National League 1

National League 1

Founded	1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Country	England
Number of teams	14
Level on pyramid	Level 3
Promotion to	RFU Championship
Relegation to	National Two East National Two North National Two West
Current champions	Chinnor (1st title) (2023–24)
Most championships	Coventry, Otley, Richmond (3 titles)
Website	National League 1
Current: 2023–24 National League 1

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] Cambridge are the current champions.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) approved a new structure for the National Leagues from the 2022–23 season. This division will be 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.

2023–24

Participating teams and locations

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Birmingham Moseley Billesley Common 6,000 (2,000 seats) Birmingham, West Midlands 9th Bishop's Stortford Silver Leys 1,600 Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire 6th Blackheath Well Hall 1,650 (550 seats) Eltham, London Promoted from National League 2 East Chinnor Kingsey Road 2,500 Thame, Oxfordshire 8th Cinderford Dockham Road 2,500 Cinderford, Gloucestershire 7th Darlington Mowden Park Northern Echo Arena 25,000 seats Darlington, County Durham 10th Leicester Lions Westleigh Park 2,000 Blaby, Leicestershire Promoted from National League 2 West Plymouth Albion The Brickfields 8,500 (2,000 seats) Plymouth, Devon 5th Rams Old Bath Road 2,000 (300 seats)[4] Sonning, Reading, Berkshire 2nd Rosslyn Park The Rock 2,000 Roehampton, London 4th Richmond Athletic Ground 4,500 (1,000 seats) Richmond, London Relegated from RFU Championship Sale FC Heywood Road 3,400 (1,000 seats) Sale, Greater Manchester 3rd Sedgley Park Park Lane 3,000 Whitefield, Bury, Greater Manchester Promoted from National League 2 North Taunton Titans Veritas Park 2,000 (200 seats) Taunton, Somerset 11th

Birmingham Moseley Bishop's Stortford Chinnor Cinderford Darlington Mowden Park Leicester Lions Plymouth Albion Rams Sale FC SedgleyPark Taunton London London teams Blackheath Rosslyn Park Richmond class=notpageimage| 2023–24 National 1 teams in England Blackheath Rosslyn Park Richmond class=notpageimage| 2023–24 Greater London National League 1 clubs

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 1, and is currently the lowest tier that is nationwide. The league has previously consisted of fourteen clubs, but from 2009–10 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

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)

• Birmingham — now Birmingham & Solihull, playing in Midlands 4 West (South) (9th tier)
• Premiership
  (1st tier)
• Fylde — currently playing in National League 2 North
  (4th tier)
• Maidstone — now playing in London 3 South East (8th tier)
• Metropolitan Police — now playing in
  Surrey 3
  (11th tier)
• Morley — now playing in North 1 East (6th tier)
• Midlands Premier
  (6th tier)
• Plymouth Albion — currently playing in this division (3rd tier)
• Midlands Premier
  (6th 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)

League results

National Division Three

National League One

National Division Two

National League One

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 2019–20 season.

League records

• Most titles: 3

Otley (1992–93, 1999–00, 2007–08)

Coventry (1993–94, 1995–96, 2017–18)

Richmond (1991–92, 2015–16, 2019–20)

• Most times promoted from division: 4

Richmond (1991–92, 1995–96, 2015–16, 2019–20)

• 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

)

West Hartlepool (2000–01), Manchester (2009–10

)

Hartpury College (2016–17

)

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)^[34]

• 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

)

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

)

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

)

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)

Hartpury College at home to Rosslyn Park on 9 April 2016 (2015–16

)

Alex Dolly for Rotherham Titans at home to Rosslyn Park on 15 September 2018 (2018–19)

• Most drop kicks in a match: 3

Fylde away to Esher on 13 February 2016 (2015–16

)

[g]

• 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

)

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.^[35]

Rank	Nat	Name	Years	Club(s)	Points	Apps	Ratio
1		Andrew Baggett	2001–08 2008–17	Wharfedale Blaydon	1,707	409	4.2
2		Neil Hallett	1999–02 2002–04 2004–10 2011–12	Rosslyn Park Bracknell Esher Ealing Trailfinders	1,440	181	8.0
3		Alastair Bressington	2004–05 2005–10, 2010–12 2010	Moseley Stourbridge Cinderford	1,201	147	8.2
4		Lee Cholewa	1996–97 1998–99, 2000–05 2005–07 2010–11	Rotherham Harrogate London Welsh London Scottish	1,168	146	8.0
5		Chris Johnson	2012–16 2019, 2019–	Fylde Sale FC	1,075	119	9.0
6		Clifford Hodgson	2012–2017 2019–[36]	Birmingham Moseley	1,024	109	9.4
		Mark Bedworth	2005–10	Wharfedale	1,024	114	9.0
7		Ben Harvey	1996–97 1999–00 2000–01 2001–05	Moseley Stourbridge	987	118	8.4
8		Jonathon Gregory	1996–97 2000–04	Richmond Esher	970	84	11.5
9		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).^[37]

Rank	Nat	Name	Years	Club(s)	Tries	Apps	Ratio
1		David Allen	2004–17	Blackheath	147	277	0.5
2		Oliver Brennand	2011–17	Fylde	117	161	0.7
3		Hugo Ellis	2012–	Rosslyn Park	107	155	0.7
4		Phil Chesters	2011–13, 2014–15	Ealing Trailfinders	105	82	1.3
5		Jason Smithson	2007–17	Blaydon	96	224	0.4
6		Chris Malherbe	1998–99 2001–02 2002–11	Kendal Wharfedale	95	222	0.4
		Andrew Hodgson	1997–99, 2000–04, 2005–13, 2014–16	Wharfedale	95	264	0.4
7		Christoff Lombaard	2006–07, 2008–10 2012–15, 16–17	Cambridge Old Albanian	81	151	0.5
8		Nigel Baker	2009–12 2013–15, 2016 2015 2016–19	Stourbridge Cinderford Coventry Ampthill	79	149	0.5
9		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

• English rugby union system
• List of English rugby union stadiums by capacity

Notes