National Division One

National Division 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 Division One.

The league is comprised of sixteen professional and semi-professional teams. The team that finishes top is promoted to the Guinness Premiership for the following season. The bottom two sides are relegated to National Division Two.

The 2008-09 season kicked off on 30 August.

Participating Teams 2008-09

* Bedford Blues
* Cornish Pirates
* Coventry
* Doncaster
* 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

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
*** The season has not yet finished.
* 2007–08
** Season Start
*** Northampton Saints return from the Guinness Premiership after 12 years
*** Esher and Cornish All Blacks (Launceston) are promoted from National Division Two 2006-07.
** Season End
*** The season has concluded, with Northampton Saints winning the Championship, and achieving promotion back to the Guinness Premiership.
*** Pertemps Bees & Cornish All Blacks were relegated to National Division Two
* 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.
***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 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.
*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 English National Leagues
* List of English rugby union teams
* Rugby union in England
* English rugby union system

External links

* [http://www.national1.co.uk/ Official site]
* [http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk/ Unofficial National League 1 Messageboard]
* [http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/result-englandd1-2006.html Division 1 on itsrugby.co.uk]