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Bedford play Nottingham - I wonder if we'll see a tie won by one point to guarantee that both teams go through to the next round.

I'm assuming there's no prize money on offer and not sure if gate receipts will be shared across the two legs, or semi final/final.

I remain unconvinced...

I can’t find any enthusiasm for this…

RFU next year, stuff the cup.

14 team league please, thanks.

I can hear the residents of Rotherham clapping.

Four up from National 1 would mean three up from National 2 and the return of the play-off.

I checked my rota, 6-2 shift…oh well that sorts out the problem.

You are not getting enough free money, where did I leave my tiny violin?

Oh please Cq (or should we call you Bill Sweeney?) enough of the 'free money' schtick already; there's clear evidence of how the Championship has helped develop players (+ coaches, physios, analysts, refs) who go on to feature at the top level of the domestic game and in many cases internationally, but yet the concept that clubs might receive some funding (massively slashed in past few years) in acknowledgment of this developmental role is still something that gets you and Raider coming onto the Champ pages most days and frothing at the mouth about the injustice of it all, how ungrateful Champ clubs are etc - so tiresome. Constantly taking pot-shots at the Champ rather than acknowledging any of its many positive features...

And before you raise the 14-team Champ again for the 139th time, I'd be in favour of it and I don't know why it's taken so long and I'd regret if we are stuck with '12 teams + cup' format for 22/23. But that doesn't justify the relentless running-down

The funding issue is really interesting. Do Championship teams deserve any more money than anyone else? I would suggest the leagues below championship receive one quarter of naff all. However, and I'm only going to speak for Sale FC here, but there are lots of clubs in Nat2 and Nat1 who can claim similar achievements but don't get any money from the RFU. 

In fact, I would go so far as to say, that some of the most exciting talents in professional rugby were playing National One rugby the last full season played (due to covid). Raffi Quirke, Paolo Odogwu, Nic Dolly, Bevan Rodd, Arron Reed to name just a few. Some, such as Jack Metcalfe and Sam Dugdale are still turning out in National One, getting experience and playing rugby every weekend rather than watching. 

18 year olds need somewhere to go before they're launched from schoolboy age grade rugby straight into fully professional ranks. It takes a unique talent to go straight from school to the premiership. Even the Curry's played six games at National 2. 

So perhaps the issue isn't that the Championship gets money, its the fact that below that level there's nothing from the RFU. 

Please take it elsewhere.

Clubhouse chat seems appropriate

Totally agree jimbo, this issue goes beyond what the Championship gets (paltry as it may be), the question that should be posed is, why isn't this happening? Recognising that there is a level at which it would have to be limited, but I will leave that to others to discuss.

And yes, I agree this should be moved to Clubhouse Chat it is nothing to do with the Championship Cup.

Careful. Sounds like common sense talk. We won’t have such talk upsetting our chums at HQ.

Your frustration comes through loud and clear Cherub, and I share it, as almost everyone on RM does I'd guess.

It depends who you mean by 'we' - if you mean the Championship section of the RM congregation, then no - we can't put this topic to bed as we aren't the decision-making body. If you mean the Championship Clubs, then yes I would like to think that the matter could be resolved eventually, however frustratingly it appears that we aren't at that stage yet, with it seeming highly likely that the '12-teams + Cup' format will remain for 22/23, with Nat 1 clubs having been told clearly pre-Xmas that a maximum of two will be promoted this summer. Again, the slow pace is frustrating for many of us.

I would say that what we (the Champ RM people) can/must do is lobby the decision-makers at our clubs to ensure that the proposed restructuring is finalised across the last couple of months of this season and over the summer so that a better format for 23/24 season onwards is 100% agreed and in place by 1/9/22, so that all concerned know where they stand before a ball is kicked for 22/23.

And to those who think this should be discussed elsewhere, it relates to the future of the Champ and Champ Cup, so this seems as good a place as any to discuss it.

And yes this is fully about the Championship Cup. It is unwanted by the majority, and is a poor compromise for a fixture list with too many long gaps.  I wish the RFU would abandon the idea of having a Cup. And direct their considerable resources towards restructuring the Leagues so that all have more teams within, and more regular fixture lists.