National League 2 North is one of three level four leagues in the men’s English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in Northern England. The remainder of England is covered by the two counterpart leagues National League 2 East and National League 2 West. The champion club is promoted to National One. Relegation is to either the Regional 1 Midlands, Regional 1 North East or Regional 1 North West, depending on their location. Rotherham Titans are the current champions.
| Founded | 1987 |
|---|---|
| Country |  England |
| Number of clubs | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | Level 4 |
| Promotion to | National League 1 |
| Relegation to |
|
| Current champions | Sheffield (1st title) (2025–26) |
| Most championships | Hull Ionians, Macclesfield (3 titles) |
| Website | nationalleaguerugby.com |
| Current: 2025–26 National League 2 North | |
Before September 2009, it was known as National Division Three North. From 2009 to 2010 the Rugby Football Union (RFU) expanded the league from fourteen to sixteen teams. Each team played thirty league games on a home and away basis. The 2019–20 season ended before all the matches were completed because of the coronavirus pandemic and the RFU used a best playing record formula to decide the final table.[1]
The RFU approved a new structure for the National Leagues from the 2022–23 season. The league is reduced to fourteen teams, 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]
Structure
editThe league consists of fourteen teams and each plays the others on a home and away basis, to make a total of 26 matches each. The champions are promoted to National League 1 while the runners up go into a four team promotion-relegation playoff with the runners up from National League 2 East and National League 2 West and the 11th placed side in National League 1.[3]
The bottom two teams are relegated to Regional 1 North East or Regional 1 North West; depending on their location, while the 12th placed side go into the four team Regional 1 playoffs with the 12th placed sides from National 2 East and National 2 North, as well as the Regional 1 playoff winners.
The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
- 4 points are awarded for a win
- 2 points are awarded for a draw
- 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
- 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
- 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.
Current season
editParticipating teams and locations
edit
League table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield (P) | 26 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 1041 | 467 | +574 | 24 | 1 | 121 | Promotion place |
| 2 | Tynedale | 26 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 941 | 509 | +432 | 19 | 3 | 106 | Promotion play-off |
| 3 | Macclesfield (R) | 26 | 20 | 0 | 6 | 1037 | 725 | +312 | 21 | 2 | 103 | |
| 4 | Hull Ionians | 26 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 801 | 592 | +209 | 19 | 3 | 92 | |
| 5 | Darlington Mowden Park | 26 | 15 | 1 | 10 | 878 | 877 | +1 | 20 | 2 | 84 | |
| 6 | Fylde | 26 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 796 | 664 | +132 | 16 | 5 | 79 | |
| 7 | Wharfedale | 26 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 725 | 780 | −55 | 15 | 6 | 73 | |
| 8 | Sheffield Tigers | 26 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 686 | 611 | +75 | 15 | 8 | 71 | |
| 9 | Preston Grasshoppers | 26 | 10 | 1 | 15 | 776 | 817 | −41 | 16 | 3 | 61 | |
| 10 | Billingham | 26 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 604 | 905 | −301 | 16 | 3 | 59 | |
| 11 | Otley | 26 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 673 | 831 | −158 | 12 | 8 | 48 | |
| 12 | Rossendale (R) | 26 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 633 | 965 | −332 | 14 | 4 | 46 | Relegation play-off |
| 13 | Scunthorpe (R) | 26 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 622 | 1097 | −475 | 12 | 7 | 39 | Relegation place |
| 14 | Hull (R) | 26 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 570 | 943 | −373 | 11 | 5 | 36 |
Updated to match(es) played on 2 May 2026. Source: National League Rugby [18]
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- Number of matches drawn
- Difference between points for and against
- Total number of points for
- Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
- Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
National Two North honours
edit
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runner–up | Relegated teams | League name | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 11 | Rugby | Durham City | Solihull, Derby, Birkenhead Park | Area League North | |||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Roundhay | Broughton Park | Birmingham | Area League North | |||||||||
| 1989–90 | 11 | Broughton Park | Morley | No relegation[b] | Area League North | |||||||||
| 1990–91 | 13 | Otley | Lichfield | Birmingham & Solihull, Stoke-on-Trent | National 4 North | |||||||||
