2009–10 RFU Championship

The 2009–10 RFU Championship was the 1st season (of the professionalised format) of the second division of the English domestic rugby union competitions, played between August 2009 and May 2010. The league had been restructured from the 16 teams of the previous season down to just 12.[1] New teams included Bristol who had been relegated from the Guinness Premiership 2008-09 and Birmingham and Solihull who had been promoted from National Division Two 2008-09.[2][3] As well as a decrease in teams, the league would now consist of three parts - a standard league section, promotion/relegation pools and then playoffs to determine who would go up as champions.

2009–10 RFU Championship
Countries England
ChampionsExeter Chiefs
Runners-upBristol
RelegatedCoventry
Attendance402,209 (average 2,260 per match)[a 1]
Highest attendance11,550 Bristol at home to Exeter Chiefs on 26 May 2010
Lowest attendance200 Birmingham & Solihull at home to Doncaster Knights on 17 February 2010
Top point scorerGareth Steenson
(Exeter Chiefs) 280 points
Top try scorer Blair Cowan
(Cornish Pirates)
Errie Claassens
(London Welsh)
Matthew Jess (Exeter Chiefs) 14 tries

During this season, Exeter Chiefs won promotion to the Aviva Premiership 2010-11 by beating Bristol in the playoff final.[4] This marked Exeter's first ever promotion to the Premiership, which they would later win in 2017.

Despite finishing 11th of 12 after the first stage Coventry were relegated to the 2010–11 National League 1 as they finished bottom of the relegation pool.[5]

Participating teams
Locations of the 2009–10 RFU Championship teams
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bedford Blues Goldington Road 6,000 Bedford, Bedfordshire
Birmingham & Solihull Sharmans Cross[b 1] 2,500 Solihull, West Midlands
Bristol Memorial Stadium 12,100 Bristol
Cornish Pirates Recreation Ground 9,000 Camborne, Cornwall
Coventry Butts Park Arena[b 2] 4,000 Coventry, West Midlands
Doncaster Knights Castle Park 3,075 Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Exeter Chiefs Sandy Park 10,000 Exeter, Devon
London Welsh Old Deer Park 5,850 Richmond, London
Moseley Billesley Common 3,000+ Birmingham, West Midlands
Nottingham Meadow Lane[b 3] 19,588 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Plymouth Albion The Brickfields 6,500 Plymouth, Devon
Rotherham Titans Clifton Lane 2,500 Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Notes
  1. Birmingham & Solihull would play a home game on 2 January 2010 at Goldington Road in Bedford, as well as two more home games at Billesley Common on 2 and 17 February 2010 due to adverse weather conditions effecting the Sharmans Cross pitch.[6]
  2. Coventry would play a home game on 4 December 2009 at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.[7]
  3. Nottingham would play a home game on 7 November 2009 at Welford Road in Leicester due to the Notts County football team playing a home match in the FA Cup on that date.[8]

Stage 1 League Table
2009–10 RFU Championship Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Bonus Points Points
1Bristol221903630337+2931692
PExeter Chiefs221903699360+3391288
3London Welsh221417483376+107962
4Bedford Blues221219581436+145959
5Nottingham2212010539520+191159
6Cornish Pirates2211110555463+92956
7Doncaster Knights2210012394386+8848
8Plymouth Albion2210111389462–73648
9Moseley2210012444543–99646
10Rotherham Titans227015451520–691543
RCoventry225116346565–219512
12 Birmingham & Solihull220121293836–5434-9

Correct on Saturday, 13 March 2010 21:00 UK

  • Points deductions: Birmingham & Solihull 15, Coventry 15, London Welsh 5
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. 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 are relegation play-off places.

