| 2019–20 Greene King IPA Championship | |
|---|---|
| Countries |
 England Jersey
|
| Date | 11 October 2019 - 14 March 2020 |
| Champions | Newcastle Falcons (3rd title) |
| Runners-up | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Relegated | Yorkshire Carnegie |
| Matches played | 87 |
| Attendance | 139,760 (average 1,606 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 6,315 Newcastle Falcons v Cornish Pirates 16 February 2020 |
| Lowest attendance | 300 Yorkshire Carnegie v Ampthill 22 February 2020 |
| Tries scored | 523 (average 6 per match) |
| Top point scorer |
Louis Grimoldby (Ampthill) Rory Jennings(Coventry) Sam Olver(Doncaster Knights) 112 points each |
| Top try scorer |
George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons) Adam Radwan(Newcastle Falcons) 10 tries each |
The 2019–20 RFU Championship, known as the 2019–20 Greene King IPA Championship for sponsorship reasons, was the eleventh season of the RFU Championship, the professional second tier of rugby union in England. It featured eleven English teams and one from Jersey. The competition was sponsored by Greene King for the seventh successive season.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, the Rugby Football Union officially cancelled the season on 20 March 2020, after initially postponing all rugby in England including training from 17 March until 14 April 2020. As a result, Newcastle Falcons were declared champions for the season, and promoted to the Premiership on 2 April 2020 on the basis of a best playing record formula, having been undefeated and top of the table when the league was suspended, while Yorkshire Carnegie were relegated to National League 1 at the bottom.
Structure
The team that finished first was promoted to Premiership Rugby as their ground met the RFU Minimum Standards Criteria. The team that finished last was relegated to National League 1. Each club will received £530,000 in funding from the RFU in the last year of a deal with the RFU.
Plans to expand Premiership Rugby from 12 to 13 teams for the 2019-20 season, which would have reprieved Newcastle Falcons from being relegated to the Championship, were blocked by the RFU. Plans to abolish promotion and relegation were under discussion prior to the season, and drew complaints and threats of legal action from the Cornish Pirates. There were also plans for the RFU Championship to have a delayed start until October due to the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The season began on 20 September 2019 with the Championship Rugby Cup after which the first round of matches started on 11 October 2019 and the final round of matches were scheduled to be played on 9 May 2020.
Teams
Richmond were relegated to National League 1 after finishing bottom of the 2018-19 RFU Championship. They are replaced by Ampthill who were promoted from 2018-19 National League 1 in their fifth promotion in twelve years, playing in the Championship for the first time.London Irish were promoted back to Premiership Rugby at the first attempt. They are replaced in the RFU Championship by Newcastle Falcons who were relegated after finishing last in 2018-19 Premiership Rugby.
Tables
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At the date the Championship was suspended, the Championship table read as follows:
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On 4 April, the Rugby Football Union confirmed the final table for the season.
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Fixtures & Results
Round 1
| 12 October 2019 14:30 |
| Hartpury | 8 – 20 | Doncaster Knights |
| Report |
|
Gillman's Ground Attendance: 935 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 12 October 2019 15:00 |
| Ampthill | 20 – 44 | Nottingham (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Dillingham Park Attendance: 762 Referee: George Selwood |
| 12 October 2019 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Jersey Reds | 22 – 15 | Coventry (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,135 Referee: Mathew Turvey |
| 12 October 2019 15:00 |
| (1 BP) London Scottish | 13 – 17 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Report |
|
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,014 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
| 13 October 2019 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Cornish Pirates | 30 – 10 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Report |
|
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,772 Referee: Adam Leal |
| 13 October 2019 15:00 |
| Yorkshire Carnegie | 14 – 34 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Emerald Headingley Stadium Attendance: 750 Referee: Hamish Smales |
Round 2
| 18 October 2019 19:45 |
| Nottingham | 17 – 14 | London Scottish (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 854 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 18 October 2019 20:00 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 45 – 7 | Hartpury |
| Report |
|
Kingston Park Attendance: 4,206 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
| 19 October 2019 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 52 – 38 | Jersey Reds (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 750 Referee: Sara Cox |
| 19 October 2019 14:30 |
| Doncaster Knights | 25 – 47 | Cornish Pirates (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Castle Park Attendance: 1,089 Referee: Fergus Kirby |
| 19 October 2019 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Ampthill | 53 – 22 | Yorkshire Carnegie |
| Report[Usurped!] |
|
Dillingham Park Attendance: 640 Referee: Michael Hudson |
