History of the English rugby union system
Encyclopedia
England
has a comprehensive league structure in place, including national fully professional leagues to amateur regional leagues.
The format and competitiveness of the leagues have changed greatly since their beginnings in 1987. Likewise the leagues started off amateur but professionalism has since been permitted. However, it has always had three or four national leagues with various regional and county leagues below.
In 1984 this was taken one step further with the creation of two national merit leagues for the top twenty four clubs (based around playing a minimum of sixteen fixtures against each other, a factor which led to Exeter's exclusion after consideration). The top division had three clubs from each of the major merit leagues. In these clubs had to play a minimum of eight fixtures against the other clubs in their division but it was largely based around pre-existing fixtures. There was a system of promotion and relegation between the Merit Tables. 1985 saw the addition of a third national merit table, albeit without promotion and relegation to the top two.
In 1988 clubs had their fixtures set by the league for them though still only played each other once.
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with a playoff system and only one relegation spot. National 2 and 3 (North and South) reverted to National 1 and National 2 (North and South) and were expanded to sixteen teams. Four National 3 divisions were created based around the top regional leagues with fourteen teams in each (see above). National playoffs for the title were created for the winners of the National 2 and National 3 divisions. A similar playoff series was created for the eight winners of the regional divisions.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
has a comprehensive league structure in place, including national fully professional leagues to amateur regional leagues.
The format and competitiveness of the leagues have changed greatly since their beginnings in 1987. Likewise the leagues started off amateur but professionalism has since been permitted. However, it has always had three or four national leagues with various regional and county leagues below.
Precursor competitions
Whilst there were experiments with county leagues in the north in the nineteenth century for most of rugby union's history there have been no organised leagues. The 1970s saw the creation of a national cup and a series of regional and county merit leagues (the most important of which being the North, Midlands, South West and London merit league).In 1984 this was taken one step further with the creation of two national merit leagues for the top twenty four clubs (based around playing a minimum of sixteen fixtures against each other, a factor which led to Exeter's exclusion after consideration). The top division had three clubs from each of the major merit leagues. In these clubs had to play a minimum of eight fixtures against the other clubs in their division but it was largely based around pre-existing fixtures. There was a system of promotion and relegation between the Merit Tables. 1985 saw the addition of a third national merit table, albeit without promotion and relegation to the top two.
1984-85 season
The initial lineups of the merit tables was as follows:- Merit Table A
- Bath
- Bristol
- Coventry
- Gloucester
- Gosforth
- Harlequins
- Leicester
- London Irish
- London Scottish
- Moseley
- Orrell
- Sale
- Merit Table B
- Bedford
- Blackheath
- Headingley
- Liverpool
- London Welsh
- Northampton
- Nottingham
- Richmond
- Rosslyn Park
- Saracens
- Wasps
- Waterloo
- Merit Table A
- Champions:
- Relegated: Coventry; London Irish; Orrell
- Merit Table B
- Promoted: Headingley; Nottingham; Wasps
1985-86
This year saw the creation of Merit Table C with the following clubs:- Birmingham
- Exeter
- Fylde
- Metropolitan Police
- Morley
- Nuneaton
- Plymouth
- Roundhay
- Sheffield
- Vale of Lune
- Wakefield
- West Hartlepool
- Merit Table A
- Champions:
- Relegated: Gosforth; Headingley
- Merit Table B
- Promoted: Coventry; Orrell
- Liverpool merge with non-league St Helens to become Liverpool-St Helens
- Merit Table C
- Champions (not promoted):
1986-87
- Merit Table A
- Champions:
- Relegated to National 2: London Scottish
- Merit Table B
- Promoted to National 1: Waterloo
- Merit Table C
- Champions (not promoted):
- Relegated to Area League North: Roundhay
- Admitted to National 3: Maidstone
Foundation of the national league system
In 1987 the merit tables formed the basis of the top 3 divisions of the national league system. For the first season there were no fixed fixtures so clubs had to arrange their own (to a minimum of ten out of eleven opponents, only one game against each club could count). For the initial season there was no promotion and relegation between National 2 and National 3 but this was created for the following season. National 3 had a minimum of two clubs per region (with the top four clubs in the previous season's Merit Table C getting a guaranteed spot outside this quota) thus Roundhay missed out on a spot to Maidstone.In 1988 clubs had their fixtures set by the league for them though still only played each other once.