Results

Round 1
4 September 2009
Coventry 21 - 12 Rotherham Titans
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,390
Referee: Darren Gamage
5 September 2009
Doncaster Knights 12 - 26 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,248
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
5 September 2009
Moseley 25 - 50 Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 842
Referee: Martin Fox
5 September 2009
(BP) Plymouth Albion 33 - 10 Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,176
Referee: Luke Pearce
6 September 2009
Bristol 28 - 23 London Welsh (BP)
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,025
Referee: Sean Davey
6 September 2009
Nottingham 13 - 24 Cornish Pirates
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,232
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts

Round 2
12 September 2009
(BP) Bedford Blues 42 - 6 Coventry
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,852
Referee: Michael Tutty
12 September 2009
(BP) Birmingham & Solihull 36 - 40 Bristol (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 1,223
Referee: Chris Sharp
12 September 2009
Exeter Chiefs 32 - 20 Doncaster Knights
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,573
Referee: Rob Debney
13 September 2009
(BP) Cornish Pirates 57 - 24 Moseley (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,632
Referee: David Rose
13 September 2009
Nottingham 23 - 16 London Welsh (BP)
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,006
Referee: JP Doyle
13 September 2009
Rotherham Titans 29 - 16 Plymouth Albion
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,125
Referee: Terry Hall

Round 3
18 September 2009
Coventry 13 - 27 Exeter Chiefs
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Sean Davey
18 September 2009
Doncaster Knights 10 - 21 Cornish Pirates
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,728
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
19 September 2009
(BP) London Welsh 37 - 12 Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,650
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
19 September 2009
Moseley 20 - 31 Nottingham (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 754
Referee: Adrian Hartwell
19 September 2009
Plymouth Albion 3 - 38 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,303
Referee: Keith Lewis
20 September 2009
(BP) Bristol 36 - 10 Rotherham Titans
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,305
Referee: Rowan Kitt

Round 4
26 September 2009
(BP) Bedford Blues 5 - 6 Bristol
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 4,067
Referee: Greg Garner
26 September 2009
Exeter Chiefs 30 - 24 Plymouth Albion (BP)
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 5,072
Referee: Dean Richards
26 September 2009
(BP) Moseley 33 - 25 Doncaster Knights
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 749
Referee: Paul Knowles
26 September 2009
(BP) Rotherham Titans 22 - 28 London Welsh
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,262
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
27 September 2009
Cornish Pirates 20 - 14 Coventry (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,695
Referee: JP Doyle
27 September 2009
(BP) Nottingham 53 - 17 Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,210
Referee: Mark Wilson

Round 5
2 October 2009
(2BP) Coventry 25 - 28 Moseley (BP)
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 2,003
Referee: Luke Pearce
3 October 2009
Birmingham & Solihull 0 - 29 Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 377
Referee: Rob Debney
3 October 2009
Doncaster Knights 7 - 23 Nottingham
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,323
Referee: Keith Lewis
3 October 2009
London Welsh 28 - 17 Bedford Blues
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 2,240
Referee: Rowan Kitt
3 October 2009
Plymouth Albion 16 - 8 Cornish Pirates
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 4,004
Referee: David Rose
4 October 2009
Bristol 26 - 35 Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,895
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts

Round 6
9 October 2009
(BP) Nottingham 46 - 0 Rotherham Titans
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,049
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
10 October 2009
(BP) Bedford Blues 53 - 25 Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,180
Referee: Terry Hall
10 October 2009
Exeter Chiefs 13 - 9 London Welsh (BP)
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 4,378
Referee: David Rose
10 October 2009
(BP) Doncaster Knights 14 - 17 Coventry
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,310
10 October 2009
Moseley 26 - 15 Plymouth Albion
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 950
Referee: Darren Gamage
11 October 2009
Cornish Pirates 13 - 35 Bristol (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 4,115
Referee: Keith Lewis

Round 7
16 October 2009
Bristol 19 - 9 Moseley
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,149
Referee: Andrew Small
16 October 2009
(BP) Coventry 13 - 18 Nottingham
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,313
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
17 October 2009
Birmingham & Solihull 21 - 51 Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 367
Referee: Chris Sharp
17 October 2009
Plymouth Albion 6 - 21 Doncaster Knights
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,395
Referee: Roy Maybank
17 October 2009
(BP) London Welsh 34 - 10 Cornish Pirates
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,980
Referee: Rowan Kitt
17 October 2009
(BP) Rotherham Titans 25 - 27 Bedford Blues
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,304
Referee: Michael Tutty

