National League 2 North
Introduction '''National League 2 North''' is one of three level four leagues in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in Northern England. The remainder of England is covered by the two counterpart leagues National League 2 East and National League 2 West. The champion club is promoted to National One. Relegation is to either the Regional 1 Midlands, Regional 1 North East or Regional 1 North West, depending on their location. Sedgley Park are the current champions.Before September 2009, it was known as National Division Three North. From 2009 to 2010 the Rugby Football Union (RFU) expanded the league from fourteen to sixteen teams. Each team played thirty league games on a home and away basis. The 2019–20 season ended before all the matches were completed because of the coronavirus pandemic and the RFU used a best playing record formula to decide the final table. The RFU approved a new structure for the National Leagues from the 2022–23 season. The league is reduced to fourteen teams, 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 and each play the others on a home and away basis, to make a total of 26 matches each. The champions are promoted to National League 1.The RFU will release details of relegation in the summer.The results of the matches contribute points to the league 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 ===Participating teams and locations===TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Billingham  Greenwood Road   1,500 (100 seats)  Billingham, County Durham  Promoted from Regional 1 North East (1st) Fylde  Woodlands Memorial Ground  9,000  Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire  2nd Huddersfield  Lockwood Park   1,500 (500 seats)  Huddersfield, West Yorkshire  12th  Hull  Ferens Ground  1,500 (288 seats)  Kingston upon Hull, East Riding  Relegated from 2022–23 National League 1 (14th) Hull Ionians  Brantingham Park   1,500 (240 seats)  Brantingham, East Riding  3rd Leeds Tykes  The Sycamores  1,500  Bramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire  Relegated from 2022–23 National League 1 (13th) Lymm  Crouchley Lane   Lymm, Cheshire  Promoted from Regional 1 North West (1st) Otley  Cross Green  5,000  Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire  5th Preston Grasshoppers  Lightfoot Green  5,000  Preston, Lancashire  11th Rotherham Titans  Clifton Lane 2,500  Rotherham, South Yorkshire  4th Sheffield  Abbeydale Park  3,200 (100 seats)  Sheffield, South Yorkshire  10th Sheffield Tigers  Dore Moor    Sheffield, South Yorkshire  9th Tynedale  Tynedale Park   2,000 (400 seats)  Corbridge, Northumberland  6th Wharfedale  The Avenue   2,000  Threshfield, North Yorkshire  8th===League table===
National Two North honours ''' List of National Two North honours'''SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunner–upRelegated teamsLeague name 1987–88  11  '''Rugby'''  Durham City  Solihull, Derby, Birkenhead Park  Area League North 1988–89  11  '''Roundhay '''  Broughton Park  Birmingham Area League North 1989–90  11  '''Broughton Park'''  Morley  No relegation   Area League North 1990–91  13  '''Otley'''  Lichfield  Birmingham & Solihull, Stoke-on-Trent  National 4 North 1991–92  13  '''Aspatria'''  Hereford  Vale of Lune, Northern  National 4 North 1992–93  13  '''Harrogate'''  Rotherham  Towcestrians  National 4 North 1993–94  10  '''Clifton''' Harrogate  Sheffield (to 5 North), Sudbury (to 5 South)  Courage National League 4  1994–95  10  '''Rotherham'''  Reading  Askeans (to 5 South), Broughton Park (to 5 North)  Courage National League 4 1995–96  10  '''Exeter'''  London Welsh  Aspatria (to 4 North), Plymouth Albion (to 4 South)  Courage National League 4 1996–97  14  '''Worcester'''  Birmingham & Solihull  Stoke-on-Trent, Hereford  National 4 North 1997–98  14  '''Birmingham & Solihull'''  Manchester  No relegation  National 2 North 1998–99  14  '''Preston Grasshoppers'''  Stourbridge  Winnington Park, Lichfield, Hinckley  National 2 North 1999–00  14  '''Kendal'''  Stourbridge  Sheffield  National 2 North 2000–01  14  '''Stourbridge'''  Sedgley Park  Walsall, Aspatria  National 3 North 2001–02  14  '''Doncaster'''  Dudley Kingswinford  Whitchurch, Morley, Sandal, West Hartlepool  National 3 North 2002–03  14  '''Nuneaton'''  New Brighton  Bedford Athletic, Broadstreet, Hull Ionians, Scunthorpe  National 3 North 2003–04  14  '''Waterloo'''  Halifax  Preston Grasshoppers, Liverpool St Helens, Longton  National 3 North 2004–05  14  '''Halifax'''  Macclesfield  Rugby Lions, Dudley Kingswinford, Bedford Athletic  National 3 North 2005–06  14  '''Bradford & Bingley'''  Nuneaton  New Brighton, Kendal  National 3 North 2006–07  14  '''Blaydon'''  Tynedale  