2011–12 RFU Championship
| 2011–12 RFU Championship | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  England |
| Champions | London Welsh |
| Runners-up | Cornish Pirates |
| Relegated | Esher |
| Matches played | 174 |
| Attendance | 342,849 (average 1,970 per match) |
| Top point scorer | Rob Cook (Cornish Pirates) 310 pts |
| Top try scorer | Josh Bassett (Bedford Blues) 17 tries |
The 2011–12 RFU Championship was the third season (of the professionalised format) of the
On 8 May 2012 it was announced that only Bristol was eligible for promotion under the RFU's minimum standards criteria.[4] They were subsequently beaten by the Cornish Pirates in the semi–finals who in turn lost to the eventual champions, London Welsh.[5] London Welsh had announced on 14 May that they would meet the RFU's eligibility test to play in the Premiership if they should win promotion and two days later announced they would play at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford if successful. On 23 May, the day of the first leg of the final, the RFU announced that London Welsh would not be eligible for promotion due to "various failures". The appeal by London Welsh was heard by an Independent Panel on 29 June who upheld it stating ″... that the Exiles should be promoted on the basis that they play their home games at Oxford's Kassam Stadium and that the club meet the minimum entry criteria to the league as imposed by the Professional Game Board.″ Chief Executive Officer of the RFU, Ian Richie, subsequently announced that there would be a full review of the Minimum Standard Criteria.[6][7][8]
