[1] The competition ended without a winner after the quarter-final stage due to the premature end of the RFU Championship season due to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom.

Pool matches ran from September through to December, on weekends when there is no RFU Championship league fixtures.

In the inaugural season, the RFU had set out the pools in a regional format to encourage derby games, but this year's competition format was more loosely structured.

The top two sides in each pool, plus the two best third placed teams, progressed to the knockout stage, with the best ranked sides getting home advantage in the quarter-finals.

Craig Willis for Ealing Trailfinders at home to Bedford Blues on 30 November 2019 Alex O'Meara for Cornish Pirates away to Nottingham on 4 October 2019 Craig Willis for Ealing Trailfinders at home to Bedford Blues on 30 November 2019 Josh Bragman for Hartpury at home to Doncaster Knights on 14 December 2019 [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Newcastle Falcons at home to Hartpury on 29 November 2019 Ampthill at home to Ealing Trailfinders on 7 December 2019 Newcastle Falcons Yorkshire Carnegie [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]