National League 1

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National One, up until 2023 known as National League 1 and previously known before September 2009 as National Division Two), is the third of three national leagues in the domestic rugby union competition of England. It was known as Courage League National Division Three when founded in 1987.[1] Richmond are the current champions.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) approved a new structure for the National Leagues from the 2022–23 season. This division was reduced to fourteen teams, playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of 26 matches each.

The champions are promoted to the RFU Championship and the bottom three teams are relegated to either National Two East, National Two North or National Two West depending on the geographical location of the team. There will be a two-week break over Christmas and protected weekend breaks through the season. The competition structure will be reviewed every three years.[2][3]

Structure

The league consists of fourteen teams, with all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis, to make a total of twenty-six matches each. There is one promotion place, with the champions promoted to the RFU Championship, and there are three relegation places to either, National League 2 East, National League 2 North or National League 2 West, depending on the geographical location of the team.

The results of the matches contribute points to the league table as follows:

  • 4 points are awarded for a win
  • 2 points are awarded for a draw
  • 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
  • 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
  • 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.

Current season

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Participating teams and locations

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Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Birmingham Moseley Billesley Common[4] 5,000 (1,300 seats) Birmingham, West Midlands 7th
Bishop's Stortford Silver Leys[5] 1,600 Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire 9th
Blackheath Well Hall 1,650 (550 seats) Eltham, London 6th
Clifton Station Road [6] 2,500 (400 seats) Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol Promoted from National League 2 West (champions)[7]
Dings Crusaders Shaftesbury Park [8] 2,250 (250 seats) Frenchay, Bristol 10th
Leeds Tykes The Sycamores 1,500 Bramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire Promoted from National League 2 North (champions)[9]
Leicester Lions Westleigh Park 2,000 Blaby, Leicestershire 12thTemplate:Efn
Plymouth Albion The Brickfields[10] 8,500 Plymouth, Devon 4th
Rams Old Bath Road[11] 2,000 (300 seats)[12] Sonning, Reading, Berkshire 5th
Rosslyn Park The Rock 2,000 Roehampton, London 2nd
Rotherham Titans Clifton Lane[13] 2,500 Rotherham, South Yorkshire 3rd
Sale FC Heywood Road[14] 3,387 Sale, Greater Manchester 8th
Sedgley Park Park Lane[15] 3,000 Whitefield, Bury, Greater Manchester 11th
Tonbridge Juddians The Slade 1,500 Tonbridge, Kent Promoted from National League 2 East (champions)[16]

League table

{{#section:2025–26 National League 1|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 1, and is currently the lowest tier that is nationwide. The league has previously consisted of fourteen clubs, but from 2009 to 2010 increased to sixteen before reducing to fourteen again ahead of the 2022–23 season. Only one team was promoted to the RFU Championship and between 2009–10 and 2019–20 three teams were relegated to either National League 2 North or National League 2 South depending on geographical location. Following reorganisation in 2022, three teams are now relegated to either National League 2 East, National League 2 North or National League 2 West depending on geographical location.

Summary of tier three format

Year Name No of teams No of matches
1987–90 Courage National 3 12 11
1990–92 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
2009–22 National League 1 16 30
2022– National League 1 14 26

Original teams

When the league system was formed in 1987, the following teams participated in the league, which was known as National 3. Thirty-three years on, only one team Plymouth Albion, are currently playing at this level. (Updated to 2019–20)

League results

National Division Three

National Division Three
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners-up Relegated team(s) Ref
1987–88 12 11 Wakefield West Hartlepool Morley, Birmingham [17]
1988–89 12 11 Plymouth Albion Rugby Metropolitan Police, Maidstone [18]
1989–90 12 11 London Scottish Wakefield London Welsh [18]
1990–91 13 12 West Hartlepool Morley Metropolitan Police, Vale of Lune [19]
1991–92 13 12 Richmond Fylde Nuneaton, Lydney [20]
1992–93 12 11 Otley Havant Multiple teamsTemplate:Efn [21]
1993–94 10 18 Coventry Fylde Havant, Redruth [22]
1994–95 10 18 Bedford Blackheath Clifton, Exeter [23]
1995–96 10 18 Coventry RichmondTemplate:Efn Fylde in last place (no relegation) [24]
1996–97 16 30 Exeter Fylde Walsall, Havant, Redruth, Clifton [25]

