (BP)
	Ealing Scottish

Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 744 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

12 September 2015 15:00

Jersey	17 – 15	Cornish Pirates (BP)
	Jersey Pirates

St Peter Attendance: 2,146 Referee: Andrew Small

13 September 2015 14:00

Rotherham Titans	11 – 20	Yorkshire Carnegie
	Rotherham Carnegie

Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,437 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

13 September 2015 15:00

(2BP) Nottingham Rugby	30 – 36	Doncaster Knights (BP)
	Nottingham

Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 794[12] Referee: Darren Gamage

13 September 2015 15:15

London Welsh	22 – 36	Bristol Rugby (BP)
	Welsh Bristol

Old Deer Park Attendance: 2,032 Referee: Greg Garner

^[13]

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Round 3

19 September 2015 14:30

Doncaster Knights	31 – 27	Jersey (BP)
	Jersey

Castle Park Attendance: 1,052 Referee: Tom Foley

19 September 2015 14:30

London Scottish	24 – 12	Bedford Blues
	Scottish Bedford

Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,154 Referee: Matt Carley

19 September 2015 15:00

Moseley	6 – 17	London Welsh
	Moseley Welsh

Billesley Common Attendance: 966 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

20 September 2015 15:00

(BP) Bristol Rugby	46 – 31	Nottingham Rugby (BP)
	Bristol

Ashton Gate Attendance: 5,544 Referee: Dean Richards

20 September 2015 15:00

(BP) Cornish Pirates	24 – 26	Rotherham Titans
	Pirates Rotherham

Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,274 Referee: Luke Pearce

20 September 2015 15:00

(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie	40 – 28	Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
	Carnegie Ealing

Headingley Attendance: 1,938 Referee: Greg MacDonald

^[14]

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Round 4

26 September 2015 14:00

(BP) London Welsh	30 – 24	Bedford Blues (BP)
	Report

Old Deer Park Attendance: 1,697 Referee: Darren Gamage

26 September 2015 15:00

Ealing Trailfinders	28 – 17	Cornish Pirates
	Report

Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 863 Referee: Simon Harding

26 September 2015 15:00

Jersey	7 – 24	Bristol Rugby
	Report

St Peter Attendance: 2,053 Referee: Luke Pearce

26 September 2015 15:00

Rotherham Titans	30 – 23	Doncaster Knights (BP)
	Report

Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,721 Referee: Andrew Jackson

26 September 2015 15:00

(2BP) Yorkshire Carnegie	27 – 30	London Scottish
	Report

Headingley Attendance: 1,329 Referee: Steve Lee

27 September 2015 15:00

(BP) Nottingham Rugby	34 – 22	Moseley
	Report

Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 623 Referee: Greg MacDonald

^[15]

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Round 5

3 October 2015 14:30

Doncaster Knights	23 – 17	Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
	Report

Castle Park Attendance: 1,231 Referee: Steve Lee

3 October 2015 14:30

London Scottish	11 – 10	London Welsh (BP)
	Report

Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,438 Referee: Andrew Small

3 October 2015 15:00

Bedford Blues	28 – 19	Nottingham
	Report

Goldington Road Attendance: 2,101 Referee: Greg Garner

3 October 2015 15:00

Moseley	18 – 29	Jersey
	Report

Billesley Common Attendance: 830 Referee: Matthew O'Grady

4 October 2015 15:00

(BP) Bristol Rugby	28 – 12	Rotherham Titans
	Report

Ashton Gate Attendance: 4,560 Referee: Craig Maxwell Keys

4 October 2015 15:00

Cornish Pirates	13 – 26	Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
	Report

Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,184 Referee: Tom Foley

^[16]

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Round 6

9 October 2015 19:45

Nottingham Rugby	30 – 10	London Welsh
	Report

Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 797 Referee: Luke Pearce

9 October 2015 20:00

Yorkshire Carnegie	27 – 20	Doncaster Knights (BP)
	Report

Headingley Attendance: 2,373 Referee: Andrew Small

10 October 2015 14:45

(BP) Jersey	34 – 27	Bedford Blues (BP)
	Report

St Peter Attendance: 2,010 Referee: Andrew Jackson

10 October 2015 15:00

(BP) Ealing Trailfinders	21 – 26	Bristol Rugby
	Report

Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 874 Referee: Ian Tempest

10 October 2015 15:00

(BP) Rotherham Titans	37 – 27	Moseley
	Report

Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,132 Referee: Dean Richards

11 October 2015 15:00

Cornish Pirates	21 – 17	London Scottish (BP)
	Report

Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,054 Referee: Greg Garner

^[17]

