2011–12 RFU Championship
Countries	England
Champions	London Welsh
Runners-up	Cornish Pirates
Relegated	Esher
Matches played	174
Attendance	342,849 (average 1,970 per match)
Top point scorer	Rob Cook (Cornish Pirates) 310 pts
Top try scorer	Josh Bassett (Bedford Blues) 17 tries
← 2010–11 2012–13 →

The 2011–12 RFU Championship was the third season (of the professionalised format) of the second tier of the English domestic rugby union competition, played between August 2011 and May 2012. New teams to the division included Leeds Carnegie who were relegated from the Aviva Premiership 2010–11 and London Scottish who were promoted from 2010–11 National League 1.^[1] The first stage was won by Bristol and the final by London Welsh who, after an appeal, won promotion to the Aviva Premiership 2012–13.^[2] Esher were relegated to the 2012–13 National League 1.^[3]

On 8 May 2012 it was announced that only Bristol was eligible for promotion under the RFU's minimum standards criteria.^[4] They were subsequently beaten by the Cornish Pirates in the semi–finals who in turn lost to the eventual champions, London Welsh.^[5] London Welsh had announced on 14 May that they would meet the RFU's eligibility test to play in the Premiership if they should win promotion and two days later announced they would play at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford if successful. On 23 May, the day of the first leg of the final, the RFU announced that London Welsh would not be eligible for promotion due to "various failures". The appeal by London Welsh was heard by an Independent Panel on 29 June who upheld it stating ″... that the Exiles should be promoted on the basis that they play their home games at Oxford's Kassam Stadium and that the club meet the minimum entry criteria to the league as imposed by the Professional Game Board.″ Chief Executive Officer of the RFU, Ian Richie, subsequently announced that there would be a full review of the Minimum Standard Criteria.^[6][7][8]

This season saw Leeds Carnegie back in the Championship following relegation from the Aviva Premiership during the 2010–11 season, as well as London Scottish, who won promotion to the Championship from the National League 1 during the same season.

Team	Stadium	Capacity	City/Area
Bedford Blues	Goldington Road	6,000	Bedford, Bedfordshire
Bristol	Memorial Stadium	12,100	Bristol
Cornish Pirates	Mennaye Field	4,000 (2,200 Seats)	Penzance, Cornwall
Doncaster Knights	Castle Park	3,075	Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Esher	Molesey Road	3,000	Hersham, Surrey
Leeds Carnegie	Headingley Rugby Stadium	20,250	Leeds, West Yorkshire
London Scottish	Athletic Ground, Richmond	4,500	Richmond, London
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	8,500	Plymouth, Devon
Rotherham Titans	Clifton Lane	2,500	Rotherham, South Yorkshire

2011–12 RFU Championship table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	B	Pts	Qualification
1	Bristol	22	17	0	5	615	386	+229	13	81	Promotion playoffs
2	Bedford Blues	22	14	1	7	640	476	+164	16	74
3	Cornish Pirates	22	14	3	5	606	464	+142	12	74
4	London Welsh (C)	22	13	2	7	528	432	+96	11	67
5	Nottingham	22	12	2	8	599	465	+134	10	62
6	Leeds Carnegie	22	13	1	8	470	505	−35	6	60
7	Rotherham Titans	22	11	1	10	469	431	+38	11	57
8	Doncaster Knights	22	9	2	11	467	524	−57	10	50
9	London Scottish	22	6	0	16	422	543	−121	10	34	Relegation playoffs
10	Moseley	22	6	1	15	445	634	−189	7	33
11	Plymouth Albion	22	6	0	16	362	528	−166	6	30
12	Esher (R)	22	4	1	17	376	611	−235	5	23

The Home Team is listed on the left column.

Clubs	BED	BRI	PIR	DON	ESH	LEE	SCO	WEL	MOS	NOT	PLY	ROT
Bedford Blues		15-17	32-13	18-18	41-13	28-45	43-10	22-18	37-24	40-26	29-17	24-23
Bristol	26-6		37-33	52-26	27-7	33-19	32-13	35-33	48-13	18-16	39-22	37-3
Cornish Pirates	24-34	18-17		39-32	34-18	52-10	42-10	27-6	32-17	26-24	33-12	30-13
Doncaster Knights	33-12	12-38	36-21		41-24	9-9	37-28	10-21	29-21	15-32	12-3	14-15
Esher	6-55	6-20	30-36	20-29		15-20	24-14	3-37	14-29	22-34	41-17	24-12
Leeds Carnegie	21-17	12-11	14-13	16-30	22-24		19-17	13-26	22-21	22-19	28-23	25-19
London Scottish	15-41	6-20	23-25	20-25	32-17	16-23		22-29	37-21	6-21	21-17	16-11
London Welsh	25-24	23-17	17-17	37-24	13-13	29-39	18-16		7-10	34-23	34-23	25-33
Moseley	15-24	33-27	27-27	17-15	35-21	32-42	16-29	16-41		10-20	9-3	8-36
Nottingham	26-28	24-35	25-25	40-14	29-20	24-11	33-21	26-10	62-20		34-10	30-30
Plymouth Albion	21-38	3-23	16-20	18-6	22-11	25-20	29-25	9-24	21-20	19-21		24-20
Rotherham Titans	40-32	44-6	14-19	23-10	12-3	22-18	0-15	20-21	40-31	19-11	20-8

Home Win

Draw

Away Win

^[9]

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• Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 February 2012.

