National League 1

This article is about the rugby union competition. For the rugby league competition formerly known as National League One, see Championship (rugby league).
National League 1
Current season or competition:
2014–15 National League 1
Sport Rugby union
Instituted 1987
Number of teams 16
Country  England
Holders Ealing Trailfinders (2014–15)
Most titles Otley (3 titles)
Website rfu.com

National League 1, (which was known before September 2009 as National Division Two), is the third level of domestic rugby union competition in England. It was known as Courage League National Division Three when founded in 1987.[1] This is the lowest level of the English rugby union league system which is nationwide. The league includes promotion for the league champion to the RFU Championship (the former National Division One) and relegation to National League 2 North or National League 2 South (formerly National Division Three North and South). The league previously consisted of fourteen semi-professional clubs, but from 2009–10 increased to sixteen after league restructuring. With the Rugby Football Union league restructuring proposals in 2008, only one team was promoted to the new RFU Championship. There were also four relegated from the division, rising from three who moved down to the new National League 2 North or National League 2 South.

When the club system was introduced in 1987 the division was known as Division 3. Ten years later the league was restructured and the Premiership was introduced, which consisted of the top two divisions. Therefore, National 3 became the top league outside of the Premiership structure, and was renamed as National 1. In 2000–01 the Premiership was reduced to a single division and National 1 was renamed National 2. However, the 2009 restructure once again made the third tier the top flight of the national leagues following the formation of the Championship and once again the league became known as National 1.

Participating clubs 2014–15

At the end of the 2013–14 season, Doncaster won promotion back to the RFU Championship after a single season at this level. In a similar fashion, Ealing's tenure in the Championship was equally short-lived. The three newly promoted teams at the start of the season – Henley Hawks , Worthing Raiders and Hull Ionians – were demoted straight back to National League 2 South or North.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Blackheath Rectory Field 6,000 Blackheath, London 10th
Blaydon Crow Trees Swalwell, Tyne and Wear 6th
Cinderford Dockham Road 2,500 Cinderford, Gloucestershire 11th
Coventry Butts Park Arena 4,000 Coventry, West Midlands 4th
Darlington Mowden Park Northern Echo Arena 25,000 Darlington, County Durham promoted from National League 2 North
Ealing Trailfinders Trailfinders Sports Ground 1,000 West Ealing, London relegated from RFU Championship
Esher Molesey Road 3,000 Hersham, Surrey 5th
Fylde Woodlands Memorial Ground 9,000 Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire 3rd
Hartpury College College Stadium 2,000 Hartpury, Gloucestershire promoted from National League 2 South
Loughborough Students Loughborough University Stadium 3,000 Loughborough, Leicestershire 12th
Macclesfield Priory Park Macclesfield, Cheshire promoted from National League 2 North
Old Albanian Woollam Playing Fields 1,000 St Albans, Hertfordshire 9th
Richmond Athletic Ground, Richmond 4,500 Richmond, London 7th
Rosslyn Park Priory Lane 2,000 Roehampton, London 2nd
Tynedale Tynedale Park 400 (in stand) Corbridge, Northumberland 13th
Wharfedale Threshfield 2,000 Threshfield, North Yorkshire 8th

[2]

Current standings

2014–15 National League 1 Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1 Ealing Trailfinders (P) 30 27 0 3 1099 518 581 25 3 136
2 Rosslyn Park 30 26 0 4 909 508 401 20 3 127
3 Coventry 30 22 1 7 1011 694 317 16 6 112
4 Fylde 30 16 2 12 844 738 106 18 4 90
5 Hartpury College 30 19 0 11 784 685 99 10 3 89
6 Blackheath 30 16 1 13 758 731 27 16 4 86
7 Richmond 30 14 2 14 837 866 –29 15 5 80
8 Blaydon 30 13 0 17 666 693 –27 13 8 73
9 Darlington Mowden Park 30 13 1 16 782 732 50 14 6 69[n 1]
10 Esher 30 12 1 17 720 738 –18 11 7 68
11 Wharfedale 30 12 1 17 595 801 –206 11 4 65
12 Loughborough Students 30 11 0 19 681 709 –28 12 7 63
13 Cinderford 30 11 0 19 606 686 –80 10 5 59
14 Old Albanian (R) 30 12 1 17 688 771 –83 9 4 58[n 2]
15 Tynedale (R) 30 8 0 22 593 999 –406 6 5 43
16 Macclesfield (R) 30 3 0 27 481 1185 –704 6 3 21
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
  1. ↑ Darlington Mowden Park deducted 5 points after selecting an unregistered player on 13 September 2014 against Wharfedale.[3]
  2. ↑ Old Albanian deducted 5 points after selecting two unregistered players on 31 January 2015 against Fylde[4]

Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 25 April, 2015
Source: "National League 1". NCA Rugby.

