Structure
The Championship's structure has all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis. The play–off structure has been changed dramatically for the 2012–13 season. Previously, the top eight teams entered into a complex mixture of pool and knockout play to determine promotion to the Premiership, whilst the bottom four entered into a pool whose last–placed team was relegated toCompetition funding
The RFU Championship clubs were in dispute with the RFU over funding for the competition and claimed that each club was owed £77,000 for the past three seasons and will be owed a further £120,000 over the next four seasons. The clubs also believed they should have received £295,000 in 2009–10, rising to £400,000 by 2015–16 and further believed there was a breach of contract on the part of the RFU. The RFU stated that the original funding was an estimate and by 2015–16 the figure will be £359,400. On 21 August the RFU unveiled the Championship funding structure for the next four seasons to 2015–16. The funding is based on the continuation of the "English Qualified Players scheme", where clubs are required to field fifteen English qualified players in the 22-man squad on each matchday. (In previous seasons teams were required to field fourteen.) Although the amount is not given in the press release, the RFU also stated they will "increase its financial underwritings in relation to a title sponsorship while efforts continue to secure a partner".Participating teams
;NotesLeague table
Regular season
The 2012–13 RFU Championship kicked off on 31 August with Nottingham defeating Leeds Carnegie and will finish on 20 April 2013. Each team will play the other twice on a home and away basis with the top four qualifying for the promotion phase.Round 1
----Round 2
----Round 3
----Round 4
----Round 5
----Round 6
----Round 7
----Round 8
----Round 9
----Round 10
----Round 11
----Round 12
----Round 13
* The original result was 34 – 16 to Leeds. However, the match went to uncontested scrums within 13 minutes on the new pitch atRound 14
* Game postponed to 23 February 2013 after a pitch inspection (Kingston Park pitch snow-covered). * Game postponed from 25 January due to concerns about the weather. ----Round 13 replay
Round 15
* Game postponed to 15 March 2013 due to a water-logged pitch at Billesley Common. ----Round 16
* Match postponed as the pitch was deemed unplayable. ----Round 14 catch up
* Game rescheduled from 25 January 2013.Round 17
----Round 18
----Round 15 and 16 catch up
* Game rescheduled from 9 February 2013. * Game rescheduled from 16 February 2013. ----Round 19
*Postponed due to heavy overnight snowfall in Bedfordshire. Game rescheduled to 17 April. *Postponed due to heavy snow in Birmingham. Game rescheduled to 5 April. *Postponed due to snowfall at Rotherham. Game rescheduled to 10 April. ----Round 20
----Round 19 postponed games
*Postponed from 23 March due to heavy snow in Birmingham. *Postponed from 23 March due to snowfall at Rotherham. ----Round 21
----Round 19 postponed game
*Postponed from 23 March due to heavy overnight snowfall in Bedfordshire. ----Round 22
Play–offs
Semi–finals
The semi–finals followed a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system - with the games being played over two legs and the higher placed team deciding who played at home in the first leg. Newcastle Falcons finished the regular season in first place and played fourth-placed finishers Leeds Carnegie, with both matches being shown on SkySports. The other semi–final was between second placed Nottingham and Bedford who finished third. Following the findings of an independent audit report, Leeds Carnegie, Newcastle Falcons and Nottingham Rugby met the "Minimum Standards Criteria" (MSC), and were eligible for promotion to the 2013–14 Aviva Premiership should they win the RFU Championship. Bedford Blues failed to meet the MSC but have the right to an appeal.First leg
----Second leg
* Bedford Blues won 49 – 38 on aggregate. ---- * Newcastle Falcons won 34 – 30 on aggregate.Final
---- * Newcastle Falcons won 49 – 33 on aggregate and are promoted to the Aviva Premiership.Total attendances
Top scorers
Top points scorers
Top try scorers
RFU Championship XV
The RFU Championship fielded a representative team for the first time against the Maori All Blacks, a touring team from New Zealand. * See the main article RFU Championship XV for further details.Other tour match
Newcastle Falcons played a match againstSeason records
Team
;Largest home win – 56 pts 63 – 7 Nottingham at home to Bristol on 4 November 2012 ;Largest away win – 40 pts 53 - 13 Newcastle Falcons away to Moseley on 6 October 2012 ;Most points scored – 63 pts 63 – 7 Nottingham at home to Bristol on 4 November 2012 ;Most tries in a match – 9 Nottingham at home to Bristol on 4 November 2012 ;Most conversions in a match – 9 Nottingham at home to Bristol on 4 November 2012 ;Most penalties in a match – 7 (x3) London Scottish at home to Rotherham Titans on 2 September 2012Player
;Most points in a match – 29Attendances
;Highest – 7,651 Newcastle Falcons at home to Bedford Blues on 29 May 2013 ;Lowest – 653 London Scottish at home to Moseley on 24 November 2012 ;Highest Average Attendance – 4,855 Bristol ;Lowest Average Attendance – 971 MoseleySee also
* 2012–13 British and Irish Cup * 2012–13 Cornish Pirates RFC seasonReferences
External links