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Round 7

16 October 2015 19:30

(BP) Moseley	38 – 25	Ealing Trailfinders
	Report

Billesley Common Attendance: 975 Referee: Darren Gamage

16 October 2015 19:45

(BP) Bedford Blues	46 – 28	Rotherham Titans (BP)
	Report

Goldington Road Attendance: 2,574 Referee: Simon Harding

16 October 2015 19:45

(BP) London Scottish	17 – 18	Nottingham Rugby
	Report

Athletic Ground Attendance: 894 Referee: Matthew O'Grady

17 October 2015 14:00

(BP) Doncaster Knights	28 – 11	Cornish Pirates
	Report

Castle Park Attendance: 1,219 Referee: Ian Tempest

17 October 2015 14:00

London Welsh	14 – 8	Jersey (BP)
	Report

Old Deer Park Attendance: 842 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

18 October 2015 13:30

(BP) Bristol Rugby	47 – 42	Yorkshire Carnegie (2BP)
	Report

Ashton Gate Attendance: 5,185 Referee: Andrew Jackson

^[18]

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Round 8

23 October 2015 19:45

(BP) Jersey	27 – 29	Nottingham Rugby (BP)
	Report

St Peter Attendance: 2,016 Referee: Ian Tempest

24 October 2015 14:00

Cornish Pirates	10 – 40	Bristol Rugby (BP)
	Report

Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,890 Referee: Darren Gamage

24 October 2015 14:00

Doncaster Knights	19 – 10	London Scottish
	Report

Castle Park Attendance: 1,159 Referee: John Meredith

24 October 2015 14:00

(BP) Ealing Trailfinders	21 – 23	Bedford Blues
	Report

Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 748 Referee: Steve Lee

24 October 2015 14:00

Rotherham Titans	32 – 16	London Welsh
	Report

Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,087 Referee: Andrew Jackson

25 October 2015 14:00

(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie	52 – 19	Moseley
	Report

Headingley Attendance: 1,821 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

^[19]

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Round 9

6 November 2015 19:30

(BP) Moseley	24 – 19	Cornish Pirates (BP)
	Report

Billesely Common Attendance: 1,145 Referee: Andrew Small

6 November 2015 19:45

Bristol Rugby	27 – 39	Doncaster Knights (BP)
	Report

Ashton Gate Attendance: 6,979 Referee: Dean Richards

7 November 2015 14:00

London Scottish	5 – 20	Jersey
	Report

Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,007 Referee: Steve Lee

7 November 2015 14:00

London Welsh	3 – 27	Ealing Trailfinders
	Report

Old Deer Park Attendance: 803 Referee: Simon Harding

7 November 2015 15:00

Bedford Blues	22 – 21	Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
	Report

Goldington Road Attendance: 2,224 Referee: Matthew O'Grady

8 November 2015 15:00

(BP) Nottingham Rugby	11 – 17	Rotherham Titans
	Report

Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 954 Referee: John Meredith

^[20]

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Round 10

27 November 2015 19:45

(BP) Bristol Rugby	37 – 13	London Scottish
	Report

Ashton Gate Attendance: 7,145 Referee: Andrew Small

27 November 2015 20:00

(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie	7 – 10	London Welsh
	Report

Headingley Attendance: 3,672 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

28 November 2015 14:00

Rotherham Titans	6 – 27	Jersey (BP)
	Report

Clifton Lane Attendance: 895 Referee: John Meredith

28 November 2015 14:30

(BP) Doncaster Knights	34 – 11	Moseley
	Report

Castle Park Attendance: 1,493 Referee: Andrew Jackson

28 November 2015 15:00

(BP) Ealing Trailfinders	22 – 34	Nottingham Rugby (BP)
	Report

Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 310 Referee: Greg Macdonald

29 November 2015 15:00

(BP) Cornish Pirates	32 – 31	Bedford Blues (2BP)
	Report

Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,025 Referee: Dean Richards

^[21]

