2018–19 RFU Championship
The 2018–19 RFU Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the Greene King IPA Championship, is the tenth 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. The competition is sponsored by Greene King for a sixth successive season. Clubs in the league also competed in the inaugural RFU Championship Cup. On 19 April 2019 London Irish were declared champions with a round to go, following an  emphatic win away against struggling Richmond, claiming promotion back to the Premiership for the 2019–20 season, in what was their second Championship title in three seasons. The next day (20 April), Richmond were relegated following relegation rivals Hartpury's victory at home against London Scottish. Richmond would drop to the 2019–20 National League 1. Coventry had the best campaign of a promoted club since the Championship's inception back in 2009–10 (regular season only), amassing 51 points on way to an 8th place finish - surpassing London Scottish's 45 point, 8th place finish back in 2011–12. Structure. The Championship's  structure has all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis. The first placed team in the competition is promoted to the Premiership; providing that club's ground fulfills the Rugby Football Union's Minimum Standards Criteria while the bottom side is relegated to National League 1. As part of an agreement with the RFU, each club will receive £530,000 funding. The British and Irish Cup, which the RFU Championship clubs played in with Welsh and Irish clubs, was scrapped due to the Championship clubs withdrawing and is to be replaced by a new cup competition  – the RFU Championship Cup. Teams. On 24 March 2018 Rotherham Titans were relegated with three 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 for fourteen seasons. Promoted in their place were the winners of 2017–18 National League 1, Coventry, who return to the second tier for the first time since being relegated at the end of the 2009–10 season. On 7 April 2018 Bristol  were crowned champions of the 2017–18 season with two games to go following title rivals Ealing Trailfinders defeat that day to Doncaster Knights. They were therefore promoted to Premiership Rugby. In winning the championship Bristol also became the most decorated tier 2 side in English league history with four league titles to-date. They are replaced by London Irish who return to the Championship after just one year in the Premiership. Fixtures & Results. Fixtures for the season were announced by the RFU on 22 June 2018. 72 – 5 London Irish at home to Yorkshire Carnegie on 13 October 2018 61  – 20 Ealing Trailfinders away to Coventry on 23 March 2019 72 – 5 London Irish at home to Yorkshire Carnegie on 13 October 2018 London Irish at home to Yorkshire Carnegie on 13 October 2018 Ealing Trailfinders away to Coventry on 23 March 2019 Nottingham at home to Doncaster Knights on 29 September 2018 Season records. Team. Coventry away to Nottingham on 23 December 2018 Hartpury College away to Doncaster Knights on 8 September 2018 Jersey Reds at home to Cornish Pirates on 13 October 2018 Nottingham away to Richmond on 20 October 2018 Nottingham at home to Ealing Trailfinders on  26 October 2018 Nottingham away to Coventry on 13 April 2019 London Irish at home to Doncaster Knights on 23 March 2019 Richmond at home to Hartpury College on 29 September 2018 London Irish Hartpury College Dougie Flockhart for Doncaster Knights at home to Richmond on 26 January 2019 Robin Wedlake for Cornish Pirates away to Hartpury College on 15 September 2018 Craig Willis for Ealing Trailfinders away to Coventry on 23 March 2019 Shane O'Leary for Nottingham at home to Doncaster Knights on 29 September 2018 Player. Will Maisey for Coventry away to Nottingham on 23 December 2018 Luke  Cozens for Hartpury College away to Doncaster Knights on 8 September 2018