46-640: North Premier was a level five league in the English rugby union system , with the fourteen teams drawn from across Northern England . The other leagues at this level were London & South East Premier , Midlands Premier and South West Premier . The RFU reorganised the level five leagues for season 2022–23, with an increase from four to six and reducing the teams in each from fourteen to twelve. The teams in this league now play in either Regional 1 North East or Regional 1 North West . The fourteen teams in this league were drawn from across northern England with
92-494: A league imbalance, 7th placed Sheffield were level transferred to National League 3 Midlands . Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 North, and National League 3 Midlands participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 North. The team with the best playing record, in this case Rossendale, host the match and they lost to their opponents Sheffield 31 – 32. Sheffield Tigers, are
138-619: A new league structure would be implemented in the community game from 2022–23. The new structure which was partly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be reviewed every three years and saw the following changes: Below level 6 leagues sizes will depend on number of teams and geographical location. In February 2021, the RFU approved a moratorium on relegation from both the Premiership and Championship in response to uncertainty caused by
184-475: A second tier of professional competition. The former National Division One was decreased from 16 clubs to 12 to accommodate the new fixture structure. For the first three seasons this included: Starting with the 2012–13 season , the second group stage was discontinued. The top four teams at the end of the home-and-away season entered play-offs to determine the league champion, which earned promotion providing Premiership entry standards were met. The bottom team at
230-463: A sign of professionalism. In the 1970s the RFU allowed the creation of regional merit leagues with the most significant ones being the North, Midlands, South West and London merit leagues. In 1984 the RFU approved the creation of two national merit tables where clubs had to play a minimum of eight games against the clubs in their division. 1985 saw the creation of a third national merit league. In 1987 this
276-480: A tier 5 league to a tier 6 league for the years that National 5 North was active. For the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and North Division One returned to being a tier 5 league. Promotion was to National 4 North (later known as National League 2 North), while relegation continued to North Division 2 until 2000–01, and then into either North 2 East or North 2 West (later known as North 1 East / North 1 West) in subsequent seasons. For
322-536: Is the top level league in England, containing the best 10 professional clubs. The premiership still includes strict ground criteria and a salary cap that must be met by all participants. Promotion from the Championship remains (subject to eligibility), however the bottom side have not been relegated since the end of the 2019–20 season. The club seeking promotion must meet the minimum standards criteria. The champion
368-491: Is the top team in the RFU Championship after the league season. A play-off system was previously in place to decide which team were crowned champions. It was hoped this would bring to an end a select number of clubs bouncing between the leagues. (For example, each season between 2005–06 and 2008–09 saw the club relegated to National Division One earning promotion to the Premiership the following season, and also either
414-651: The Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland leagues, the seventh tier of the English domestic rugby union competition. Following the play-off game, depending on the result, a team from the division with fifteen teams was transferred to the division with thirteen teams to level up the number of teams in each division. The league was discontinued in 2022 as part of the Rugby Football Union Adult Competition Review. The majority of
460-557: The RFU Championship which replaced the old National Division One. This league also had 12 teams, and like the Premiership, is professional . Beneath the two professional leagues, the National Leagues were restructured to include a new 16 team National League 1 , 16 team National League 2 South and 16 team National League 2 North . The four top regional leagues became part of National League 3 at level five. For
506-484: The Rugby Football Union when the league was originally known as North Division 1 . A further name change from National League 3 North to its final name for the 2017–18 season by the RFU in order to lessen confusion for the series of regional leagues. The season ran from September to May and comprised twenty-six rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals home and away. The results of