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• Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 2012.

• Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 2012.

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A total of 251,542 people watched the 132 stage one matches to give an average of 1,903 per match. The highest attendance was 8,067 on Sunday, 8 January 2012 at the match between Bristol and Bedford Blues which Bristol won 26–6.

Club	Home Games	Total	Average	Highest	Lowest	% Capacity
Bedford Blues	11	29,049	2,640	4,396	1,407	44%
Bristol	11	57,394	5,217	8,067	4,023	43%
Cornish Pirates	11	24,729	2,248	3,214	1,802	56%
Doncaster Knights	11	15,314	1,392	4,021	707	45%
Esher	11	10,590	962	1,263	743	32%
Leeds Carnegie	11	25,460	2,314	3,167	1,724	11%
London Scottish	11	14,003	1,273	2,103	740	28%
London Welsh	11	16,740	1,521	4,400	365	26%
Moseley	11	9,085	825	995	682	28%
Nottingham	11	13,930	1,266	2,102	487	6%
Plymouth Albion	11	19,374	1,761	2,850	1,330	21%
Rotherham Titans	11	15,874	1,443	2,467	463	58%

^[10]

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/–	BP	PTS	Adj
1	Bristol	6	4	2	0	185	83	102	2	25	3
2	London Welsh	6	4	1	1	171	127	44	3	23	2
3	Nottingham	6	2	1	3	152	118	34	2	13	1
4	Doncaster Knights	6	0	0	6	66	246	–180	1	1	0

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Club	Home Games	Total	Average	Highest	Lowest	% Capacity
Bristol	3	16,754	5,584	7,021	4,721	46%
London Welsh	3	4,359	1,453	1,725	1,048	25%
Nottingham	3	4,061	1,353	1,511	1,079	7%
Doncaster Knights	3	2,985	995	1,113	898	32%

^[11]

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/–	BP	PTS	Adj
1	Bedford Blues	6	4	1	1	155	109	46	3	24	3
2	Cornish Pirates	6	3	1	2	127	133	–6	2	18	2
3	Leeds Carnegie	6	2	2	2	124	127	–3	2	15	1
4	Rotherham Titans	6	1	0	5	88	125	–37	2	6	0

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Club	Home Games	Total	Average	Highest	Lowest	% Capacity
Bedford Blues	3	9,296	3,098	3,377	2,942	52%
Cornish Pirates	3	6,015	2,005	2,319	1,923	50%
Leeds Carnegie	3	4,427	1,475	1,782	1,057	7%
Rotherham Titans	3	3,870	1,290	1,586	1,062	52%

^[12]

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/–	BP	PTS	Adj
1	Moseley	6	4	0	2	147	142	5	3	25	6
2	Plymouth Albion	6	4	0	2	152	115	37	2	24	6
3	London Scottish	6	2	0	4	102	139	–37	4	18	6
4	Esher (R)	6	2	0	4	128	133	–5	4	16	4

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Club	Home Games	Total	Average	Highest	Lowest	% Capacity
Plymouth Albion	3	4,725	1,575	1,728	1,433	19%
London Scottish	3	3,964	1,321	2,027	815	29%
Esher	3	3,806	1,268	1,418	1,121	42%
Moseley	3	3,249	1,083	1,349	783	36%

^[13]

• (Adj) Refers to adjustment for the number of points awarded before the start of the play-offs.

Going into the final stage, only one of the four semi–finalists Bristol, reportedly met the RFU's standards for promotion to the Premiership. According to some reports, London Welsh were also pursuing promotion, and announced on 14 May they would attempt a legal challenge to the Premiership's entry criteria if they won the play–offs. The Cornish Pirates could not meet the criteria due to deficiencies at their home ground at the Mennaye Field.^[14]

FB 15 James Pritchard (c) RW 14 Ollie Dodge OC 13 Brendan Burke IC 12 Henry Staff LW 11 Josh Bassett FH 10 Jake Sharp SH 9 Luke Baldwin N8 8 Donald Barrell OF 7 Darren Fox BF 6 Alex Rae RL 5 Mike Howard LL 4 Paul Tupai TP 3 Ben Cooper HK 2 Chris Locke LP 1 Ricky Reeves Replacements: HK 16 Neil Cochrane PR 17 Sam Walsh PR 18 Phil Boulton N8 19 Jon Fisher FL 20 Sacha Harding SH 21 Darryl Veenendaal FH 22 Jamie Lennard Coach: Mike Rayer

