2020–21 RFU Championship

In a change from previous years the eleven teams will play each of the other teams either home or away to produce a ten round season. The two top placed teams will then play each other in a two-legged play off with the winner being promoted into Premiership Rugby if eligible. Due to the cancellation of National League 1 in 2020–21 no team will be relegated. Each team will have one bye week and there will be three reserve weekends during the season.

The season will begin on 6 March 2021 and the final round of matches will be played in May 2021.[2]

Each club will receive approximately £375,000 in funding from the RFU in a phased return to the level of funding provided prior to 2016–17 season.[3][4]

Following news of the funding change, several clubs announced their intention to switch to a semi-professional business model.[5][6]

Yorkshire Carnegie, later renamed Leeds Tykes, were relegated to National League 1 after finishing bottom of the 2019–20 RFU Championship. They are replaced by Richmond who were promoted from 2019–20 National League 1 after just one year away from the Championship. Newcastle Falcons were promoted back to Premiership Rugby at the first attempt.[3] They are replaced in the RFU Championship by Saracens who were relegated after finishing bottom of the 2019–20 Premiership Rugby table due to several points deductions throughout the season.[7][8]

On 2 February 2021 Ampthill announced that due to funding cuts and the costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic they may not be able to take part in the season.[9] However, due to a large donation they will now participate.[10]

London Scottish will not participate due to the costs associated with the pandemic.[11]

Club Stadium Capacity Area Previous season Ampthill Dillingham Park 3,000 Ampthill, Bedfordshire 5th Bedford Blues Goldington Road 5,000 (1,700 seats)[lower-alpha 1] Bedford, Bedfordshire 8th Cornish Pirates Mennaye Field 4,000 (2,200 Seats) Penzance, Cornwall 3rd Coventry Butts Park Arena 4,000 (3,000 seats) Coventry, West Midlands 4th Doncaster Knights Castle Park 5,000 (1,650 seats) Doncaster, South Yorkshire 10th Ealing Trailfinders Trailfinders Sports Ground 4,000 (2,200 Seats) West Ealing, London 2nd Hartpury University ALPAS Arena 2,000 Hartpury, Gloucestershire 11th Jersey Reds Stade Santander International 4,000 Saint Peter, Jersey 7th Nottingham Lady Bay Sports Ground 3,500 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 6th Richmond Athletic Ground 4,500 (1,000 seats) Richmond, London promoted from National League 1 Saracens StoneX Stadium 10,500 Hendon, Greater London relegated from Premiership Rugby

Ampthill Bedford Cornish Pirates Coventry Doncaster Ealing Hartpury Jersey Reds Nottingham Richmond Saracens Locations of the 2020–21 RFU Championship teams

Ahead of the season, Ealing, Doncaster and Saracens will participate in the Trailfinders Challenge Cup, as a pre-season warm-up, while also giving Saracens' national representatives the ability to play before the Six Nations, having not played since September. It will take place between the 16 January and 20 February as a round-robin tournament where teams will play each other home and away.[12]

Fixtures for the season were announced by the RFU on 8 February 2021.[2]

The top two teams will take part in a two-legged final to determine the champion. The top ranked team at the end of the regular season will chose which leg they play at home. The matches are due to be played on 12 and 19 June 2021. Subject to meeting the minimum criteria, the champion will be promoted into Premiership Rugby.

• Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. Appearance figures also include coming on as substitutes (unused substitutes not included).