| 1991–92 | 13 | Aspatria | Hereford | Vale of Lune, Northern | National 4 North | |||||||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | Harrogate | Rotherham | Towcestrians | National 4 North | |||||||||
| 1993–94 | 10 | Clifton | Harrogate | Sheffield (to 5 North), Sudbury (to 5 South) | Courage National League 4[c] | |||||||||
| 1994–95 | 10 | Rotherham | Reading | Askeans (to 5 South), Broughton Park (to 5 North) | Courage National League 4 | |||||||||
| 1995–96 | 10 | Exeter | London Welsh[d] | Aspatria (to 4 North), Plymouth Albion (to 4 South) | Courage National League 4 | |||||||||
| 1996–97 | 14 | Worcester | Birmingham & Solihull | Stoke-on-Trent, Hereford | National 4 North | |||||||||
| 1997–98 | 14 | Birmingham & Solihull | Manchester | No relegation | National 2 North | |||||||||
| 1998–99 | 14 | Preston Grasshoppers | Stourbridge | Winnington Park, Lichfield, Hinckley | National 2 North | |||||||||
| 1999–00 | 14 | Kendal | Stourbridge | Sheffield | National 2 North | |||||||||
| 2000–01 | 14 | Stourbridge | Sedgley Park | Walsall, Aspatria | National 3 North | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 14 | Doncaster | Dudley Kingswinford | Whitchurch, Morley, Sandal, West Hartlepool | National 3 North | |||||||||
| 2002–03 | 14 | Nuneaton | New Brighton | Bedford Athletic, Broadstreet, Hull Ionians, Scunthorpe | National 3 North | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | 14 | Waterloo | Halifax | Preston Grasshoppers, Liverpool St Helens, Longton | National 3 North | |||||||||
| 2004–05 | 14 | Halifax | Macclesfield | Rugby Lions, Dudley Kingswinford, Bedford Athletic | National 3 North | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 14 | Bradford & Bingley | Nuneaton | New Brighton, Kendal | National 3 North | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | 14 | Blaydon | Tynedale | Darlington, Cleckheaton, Orrell | National 3 North | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 14 | Tynedale | Darlington Mowden Park | Morley, West Park St Helens, Beverley | National 3 North | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 14 | Nuneaton | Caldy | Darlington Mowden Park, Halifax | National 3 North | |||||||||
| 2009–10 | 16 | Macclesfield | Loughborough Students | Waterloo, Bradford & Bingley | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 16 | Fylde | Loughborough Students | Morley, Rugby Lions, Manchester | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 16 | Loughborough Students | Caldy | Harrogate, Nuneaton, Kendal | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 16 | Hull Ionians | Stourbridge | Westoe, Stockport, Huddersfield | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 16 | Macclesfield | Darlington Mowden Park | Sheffield Tigers, Bromsgrove, Dudley Kingswinford | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 16 | Hull Ionians | Ampthill | Birmingham & Solihull, Hull, Stockport | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 16 | Macclesfield | Sedgley Park | Huddersfield, Broadstreet, Sandal | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 16 | Caldy | Sale | Preston Grasshoppers, Scunthorpe, Harrogate | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 16 | Sale FC | Sedgley Park | Sheffield, Blaydon, Luctonians | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 16 | Hull Ionians | Chester | Peterborough Lions, South Leicester, Macclesfield | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | 16 | Caldy | Fylde | Scunthorpe, Preston Grasshoppers, Otley | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2020–21 | 16 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. | National League 2 North | |||||||||||
| 2021–22 | 16 | Hull | Sedgley Park | No relegation owing to league reorganisation | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2022–23 | 14 | Sedgley Park | Fylde | Blaydon and Harrogate | National League 2 North [19] | |||||||||
| 2023–24 | 14 | Rotherham Titans | Leeds Tykes | Huddersfield[e] | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2024–25 | 14 | Leeds Tykes | Sheffield | Harrogate[f] | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| 2025–26 | 14 | Sheffield | Tynedale | Hull, Scunthorpe, Rossendale | National League 2 North | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Promotion play-offs
editUntil the 2018–19 season, there was a play-off between the league runners-up of National League 2 North and National League 2 South, for the third and final promotion place to National League 1. The team with the superior league record having home advantage in the tie. Southern teams have been more successful with fourteen wins to the northern teams four, while the home side has won thirteen teams to the away sides five.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01[21] | Sedgley Park (N) | 40–23 | Launceston (S) | Park Lane, Whitefield, Greater Manchester | 1,500 | |||||||||
| 2001–02[22] | Launceston (S) | 26–0 | Dudley Kingswinford (N) | Polson Bridge, Launceston, Cornwall | 2,500 | |||||||||
| 2002–03[23] | Lydney (S) | 21–7 | New Brighton (N) | Regentsholme, Lydney, Gloucestershire | ||||||||||
