The top level of English Rugby boasts a variety of exciting competitions, ranging from the fiercely competitive Championship right through to England's finest competing in the RBS 6 Nations.
Introduction
The pinnacle of English club rugby is the Aviva Premiership which features the top 12 teams in the country battling it out over 22 rounds of games, followed by a play-off stage, in the race to Twickenham for the Aviva Premiership final.
Premiership clubs and four Welsh Regions also compete in the LV= Cup which is played over four weekends, followed by the semi-finals and finals.
The second tier of English Rugby is called the RFU Championship and consists of 12 clubs hungry for the single Premiership promotion slot. Formerly named National Division One, the Championship sees each team playing 11 games, home and away, in a league format before the drama of the play-offs begins.
Championship clubs also compete in the British & Irish Cup which also includes the development teams from the four Irish provinces; the top four teams from Scotland’s RBS Premier Division 1 last season; and the 12 teams from Wales’ Principality Premiership.
Aviva Premiership
Premiership clubs and four Welsh Regions also compete in the LV= Cup which is played over four weekends, followed by the semi-finals and finals.
The second tier of English Rugby is called the RFU Championship and consists of 12 clubs hungry for the single Premiership promotion slot. Formerly named National Division One, the Championship sees each team playing 11 games, home and away, in a league format before the drama of the play-offs begins.
Championship clubs also compete in the British & Irish Cup which also includes the development teams from the four Irish provinces; the top four teams from Scotland’s RBS Premier Division 1 last season; and the 12 teams from Wales’ Principality Premiership.
Aviva Premiership
English rugby’s richest prize, European qualification and pride are all at stake in the 2012/13 Aviva Premiership.
Each year 12 teams battle it out over 22 rounds of games, followed by a play-off stage, in the race to Twickenham for the biggest club rugby match anywhere in the world, the Premiership final.
During the season, teams are awarded four points for a win and two points for a draw. A single bonus point is also awarded to any team that loses a match by less than seven points, and to any team that scores four tries or more in a match.
At the end of the regular season the top four teams in the league are entered into the play-off semi-finals, before the winners of those games progress to the Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham Stadium.
For teams at the other end of the table there is the threat of relegation to contend with, because at the end of the 22 match league season, the team at the bottom of the table are automatically relegated to the RFU Championship.
European Qualification
As well as the title of Aviva Premiership Champions, teams are also playing for European qualification, with the top six clubs at the end of the 2012/13 season making it through to the Heineken Cup 2013/14.
If an Aviva Premiership team wins the Heineken Cup this season and finishes in the top six of the league then an additional Heineken Cup place is awarded to the team finishing seventh in the league.
RFU Championship
As well as the title of Aviva Premiership Champions, teams are also playing for European qualification, with the top six clubs at the end of the 2012/13 season making it through to the Heineken Cup 2013/14.
If an Aviva Premiership team wins the Heineken Cup this season and finishes in the top six of the league then an additional Heineken Cup place is awarded to the team finishing seventh in the league.
RFU Championship
The RFU Championship, formally SSE National League One, was formed in 2009 and is the second tier of professional rugby in England.
The 2012-13 season will see a revised structure as the 12 clubs compete in a league season across 22 rounds, with the bottom club relegated to SSE National League 1 and the top four clubs going on to compete in a two-legged semi-final and final. The winners of the semi-finals will go on to play in the RFU Championship final – also two legs.
The new structure will provide 11 home games for the Championship clubs and a minimum of six games in the revised British & Irish Cup.
The cross-border competition will now run across nine weeks with six pool rounds, concluded by three weeks of knock-out stages (quarter-final, semi-final and final).
British & Irish Cup
Some 32 teams will compete in an expanded British & Irish Cup in the fourth year of the cross-border competition.
Title holders Munster ‘A’ have been drawn in Pool 7 alongside Aberavon, Plymouth Albion and Rotherham Titans, while last year’s runners-up Cross Keys are in Pool 4 with local rivals Newport plus Connacht and Championship newcomers Newcastle Falcons.
The teams, from the four home nations, are drawn in eight pools of four, with only the pool winners qualifying for the knockout stages.
In addition to 12 teams being added to the competition, another format switch sees clubs now face each other home and away in the pool stages.
The participating teams comprise the 12 teams from the RFU Championship; the development teams from the four Irish provinces; the top four teams from Scotland’s RBS Premier Division 1 last season; and the 12 teams from Wales’ Principality Premiership.
Joining the competition for their debut season are Bridgend Ravens, Bedwas, Stirling County, Carmarthen Quins, Dundee HSFP, Newcastle Falcons, Jersey, and Gala.
The competition will now take place over nine rounds and will align with ERC weekends.
The pool games will take place as follows: Round 1 – 12-14 October; Round 2 – 19-21 October; Round 3 – 7-9 December; Round 4 – 14-16 December; Round 5 – 11-13 January; and Round 6 – 19 January.
The quarter-finals will be played the weekend of 5-7 April; the semi-finals 26-28 April; and the final Friday 17 May (TBC).