| 19 October 2019 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Coventry | 26 – 19 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,128 Referee: Neil Chivers |
Round 3
| 25 October 2019 19:45 |
| Bedford Blues | 5 – 18 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Report |
|
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,162 Referee: Greg Macdonald |
| 25 October 2019 19:45 |
| Hartpury | 12 – 6 | Nottingham (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Gillman's Ground Attendance: 1,146 Referee: Simon Harding |
| 25 October 2019 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Jersey Reds | 27 – 0 | Doncaster Knights |
| Report |
|
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,223 Referee: Neil Chivers |
| 26 October 2019 15:00 |
| London Scottish | 6 – 6 | Ampthill |
| Report |
|
Athletic Ground Attendance: 788 Referee: Karl Dickson |
| 27 October 2019 14:30 |
| Cornish Pirates | 9 – 18 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Report |
|
Mennaye Field Attendance: 2,975 Referee: Matt Turvey |
| 27 October 2019 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Yorkshire Carnegie | 26 – 66 | Coventry (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Emerald Headingley Stadium Attendance: 600 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
Round 4
| 1 November 2019 19:45 |
| (1 BP) London Scottish | 30 – 10 | Yorkshire Carnegie |
| Report |
|
Athletic Ground Attendance: 622 Referee: Neil Chivers |
| 1 November 2019 19:45 |
| Nottingham | 14 – 23 | Cornish Pirates |
| Report |
|
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,023 Referee: Greg Macdonald |
| 2 November 2019 13:00 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 42 – 19 | Jersey Reds |
| Report |
|
Kingston Park Attendance: 3,795 Referee: Karl Dickson |
| 2 November 2019 14:15 |
| Ampthill | 19 – 13 | Hartpury (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Dillingham Park Attendance: 701 Referee: Matthew Turvey |
| 2 November 2019 14:30 |
| Doncaster Knights | 22 – 18 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Castle Park Attendance: 781 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
| 2 November 2019 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 28 – 28 | Coventry (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 625 Referee: Matthew Carley |
Round 5
| 8 November 2019 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Hartpury | 44 – 17 | London Scottish |
| Report |
|
Gillman's Ground Attendance: 785 Referee: Hamish Smales |
| 9 November 2019 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Bedford Blues | 6 – 11 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Report |
|
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,772 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
| 9 November 2019 15:00 |
| Coventry | 18 – 6 | Doncaster Knights |
| Report |
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Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,386 Referee: Michael Hudson |
| 9 November 2019 15:00 |
| Jersey Reds | 19 – 10 | Nottingham |
|
Stade Santander International Attendance: 848 Referee: George Selwood |
| 10 November 2019 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Cornish Pirates | 40 – 11 | Ampthill |
| Report |
|
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,664 Referee: Dean Richards |
| 10 November 2019 15:00 |
| Yorkshire Carnegie | 13 – 66 | Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Emerald Headingley Stadium Attendance: 500 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
Round 6
| 15 November 2019 19:45 |
| London Scottish | 25 – 24 | Cornish Pirates (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,136 Referee: Matt Turvey |
| 16 November 2019 14:15 |
| (1 BP) Ampthill | 38 – 47 | Jersey Reds (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Dillingham Park Attendance: 790 Referee: Luke Pearce |
| 16 November 2019 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Hartpury | 45 – 12 | Yorkshire Carnegie |
| Report |
|
Gillman's Ground Attendance: 878 Referee: Luke Pearce |
| 16 November 2019 14:30 |
| Doncaster Knights | 9 – 24 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Report |
|
Castle Park Attendance: 988 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| 17 November 2019 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 47 – 7 | Coventry |
| Report |
|
Kingston Park Attendance: 4,909 Referee: Fergus Kirby |
| 17 November 2019 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Nottingham | 29 – 14 | Bedford Blues |
| Report |
|
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 1,055 Referee: Michael Hudson |
Round 7
| 21 December 2019 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Jersey Reds | 10 – 13 | London Scottish |
| Report |
|
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,002 Referee: Fergus Kirby |
| 21 December 2019 15:00 |
| Ealing Trailfinders | 14 – 26 | Newcastle Falcons (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 1,950 Referee: Adam Leal |
| 21 December 2019 17:30 |
| Coventry | 25 – 11 | Nottingham |
| Report |
|
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 3,117 Referee: Hamish Smales |
| 22 December 2019 14:30 |
| Cornish Pirates | 6 – 0 | Hartpury (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,928 Referee: Dean Richards |
| 22 December 2019 15:00 |
| Yorkshire Carnegie | 19 – 40 | Doncaster Knights (1 BP) |
|
Emerald Headingley Stadium Attendance: 750 |
| 26 December 2019 15:00 |
| Bedford Blues | 10 – 23 | Ampthill |
| Report |
|
Goldington Road Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
