2019/20 Championship season launched at Twickenham
The 2019/20 Greene King IPA Championship season was officially launched at Twickenham Stadium on Monday by Championship Chairman Geoff Irvine.
“It’s fantastic to have all the clubs together for a celebration ahead of the upcoming season in which I am sure we’ll see some highly-competitive rugby,” he said.
“With the continued support of our broadcast partner, Sky, and the addition of two great clubs in Newcastle Falcons and Ampthill we can look forward to a very exciting new season.”
At the event players joined in a Facebook Live with fans and took part in a pub quiz hosted by former England centre Tom May.
Fixtures for the 2019/20 instalment were announced last month, beginning on 11 October, to be played over 22 rounds with the final game played on 9 May next year.
After six successive seasons in the top flight of English rugby, Newcastle Falcons return to the Championship this term, and director of Rugby Dean Richards knows his side will be marked men.
“This year is all about promotion and I think everyone will make us favourites which will then make it far more difficult for us,” he added.
“We’ll be the team that everyone wants to beat and it’ll be their cup final. It’s not ideal but it’s a pressure we have to deal with and it’s a pressure the boys won’t have had for some time.
“I think this is a far more competitive Championship than ever before with probably about six or seven teams who I think have recruited exceptionally well.
“It will be incredibly competitive, but I’m really looking forward to the season and whoever gets promoted, and I’m hopeful it will be us, will be far better prepared for the Premiership than ever before.”
Ampthill secured a place in rugby’s second tier following an eight-try win at Loughborough Students last season, putting them at the top of National League One by five points.
They will face Nottingham at home in the opening round, and Chairman Alex Radley is excited by a new challenge.
“There is a great atmosphere going and everybody is really excited about the coming season,” he said.
“We had an exceptional season last year but we have no illusions about the task in front of us this year. Seeing the professionalism of the other squads, we hope that we’ll just be able to compete and do our best.”