National League One

National League One
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners-up Relegated team(s) Ref
1997–98 14 26 Worcester Leeds TykesTemplate:Efn No relegation [26]
1998–99 14 26 Henley Manchester Morley, Liverpool St Helens [27]
1999–00 14 26 Otley Birmingham & Solihull Reading, Blackheath [28]

National Division Two

National Division Two
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners-up Relegated team(s) Ref
2000–01 14 26 Bracknell Rugby Camberley, Lydney, West Hartlepool [29]
2001–02 14 26 Orrell Plymouth Albion Rosslyn Park, Waterloo, Preston Grasshoppers [29]
2002–03 14 26 Penzance-Newlyn Henley Launceston, Kendal, Fylde [30]
2003–04 14 26 Sedgley Park Nottingham Rugby, Lydney [31]
2004–05 14 26 Doncaster Newbury Nuneaton, Bracknell, Rosslyn Park [32]
2005–06 14 26 Moseley Waterloo Orrell [33]
2006–07 14 26 Esher Launceston Bradford & Bingley, Barking, Harrogate [34]
2007–08 14 26 Otley Manchester Nuneaton, Henley Hawks, Halifax [35]
2008–09 14 26 Birmingham & Solihull Cambridge Westcombe Park, Southend, Mounts Bay, Waterloo [36]

National League One

National League One
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners-up Relegated team(s) Ref
2009–10 16 30 Esher London Scottish Newbury, Nuneaton, Manchester [37]
2010–11 16 30 London Scottish Barking Redruth, Otley, Launceston [38]
2011–12 16 30 Jersey Ealing Trailfinders Birmingham & Solihull, Stourbridge, Barking
2012–13 16 30 Ealing Trailfinders Esher Macclesfield, Sedgley Park, Cambridge [39]
2013–14 16 30 Doncaster Knights Rosslyn Park Henley Hawks, Worthing Raiders, Hull Ionians [40]
2014–15 16 30 Ealing Trailfinders Rosslyn Park Tynedale, Macclesfield, Old Albanian
2015–16 16 30 Richmond Hartpury College Henley Hawks, Cinderford, Wharfedale
2016–17 16 30 Hartpury College Plymouth Albion Macclesfield, BlaydonTemplate:Efn
2017–18 16 30 Coventry Darlington Mowden Park Fylde, Old Albanian, Hull Ionians
2018–19 16 30 Ampthill Old Elthamians Loughborough Students, Esher, Caldy
2019–20 16 25Template:Efn Richmond Rams Hull Ionians, Canterbury, Rotherham Titans
2020–21 Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the season was cancelled.
2021–22 15 28 Caldy Sale FC Blackheath, Tonbridge Juddians [41]
2022–23 14 26 Cambridge Rams Esher, Leeds Tykes, Hull [42]
2023–24 14 26 Chinnor Rams Cinderford, Taunton Titans [43]
2024–25 14 26 Richmond Rosslyn Park Darlington Mowden Park, EsherTemplate:Efn [44]
2025–26 14 26
Green background are the promotion places.

Number of league titles

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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 2019–20 season.

League records

  • Most titles: 4
Richmond (1991–92, 2015–16, 2019–20, 2024–25)
  • Most times promoted from division: 5
Richmond (1991–92, 1995–96, 2015–16, 2019–20, 2024–25)
  • 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)[45]
  • 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)
Rotherham Titans at home to Rosslyn Park on 15 September 2018 (2018–19)
  • 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
Template:Flagicon Neil Hallett for Esher (2005–06, 2006–07)
  • Most times top try scorer: 3
Template:Flagicon Phil Chesters for Ealing Trailfinders (2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15)
  • Most points in a season: 399
Template:Flagicon Sam Ulph for Esher (2009–10)
  • Most tries in a season: 42
Template:Flagicon Phil Chesters for Ealing Trailfinders (2011–12)
  • Most points in a match: 51
Template:Flagicon Sam Ulph for Esher away to Manchester on 5 September 2009 (2009–10)
  • Most tries in a match: 7
Template:Flagicon Hugo Ellis for Rosslyn Park at home to Cambridge on 12 January 2013
  • Most conversions in a match: 18
Template:Flagicon Sam Ulph for Esher away to Manchester on 5 September 2009 (2009–10)
  • Most penalties in a match: 8
Template:Flagicon Jonathon Gregory for Esher at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 1 December 2001 (2001–02)
Template:Flagicon Ben Harvey for Stourbridge at home to Rosslyn Park on 25 October 2003 (2003–04)
Template:Flagicon Gareth Thompson for Hartpury College at home to Rosslyn Park on 9 April 2016 (2015–16)
Template:Flagicon Alex Dolly for Rotherham Titans at home to Rosslyn Park on 15 September 2018 (2018–19)
  • Most drop kicks in a match: 3
Template:Flagicon Chris Johnson for Fylde away to Esher on 13 February 2016 (2015–16)

