National League 2 South
Introduction '''National League 2 South''' (known before September 2009 as '''National Division Three South''') was a level four league in the English rugby union system until the end of season 2021–22.It was one of two leagues at this level, with its counterpart, National League 2 North, covering the north of England. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following reorganisation by the Rugby Football Union. The champions were promoted to National League 1.The runner-up play in a promotion play-off with the runner-up of National League 2 North; the team with the best record having home advantage. The bottom three teams were relegated, to either South West Premier or London & South East Premier. Esher are the current and final champions.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. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.The Rugby Football Union (RFU) approved a new structure for the National Leagues from the 2022–23 season. Along with National League 1 and National League 2 North the size of the leagues at levels 3 and 4 are reduced to 14 teams (previously 16), 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. As part of the restructure a third league was created at level four and most of the National League 2 South teams were placed into either National League 2 East or National League 2 West.
Final season Eleven of the teams listed below participated in the 2019–20 National League 2 South season. The 2019–20 champions Taunton Titans and Tonbridge Juddians, who won the (virtual) promotion play-off against Caldy, were promoted into the 2021–22 National League 1, while Canterbury were relegated into the division from the 2019–20 National League 1.Sides relegated from the 2019–20 National League 2 South included Sutton & Epsom (to London & SE Premier), Bournemouth and Old Redcliffians (both to South West Premier).The promoted teams were Barnstaple who come up as champions of South West Premier while Rochford Hundred (champions) and Guernsey Raiders (virtual play-off) came up from London & South East Premier. Hinckley were level transferred into the division from National League 2 North in order to address an imbalance of teams in National 2, with Taunton and Tonbridge Juddians being promoted and only Canterbury dropping down from National League 1.Fifteen of the sixteen teams from 2021–22 were placed into one of the other level four leagues for 2022–23.Barnes, Bury St. Edmunds, Canterbury, Guernsey Raiders, Henley Hawks, Old Albanian, Rochford Hundred, Westcliff and Worthing Raiders were transferred to the newly-created National League 2 East while Barnstaple, Clifton, Dings Crusaders, Hinckley, Leicester Lions and Redruth were transferred to another new level four league, National League 2 West. The 2021–22 champions, Esher, were promoted to National League 1.No teams were relegated to level five.Team  Stadium CapacityCity/Area Previous season Barnes  Barn Elms  500  Barnes, London  12th Barnstaple  Pottingham Road  2,000 (575 seats)  Barnstaple, Devon  Promoted from South West Premier (champions) Bury St Edmunds  The Haberden  3,000 (135 seats)  Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk  6th Canterbury  Marine Travel Ground  1,500 (75 seats)  Canterbury, Kent  Relegated from 2019–20 National League 1 (15th) Clifton  Station Road  2,500 (400 seats)  Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol  5th Dings Crusaders  Shaftsbury Park  2,250 (250 seats)  Frenchay, Bristol  11th Esher  Molesey Road   3,500  Hersham, Surrey  8th Guernsey Raiders  Footes Lane  5,000 (720 seats)  Saint Peter Port, Guernsey  Promoted from London & South East Premier (virtual play-off) Henley Hawks  Dry Leas  4,000  Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire  4th Hinckley  De Montfort Park  2,000  Hinckley, Leicestershire  Level-transfer from National 2 North (3rd) Leicester Lions  Westleigh Park  2,000  Blaby, Leicestershire  7th Old Albanian  Woollam's Playing Fields  1,000  St Albans, Hertfordshire  10th Redruth  The Recreation Ground  3,500 (580 seats)  Redruth, Cornwall  3rd Rochford Hundred  The Rugby Park  1,000  Hawkwell, Rochford, Essex  Promoted from London & South East Premier (champions) Westcliff  The Gables  1,000  Eastwood, Essex  13th Worthing Raiders  Roundstone Lane  1,500 (100 seats)  Angmering, West Sussex  9th
2020–21 Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