Participating clubs 2013–14

2013–14 final table

2013–14 National League 1 Final Table
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1 Doncaster Knights (P) 30 25 0 5 943 487 456 18 4 122
2 Rosslyn Park 30 25 1 4 915 413 502 14 3 119
3 Fylde 30 17 0 13 822 732 90 19 5 92
4 Coventry 30 19 0 11 878 621 257 15 4 90[n 1]
5 Esher 30 18 0 12 786 694 92 12 4 88
6 Blaydon 30 15 3 12 736 599 137 12 6 84
7 Richmond 30 14 1 15 761 699 62 15 7 80
8 Wharfedale 30 15 0 15 726 907 –181 9 3 72
9 Old Albanian 30 13 1 16 708 693 15 12 6 72
10 Blackheath 30 13 3 14 680 775 –95 10 4 72
11 Cinderford 30 12 2 16 699 844 –145 11 4 67
12 Loughborough Students 30 13 1 16 633 768 –135 8 4 66
13 Tynedale 30 11 2 17 702 891 –189 13 4 65
14 Henley Hawks (R) 30 11 3 16 593 655 –62 6 5 61
15 Worthing Raiders (R) 30 7 0 23 736 946 –210 16 11 55
16 Hull Ionians (R) 30 3 1 26 492 1086 –594 4 2 20
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
  1. ↑ Coventry deducted 5 points after selecting an ineligible player on 5 January 2014 against Rosslyn Park.[5]
Green background are promotion places. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 8 May 2014
Source: RFU

Original teams

When the league system was formed in 1987, the following teams participated in the league, which was known as National 3. Twenty-seven years on only one team, Fylde, is currently playing at this level.

National League 1 champions

List of National League 1 Champions
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams Ref
1987–88 12 Wakefield West Hartlepool Morley and Birmingham [6]
1988–89 12 Plymouth Albion Rugby Metropolitan Police RFC and Maidstone [7]
1989–90 12 London Scottish Wakefield London Welsh [7]
1990–91 13 West Hartlepool Morley Metropolitan Police RFC and Vale of Lune [8]
1991–92 13 Richmond Fylde Nuneaton and Lydney [9]
1992–93 12 Otley Havant Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool St Helens, Clifton, Aspatria, Askeans, Broughton Park and Plymouth Albion [10]
1993–94 10 Coventry Fylde Havant and Redruth [11]
1994–95 10 Bedford Blackheath Clifton and Exeter [12]
1995–96 10 Coventry Richmond also promoted: Rugby and Rotherham (no relegation) [13]
1996–97 16 Exeter Fylde Walsall RFC, Havant, Redruth and Clifton [14]
1997–98 14 Worcester Leeds Tykes also promoted: London Welsh and Rugby (no relegation) [15]
1998–99 14 Henley Manchester Morley and Liverpool St Helens [16]
1999–00 14 Otley Birmingham & Solihull Reading and Blackheath [17]
2000–01 14 Bracknell Rugby Camberley, Lydney and West Hartlepool [18]
2001–02 14 Orrell Plymouth Albion Rosslyn Park, Waterloo and Preston Grasshoppers [18]
2002–03 14 Penzance-Newlyn Henley Launceston, Kendal RFC and Fylde [19]
2003–04 14 Sedgley Park Nottingham Rugby and Lydney [20]
2004–05 14 Doncaster Newbury Nuneaton, Bracknell and Rosslyn Park [21]
2005–06 14 Moseley Waterloo Orrell [22]
2006–07 14 Esher Launceston Bradford & Bingley, Barking and Harrogate [23]
2007–08 14 Otley Manchester Nuneaton, Henley Hawks and Halifax [24]
2008–09 14 Birmingham & Solihull Cambridge Westcombe Park, Southend, Mounts Bay RFC and Waterloo [25]
2009–10 16 Esher London Scottish Newbury, Nuneaton and Manchester [26]
2010–11 16 London Scottish Barking Redruth, Otley and Launceston [27]
2011–12 16 Jersey Ealing Trailfinders Birmingham & Solihull, Stourbridge and Barking
2012–13 16 Ealing Trailfinders Esher Macclesfield, Sedgley Park and Cambridge [28]
2013–14 16 Doncaster Knights Rosslyn Park Henley Hawks, Worthing Raiders and Hull Ionians [29]
2014–15 16 Ealing Trailfinders Rosslyn Park Tynedale, Macclesfield and (Cinderford or Old Albanian)
Green background are promotion places.

