2017–18 RFU Intermediate Cup
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2017–18 RFU Intermediate Cup is the 22nd version of the RFU Intermediate Cup (9th using the name RFU Intermediate Cup) national competition for clubs at level 7 of the English rugby union system. The cup consists of 91 clubs divided into four regions. The winners of each region then advance to the national semi-finals with the final being held at Twickenham Stadium in London at the end of the season, along with the RFU Intermediate Cup and RFU Junior Vase finals.
| 2017–18 RFU Intermediate Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Countries | England |
| Tournament format(s) | knockout |
| Date | 2 September 2017 – 6 May 2018 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Teams | 95 |
| Final | |
| Venue | Twickenham Stadium |
| Champions | Camberley (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Droitwich |
The 2017–18 champions were London & South East winners, Camberley, who thrashed Midlands winners, Droitwich, 63–14 in the Twickenham final. It was Camberley's first ever intermediate cup title, but the 7th won by London & South East based clubs, tying them with the northern region who also had 7 victories.
London & South East Intermediate Cup
The London & South East Intermediate Cup involves a knock-out competition with 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, semi-finals and final. The winners of the London & South East Intermediate Cup then go on to the national Intermediate Cup semi-finals where they face the winners of the South West Intermediate Cup. There are 25 teams involved in the London & South East Intermediate Cup, all of which are 1st XV sides, coming from the following unions and level 7 leagues.
| Union(s) | League(s) / Level | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Counties | London 2 North East (7) | 2 |
| Essex | London 2 North East (7) | 5 |
| London 2 South East (7) | 1 | |
| Hampshire | London 3 South West | 2 |
| Kent | London 2 South East | 3 |
| Middlesex | London 3 North West | 4 |
| London 2 South East | 1 | |
| Surrey | London 3 South West | 4[a 1] |
| Sussex | London 2 South East | 3 |
Round 1
Byes: Barking (L2SE), Camberley (L2SW), Chelmsford (L2NE), Chiswick (L2NW), Dover (L2SE), Gosport & Fareham (L2SW) and Hampstead (L2NW)
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14/10/2017[1] | Charlton Park (L2SE) | 30–12 | Old Reigatian (L2SW) |
| Farnham (L2SW) | 36–33 | Beckenham (L2SE) | |
| Hammersmith & Fulham (L2NW) | 18–48 | Rochford Hundred (L2NE) | |
| Haywards Heath (L2SE) | 12–37 | London Exiles (L2SW) | |
| Horsham (L2SE) | HWO | Eastleigh (L2SW) | |
| Norwich (L2NE) | HWO | Harlow (L2NE) | |
| Old Cooperians (L2NE) | HWO | Cantabrigian (L2NE) | |
| Twickenham (L2SW) | 28–14 | Hove (L2SE) | |
| Woodford (L2NE) | 45–5 | Harrow (L2NW) | |
Round 2
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18/11/2017[2] | Charlton Park (L2SE) | HWO | Twickenham (L2SW) |
| Chelmsford (L2NE) | 0–48 | Woodford (L2NE) | |
| Dover (L2SE) | 7–43 | Camberley (L2SW) | |
| Gosport & Fareham (L2SW) | 29–31 | Farnham (L2SW) | |
| Hampstead (L2NW) | AWO | Rochford Hundred (L2NE) | |
| London Exiles (L2SW) | 37–27 | Horsham (L2SE) | |
| Norwich (L2NE) | 18–10 | Chiswick (L2NW) | |
| Old Cooperians (L2NE) | 35–24 | Barking (L2NE) | |
Round 3
Semi-finals
Final
The winners of the London & South East Intermediate Cup final would advance to the national semi-finals.