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Round 11

4 December 2015 19:45

(BP) Jersey	35 – 7	Ealing Trailfinders
	Report

St Peter Attendance: 2,100 Referee: Ian Tempest

4 December 2015 19:45

Nottingham Rugby	14 – 13	Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
	Report

Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,864 Referee: Steve Lee

5 December 2015 14:00

London Welsh	19 – 38	Cornish Pirates (BP)
	Report

Old Deer Park Attendance: 1,055 Referee: Darren Gamage

5 December 2015 15:00

(BP) Bedford Blues	13 – 18	Doncaster Knights
	Report

Goldington Road Attendance: 2,077 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

5 December 2015 15:00

London Scottish	21 – 16	Rotherham Titans (BP)
	Report

Athletic Ground Attendance: 884 Referee: Dean Richards

5 December 2015 15:00

(BP) Moseley	28 – 39	Bristol Rugby (BP)
	Report

Billesley Common Attendance: 993 Referee: Matt O'Grady

^[22]

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Round 12

26 December 2015 14:30

Doncaster Knights	26 – 12	Nottingham Rugby
	Report

Castle Park Attendance: 2,921 Referee: Matthew O'Grady

26 December 2015 15:00

(2BP) London Scottish	22 – 28	Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
	Report

Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,260 Referee: Andrew Jackson

26 December 2015 15:00

(2BP) Moseley	24 – 31	Bedford Blues (BP)
	Report

Billesely Common Attendance: 1,431 Referee: Craig Maxwell Keys

27 December 2015 14:00

Cornish Pirates	16 – 10	Jersey (BP)
	Report

Mennaye Field Attendance: 2,340 Referee: Andrew Small

27 December 2015 15:00

(BP) Bristol Rugby	35 – 0	London Welsh
	Report

Ashton Gate Attendance: 11,170 Referee: Luke Pearce

27 December 2015 15:00

(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie	43 – 9	Rotherham Titans
	Report

Headingley Attendance: 3,292 Referee: Greg Macdonald

^[23]

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Round 13

1 January 2016 15:00

(BP) Bedford Blues	31 – 19	London Scottish
	Report

Goldington Road Attendance: 4,341 Referee: Ian Tempest

2 January 2016 13:30

(BP) London Welsh	32 – 6	Moseley
	Report

Old Deer Park Attendance: 1,327 Referee: Darren Gamage

2 January 2016 14:00

Rotherham Titans	21 – 38	Cornish Pirates (BP)
	Report

Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,307 Referee: Andrew Jackson

2 January 2016 14:30

Jersey	17 – 17	Doncaster Knights
	Report

St Peter Attendance: 1,870 Referee: Dean Richards

2 January 2016 14:30

(BP) Nottingham Rugby	10 – 16	Bristol Rugby
	Report

Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,197 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

2 January 2016 15:00

Ealing Trailfinders	29 – 45	Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
	Report

Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 621 Referee: Matt O'Grady

^[24]

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Round 14

30 January 2016 15:00

(BP) Bedford Blues	64 – 20	London Welsh
	Report

Goldington Road Attendance: 2,612 Referee: Andrew Small

30 January 2016 15:00

London Scottish	22 – 20	Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
	Report

Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,236 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

30 January 2016 15:00

Moseley	8 – 24	Nottingham Rugby
	Report

Billesley Common Attendance: 1,011 Referee: Ian Tempest

31 January 2016 15:00

(BP) Bristol Rugby	35 – 12	Jersey
	Report

Ashton Gate Attendance: 6,398 Referee: Matt Carley

31 January 2016 15:00

Cornish Pirates	30 – 15	Ealing Trailfinders
	Report

Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,348 Referee: John Meredith

31 January 2016 15:15

(BP) Doncaster Knights	34 – 24	Rotherham Titans
	Report

Castle Park Attendance: 3,287 Referee: Andrew Jackson

^[25]

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Round 15

6 February 2016 14:00

(BP) London Welsh	17 – 19	London Scottish
	Report

Old Deer Park Attendance: 1,207 Referee: Dean Richards

6 February 2016 14:00

Rotherham Titans	17 – 36	Bristol Rugby (BP)
	Report

Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,236 Referee: Greg MacDonald