| 2003–04[24][25] | Halifax (N) | 16–18 | Launceston (S) | Ovenden Park, Halifax, West Yorkshire | ||||||||||
| 2004-05[26] | Redruth (S) | 33–14 | Macclesfield (N) | The Recreation Ground, Redruth, Cornwall | 4,000 | |||||||||
| 2005–06[27][28] | North Walsham (S) | 5–15 | Nuneaton (N) | Norwich Road, Scottow, Norfolk | 1,302 | |||||||||
| 2006–07[29][30] | Westcombe Park (S) | 36–20 | Tynedale (N) | Goddington Dene, Orpington, Greater London | 1,700[31] | |||||||||
| 2007–08[32][33] | Cinderford (S) | 15–14 | Darlington Mowden Park (N) | Dockham Road, Cinderford, Gloucestershire | 2,800 | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | No promotion play-offs this season due to the restructuring of the English rugby union league system, with only the champions of each division promoted.[34] | |||||||||||||
| 2009–10[35][36] | Loughborough Students (N) | 21–43 | Rosslyn Park (S) | Loughborough University Stadium, Loughborough, Leicestershire | 1,000 | |||||||||
| 2010–11[37][38] | Jersey (S) | 30–5 | Loughborough Students (N) | St. Peter, Saint Peter, Jersey | 3,100 | |||||||||
| 2011–12[39][40] | Richmond (S) | 20–13 (aet) | Caldy (N) | Athletic Ground, Richmond, Greater London | 1,600 | |||||||||
| 2012–13[41] | Stourbridge (N) | 26–28 | Worthing Raiders (S) | Stourton Park, Stourbridge, West Midlands | 925 | |||||||||
| 2013–14[42] | Darlington Mowden Park (N) | 30–28 (aet) | Ampthill (S) | The Northern Echo Arena, Darlington, County Durham | 975 | |||||||||
| 2014–15[43][44] | Ampthill (N) | 19–10 | Bishop's Stortford (S) | Dillingham Park, Ampthill, Bedfordshire | 1,253 | |||||||||
| 2015–16[45][46] | Old Albanian (S) | 24–0 | Sedgley Park (N) | Woollam Playing Fields, St Albans, Hertfordshire | 473 | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | Sale FC (N) | 14–19 | Old Elthamians (S) | Heywood Road, Sale, Greater Manchester | 1,297 | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | Chinnor (S) | 40–31 | Sedgley Park (N) | Kingsey Road, Thame, Oxfordshire | 1,378 | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | Canterbury (S) | 19–10 | Chester (N) | The Marine Travel Ground, Canterbury, Kent | 1,114 | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner-up – Tonbridge Juddians (S) promoted. | |||||||||||||
| 2020–21 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. | |||||||||||||
| 2021–22 | Cancelled due the reorganisation of tier three and four national leagues. | |||||||||||||
| Green background represent the promoted teams. (N) stands for the northern teams and (S) stands for the southern teams. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
edit- Hull Ionians (3)
- Macclesfield (3)
- Caldy (2)
- Nuneaton (2)
- Rotherham Titans (2)[g]
- Aspatria (1)
- Birmingham & Solihull (1)
- Blaydon (1)
- Bradford & Bingley (1)
- Broughton Park (1)
- Doncaster (1)
- Fylde (1)
- Halifax (1)
- Harrogate (1)
- Hull (1)
- Kendal (1)
- Leeds Tykes (1)
- Loughborough Students (1)
- Otley (1)
- Preston Grasshoppers (1)
- Roundhay (1)[h]
- Rugby (1)
- Sale FC (1)
- Sedgley Park (1)
- Sheffield (1)
- Stourbridge (1)
- Tynedale (1)
- Waterloo (1)
- Worcester (1)
Original teams
editWhen club rugby began in 1987 this division was called Area 4 North and contained the following teams:
- Birkenhead Park (now playing in North 1 West)
- Broughton Park (now playing in North 1 West)
- Derby (now playing in Midlands 1 East)
- Durham City (now playing in North 1 East)
- Lichfield (now playing in Midlands 1 West)
- Northern (now playing in Durham/Northumberland 1)
- Preston Grasshoppers (now playing in North Premier)
- Roundhay (now Leeds Tykes and playing in National League 1)
- Rugby Lions (now playing in Midlands 1 East)
- Solihull (now Birmingham & Solihull and playing in Midlands 4 West (South))
- Stourbridge (still playing in National League 2 North)
League format since 1987
edit
| |||||||||||||
| Year | Name | No of teams | No of matches | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–93 | Area League North Area League South | 11 | 10 | ||||||||||
| 1993–96 | National Division Four | 10 | 18 | ||||||||||
| 1996–97 | National Four North National Four South | 14 | 26 | ||||||||||
| 1997–00 | National Division 2 North National Division 2 South | 14 | 26 | ||||||||||
| 2000–09 | National Division Three North National Division Three South | 14 | 26 | ||||||||||
| 2009–22 | National League 2 North National League 2 South | 16 | 30 | ||||||||||
| 2022– | National Two East National Two North National Two West | 14 | 26 | ||||||||||
Records
editNote that all records are from 1996–97 season onwards as this is widely held as the dawn of professionalism across the English club game. It also offers a better comparison between seasons as the division team numbers are roughly equal (for example when league rugby union first started in 1987–88 the northern league had only 11 teams playing 10 games each, compared to 14 teams in 1996–97 playing 26 games (home & away), going up to 16 teams in 2009–10 playing 30 games each). Attendance records are from 2000 onwards unless otherwise specified. All records are up to date up till the end of the 2019–20 season.