FB 15 Alex Davies RW 14 Joe Ajuwa OC 13 James Lewis IC 12 Hudson Tongaʻuiha LW 11 Nick Scott FH 10 Gordon Ross SH 9 Jack Moates N8 8 Ed Jackson OF 7 Mike Denbee BF 6 Jonathan Mills (c) RL 5 Matt Corker LL 4 Adam Brown TP 3 James Tideswell HK 2 Dan George LP 1 Billy Moss Replacements: HK 16 Viliami Ma'asi PR 17 Shawn Pittman PR 18 Greg Bateman LK 19 Gary Johnson FL 20 Lee Beach SH 21 Robert Lewis CE 22 Seb Jewell Coach: Lyn Jones

Touch judges: Barry Dalby Martin Buck

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FB 15 Rob Cook RW 14 Grant Pointer OC 13 Andrew Suniula IC 12 Sam Hill LW 11 David Doherty FH 10 Ceiron Thomas SH 9 Gavin Cattle (c) N8 8 Ben Maidment OF 7 Phil Burgess BF 6 Chris Morgan RL 5 Ian Nimmo LL 4 Laurie McGlone TP 3 Alan Paver HK 2 Dave Ward LP 1 Carl Rimmer Replacements: PR 16 Ryan Storer HK 17 Rob Elloway PR 18 Rudi Brits FL 19 Dave Ewers N8 20 Kyle Marriott SH 21 Tom Kessell WG 22 Matt Evans Coach: Ian Davies

FB 15 Jon Goodridge RW 14 Jack Tovey OC 13 Fautua Otto IC 12 Luke Eves LW 11 William Helu FH 10 Matthew Jones SH 9 Ruki Tipuna N8 8 Dan Montagu OF 7 James Merriman BF 6 Iain Grieve (c) RL 5 Roy Winters LL 4 Glen Townson TP 3 Jason Hobson HK 2 Jason Harris-Wright LP 1 Mark Irish Replacements: HK 16 Tom Channon PR 17 Mark Lilley PR 18 Wayne Thompson LK 19 Ben Glynn FL 20 Henry Vanderglas FH 21 Tom Slater FB 22 Matty James Coach: Liam Middleton

Man of the Match: Gavin Cattle Touch judges: James Minards Richard Parker-Sedgemore Television Match Official: Geoff Warren

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FB 15 Jon Goodridge RW 14 William Helu OC 13 Fautua Otto IC 12 Luke Eves LW 11 George Watkins FH 10 Tristan Roberts SH 9 Ruki Tipuna N8 8 Iain Grieve (c) OF 7 James Merriman BF 6 Josh Ovens RL 5 Roy Winters LL 4 Mariano Sambucetti TP 3 Jason Hobson HK 2 Jason Harris-Wright LP 1 Mark Irish Replacements: HK 16 Ross Johnstone PR 17 Mark Lilley PR 18 Wayne Thompson LK 19 Ben Glynn FL 20 Henry Vanderglas SH 21 Tom Slater FH 22 Matty James Coach: Liam Middleton

FB 15 Rob Cook RW 14 Grant Pointer OC 13 Andrew Suniula IC 12 Sam Hill LW 11 David Doherty FH 10 Ceiron Thomas SH 9 Gavin Cattle (c) N8 8 Kyle Marriott OF 7 Phil Burgess BF 6 Chris Morgan RL 5 Ian Nimmo LL 4 Laurie McGlone TP 3 Alan Paver HK 2 Dave Ward LP 1 Carl Rimmer Replacements: PR 16 Ryan Storer HK 17 Rob Elloway PR 18 Rudi Brits LK 19 Matt Smith FL 20 Dave Ewers WG 21 Matt Evans SH 22 Tom Kessell Coach: Ian Davies

Man of the Match: Phil Burgess Touch judges: Roger Baileff Chris Sharp Television Match Official: Steve Savage

• Cornish Pirates progressed to the Championship final, winning on aggregate 63–53.