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#1732798534897552-414: The north of England : The original North Division 2 was a tier 6 league with promotion up to North Division 1 and relegation down to either North East 1 or North West 1 . The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season, meant that North Division 2 dropped from being a tier 6 league to a tier 7 league for the years that National 5 North was active. The cancellation of National 5 North at
598-454: The 2009–10 season North Division One was renamed as National League 3 North following a restructuring of the national leagues leading to changes at all levels. The division was renamed North Premier for the 2017–18 season in order to make it more obvious that this was a regional division and the top one in the north. From 2000–01 season until 2018–19 there was a play-off, between the league runners-up of North Premier and Midlands Premier , for
644-431: The 2009–10 season the division would be renamed North 1 East as part of wholesale national restructure of the league system by the RFU leading to mass changes at all levels including in the north. Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of North 1 East and North 1 West for the third and final promotion place to North Premier . The team with the superior league record has home advantage in
690-410: The 2017-18 season, the National League 3 leagues were renamed to have Premier as part of their title in order to make a distinction between regional rugby union and the National Leagues above. Other changes that season saw London 3 North East be replaced by two new leagues - London 3 Eastern Counties and London 3 Essex - with teams transferred depending on location. In 2020, it was announced that
736-465: The COVID-19 pandemic. It was also confirmed that league structure and minimum standards criteria for promotion were being reviewed. The moratorium only covered relegation and did not include promotion from the Championship meaning the Premiership expanded to 13 teams with the Championship reduced to 11 in 2021–22 with the promotion of Saracens . In June 2021, as part of the wider review the moratorium
782-438: The RFU announced, that due to the coronavirus pandemic , a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues ( National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning North Premier was not contested. Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Macclesfield who were relegated from National League 2 North , and Blackburn , Carlisle and Morpeth who were promoted into
828-399: The champions promoted to National League 2 North and the runner-up going into a play-off with the second placed team from Midlands Premier with the winner also being promoted. The league's bottom three teams are relegated to either North 1 East or North 1 West depending on their geographic location. The league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following reorganisation by
874-447: The champions, winning the league by 16 points. It was Sheffield's second promotion to National 2 North; in 2010–11 they won promotion via the play-off (as Midland representatives), beating Chester . Wirral, the second-placed team lost their play-off match against Hinckley and remain in this league for next season. Three clubs are relegated, Huddersfield YMCA to North East 1, and Birkenhead Park and Burnage, both to North West 1 . Nine of
920-427: The division. Huddersfield were promoted as champions into National League 2 North, with Firwood Waterloo and Stockport both relegated to North 1 West and Cleckheaton dropping to North 1 East . In order to address an imbalance of teams at tier 5, Doncaster Phoenix were level transferred to Midlands Premier . This season was the first that Kendal played at the new Mint Bridge Stadium. Nine of
966-494: The division. Preston Grasshoppers were promoted as champions into National League 2 North, while the relegated teams were Birkenhead Park ( North 1 West ), Morley and Pocklington (both North 1 East ). Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Preston Grasshoppers and Harrogate who were relegated from National League 2 North , while Pocklington , Kirkby Lonsdale and Birkenhead Park are promoted into
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#17327985348971012-501: The division. Last season's champions Hull were promoted into National League 2 North, while the relegated teams were Vale of Lune and Wilmslow who all drop down into North 1 West and Kendal Rugby Union Football Club, Kendal who were relegated to North 1 East . Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Blaydon who were relegated from National League 2 North , while Alnwick , Vale of Lune and Wilmslow were promoted into
1058-467: The end of home-and-away season was relegated to, and replaced by the champions of, the third tier National League 1 . From 2017–18 through to 2019–20 and from 2021–22 , the championship play-off was eliminated. The league-season champions earned automatic promotion (again, assuming that they meet Premiership standards). Relegation criteria did not change. However, there was a moratorium placed on relegation in both 2020–21 and 2021–22 . From 2023–24
