The 2017–18 RFU Intermediate Cup is the 22nd version of the RFU Intermediate Cup (9th using the name RFU Intermediate Cup) national competition for clubs at level 7 of the English rugby union system. The cup consists of 91 clubs divided into four regions. The winners of each region then advance to the national semi-finals with the final being held at Twickenham Stadium in London at the end of the season, along with the RFU Intermediate Cup and RFU Junior Vase finals.
The 2017–18 champions were London & South East winners, Camberley, who thrashed Midlands winners, Droitwich, 63–14 in the Twickenham final. It was Camberley's first ever intermediate cup title, but the 7th won by London & South East based clubs, tying them with the northern region who also had 7 victories.
London & South East Intermediate Cup
The London & South East Intermediate Cup involves a knock-out competition with 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, semi-finals and final. The winners of the London & South East Intermediate Cup then go on to the national Intermediate Cup semi-finals where they face the winners of the South West Intermediate Cup. There are 25 teams involved in the London & South East Intermediate Cup, all of which are 1st XV sides, coming from the following unions and level 7 leagues.
Union(s)League(s) / LevelParticipants Eastern Counties London 2 North East (7) 2 Essex London 2 North East (7) 5 London 2 South East (7) 1 Hampshire London 3 South West 2 Kent London 2 South East 3 Middlesex London 3 North West 4 London 2 South East 1 Surrey London 3 South West 4 Sussex London 2 South East 3
Round 1
Byes: Barking (L2SE), Camberley (L2SW), Chelmsford (L2NE), Chiswick (L2NW), Dover (L2SE), Gosport & Fareham (L2SW) and Hampstead (L2NW)
Date Home Score Away 14/10/2017 Charlton Park (L2SE) 30–12 Old Reigatian (L2SW) Farnham (L2SW) 36–33 Beckenham (L2SE) Hammersmith & Fulham (L2NW) 18–48 Rochford Hundred (L2NE) Haywards Heath (L2SE) 12–37 London Exiles (L2SW) Horsham (L2SE) HWO Eastleigh (L2SW) Norwich (L2NE) HWO Harlow (L2NE) Old Cooperians (L2NE) HWO Cantabrigian (L2NE) Twickenham (L2SW) 28–14 Hove (L2SE) Woodford (L2NE) 45–5 Harrow (L2NW)
Round 2
Date Home Score Away 18/11/2017 Charlton Park (L2SE) HWO Twickenham (L2SW) Chelmsford (L2NE) 0–48 Woodford (L2NE) Dover (L2SE) 7–43 Camberley (L2SW) Gosport & Fareham (L2SW) 29–31 Farnham (L2SW) Hampstead (L2NW) AWO Rochford Hundred (L2NE) London Exiles (L2SW) 37–27 Horsham (L2SE) Norwich (L2NE) 18–10 Chiswick (L2NW) Old Cooperians (L2NE) 35–24 Barking (L2NE)
Round 3
Date Home Score Away 20/01/2018 Camberley (L2SW) HWO Woodford (L2NE) Charlton Park (L2SE) 17–14 Farnham (L2SW) Old Cooperians (L2NE) 12–24 Norwich (L2NE) Rochford Hundred (L2NE) 38–0 London Exiles (L2SW)
Semi-finals
Date Home Score Away 24/02/2018 Camberley (L2SW) 47–8 Rochford Hundred (L2NE) Norwich (L2NE) 24–32 Charlton Park (L2SE)
Final
The winners of the London & South East Intermediate Cup final would advance to the national semi-finals.
