2013 County Championship Shield


The 2013 County Championship Shield was the 9th version of the annual English rugby union County Championship, organized by the RFU for the tier 3 English counties. Each county drew its players from rugby union clubs from the fifth tier and below of the English rugby union league system. The counties were divided into three pools of four teams each, based roughly on regional lines, with the winner of each group plus the best runner-up going through to the semi-finals, with the winners of those games meeting in the final held at Twickenham Stadium. Typically there is no promotion or relegation out of or into the County Championship Shield. Surrey were the reigning champions.
After winning their pools and semi-final matches, reigning champions Surrey met Cumbria in the final. Having thrashed Leicestershire the last time round, Surrey found Cumbria a much tougher prospect, eventually prevailing 23 – 16 to claim their second successive title.

Competition format

The competition format consisted of four pools, based roughly on regional lines where possible, with each team playing each other once. The top side of each group qualified for the semi-finals, with the winners of the semi-finals playing in the final held at Twickenham Stadium on 26 May 2013. As the lowest tier in the county championship there is no relegation while promotion is not given every season, although outstanding county performances can lead to counties moving up to tier 2.

Participating counties and ground locations

CountyStadiumCapacityCity/Area
BerkshireMonk's Lane8,000Newbury, Berkshire
BuckinghamshireKingsmead RoadN/AHigh Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
CumbriaWinters Park
Lowmoor Road
Bower Park
N/A
N/A
N/A
Penrith, Cumbria
Wigton, Cumbria
Aspatria, Cumbria
Dorset & WiltsAllington Fields
Bestwall Park
N/A
N/A
Chippenham, Wiltshire
Wareham, Dorset
EssexForest RoadN/AIlford, Greater London
HampshireRugby CampN/APortsmouth, Hampshire
LeicestershireN/AN/AN/A
MiddlesexAthletic Ground4,500Richmond, London
Notts, Lincs & DerbyshireThe Rugby Ground1,000 Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire
OxfordshireMarston Ferry RoadN/AOxford, Oxfordshire
SurreyBroadwater Sports ClubN/AFarncombe, Surrey
SussexPulborough Road
Roundstone Lane
N/A
1,000+
Pulborough, West Sussex
Angmering, West Sussex
WarwickshireButts Park Arena4,000Coventry, West Midlands

;Notes

Group stage

Pool 1

Round 1

----

Round 2

----

Round 3

Pool 2

Round 1

----

Round 2

----

Round 3

Pool 3

Round 1

----

Round 2

----

Round 3

Pool 4

Round 1

----

Round 2

----

Round 3

Knock-out Stage

Semi-finals

----

Final