Round 8
23 October 2009
Coventry 26 - 10 Plymouth Albion
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,076
Referee: Graham Knox
24 October 2009
Doncaster Knights 26 - 22 Bristol (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,907
Referee: Mark Wilson
24 October 2009
(BP) Exeter Chiefs 43 - 10 Rotherham Titans
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,828
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
24 October 2009
(BP) Moseley 17 - 21 London Welsh
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 964
Referee: Rob Debney
25 October 2009
(BP) Cornish Pirates 62 - 10 Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,530
Referee: Paul Knowles
25 October 2009
Nottingham 30 - 29 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,584
Referee: Greg Garner

Round 9
30 October 2009
(BP) Bristol 46 - 28 Coventry
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,839
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
31 October 2009
Bedford Blues 11 - 20 Exeter Chiefs
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,297
Referee: Rob Debney
31 October 2009
(BP) Birmingham & Solihull 16 - 23 Moseley
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 1,084
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
31 October 2009
London Welsh 9 - 20 Doncaster Knights
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,690
Referee: Greg Garner
31 October 2009
(BP) Plymouth Albion 31 - 25 Nottingham (BP)
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,078
Referee: JP Doyle
31 October 2009
Rotherham Titans 29 - 20 Cornish Pirates
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,287
Referee: Andrew Small

Round 10
6 November 2009
Coventry 10 - 19 London Welsh
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,133
Referee: Paul Knowles
7 November 2009
(BP) Doncaster Knights 36 - 7 Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,312
7 November 2009
Moseley 31 - 27 Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 978
Referee: Andrew Small
7 November 2009
Nottingham 11 - 42 Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Welford Road, Leicester[8]
Attendance: 1,216
Referee: Keith Lewis
7 November 2009
Plymouth Albion 8 - 33 Bristol (BP)
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,993
Referee: Terry Hall
8 November 2009
Cornish Pirates 25 - 24 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,465
Referee: David Rose

Round 11
13 November 2009
Bedford Blues 23 - 7 Moseley
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,282
Referee: Dean Richards
14 November 2009
Birmingham & Solihull 6 - 21 Coventry
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 477
Referee: Rowan Kitt
14 November 2009
Exeter Chiefs 22 - 15 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 6,158
Referee: Mark Wilson
14 November 2009
London Welsh 12 - 24 Plymouth Albion (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 874
Referee: D May
14 November 2009
Rotherham Titans 11 - 7 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,610
Referee: Adrian Hartwell
15 November 2009
(BP) Bristol 35 - 11 Nottingham
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,784
Referee: David Pearson

Round 12
4 December 2009
Coventry 15 - 15 Bedford Blues
Report
Ricoh Arena[7]
Attendance: 1,306
Referee: Darren Gamage
5 December 2009
(BP) Doncaster Knights 9 - 14 Exeter Chiefs
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,565
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
5 December 2009
London Welsh 19 - 14 Nottingham (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 910
Referee: Adrian Hartwell
5 December 2009
(BP) Moseley 19 - 20 Cornish Pirates
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 901
Referee: Luke Pearce
5 December 2009
Plymouth Albion 20 - 15 Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 1,795
Referee: Dean Richards
6 December 2009
(BP) Bristol 28 - 0 Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,440
Referee: Paul Knowles

Round 13
12 December 2009
(BP) Bedford Blues 16 - 19 Plymouth Albion
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,353
Referee: Luke Pearce
12 December 2009
Birmingham & Solihull 6 - 29 London Welsh (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 407
Referee: Chris Sharp
12 December 2009
(BP) Exeter Chiefs 45 - 11 Coventry
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,952
Referee: Terry Hall
12 December 2009
Rotherham Titans 0 - 15 Bristol
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,257
Referee: Rob Debney
13 December 2009
(BP) Cornish Pirates 10 - 12 Doncaster Knights
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,667
Referee: Roy Maybank
13 December 2009
(BP) Nottingham 30 - 15 Moseley
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,303
Referee: Dean Richards

Round 14
18 December 2009
(BP) Bristol 37 - 16 Bedford Blues
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,869
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
18 December 2009
Coventry 12 - 27 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 802
Referee: Mark Wilson
19 December 2009
Birmingham & Solihull P - P Nottingham