6 February 2016 15:00

Ealing Trailfinders	17 – 17	Doncaster Knights
	Report

Trailfinders Ground Attendance: 425 Referee: Andrew Small

6 February 2016 15:00

Jersey	22 – 18	Moseley (BP)
	Report

St Peter Attendance: 1,526 Referee: Steve Lee

7 February 2016 15:00

(BP) Nottingham Rugby	18 – 20	Bedford Blues
	Report

Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,067 Referee: John Meredith

7 February 2016 15:00

(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie	33 – 26	Cornish Pirates (BP)
	Report

Headingley Stadium Attendance: 2,107 Referee: Matthew O'Grady

^[26]

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Round 16

12 February 2016 15:00

(BP) Bristol Rugby	63 – 10	Ealing Trailfinders
	Report

Ashton Gate Attendance: 5,517 Referee: Steve Lee

13 February 2016 14:00

(BP) London Welsh	22 – 18	Nottingham (BP)
	Report

Old Deer Park Attendance: 730 Referee: Greg Macdonald

13 February 2016 14:30

(BP) Doncaster Knights	34 – 28	Yorkshire Carnegie (2BP)
	Report

Castle Park Attendance: 2,331 Referee: Luke Pearce

13 February 2016 15:00

(BP) Bedford Blues	18 – 25	Jersey
	Report

Goldington Road Attendance: 2,162 Referee: Matthew O'Grady

13 February 2016 15:00

London Scottish	21 – 10	Cornish Pirates
	Report

Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,109 Referee: Chris Riley

13 February 2016 15:00

Moseley	16 – 11	Rotherham Titans (BP)
	Report

Billesley Common Attendance: 726 Referee: Darren Gamage

^[27]

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Round 17

27 February 2016 14:00

(BP) Jersey	14 – 21	London Welsh
	Report

St Peter Attendance: 2,009 Referee: Michael Hudson

27 February 2016 14:00

(BP) Rotherham Titans	39 – 31	Bedford Blues (BP)
	Report

Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,107 Referee: Steve Lee

27 February 2016 15:00

(BP) Ealing Trailfinders	55 – 15	Moseley
	Report

Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 626 Referee: Andrew Small

28 February 2016 15:00

(BP) Cornish Pirates	19 – 26	Doncaster Knights
	Report

Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,231 Referee: Greg Macdonald

28 February 2016 15:00

Nottingham Rugby	17 – 3	London Scottish
	Report

Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 940 Referee: Fergus Kirby

28 February 2016 15:00

Yorkshire Carnegie	7 – 23	Bristol Rugby
	Report

Headingley Stadium Attendance: 2,984 Referee: Darren Gamage

^[28]

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Round 18

4 March 2016 19:45

(BP) Nottingham Rugby	15 – 22	Jersey
	Report

Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 753 Referee: Andrew Small

5 March 2016 14:00

(BP) London Welsh	32 – 16	Rotherham Titans
	Report

Old Deer Park Attendance: 966 Referee: John Meredith

5 March 2016 15:00

(BP) Bedford Blues	33 – 24	Ealing Trailfinders
	Report

Goldington Road Attendance: 2,082 Referee: Dean Richards

5 March 2016 15:00

(BP) London Scottish	20 – 26	Doncaster Knights (BP)
	Report

Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,089 Referee: Matt O'Grady

5 March 2016 15:00

Moseley	12 – 28	Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
	Report

Billesley Common Attendance: 1,025 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

6 March 2016 15:00

(BP) Bristol Rugby	29 – 24	Cornish Pirates (2BP)
	Report

Ashton Gate Attendance: 7,005 Referee: Christophe Ridley

^[29]

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Round 19

25 March 2016 15:00

Jersey	22 – 20	London Scottish (BP)
	Report

St. Peter Attendance: 2,460 Referee: Darren Gamage

26 March 2016 15:00

(BP) Cornish Pirates	32 – 0	Moseley
	Report

Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,344 Referee: Dean Richards

26 March 2016 15:00

(BP) Ealing Trailfinders	16 – 22	London Welsh (BP)
	Report

Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 802 Referee: Greg McDonald

26 March 2016 15:00

Rotherham Titans	22 – 12	Nottingham Rugby
	Report

Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,188 Referee: Darren Gamage

27 March 2016 13:45

(2BP) Doncaster Knights	29 – 31	Bristol Rugby (BP)
	Report

Castle Park Attendance: 2,223 Referee: Luke Pearce

27 March 2016 15:00

(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie	35 – 20	Bedford Blues
	Report