Round 8
| 10 January 2020 19:45 |
| (1 BP) London Scottish | 17 – 24 | Bedford Blues |
| Report |
|
Athletic Ground Attendance: 906 Referee: Simon Harding |
| 10 January 2020 19:45 |
| Nottingham | 10 – 18 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Report |
|
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 850 Referee: Alex Thomas |
| 10 January 2020 20:00 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 34 – 10 | Doncaster Knights |
| Report |
|
Kingston Park Attendance: 4,820 Referee: Hamish Smales |
| 11 January 2020 13:30 |
| (1 BP) Hartpury | 9 – 10 | Jersey Reds |
| Report |
|
Gillman's Ground Attendance: 943 Referee: George Selwood |
| 11 January 2020 14:15 |
| Ampthill | 19 – 17 | Coventry (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Dillingham Park Attendance: 1,016 Referee: Dean Richards |
| 12 January 2020 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Cornish Pirates | 52 – 0 | Yorkshire Carnegie |
| Report |
|
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,572 Referee: Fergus Kirby |
Round 9
| 18 January 2020 14:00 |
| Jersey Reds | 10 – 23 | Cornish Pirates |
| Report |
|
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,501 Referee: Adam Leal |
| 18 January 2020 14:30 |
| Doncaster Knights | 16 – 15 | Nottingham (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Castle Park Attendance: 1,203 Referee: Dean Richards |
| 18 January 2020 15:00 |
| Bedford Blues | 28 – 23 | Hartpury (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,474 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| 18 January 2020 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Coventry | 36 – 30 | London Scottish (2 BP) |
| Report |
|
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,545 Referee: Greg MacDonald |
| 18 January 2020 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 77 – 26 | Ampthill (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 680 Referee: Neil Chivers |
| 19 January 2020 15:00 |
| Yorkshire Carnegie | 10 – 36 | Newcastle Falcons (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Emerald Headingley Stadium Attendance: 2,121 Referee: Joe James |
Round 10
| 24 January 2020 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Jersey Reds | 56 – 17 | Yorkshire Carnegie |
| Report |
|
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,312 Referee: Simon Harding |
| 24 January 2020 19:45 |
| (1 BP) London Scottish | 26 – 42 | Ealing Trailfinders (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Athletic Ground Attendance: 918 Referee: Fergus Kirby |
| 24 January 2020 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Nottingham | 12 – 19 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Report |
|
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 2,092 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| 25 January 2020 14:15 |
| (1 BP) Ampthill | 30 – 26 | Doncaster Knights (2 BP) |
| Report |
|
Dillingham Park Attendance: 980 Referee: Greg McDonald |
| 25 January 2020 14:30 |
| Hartpury | 23 – 20 | Coventry (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Gillman's Ground Attendance: 920 Referee: Sara Cox |
| 26 January 2020 14:30 |
| Cornish Pirates | 18 – 15 | Bedford Blues (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,635 Referee: Christophe Ridley |
Round 11
| 31 January 2020 19:45 |
| Yorkshire Carnegie | 10 – 62 | Nottingham (1 BP) |
| Report[Usurped!] |
|
Emerald Headingley Stadium Attendance: 882 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
| 1 February 2020 14:30 |
| Doncaster Knights | 15 – 13 | London Scottish (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Castle Park Attendance: 1,075 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
| 1 February 2020 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Bedford Blues | 27 – 25 | Jersey Reds (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Goldington Road Attendance: 2,132 Referee: Hamish Smales |
| 1 February 2020 15:00 |
| Coventry | 28 – 23 | Cornish Pirates (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,786 Referee: Neil Chivers |
| 1 February 2020 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 59 – 5 | Hartpury |
| Report |
|
Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 630 Referee: Hamish Grant |
| 2 February 2020 13:00 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 45 – 29 | Ampthill (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Kingston Park Attendance: 4,906 Referee: George Selwood |
Round 12
| 7 February 2020 19:45 |
| Bedford Blues | 19 – 15 | Coventry (1 BP) |
| Report |
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Goldington Road Attendance: 2,612 Referee: Karl Dickson |
| 7 February 2020 19:45 |
| London Scottish | 17 – 30 | Nottingham |
| Report |
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Athletic Ground Attendance: 640 Referee: Adam Leal |
| 8 February 2020 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Jersey Reds | 24 – 28 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Report |
|
Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,016 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
| 8 February 2020 14:30 |
| Hartpury | 5 – 26 | Newcastle Falcons (1 BP) |
| Report |
|
Gillman's Ground Attendance: 1,473 Referee: Fergus Kirby |
| 9 February 2020 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Cornish Pirates | 27 – 10 | Doncaster Knights |
| Report |
|
Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,285 Referee: Alexander Thomas |
- Game postponed due to bad weather (storm). Game to be rescheduled to 22 February 2020.