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17/03/2018[5] | Charlton Park (L2SE) | 12–33[6] | Camberley (L2SW) |
Midlands Intermediate Cup
The Midlands Intermediate Cup is a direct knockout cup with a 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final The winner of the final goes forward to the National Intermediate Cup semi-finals where they face the winners of the Northern section.[7] The competition involves 41 clubs from the following unions and level 7 leagues:
| Union(s) | League(s) / Level | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire | Midlands 2 West (North) (7) | 1[a 2] |
| East Midlands | Midlands 2 East (South) (7) | 4 |
| Leicestershire | Midlands 2 East (North) (7) | 2 |
| Midlands 2 East (South) (7) | 3 | |
| North Midlands | Midlands 2 West (North) (7) | 6 |
| Midlands 2 West (South) (7) | 3 | |
| Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire | Midlands 2 East (North) (7) | 9 |
| Staffordshire | Midlands 2 West (North) (7) | 4[a 3] |
| Warwickshire | Midlands 2 West (North) (7) | 1 |
| Midlands 2 West (South) (7) | 6 | |
| Midlands 2 East (South) (7) | 2 | |
Round 1
Byes: 23 teams received a bye into the second round
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16/09/2017[8] | Stamford (M2ES) | AWO | Lincoln (M2EN) |
| Ashbourne (M2EN) | 38–40 | Whitchurch (M2WN) | |
| Kenilworth (M2WS) | 14–22 | Olney (M2ES) | |
| Ludlow (M2WN) | 31–19 | Evesham (M2WS) | |
| Matlock (M2EN) | 29–14 | Tamworth (M2WN) | |
| Newcastle (Staffs) (M2WN) | 10–25 | Dronfield (M2EN) | |
| Oakham (M2ES) | 20–27 | Newark (M2EN) | |
| Old Saltleians (M2WN) | HWO | Southam (M2WS) | |
| Silhillians (M2WS) | 15–12 | Cleobury Mortimer (M2WN) | |
Round 2
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/10/2017[9] | Bakewell Mannerians (M2EN) | AWO | Crewe & Nantwich (M2WN) |
| Droitwich (M2WS) | 36–8 | Walsall (M2WN) | |
| Dronfield (M2EN) | 17–25 | Leek (M2WN) | |
| Earlsdon (M2WS) | 5–3 | Veseyans (M2WN) | |
| Leamington (M2WS) | 20–27 | Long Buckby (M2ES) | |
| Lincoln (M2EN) | HWO | Belgrave (M2ES) | |
| Market Harborough (M2ES) | AWO | Southwell (M2EN) | |
| Newark (M2EN) | HWO | Stewarts & Lloyds (M2ES) | |
| Nottingham Casuals (M2EN) | 26–18 | Old Saltleians (M2WN) | |
| Old Laurentians (M2ES) | 17–3 | Loughborough (M2EN) | |
| Old Yardleians (M2WS) | 7–22 | Kidderminster Carolians (M2WN) | |
| Olney (M2ES) | 21–13 | Berkswell & Balsall (M2WS) | |
| Pinley (M2ES) | AWO | Coalville (M2EN) | |
| Silhillians (M2WS) | 26–36 | Ludlow (M2WN) | |
| West Bridgford (M2EN) | 24–15 | Spartans (M2WN) | |
| Whitchurch (M2WN) | HWO | Matlock (M2EN) | |
Round 3
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28/10/2017[10] | Coalville (M2EN) | 46–19 | Olney (M2ES) |
| Crewe & Nantwich (M2WN) | 27–26 | West Bridgford (M2EN) | |
| Kidderminster Carolians (M2WN) | 12–27 | Earlsdon (M2WS) | |
| Leek (M2WN) | 39–17 | Lincoln (M2EN) | |
| Long Buckby (M2ES) | 13–15 | Southwell (M2EN) | |
| Ludlow (M2WN) | AWO | Droitwich (M2WS) | |
| Newark (M2EN) | 43–10 | Old Laurentians (M2ES) | |
| Whitchurch (M2WN) | 39–14 | Nottingham Casuals (M2EN) | |
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
The winners of the Midlands Intermediate Cup would advance to the National Intermediate Cup semi-finals.
Northern Intermediate Cup
Unlike the other regional competitions, the Northern Intermediate Cup starts with a mini-league stage, in which the eligible clubs are placed in 2 regional pools of 3 teams each. The winners of each pool then face each other in the Northern Intermediate Cup final, with the winner advancing to the National Intermediate Cup semi-finals, where they will face the winners of the Midlands section. There are 6 teams (1st XV only) involved in the Northern Intermediate Cup representing the following unions and level 7 leagues:
| Union(s) | League(s) / Level | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| Durham County | Durham/Northumberland 1 (7) | 1 |
| Cheshire | Lancs/Cheshire Division 1 (7) | 1 |
| Cumbria | North Lancashire/Cumbria (7) | 1 |
| Lancashire | North Lancashire/Cumbria (7) | 1[a 5] |
| Northumberland | Durham/Northumberland 1 (7) | 1 |
| Yorkshire | Yorkshire 1 (7) | 1 |
Pool 1 (West)
Pool 2 (East)
Final
The winners of the Pool 1 (West) and Pool 2 (East) would meet in the Northern Intermediate Cup final. The winners of this final would then advanced to the National Intermediate Cup semi-finals.
South West Intermediate Cup
The South West Intermediate Cup consist of three stages, with representatives from the different unions joining at different points. The Dorset & Wilts and Gloucestershire clubs first play in county based knock-out tournaments, with the winners advancing to either the Southern Counties or South West Counties area semi-finals, where they join the other south-west representatives. The winners of each area final then meet in the South West Intermediate Cup final to determine who goes through to the national semi-finals, where they face the winners of the London and South East section.