1104-485: The end of the 1995–96 season meant that North Division 2 reverted to being a tier 6 league. For the 2000–01 season, North Division 2 was split into two regional divisions - North 2 East and North 2 West . While promotion continued up into North Division 1 , the cancellation of the North East 1 , North East 2 and North East 3 meant that relegation was now to either Durham/Northumberland 1 or Yorkshire 1 . For
1150-539: The first season of the English rugby union league pyramid, sponsored by Courage, there was four, tier five leagues. The geographical area for teams in the north of England covered the ceremonial counties of Cheshire , Cumbria , Lancashire Northumberland and Yorkshire There were eleven teams in the league and they played each other once, giving each team ten matches. The other tier five leagues were London Division One, Midlands Division One and South West Division One. This system prevailed for five seasons, and in 1992–93
1196-508: The fourteen teams from 2021–22 were placed into one of the new level five leagues for 2022–23. Alnwick, Billingham, Sandal and York were placed into Regional 1 North East while Blackburn, Burnage, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lymm, Macclesfield, Northwich, Rossendale and Wirral were placed into Regional 1 North West . The top two teams in 2021–22, Otley and Preston Grasshoppers, were promoted to the level four league National League 2 North . No teams were relegated to level six. On 30th October
1242-444: The fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Huddersfield and Sandal who were relegated from National 2 North while Doncaster Phoenix , Morley and Kendal were promoted into the league. Sheffield Tigers were promoted as champions into National 2 North while Burnage and Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. were relegated to North 1 East and Birkenhead Park dropped to North 1 West . In order to address
1288-519: The fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They were joined by two teams relegated from National League 2 North, Hull and Stockport; and by three promoted teams, Birkenhead Park, Ilkley and Sheffield. The teams leaving the league were the 2014–15 champions, Sale who were promoted to National League 2 North, along with the runner-up Sandal, the play-off winner against Hinckley ; Morley, South Shields West and Beverley were all relegated to North 1 East. Each season,
1334-516: The highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout the system. Women's Rugby union in England consists of 26 leagues, which includes a national semi-professional league at the highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout the system, with the exception of the Women's Premiership . Historically, there were no leagues allowed as these were seen as
1380-447: The level 4 National League 2 East , National League 2 West or National League 2 North depending on geographical location. The fourth tier is increased to three leagues of 14 teams each. The three league champions are promoted, with the bottom two in each league relegated to their respective regional division. With the restructuring, levels 5–11 became the new regional system. There are now 6 Regional 1 leagues, which are connected to
1426-485: The matches contributed points to the league table as follows: Nine of the fourteen teams participated in the previous season's competition. They were joined by Otley and Preston Grasshoppers who were relegated from National League 2 North , and promoted sides York (from North 1 East ) together with Burnage and Northwich RUFC (both from North 1 West ). The previous season's champions Blaydon were promoted into National League 2 North alongside Harrogate (who won
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1472-433: The national leagues by promotion and relegation. The table below shows the current structure of the system. For each division, its official name, sponsorship name (which differs from its historic name) and number of clubs is given. At levels 1–3, each division promotes to the national division(s) that lie directly above it and relegates to the national division(s) that lie directly below it. Below that level, clubs relegate to
1518-1024: The nearest local league. Level 1 Premiership Rugby 10 clubs 2 RFU Championship 12 clubs 3 National League 1 14 clubs 4 National League 2 North 14 clubs National League 2 East 14 clubs National League 2 West 14 clubs 5 Regional 1 North East 12 clubs Regional 1 North West 12 clubs Regional 1 South East 12 clubs Regional 1 South Central 12 clubs Regional 1 South West 12 clubs Regional 1 Midlands 12 clubs 6 Regional 2 North 12 clubs Regional 2 North East 12 clubs Regional 2 North West 12 clubs Regional 2 Anglia 12 clubs Regional 2 South East 12 clubs Regional 2 Thames 12 clubs Regional 2 South Central 12 clubs Regional 2 South West 12 clubs Regional 2 Severn 12 clubs Regional 2 Midlands West 12 clubs Regional 2 Midlands North 12 clubs North 1 East North 1 East
1564-419: The number of teams increased from eleven to thirteen. The following season (1993–94) the league was reorganised and the four tier five leagues became two; National 5 North and National 5 South . After three seasons, in 1996–97, a further reorganisation occurred, and there was a return to four, tier five leagues; with North Division One covering the area of northern England. This system prevailed until 2009–10 when
