Round 21 Team News

21 Apr 2023 | 3 min |

Take a look at how the teams line up ahead of a huge day in The Championship.

As the clock ticks down to the penultimate round of the 2022/23 Championship season, it's hard to remember a more pivotal day in the English second tier than what lies in store tomorrow, Saturday 22 April.

Second-placed Jersey Reds host league leaders Ealing Trailfinders in what could prove to be a title-deciding clash at The Stade Santander. If the visitors pick up five points and deny the hosts any bonus points, they will win the Championship title for a second consecutive year, but should the Reds prevail, the Channel Islanders will put themselves firmly in charge of the 2022/23 title race heading into the final weekend of the season.

At the other end of the table, London Scottish and Richmond meet at The R.A.G in what is set to be a hotly-contested showdown between the bottom two teams in the league. A Richmond win would condemn London Scottish to the foot of the table, but The Exiles could leapfrog their rivals with a four-point swing, and take the fight for 11th place down to the wire in Round 22.

Both matches will be streamed free of charge, exclusively on championshiprugby.co.uk.

Elsewhere, Ampthill and Bedford Blues meet in what has been dubbed 'The Battle of Bedfordshire'. Ampthill could climb into the top half of the table with a win, while The Blues will seal a top-four finish should they pick up any points from their trip to Dillingham Park. Caldy host Doncaster Knights at Paton Field looking to avenge a 52-14 Boxing Day defeat at Castle Park. Cornish Pirates have their sights set on a third straight league win ahead of Hartpury's visit to The Mennaye, with the visitors desperate to end a five-match winless run, and high-flying Coventry meet Nottingham at Butts Park Arena, as the Archers look to back up last week's impressive 39-0 win against Ampthill at Lady Bay.