The County Championships has undergone a restructure across the senior men, women and U20 County Championships with fixtures now announced for the new season.
Following a successful inaugural competition this year, which received overwhelming support from the counties and players, the Women’s County Championship will be expanded for 2017 with 26 teams competing across two tiers.
Last year’s champions Surrey will take on Berkshire in the opening match of Pool 4 while 2016 runners up Lancashire will take on Cumbria in Pool 1. Both finals will be held on Sunday 28 May with many of the fixtures during the competition scheduled to run alongside the men’s matches to allow for double-header opportunities.
Women’s County Cup – Fixtures
Matches are currently set on a Sunday but this could change if both Counties are in agreement.
Pool 1: Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland
Pool 2: North Midlands, NLD, Staffordshire, Yorkshire
Pool 3: Sussex, Kent, East Midlands, Middlesex
Pool 4: Devon, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Surrey
| 30 April 2017 | 8 May 2017 | 14 May 2017 | |
| Pool 1 | Northumberland v Durham | Lancashire v Northumberland | Durham v Lancashire |
| Pool 1 | Cumbria v Lancashire | Durham v Cumbria | Cumbria v Northumberland |
| Pool 2 | Yorkshire v NLD | Yorkshire v North Midlands | Staffordshire v Yorkshire |
| Pool 2 | North Midlands v Staffordshire | NLD v Staffordshire | NLD v North Midlands |
| Pool 3 | Kent v Sussex | East Midlands v Sussex | Kent v East Midlands |
| Pool 3 | Middlesex v East Midlands | Middlesex v Kent | Sussex v Middlesex |
| Pool 4 | Gloucester v Devon | Devon v Surrey | Berkshire v Devon |
| 21 May 2017 | Host Venue | |
| Semi Final 1 | Winner Pool 1 v Winner Pool 2 | Winner Pool 1 |
| Semi Final 2 | Winner Pool 3 v Winner Pool 4 | Winner Pool 4 |
| 28 May 2017 | Host Venue | |
| Final | Winner Semi Final 1 v Winner Semi Final 2 | Winner Pool 1 |
Women’s Plate Competition
Pool 1: Somerset, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Essex
Pool 2: Eastern Counties, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Leicestershire, Cheshire
| Pool 1 | Pool 2 |
| 23rd April 2017 | 23rd April 2017 |
| Somerset v Buckinghamshire | Eastern Counties v Warwickshire |
| Hertfordshire v Bye | Oxfordshire v Bye |
| Hampshire v Essex | Leicestershire v Cheshire |
| 30th April 2017 | 30th April 2017 |
| Hertfordshire v Somerset | Oxfordshire v Eastern Counties |
| Buckinghamshire v Hampshire | Warwickshire v Leicestershire |
| Essex v Bye | Cheshire v Bye |
| 7th May 2017 | 7th May 2017 |
| Hampshire v Somerset | Leicestershire v Eastern Counties |
| Essex v Hertfordshire | Cheshire v Oxfordshire |
| Buckinghamshire v Bye | Warwickshire v Bye |
| 14th May 2017 | 14th May 2017 |
| Somerset v Essex | Eastern Counties v Cheshire |
| Buckinghamshire v Hertfordshire | Warwickshire v Oxfordshire |
| Hampshire v Bye | Leicestershire v Bye |
| 21st May 2017 | 21st May 2017 |
| Hertfordshire v Hampshire | Oxfordshire v Leicestershire |
| Essex v Buckinghamshire | Cheshire v Warwickshire |
| Somerset v Bye | Eastern Counties v Bye |
Winner of Pool 1 v Winner of Pool 2 to play in the Plate Final on the 28th May 2017
All games currently set on a Sunday as per the women’s calendar but England Rugby are happy, if both Counties are in agreement, for the game to be played at any time over the weekend.
Report courtesy of England Rugby
