2009–10 RFU Championship

2009–10 RFU Championship
Countries  England
Champions Exeter Chiefs
Runners-up Bristol
Relegated Coventry
Attendance 402,209 (average 2,274 per match)
Top point scorer IrelandGareth Steenson
(Exeter Chiefs) 280 points
Top try scorer Scotland Blair Cowan
(Cornish Pirates) 14 tries

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. 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. 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.

During this season, Exeter Chiefs won promotion to the Aviva Premiership 2010-11 by beating Bristol in the playoff final. Despite finishing 11th of 12 after the first stage Coventry were relegated to National League 1 as they finished bottom of the relegation pool.

Participating teams

Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bedford Blues Goldington Road 6,000 Bedford, Bedfordshire
Birmingham & Solihull Sharmans Cross[n 1] 1,000+ Solihull, West Midlands
Bristol Memorial Stadium 12,100 Bristol, Avon
Cornish Pirates Recreation Ground 9,000 Cambourne, Cornwall
Coventry Butts Park Arena[n 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 19,588 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Plymouth Albion The Brickfields 6,500 Plymouth, Devon
Rotherham Titans Clifton Lane 2,500 Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Notes
    • Birmingham & Solihull would play a home game on 2 January 2010 at Goldington Road in Bedford,[1] as well as two more home games at Billesley on 2 and 17 February 2010 due to adverse weather conditions effecting the Sharmans Cross pitch
    • Coventry would play a home game on 4 December 2009 at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry

Stage 1 League Table

2009–10 RFU Championship Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Bonus Points Points
1 Bristol (F) 22 19 0 3 630 337 +293 16 92
2 Exeter Chiefs (P) 22 19 0 3 699 360 +339 12 88
3 London Welsh (SF) 22 14 1 7 483 376 +107 9 62
4 Bedford Blues (SF) 22 12 1 9 581 436 +145 9 59
5 Nottingham 22 12 0 10 539 520 +19 11 59
6 Cornish Pirates 22 11 1 10 555 463 +92 9 56
7 Doncaster Knights 22 10 0 12 394 386 +8 8 48
8 Plymouth Albion 22 10 1 11 389 462 –73 6 48
9 Moseley 22 10 0 12 444 543 –99 6 46
10 Rotherham Titans 22 7 0 15 451 520 –69 15 43
11 Coventry (R) 22 5 1 16 346 565 –219 5 12
12 Birmingham & Solihull 22 0 1 21 293 836 –543 4 -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.

Round 1

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

Round 2

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

Round 3

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

Round 4

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

Round 5

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

Round 6

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

Round 7

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

Round 8

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

Round 9

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

Round 10

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

Round 11

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

Round 12

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

Round 13

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

Round 14

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

19 December 2009
Doncaster Knights 14-3 Moseley
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,334
Referee: Keith Lewis
19 December 2009
London Welsh 30-24 Rotherham Titans
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 961
Referee: Sean Davey
19 December 2009
Plymouth Albion 23-13 Exeter Chiefs
Brickfields
Attendance: 4,430
Referee: Rowan Kitt

Round 15

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

28 December 2009
Rotherham Titans P - P Birmingham & Solihull


Round 16

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

2 January 2010
London Welsh 12-10 Exeter Chiefs
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,632
Referee: Mark Williams
2 January 2010
Plymouth Albion 10-20 Moseley
Brickfields
Attendance: 2,168
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
2 January 2010
Rotherham Titans P - P Nottingham


Round 17

15 January 2010
Bristol P - P Doncaster Knights

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

Round 15 (Rescheduled Games)

20 January 2010
Nottingham 27-21 Doncaster Knights
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 808
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
20 January 2010
Rotherham Titans 42-15 Birmingham & Solihull
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 812
Referee: Mark Wilson

Round 18

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

Round 19

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

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

Round 14 (Rescheduled Game)

2 February 2010
Birmingham & Solihull 0-39 Nottingham
Billesley
Referee: Luke Pearce

Round 20

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

Round 16 & 19 (Rescheduled Games)

10 February 2010
Coventry 7-27 Doncaster Knights
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 618
Referee: Andrew Taylorson
16 February 2010
Rotherham Titans 28-24 Nottingham
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 521
Referee: Chris Sharp
17 February 2010
Birmingham & Solihull 7-33 Doncaster Knights
Billesley
Attendance: 200
Referee: Michael Tutty

Round 21

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

Round 17 (Rescheduled Game)

24 February 2010
Bristol 42-7 Doncaster Knights
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,315
Referee: Rowan Kitt