League records
edit- Most titles: 3
- Most times promoted from division: 3
- Hull Ionians (2012–13, 2014–15, 2018–19)
- Nuneaton (2002–03, 2005–06, 2008–09)
- Macclesfield (2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16)
- Most times relegated from division: 4
- Most league points in a season: 134
- Fewest league points in a season: 0
- Most points scored in a season: 1,259
- Fewest points scored in a season: 205
- Most points conceded in a season: 1,985
- Fewest points conceded in a season: 305
- Best points difference (for/against): 736
- Worst points difference (for/against): -1,780
- Most games won in a season: 28
- Most games lost in a season: 30
- Most games drawn in a season: 4
- Most bonus points in a season: 30
Match records
edit- Largest home win: 124 – 0
- Largest away win: 106 – 0
- Most points scored in a match: 124
- Most tries scored in a match: 18
- Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07)
- Fylde at home to Manchester on 16 April 2011 (2010–11)
- Most conversions scored in a match: 17
- Most penalties scored in a match: 9
- Luctonians at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 15 November 2014 (2014–15)
- Most drop kicks scored in a match: 3
- Fylde at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 7 January 2006 (2005–06)
- Nuneaton at home to Macclesfield on 11 October 2008 and away to Bradford & Bingley on 29 November 2008 (both 2008–09)
- Wharfedale at home to Scunthorpe on 19 November 2016 and Wharfedale at home to Luctonians on 28 January 2017 (both 2016–17)
Player records
edit- Most times top points scorer: 2
- Tom Rhodes for Bradford & Bingley (2004–05, 2005–06)
- Chris Johnson for Huddersfield (2010–11, 2011–12)
- Lewis Mininkin for Hull Ionians (2015–16, 2018–19)
Gavin Roberts for Caldy (2008–09, 2019–20)
- Most times top try scorer: 3
- Most points in a season: 422
- Ross Winney for Macclesfield (2009–10)
- Most tries in a season: 32
- Gareth Collins for Leicester Lions (2010–11)
- Ryan Parkinson for Macclesfield (2013–14)
- Nick Royle for Caldy (2016–17)
- Most points in a match: 49
- Ross Winney for Macclesfield away to Waterloo on 30 January 2010 (2009–10)
- Lewis Minikin for Hull Ionians at home to Huddersfield on 27 April 2024 (2023–24)
- Most conversions in a match: 17
- Anthony Mellalieu for Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07)
- Most tries in a match: 7
- Matt Donkin for Doncaster at home to Whitchurch on 10 November 2001 (2001–02)
- Nick Royle for Fylde away to Orrell on 31 March 2007 (2006–07)
- Dominic Moon for Preston Grasshoppers at home to Otley on 14 April 2012 (2011–12)
- Most penalties in a match: 9
- Louis Silver for Luctonians at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 15 November 2015 (2014–15)
- Most drop kicks in a match: 3
- Mike Scott for Fylde at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 7 January 2006 (2005–06)
- Rickie Aley for Nuneaton at home to Macclesfield on 11 October 2008 and away to Bradford & Bingley on 29 November 2008 (both 2008–09)
- Tom Barrett for Wharfedale at home to Scunthorpe on 19 November 2016 and at home to Luctonians on 28 January 2017 (both 2016–17)
Attendance records
edit- Highest attendance (league game): 3,750
- Darlington Mowden Park at home to Macclesfield on 26 April 2014 (2013–14)
- Lowest attendance (league game): 37
- South Leicester at home to Sedgley Park on 30 March 2019 (2018–19)
- Highest attendance (promotion play-off): 1,500
- Sedgley Park at home to Launceston (2000–01)[i]
