National League 1
Introduction '''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.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.
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===TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious 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)  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===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===YearNameNo of teamsNo 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)* Birmingham — now Birmingham & Solihull, playing in Midlands 4 West (South) (9th tier)* Exeter — now playing in the 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)* Nuneaton — now playing in Midlands Premier (6th tier)* Plymouth Albion — currently playing in this division (3rd tier)* Sheffield — now playing in 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 Division Three'''SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated team(s)Ref 1987–88  12  11  '''Wakefield'''   West Hartlepool  Morley, Birmingham   1988–89  12  11  '''Plymouth Albion'''   Rugby  Metropolitan Police, Maidstone   1989–90  12  11  '''London Scottish'''  Wakefield  London Welsh   1990–91  13  12  '''West Hartlepool'''  Morley  Metropolitan Police, Vale of Lune   1991–92  13  12  '''Richmond'''  Fylde  Nuneaton, Lydney    1992–93  12  11  '''Otley'''  Havant  Multiple teams    1993–94  10  18  '''Coventry'''  Fylde  Havant, Redruth   1994–95  10  18  '''Bedford'''  Blackheath  Clifton, Exeter   1995–96  10  18  '''Coventry'''  Richmond  Fylde in last place (no relegation)    1996–97  16  30  '''Exeter'''  Fylde  Walsall, Havant, Redruth, Clifton   ====National League One===='''National League One'''SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated team(s)Ref 1997–98  14  26  '''Worcester'''  Leeds Tykes  No relegation    1998–99  14  26  '''Henley'''  Manchester  Morley, Liverpool St Helens    1999–00  14  26  '''Otley'''  Birmingham & Solihull  Reading, Blackheath   ====National Division Two===='''National Division Two'''SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated team(s)Ref 2000–01  14  26  '''Bracknell'''  Rugby  Camberley, Lydney, West Hartlepool    2001–02  14  26  '''Orrell'''  Plymouth Albion  Rosslyn Park, Waterloo, Preston Grasshoppers   2002–03  14  26  '''Penzance-Newlyn'''  Henley  Launceston, Kendal, Fylde    2003–04  14  26  '''Sedgley Park'''  Nottingham  Rugby, Lydney    2004–05  14  26  '''Doncaster'''  Newbury  Nuneaton, Bracknell, Rosslyn Park    2005–06  14  26  '''Moseley'''  Waterloo  Orrell    2006–07  14  26  '''Esher'''  Launceston  Bradford & Bingley, Barking, Harrogate    2007–08  14  26  '''Otley'''  Manchester  Nuneaton, Henley Hawks, Halifax    2008–09  14  26  '''Birmingham & Solihull'''   Cambridge  Westcombe Park, Southend, Mounts Bay, Waterloo   ====National League One===='''National League One'''SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated team(s)Ref 2009–10  16  30  '''Esher'''   London Scottish  Newbury, Nuneaton, Manchester    2010–11  16  30  '''London Scottish'''   Barking  Redruth, Otley, Launceston   2011–12  16  30  '''Jersey'''   Ealing Trailfinders  Birmingham & Solihull, Stourbridge, Barking  2012–13  16  30  '''Ealing Trailfinders'''   Esher  Macclesfield, Sedgley Park, Cambridge   2013–14  16  30  '''Doncaster Knights'''  Rosslyn Park  Henley Hawks, Worthing Raiders, Hull Ionians  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, Blaydon  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  25  '''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 and Tonbridge Juddians   2022–23  14  26  '''Cambridge'''  Rams  Esher, Leeds Tykes and Hull   2023–24  14  26     Green background are the promotion places.
Number of league titles *Coventry (3)*Otley (3)*Richmond (3)*Doncaster Knights (2)*Ealing Trailfinders (2)*Esher (2)*London Scottish (2)*Ampthill (1)*Bedford (1)*Bracknell (1)*Caldy (1)*Cambridge (1)*Exeter (1)*Hartpury College (1)*Henley (1)*Jersey (1)*Moseley (1)*Orrell (1)*Penzance-Newlyn (1)*Plymouth Albion (1)*Sedgley Park (1)*Wakefield (1)*West Hartlepool (1)*Worcester (1)
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)*'''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):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: 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): Alex Dolly for Rotherham Titans at home to Rosslyn Park on 15 September 2018 (2018–19)*'''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===RankNatNameYearsClub(s)PointsAppsRatio1Andrew Baggett2001–082008–17WharfedaleBlaydon1,7074094.2 2Neil Hallett1999–022002–042004–102011–12Rosslyn ParkBracknellEsherEaling Trailfinders1,4401818.03Alastair Bressington2004–052005–10, 2010–122010MoseleyStourbridgeCinderford1,2011478.2 4Lee Cholewa1996–971998–99, 2000–052005–072010–11RotherhamHarrogateLondon WelshLondon Scottish1,1681468.05'''Chris Johnson'''2012–162019, 2019–FyldeSale FC1,0751199.0 6'''Clifford Hodgson'''2012–20172019–CoventryBirmingham Moseley1,0241099.4 Mark Bedworth2005–10Wharfedale1,0241149.07Ben Harvey1996–971999–002000–012001–05RichmondWorcester WarriorsMoseleyStourbridge9871188.48Jonathon Gregory1996–972000–04RichmondEsher9708411.59Jonathon Davies1997–07Wharfedale9461984.8(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 1)===Top ten try scorers===RankNatNameYearsClub(s)TriesAppsRatio1David Allen2004–17Blackheath1472770.52Oliver Brennand2011–17Fylde1171610.7 3'''Hugo Ellis'''2012–Rosslyn Park1071550.7 4Phil Chesters2011–13, 2014–15Ealing Trailfinders105821.35Jason Smithson2007–17Blaydon962240.4  6Chris Malherbe1998–992001–022002–11CamberleyKendalWharfedale952220.4Andrew Hodgson1997–99, 2000–04, 2005–13, 2014–16Wharfedale952640.4 7 Christoff Lombaard2006–07, 2008–102012–15, 16–17CambridgeOld Albanian811510.5 8Nigel Baker2009–122013–15, 201620152016–19StourbridgeCinderfordCoventryAmpthill791490.59Spencer Sutherland2011–122012–182018–19CoventryEsherAmpthill781480.5(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 1)
See also * English rugby union system* List of English rugby union stadiums by capacity
Notes
References
External links *  National Clubs Association for Leagues 1 and 2