List of champions ===Area League South==='''Area League South honours'''SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunner-upRelegated team(s)Ref 1987–88  11  10  '''Askeans'''   Sidcup  Streatham/Croydon  1988–89  11  10  '''Lydney'''   Havant  Sidcup, Stroud, Ealing  1989–90  11  10  '''Metropolitan Police'''  Clifton  Salisbury ===National 4 South==='''National 4 South honours'''SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunner-upRelegated team(s)Ref 1990–91  13  12  '''Redruth'''  Basingstoke  Cheltenham, Maidenhead  1991–92  13  12  '''Havant'''  Basingstoke  Ealing, Sidcup  1992–93  13  12  '''Sudbury'''  London Welsh   Multiple ===National Division 4==='''National Division 4 honours'''SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunner-upRelegated team(s)Ref 1993–94  10  18  '''Clifton'''  Harrogate  Sheffield (to 5 North) and Sudbury (to 5 South)  1994–95  10  18  '''Rotherham'''  Reading  Askeans (to 5 South) and Broughton Park (to 5 North)  1995–96  10  18  '''Exeter'''   London Welsh  Aspatria (to 4 North) and Plymouth Albion (to 4 South) ===Division 4 South==='''Division 4 South honours'''SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunner-upRelegated team(s)Ref 1996–97  14  26  '''Newbury'''  Henley  Askeans, Charlton Park, High Wycombe, Berry Hill ===National 2 South==='''National 2 South honours'''SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunner-upRelegated team(s)Ref 1997–98  14  26  '''Camberley'''  Henley  No relegation  1998–99  14  26  '''Bracknell'''  Esher  Havant  1999–00  14  26  '''Esher'''  Penzance & Newlyn  Metropolitan Police, Norwich, Bridgwater & Albion ===National Division 3 South==='''National Division 3 South honours'''SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunner-upRelegated team(s)Ref 2000–01  14  26  '''Plymouth Albion'''  Launceston  Cheltenham, Basingstoke, Weston-super-Mare, Reading   2001–02  14  26  '''Penzance & Newlyn'''  Launceston  Cinderford, Clifton   2002–03  14  26  '''Rosslyn Park'''  Lydney  Camberley, Havant   2003–04  14  26  '''Blackheath'''  Launceston  Old Colfeians, Basingstoke   2004–05  14  26  '''Barking'''  Redruth  Haywards Heath, Tabard, Weston-super-Mare   2005–06  14  26  '''Cambridge'''  North Walsham  Bracknell, Reading   2006–07  14  26  '''Southend'''  Westcombe Park  Chinnor, Old Patesians, Hertford   2007–08  14  26  '''Mount's Bay'''  Cinderford  Luton, North Walsham, Clifton   2008–09  14  26  '''London Scottish''' Rosslyn Park  Havant, Chinnor  ===National League 2 South==='''National League 2 South honours'''SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunner-upRelegated team(s)Ref 2009–10  15  28  '''Barking'''  Rosslyn Park  Bridgwater & Albion, Barnes   2010–11  16  30  '''Ealing Trailfinders'''  Jersey  Newbury, Hinckley, Canterbury   2011–12  16  30  '''Old Albanian'''  Richmond  Barnes, Hertford, Westcombe Park   2012–13  15  28  '''Henley Hawks'''  Worthing Raiders  Barking, Lydney    2013–14  16  30  '''Hartpury College'''  Ampthill & District  Exmouth, Bournemouth, London Irish Wild Geese   2014–15  16  30  '''Henley Hawks'''  Bishop's Stortford  Dings Crusaders, Shelford, Lydney   2015–16  16  30  '''Cambridge'''  Old Albanian  Launceston, Southend Saxons, Dorking   2016–17  16  30  '''Bishop's Stortford'''  Old Elthamians  Exmouth, Barnes  2017–18  16  30  '''Cinderford'''   Chinnor  Broadstreet, Wimbledon, Barnstaple  2018–19  16  30  '''Rams'''  Canterbury  London Irish Wild Geese, Guernsey, Birmingham & Solihull  2019–20  16  25  '''Taunton Titans'''  Tonbridge Juddians  Bournemouth, Old Redcliffians, Sutton & Epsom  2020–21  16   Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic 2021–22  16  30  '''Esher'''  Redruth  No relegation due to tier 3 and 4 league reorganisation  '''Green background''' are promotion places.
National Two promotion play-offs Until the 2021–22 season there was a promotion 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 has home advantage. As of the end of the 2019–20 season the 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-off due to the restructuring of the English rugby union league system. Only the champions of the two divisions were 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 to tier 3 and 4 league reorganisation. '''Green background''' represent promoted teams. (N) stands for National League 2 North while (S) stands for National League 2 South.
