2017–18 RFU Championship
The 2017–18 RFU Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the Greene King IPA Championship, was the ninth 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 was contested by eleven English clubs and one from Jersey in the Channel Islands. The competition was sponsored by Greene King for a fifth successive season. The twelve teams in the RFU Championship also competed in the British and Irish Cup, along with clubs from Ireland and Wales. On 24 March 2018 Rotherham Titans  were relegated with 3 games to go, after losing away to Jersey Reds. Despite seeing some improvements in the second half of the season, the Yorkshire club were easily the weakest side in the division, dropping to 2018–19 National League 1, the lowest level the club have played at for 14 seasons. On 7 April 2018 Bristol were crowned champions with 2 games to go following title rivals Ealing Trailfinders defeat that day to Doncaster Knights. They met the minimum criteria and therefore were promoted into Premiership Rugby. In winning the championship Bristol also became the most decorated tier 2  side in English league history with 4 league titles to-date. Structure. The Championship's structure has all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis. The play-offs for promotion have been abolished and replaced by the first ranked team being promoted; providing that club's ground fulfills the Rugby Football Union's Minimum Standards Criteria. Under the play-off system some clubs qualified for the play-offs but did not meet the RFU's Minimum Standards Criteria which meant they could not be promoted. The change was made to allow the promoted team additional time  to prepare for playing in the English Premiership. As part of an agreement with the RFU, each club will receive £530,000 funding. Teams. In January 2017, London Welsh was expelled from the RFU Championship and then liquidated due to debt. As a result, Rotherham Titans, who finished bottom of the league, were not relegated; a decision which former Championship club Plymouth Albion contested. Promoted in place of London Welsh were the winners of 2016–17 National League 1, Hartpury College, who have moved from Gloucester 3 North, at the bottom of the English rugby pyramid, to the second tier within  thirteen years of their founding. London Irish was promoted as champions and play-off winners of the 2016–17 RFU Championship and were replaced by Bristol following their last place in the 2016–17 English Premiership. Fixtures. Fixtures for the season were announced by the RFU on 9 June 2017. 72 - 12 Ealing Trailfinders at home to London Scottish on 24 September 2017 60 - 17 Bristol away to Nottingham on 6 April 2018 72 - 12 Ealing Trailfinders at home to London Scottish on 24 September 2017 Ealing Trailfinders at home to London Scottish on 24 September 2017 Season records. Team. Bristol at  home to Doncaster Knights on 13 April 2018 Bristol at home to Doncaster Knights on 13 April 2018 Bristol at home to Yorkshire Carnegie on 23 March 2018 Nottingham at home to Hartpury College on 29 September 2017 Bristol at home to Cornish Pirates on 13 April 2018 Hartpury College at home to Nottingham on 10 February 2018 Bristol Ealing Trailfinders Laurence May for Cornish Pirates at home to London Scottish on 25 March 2018 Max Crumpton for Bristol at home to Richmond on 17 September 2017 Player. Luke Morahan for Bristol at home to Doncaster Knights on 13 April  2018 Ian Madigan for Bristol at home to Doncaster Knights on 13 April 2018 Ian Madigan for Bristol at home to Yorkshire Carnegie on 23 March 2018 Tiff Eden for Nottingham at home to Hartpury College on 29 September 2017