Headingley Stadium Attendance: 1,718 Referee: John Meredith

^[30]

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Round 20

1 April 2016 19:30

Moseley	23 – 38	Doncaster Knights (BP)
	Report

Billesley Common Attendance: 1,108 Referee: Ian Tempest

1 April 2016 19:45

(BP) Nottingham Rugby	22 – 18	Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
	Report

Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 978 Referee: Dean Richards

2 April 2016 14:00

(2BP) London Welsh	28 – 31	Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
	Report

Old Deer Park Attendance: 1,463 Referee: Matthew O'Grady

2 April 2016 15:00

(BP) Bedford Blues	54 – 46	Cornish Pirates (BP)
	Report

Goldington Road Attendance: 3,035 Referee: Greg MacDonald

2 April 2016 15:00

(BP) Jersey	44 – 27	Rotherham Titans
	Report

St. Peter Attendance: 1,987 Referee: Michael Hudson

2 April 2016 15:00

(BP) London Scottish	16 – 21	Bristol Rugby
	Report

Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,850 Referee: John Meredith

^[31]

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Round 21

15 April 2016 19:45

Bristol Rugby	24 – 22	Moseley (BP)
	Report

Ashton Gate Attendance: 6,449 Referee: Tom Foley

16 April 2016 14:30

Doncaster Knights	28 – 24	Bedford Blues (BP)
	Report

Castle Park Attendance: 2,446 Referee: Dean Richards

16 April 2016 15:00

Ealing Trailfinders	30 – 24	Jersey (BP)
	Report

Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 658 Referee: Ian Tempest

16 April 2016 15:00

(BP) Rotherham Titans	17 – 22	London Scottish
	Report

Clifton Lane Attendance: 983 Referee: Chris Ridley

17 April 2016 15:00

(BP) Cornish Pirates	38 – 38	London Welsh (BP)
	Report

Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,568 Referee: Jack Makepeace

17 April 2016 15:00

(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie	37 – 27	Nottingham Rugby (BP)
	Report

Headingley Stadium Attendance: 2,147 Referee: Greg Macdonald

^[32]

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Round 22

23 April 2016 14:30

(BP) Nottingham Rugby	55 – 33	Cornish Pirates (BP)
	Report

Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,235 Referee: Matt O'Grady

23 April 2016 15:00

Bedford Blues	6 – 39	Bristol Rugby (BP)
	Report

Goldington Road Attendance: 3,224 Referee: John Meredith

23 April 2016 15:00

(BP) Ealing Trailfinders	45 – 12	Rotherham Titans
	Report

Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 667 Referee: Fergus Kirby

23 April 2016 15:00

Jersey	0 – 34	Yorkshire Carnegie (BP)
	Report

St Peter Attendance: 2,613 Referee: Andrew Small

23 April 2016 15:00

(BP) London Welsh	24 – 19	Doncaster Knights (BP)
	Report

Priory Lane[n 1] Attendance: 1,092 Referee: Andrew Jackson

23 April 2016 15:00

(BP) Moseley	24 – 75	London Scottish (BP)
	Report

Billesley Common Attendance: 1,299 Referee: Jack Makepeace

1. • London Welsh played their home match at Rosslyn Park's ground because Old Deer Park was booked for a food fayre^[33]

^[34]

Play-offs

Semi-finals

The semi-finals follow a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system – with the games being played over two-legs and the higher placed team choosing which leg they play at home. Both Bristol and Doncaster elected to play the second leg at home and will therefore visit Bedford Blues and Yorkshire Carnegie respectively in the first legs on 1 May. The grounds of three of the teams have met the minimum standards required to play in the Premiership next season. If Doncaster Knights are promoted they will initially play their matches at the Keepmoat Stadium, the home of Doncaster Rovers while Bristol will continue to play at Ashton Gate, and Yorkshire Carnegie will continue to play at Headingley Stadium. Bedford Blues did not apply to have their ground audited and, therefore, cannot win promotion; should they win the play-off final, the last-placed team in the Premiership will not be relegated.^[35]

First leg

1 May 2016 15:00

Yorkshire Carnegie	17 - 30	Doncaster Knights
	Report

Headingley Stadium Attendance: 3,102 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

---

1 May 2016 15:15

Bedford Blues	16 - 45	Bristol Rugby
	Report

Goldington Road Attendance: 2,662 Referee: Luke Pearce

Second leg

8 May 2016 14:30

Doncaster Knights	v	Yorkshire Carnegie

Castle Park

---

8 May 2016 15:15

Bristol Rugby	v	Bedford Blues

Ashton Gate

Final

The final is played over two legs – with the higher placed team deciding who plays at home in the first leg.

