Yorkshire 5
Former English Rugby Union league
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Yorkshire 5 was an English Rugby Union league at the eleventh tier of the domestic competition and was the basement league of club rugby in Yorkshire. This league was not always the bottom division as for a while there was a Yorkshire 6 but this league merged with Yorkshire 5. Also, for a short period, Yorkshire 5 was split into two parallel leagues based on geographical location. Promoted teams moved up to Yorkshire 4.
Current season or competition: 2016–17 Yorkshire 5 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 |
| Ceased | 2017 |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Country |  England |
| Holders | Wibsey (1st title) (2016–17) (promoted to Yorkshire 4) |
| Most titles | Halifax Vandals, Knaresborough (3 titles) |
| Website | England RFU |
At the end of the 2016-17 season Yorkshire 5 was abolished due to RFU changes to the Yorkshire league structure. This restructuring would see Yorkshire 4 broken up into two regional leagues - Yorkshire 4 (North West) and Yorkshire 4 (South East) - with teams from both Yorkshire 4 and 5 transferred into these new leagues.[1]
Participating Clubs 2016-17
- Garforth
- Knaresborough
- Mosborough (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
- Rossington Hornets
- Sheffield Oaks (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
- Thirsk
- Wibsey
- Withernsea
Participating Clubs 2015-16
- Garforth
- Hallamshire
- Hornsea (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
- Knaresborough (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
- Rossington Hornets
- Stanley Rodillians
- Thirsk
- Wibsey
Participating Clubs 2014-15
- Garforth
- Hallamshire
- Hessle (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
- Rossington Hornets
- Rotherham Clifton
- Stanley Rodillians
- Thirsk
- Wibsey
Participating Clubs 2013–14
- Garforth
- Hallamshire
- Knaresborough - (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
- Marist - (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
- Rossington Hornets
- Rotherham Clifton
- Stanley Rodillians
- Thirsk
- Wensleydale
- Wibsey
Participating Clubs 2012–13
- Adwick Le Street
- Doncaster Amateurs
- Garforth
- Rawmarsh
- Rossington Hornets
- Rotherham Clifton
- Sheffield Oaks
- Stanley Rodillians
- Stocksbridge
- Wensleydale
- Wibsey
Clubs joining the League
As this is currently the basement league of club rugby in Yorkshire, any club wishing to join the rugby union club hierarchy must begin at the bottom so all Yorkshire-based teams start in Yorkshire 5 and these are the clubs who have been accepted into the league structure for the first time.
- 2012-13: Doncaster Amateurs
- 2013-14: Hallamshire, Thirsk
- 2016-17: Withernsea
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
- BP Chemicals
- Halifax Vandals
- Hornsea
- Knaresborough
- Leeds Corinthians
- Old Rishworthians
- Ossett
- Phoenix Park
- Rowntrees
- Withernsea
- Yorkshire Main
Yorkshire 5 Honours
Yorkshire 5 (1987–1993)
The original Yorkshire 5 was a tier 13 league with promotion up to Yorkshire 4 and relegation down to Yorkshire 6 until that division was cancelled at the end of the 1991–92 season.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 11 | Halifax Vandals | Old Rishworthians | Knaresborough, Withernsea | ||||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Sheffield Oaks | Phoenix Park | Hornsea, Leeds Corinthians | ||||||||||
| 1989–90 | 11 | Wetherby | Ossett | Rowntrees | ||||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | Burley | Leeds Corinthians | Knaresborough[a] | ||||||||||
| 1991–92 | 11 | Skipton | Danum Phoenix[b] | No relegation[c] | ||||||||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | Knaresborough | Rowntrees | No relegation | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Yorkshire 5 (1993–2000)
The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 5 dropped to become a tier 14 league. A further restructure at the end of the 1995–96 season, which included the cancellation of National 5 North and the addition of North East 3 at tier 9, saw Yorkshire 5 remain at tier 14. During this period Yorkshire 6 (and relegation) was re-introduced in 1996-97, cancelled, and then re-introduced for the third time for the 1999–00 season.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 10 | Garforth | Stocksbridge | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 1994–95 | 6 | Rawmarsh | North Earswick | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 1995–96 | 9 | Knaresborough | Padsey | Menwith Hill | ||||||||||