The South West Intermediate Cup involves 19 clubs (1st XV only) from the following unions and level 7 leagues:
| Union(s) | League(s) / Level | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | Southern Counties North (7) | 1 |
| Buckinghamshire | Southern Counties North (7) | 1 |
| Cornwall | Tribute Western Counties West (7) | 1 |
| Devon | Tribute Western Counties West (7) | 1 |
| Dorset & Wilts | Southern Counties South (7) | 7 |
| Gloucestershire | Tribute Western Counties North (7) | 6 |
| Oxfordshire (7) | Southern Counties North (7) | 1 |
| Somerset | Tribute Western Counties North (7) | 1 |
Stage 1 (Dorset & Wilts)
9 clubs were involved in the Dorset & Wilts RFU Intermediate Cup qualification. The winners would advanced to the Southern Counties semi-finals.
| First round | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 23/09/2017[22] | North Dorset (SCS) | 26–20 | Trowbridge (SCS) |
| Quarter-finals | |||
| 23/09/2017[23] | Corsham (SCS) | 36–22 | Marlborough (SCS) |
| Devizes (SCS) | HWO | Blandford (SCS) | |
| Swanage & Wareham (SCS) | 24–26 | Sherborne (SCS) | |
| 14/10/2017 | North Dorset | HWO | Swindon College Old Boys (SCS) |
| Semi-finals | |||
| 18/11/2017[24] | Devizes | 12–30 | Sherborne (SCS) |
| North Dorset | 22–10 | Corsham (SCS) | |
| Final | |||
| 02/12/2017[25] | North Dorset | 17–20 | Sherborne (SCS) |
Stage 1 (Gloucestershire)
7 teams were involved in the Gloucestershire RFU Intermediate Cup qualification tournament. The winners of the competition would go through to the South West Counties final.
| First round[a 6] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 02/09/2017[26] | Old Bristolians (WCN) | 24–21 | Avonmouth Old Boys (WCN) |
| 09/09/2017[26] | Stroud (WCN) | 13–43 | Chosen Hill Former Pupils (WCN) |
| 16/09/2017 | Old Richians (WCN) | 20–56 | Coney Hill (WCN) |
| Semi-finals | |||
| 30/09/2017[27] | Chosen Hill Former Pupils (WCN) | 40–26 | Old Bristolians (WCN) |
| 14/10/2017[27] | Coney Hill (WCN) | HWO | Cheltenham (WCN) |
| Final | |||
| 02/12/2017[28] | Chosen Hill Former Pupils (WCN) | 13–14 | Coney Hill (WCN) |
Stage 2 (Southern Counties)
The winners of the Dorset & Wilts Intermediate Cup would join representatives from the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire unions in the Southern Counties knock-out stage. The winners would advance to play the South West Counties winners in the south-west regional final.
| Semi-finals | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 10/02/2018[29] | Wallingford (SCN) | 7–26 | Beaconsfield (SCN) |
| Windsor (SCN) | 12–3 | Sherborne (SCS) | |
| Final | |||
| 24/02/2018[30] | Beaconsfield (SCN) | 8–17 | Windsor (SCN) |
Stage 2 (South West Counties)
The winners of the Gloucestershire Intermediate Cup would meet the representatives from the Somerset RFU in the semi-final, while the representatives from the Cornwall RFU would face the representatives from the Devon RFU. The winners would advance to play the Southern Counties winners in the south-west regional final.
| Semi-finals | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 10/02/2018[31] | Coney Hill (WCN) | HWO | Chew Valley (WCN) |
| St Austell (WCW) | HWO | Devonport Services (WCW) | |
| Final | |||
| 24/02/2018[32] | Coney Hill (WCN) | 65–17 | St Austell (WCW) |
Stage 3 (South West final)
The winners of the Southern Counties and South West Counties final would meet in the south-west regional final. The winners of this final would then advanced to the national semi-finals.
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17/03/2018[33] | Windsor (SCN) | 19–34[34] | Coney Hill (WCN) |
National Senior Vase
4 teams qualified from the regional vase competitions:
- London & South East Intermediate Cup winners – Camberley (L2SW)
- Midlands Intermediate Cup winners – Droitwich (M2WS)
- Northern Intermediate Cup winners – York (Y1)
- South West Intermediate Cup winners – Coney Hill (WCN)
The Midlands winners would face the North winners in the first semi-final, while the London & South East winners would face the South-West winners in the other, with the winners of each semi-final meeting in the Twickenham final. Home advantage in the semi-finals will be decided by a draw.[35]
Semi-finals
Final
Notes
- Crewe & Nantwich are a member of the Cheshire RFU but play in the Midlands regional leagues.
- One of the Staffordshire clubs, Walsall, are joint members of both the Staffordshire and North Midlands unions but play in Staffordshire county cup competitions.
- Although the breakaway of 19 Lancashire RFU clubs at the start of the 2017–18 season affected Lancashire clubs' participation in the Senior and Junior Vases, they were still able to send a representative to the 2017–18 RFU Intermediate Cup.[16]
- Cheltenham received a bye through to the semi-finals.