Date Home Score Away 17/03/2018 Charlton Park (L2SE) 12–33 Camberley (L2SW)
Midlands Intermediate Cup
The Midlands Intermediate Cup is a direct knockout cup with a 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final The winner of the final goes forward to the National Intermediate Cup semi-finals where they face the winners of the Northern section. The competition involves 41 clubs from the following unions and level 7 leagues:
Union(s)League(s) / LevelParticipants Cheshire Midlands 2 West (North) (7) 1 East Midlands Midlands 2 East (South) (7) 4 Leicestershire Midlands 2 East (North) (7) 2 Midlands 2 East (South) (7) 3 North Midlands Midlands 2 West (North) (7) 6 Midlands 2 West (South) (7) 3 Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire Midlands 2 East (North) (7) 9 Staffordshire Midlands 2 West (North) (7) 4 Warwickshire Midlands 2 West (North) (7) 1 Midlands 2 West (South) (7) 6 Midlands 2 East (South) (7) 2
Round 1
Byes: 23 teams received a bye into the second round
Date Home Score Away 16/09/2017 Stamford (M2ES) AWO Lincoln (M2EN) Ashbourne (M2EN) 38–40 Whitchurch (M2WN) Kenilworth (M2WS) 14–22 Olney (M2ES) Ludlow (M2WN) 31–19 Evesham (M2WS) Matlock (M2EN) 29–14 Tamworth (M2WN) Newcastle (Staffs) (M2WN) 10–25 Dronfield (M2EN) Oakham (M2ES) 20–27 Newark (M2EN) Old Saltleians (M2WN) HWO Southam (M2WS) Silhillians (M2WS) 15–12 Cleobury Mortimer (M2WN)
Round 2
Date Home Score Away 07/10/2017 Bakewell Mannerians (M2EN) AWO Crewe & Nantwich (M2WN) Droitwich (M2WS) 36–8 Walsall (M2WN) Dronfield (M2EN) 17–25 Leek (M2WN) Earlsdon (M2WS) 5–3 Veseyans (M2WN) Leamington (M2WS) 20–27 Long Buckby (M2ES) Lincoln (M2EN) HWO Belgrave (M2ES) Market Harborough (M2ES) AWO Southwell (M2EN) Newark (M2EN) HWO Stewarts & Lloyds (M2ES) Nottingham Casuals (M2EN) 26–18 Old Saltleians (M2WN) Old Laurentians (M2ES) 17–3 Loughborough (M2EN) Old Yardleians (M2WS) 7–22 Kidderminster Carolians (M2WN) Olney (M2ES) 21–13 Berkswell & Balsall (M2WS) Pinley (M2ES) AWO Coalville (M2EN) Silhillians (M2WS) 26–36 Ludlow (M2WN) West Bridgford (M2EN) 24–15 Spartans (M2WN) Whitchurch (M2WN) HWO Matlock (M2EN)
Round 3
Date Home Score Away 28/10/2017 Coalville (M2EN) 46–19 Olney (M2ES) Crewe & Nantwich (M2WN) 27–26 West Bridgford (M2EN) Kidderminster Carolians (M2WN) 12–27 Earlsdon (M2WS) Leek (M2WN) 39–17 Lincoln (M2EN) Long Buckby (M2ES) 13–15 Southwell (M2EN) Ludlow (M2WN) AWO Droitwich (M2WS) Newark (M2EN) 43–10 Old Laurentians (M2ES) Whitchurch (M2WN) 39–14 Nottingham Casuals (M2EN)
Quarter-finals
Date Home Score Away 18/11/2017 Coalville (M2EN) 12–57 Whitchurch (M2WN) Droitwich (M2WS) 34–10 Crewe & Nantwich (M2WN) Earlsdon (M2WS) 16–8 Newark (M2EN) Southwell (M2EN) 14–46 Leek (M2WN)
Semi-finals
Date Home Score Away 20/01/2017 Leek (M2WN) 12–17 Droitwich (M2WS) Whitchurch (M2WN) 39–5 Newark (M2EN)
Final
The winners of the Midlands Intermediate Cup would advance to the National Intermediate Cup semi-finals.
Date Home Score Away 17/03/2018 Whitchurch (M2WN) 7–19 Droitwich (M2WS)
Northern Intermediate Cup
Unlike the other regional competitions, the Northern Intermediate Cup starts with a mini-league stage, in which the eligible clubs are placed in 2 regional pools of 3 teams each. The winners of each pool then face each other in the Northern Intermediate Cup final, with the winner advancing to the National Intermediate Cup semi-finals, where they will face the winners of the Midlands section. There are 6 teams (1st XV only) involved in the Northern Intermediate Cup representing the following unions and level 7 leagues:
Union(s)League(s) / LevelParticipants Durham County Durham/Northumberland 1 (7) 1 Cheshire Lancs/Cheshire Division 1 (7) 1 Cumbria North Lancashire/Cumbria (7) 1 Lancashire North Lancashire/Cumbria (7) 1 Northumberland Durham/Northumberland 1 (7) 1 Yorkshire Yorkshire 1 (7) 1
Pool 1 (West)
Pool 1ClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferencePoints 1 Bowdon (LC1) 2 2 0 0 68 46 22 4 2 De La Salle (NLC) 2 1 0 1 59 53 6 2 3 Aspatria (NLC) 2 0 0 2 24 52 -2 0 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw.
Date Home Score Away 14/10/2017 De La Salle (NLC) 25–12 Aspatria (NLC) 18/11/2017 Bowdon (LC1) 41–34 De La Salle (NLC) 10/02/2018 Aspatria (NLC) 12–27 Bowdon (LC1)
Pool 2 (East)
Pool 2ClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferencePoints 1 York (Y1) 2 2 0 0 179 12 167 4 2 Gateshead (DN1) 2 1 0 1 5 81 -76 2 3 Medicals (DN1) 2 0 0 2 7 98 -91 0 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw.