1610-491: The number of teams was increased from twelve to fourteen and renamed National League Three North. The original North Division 1 was a tier 5 league with promotion to Area League 2 North and relegation to North Division 2 (later split into two leagues known as North 1 East and North 1 West ). At the end of the 1992–93 season the top six teams from North Division 1 and the top six from Midland Division 1 were combined to create National 5 North . North Division 1 dropped from
1656-418: The promotion or relegation of Leeds Carnegie ). Debate still continues over the question of promotion and relegation, but with the strict criteria fears are reduced. From 2023–24, the last placed team from the Premiership will playoff against the Championship winner (subject to promotion eligibility) for a place in the following season's Premiership. The new RFU Championship was formed in 2009–10 to provide
1702-420: The runners-up in the National League 3 Midland, and National League 3 North participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 North. The team with the best playing record, in this case Hinckley, host the match and their opponents are Wirral. Inaugural clubs (first season as National 3 North) When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams: In
1748-416: The table below refers to that season not 2020-21. On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel all adult competitive leagues ( National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season, meaning North 1 East was not contested. When league rugby began in 1987 this was a single division containing the following teams from
1794-459: The teams in North 1 East formed the new level six Regional 2 North East league, with the remainder moving to Regional 2 North . Kendal finished 5th in N1E in 2019-20 but were level transferred to North 1 West for the current season to address an imbalance of teams. The teams competing in 2021-22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019-20, the 'previous season' column in
1840-505: The third and final promotion place to National League 2 North . The team with the superior league record has home advantage. As of the end of the 2018–19 season the northern teams have been stronger with twelve wins to the Midlands seven, while the home team has won thirteen times compared to the away teams six. English rugby union system Men's Rugby union in England consists of 106 leagues, which includes professional leagues at
1886-466: The virtual play-off against Newport runners-up in Midlands Premier ), while the relegated teams were Carlisle RFC (to North 1 West ) together with Morpeth and Ilkley RFC (both to North 1 East ). The teams competing in 2021–22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019–20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020–21. Twelve of
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1932-422: The winner (subject to eligibility) will contest a playoff with the bottom placed team in the Premiership for a place in the next season's Premiership. The new National League structure includes: The National League 1 was decreased from 16 to 14 teams. This resulted in a 26-game season on a home and away basis. The champions are promoted to the level 2 RFU Championship, and the bottom three sides are relegated to
1978-444: Was a sixth tier league in the English rugby union domestic competition , formed in 1987 using the name North Division 2, involving clubs from the north of the country. There was also a division known as North East 1 that began in 1987 for clubs based in the north-east but this was a seventh (later eighth) tier league. North Division 2 would later split into two regional divisions, known as North 1 East and North 1 West . North 1 East
2024-464: Was extended by a further two years in the Premiership and also included relegation from the Championship in 2021–22 and promotion from the Championship following the 2022–23 season. This means the Premiership may be further expanded to 14 teams in 2022–23 and the Championship may be reduced to 10. A summary of changes is outlines below: Promotion remains subject to minimum standards which have been reviewed and include several factors. Premiership Rugby
2070-484: Was formed into a true national league system. The format and competitiveness of the leagues has changed greatly since the leagues were first formed and a widespread and global restructuring of the leagues was announced in November 2008, for implementation from the 2009–10 season. Under this new structure, the top league remained the 12-team Gallagher Premiership . The second tier league was rebranded and restructured as
2116-470: Was made up of teams from around the North East and Yorkshire , playing home and away matches throughout a winter season. The league champions were automatically promoted to the North Premier , whilst the second placed team entered into a play-off match with the second placed team in the equivalent Division North 1 West . The bottom three teams were relegated to either the Counties 1 Yorkshire or
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