Initial composition of major leagues (1987-88 season)
- National 1
- Bath
- Bristol
- Coventry
- Gloucester
- Harlequins
- Leicester
- Moseley
- Nottingham
- Orrell
- Sale
- Wasps
- Waterloo
- National 2
- Bedford
- Blackheath
- Gosforth
- Headingley
- Liverpool-St Helens
- London Irish
- London Scottish
- London Welsh
- Northampton
- Richmond
- Rosslyn Park
- Saracens
- National 3
- Birmingham
- Exeter
- Fylde
- Maidstone
- Metropolitan Police
- Morley
- Nuneaton
- Plymouth
- Sheffield
- Vale of Lune
- Wakefield
- West Hartlepool
- Area League North
- Birkenhead Park
- Broughton Park
- Derby
- Durham City
- Lichfield
- Northern
- Preston Grasshoppers
- Roundhay
- Rugby
- Solihull
- Stourbridge
- Area League South
- Askeans
- Camborne
- Cheltenham
- Havant
- Lydney
- Salisbury
- Sidcup
- Southend
- Streatham-Croydon
- Stroud
- Sudbury
1987-88 season
- National 1
- Champions: Leicester
- Relegated: Coventry; Sale
- National 2
- Promoted: Liverpool-St Helens; Rosslyn Park
- National 3
- Champions (not promoted): Wakefield
- Relegated: Birmingham; Morley (both to Area League North)
- Area League North
- Promoted: Rugby
- Relegated: Birkenhead Park; Derby; Solihull
- Promoted into league: Stoke; Winnington Park
- Area League South
- Promoted: Askeans
- Relegated: Streatham-Croydon
- Promoted into league: Ealing; Redruth
1988-89 season
- National 1
- Champions: Bath
- Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Waterloo
- National 2
- Promoted: Bedford; Saracens
- Relegated: London Scottish; London Welsh
- National 3
- Promoted: Rugby; Plymouth
- Relegated: Maidstone; Metropolitan Police (both to Area League South)
- Area League North
- Promoted: Roundhay
- Relegated: Birmingham
- Promoted into league: Kendal; Walsall
- Area League South
- Promoted: Lydney
- Relegated: Ealing; Sidcup; Stroud
- Promoted into league: Basingstoke; Clifton
1989-90 season
- National 1
- Champions: Wasps
- Relegated: Bedford
- National 2
- Promoted: Liverpool-St Helens; Northampton
- National 3
- Promoted: London Scottish; Wakefield
- Relegated to National 4 South: London Welsh
- Area League North
- Promoted: Broughton Park; Morley
- Promoted into league: Birmingham-Solihull; Harrogate; Hereford; Otley
- Area League South
- Promoted: Clifton; Metopolitan Police
- Relegated: Salisbury
- Promoted into league: Ealing; Maidenhead; North Walsham; Weston-super-Mare
1990-91 season
For the 1990-91 season all divisions were increased to 13 teams and the Area Leagues were renamed National 4 North and National 4 South.- National 1
- Champions: Bath
- Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Moseley
- National 2
- Promoted: London Irish; Rugby
- Relegated: Headingley; Richmond
- National 3
- Promoted: Morley; West Hartlepool
- Relegated: Metropolitan Police (to 4 South); Vale of Lune (to 4 North)
- National 4 North
- Promoted: Otley
- Relegated: Birmingham-Solihull; Stoke
- Promoted into league: Aspatria; Towcestrians
- National 4 South
- Promoted: Redruth
- Relegated: Cheltenham; Maidenhead
- Promoted into league: High Wycombe; Sidcup
1991-92 season
- National 1
- Champions: Bath
- Relegated: Nottingham; Rosslyn Park
- National 2
- Promoted: London Scottish; West Hartlepool
- Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Plymouth
- National 3
- Promoted: Fylde; Richmond
- Relegated: Lydney (to 4 South); Nuneaton (to 4 North)