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 February 2010.
19 December 2009
Doncaster Knights 14 - 3 Moseley
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,334
Referee: Keith Lewis
19 December 2009
(BP) London Welsh 30 - 24 Rotherham Titans (2BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 961
Referee: Sean Davey
19 December 2009
Plymouth Albion 23 - 13 Exeter Chiefs
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 4,430
Referee: Rowan Kitt

Round 15
26 December 2009
Bedford Blues 30 - 23 London Welsh (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 4,033
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
26 December 2009
Moseley 26 - 20 Coventry (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 998
Referee: Rowan Kitt
27 December 2009
(BP) Cornish Pirates 46 - 7 Plymouth Albion
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 5,654
Referee: Terry Hall
27 December 2009
Exeter Chiefs 16 - 25 Bristol (BP)
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 7,405
Referee: Greg Garner
28 December 2009
Nottingham P - P Doncaster Knights

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 January 2010.
28 December 2009
Rotherham Titans P - P Birmingham & Solihull

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 January 2010.

Round 16
1 January 2010
(BP) Bristol 31 - 15 Cornish Pirates
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,714
Referee: JP Doyle
2 January 2010
Birmingham & Solihull 10 - 49 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Goldington Road, Bedford[6]
Attendance: 1,407
Referee: Darren Gamage
2 January 2010
Coventry P - P Doncaster Knights

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 10 February 2010.
2 January 2010
London Welsh 12 - 10 Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,632
Referee: Mark Williams
2 January 2010
Plymouth Albion 10 - 20 Moseley
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,168
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
2 January 2010
Rotherham Titans P - P Nottingham

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 February 2010.

Round 17
15 January 2010
Bristol P - P Doncaster Knights

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 24 February 2010.
16 January 2010
(BP) Bedford Blues 51 - 19 Nottingham
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,088
Referee: Rowan Kitt
16 January 2010
Plymouth Albion 20 - 3 Coventry
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,151
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
17 January 2010
(BP) Birmingham & Solihull 31 - 31 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 916
Referee: Wayne Barnes
17 January 2010
London Welsh 22 - 6 Moseley
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 910
Referee: Keith Lewis
17 January 2010
(BP) Rotherham Titans 18 - 24 Exeter Chiefs
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,076
Referee: Michael Tutty

Round 15 (Rescheduled Games)
20 January 2010
Nottingham 27 - 21 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 808
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
  • Game rescheduled from 28 December 2009.
20 January 2010
(BP) Rotherham Titans 42 - 15 Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 812
Referee: Mark Wilson
  • Game rescheduled from 28 December 2009.

Round 18
23 January 2010
Coventry 16 - 27 Bristol (BP)
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,240
Referee: Darren Gamage
23 January 2010
(BP) Doncaster Knights 10 - 17 London Welsh
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,250
Referee: Dean Richards
23 January 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs 45 - 19 Bedford Blues
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,781
Referee: Chris White
23 January 2010
Moseley 25 - 24 Birmingham & Solihull (BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 1,051
Referee: Paul Knowles
24 January 2010
(BP) Cornish Pirates 29 - 24 Rotherham Titans (2BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,459
Referee: Rob Debney
24 January 2010
Nottingham 20 - 19 Plymouth Albion (BP)
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,219
Referee: Terry Hall

Round 19
30 January 2010
Bedford Blues 19 - 16 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,817
Referee: Keith Lewis
30 January 2010
Birmingham & Solihull P - P Doncaster Knights

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 February 2010.
30 January 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs 42 - 12 Nottingham
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 4,084
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
30 January 2010
(BP) London Welsh 51 - 13 Coventry
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,027
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
30 January 2010
Rotherham Titans 7 - 19 Moseley
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,214
Referee: Andrew Small
31 January 2010
(BP) Bristol 24 - 14 Plymouth Albion
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,537
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts

Round 14 (Rescheduled Game)
2 February 2010
Birmingham & Solihull 0 - 39 Nottingham (BP)
Report
Billesley Common[6]
Referee: Luke Pearce
  • Game rescheduled to 19 December 2009.