Attendance records

Template:Efn

  • 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 27 April 2019. 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.[46]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Rank Nat Name Years Club(s) Points Apps Ratio
1 Template:Flagicon Andrew Baggett 2001–08
2008–17		 Wharfedale
Blaydon		 1,707 409 4.2
2 Template:Flagicon Neil Hallett 1999–02
2002–04
2004–10
2011–12		 Rosslyn Park
Bracknell
Esher
Ealing Trailfinders		 1,440 181 8.0
3 Template:Flagicon Alastair Bressington 2004–05
2005–10, 2010–12
2010		 Moseley
Stourbridge
Cinderford		 1,201 147 8.2
4 Template:Flagicon Lee Cholewa 1996–97
1998–99, 2000–05
2005–07
2010–11		 Rotherham
Harrogate
London Welsh
London Scottish		 1,168 146 8.0
5 Template:Flagicon Chris Johnson 2012–16
2019, 2019–		 Fylde
Sale FC		 1,075 119 9.0
6 Template:Flagicon Clifford Hodgson 2012–2017
2019–[47]		 Coventry
Birmingham Moseley		 1,024
 109
 9.4
Template:Flagicon Mark Bedworth 2005–10 Wharfedale 1,024 114 9.0
7 Template:Flagicon Ben Harvey 1996–97
1999–00
2000–01
2001–05		 Richmond
Worcester Warriors
Moseley
Stourbridge		 987 118 8.4
8 Template:Flagicon Jonathon Gregory 1996–97
2000–04		 Richmond
Esher		 970 84 11.5
9 Template:Flagicon Jonathon Davies 1997–07 Wharfedale 946 198 4.8

(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 1)

Top ten try scorers

As of the end of the games of 27 April 2019. Stats taken from 1996–97 season onwards and include regular league games only in National League 1 (no cup games).[48]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Rank Nat Name Years Club(s) Tries Apps Ratio
1 Template:Flagicon David Allen 2004–17 Blackheath 147 277 0.5
2 Template:Flagicon Oliver Brennand 2011–17 Fylde 117 161 0.7
3 Template:Flagicon Hugo Ellis 2012– Rosslyn Park 107 155 0.7
4 Template:Flagicon Phil Chesters 2011–13, 2014–15 Ealing Trailfinders 105 82 1.3
5 Template:Flagicon Jason Smithson 2007–17 Blaydon 96 224 0.4
6 Template:Flagicon Chris Malherbe 1998–99
2001–02
2002–11		 Camberley
Kendal
Wharfedale		 95 222 0.4
Template:Flagicon Andrew Hodgson 1997–99, 2000–04, 2005–13, 2014–16 Wharfedale 95 264 0.4
7 Template:Flagicon Christoff Lombaard 2006–07, 2008–10
2012–15, 16–17		 Cambridge
Old Albanian		 81 151 0.5
8 Template:Flagicon Nigel Baker 2009–12
2013–15, 2016
2015
2016–19		 Stourbridge
Cinderford
Coventry
Ampthill		 79 149 0.5
9 Template:Flagicon Spencer Sutherland 2011–12
2012–18
2018–19		 Coventry
Esher
Ampthill		 78 148 0.5

(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 1)

See also

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

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External links

Template:National League 1 Script error: No such module "Navbox".

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