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. This is the lowest level of the English rugby union league system which is nationwide. The league consists of sixteen teams with all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of thirty matches each. There is one promotion place and three relegation places. The champions are promoted to the Greene King IPA Championship and the bottom three teams are relegated to either National League 2 North or National League 2 South (formerly National Division Three North and South) depending on the geographical location of the team.
Video National League 1
Current season
Maps National League 1
Participating teams and locations
Twelve of the sixteen teams participated in the preceding season's competition. The 2016-17 champions, Hartpury College, were promoted to the 2017-18 RFU Championship, replacing London Welsh who went into liquidation in the second half of the season and would cease to exist in their present format. Due to London Welsh's liquidation only two teams (instead of three) were relegated last season - Macclesfield and Blaydon - both of whom drop to the 2017-18 National League 2 North.
The promoted teams are Caldy and Bishop's Stortford, champions of the 2016-17 National League 2 South and 2016-17 National League 2 North respectively, and Old Elthamians who won the promotion play-off against Sale FC. National League 1 is the highest level all three of these sides have ever reached.
League table
History
When the rugby union leagues were introduced in 1987 the division was known as Courage League National Division Three. Ten years later, in 1997, 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. Following the formation of the professional RFU Championship in 2009 the league, once again, became known as National League One, and is currently the lowest tier that is nationwide. The league previously consisted of fourteen clubs, but from 2009-10 increased to sixteen. Only one team is now promoted to the RFU Championship and since 2009-10 three teams are relegated to National League 2 North and/or National League 2 South depending on geographical location.
Summary of tier three format
Original teams
When the league system was formed in 1987, the following teams participated in the league, which was known as National 3. Twenty-nine years on only two teams, Fylde and Plymouth Albion are currently playing at this level. (Updated to 2016-17)
- Birmingham -- now Birmingham & Solihull, playing in National League 3 Midlands (5th tier)
- Exeter -- now playing in the Premiership (1st tier)
- Fylde -- currently playing in this division (3rd tier)
- Maidstone -- now playing in London 1 South (6th tier)
- Metropolitan Police -- now playing in Surrey 3 (11th tier)
- Morley -- now playing in National League 3 North (5th tier)
- Nuneaton -- now playing in National League 3 Midlands (5th tier)
- Plymouth Albion -- currently playing in this division (3rd tier)
- Sheffield -- now playing in National League 3 North (5th tier)
- Vale of Lune -- now playing in North 1 West (6th tier)
- Wakefield -- no longer participating in league rugby having disbanded in 2004
- West Hartlepool -- now playing in North 1 East (6th tier)
List of champions
National Division Three
National League One
National Division Two
National League One
League results
Number of league titles
Records
Note that all records are from 1996-97 season onwards as this is widely held as the dawn of professionalism across the English club game. It also offers a better comparison between seasons as the division team numbers are roughly equal (for example when league rugby union first started in 1987-88 the Courage League National Division Three had only 12 teams playing 11 games each, compared to 16 teams in 1996-97 playing 30 games (home & away)). Attendance records are from 2000 onwards unless otherwise specified. All records are up to date up till the end of the 2017-18 season.