Round 20
5 February 2010
Coventry 24 - 7 Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,012
Referee: Andrew Small
6 February 2010
(BP) Moseley 19 - 26 Bedford Blues
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 759
Referee: Terry Hall
6 February 2010
Plymouth Albion 13 - 13 London Welsh
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,155
Referee: Rob Debney
7 February 2010
Cornish Pirates 15 - 30 Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 3,661
Referee: Rowan Kitt
7 February 2010
Doncaster Knights 27 - 20 Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 2,174
Referee: Martin Fox
7 February 2010
(BP) Nottingham 16 - 22 Bristol
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,796
Referee: Keith Lewis

Round 16 & 19 (Rescheduled Games)
10 February 2010
Coventry 7 - 27 Doncaster Knights
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 618
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
  • Game rescheduled from 2 January 2010.
16 February 2010
Rotherham Titans 28 - 24 Nottingham (2BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 521
Referee: Chris Sharp
  • Game rescheduled from 2 January 2010.
17 February 2010
Birmingham & Solihull 7 - 33 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Billesley Common[6]
Attendance: 200
Referee: Michael Tutty
  • Game rescheduled from 30 January 2010.

Round 21
20 February 2010
Bedford Blues 12 - 23 Doncaster Knights
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,241
Referee: Cedric Marchat
20 February 2010
Birmingham & Solihull 21 - 36 Plymouth Albion (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 926
20 February 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs 36 - 19 Moseley
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,525
Referee: Darren Gamage
20 February 2010
London Welsh 3 - 28 Bristol
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 2,150
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
20 February 2010
(BP) Rotherham Titans 41 - 11 Coventry
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,019
Referee: Paul Knowles
21 February 2010
(BP) Cornish Pirates 47 - 19 Nottingham
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,321
Referee: Terry Hall

Round 17 (Rescheduled Game)
24 February 2010
(BP) Bristol 42 - 7 Doncaster Knights
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,315
Referee: Rowan Kitt
  • Game rescheduled from 15 January 2010.

Round 22
13 March 2010
Bedford Blues 33 - 26 Rotherham Titans (2BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 1,642
Referee: Keith Lewis
13 March 2010
(BP) Cornish Pirates 24 - 28 London Welsh
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 1,560
Referee: Wayne Barnes
13 March 2010
(BP) Doncaster Knights 13 - 20 Plymouth Albion
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,642
Referee: JP Doyle
13 March 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs 62 - 12 Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,477
Referee: Michael Tutty
13 March 2010
Moseley 30 - 25 Bristol (2BP)
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 1,564
Referee: Martin Fox
13 March 2010
(BP) Nottingham 37 - 10 Coventry
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 790
Referee: Andrew Taylorson

Stage 2: Playoffs

Promotion

Winner of Pool A to play Runner-Up of Pool B, and Winner of Pool B to play Runner-Up of Pool A.

Group A:

Pos Team P W D L F A BP PTS
1 Bristol 6 5 0 1 189 86 4 24
2 Bedford 6 4 0 2 154 125 4 20
3 Cornish Pirates 6 2 0 4 98 158 2 10
4 Plymouth Albion 6 1 0 5 57 129 1 5

Round 1
19 March 2010
Bristol 19 - 12 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,892
Referee: Rowan Kitt
20 March 2010
(BP) Plymouth Albion 9 - 10 Bedford Blues
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 1,384
Referee: David Rose

Round 2
27 March 2010
Bedford Blues 17 - 16 Bristol (BP)
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,611
Referee: JP Doyle
28 March 2010
Cornish Pirates 17 - 0 Plymouth Albion
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,849
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts

Round 3
2 April 2010
Bristol 15 - 3 Plymouth Albion
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,020
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
4 April 2010
Cornish Pirates 22 - 18 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 3,359
Referee: Rowan Kitt

Round 4
10 April 2010
Plymouth Albion 7 - 38 Bristol (BP)
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 3,275
Referee: Rowan Kitt
10 April 2010
(BP) Bedford Blues 42 - 18 Cornish Pirates
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,599
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts

Round 5
16 April 2010
Plymouth Albion 19 - 14 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
Brickfields
Attendance: 4,141
Referee: David Rose
18 April 2010
(BP) Bristol 41 - 32 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,701
Referee: Rob Debney

Round 6
1 May 2010
(BP) Bedford Blues 35 - 19 Plymouth Albion
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,302
Referee: Rowan Kitt
1 May 2010
Cornish Pirates 15 - 60 Bristol (BP)
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 3,190
Referee: Michael Tutty

Group B:

Pos Team P W D L F A BP PTS
1 Exeter 6 4 0 2 181 86 4 20
2 London Welsh 6 4 0 2 108 110 2 18
3 Nottingham 6 2 0 4 98 141 2 10
4 Doncaster 6 2 0 4 108 158 1 9

Round 1
21 March 2010
Nottingham 20 - 9 Exeter Chiefs
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,072
Referee: Rob Debney
20 March 2010
(BP) London Welsh 26 - 10 Doncaster Knights
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 520
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts

Round 2
27 March 2010
Doncaster Knights 25 - 15 Nottingham
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,011
Referee: Chris Sharp
27 March 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs 32 - 6 London Welsh
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 4,342
Referee: Keith Lewis

Round 3
3 April 2010
(BP) Doncaster Knights 19 - 21 Exeter Chiefs
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,050
Referee: Dean Richards
3 April 2010
London Welsh 12 - 29 Nottingham (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 960
Referee: Martin Fox

Round 4
10 April 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs 51 - 15 Doncaster Knights
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 4,181
Referee: David Rose
10 April 2010
(BP) Nottingham 10 - 17 London Welsh
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,339
Referee: Sean Davey

Round 5
17 April 2010
London Welsh 16 - 15 Exeter Chiefs (BP)
Report
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,100
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
18 April 2010
Nottingham 14 - 25 Doncaster Knights
Report
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,354
Referee: Andrew Taylorson

Round 6
1 May 2010
Doncaster Knights 14 - 31 London Welsh (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,389
Referee: Rob Debney
1 May 2010
(BP) Exeter Chiefs 53 - 10 Nottingham
Report
Sandy Park
Attendance: 5,344
Referee: Sean Davey

Relegation

Bottom club in Group C relegated to National League 1

Group C:

Pos Team P W D L F A BP PTS
1 Rotherham 6 5 0 1 188 116 7 27
2 Moseley 6 2 0 4 153 132 7 15
3 Birmingham & Solihull 6 3 0 3 158 169 3 13*
4 Coventry (R) 6 2 0 4 82 164 2 10

Coventry are relegated to National League 1.

Round 1
20 March 2010
Birmingham & Solihull 19 - 12 Moseley (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 350
Referee: Dean Richards
20 March 2010
(BP) Rotherham Titans 29 - 3 Coventry
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 872
Referee: Shane Lewis

Round 2
27 March 2010
(BP) Coventry 18 - 25 Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,344
Referee: Rowan Kitt
27 March 2010
(2BP) Moseley 29 - 30 Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Billesley
Attendance: 832
Referee: Andrew Taylorson

Round 3
3 April 2010
Coventry 6 - 3 Moseley (BP)
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,123
Referee: JP Doyle
3 April 2010
(BP) Rotherham Titans 33 - 20 Birmingham & Solihull
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,223
Referee: Michael Tutty

Round 4
11 April 2010
Birmingham & Solihull 19 - 29 Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 250
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
11 April 2010
Moseley P - P Coventry

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 24 April 2010.

Round 5
17 April 2010
(2BP) Rotherham Titans 29 - 33 Moseley (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,302
Referee: Rowan Kitt
18 April 2010
(2BP) Birmingham & Solihull 35 - 38 Coventry (BP)
Report
Sharmans Cross
Referee: Greg Garner

Round 4 (Rescheduled Game)
24 April 2010
(BP) Moseley 37 - 5 Coventry
Report
Billesley Common
Attendance: 1,474
Referee: Rob Debney

Round 6
1 May 2010
Coventry 12 - 38 Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,613
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
1 May 2010
(2BP) Moseley 34 - 38 Birmingham & Solihull (BP)
Report
Billesley
Attendance: 850
Referee: David Rose

Stage 3

Semi-finals

The semi-finals were one-off single ties held between the winner of Group A and the runner-up of Group B, and the winner of Group B and the runner-up of Group A. The matches took place at the home ground of the group winners.