The Daily Mail RBS Schools Competition
The Daily Mail RBS Schools Competition is the premier tournament in schools rugby, where school teams compete regionally and then nationally for the chance to play at Twickenham and clinch the coveted trophy.
Some 1000 teams take part each year across the country at Under 15 and Under 18 level. All schools that enter play for a main cup and there is also a vase for teams knocked out in the early rounds, also culminating in a Twickenham final.
The Under 15 Vase was revamped in 2010/11 to include a "Pool" system which enables developing schools to play more often through the creation of a mini fixture list. This revised structure is designed to assist those teams from local and emerging schools programmes, as it pits them against more realistic opposition but still gives sides the chance of making it to Twickenham.
Current England fly half Owen Farrell, now back in action with Saracens after helping his nation secure four out of five wins and to become runners up in the RBS 6 Nations, made his presence felt in the Daily RBS Schools competition with St George’s, Harpenden.
Farrell, who made his first team debut for Sarries at just 17 years old, played a pivotal role in his school’s journey to the fifth round of the U18 Cup in 2008 with victory over Hertfordshire rivals Richard Hale.
Calum Clark who captained England U20s through to the final of the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan in 2009, is listed amongst the Underwood brothers Rory and Tony, Rob Andrew and Matthew Tait as a leading Barnard Castle player.
The 22-year-old flanker, who was included in Stuart Lancaster’s RBS 6 Nations squad, featured in the 2007 Daily Mail RBS U18 Cup final, when his team lost by an agonising 23-24 to Warwick School
RFU President Willie Wildash said: “This competition has played a pivotal role in schools rugby since 1988, offering schools the opportunity to play meaningful, competitive rugby at a level appropriate for them. There is recognition and reward through the Vase and Cup structure, with lifting the trophy at Twickenham in front of school friends, teachers and parents the ultimate prize.
"Professional rugby players often give winning at Twickenham in the Under 15s or Under 18s competition as one of their best rugby memories and many more are still involved at grassroots level thanks to the the huge enjoyment it brought.”
Peter Johnson, President of the England Rugby Football Schools Union, added: “The Daily Mail RBS Schools competition has become a major occasion in the rugby calendar and, as ever, we owe our thanks to our sponsors for their loyal and enthusiastic support of this excellent competition. Rugby Football is one of many extra-curricular activities which are so important in enhancing the confidence and self-esteem of individuals and which help to produce round young adults capable of working in a team. “
SSE National League
Managed by the National Clubs Association (NCA), the SSE National Leagues represent the 3rd and 4th tier of rugby in England, compromising of three divisions; SSE National League 1, SSE National League 2 North and SSE National League 2 South.
Each division includes 16 semi-professional teams that together cover the length and breadth of England, from Redruth to Westoe, Fylde to Southend.
SSE National League 1
30 league games; 15 home, 15 away
Top finishing club promoted to RFU Championship
Bottom three clubs relegated to SSE National League 2 North or South (depending on region)
SSE National League 2 North & South
Top finishing club promoted to SSE National League 1
2nd placed clubs compete in promotional play-offs
Bottom three clubs relegated from each division; SSE National League 2 North relegated to National League 3 Midlands/North, SSE National League 2 South relegated to Nat 3 South West/London.
Managed by the RFU's Divisional Organising Committees, the SSE Divisional Leagues cover levels 5-12 of rugby in England. Between them the four divisions (North, Midlands, London & South East and the South West) provide leagues covering all four corners of the country and over 1000 clubs.
Each division is headed by a National League 3 with the Midlands and North leagues leading to promotion into SSE National League 2 North, and the South West and London & SE divisions feeding into SSE National League 2 South. Below this level the leagues are split into area or CB based to limit travel and encourage participation.
SSE: Official Sponsors of the RFU National and Divisional Leagues
Leading energy company, SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy), was named as an Official Community Partner of the Rugby Football Union in July 2011. The three year partnership will see SSE invest significantly to support community rugby in England and take on the title sponsorship of the National and Divisional Leagues.
Steve Grainger, Rugby Development Director for the RFU, commented: "We're delighted to see SSE join the RFU family. The success of rugby in England depends on the longevity of success at community level to support growth through to the elite game. With SSE backing the National and Divisional League, club rugby in England has received a further boost."
Marriott London Sevens
The Marriott London Sevens is back with a roar. After the hugely successful London Games, Rugby Sevens becomes part of the Olympic family and the road to Rio starts now.
Last year’s 70s Disco theme made for a glorious weekend stuffed full of the hottest rugby action, plus disco moves, wig-waving and flying flares. With a record breaking crowd of 103,000 passing through the turnstiles – surpassing the records set at the 2011 event – 2013 promises to be even bigger, better and louder.
The London round will again be the ninth and final event of the HSBC Sevens World Series, with each team striving to be crowned champions. The action kicks off in Australia in October and the players are bursting to get started on the road to their ultimate goal of winning in London.
The carnival atmosphere generated by the fans in the stands is unrivalled in the Twickenham calendar, with fancy dress galore, exclusive competitions and unique entertainment.
Check out our entertainment pages in the coming months as the plans for the weekend are unveiled and see what you can expect from a day of fast and furious action, on and off the pitch