- Headingley and Roundhay merged to form Leeds
- National 4 North
- Promoted: Aspatria
- Relegated: Northern; Vale of Lune
- Promoted into league: Rotherham; Stoke
- National 4 South
- Promoted: Havant
- Relegated: Ealing; Sidcup
- Promoted into league: Berry Hill; Thurrock
1992-93 season
- National 1
- Champions: Bath
- Relegated: London Scottish; Rugby; Saracens; West Hartlepool
- National 2
- Promoted: Newcastle-Gosforth
- Relegated: Bedford; Blackheath; Coventry; Fylde; Morley; Richmond; Rosslyn Park
- National 3
- Promoted: Otley
- Relegated to National 4: Askeans; Aspatria; Broughton Park; Clifton; Leeds; Liverpool-St Helens; Plymouth; Sheffield
- National 4 North
- Promoted to National 4: Harrogate
- Relegated: Towcestrians
- Promoted into league: Birmingham-Solihull; Bradford & Bingley
- National 4 South
- Promoted: Sudbury
- Relegated: Thurrock
- Promoted into league: Reading; Tabard
1993-94 season
The 1993-94 season saw the reduction in size of the national divisions to ten teams and the creation of a national fourth division. It also saw the introduction of home and away fixtures. National 4 North and 4 South kept the same format but were renamed National 5 North and 5 South- National 1
- Champions: Bath
- Relegated: London Irish; Newcastle-Gosforth
- National 2
- Promoted: Sale; West Hartlepool
- Relegated: Otley; Rugby
- National 3
- Promoted: Coventry; Fylde
- Relegated: Havant; Redruth
- National 4
- Promoted: Clifton; Harrogate
- Relegated: Sheffield (to 5 North); Sudbury (to 5 South)
- National 5 North
- Promoted: Rotherham
- Relegated: Bradford & Bingley; Durham City
- Promoted into league: Barkers Butts; Wharfedale
- National 5 South
- Promoted: Reading
- Relegated: Maidstone; Southend
- Promoted into league: Barking; Henley
1994-95 season
- National 1
- Champions: Leicester
- Relegated: Northampton
- National 2
- Promoted: Saracens
- Relegated: Coventry; Fylde
- National 3
- Promoted: Bedford; Blackheath
- Relegated: Clifton; Exeter
- National 4
- Promoted: Reading; Rotherham
- Relegated: Askeans (to 5 South); Broughton Park (to 5 North)
- National 5 North
- Promoted: Walsall
- Relegated: Barkers Butts; Hereford
- Promoted into league: Sandal; Worcester
- National 5 South
- Promoted: London Welsh
- Relegated: Basingstoke; Sudbury
- Promoted into league: Camberley; Cheltenham
1995-96 season
- National 1
- Champions: Bath
- National 2
- Promoted: London Irish; Northampton
- National 3
- Promoted: Coventry; Richmond, Rotherham; Rugby
- National 4
- No promotion as merged into National 3
- Relegated: Aspatria (to 4 North); Plymouth (to 4 South)
- National 5 North
- Promoted: Wharfedale
- Relegated: Broughton Park
- Promoted into league: Hereford; Manchester
- National 5 South
- Promoted: Lydney
- Relegated: Camborne
- Promoted into league: Charlton Park; Newbury
1996-97 season
This year saw the expansion of the top 2 divisions to 12 teams and the temporary expansion of National 3 to 16 clubs. It also saw National 5 North and 5 South revert to being 4 North and 4 South but expanded to 14 teams and for the first time with a home and away fixture list. The leagues became openly professional this year.- National 1
- Champions: Wasps
- Relegated: Orrell; West Hartlepool
- National 2
- Promoted: Newcastle; Richmond
- Relegated: Nottingham; Rugby
- National 3
- Promoted: Exeter; Fylde