First leg

18 May 2016 19:45

	v

Second leg

25 May 2016 19:45

	v

Attendances

• Includes playoff games.

Club	Home Games	Total	Average	Highest	Lowest	% Capacity
Bedford Blues	12	31,333	2,611	4,341	2,077	44%
Bristol Rugby	11	72,015	6,547	11,170	4,560	30%
Cornish Pirates	11	15,705	1,428	2,340	1,025	36%
Doncaster Knights	11	20,381	1,853	3,287	1,019	37%
Ealing Trailfinders	11	7,338	667	874	310	22%
Jersey	11	22,790	2,072	2,613	1,526	41%
London Scottish	11	12,809	1,164	1,850	884	26%
London Welsh	11	13,214	1,201	2,032	730	24%
Moseley	11	11,509	1,046	1,431	726	35%
Nottingham Rugby	11	11,202	1,018	1,864	623	51%
Rotherham Titans	11	12,980	1,180	1,721	887	48%
Yorkshire Carnegie	12	28,520	2,377	3,672	1,329	11%

^[36]

Individual statistics

• Note if players are tied on tries or points the player with the lowest number of appearances is placed first (if they have the same number of games, then the less minutes played will rank first). Also note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. Appearance figures also include coming on as substitutes (unused substitutes not included). Stats also cover playoff games.

Top points scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Points 1 Gavin Henson Bristol Rugby 17 193 2 Peter Lydon London Scottish 22 182 3 Dougie Flockhart Doncaster Knights 14 167 4 Jake Sharp Bedford Blues 18 134 4 Brendan Cope Jersey 20 125 6 Glyn Hughes Moseley 19 118 7 Dan Mugford Nottingham Rugby 17 111 8 Harry Leonard Yorkshire Carnegie 17 101 9 Paul Grant Nottingham Rugby 22 95 10 Olly Barkley London Welsh 20 94 [34][37]

Top try scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Tries 1 Paul Grant Nottingham Rugby 22 19 2 Latu Makaafi Doncaster Knights 22 17 3 Mark Bright London Scottish 22 17 4 Olly Robinson Bristol Rugby 17 14 5 Josh Bainbridge Yorkshire Carnegie 10 11 6 Viliame Iongi Nottingham Rugby 11 11 7 Dean Adamson Bedford Blues 13 11 8 Tom Varndell Bristol Rugby 19 11 9 Kyle Evans Moseley 20 11 10 Matt Evans Cornish Pirates 12 10 11 Rhys Crane Ealing Trailfinders 14 10 11 Oliver Stedman Doncaster Knights 16 10 [34][38]

Season records

Team Largest home win — 53 pts 63 - 10 Bristol Rugby at home to Ealing Trailfinders on 12 February 2016 Largest away win — 43 pts 75 - 24 London Scottish away to Moseley on 23 April 2016 Most points scored — 75 75 - 24 London Scottish away to Moseley on 23 April 2016 Most tries in a match — 11 75 - 24 London Scottish away to Moseley on 23 April 2016 Most conversions in a match — 10 London Scottish away to Moseley on 23 April 2016 Most penalties in a match — 6 (x3) Moseley away to London Scottish on 4 September 2015 Doncaster Knights away to Bedford Blues on 5 December 2015 Bristol Rugby away to Yorkshire Carnegie on 28 February 2016 Most drop goals in a match — 1 N/A - multiple teams [39][40][41][42] Player Most points in a match — 25 Josh Bainbridge for Yorkshire Carnegie away to Bristol Rugby on 18 October 2015 Most tries in a match — 5 Josh Bainbridge for Yorkshire Carnegie away to Bristol Rugby on 18 October 2015 Most conversions in a match — 9 Peter Lydon for London Scottish away to Moseley on 23 April 2016 Most penalties in a match — 6 (x3) Glyn Hughes for Moseley away to London Scottish on 4 September 2015 Dougie Flockhart for Doncaster Knights away to Bedford Blues on 5 December 2015 Gavin Henson for Bristol Rugby away to Yorkshire Carnegie on 28 February 2016 Most drop goals in a match — 1 N/A - multiple players [43][44][45][46][47]

