The Premiership 2 was the eleventh full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. New teams to the division included West Hartlepool and Orrell who had been relegated from National Division 1 (renamed as Premiership 1) while Exeter and Fylde were promoted from National League 1 (formerly National Division 3). For the first time Premiership 2, along with Premiership 1, was sponsored by the assurance company Allied Dunbar. For the previous ten seasons the league was known as the Courage Clubs Championship and sponsored by Courage Brewery.
Bedford, the champions, were promoted to the Allied Dunbar Premiership for season 1998–99, along with runner-up West Hartlepool. From next season, the top two divisions would consist of fourteen teams, an increase of two per division. The bottom two teams in the top tier played the third and fourth teams in Premiership 2 for the final two places in the top division. Third place London Scottish won promotion by beating Bristol in a two legged play-off, while fourth placed Rotherham lost to London Irish. There was no relegation to Jewson National League 1 because of the increase in teams in the top two divisions.[2]
Source: moseleyrugby.co.uk at the Wayback Machine(archived 2016-03-08) Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows: two points for a win; one point for a draw; no points for a loss.
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: (1) difference between points for and against; (2) total number of points for.
There was no relegation this season. (C) Champions Notes:
↑Two points deducted for fielding three overseas players
77 – 3 Bedford at home to Coventry on 8 November 1997
Largest away win — 60 pts
67 – 7 Bedford away to Fylde on 27 December 1997
Most points scored — 151 pts
77 – 3 Bedford at home to Coventry on 8 November 1997
Most tries in a match — 11
Bedford Blues at home to Coventry on 8 November 1997
Most conversions in a match — 8 (x3)
Bedford at home to Coventry on 8 November 1997
Bedford away to Fylde on 27 December 1997
West Hartlepool at home to Fylde on 14 February 1998
Most penalties in a match — 6 (x9)
N/A - multiple teams
Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x4)
Exeter at home to Bedford on 13 September 1997
Moseley at home to Orrell on 25 October 1997
Coventry at home to West Hartlepool on 31 January 1998
Wakefield at home to Rotherham on 28 March 1998
[15][16][17][18]
Player
Most points in a match — 32
Mike Rayer for Bedford at home to Coventry on 8 November 1997
Most tries in a match — 4 (x3)
John Clarke for Blackheath at home to Fylde on 20 September 1997 Jason Forster for Bedford at home to Fylde on 17 January 1998 Ben Wade for Rotherham at home to Exeter on 25 April 1998
Most conversions in a match — 8 (x3)
Mike Rayer for Bedford at home to Coventry on 8 November 1997 Mike Rayer for Bedford away to Fylde on 27 December 1997 Steven Vile for West Hartlepool at home to Fylde on 14 February 1998
↑Bill Mitchell, ed. (1994). "Blackheath FC (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1994–95. Windsor: Tony Williamson Publications. p.179.
↑Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Coventry F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rded.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p.94.
↑Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Exeter R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rded.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p.138.
↑Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Fylde R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rded.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p.142.
↑Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Richmond F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rded.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p.112.
↑Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Moseley F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rded.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p.61.
↑Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Orrell R.U.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rded.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p.70.
↑Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Wakefield R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rded.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p.123.
↑Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Waterloo F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rded.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p.126.
England