    League results

    League information Start of season End of season
    Season Name Teams Relegated to league Promoted to league Promoted from league Relegated from league
    2005–06 National Division Two 14
    2006–07 National Division Two 14 None
    • Bradford & Bingley
    • Harrogate
    2007–08 National Division Two 14
    2008–09 National Division Two 14
    2009–10 National League 1 16
    2010–11 National League 1 16
    • Coventry
    2011–12 National League 1 16
    2012–13 National League 1 16
    2013–14 National League 1 16
    2014–15 National League 1 16

    Tier three format since 1987

    Format of the third tier rugby union leagues in England
    Year Name No of teams No of matches
    1987–90 Courage National 3 12 11
    1991–92 Courage National 3 13 12
    1992–93 Courage National 3 12 11
    1993–96 Courage National 3 10 18
    1996–97 Courage National 3 16 30
    1997–2000 Jewson National League 1 14 26
    2000–09 National Division 2 14 26
    2009– National Division 1 16 30

    See also

    References

    1. ↑ Stephen Jones, ed. (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89. London: Rothmans Publications Ltd.
    2. ↑ Verdier, Nick (30 August 2014). "2014–2015 Season preview: National Leagues". Rugby Paper. pp. 26–27.
    3. ↑ "DMP drop five points". The RUGBYPaper (317). 12 October 2014. p. 43.
    4. ↑ Edwards, Michael (18 March 2015). "Five points deducted from Old Albanian". The Herts Advertiser. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
    5. ↑ Discipline "Club Discipline". NCA Rugby. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
    6. ↑ Stephen Jones, ed. (1988). Courage Leagues 1988–89. London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0356158845.
    7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). Courage Clubs Championship. Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91. Horsham: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 1873057024.
    8. ↑ Stephen Jones, ed. (1991). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991–92. London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0356202496.
    9. ↑ "Courage Club Championship 1991/92". Moseley Rugby club. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
    10. ↑ "Courage Clubs Championship-1992/93". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
    11. ↑ "Courage Clubs Championship 1993/94". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
    12. ↑ "Courage Club Championships 1994/95". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
    13. ↑ Mick Cleary, ed. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0747277710.
    14. ↑ Mick Cleary, ed. (1987). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98. London: Headline Book Publishers. ISBN 074727732X.
    15. ↑ "1997/98: Jewson National Division (formerly Courage League National Division 3)". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
    16. ↑ Mick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1999). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1999–2000. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0747275319.
    17. ↑ Stephen McCormack, ed. (2000). The Official RFU Club Directory 2000–2001. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 1852916273.
    18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Stephen McCormack, ed. (2001). The Official RFU Club Directory 2001–2002. Harpender: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 1852916400.
    19. ↑ Stephen McCormack (2002). The Official RFU Club Directory 2002–2003. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 1852916451.
    20. ↑ "National Division 1 2003/04". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
    21. ↑ "2004/05: National League 2.". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
    22. ↑ "2005/06: National League 2.". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
    23. ↑ "2006/07: National League 2". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
    24. ↑ "2007/08: National League 2". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
    25. ↑ "2008/09: National League 2". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
    26. ↑ "2009/10: National League 1". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
    27. ↑ "Final League Tables 2010 – 2011". Trelawneys Army. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
    28. ↑ "English National League One Table". BBC. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
    29. ↑ "SSE National League 1". NCA. Retrieved 8 May 2014.

    External links