- Relegated: Clifton; Havant; Redruth (all three to 2 South); Walsall (to 2 North)
- National 4 North
- Promoted: Worcester
- Relegated: Hereford; Stoke
- Promoted into league: Hinckley; Sedgeley Park
- National 4 South
- Promoted: Newbury
- Relegated: Askeans; Berry Hill; Charlton Park; High Wycombe
- Promoted into league: Bridgwater; Esher
1997-98 season
The 1997-98 season saw the addition of sponsorship by Allied Dunbar and as a result a rebranding of National 1 and 2 to Premiership 1 and 2. National 3 and 4 (North and South) become National 1 and National 2 (North and South) respectively.- Premiership 1
- Champions: Newcastle Falcons
- Relegated: Bristol
- Premiership 2
- Promoted: Bedford; London Scottish; West Hartlepool
- National 1
- Promoted: Leeds; London Welsh; Rugby; Worcester
- National 2 North
- Promoted: Birmingham-Solihull; Manchester
- Promoted into league: New Brighton; Whitchurch
- National 2 South
- Promoted: Camberley; Henley
- Promoted into league: Bracknell; Norwich
1998-99 season
The 1998-99 season saw the expansion of the two premiership divisions to fourteen teams.- Premiership 1
- Champions: Leicester
- Relegated: West Hartlepool
- London Scottish and Richmond disband
- Premiership 2
- Promoted: Bristol
- Relegated: Blackheath; Fylde
- National 1
- Promoted: Henley; Manchester
- Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Morley (both to 2 North)
- National 2 North
- Promoted: Preston Grasshoppers
- Relegated: Hinckley; Lichfield; Winnington Park
- Promoted into league: Bedford Athletic; Doncaster
- National 2 South
- Promoted: Bracknell
- Relegated: Havant
- Promoted into league: Penzance & Newlyn; Westcombe Park
1999-2000 season
The 1999-2000 season saw the contraction of Premiership 1 to twelve teams with London Scottish and Richmond being absorbed into London Irish and reforming in county leagues.- Premiership 1
- Champions: Leicester
- Relegated: Bedford
- Premiership 2
- Promoted: Rotherham
- Relegated: Rugby; West Hartlepool
- National 1
- Promoted: Birmingham-Solihull; Otley
- Relegated: Blackheath; Reading (both to 3 South)
- National 2 North
- Promoted: Kendal
- Relegated: Sheffield
- Promoted into league: Dudley Kingswinford; Tynedale
- National 2 South
- Promoted: Esher
- Relegated: Bridgwater & Albion; Metropolitan Police; Norwich
- Promoted into league: Basingstoke; Launceston
2000-01 season
The 2000-01 season saw Zurich take over the sponsorship of the top division with no interest in the second tier. However, this saw Premiership 2 rebranded National 1 with National 1 and 2 (North and South) becoming National 2 and 3 (North and South) respectively. It also saw the creation of a promotion playoff between the runners-up of the National 3 divisions with an extra relegation place from National 2. A new Championship competition for the top eight clubs was introduced this season. It was intended that the winners of the Championship would become champions but this decision was revoked after outcry. This season also saw the introduction of the rugby union bonus points systemRugby union bonus points system
The Rugby union bonus points system is a method of deciding table points from a rugby union match. It was implemented in order to encourage attacking play throughout a match, to discourage repetitive goal-kicking, and to reward teams for "coming close" in losing efforts...
.
