2012–13 RFU Championship

The RFU Championship clubs were in dispute with the RFU over funding for the competition and claimed that each club was owed £77,000 for the past three seasons and will be owed a further £120,000 over the next four seasons. The clubs also believed they should have received £295,000 in 2009–10, rising to £400,000 by 2015–16 and further believed there was a breach of contract on the part of the RFU. The RFU stated that the original funding was an estimate and by 2015–16 the figure will be £359,400.[13] On 21 August the RFU unveiled the Championship funding structure for the next four seasons to 2015–16. The funding is based on the continuation of the "English Qualified Players scheme", where clubs are required to field fifteen English qualified players in the 22-man squad on each matchday. (In previous seasons teams were required to field fourteen.) Although the amount is not given in the press release, the RFU also stated they will "increase its financial underwritings in relation to a title sponsorship while efforts continue to secure a partner".

• The original result was 34 – 16 to Leeds. However, the match went to uncontested scrums within 13 minutes on the new pitch at Headingley.[23][24] A meeting of the Organising Committee of the Championship decided that the fixture should be replayed on the next available free weekend, being 1–3 February at a venue of Leeds' choice.[25]

• Game postponed to 23 February 2013 after a pitch inspection (Kingston Park pitch snow-covered).[26]

• Game postponed from 25 January due to concerns about the weather.[27]

• Game postponed to 15 March 2013 due to a water-logged pitch at Billesley Common.[28]

• Match postponed as the pitch was deemed unplayable.[29]

• Game rescheduled from 25 January 2013.[30]

• Game rescheduled from 9 February 2013.[31]

• Game rescheduled from 16 February 2013.[32]

• Postponed due to heavy overnight snowfall in Bedfordshire. Game rescheduled to 17 April.

• Postponed due to heavy snow in Birmingham. Game rescheduled to 5 April.

• Postponed due to snowfall at Rotherham. Game rescheduled to 10 April.

• Postponed from 23 March due to heavy snow in Birmingham.

• Postponed from 23 March due to snowfall at Rotherham.

• Postponed from 23 March due to heavy overnight snowfall in Bedfordshire.

The semi–finals followed a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system - with the games being played over two legs and the higher placed team deciding who played at home in the first leg.

Newcastle Falcons finished the regular season in first place and played fourth-placed finishers Leeds Carnegie, with both matches being shown on SkySports. The other semi–final was between second placed Nottingham and Bedford who finished third.[33]

Following the findings of an independent audit report, Leeds Carnegie, Newcastle Falcons and Nottingham Rugby met the "Minimum Standards Criteria" (MSC), and were eligible for promotion to the 2013–14 Aviva Premiership should they win the RFU Championship. Bedford Blues failed to meet the MSC but have the right to an appeal.[34]

• Bedford Blues won 49 – 38 on aggregate.

• Newcastle Falcons won 34 – 30 on aggregate.

• Newcastle Falcons won 49 – 33 on aggregate and are promoted to the Aviva Premiership.

Newcastle Falcons played a match against Tonga on Tuesday 13 November 2012 winning 24 – 13.[38]

• See 2012 end-of-year rugby union tests for details.