National Division One
National Division One (known from September 2009 as the Guinness Championship) 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 Division One.
The league is composed of sixteen professional and semi-professional teams. The team that finishes top is promoted to the Guinness Premiership for the following season. In recent years the bottom two sides have been relegated to National Division Two however, the reduction in size to twelve teams for the 2009-10 season saw five clubs relegated to National Division Two, with only club being promoted from that division and one club joining the league from the Premiership.
Restructuring of the league
On 10 November 2008 it was proposed by the RFU that the competition be replaced by a fully professional 12-club Championship. The proposal was criticised by league chairman Geoff Irvine, representing the clubs, who described it as "financial suicide". However, six League One clubs subsequently supported the proposal.[1] On 15 November 2008 the RFU Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new proposal, which will begin in 2009.[2] Under the proposal the RFU will pay £2.3 million a year to help fund the change, with future rises due through television rights.[1]
2008-09 season
Participating teams
- Bedford Blues
- Cornish Pirates
- Coventry
- Doncaster Knights
- Esher
- Exeter Chiefs
- Leeds Carnegie (Relegated from Guinness Premiership 2007-08 after finishing 12th)
- London Welsh
- Manchester (Promoted from National Division Two 2007-08 as runners-up)
- Moseley
- Newbury
- Nottingham
- Otley (Promoted from National Division Two 2007-08 as champions)
- Plymouth Albion
- Rotherham Titans
- Sedgley Park
Table
Template:2008-09 National Division One Table
Participating teams 2009-10
| Team | Stadium | Capacity | City/Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Blues | Goldington Road | 4684 | Bedford, Bedfordshire |
| Birmingham & Solihull | Sharmans Cross Road | 3,500 | Solihull, West Midlands |
| Bristol Rugby | Memorial Stadium | 12,100 | Bristol |
| Cornish Pirates | Mennaye Field | 7000 | Penzance |
| Coventry | Butts Park Arena | 4,000 | Coventry |
| Doncaster Knights | Castle Park | 3075 | Doncaster |
| Exeter Chiefs | Sandy Park | 7,300 | Exeter |
| London Welsh | Old Deer Park | 5,850 | London |
| Moseley | Billesley Common | 650 plus standing | Birmingham |
| Nottingham | Meadow Lane | 19,588 | Nottingham |
| Plymouth Albion | The Brickfields | 6500 | Plymouth |
| Rotherham | Clifton Lane | 2500 | Rotherham |
Results
- 2008–09
- Season Start
- Leeds Carnegie return from the Guinness Premiership after only one year in the top flight
- Otley and Manchester are promoted from National Division Two 2007-08.
- Season End
- Leeds Carnegie won the Championship and secured their return to the Premiership on the first attempt.
- Esher, Newbury, Sedgley Park, Otley and Manchester are relegated due to a restructuring of the leagues, and the reduction of National Division One to twelve teams to form the new Championship.
- Season Start
- 2007–08
- Season Start
- Northampton Saints return from the Guinness Premiership after 12 years
- Esher and Cornish All Blacks are promoted from National Division Two 2006-07.
- Season End
- Northampton Saints won the Championship and achieved promotion back to the Guinness Premiership.
- Pertemps Bees & Cornish All Blacks were relegated to National Division Two
- Season Start
- 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
- Season Start
- 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.
- Season Start
- 2004–05
- Season Start
- Rotherham 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.
- Season Start
- 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.
- Season Start
- 2002–03
- Season Start
- Plymouth Albion and Orrell join the league having won promotion from National Division Two.
- Season End
- Rotherham Titans were promoted to the Zurich Premiership for the 2003-04 season, after not being promoted the previous season.
- Rugby Lions and Moseley were relegated to National Division Two.
- Season Start
- 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.
- Season Start
- 2000–01
- Season Start
- Bedford 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.
- Season Start
- 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.
- Season Start
- 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.
- Season Start
- 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 Two).
- 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.
- Season Start
- 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.
- Season Start
See also
- Summary of the Current League positions for English National Leagues
- List of English rugby union teams
- Rugby union in England
- English rugby union system
References
- ^ a b "Championship plan gains support". BBC Sport. BBC. 2008-11-14. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ^ Simon Mills (2008-11-15). "RFU Council approves major changes to shape of club game". Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