Round 13
| 14 February 2020 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Nottingham | 33 – 26 | Hartpury (2 BP) |
| Report |
|
Lady Bay Sports Ground Attendance: 865 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| 15 February 2020 14:15 |
| Ampthill | 13 – 5 | London Scottish |
| Report |
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Dillingham Park Attendance: 467 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
| 15 February 2020 14:30 |
| Doncaster Knights | 38 – 10 | Jersey Reds |
| Report |
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Castle Park Attendance: 1,048 Referee: Sara Cox |
| 15 February 2020 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Coventry | 55 – 3 | Yorkshire Carnegie |
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Butts Park Arena Attendance: 1,932 Referee: Joe James |
| 15 February 2020 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Ealing Trailfinders | 38 – 5 | Bedford Blues |
| Report |
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Trailfinders Sports Ground Attendance: 780 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
| 16 February 2020 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 40 – 7 | Cornish Pirates |
| Report |
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Kingston Park Attendance: 6,315 Referee: Adam Leal |
Round 12 (rescheduled game)
| 22 February 2020 14:00 |
| Yorkshire Carnegie | 10 – 52 | Ampthill (1 BP) |
| Report |
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Emerald Headingley Stadium Attendance: 300 Referee: Alex Thomas |
- Game rescheduled from 9 February 2020.
Round 14
| 28 February 2020 19:45 |
| Coventry | 8 – 17 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| Report |
|
Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,231 Referee: George Selwood |
| 28 February 2020 19:45 |
| Hartpury | 5 – 16 | Ampthill |
| Report |
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Gillman's Ground Attendance: 578 Referee: Dean Richards |
| 29 February 2020 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Bedford Blues | 29 – 5 | Doncaster Knights |
| Report |
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Goldington Road Attendance: 2,324 Referee: Simon Harding |
| 29 February 2020 15:00 |
| Jersey Reds | 3 – 38 | Newcastle Falcons (1 BP) |
| Report |
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Stade Santander International Attendance: 1,892 Referee: Karl Dickson |
| 1 March 2020 14:30 |
| Cornish Pirates | 21 – 15 | Nottingham (1 BP) |
| Report |
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Mennaye Field Attendance: 1,541 Referee: Sara Cox |
| 1 March 2020 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Yorkshire Carnegie | 26 – 73 | London Scottish (1 BP) |
| Report[Usurped!] |
|
Emerald Headingley Stadium Attendance: 306 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
Round 15
| 13 March 2020 20:00 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 41 – 0 | Bedford Blues |
| Report |
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Kingston Park Attendance: 3,999 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
| 14 March 2020 14:15 |
| Ampthill | 13 – 30 | Cornish Pirates (1 BP) |
| Report |
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Dillingham Park Attendance: 1,208 Referee: Simon Harding |
| 14 March 2020 14:30 |
| Doncaster Knights | 26 – 35 | Coventry (1 BP) |
| Report |
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Castle Park Attendance: 1,115 Referee: Mike Hudson |
- Cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak.
- Cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak.
- Cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak.
Attendances
| Club | Home Games |
Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ampthill | 8 | 6,564 | 821 | 1,208 | 467 | 27% |
| Bedford Blues | 7 | 19,476 | 2,782 | 5,000 | 2,132 | 56% |
| Cornish Pirates | 8 | 14,372 | 1,797 | 2,975 | 1,285 | 45% |
| Coventry | 7 | 17,125 | 2,446 | 3,117 | 1,932 | 61% |
| Doncaster Knights | 7 | 7,299 | 1,043 | 1,203 | 781 | 21% |
| Ealing Trailfinders | 6 | 5,415 | 903 | 1,950 | 625 | 23% |
| Hartpury | 8 | 7,658 | 957 | 1,473 | 578 | 48% |
| Jersey Reds | 8 | 9,929 | 1,241 | 1,892 | 848 | 31% |
| London Scottish | 7 | 6,024 | 861 | 1,136 | 622 | 19% |
| Newcastle Falcons | 7 | 32,950 | 4,707 | 6,315 | 3,795 | 46% |
| Nottingham | 6 | 6,739 | 1,123 | 2,092 | 850 | 32% |
| Yorkshire Carnegie | 8 | 6,209 | 776 | 2,121 | 300 | 4% |
Individual statistics
- 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).
Top points scorers
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Top try scorers
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Season records
Team
52 – 0 Cornish Pirates at home to Yorkshire Carnegie on 12 January 2020
66 – 13 Ealing Trailfinders away to Yorkshire Carnegie on 10 November 2019
77 – 26 Ealing Trailfinders at home to Ampthill on 18 January 2020
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Ampthill on 18 January 2020
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Ampthill on 18 January 2020
Coventry away to Jersey Reds on 12 October 2019
Attendances
Newcastle Falcons at home to Cornish Pirates on 16 February 2020
Yorkshire Carnegie at home to Ampthill on 22 February 2020
Newcastle Falcons
Yorkshire Carnegie |
Player
|