Darlington, Cleckheaton, Orrell  National 3 North  2007–08  14  '''Tynedale'''  Darlington Mowden Park  Morley, West Park St Helens, Beverley  National 3 North 2008–09  14  '''Nuneaton'''  Caldy  Darlington Mowden Park, Halifax  National 3 North 2009–10  16  '''Macclesfield'''  Loughborough Students  Waterloo, Bradford & Bingley  National League 2 North 2010–11  16  '''Fylde'''  Loughborough Students  Morley, Rugby Lions, Manchester  National League 2 North 2011–12  16  '''Loughborough Students '''  Caldy  Harrogate, Nuneaton, Kendal  National League 2 North 2012–13  16  '''Hull Ionians'''  Stourbridge  Westoe, Stockport, Huddersfield  National League 2 North 2013–14  16  '''Macclesfield'''  Darlington Mowden Park  Sheffield Tigers, Bromsgrove, Dudley Kingswinford  National League 2 North 2014–15  16  '''Hull Ionians'''  Ampthill  Birmingham & Solihull, Hull, Stockport  National League 2 North 2015–16  16  '''Macclesfield'''  Sedgley Park  Huddersfield, Broadstreet, Sandal  National League 2 North 2016–17  16  '''Caldy'''  Sale  Preston Grasshoppers, Scunthorpe, Harrogate  National League 2 North 2017–18  16  '''Sale FC'''  Sedgley Park  Sheffield, Blaydon, Luctonians  National League 2 North 2018–19  16  '''Hull Ionians'''  Chester  Peterborough Lions, South Leicester, Macclesfield  National League 2 North 2019–20  16  '''Caldy'''  Fylde  Scunthorpe, Preston Grasshoppers, Otley  National League 2 North 2020–21  16  Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. National League 2 North 2021–22  16  '''Hull'''  Sedgley Park  No relegation owing to league reorganisation  National League 2 North 2022–23  14  '''Sedgley Park'''  Fylde  Blaydon and Harrogate  National League 2 North  2023–24  14     Green backgrounds are promotion places.
Promotion play-offs Until the 2018–19 season, there was a play-off between the league runners-up of National League 2 North and National League 2 South, for the third and final promotion place to National League 1.The team with the superior league record having home advantage in the tie. Southern teams have been more successful with fourteen wins to the northern teams four, while the home side has won thirteen teams to the away sides five. '''National Two promotion play-off results'''SeasonHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttendance 2000–01  '''Sedgley Park''' (N)  40–23  Launceston (S)  Park Lane, Whitefield, Greater Manchester  1,500 2001–02  '''Launceston''' (S)  26–0  Dudley Kingswinford (N)  Polson Bridge, Launceston, Cornwall  2,500  2002–03  '''Lydney''' (S)  21–7  New Brighton (N)  Regentsholme, Lydney, Gloucestershire   2003–04  Halifax (N)  16–18  '''Launceston''' (S)  Ovenden Park, Halifax, West Yorkshire  2004-05  '''Redruth''' (S)  33–14  Macclesfield (N)  The Recreation Ground, Redruth, Cornwall  4,000 2005–06  North Walsham (S)  5–15  '''Nuneaton''' (N)  Norwich Road, Scottow, Norfolk  1,302 2006–07  '''Westcombe Park''' (S)  36–20  Tynedale (N)  Goddington Dene, Orpington, Greater London  1,700 2007–08  '''Cinderford''' (S)  15–14  Darlington Mowden Park (N)  Dockham Road, Cinderford, Gloucestershire  2,800 2008–09  No promotion play-offs this season due to the restructuring of the English rugby union league system, with only the champions of each division promoted. 2009–10  Loughborough Students (N)  21–43  '''Rosslyn Park''' (S)  Loughborough University Stadium, Loughborough, Leicestershire  1,000 2010–11  '''Jersey''' (S)  30–5  Loughborough Students (N)  St. Peter, Saint Peter, Jersey  3,100 2011–12  '''Richmond''' (S)  20–13 (aet)  Caldy (N)  Athletic Ground, Richmond, Greater London  1,600 2012–13  Stourbridge (N)  26–28  '''Worthing Raiders''' (S)  Stourton Park, Stourbridge, West Midlands  925 2013–14  '''Darlington Mowden Park''' (N)  30–28 (aet)  Ampthill (S)  The Northern Echo Arena, Darlington, County Durham  975 2014–15  '''Ampthill''' (N)  19–10  Bishop's Stortford (S)  Dillingham Park, Ampthill, Bedfordshire  1,253 2015–16  '''Old Albanian''' (S)  24–0  Sedgley Park (N)  Woollam Playing Fields, St Albans, Hertfordshire  473 2016–17  Sale FC (N)  14–19  '''Old Elthamians''' (S)  Heywood Road, Sale, Greater Manchester  1,297 2017–18  '''Chinnor''' (S)  40–31  Sedgley Park (N)  Kingsey Road, Thame, Oxfordshire  1,378 2018–19  '''Canterbury''' (S)  19–10  Chester (N)  The Marine Travel Ground, Canterbury, Kent  1,114 2019–20  Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner-up – Tonbridge Juddians (S) promoted. 2020–21  Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. 2021–22  Cancelled due the reorganisation of tier three and four national leagues. '''Green background''' represent the promoted teams. (N) stands for the northern teams and (S) stands for the southern teams.
