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.

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.

Draw and results

First round Team one Team two Score NotesBirkenhead Park Wigton 13-9 Coventry Birmingham 11-4 Wilmslow Liverpool 14-6 Halifax Gosforth 9-6 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 17-10Wilmslow Liverpool 14-6

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

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

Semi-finals Team one Team two Score NotesCoventry Gloucester 6-6* (away team progress)Moseley Wilmslow 18-10

Final

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