| 1996–97 | 9 | Marist | Eddington & Wick[d] | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 1997–98 | 9 | Ossett | Ossett | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 1998–99[3] | 8 | Rotherham Clifton | Edlington Granby | Withernsea, Rawmarsh, Wickersley Exel, Adwick Le Street[e] | ||||||||||
| 1999–00[4] | 5 | Wakefield Cougars[f] | Ossett | Nestle Rowntree, Garforth, Knaresborough | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Yorkshire 5 (2000–2004)
Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999-2000 season saw the cancellation of North East 1, North East 2 and North East 3 (tiers 7-9). This meant that Yorkshire 5 became a tier 11 league. Relegation continued to Yorkshire 6 until that division was abolished ahead of the 2003–04 season.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01[5] | 10 | Wakefield Cougars | Doncaster Phoenix | Wickersley Exel | ||||||||||
| 2001–02[6] | 10 | Sheffield Medicals | Thornensians | Rotherham Clifton, Rawmarsh, Marist | ||||||||||
| 2002–03[7] | 10 | Stanley Rodillians | Hornsea | Ossett, Wibsey | ||||||||||
| 2003–04[8] | 10 | Sheffield Oaks | Burley | No relegation[g] | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Yorkshire 5 North-East / South East (2004–2007)
For the 2004–05 season Yorkshire 5 was divided into two regional divisions - Yorkshire 5 North-West and Yorkshire 5 South East.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 [9][10] | 8 | Halifax Vandals | Aireborough | No relegation | Yorkshire 5 North-West | |||||||||
| 8 | Hornsea | Ossett | No relegation | Yorkshire 5 South-East | ||||||||||
| 2005–06 [11][12] | 8 | Knaresborough | Wetherby | No relegation | Yorkshire 5 North-West | |||||||||
| 8 | Mosborough | Pontefract Pythons | No relegation | Yorkshire 5 South-East | ||||||||||
| 2006–07 [13][14] | 9 | Burley | Garforth | No relegation | Yorkshire 5 North-West | |||||||||
| 7 | Hemsworth | Sheffield Medicals | No relegation | Yorkshire 5 South-East | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Yorkshire 5A / 5B (2007–2009)
For the 2007-08 season Yorkshire 5 switched from regional divisions into conferences - Yorkshire 5A and Yorkshire 5B. Relegation returned with the reintroduction of Yorkshire 6 (for the fourth time) ahead of the 2009–10 season.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 [15][16] | 8 | Halifax Vandals | Sheffield Medicals | No relegation | Yorkshire 5A | |||||||||
| 8 | Old Rishworthians | Rotherham Phoenix | No relegation | Yorkshire 5B | ||||||||||
| 2008–09 [17][18] | 9 | Sheffield Medicals | Hemsworth[h] | Sheffield Oaks | Yorkshire 5A | |||||||||
| 9 | Leeds Medics & Dentists | Old Grovians[i] | Leeds Metropolitan University,[j] Wetherby, Rossington Hornets | Yorkshire 5B | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Yorkshire 5 (2009–2017)
Yorkshire 5 once more returned to being a single division from the 2009-10 season onward. The cancellation of Yorkshire 6 after just one season meant that there was no relegation. At the end of the 2016–17 season Yorkshire 5 was cancelled.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10[19] | 7 | Mosborough | Marist[k] | No relegation[l] | ||||||||||
| 2010–11[20] | 12 | Wetherby | Knaresborough | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2011–12[21] | 10 | Hornsea | Marist | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2012–13[22] | 9 | Doncaster Amateurs | Stocksbridge[m] | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2013–14[23] | 9 | Wensleydale | Knaresborough | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2014–15[24] | 8 | Hessle | Rotherham Clifton | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2015–16[25] | 7 | Stanley Rodillians | Hornsea | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2016–17[26] | 8 | Wibsey | Mosborough | No relegation | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Promotion play-offs
Between 2005 and 2007 there was a play-off between the runners-up of Yorkshire 5 North-West and Yorkshire 5 South-West for the third and final promotion place to Yorkshire 4. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2016–17 season Yorkshire 5 North-West have been the most successful winning all three games; and the away team has won promotion on two occasions compared to the home teams one.