Number of league titles *Hull Ionians (3)*Macclesfield (3)*Caldy (2)*Nuneaton (2)*Aspatria (1)*Birmingham & Solihull (1)*Blaydon (1)*Bradford & Bingley (1)*Broughton Park (1)*Doncaster (1)*Fylde (1)*Halifax (1)*Harrogate (1)*Hull (1)*Kendal (1)*Loughborough Students (1)*Otley (1)*Preston Grasshoppers (1)*Rotherham (1)*Roundhay (1)*Rugby (1)*Sale FC (1)*Sedgley Park (1)*Stourbridge (1)*Tynedale (1)*Waterloo (1)*Worcester (1)
Original teams When club rugby began in 1987 this division was called Area 4 North and contained the following teams:*Birkenhead Park (now playing in North 1 West)*Broughton Park (now playing in North 1 West)*Derby (now playing in Midlands 1 East)*Durham City (now playing in North 1 East) *Lichfield (now playing in Midlands 1 West)*Northern (now playing in Durham/Northumberland 1)*Preston Grasshoppers (now playing in North Premier)*Roundhay (now Leeds Tykes and playing in National League 1)*Rugby Lions (now playing in Midlands 1 East)*Solihull (now Birmingham & Solihull and playing in Midlands 4 West (South))*Stourbridge (still playing in National League 2 North)
League format since 1987 ''' Format of fourth tier rugby union leagues in England'''YearNameNo of teamsNo of matches 1987–93  Area League NorthArea League South 11  10  1993–96  National Division Four 10  18  1996–97  National Four NorthNational Four South  14  26 1997–00  National Division 2 NorthNational Division 2 South 14  26 2000–09  National Division Three NorthNational Division Three South  14  26 2009–22  National League 2 NorthNational League 2 South  16  30 2022–  National Two EastNational Two NorthNational Two West  14  26
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 northern league had only 11 teams playing 10 games each, compared to 14 teams in 1996–97 playing 26 games (home & away), going up to 16 teams in 2009–10 playing 30 games each). 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:Hull Ionians (2012–13, 2014–15, 2018–19):Macclesfield (2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16)*'''Most times promoted from division:''' 3:Hull Ionians (2012–13, 2014–15, 2018–19):Nuneaton (2002–03, 2005–06, 2008–09):Macclesfield (2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16)*'''Most times relegated from division:''' 3:Morley (2001–02, 2007–08, 2010–11):Sheffield (1993–94, 1999–00, 2017–18):Scunthorpe (2002–03, 2016–17, 2019–20)*'''Most league points in a season:''' 134:Hull Ionians (2014–15)*'''Fewest league points in a season:''' 0:Manchester (2010–11)*'''Most points scored in a season:''' 1,259:Fylde (2010–11)*'''Fewest points scored in a season:''' 205:Manchester (2010–11)*'''Most points conceded in a season:''' 1,985:Manchester (2010–11)*'''Fewest points conceded in a season:''' 305:Kendal (1999–00)*'''Best points difference (for/against):''' 736:Fylde (2010–11)*'''Worst points difference (for/against):''' -1,780:Manchester (2010–11)*'''Most games won in a season:''' 28:Hull Ionians (2012–13)*'''Most games lost in a season:''' 30:Manchester (2010–11):Dudley Kingswinford (2013-14)*'''Most games drawn in a season:''' 4:Huddersfield (2019–20)*'''Most bonus points in a season:''' 30:Sedgley Park (2017–18)===Match records===*'''Largest home win:''' 124 – 0:Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07)*'''Largest away win:''' 106 – 0:Fylde away to Orrell on 31 March 2007 (2006–07)*'''Most points scored in a match:''' 124:Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07)*'''Most tries scored in a match:''' 18:Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07):Fylde at home to Manchester on 16 April 2011 (2010–11)*'''Most conversions scored in a match:''' 17:Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07)*'''Most penalties scored in a match:''' 9:Luctonians at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 15 November 2014 (2014–15)*'''Most drop kicks scored in a match:''' 3:Fylde at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 7 January 2006 (2005–06):Nuneaton at home to Macclesfield on 11 October 2008 and away to Bradford & Bingley on 29 November 2008 (both 2008–09):Wharfedale at home to