RFU Championship
Championship drop 23rd game experiment
ESPN Staff
June 23, 2014

Opening weekend

  • London Scottish v Rotherham Titans

    Nottingham Rugby v Bedford Blues

    Doncaster Knights v Plymouth Albion

    Moseley v Jersey

    Bristol Rugby v Worcester Warriors

    Cornish Pirates v Leeds Carnegie



    Fixtures to be played between Friday, 5 September and Sunday, 7 September

The Championship has dropped its less-than-popular double-headed opening weekend fixtures after just one season. As an alternative to the 23rd game concept, a Championship-select team will take on Canada on Saturday, 1 November.

With most reckoning the Championship will come down to a straight shoot-out between the two big-spending clubs - Bristol and newly-relegated Worcester Warriors - the pair have been drawn to play on the opening weekend at Bristol's new home at Ashton Gate.

The two play-off losers are both away - Leeds Carnegie travel to Cornish Pirates, while Rotherham Titans visit London Scottish.

The Champions-select team last played in 2012. "We're delighted to be bringing the Championship XV game back into the league season," said Geoff Irvine, chairman of the Championship clubs committee. "As highlighted by the sell-out Maori All Blacks fixture two years ago, such a game offers a great appeal for Championship supporters and players."

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