National League 1
Rugby union competition in England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 it was founded in 1987.[1] Richmond are the current champions.
| Founded | 1987 |
|---|---|
| Country |  England |
| Number of clubs | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | Level 3 |
| Promotion to | RFU Championship |
| Relegation to | National Two East National Two North National Two West |
| Current champions | Richmond (4th title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | Richmond (4 titles) |
| Website | National League 1 |
| Current: 2025–26 National League 1 | |
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.
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. For the 2025–26 season there is one automatic promotion place, with the champions going up to Champ Rugby, while the runners up will play the 13th placed Champ Rugby side in a playoff for a possible second promotion place.[2]
Clubs finishing 12th, 13th and 14th will automatically be relegated to either, National League 2 East, National League 2 North or National League 2 West, depending on the geographical location of the team. The 11th placed side will enter a four team playoff with the runners up of the three tier 4 leagues, with one side going up/remaining in National League 1.[3]
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
Participating teams and locations
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rotherham Titans | 22 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 848 | 456 | +392 | 17 | 3 | 92 | Promotion place |
| 2 | Plymouth Albion | 22 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 833 | 450 | +383 | 19 | 0 | 91 | Promotion play-off |
| 3 | Blackheath | 22 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 715 | 436 | +279 | 16 | 3 | 87 | |
| 4 | Sale FC | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 705 | 459 | +246 | 16 | 5 | 81 | |
| 5 | Rosslyn Park | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 735 | 584 | +151 | 19 | 4 | 79 | |
| 6 | Rams | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 622 | 604 | +18 | 15 | 6 | 65 | |
| 7 | Bishop's Stortford | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 618 | 704 | −86 | 16 | 3 | 63 | |
| 8 | Tonbridge Juddians | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 617 | 605 | +12 | 15 | 6 | 59 | |
| 9 | Leeds Tykes | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 537 | 704 | −167 | 10 | 2 | 48 | |
| 10 | Birmingham Moseley | 22 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 534 | 610 | −76 | 10 | 6 | 46 | |
| 11 | Dings Crusaders | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 552 | 807 | −255 | 12 | 4 | 44 | Relegation play-off |
| 12 | Sedgley Park | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 448 | 665 | −217 | 8 | 3 | 43 | Relegation place |
| 13 | Clifton | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 499 | 764 | −265 | 9 | 4 | 41 | |
| 14 | Leicester Lions (R) | 22 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 519 | 934 | −415 | 12 | 2 | 22 |
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- Number of matches drawn
- Difference between points for and against
- Total number of points for
- Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
- Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
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)
- 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
| |||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | No of matches | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 12 | 11 | Wakefield | West Hartlepool | Morley, Birmingham | [20] | |||||||
| 1988–89 | 12 | 11 | Plymouth Albion | Rugby | Metropolitan Police, Maidstone | [21] | |||||||
| 1989–90 | 12 | 11 | London Scottish | Wakefield | London Welsh | [21] | |||||||
| 1990–91 | 13 | 12 | West Hartlepool | Morley | Metropolitan Police, Vale of Lune | [22] | |||||||
| 1991–92 | 13 | 12 | Richmond | Fylde | Nuneaton, Lydney | [23] | |||||||
| 1992–93 | 12 | 11 | Otley | Havant | Multiple teams[b] | [24] | |||||||
| 1993–94 | 10 | 18 | Coventry | Fylde | Havant, Redruth | [25] | |||||||
| 1994–95 | 10 | 18 | Bedford | Blackheath | Clifton, Exeter | [26] | |||||||
| 1995–96 | 10 | 18 | Coventry | Richmond[c] | Fylde in last place (no relegation) | [27] | |||||||
| 1996–97 | 16 | 30 | Exeter | Fylde | Walsall, Havant, Redruth, Clifton | [28] | |||||||
National League One