Scunthorpe on 19 November 2016 and Wharfedale at home to Luctonians on 28 January 2017 (both 2016–17)===Player records===*'''Most times top points scorer:''' 2: Tom Rhodes for Bradford & Bingley (2004–05, 2005–06): Chris Johnson for Huddersfield (2010–11, 2011–12): Lewis Mininkin for Hull Ionians (2015–16, 2018–19): Gavin Roberts for Caldy (2008–09, 2019–20)*'''Most times top try scorer:''' 3: Nick Royle for Fylde (2006–07) and Caldy (2015–16, 2016–17)*'''Most points in a season:''' 422: Ross Winney for Macclesfield (2009–10)*'''Most tries in a season:''' 32: Gareth Collins for Leicester Lions (2010–11): Ryan Parkinson for Macclesfield (2013–14): Nick Royle for Caldy (2016–17) *'''Most points in a match:''' 49: Ross Winney for Macclesfield away to Waterloo on 30 January 2010 (2009–10)*'''Most conversions in a match:''' 17 : Anthony Mellalieu for Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07)*'''Most tries in a match:''' 7: Matt Donkin for Doncaster at home to Whitchurch on 10 November 2001 (2001–02): Nick Royle for Fylde away to Orrell on 31 March 2007 (2006–07): Dominic Moon for Preston Grasshoppers at home to Otley on 14 April 2012 (2011–12)*'''Most penalties in a match:''' 9: Louis Silver for Luctonians at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 15 November 2015 (2014–15)*'''Most drop kicks in a match:''' 3: Mike Scott for Fylde at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 7 January 2006 (2005–06): Rickie Aley for Nuneaton at home to Macclesfield on 11 October 2008 and away to Bradford & Bingley on 29 November 2008 (both 2008–09): Tom Barrett for Wharfedale at home to Scunthorpe on 19 November 2016 and at home to Luctonians on 28 January 2017 (both 2016–17)===Attendance records===*'''Highest attendance (league game):''' 3,750:Darlington Mowden Park at home to Macclesfield on 26 April 2014 (2013–14)*'''Lowest attendance (league game):''' 37 :South Leicester at home to Sedgley Park on 30 March 2019 (2018–19)*'''Highest attendance (promotion play-off):''' 1,500:Sedgley Park at home to Launceston (2000–01)  *'''Lowest attendance (promotion play-off):'''  925 :Stourbridge at home to Worthing Raiders on 11 May 2013 (2012–13)*'''Highest average attendance (club):''' 921:Fylde (2010–11)*'''Lowest average attendance (club):''' 85:South Leicester (2018–19)*'''Highest average attendance (season):''' 348 (2019–20)*'''Lowest average attendance (season):''' 239 (2007–08)===National League 2 North top 10 point scorers, all time===RankNatNameYearsClub(s)PointsAppsRatio1Jon Boden2006–18Leicester Lions2,0592777.4  2Chris Johnson2008–12, 2018–192016–18HuddersfieldSale1,92718710.33'''Mark Ireland'''2009–122013–142017–KendalOtleySheffield Tigers1,4791599.3 		4'''Stephen Collins'''2010–112013–FyldeSedgley Park1,4701599.25Richard Vasey2009–17Caldy1,4491589.26Ross Winney2005–10Macclesfield1,290126107'''Gavin Roberts'''2007–17, 2019–Caldy1,2842325.58'''Rickie Aley'''2008–092015–182018–NuneatonSouth LeicesterStourbridge1,12611010.29Phillip Belgian2001–08Tynedale1,070116910Mark Bedworth2001–052010–12Darlington Mowden ParkWestoe1,0521209(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 North. )===National League 2 North top 10 try scorers, all time===RankNatNameYearsClub(s)TriesAppsRatio1'''Nick Royle'''2003–042005–112014–17, 2019–Liverpool St HelensFyldeCaldy1932120.92'''Jamie Broadley'''2009–112011–12, 2016–2014-15HarrogateSheffield TigersHull1571900.83Gareth Collins2004–052005–14Rugby LionsLeicester Lions1522290.74   '''Andrew Riley'''2013–Sedgley Park1221710.75Gavin Roberts2007–17Caldy1142320.56Oliver Brennand2004–11Fylde961020.97Devon Constant2014–19Leicester Lions881350.78Andrew Soutar2006–-082008–17West Park St HelensCaldy832810.3 9 '''Peter Swatkins'''2011–Sheffield Tigers821480.6 '''Craig Ross'''2007–08, 2009–11, 2013–142014–CaldyChester821650.5'''Nicholas Sharpe'''2006–072008–13, 2014–16, 2017–Rugby LionsHuddersfield822610.3(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 North.)
Notes
See also * English rugby union system* History of the English rugby union system* National League 2 South
References
External links *  NCA Rugby