For the 2007-08 season Yorkshire 5 was re-organized into non-geographical groups named Yorkshire 5A and Yorkshire 5B, with Yorkshire 5B being the most successful by winning the only playoff game played. After the 2008-09 season Yorkshire 5 returned to a single division meaning that there have been no more play-offs since.
| ||||||||
| Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05[27] | Ossett | 6-30 | Aireborough (NW) | Ossett Cricket and Athletic Club, Ossett, West Yorkshire | ||||
| 2005–06[28] | Wetherby (NW) | 64-3 | Pontefract Pythons (SE) | Grange Park, Wetherby, West Yorkshire | ||||
| 2006–07[29] | Sheffield Medicals (SE) | 10-13 | Garforth (NW) | Norton Playing Fields, Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire | ||||
| 2007–08 | Rotherham Phoenix (B) | 15-10 | Sheffield Medicals (A) | Clifton Lane, Rotherham, South Yorkshire | ||||
| Green background is the promoted team. NW = Yorkshire 5 North-West, SE = Yorkshire 5 South-East, A = Yorkshire 5A and B = Yorkshire 5B | ||||||||
Number of league titles
- Halifax Vandals (3)
- Knaresborough (3)
- Burley (2)
- Hornsea (2)
- Mosborough (2)
- Sheffield Medicals (2)
- Sheffield Oaks (2)
- Stanley Rodillians (2)
- Wakefield Cougars (2)
- Wetherby (2)
- Doncaster Amateurs (1)
- Garforth (1)
- Hemsworth (1)
- Hessle (1)
- Leeds Medics & Dentists (1)
- Marist (1)
- Old Rishworthians (1)
- Ossett (1)
- Rawmarsh (1)
- Rotherham Clifton (1)
- Skipton (1)
- Wensleydale (1)
- Wibsey (1)
See also
Notes
- Relegated side Knaresborough would transfer to Durham/Northumberland 4 for the following season instead of dropping to Yorkshire 6.
- League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant eight clubs were promoted into Yorkshire 4 including Hornsea, De La Salle (Sheffield), Withernsea, Phoenix Park, BP Chemicals and Yorkshire Main. Hull & East Riding were also meant to be promoted but they merged with Old Hymerians to form Hull RUFC who would play in North 2 East.[2]
- League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant no clubs were relegated.
- Runners up Eddington & Wick were supposed to be promoted to Yorkshire 4 but would instead drop out of the league system at the end of the season.
- The reintroduction of Yorkshire 6 would see multiple teams relegated to populate the new division.
- No promotion as division to increase from 5 to 10 teams for the following season.
- No relegation as Yorkshire 6 to be cancelled at the end of the season - it would re-emerge briefly in 2009-10 for one season only.
- Four clubs promoted including Ossett and Harrogate Pythons due to league restructure - Yorkshire 6 to be reinstated and Yorkshire 5 to merge back into a single division.
- 3rd place Adwick Le Street also promoted due to league restructure - Yorkshire 6 to be reinstated and Yorkshire 5 to merge back into a single division.
- Leeds Metropolitan University would drop out of the league for the following season.
- 3rd place Stanley Rodillians also promoted.
- No relegation as Yorkshire 6 cancelled after just one season.
- 3rd place Sheffield Oaks also promoted.