Attendances Highest — 11,170 Bristol Rugby at home to London Welsh on 27 December 2015 Lowest — 310 Ealing Trailfinders at home to Nottingham Rugby on 28 November 2015 Highest Average Attendance — 6,547 Bristol Rugby Lowest Average Attendance — 667 Ealing Trailfinders [48]

See also

• 2015–16 British and Irish Cup

References

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2. "Championship: RFU to abolish play-off pool stages". BBC Sport. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
3. "Premiership is no go for now admits chief Irvine". Bedfordshire News. 13 March 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
4. Pilnick, Brent (22 August 2012). "RFU unveils new funding deal for Championship clubs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
5. "Championship: 'Extra RFU funding is not enough', Plymouth chief". BBC Sport. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
6. Scott, Ged. "Championship play-off: Worcester 30–30 Bristol (Agg 59–58)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
7. "English Premiership Table". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
8. "Plymouth Albion are relegated from the Championship". BBC Sport. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
9. Wilkinson, John (29 April 2015). "Scott Morgan: 'If you want to win this league you've got three lives, and unfortunately we lost all ours in January'". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
10. "Titans open at Herringthorpe". rotherham.gov.uk. 6 August 2015.
11. "Championship". RugbyPaper (364). 6 September 2015. pp. 30–31 &40.
12. "Nottingham VS Doncaster Knights". Rugby Statbunker. 13 September 2015.
13. "Championship". RugbyPaper (365). 13 September 2015. pp. 28–29 & 38.
14. "Championship". RugbyPaper (366). 20 September 2015. pp. 36–37 & 46.
15. "Championship". RugbyPaper (367). 27 September 2015. pp. 36–37 & 46.
16. "Championship". RugbyPaper (368). 4 October 2015. pp. 38–39 & 49.
17. "Championship". RugbyPaper (369). 11 October 2015. pp. 36–37 & 46.
18. "Championship". RugbyPaper (370). 18 October 2015. pp. 30–31 & 40.
19. "Championship". RugbyPaper (371). 25 October 2015. pp. 28–29 & 40.
20. "Championship". RugbyPaper (373). 8 November 2015. pp. 26–27 & 38.
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22. "Championship". RugbyPaper (377). 6 December 2015. pp. 20–21 & 38.
23. "Championship". RugbyPaper (380). 27 December 2015. pp. 26–27 & 30.
24. "Championship". RugbyPaper (381). 3 January 2016. pp. 24–25 & 36.
25. "Championship". RugbyPaper (385). 10 January 2016. pp. 16–17 & 38.
26. "Championship". RugbyPaper (386). 7 February 2016. pp. 28–29 & 36.
27. "Championship". RugbyPaper (387). 15 February 2016. pp. 28–29 & 38.
28. "Championship". RugbyPaper (389). 28 February 2016. pp. 30–31 & 38.
29. "Championship". RugbyPaper (390). 6 March 2016. pp. 28–29 & 38.
30. "Championship". RugbyPaper (393). 27 March 2016. pp. 28–29 & 36.
31. "Championship". RugbyPaper (394). 3 April 2016. pp. 24–25 & 34.
32. "Championship". RugbyPaper (396). 17 April 2016. pp. 26–27 & 38.
33. Jarmyn, Luke (24 April 2016). "Griffiths anger as Welsh end Doncaster's away-day run". RugbyPaper (397). p. 24.
34. "Championship". RugbyPaper (397). 24 April 2016. pp. 24–25 & 34.
35. "Bristol, Yorkshire Carnegie and Doncaster meet Premiership promotion criteria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
36. "Championship 15/16 Home attendances". Rugby Statbunker. 1 May 2016.
37. "Championship 15/16 Leading top scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
38. "Championship 15/16 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 1 May 2016.
39. "Championship 15/16 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
40. "Championship 15/16 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
41. "Championship 15/16 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
42. "Championship 15/16 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
43. "Championship 15/16 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
44. "Championship 15/16 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
45. "Championship 15/16 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
46. "Championship 15/16 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
47. "Championship 15/16 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.
48. "Championship 15/16 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 23 April 2016.

External links

• RFU Championship news