National Division One

National League One is the second tier of the English Rugby Union leagues. Since the advent of leagues it has been known by several names. From 1987-88 until 1996-97 it was known as Division 2 of the Courage League or Courage Clubs Championship. From 1997-98 until 1999-2000 it was known as the Allied Dunbar Premier League Two or Allied Dunbar Premiership Division Two. When Zurich took over the sponsorship of the Premiership in 2000-01, they did not sponsor the lower leagues, and so the league became National League One.

Results

• 2007–08
  • Season Start
    • Northampton Saints return from the Guinness Premiership after 12 years
    • Esher & Cornish All Blacks (Launceston) are promoted from National Division Two 2006-07.
  • Season End
    • The season has not yet been concluded

• 2006–07
  • Season Start
    • Leeds Tykes were relegated to the league for this season from The Guinness Premiership.
    • Moseley and Waterloo joined the league from National Division Two 2005-06
  • Season End
    • Leeds Tykes won the Championship, and promotion back to the Guinness Premiership for the 2007/08 season. Shortly after the end of the season, Leeds Metropolitan University purchased a majority stake in the club and renamed it Leeds Carnegie, after the university's sport department of Carnegie College.
    • Waterloo & Otley were relegated to National Division Two
• 2005–06
  • Season Start
    • Harlequins joined the league from the Zurich Premiership 2004–05
    • Doncaster and Newbury joined the league from National Division Two 2004-05
  • Season End
    • Harlequins were promoted to the Guinness Premiership for the 2006–07 season. They achieved this having been relegated the season beforehand. There were four other teams within 5 points of them in the final premiership table of 2004–05.
    • No teams were relegated to National Division Two following the RFU's decision to expand National Division One from 14 to 16 teams for the following season.
• 2004–05
  • Season Start
    • Rotherham Titans (now Earth Titans) rejoined National Division One, having failed to win a single game in the higher league.
    • Nottingham and Sedgley Park join the league having won promotion from National Division Two.
  • Season End
    • Bristol were promoted to the Guinness Premiership for the 2005–06 season.
    • Orrell and Henley were relegated to National Division Two.
• 2003–04
  • Season Start
    • Bristol Shoguns joined National Division One from the Premiership, ironically the 2002–03 season which saw them relegated followed a strong 2001–02 performance which saw them with the most bonus points in the Zurich Premiership, three players in the top try scorers chart, a place at Twickenham in the final of the Zurich Championship, and also a place in the Heineken Cup for the 2002/03 season.
    • Henley and Penzance & Newlyn join the league having won promotion from National Division Two.
  • Season End
    • Worcester were promoted to the Premiership for the 2004–05 season.
    • Manchester were relegated to National Division Two. Wakefield would have been relegated, but they folded for financial reasons.
• 2002–03
  • Season Start
    • Plymouth Albion and Orrell join the league having won promotion from National Division Two.
  • Season End
    • Rotherham were promoted to the Zurich Premiership for the 2003-04 season, after not being promoted the previous season. They didn't win a match all season and promptly returned to National Division One in 2004–05.
    • Rugby Lions and Moseley were relegated to National Division Two.
• 2001-02
  • Season Start
    • Rotherham Titans joined being relegated from the Zurich Premiership
    • Bracknell and Rugby Lions join the league having won promotion from National Division Two.
  • Season End
    • The champions Rotherham Titans were refused promotion to the Zurich Premiership for the 2002–03 season due to facilities failing to meet Premiership criteria.
    • Henley and Bracknell were relegated to National Division Two for the 2002–03 season.
• 2000–01
  • Season Start
    • Bedford RFC join having been relegated from the Zurich Premiership.
    • Otley and Birmingham-Solihull are promoted from National Division One (now National Division Two).
  • Season End
    • The Leeds Tykes gained promotion to the Zurich Premiership.
    • Orrell and Waterloo were relegated to National Division Two.
• Premiership 2
• 1999–00
  • Season Start
    • West Hartlepool join having been relegated from Premiership 1.
    • Henley and Manchester join having been promoted from National Division One.
  • Season End
    • Rotherham are promoted to Premiership 1.
    • West Hartlepool and Rugby Lions are relegated to National Division One.
• 1998–99
  • Season Start
    • Bristol join having been relegated from Premier Division 1.
    • London Welsh, Rugby Lions, Leeds and Worcester are promoted from National Division One, as the top two leagues expand to fourteen teams.
  • Season End
    • Bristol are promoted to Premiership 1.
    • Fylde and Blackheath are relegated to National Division One.
• 1997–98
  • Season Start
    • Orrell and West Hartlepool are relegated from Premiership 1.
    • Exeter and Fylde join after being promoted from National Division Three (now National Division One).
  • Season End
    • Bedford, West Hartlepool and London Scottish are promoted to Premiership 1.
    • No teams are relegated, due to the top two divisions expanding from twelve to fourteen teams.
• National Division Two
• 1996–97
  • Season Start
    • Coventry, Rugby Lions, Rotherham and Richmond join after promotion from National Division Three, as the top two divisions expand from 10 to 12 teams.
  • Season End
    • Richmond and Newcastle Falcons are promoted to Premiership 1.
    • Rugby Lions and Nottingham are relegated to the renamed National Division One.

See also

• Summary of the Current League positions for all English Leagues
• List of English rugby union teams
• Rugby union in England

External links

• Official site
• Unofficial National League 1 Messageboard
• Division 1 on itsrugby.co.uk

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