- Premiership
- Champions: Leicester
- Relegated: Rotherham
- National 1
- Promoted: Leeds
- Relegated: Orrell; Waterloo
- National 2
- Promoted: Bracknell; Rugby
- Relegated: Camberley; Lydney (both to 3 South); West Hartlepool (to 3 North)
- National 3 North
- Promoted: Sedgeley Park; Stourbridge
- Relegated: Aspatria; Walsall
- Promoted to league: Blaydon; Darlington Mowden Park; Scunthorpe
- National 3 South
- Promoted: Plymouth
- Relegated: Basingstoke; Cheltenham; Reading; Weston-super-Mare
- Promoted into league: Cinderford; Old Colfeians; Old Patesians
2001-02 season
- Premiership
- Champions: Leicester
- National 1
- Champions (not promoted): Rotherham
- Relegated: Bracknell; Henley
- National 2
- Promoted: Orrell; Plymouth
- Relegated: Preston Grasshoppers; Waterloo (both to 3 North); Rosslyn Park (to 3 South)
- National 3 North
- Promoted: Doncaster
- Relegated: Morley; Sandal; West Hartlepool; Whitchurch
- Promoted to league: Broadstreet; Halifax; Hull Ionians
- National 3 South
- Promoted: Launceston; Penzance & Newlyn
- Relegated: Cinderford; Clifton
- Promoted into league: Basingstoke; Havant; Weston-super-Mare
2002-03 season
This season saw the replacement of the Zurich Championship with a top four playoff, the winner of which would be crowned champions.- Premiership
- Champions: Wasps
- Relegated: Bristol
- National 1
- Promoted: Rotherham
- Relegated: Moseley; Rugby
- National 2
- Promoted: Henley; Penzance & Newlyn
- Relegated: Fylde; Kendal (both to 3 North); Launceston (to 3 South)
- National 3 North
- Promoted: Nuneaton
- Relegated: Bedford Athletic; Broadstreet; Hull Ionians; Scunthorpe
- Promoted to league: Darlington; Longton; Macclesfield
- National 3 South
- Promoted: Lydney; Rosslyn Park
- Relegated: Camberley; Havant
- Promoted into league: Dings Crusaders; Haywards Heath; Southend
2003-04 season
- Premiership
- Champions: Wasps
- Relegated: Rotherham
- National 1
- Promoted: Worcester
- Relegated: Manchester
- Wakefield disband
- National 2
- Promoted: Nottingham; Sedgeley Park
- Relegated: Lydney (to 3 South); Rugby (to 3 North)
- National 3 North
- Promoted: Waterloo
- Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Longton; Preston Grasshoppers
- Promoted to league: Bedford Athletic; Bradford & Bingley; Cleckheaton
- National 3 South
- Promoted: Blackeath; Launceston
- Relegated: Basingstoke; Old Colfeians
- Promoted into league: Havant; Hertford; Reading
2004-05 season
- Premiership
- Champions: Wasps
- Relegated: Harlequins
- National 1
- Promoted: Bristol
- Relegated: Henley; Orrell
- National 2
- Promoted: Doncaster; Newbury
- Relegated: Bracknell; Rosslyn Park (both to 3 South); Nuneaton (to 3 North)
- National 3 North
- Promoted: Halifax
- Relegated: Bedford Athletic; Dudley Kingswinford; Rugby
- Promoted to league: Hull Ionians; Leicester Lions; Preston Grasshoppers
- National 3 South
- Promoted: Barking; Redruth
- Relegated: Haywards Heath; Tabard; Weston-super-Mare
- Promoted into league: Bridgwater & Albion; Cambridge; Cinderford
2005-06 season
The 2005-06 season saw Zurich replaced as Premiership sponsors by Guinness- Premiership
- Champions: Sale
- Relegated: Leeds
- National 1
- Promoted: Harlequins
- National 2
- Promoted: Moseley; Waterloo
- Relegated: Orrell (to 3 North)
- National 3 North
- Promoted: Bradford & Bingley; Nuneaton
- Relegated: Kendal; New Brighton
- Promoted to league: Morley; Rugby; West Park St Helens
- National 3 South
- Promoted: Cambridge
- Relegated: Bracknell; Reading
- Promoted into league: Canterbury; Chinnor; Clifton
2006-07 season
