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1971–72 RFU Knockout Cup

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1971–72 RFU National KO Competition
Tournament statistics
(Next) 1972–73

The 1971–72 National KO Competition was the first rugby union cup competition (for clubs) in England. Gloucester won the competition defeating Moseley in the final. In the final the Moseley lock Nigel Horton floored Dick Smith (the Gloucester openside) with a punch during the second scrum of the game and was sent off by Ron Lewis the referee. Moseley ended the game with just twelve men after their two flankers, Tim Smith and Ian Pringle, were both carried off injured.[1]

The RFU introduced this new challenge cup which quickly emerged as England's premier Rugby Union club competition event. The final was held at Twickenham Stadium. The principal event for Rugby Union club players at this time had been the County Championship because there was no official league table for clubs.[2]

Draw and results

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First round

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Team one Team two Score Notes
Birkenhead Park Wigton 13-9
Coventry Birmingham 11-4
London Scottish Harlequins 4-18
London Welsh Oxford 30-6
Moseley Northampton 25-12
Nottingham Leicester 10-3
Rugby Bedford 12-17
Saracens London Irish 26-3
Sidcup Blackheath 3-30
West Hartlepool Headingley 17-10
Wilmslow Liverpool 14-6

Second round

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Team one Team two Score Notes
Birkenhead Park Wilmslow 0-6
Exeter Penryn 10-10* (* away team progress)
Gloucester Bristol 15-4
Halifax West Hartlepool 8-0
Harlequins Blackheath 12-4
Moseley Bedford 16-9
Nottingham Coventry 3-30
Saracens London Welsh 7-33

Quarter-finals

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Team one Team two Score Notes
Harlequins Wilmslow 7-16
London Welsh Gloucester 4-9
Moseley Halifax 22-0
Penryn Coventry 4-28

Semi-finals

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Team one Team two Score Notes
Coventry Gloucester 6-6* (away team progress)
Moseley Wilmslow 18-10

Final

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29 April 1972
Gloucester17–6Moseley
Try: John Dix
Roy Morris
Pen: Eric Stephens
Drop: Tom Palmer
Mickie Booth
Try: Malcolm Swain
Con: Sam Doble
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 10,500
Referee: Ron Lewis (Wales)
15 Eric Stephens
14 Bob Clewes
13 Roy Morris
12 John Bayliss
11 John Dix
10 Tom Palmer
9 Mickie Booth
1 Robin Cowling
2 Mike Nicholls (c)
3 Mike Burton
4 Alan Brinn
5 Jim Jarrett
6 John Watkins
7 Mike Potter
8 Dick Smith
15 Sam Doble
14 Keith Hatter
13 Malcolm Swain
12 Colin McFadyean
11 Roy Kerr
10 John Finlan
9 Jan Webster (c)
1 J Griffiths
2 Don Lane
3 Chris Morrell
4 R Morris
5 Nigel Horton
6 Tim Smith
7 J White
8 Ian Pringle

References

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  1. ^ Jenkins, Vivian (1975). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook. Brickfield Publications Ltd. ISBN 0362-00221-5.
  2. ^ "Times Archives". Oxfordshire Libraries.