1996–97 Rugby Union County Championship

1996–97 CIS Insurance County Championship
Countries	England
Champions	Cumbria (1st title)
Runners-up	Somerset

The 1996–97 CIS Insurance Rugby Union County Championship was the 97th edition of England's County Championship rugby union club competition.

Cumbria won their first title (although Cumberland had won the title in 1924). They defeated Somerset in the final.

Final

19 April 1997

Cumbria	21-13 (HT 11-8)	Somerset
Try: Bell, Milnes Con: Scott Pen: Scott (3)		Try: Rees, King Pen: Edmonds

Twickenham Attendance: 8,150 Referee: Brian Campsall (Yorkshire)

15 Graeme Cook Aspatria 14 D Warwick Waterloo 13 Paul Burns (capt) Furness 12 M Lynch Wigton 11 Steven Davidson Aspatria 10 Mike Scott Aspatria 9 Paul Thompson Wigton 1 Stephen Irving Aspatria 2 Mike Armstrong Wigton 3 J McCune Aspatria 4 S Milnes Aspatria 5 Andrew Bell Wigton 6 B Atkinson Egremont 7 Sean Cusack Aspatria 8 Mark Richardson Aspatria Replacements: J Cartmell Wigton (for S Cusack 25m) D Johnston Wigton (for McCune 67m) P Cusack Cockermouth (for Cook 70m) P Hancock Aspatria (for Atkinson 72m)

M Westcott Keynsham D Underwood Weston-super-Mare D Fox Keynsham A Webber Bridgwater & Albion P Blackett Keynsham N Edmonds Bridgwater & Albion L Hirons Keynsham J Barnes Bridgwater & Albion C Rees Bridgwater & Albion A Harris Bridgwater & Albion J King Hornets M Rackham Bridgwater & Albion M Curry Exeter M Venner Weston-super-Mare S Withey Keynsham Replacements: S Bennett Keynsham (for Fox 41m) B Thirlwall Bridgwater & Albion (for Fox 41m) N Lloyd Clifton (for Fox 41m)

See also

• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England