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 League 1
Founded1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Country England
Number of teams14
Level on pyramidLevel 3
Promotion toRFU Championship
Relegation toNational Two East
National Two North
National Two West
Current championsChinnor (1st title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsCoventry, Otley, Richmond (3 titles)
WebsiteNational League 1
Current: 2024–25 National League 1

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 founded in 1987.[1] Chinnor are the current champions.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) approved a new structure for the National Leagues from the 2022–23 season. This division will be 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]

  1. ^ Stephen Jones, ed. (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89. London: Rothmans Publications Ltd.
  2. ^ "RFU approve future competition structure for 2022/23". ncarugby. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Update on Structural Changes to National League Rugby". National League Rugby. Retrieved 1 June 2022.