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FB 15 Alex Davies RW 14 Joe Ajuwa OC 13 James Lewis IC 12 Hudson Tongaʻuiha LW 11 Nick Scott FH 10 Gordon Ross SH 9 Robert Lewis N8 8 Ed Jackson OF 7 Mike Denbee BF 6 Jonathan Mills (c) RL 5 Matt Corker LL 4 Adam Brown TP 3 James Tideswell HK 2 Dan George LP 1 Max Lahiff Replacements: PR 16 Billy Moss PR 17 Greg Bateman LK 18 Gary Johnson FL 19 Lee Beach SH 20 Jack Moates FH 21 Seb Jewell WG 22 Ashley Smith Coach: Lyn Jones

FB 15 James Pritchard (c) RW 14 Ollie Dodge OC 13 Brendan Burke IC 12 Henry Staff LW 11 Josh Bassett FH 10 Jamie Lennard SH 9 Luke Baldwin N8 8 Jon Fisher OF 7 Sacha Harding BF 6 Gregor Gillanders RL 5 Mike Howard LL 4 Paul Tupai TP 3 Phil Boulton HK 2 Neil Cochrane LP 1 Ricky Reeves Replacements: HK 16 Chris Locke PR 17 Sam Walsh LK 18 Alex Rae N8 19 Donald Barrell FL 20 Darren Fox SH 21 Darryl Veenendaal CE 22 Ian Vass Coach: Mike Rayer

Touch judges: Darryl Chapman Steve Leyshon

• London Welsh progressed to the Championship final, winning on aggregate 30–27.

FB 15 Rob Cook RW 14 Grant Pointer OC 13 Andrew Suniula IC 12 Sam Hill LW 11 David Doherty FH 10 Ceiron Thomas SH 9 Gavin Cattle (c) N8 8 Kyle Marriott OF 7 Phil Burgess BF 6 Dave Ewers RL 5 Ian Nimmo LL 4 Laurie McGlone TP 3 Alan Paver HK 2 Dave Ward LP 1 Carl Rimmer Replacements: PR 16 Ryan Storer HK 17 Rob Elloway PR 18 Rudi Brits LK 19 Matt Smith N8 20 Ben Maidment SH 21 Tom Kessell WG 22 Matt Evans Coach: Ian Davies

FB 15 Alex Davies RW 14 Joe Ajuwa OC 13 James Lewis IC 12 Hudson Tongaʻuiha LW 11 Nick Scott FH 10 Gordon Ross SH 9 Jack Moates N8 8 Ed Jackson OF 7 Mike Denbee BF 6 Jonathan Mills (c) RL 5 Matt Corker LL 4 Adam Brown TP 3 James Tideswell HK 2 Dan George LP 1 Billy Moss Replacements: HK 16 Viliami Ma'asi PR 17 Shawn Pittman PR 18 Greg Bateman LK 19 Gary Johnson FL 20 Lee Beach SH 21 Robert Lewis FH 22 Seb Jewell Coach: Lyn Jones

Touch judges: Luke Pearce Chris Sharp Television Match Official: TBC

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• London Welsh win 66–41 on aggregate.

• Includes playoff games.

Club	Home Games	Total	Average	Highest	Lowest	% Capacity
Bedford Blues	15	42,420	2,828	4,396	1,407	47%
Bristol	15	81,504	5,434	8,067	4,023	45%
Cornish Pirates	16	36,932	2,308	3,214	1,802	58%
Doncaster Knights	14	18,299	1,307	4,021	707	40%
Esher	14	14,396	1,028	1,418	743	34%
Leeds Carnegie	14	29,887	2,135	3,167	1,057	11%
London Scottish	14	17,967	1,283	2,103	740	29%
London Welsh	16	27,565	1,723	4,400	365	26%
Moseley	14	12,334	881	1,349	682	29%
Nottingham	14	17,991	1,285	2,102	487	7%
Plymouth Albion	14	24,099	1,721	2,850	1,330	20%
Rotherham Titans	14	19,744	1,410	2,467	463	56%

^[15][16]

• 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. Statistics come from Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Championship season.

The RFU Dream Team is picked by the coaches of the twelve championship teams with Robin Copeland (Rotherham Titans) voted in by seven of the twelve teams. The Cornish Pirates and Bristol both have four players in the team, whilst Gavin Cattle and Dave Ward (both Cornish Pirates) are in the team for the third season in a row. Mark Irish, James Merriman (both Bristol), Juan Pablo Socino (Nottingham) and Rob Cook (Cornish Pirates) are in the team for a second season.^[21]

• 15 Rob Cook (Cornish Pirates)
• 14 Jack Tovey (Bristol)
• 13 Ian Thornley (Leeds Carnegie)
• 12 Juan Pablo Socino (Nottingham)
• 11 Josh Bassett (Bedford Blues)
• 10 Garry Law (Rotherham Titans)
•  9 Gavin Cattle (Cornish Pirates)
•  1 Mark Irish (Bristol)
•  2 Dave Ward (Cornish Pirates)
•  3 Aaron Liffchak (London Scottish)
•  4 Roy Winters (Bristol)
•  5 Ian Nimmo (Cornish Pirates)
•  6 Robin Copeland (Rotherham Titans)
•  7 James Merriman (Bristol)
•  8 Semisi Taulava (Rotherham Titans)

• 2011–12 British and Irish Cup
• 2011–12 Cornish Pirates RFC season