| |||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | No of matches | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 14 | 26 | Worcester | Leeds Tykes[d] | No relegation | [29] | |||||||
| 1998–99 | 14 | 26 | Henley | Manchester | Morley, Liverpool St Helens | [30] | |||||||
| 1999–00 | 14 | 26 | Otley | Birmingham & Solihull | Reading, Blackheath | [31] | |||||||
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 | [32] | |||||||
| 2001–02 | 14 | 26 | Orrell | Plymouth Albion | Rosslyn Park, Waterloo, Preston Grasshoppers | [32] | |||||||
| 2002–03 | 14 | 26 | Penzance-Newlyn | Henley | Launceston, Kendal, Fylde | [33] | |||||||
| 2003–04 | 14 | 26 | Sedgley Park | Nottingham | Rugby, Lydney | [34] | |||||||
| 2004–05 | 14 | 26 | Doncaster | Newbury | Nuneaton, Bracknell, Rosslyn Park | [35] | |||||||
| 2005–06 | 14 | 26 | Moseley | Waterloo | Orrell | [36] | |||||||
| 2006–07 | 14 | 26 | Esher | Launceston | Bradford & Bingley, Barking, Harrogate | [37] | |||||||
| 2007–08 | 14 | 26 | Otley | Manchester | Nuneaton, Henley Hawks, Halifax | [38] | |||||||
| 2008–09 | 14 | 26 | Birmingham & Solihull | Cambridge | Westcombe Park, Southend, Mounts Bay, Waterloo | [39] | |||||||
National League One
Number of league titles
- To 2024–25 season
- Richmond (4)
- Coventry (3)
- Otley (3)
- Doncaster Knights (2)
- Ealing Trailfinders (2)
- Esher (2)
- London Scottish (2)
- Ampthill (1)
- Bedford (1)
- Birmingham & Solihull (1)
- Bracknell (1)
- Caldy (1)
- Cambridge (1)
- Chinnor (1)
- Exeter (1)
- Hartpury College (1)
- Henley (1)
- Jersey (1)
- Moseley (1)
- Orrell (1)
- Penzance-Newlyn (1)[h]
- 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: 4
- Most times promoted from division: 5
- Most times relegated from division: 4
- Most league points in a season: 148
- Least league points in a season: 0
- Most points scored in a season: 1,455
- Least points scored in a season: 114
- Most points conceded in a season: 2,626
- Least points conceded in a season: 299
- Henley Hawks (1998–99)[51]
- Best points difference (For/Against): 1,078
- Worst points difference (For/Against): –2,512
- Most games won in a season: 30
- Most games lost in a season: 30
- Most games drawn in a season: 4
- Most bonus points in a season: 28
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
Player records
- Most times top points scorer: 2
Neil Hallett for Esher (2005–06, 2006–07)
- Most times top try scorer: 3
- Most points in a season: 399
- Most tries in a season: 42
- 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): 4,631
- Plymouth Albion at home to Rams on 14 March 2026 (2025–26)
- Lowest attendance (league game): 50
- West Hartlepool at home to Camberley on 31 March 2001 (2000–01)
- Highest average attendance (club): 2,206
- Lowest average attendance (club): 180
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.[52]
| 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–[53] | Coventry 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 | Richmond Worcester Warriors 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).[54]
| 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 | Camberley 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
Notes
- Typically the 12th placed team would be relegated but Leicester Lions avoided relegation from the 2024–25 National League 1 due to the RFU Championship expanding from 12 to 14 teams ahead of the 2025–26 season.[11]
- Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool St Helens, Clifton, Aspatria, Askeans, Broughton Park and Plymouth Albion were the relegated teams. The large number of relegations was due to the restructuring of the league system for the 1993–94 season.
- London Welsh and Rugby were also promoted.
- Only 2 teams relegated at the end of the 2016–17 season instead of 3 due to London Welsh being expelled from the RFU Championship in January 2017.[44]
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom the RFU cancelled all rugby below the Premiership with most clubs in National League 1 having played 25 games, and a best playing record formula was used to decide the final table.[45][46]
- The expansion of the 2025–26 RFU Championship from 12 to 14 teams meant only 2 teams were relegated instead of 3 meaning that 12th placed Leicester Lions stayed in National League 1.
- Penzance & Newlyn are now known as the Cornish Pirates.
- Note that due to poor attendance keeping by press and online sources means that the 2000–01 and 2003–04 seasons are excluded from these statistics due to lack of information expect in the case of lowest recorded league game attendance.