The 2006-07 season saw National 1 expanded to sixteen clubs.- Premiership
- Champions: Leicester
- Relegated: Northampton
- National 1
- Promoted: Leeds
- Relegated: Otley; Waterloo
- National 2
- Promoted: Esher; Launceston
- Relegated: Barking (to 3 South); Bradford & Bingley; Harrogate (both to 3 North)
- National 3 North
- Promoted: Blaydon
- Relegated: Darlington; Cleckheaton; Orrell
- Promoted to league: Beverley; Caldy
- National 3 South
- Promoted: Southend; Westcombe Park
- Relegated: Chinnor; Hertford; Old Patesians
- Promoted into league: Ealing; London Scottish; Luton; Mounts Bay
2007-08 season
- Premiership
- Champions: Wasps
- Relegated: Leeds
- National 1
- Promoted: Northampton
- Relegated: Birmingham-Solihull; Launceston
- National 2
- Promoted: Manchester; Otley
- Relegated: Halifax; Nuneaton (both to 3 North); Henley (to 3 South)
- National 3 North
- Promoted: Tynedale
- Relegated: Beverley; Morley; West Park St Helens
- Transferred to 3 South: Rugby
- Promoted to league: Huddersfield; Kendal; Loughborough Students
- National 3 South
- Promoted: Cinderford; Mounts Bay
- Relegated: Clifton; Luton; North Walsham
- Promoted into league: Chinnor; Richmond; Worthing
2008-09 season
- Premiership
- Champions: Leicester
- Relegated: Bristol
- National 1
- Promoted: Leeds
- Relegated: Esher; Manchester; Newbury; Otley; Sedgeley Park
- National 2
- Promoted: Birmingham-Solihull
- Relegated: Southend; Westcombe Park (both to 2 South); Waterloo (to 2 North)
- Mounts Bay disband
- National 3 North
- Promoted: Nuneaton
- Relegated: Darlington Mowden Park
- Halifax disband
- Promoted to league: Broadstreet; Hull; Westoe
- National 3 South
- Promoted: London Scottish
- Relegated: Chinnor; Havant
- Transferred to 2 North: Rugby
- Promoted into league: Barnes; Clifton; Shelford
Creation of National 3 divisions (for 2009-10 season)
- National 3 North
- Beverley
- Birkenhead Park
- Chester
- Cleckheaton
- Darlington Mowden Park
- Middlesbrough
- Morley
- Penrith
- Rochdale
- Rossendale
- Sheffield Tigers
- Stockport
- West Hartlepool
- West Park St Helens
- National 3 Midlands
- Ampthill
- Bedford Athletic
- Bromsgrove
- Hereford
- Hinckley
- Kenilworth
- Kettering
- Longton
- Luctonians
- Luton
- Malvern
- Newport (Salop)
- Peterborough
- South Leicester
- National 3 South West
- Barnstable
- Bournemouth
- Chinnor
- Chippenham
- Cleve
- Coney Hill
- Exmouth
- Maidenhead
- Old Patesians
- Oxford Harlequins
- Reading
- Redingensians
- Taunton
- Weston-super-Mare
- National 3 London
- Basingtoke
- Bishop's Stortford
- Bracknell
- Diss
- Dorking
- Havant
- Haywards Heath
- Hertford
- Jersey
- North Walsham
- Old Albanians
- Portsmouth
- Sutton & Epsom
- Tring
2009-10 season
The 2009-10 season saw major changes to the league system below the Premiership. The second tier was contracted to twelve teams and rebranded the RFU ChampionshipRFU Championship
The RFU Championship replaced National Division One as the second tier in the English rugby union system in September 2009. Unlike National Division One, which is semi-professional, the RFU Championship is a fully professional league.-History:...
with a playoff system and only one relegation spot. National 2 and 3 (North and South) reverted to National 1 and National 2 (North and South) and were expanded to sixteen teams. Four National 3 divisions were created based around the top regional leagues with fourteen teams in each (see above). National playoffs for the title were created for the winners of the National 2 and National 3 divisions. A similar playoff series was created for the eight winners of the regional divisions.