7 May 210
Bristol 28 – 15 London Welsh
Report
Memorial Stadium, Bristol
Attendance: 5,717
Referee: David Rose
8 May 210
Exeter Chiefs 37 – 8 Bedford Blues
Report
Sandy Park, Exeter
Attendance: 4,549
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Final

The two-legged final took place at the home grounds of the two clubs involved, rather than at Twickenham.

19 May 2010
Exeter Chiefs 9 - 6 Bristol
Report
Sandy Park, Exeter
Attendance: 10,021
Referee: David Pearson
26 May 2010
Bristol 10 - 29 Exeter Chiefs
Report
Memorial Stadium, Bristol
Attendance: 11,550
Referee: Andrew Small

Exeter Chiefs win the Championship and earn promotion to the 2010–11 Premiership.[4]

Total Season Attendances
  • Figures include playoff semi finals and final
Club Home
Games		 Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
Bedford Blues1439,3642,8124,0671,64247%
Birmingham & Solihull12[a 2]7,9846651,40720023%
Bristol1694,7525,92211,5504,30549%
Cornish Pirates1442,1573,0115,6541,56033%
Coventry1417,4731,2482,00361829%
Doncaster Knights1420,2431,4462,1741,01147%
Exeter Chiefs1677,6704,85410,0213,47749%
London Welsh1418,6041,3292,24052023%
Moseley1413,6529751,56474933%
Nottingham1416,9781,2131,7967906%
Plymouth Albion1437,4482,6754,4301,38441%
Rotherham Titans1415,8841,1351,61052145%

[9][10]

  1. Note that 2 home attendances are missing (see below) - so the total attendance will not be 100% accurate. The average attendance has also been taken into account with the missing games not included.
  2. Missing home attendances v Nottingham on 2 February 2010 and Coventry on 18 April 2010.

Individual Statistics
  • Player stats include playoff games as well as regular season games. Also note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.

Season records

References
  1. "Championship plan gains support". BBC News. 14 November 2008.
  2. "Bristol relegated after defeat at London Irish". Reuters. 4 April 2009.
  3. "Birmingham & Solihull win promotion on glorious day". Birmingham Post. 27 April 2009.
  4. Tuckett, Phil (2010-05-26). "Bristol 10–29 Exeter (Exeter win 38–16 on aggregate)". BBC Sport. Memorial Stadium, Bristol: BBC. Retrieved 2010-05-27.
  5. "Coventry promise to play on despite relegation from the Championship". The Telegraph. 2 May 2010.
  6. "Championship round-up: Exeter's slump gives Bristol advantage". The Telegraph. 3 January 2010.
  7. "Coventry Rugby Club play on at Ricoh Arena". rugbynetwork.net. 3 December 2009.
  8. "Nottingham switch Chiefs match to Welford Road". Nottingham Post. 27 October 2009.
  9. "Championship 09/10 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  10. "Championship Play offs 09/10 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  11. "Championship 09/10 Leading top scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  12. "Championship Play offs 09/10 Leading top scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  13. "Championship 09/10 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  14. "Championship Play offs 09/10 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  15. "Championship 09/10 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  16. "Championship Play offs 09/10 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  17. "Championship 09/10 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  18. "Championship Play offs 09/10 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  19. "Championship 09/10 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  20. "Championship Play offs 09/10 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  21. "Championship 09/10 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  22. "Championship Play offs 09/10 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  23. "Championship 09/10 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  24. "Championship Play offs 09/10 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  25. "Championship 09/10 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  26. "Championship Play offs 09/10 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  27. "Championship 09/10 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  28. "Championship Play offs 09/10 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  29. "Championship 09/10 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  30. "Championship Play offs 09/10 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
  31. "Championship 09/10 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 13 March 2010.
  32. "Championship Play offs 09/10 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 26 May 2010.
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