League records
- Most titles: 3
- Otley (1992-93, 1999-00, 2007-08)
- Coventry (1993-94, 1995-96, 2017-18)
- Most times promoted from division: 3
- Rugby Lions (1988-89, 1995-96, 2000-01)
- Fylde (1991-92, 1993-94, 1996-97)
- Otley (1992-93, 1999-00, 2007-08)
- Richmond (1991-92, 1995-96, 2015-16)
- Most times relegated from division: 4
- Nuneaton (1991-92, 2004-05, 2007-08, 2009-10)
- Most league points in a season: 148
- Hartpury College (2016-17)
- Least league points in a season: 0
- West Hartlepool (2000-01), Manchester (2009-10)
- Most points scored in a season: 1,455
- Hartpury College (2016-17)
- Least points scored in a season: 114
- Manchester (2009-10)
- Most points conceded in a season: 2,626
- Manchester (2009-10)
- Least points conceded in a season: 299
- Henley Hawks (1998-99)
- Best points difference (For/Against): 1,078
- Esher (2009-10)
- Worst points difference (For/Against): -2,512
- Manchester (2009-10)
- Most games won in a season: 30
- Hartpury College (2016-17)
- Most games lost in a season: 30
- Manchester (2009-10)
- Most games drawn in a season: 4
- Wharfedale (2005-06), Richmond (2012-13), Ampthill (2017-18)
- Most bonus points in a season: 28
- Ealing Trailfinders (2014-15)
- Hartpury College (2016-17)
Match records
- Largest home win:
- 124 - 5 Wharfedale at home to Manchester on 26 September 2009 (2009-10)
- Largest away win:
- 148 - 0 Esher away to Manchester on 5 September 2009 (2009-10)
- Most points scored in a match: 148
- Esher away to Manchester on 5 September 2009 (2009-10)
- Most tries scored in a match: 23
- Blaydon away to Manchester on 19 September 2009 (2009-10)
- Most conversions scored in a match: 19
- Esher away to Manchester on 5 September 2009 (2009-10)
- Most penalties scored in a match: 8
- Esher at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 1 December 2001 (2001-02)
- Stourbridge at home to Rosslyn Park on 25 October 2003 (2003-04)
- Hartpury College at home to Rosslyn Park on 9 April 2016 (2015-16)
- Most drop kicks scored in a match: 3
- Fylde away to Esher on 13 February 2016 (2015-16)
Player records
- Most times top points scorer: 2
- Neil Hallett for Esher (2005-06, 2006-07)
- Most times top try scorer: 3
- Phil Chesters for Ealing Trailfinders (2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15)
- Most points in a season: 399
- Sam Ulph for Esher (2009-10)
- Most tries in a season: 42
- Phil Chesters for Ealing Trailfinders (2011-12)
- Most points in a match: 51
- Sam Ulph for Esher away to Manchester on 5 September 2009 (2009-10)
- Most tries in a match: 7
- Hugo Ellis for Rosslyn Park at home to Cambridge on 12 January 2013
- Most conversions in a match: 18
- Sam Ulph for Esher away to Manchester on 5 September 2009 (2009-10)
- Most penalties in a match: 8
- Jonathon Gregory for Esher at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 1 December 2001 (2001-02)
- Ben Harvey for Stourbridge at home to Rosslyn Park on 25 October 2003 (2003-04)
- Gareth Thompson for Hartpury College at home to Rosslyn Park on 9 April 2016 (2015-16)
- Most drop kicks in a match: 3
- Chris Johnson for Fylde away to Esher on 13 February 2016 (2015-16)
Attendance records
- Highest attendance (league game): 3,758
- Coventry RFC at home to Hull Ionians on 28 April 2018 (2017-18)
- Lowest attendance (league game): 50
- West Hartlepool at home to Camberley on 31 March 2001 (2000-01)
- Highest average attendance (club): 2,206
- Jersey (2011-12)
- Lowest average attendance (club): 180
- Barking (2011-12)
- Highest average attendance (season): 653 (2017-18)
- Lowest average attendance (season): 463 (2004-05)
Top ten point scorers
- As of the end of the games of 12 May 2018. Stats taken from 1996-97 season onwards and include regular league games only in National League 1 (no cup games). Points scored includes tries, drop kicks, penalties and conversions.
(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 1)
Top ten try scorers
- As of the end of the games of 12 May 2018. Stats taken from 1996-97 season onwards and include regular league games only in National League 1 (no cup games).
(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 1)
Notes
See also
- English rugby union system
- List of English Rugby Union stadiums by capacity
References
External links
- National Clubs Association for Leagues 1 and 2
Source of article : Wikipedia
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