- Premiership
- Champions: Leicester
- Relegated: Worcester
- Championship
- Promoted: Exeter
- Relegated: Coventry
- National 1
- Promoted: Esher
- Relegated: Manchester; Nuneaton (both to National 2 North); Newbury (to National 2 South)
- National 2 North
- Promoted: Macclesfield
- Relegated: Broadstreet (to 3 Midlands); Bradford & Bingley; Waterloo (both to 3 North)
- National 2 South
- Promoted: Barking; Rosslyn Park
- Relegated: Barnes (to 3 London); Bridgwater & Albion (to 3 South West)
- National 3 North
- Promoted: Morley
- Relegated: Cleckheaton; West Hartlepool; West Park St Helens
- Transferred to 3 Midlands: Sheffield Tigers
- Promoted in: Billingham; Lymm; Sandal
- National 3 Midlands
- Promoted: Hinckley (to 2 South); Luctonians (to 2 North)
- Relegated: Bedford Athletic; Kettering
- Transferred to 3 London: Ampthill
- Promoted in: Burton; Old Northamptonians; Scunthorpe
- National 3 South West
- Promoted: Taunton
- Relegated: Chippenham; Maidenhead; Reading
- Promoted in: Cheltenham; Hartpury College; Newton Abbot
- National 3 London
- Promoted: Jersey; Old Albanians
- Relegated: Haywards Heath; Portsmouth; Sutton & Epsom
- Promoted in: Civil Service; Gravesend; Staines
2010-11 season
- Premiership
- Champions: Saracens
- Relegated: Leeds
- Championship
- Promoted: Worcester
- Relegated: Birmingham-Solihull
- National 1
- Promoted: London Scottish
- Relegated: Otley (to National 2 North); Launceston; Redruth (both to National 2 South)
- National 2 North
- Promoted: Fylde
- Relegated: Manchester; Rugby Lions (bothto 3 Midlands); Morley (to 3 North)
- National 2 South
- Promoted: Ealing Trailfinders; Jersey
- Relegated: Canterbury (to 3 London); Hinckley (to 3 Midlands); Newbury (to 3 South West)
- National 3 North
- Promoted: Stockport
- Relegated: Billingham; Middlesbrouhg; Rochdale
- Promoted in: Altrincham Kersal; Burnage; West Hartlepool
- National 3 Midlands
- Promoted: Bromsgrove; Sheffield Tigers
- Relegated: Burton; Kenilworth; Peterborough
- Transferred to 3 London: Luton
- Promoted in: Dudley Kingswinford; Mansfield; Syston
- National 3 South West
- Promoted: Hartpury College
- Relegated: Cheltenham; Cleve; Coney Hill
- Promoted in: Amersham & Chiltern; Chippenham; Old Redcliffians
- National 3 London
- Promoted: Barnes; Hertford
- Relegated: Basingstoke; Diss; North Walsham
- Promoted in: London Irish Amateurs; Tonbridge Juddian; Westcliff
See also
- English rugby union systemEnglish rugby union systemEngland has a comprehensive league structure in place, including national fully professional leagues to amateur regional leagues.The format and competitiveness of the leagues have changed greatly since their beginnings in 1987...
- Aviva Premiership
- RFU ChampionshipRFU ChampionshipThe RFU Championship replaced National Division One as the second tier in the English rugby union system in September 2009. Unlike National Division One, which is semi-professional, the RFU Championship is a fully professional league.-History:...