Number of league titles *Barking (2)*Cambridge (2)*Esher (2)*Henley Hawks (2)*Askeans (1)*Bishop's Stortford (1)*Blackheath (1)*Bracknell (1)*Camberley (1)*Cinderford (1)*Clifton (1)*Ealing Trailfinders (1)*Exeter (1)*Hartpury College (1)*Havant (1)*London Scottish (1)*Lydney (1)*Metropolitan Police (1)*Mount's Bay (1)*Newbury (1)*Old Albanian (1)*Penzance & Newlyn (1)*Plymouth Albion (1)*Rams (1)*Redruth (1)*Rosslyn Park (1)*Southend (1)*Sudbury (1)*Taunton Titans (1)
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 southern 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 2018–19 season. ''===League records===*'''Most titles:''' 2:Barking (2004–05, 2009–10):Henley Hawks (2012–13, 2014–15):Cambridge (2005–06, 2015–16)*'''Most times promoted from division:''' 3:Henley Hawks (1997–98, 2012–13, 2014–15)*'''Most times relegated from division:''' 3:Havant (1998–99, 2002–03, 2008–09):Barnes (2009–10, 2011–12, 2016–17)*'''Most league points in a season:''' 143:Cinderford (2017–18)*'''Fewest league points in a season:''' 0:Metropolitan Police (1999–00) :Camberley (2002–03)*'''Most points scored in a season:''' 1,490:Ealing Trailfinders (2010–11)*'''Fewest points scored in a season:''' 270:Camberley (2002–03)*'''Most points conceded in a season:''' 2,055:Newbury Blues (2010–11)*'''Fewest points conceded in a season:''' 240:Plymouth Albion (2000–01) *'''Best points difference (For/Against):''' 1,066:Ealing Trailfinders (2010–11)*'''Worst points difference (For/Against):'''-1,676:Newbury Blues (2010–11)*'''Most games won in a season:''' 29:Cinderford (2017–18)*'''Most games lost in a season:''' 29:Newbury Blues (2010–11):Launceston (2015–16)*'''Most games drawn in a season:''' 4:Rugby Lions (2008–09):Barnes (2015–16) *'''Most bonus points in a season:''' 30:Bishop's Stortford (2014–15)===Match records===*'''Largest home win:''' 132 – 0:Old Albanian at home to Newbury Blues on 26 March 2011 (2010–11)*'''Largest away win:''' 85 – 3:Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012 (2012–13)*'''Most points scored in a match:''' 132:Old Albanian at home to Newbury Blues on 26 March 2011 (2010–11)*'''Most tries scored in a match:''' 20:Jersey at home to Newbury Blues on 6 November 2011 (2010–11):Ealing Trailfinders at home to Hinckley on 12 March 2011 (2010–11):Old Albanian at home to Newbury Blues on 26 March 2011 (2010–11)*'''Most conversions scored in a match:''' 16:Old Albanian at home to Newbury Blues on 26 March 2011 (2010–11):Ealing Trailfinders at home to Lydney on 30 April 2011 (2010–11)*'''Most penalties scored in a match:''' 7:Blackheath at home to Redruth on 14 December 2002 (2002–03):Hertford at home to Rosslyn Park on 30 September 2006 (2006–07):Clifton at home to Lydney on 21 October 2006 (2006–07):Dings Crusaders at home to Southend on 6 November 2011 (2010–11):Launceston at home to Hartpury College on 28 September 2013 (2013–14):Launceston away to Dings Crusaders on 27 September 2014 (2014–15)*'''Most drop kicks scored in a match:''' 3:Westcombe Park at home to Ealing Trailfinders on 5 December 2009 (2009–10)===Player records===*'''Most times top points scorer:''' 3: Matthew McLean for Worthing Raiders (2011–12, 2017–18, 2018–19): Gary Kingdom for Taunton Titans (2014–15, 2015–16, 2019–20)*'''Most times top try scorer:''' 2: Phil Chesters for Ealing Trailfinders (2009–10, 2010–11): Ian Clark for Hartpury College (2011–12, 2012–13)*'''Most points in a season:''' 374: Nat Saumi for Penzance & Newlyn (2000–01)*'''Most tries in a season:''' 70: Phil Chesters