Championship Rugby

[Mellsblue]

Pirates beat Ealing yesterday. Only three rounds in but the table is not as you would expect with the caveat that the three(!) best teams have all had a bye.

[FKAS]

Top three clubs all have at least one Tigers player on loan. Clearly the way to go.

[Mellsblue]

‘As almost always’….. it’s why everyone calls it the Goldington Rd Finishing School.

[FKAS]

Nottingham for me out of those. Nice to see a young Tigers winger involved early in the move with the run and pop off the floor.

Like the cheeky football skills from Ampthill. Beford's was just a bit high risk, that drops a fraction sooner and it's an interception try, really was well measured.

[Mellsblue]

The Blues’ try won but that was probably a function of the fan base, which is easily the biggest in the Champ.
It was just a standard move at GR. There were a couple more that could’ve made the cut. Rayer does love an expansive game plan.

[Puja]

‘As almost always’….. it’s why everyone calls it the Goldington Rd Finishing School.

How did that Nottingham one not win? I mean, the Bedford one was quite nice, but that Nottingham one went through about 20 offloads!

Puja

[Mellsblue]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... ish-rugby/

[FKAS]

Anyone with more than a passing interest in rugby knows that the Championship is an important aspect of player development and competition for the Premiership. Well with the worrying exception of the big players at the RFU who seem to like the idea of the Prem A League replacing it. Which is more than a little worrying.

[Mellsblue]

Richmond currently sitting second after beating the ‘People’s Champions’ at Goldington Road on Saturday. The romantic in me loves the idea of Richmond spoiling the PRL-Ealing party and getting back to the top flight just as ringfencing is introduced. I doubt they would pass msc but it’s important to have dreams.

[Mellsblue]

Just over 49% of the players in the last round of the Prem have appeared in The Champ……..

[Peej]

How does the table currently look?

[Mellsblue]

Four way battle at the top:

[Peej]

Have those games affected by Covid been postponed or resolved a la the Premiership?

[Mellsblue]

Postponed. There are plenty of free weekends by design and no inter-league comp commitments, ie Europe. Supposedly, there will be a soon to be announced end of season cup competition, too, which I’m guessing means they’ve left themselves so much wiggle room they have spare weekends to fill. Given the lack of money in the league, I think The Champ have done incredibly well since Covid reared it’s ugly head.

Covid actually did me a favour as the one game close to my adopted home vs Doncaster was on 1st Jan when, ironically, I was in Bedford nursing a horrific hangover and laden with family commitments but it was postponed due to cases in the Blues camp.

[Mellsblue]

Champ Cup confirmed. Follow the link for a clear as mud explanation of the format.

https://www.championshiprugby.co.uk/new ... p-cup-draw

[Mellsblue]

You’ve gotta love the Champ. Bedford haven’t won this year and were nilled at Doncaster last weekend but have just picked a bonus point win away at Ealing.

[francoisfou]

You’ve gotta love the Champ. Bedford haven’t won this year and were nilled at Doncaster last weekend but have just picked a bonus point win away at Ealing.

Fixed

[fivepointer]

Its very tight at the top.
Doncaster 59 pts
Jersey 58
Ealing 56
Pirates 55
Probably change when Ealing and Pirates play their 2 games in hand.

[Mellsblue]

You’ve gotta love the Champ. Bedford haven’t won this year and were nilled at Doncaster last weekend but have just picked a bonus point win away at Ealing.

Fixed

[Mellsblue]

Doncaster beat Ealing at the weekend. Bums must be squeaking at Trailfinders HQ.

[Banquo]

Doncaster beat Ealing at the weekend. Bums must be squeaking at Trailfinders HQ.

Gotta love Donny, we had a great time in a cup comp when we played there.

[FKAS]

Would be good to see Donny in the Prem. Geographically they'd fill the hole left by Leeds and give Yorkshire some representation. Might help keep some of the best young players in Union and avoid the temptation to move to League.

Can't imagine Exeter are happy with just how well Cornish Pirates are doing. If they were to come up then Exeter wouldn't be able to pilfer all the best Cornish talent anymore.

[Mellsblue]

Only Doncaster and Ealing have made submissions to the RFU in the hope of passing the MSC. I’m keeping all my fingers crossed it’s Doncaster that go up.

[Banquo]

Would be good to see Donny in the Prem. Geographically they'd fill the hole left by Leeds and give Yorkshire some representation. Might help keep some of the best young players in Union and avoid the temptation to move to League.

Can't imagine Exeter are happy with just how well Cornish Pirates are doing. If they were to come up then Exeter wouldn't be able to pilfer all the best Cornish talent anymore.

Ironically, professionalism pretty much wiped out Yorkshire's heartland union clubs.

[fivepointer]

Ealing and Doncaster failed to meet minimum standards.

Largely based on not meeting 10,001+ capacity.

"Ealing Trailfinders does not currently have a licensed capacity, but the ground holds approximately 5,000 with 2,115 seats.

"Doncaster Knights currently has a capacity of around 5,183 with 1,926 seats." says RFU, confirming it.