Round 22

13 March 2010
Bedford Blues 33-26 Rotherham Titans
Goldington Road
Attendance: 1,642
Referee: Keith Lewis
13 March 2010
Cornish Pirates 24-28 London Welsh
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 1,560
Referee: Wayne Barnes
13 March 2010
Doncaster Knights 13-20 Plymouth Albion
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,642
Referee: JP Doyle
13 March 2010
Exeter Chiefs 62-12 Birmingham & Solihull
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,477
Referee: Michael Tutty
13 March 2010
Moseley 30-25 Bristol
Billesley
Attendance: 1,564
Referee: Martin Fox
13 March 2010
Nottingham 37-10 Coventry
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
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,892
Referee: Rowan Kitt
20 March 2010
Plymouth Albion 9-10 Bedford Blues
Brickfields
Attendance: 1,384
Referee: David Rose

Round 2

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

Round 3

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

Round 4

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

Round 5

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

Round 6

1 May 2010
Bedford Blues 35-19 Plymouth Albion
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,302
Referee: Rowan Kitt
1 May 2010
Cornish Pirates 15-60 Bristol
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
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,072
Referee: Rob Debney
20 March 2010
London Welsh 26-10 Doncaster Knights
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 520
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts

Round 2

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

Round 3

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

Round 4

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

Round 5

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

Round 6

1 May 2010
Doncaster Knights 14-31 London Welsh
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,389
Referee: Rob Debney
1 May 2010
Exeter Chiefs 53-10 Nottingham
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 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
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 350
Referee: Dean Richards
20 March 2010
Rotherham Titans 29-3 Coventry
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 872
Referee: Shane Lewis

Round 2

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

Round 3

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

Round 4

11 April 2010
Birmingham & Solihull 19-29 Rotherham Titans
Sharmans Cross
Attendance: 250
Referee: Andrew Taylorson

Moseley P - P Coventry


Round 5

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

Round 4 (Rescheduled Game)

24 April 2010
Moseley 37-5 Coventry
Billesley
Attendance: 1,474
Referee: Rob Debney

Round 6

1 May 2010
Coventry 12-38 Rotherham Titans
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 1,613
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts
1 May 2010
Moseley 34-38 Birmingham & Solihull
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
Memorial Stadium, Bristol
Attendance: 5,717
Referee: David Rose
8 May 210
Exeter Chiefs 37–8 Bedford Blues
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 210
Exeter Chiefs 9-6 Bristol
Sandy Park, Exeter
Attendance: 10,021
Referee: David Pearson
26 May 210
Bristol 10-29 Exeter Chiefs
Memorial Stadium, Bristol
Attendance: 11,550
Referee: Andrew Small

Exeter Chiefs win the Championship and earn promotion to the 2010–11 Premiership.[2]

Individual Statistics

Note that if players are tied on tries or points the player with the lowest number of appearances will come first. 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.

Top points scorers[3][4]

Player Team Appearances Points
Ireland Gareth Steenson Exeter Chiefs 26 280
England Adrian Jarvis Bristol 31 274
England Tristan Roberts Moseley 26 267
Wales Aled Thomas London Welsh 29 226
Canada James Pritchard Bedford Blues 22 209
England Rob Cook Cornish Pirates 24 196
England Simon Hunt Birmingham & Solihull 21 166
England Jonathan West Rotherham Titans 24 159
Scotland Greig Tonks Nottingham 25 135
Ireland Keiran Hallett Plymouth Albion 26 135

Top try scorers[5][6]

Player Team Appearances Tries
Scotland Blair Cowan Cornish Pirates 21 14
South Africa Errie Claassens London Welsh 26 14
England Matthew Jess Exeter Chiefs 28 14
England David Norton Bristol 19 13
England Lee Robinson Bristol 24 12
England Tim Streather Nottingham 28 12
England Mark Foster Exeter Chiefs 29 12
England Simon Hunt Birmingham & Solihull 21 -
England Tom Arscott Bristol 27 11
England James Phillips Bristol 29 11

Total Season Attendances

Club Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity Home Matches
Bedford Blues 39,364 2,812 4,067 1,642 47% 14
Birmingham & Solihull 7,984 665 1,407 200 55% 14
Bristol 94,752 5,922 11,550 4,305 49% 16
Cornish Pirates 42,157 3,011 5,654 1,560 33% 14
Coventry 17,473 1,248 2,003 618 29% 14
Doncaster Knights 20,243 1,446 2,174 1,011 47% 14
Exeter Chiefs 77,670 4,854 10,021 3,477 49% 16
London Welsh 18,604 1,329 2,240 520 23% 14
Moseley 13,652 975 1,564 749 33% 14
Nottingham 16,978 1,213 1,796 790 6% 14
Plymouth Albion 37,448 2,675 4,430 1,384 41% 14
Rotherham Titans 15,884 1,135 1,610 521 45% 14

References