2021 RFL Championship
| Betfred Championship 2020 | |
|---|---|
| League | Championship |
| Duration | 22 Rounds |
| Teams | 14 |
| Matches played | 45 |
| Points scored | 4,518 |
| Broadcast partners | Sky Sports |
| 2021 season | |
| Biggest home win |  Toulouse 70–0  Widnes Vikings (9 May 2021) |
| Biggest away win |  Whitehaven 0–66 Toulouse (16 May 2021) |
The 2021 Rugby Football League Championship is a rugby league football competition played in England, and France. It is the second tier of the three tiers of professional rugby league in England, below Super League, and above League 1.
The league comprises 14 teams playing 22 matches each in the regular season. Each teams will play nine others twice (home and away) and play the other four teams just one (home or away).[1]
The governing body, the Rugby Football League (RFL) decided that the Summer Bash will not be played due to restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom which will limit or prohibit the attendance of spectators.[1]
Following an RFL meeting with both the Championship and League 1 clubs, it was agreed that golden point extra time would be suspended for this season, following concerns over the welfare of players and staff.[1]
As a precaution against disruption to fixtures due to COVID-19, league placings will be decided by points percentage, rather than points. After the regular season of 22 rounds, the top six teams will go forward to the play-offs, with the winners being promoted to Super League for 2022. The two teams finishing bottom of the Championship after the regular season will be relegated to League 1.[2]
The RFL also issued guidance on clubs travelling to France to play Toulouse. While UK COVID-19 quarantine rules require travellers to isolate for five days on return from France, the RFL stated that it was permissible for the part-time clubs in the Championship to postpone fixtures against Toulouse. The postponement did not apply to London Broncos as the club's players are full-time.[3]
Teams
Cancelled and forfeited matches
In March 2021 the RFL announced that the part-time clubs in the Championship would not have to travel to France to play Toulouse while the quarantine rules requiring travellers to isolate for five days were in force. This ruling did not apply to the full-time club, London Broncos.[7] London were due to travel to Toulouse for a match on 17 April but declined to do so. The RFL therefore awarded the two competition points to Toulouse with the score recorded as 24–0. The match does not count towards the number of games played by London towards qualification for the play-offs.[8] The RFL also referred London to the off-field compliance board for failing to fulfil a fixture.[8] At a subsequent meeting the compliance board deducted 2 points from London for beaching the operational rules by failing to fulfil the match.[9]
Toulouse's game against Bradford, scheduled for 19 June 2021 was cancelled on 4 June due to the quarantine rules. There were no free dates in the calendar to accommodate re-scheduling so the game was not played.[10]
London's game against Widnes scheduled for 25 July was cancelled on 20 July, after London Broncos reported more than seven players requiring to isolate, the match was postponed then cancelled as the clubs agreed there was no possible date available for re-arranging the fixture.[11]
Other points deductions
In August, Featherstone were deducted two competition points (the equivalent of a win) for breaching RFL Operational Rules. In breach of UK government restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic the club hosted an indoor gathering on 27 March at which 12 members of the first team were present. Under RFL COVID-19 protocols all the players involved should have been stood-down and ordered to self-isolate. The club did not comply with the protocols and also failed to assist with the RFL investigation into the incident.[12]
Regular season results
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PP | Pts | PCT | Qualification[a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toulouse Olympique[b]
|
14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 698 | 124 | 562.9 | 28 | 100.00 | Championship Leaders' Shield & advance to semi-final |
| 2 |  Featherstone Rovers
|
21 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 943 | 292 | 322.9 | 38[c] | 90.48[c] | Advance to semi-final |
| 3 |  Halifax Panthers
|
21 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 528 | 354 | 149.2 | 26 | 61.90 | Advance to eliminators |
| 4 |  Batley Bulldogs
|
21 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 561 | 411 | 136.5 | 26 | 61.90 | |
| 5 |  Bradford Bulls
|
20 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 514 | 501 | 102.6 | 24 | 60.00 | |
| 6 | Whitehaven
|
22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 502 | 524 | 95.8 | 25 | 56.82 | |
| 7 |  London Broncos[b]
|
20 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 552 | 579 | 95.3 | 21[d] | 52.50[d] | |
| 8 | Widnes Vikings
|
21 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 494 | 534 | 92.5 | 19 | 45.24 | |
| 9 |  York City Knights
|
20 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 502 | 477 | 105.2 | 18 | 45.00 | |
| 10 |  Dewsbury Rams
|
21 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 360 | 608 | 59.2 | 17 | 40.48 | |
| 11 |  Newcastle Thunder
|
20 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 431 | 627 | 68.7 | 15 | 37.50 | |
| 12 |  Sheffield Eagles
|
20 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 420 | 665 | 63.2 | 13 | 32.50 | |
| 13 |  Oldham
|
21 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 308 | 748 | 41.2 | 5 | 11.90 | Relegated to League 1 |
| 14 |  Swinton Lions
|
22 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 404 | 773 | 52.3 | 5 | 11.36 |
Rules for classification: 1) win percentage; 2) points scored percentage (points scored divided by points conceded).
Notes:
- ^ Teams must have played at least 70% of scheduled fixtures (16 matches) to qualify for the play-offs. Fixtures involving Toulouse that are cancelled due to quarantine restrictions do not count against either team involved in respect of the 70% requirement.[13]
- ^ a b Toulouse were awarded the fixture against London scheduled for 17 April after London declined to travel to France. Toulouse are awarded the two competition points and for points scored percentage the score is recorded as a 24–0 win for Toulouse. The game does not count towards the number of games played by London to determine eligibility for the play-offs
- ^ Featherstone deducted 2 points for breach of the RFL Operational Rules in March 2021.[14]
- ^ London deducted 2 points for breach of the RFL Operational Rules in failing for fulfil the fixture against Toulouse in April 2021.[15]
References
- ^ a b c "Easter return for the Betfred Championship". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ "Championship to adopt Super League play-off format for 2021 season". Sky Sports. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ Peter, Smith (11 March 2021). "Betfred Championship: RFL postpones part-time clubs' trips to Toulouse Olympique". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "Bulls to return to Odsal after RFL deal". BBC Sport. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ Gordon, James (5 November 2019). "Oldham confirm return to Bower Fold". Love Rugby League.
- ^ "Sheffield Eagles to play at Keepmoat in 2021". www.rugby-league.com. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "RFL sets out its policy on Toulouse Championship Participation". TotalRL.com. Total RL. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ a b Callum, Walker (8 April 2021). "RFL award Toulouse 24-0 win over London Broncos". Serious About Rugby League. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ McAllister, Josh (21 July 2021). "London Broncos handed points deduction after refusing to play Toulouse". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Darbyshire, Drew (4 June 2021). "Toulouse home match against Bradford cancelled due to restrictions". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Championship fixture called off due to COVID". Serious About Rugby League. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
- ^ Smith, Peter (3 August 2021). "Club should be setting an example: Why Rovers were punished for Covid breach". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "Toulouse home fixtures against Halifax and Batley cancelled". RFL. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Operational Rules Tribunal – Featherstone Rovers". RFL. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Operational Rules Tribunal – London Broncos". RFL. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.