23/24 Fixtures Announced

Fixtures for the 2023-24 RFU Championship league season have been confirmed.

The league competition will be played over 22 rounds, beginning over the weekend of 20-22 October, with the final round scheduled for the weekend of 24-26 May next year. A two-leg play-off for promotion to the Premiership will then take place on the weekends of 31 May-2 June and 7-9 June between the top placed team in the Championship (provided it meets the minimum standards criteria) and the last placed team in the Premiership.

The league will consist of 12 teams in the upcoming season after Cambridge RUFC secured promotion to the Championship for topping National 1.
2022-23 season league winners Jersey Reds kick off their first match at home to Coventry and newcomers Cambridge take on Ampthill away in their first-round game. Ealing Trailfinders who finished second in the league last season, play Bedford at Goldington Road, while elsewhere in the competition Doncaster Knights face Hartpury at home, Caldy play Nottingham at Paton Field and London Scottish travel to the South-West to face Cornish Pirates.
The pool stages of the Premiership Cup, in which Championship sides will play this season, will kick off the season starting on the weekend of 8-10 September with the semi-finals held between 16-18 February and the final over the weekend of 15-17 March. The fixture details for the Cup will be announced soon.
RFU director of performance rugby Conor O’Shea added: “The 2022-23 season finale went down the wire with only two points ultimately separating the top two teams in the table, showcasing the drama of the Championship, and we can expect more of the same in the upcoming season.

“We’re really pleased to welcome Cambridge, who had a fantastic season in National 1, and will be a great addition to the Championship.”

Championship committee chairman, Simon Halliday, said: “This is a hugely important year for all Championship clubs, and I wish each of them the very best for the coming season.

“I would particularly like to welcome Cambridge who achieved a wonderful promotion and I know that they will add greatly to the league as did Caldy last year.
“As the incoming chairman I look forward to helping build on the work already done as the English game looks towards the future and a sustainable recovery.”

To see the full RFU Championship fixture list click here. [link to fixtures on ER.com]
For more information visit www.championshiprugby.co.uk or @champrugby

ENDS
NB: All kick-off times and match dates to be confirmed by the clubs.

 

The Fixture List, as it presently stands, for Friendly, Premiership Cup and Championship League home and away games is as below.

It is important to note that it is only a general guide.

An official update to provide further information on the Cup Fixtures is awaited, whilst the Cornish Pirates have at present just chosen the days when they expect to play their home league games. News will follow from opposition teams with their choice of weekend dates (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday), as will kick-off times for all matches to be played.

 

Friendly 1 – Saturday 19^th August

Cornish Pirates v Plymouth Albion – ko 2.30pm

Friendly 2 – Saturday 26^th August

Plymouth Albion v Cornish Pirates – ko 3pm

 

Cup Round 1 – weekend Saturday 9^th September

 

Cup Round 2 – weekend Saturday 16^th September

 

Cup Round 3 – weekend Saturday 23^rd September

 

Cup Round 4 – weekend Saturday 30^th September

 

Cup Round 5 – weekend Saturday 7^th October

 

League Round 1 – Saturday 21^st October

Cornish Pirates v London Scottish – ko TBC

 

League Round 2 – Saturday 28^th October

Cornish Pirates v Bedford Blues – ko TBC

 

League Round 3 – weekend Saturday 4^th November

Jersey Reds v Cornish Pirates – ko TBC

 

Weekend 11^th November – A ‘Reserve’ Weekend

 

Round 4 – Saturday 18^th November

Cornish Pirates v Caldy – ko TBC

 

Round 5 – weekend Saturday 25^th November

Ampthill v Cornish Pirates – ko TBC

 

Round 6 – Sunday 3rd December

Cornish Pirates v Doncaster Knights – ko TBC

 

Weekend 9^th December – A ‘Reserve’ Weekend

 

Round 7 – weekend Saturday 16^th December

Ealing Trailfinders v Cornish Pirates – ko TBC

 

Round 8 – Saturday 23^rd December

Cornish Pirates v Hartpury – ko TBC

 

Weekend 30^th December – A Free Weekend

 

Weekend 6^th January – A ‘No Rugby’ Weekend

 

Round 9 – weekend Saturday 13^th January

Cambridge v Cornish Pirates – ko TBC

 

Round 10 – Saturday 20^th January

Cornish Pirates v Nottingham – ko TBC

 

Round 11 – weekend Saturday 27^th January

Coventry v Cornish Pirates – ko TBC

 

Round 12 – weekend Saturday 3^rd February

Bedford Blues v Cornish Pirates – ko TBC

 

Weekend 10^th February – A ‘Reserve’ Weekend

 

Saturday 17^th February – Cup Semi-Final

 

Round 13 – Friday 23^rd February

Cornish Pirates v Jersey Reds – ko TBC

 

Round 14 – weekend Saturday 2^nd March

Caldy v Cornish Pirates – ko TBC

 

Round 15 – Sunday 10^th March

Cornish Pirates v Ampthill – ko TBC

 

Weekend 16^th March – Cup Final

 

Round 16 – weekend Saturday 23^rd March

Doncaster Knights v Cornish Pirates – ko TBC

 

Weekend 30^th March – A ‘No Rugby’ Weekend

 

Round 17 – Friday 5^th April

Cornish Pirates v Ealing Trailfinders – ko TBC

 

Round 18 – weekend Saturday 13^th April

Hartpury v Cornish Pirates – ko TBC

 

Round 19 – Sunday 21st April

Cornish Pirates v Cambridge – ko TBC

 

Weekend 27^th April – A ‘Reserve’ Weekend

 

Round 20 – weekend Saturday 4^th May

Nottingham v Cornish Pirates – ko TBC

 

Round 21 – Saturday 11^th May

Cornish Pirates v Coventry – ko TBC

 

Weekend 18^th May – A ‘Reserve’ Weekend

 

Round 22 – weekend Saturday 25^th May

London Scottish v Cornish Pirates – ko TBC

 

Weekend 1^st June – Play-Off (1^st Leg)

Weekend 8^th June – Play-Off (2^nd Leg)

 

For regularly updated information please visit www.cornish-pirates.com