Date Home Score Away 14/10/2017 York (Y1) 98–7 Medicals (DN1) 18/11/2017 Medicals (DN1) AWO Gateshead (DN1) 17/02/2018 Gateshead (DN1) 5–81 York (Y1)
Final
The winners of the Pool 1 (West) and Pool 2 (East) would meet in the Northern Intermediate Cup final. The winners of this final would then advanced to the National Intermediate Cup semi-finals.
Date Home Score Away 24/02/2018 York (Y1) 25–11 Bowdon (LC1)
South West Intermediate Cup
The South West Intermediate Cup consist of three stages, with representatives from the different unions joining at different points. The Dorset & Wilts and Gloucestershire clubs first play in county based knock-out tournaments, with the winners advancing to either the Southern Counties or South West Counties area semi-finals, where they join the other south-west representatives. The winners of each area final then meet in the South West Intermediate Cup final to determine who goes through to the national semi-finals, where they face the winners of the London and South East section.
The South West Intermediate Cup involves 19 clubs (1st XV only) from the following unions and level 7 leagues:
Union(s)League(s) / LevelParticipants Berkshire Southern Counties North (7) 1 Buckinghamshire Southern Counties North (7) 1 Cornwall Tribute Western Counties West (7) 1 Devon Tribute Western Counties West (7) 1 Dorset & Wilts Southern Counties South (7) 7 Gloucestershire Tribute Western Counties North (7) 6 Oxfordshire (7) Southern Counties North (7) 1 Somerset Tribute Western Counties North (7) 1
Stage 1 (Dorset & Wilts)
9 clubs were involved in the Dorset & Wilts RFU Intermediate Cup qualification. The winners would advanced to the Southern Counties semi-finals.
First round Date Home Score Away 23/09/2017 North Dorset (SCS) 26–20 Trowbridge (SCS) Quarter-finals 23/09/2017 Corsham (SCS) 36–22 Marlborough (SCS) Devizes (SCS) HWO Blandford (SCS) Swanage & Wareham (SCS) 24–26 Sherborne (SCS) 14/10/2017 North Dorset HWO Swindon College Old Boys (SCS) Semi-finals 18/11/2017 Devizes 12–30 Sherborne (SCS) North Dorset 22–10 Corsham (SCS) Final 02/12/2017 North Dorset 17–20 Sherborne (SCS)
Stage 1 (Gloucestershire)
7 teams were involved in the Gloucestershire RFU Intermediate Cup qualification tournament. The winners of the competition would go through to the South West Counties final.
First round Date Home Score Away 02/09/2017 Old Bristolians (WCN) 24–21 Avonmouth Old Boys (WCN) 09/09/2017 Stroud (WCN) 13–43 Chosen Hill Former Pupils (WCN) 16/09/2017 Old Richians (WCN) 20–56 Coney Hill (WCN) Semi-finals 30/09/2017 Chosen Hill Former Pupils (WCN) 40–26 Old Bristolians (WCN) 14/10/2017 Coney Hill (WCN) HWO Cheltenham (WCN) Final 02/12/2017 Chosen Hill Former Pupils (WCN) 13–14 Coney Hill (WCN)
Stage 2 (Southern Counties)
The winners of the Dorset & Wilts Intermediate Cup would join representatives from the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire unions in the Southern Counties knock-out stage. The winners would advance to play the South West Counties winners in the south-west regional final.
Semi-finals Date Home Score Away 10/02/2018 Wallingford (SCN) 7–26 Beaconsfield (SCN) Windsor (SCN) 12–3 Sherborne (SCS) Final 24/02/2018 Beaconsfield (SCN) 8–17 Windsor (SCN)
Stage 2 (South West Counties)
The winners of the Gloucestershire Intermediate Cup would meet the representatives from the Somerset RFU in the semi-final, while the representatives from the Cornwall RFU would face the representatives from the Devon RFU. The winners would advance to play the Southern Counties winners in the south-west regional final.
Semi-finals Date Home Score Away 10/02/2018 Coney Hill (WCN) HWO Chew Valley (WCN) St Austell (WCW) HWO Devonport Services (WCW) Final 24/02/2018 Coney Hill (WCN) 65–17 St Austell (WCW)
Stage 3 (South West final)
The winners of the Southern Counties and South West Counties final would meet in the south-west regional final. The winners of this final would then advanced to the national semi-finals.
Date Home Score Away 17/03/2018 Windsor (SCN) 19–34 Coney Hill (WCN)
National Senior Vase
4 teams qualified from the regional vase competitions: London & South East Intermediate Cup winners – Camberley (L2SW) Midlands Intermediate Cup winners – Droitwich (M2WS) Northern Intermediate Cup winners – York (Y1) South West Intermediate Cup winners – Coney Hill (WCN)