for Ealing Trailfinders (2010–11))*'''Most points in a match:''' 45: Adam Westall for Lydney away to Haywards Heath on 12 March 2005 (2004–05)*'''Most tries in a match:''' 7: James O'Brien for Old Patesians at home to Old Colfeians on 27 March 2004 (2003–04): Phil Chesters for Ealing Trailfinders at home to Newbury Blues on 2 October 2010 and at home to Lydney on 30 April 2011 (2010–11)*'''Most conversions in a match:''' 16: Richard Gregg for Old Albanian at home to Newbury Blues on 26 March 2011 (2010–11)*'''Most penalties in a match:''' 7: Jonathan Griffin for Blackheath at home to Redruth on 14 December 2002 (2002–03): Kieron Davies for Hertford at home to Rosslyn Park on 30 September 2006 (2006–07): John Barnes for Clifton at home to Lydney on 21 October 2006 (2006–07): Mitch Burton for Dings Crusaders at home to Southend on 6 November 2011 (2010–-11): Luke Cozens for Hartpury College away to Dings Crusaders on 17 November 2012 (2012–13): Danial Trigg for Dings Crusaders away to Lydney on 1 December 2012 (2012–13): Kieron Lewitt for Launceston away to Dings Crusaders on 27 September 2014 (2014–15)*'''Most drop kicks in a match: '''3: Lee Audis for Westcombe Park at home to Ealing Trailfinders on 5 December 2009 (2009–10)===Attendance records=== *'''Highest attendance (league game):''' 3,270:Henley Hawks at home to Worthing Raiders on 4 May 2013 (2012–13)*'''Lowest attendance (league game):''' 0:Tonbridge Juddians at home to Sutton & Epsom on 21 December 2019 (2019–20)*'''Highest attendance (promotion playoff):''' 4,000:Redruth at home to Macclesfield on 1 May 2005 (2004–05)*'''Lowest attendance (promotion playoff):''' 473:Old Albanian at home to Sedgley Park on 14 May 2016 (2015–16)*'''Highest average attendance (club):''' 1,281:Plymouth Albion (2000–01)*'''Lowest average attendance (club):''' 96:Old Patesians (2006–07)*'''Highest average attendance (season):''' 573 (2000–01)*'''Lowest average attendance (season):''' 292 (2009–10)===All time National League 2 South top 10 point scorers===RankNatNameYearsClub(s)PointsAppsRatio1'''Matthew McLean''' 2008–13, 2014– Worthing Raiders2,3142379.8   2'''Gary Kingdom'''2010–Taunton Titans1,9792458.1	3Adam Westall2002–03, 2004–082008–10LydneyDings Crusaders1,368130114Andy Frost2005–07, 2009–132014–15Southend SaxonsDorking1,302117115Derek Coates2000–032003-04Westcombe ParkBlackheath1,18399126Kieron Lewitt2007–092011–15CanterburyLaunceston1,13413197James Comben2009–13, 2014–15Henley Hawks92410398 '''Tom Best'''2009–112012– Canterbury 8582024.29'''Bradley Barnes'''2012–14, 2015-2014–15CliftonLydney 8301684.910Tom White2014–17  Old Elthamians 778859.2(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 South)===All time National League 2 South top 10 try scorers===RankNatNameYearsClub(s)TriesAppsRatio1Phil Chesters2009–1120172017– Ealing TrailfindersOld ElthamiansChinnor117751.62'''Matthew McLean'''2008–13, 2014– Worthing Raiders1152370.53Andy Thorpe2001–08North Walsham1141430.84Michael Melford2006–11, 2012–13Canterbury921480.65Mark Billings2005–07, 2009–16Southend892130.46Alexander Nielsen2008–13, 2014–17Worthing Raiders831390.6 7Owen Bruynseels2007–11Ealing Trailfinders81950.9 8Nick Hankin2013–17Bishop's Stortford801190.7   Gert De Kock2003–052006–11Westcombe ParkCanterbury801660.5'''William Pomphrey'''2009– Clifton801750.5(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 South)
Notes
See also * English rugby union system* History of the English rugby union system* National League 2 North
References
External links *  NCA Rugby