National League 1

This article is about the rugby union competition. For the rugby league competition formerly known as National League One, see Championship (rugby league).

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.

National League 1

Founded	1987; 38 years ago (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.

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.^[2][3]

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.

Current season

Main article: 2025–26 National League 1

Participating teams and locations

Birmingham Moseley

Bishop's Stortford

Clifton

Dings Crusaders

Leeds
Tykes

Leicester Lions

Plymouth Albion

Rams

Rotherham Titans

Sale FC

Sedgley Park

Tonbridge Juddians

London

2025–26 National 1 teams in England

Blackheath

Rosslyn Park

2025–26 Greater London National League 1 clubs

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Birmingham Moseley	Billesley Common[4]	5,000 (1,300 seats)	Birmingham, West Midlands	7th
Bishop's Stortford	Silver Leys[5]	1,600	Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire	9th
Blackheath	Well Hall	1,650 (550 seats)	Eltham, London	6th
Clifton	Station Road [6]	2,500 (400 seats)	Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol	Promoted from National League 2 West (champions)[7]
Dings Crusaders	Shaftesbury Park [8]	2,250 (250 seats)	Frenchay, Bristol	10th
Leeds Tykes	The Sycamores	1,500	Bramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire	Promoted from National League 2 North (champions)[9]
Leicester Lions	Westleigh Park	2,000	Blaby, Leicestershire	12th[a]
Plymouth Albion	The Brickfields[11]	8,500	Plymouth, Devon	4th
Rams	Old Bath Road[12]	2,000 (300 seats)[13]	Sonning, Reading, Berkshire	5th
Rosslyn Park	The Rock	2,000	Roehampton, London	2nd
Rotherham Titans	Clifton Lane[14]	2,500	Rotherham, South Yorkshire	3rd
Sale FC	Heywood Road[15]	3,387	Sale, Greater Manchester	8th
Sedgley Park	Park Lane[16]	3,000	Whitefield, Bury, Greater Manchester	11th
Tonbridge Juddians	The Slade	1,500	Tonbridge, Kent	Promoted from National League 2 East (champions)[17]

League table

2025–26 National League 1 table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Birmingham Moseley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Promotion place
2	Blackheath	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Promotion Play-off
3	Bishop's Stortford	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Clifton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Dings Crusaders	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Leeds Tykes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	Leicester Lions	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	Plymouth Albion	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	Rams	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
10	Rosslyn Park	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
11	Rotherham Titans	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	Sale FC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Relegation place
13	Sedgley Park	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	Tonbridge Juddians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played: September 2025. Source: National League Rugby ^[18]
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

1. Number of matches won
2. Number of matches drawn
3. Difference between points for and against
4. Total number of points for
5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
6. 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

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	[19]
1988–89	12	11	Plymouth Albion	Rugby	Metropolitan Police, Maidstone	[20]
1989–90	12	11	London Scottish	Wakefield	London Welsh	[20]
1990–91	13	12	West Hartlepool	Morley	Metropolitan Police, Vale of Lune	[21]
1991–92	13	12	Richmond	Fylde	Nuneaton, Lydney	[22]
1992–93	12	11	Otley	Havant	Multiple teams[b]	[23]
1993–94	10	18	Coventry	Fylde	Havant, Redruth	[24]
1994–95	10	18	Bedford	Blackheath	Clifton, Exeter	[25]
1995–96	10	18	Coventry	Richmond[c]	Fylde in last place (no relegation)	[26]
1996–97	16	30	Exeter	Fylde	Walsall, Havant, Redruth, Clifton	[27]

National League One

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	[28]
1998–99	14	26	Henley	Manchester	Morley, Liverpool St Helens	[29]
1999–00	14	26	Otley	Birmingham & Solihull	Reading, Blackheath	[30]

National Division Two

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	[31]
2001–02	14	26	Orrell	Plymouth Albion	Rosslyn Park, Waterloo, Preston Grasshoppers	[31]
2002–03	14	26	Penzance-Newlyn	Henley	Launceston, Kendal, Fylde	[32]
2003–04	14	26	Sedgley Park	Nottingham	Rugby, Lydney	[33]
2004–05	14	26	Doncaster	Newbury	Nuneaton, Bracknell, Rosslyn Park	[34]
2005–06	14	26	Moseley	Waterloo	Orrell	[35]
2006–07	14	26	Esher	Launceston	Bradford & Bingley, Barking, Harrogate	[36]
2007–08	14	26	Otley	Manchester	Nuneaton, Henley Hawks, Halifax	[37]
2008–09	14	26	Birmingham & Solihull	Cambridge	Westcombe Park, Southend, Mounts Bay, Waterloo	[38]

National League One

National League One
Season	No of teams	No of matches	Champions	Runners-up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
2009–10	16	30	Esher	London Scottish	Newbury, Nuneaton, Manchester	[39]
2010–11	16	30	London Scottish	Barking	Redruth, Otley, Launceston	[40]
2011–12	16	30	Jersey	Ealing Trailfinders	Birmingham & Solihull, Stourbridge, Barking
2012–13	16	30	Ealing Trailfinders	Esher	Macclesfield, Sedgley Park, Cambridge	[41]
2013–14	16	30	Doncaster Knights	Rosslyn Park	Henley Hawks, Worthing Raiders, Hull Ionians	[42]
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[e]
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[f]	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, Tonbridge Juddians	[46]
2022–23	14	26	Cambridge	Rams	Esher, Leeds Tykes, Hull	[47]
2023–24	14	26	Chinnor	Rams	Cinderford, Taunton Titans	[48]
2024–25	14	26	Richmond	Rosslyn Park	Darlington Mowden Park, Esher[g]	[49]
2025–26	14	26
Green background are the promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Richmond (4)
• Coventry (3)
• Otley (3)
• Doncaster Knights (2)
• Ealing Trailfinders (2)
• Esher (2)
• London Scottish (2)
• Ampthill (1)
• Bedford (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

Richmond (1991–92, 2015–16, 2019–20, 2024–25)

• Most times promoted from division: 5

Richmond (1991–92, 1995–96, 2015–16, 2019–20, 2024–25)

• 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)^[50]

• 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

^[i]

• 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

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.^[51]

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–[52]	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).^[53]

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

• English rugby union system
• List of English rugby union stadiums by capacity

Notes

1. 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.^[10]
2. 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.
3. Rugby and Rotherham were also promoted.
4. London Welsh and Rugby were also promoted.
5. 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.^[43]
6. 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.^[44][45]
7. 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.
8. Penzance & Newlyn are now known as the Cornish Pirates.
9. 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.