- Lowest attendance (promotion play-off): 925[j]
- Stourbridge at home to Worthing Raiders on 11 May 2013 (2012–13)[k]
- Highest average attendance (club): 921
- Lowest average attendance (club): 85
National League 2 North top 10 point scorers, all time
edit- As of the end of the games of 27 April 2019. Stats taken from 1998–99 season onwards and include regular league games only in National League 2 North (no promotion play-off games). Points scored includes tries, drop kicks, penalties and conversions.[50]
| Rank | Nat | Name | Years | Club(s) | Points | Apps | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Jon Boden | 2006–18 | Leicester Lions | 2,059 | 277 | 7.4 |
| 2 | |
Chris Johnson | 2008–12, 2018–19 2016–18 | Huddersfield Sale | 1,927 | 187 | 10.3 |
| 3 | |
Mark Ireland | 2009–12 2013–14 2017– | Kendal Otley Sheffield Tigers | 1,479 | 159 | 9.3 |
| 4 | |
Stephen Collins | 2010–11 2013– | Fylde Sedgley Park | 1,470 | 159 | 9.2 |
| 5 | |
Richard Vasey | 2009–17 | Caldy | 1,449 | 158 | 9.2 |
| 6 | |
Ross Winney | 2005–10 | Macclesfield | 1,290 | 126 | 10 |
| 7 | |
Gavin Roberts | 2007–17, 2019– | Caldy | 1,284 | 232 | 5.5 |
| 8 | |
Rickie Aley | 2008–09 2015–18 2018– | Nuneaton South Leicester Stourbridge | 1,126 | 110 | 10.2 |
| 9 | |
Phillip Belgian | 2001–08 | Tynedale | 1,070 | 116 | 9 |
| 10 | |
Mark Bedworth | 2001–05 2010–12 | Darlington Mowden Park Westoe | 1,052 | 120 | 9 |
(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 North.)
National League 2 North top 10 try scorers, all time
edit- As of the end of the games of 27 April 2019. Stats taken from 1998–99 season onwards and include regular league games only in National League 2 North (no promotion play-off games).[51]
| Rank | Nat | Name | Years | Club(s) | Tries | Apps | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Nick Royle | 2003–04 2005–11 2014–17, 2019– | Liverpool St Helens Fylde Caldy | 193 | 212 | 0.9 |
| 2 | |
Jamie Broadley | 2009–11 2011–12, 2016– 2014-15 | Harrogate Sheffield Tigers Hull | 157 | 190 | 0.8 |
| 3 | |
Gareth Collins | 2004–05 2005–14 | Rugby Lions Leicester Lions | 152 | 229 | 0.7 |
| 4 | |
Andrew Riley | 2013– | Sedgley Park | 122 | 171 | 0.7 |
| 5 | |
Gavin Roberts | 2007–17 | Caldy | 114 | 232 | 0.5 |
| 6 | |
Oliver Brennand | 2004–11 | Fylde | 96 | 102 | 0.9 |
| 7 | |
Devon Constant | 2014–19 | Leicester Lions | 88 | 135 | 0.7 |
| 8 | |
Andrew Soutar | 2006–-08 2008–17 | West Park St Helens Caldy | 83 | 281 | 0.3 |
| 9 | |
Peter Swatkins | 2011– | Sheffield Tigers | 82 | 148 | 0.6 |
|
Craig Ross | 2007–08, 2009–11, 2013–14 2014– | Caldy Chester | 82 | 165 | 0.5 | |
|
Nicholas Sharpe | 2006–07 2008–13, 2014–16, 2017– | Rugby Lions Huddersfield | 82 | 261 | 0.3 | |
(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 North.)
Notes
edit- ↑ Normally the 13th placed team would be relegated but due to the RFU Championship expanding from 12 to 14 teams ahead of the 2025–26 season Billingham avoided relegation from the 2024–25 National League 2 North by finishing as the best ranked 13th placed side at level 4.[5]
- ↑ As no northern teams from National 3 were relegated into the division, there was no relegation.
- ↑ This year there was a league restructure with a new league (Courage National League 4) becoming the new tier 4. Courage National 4 contained the previous season's top teams from National 4 North and National 4 South with the remaining teams joining lower tier teams as part of Courage League Division 5 (which retained the North/South divisions). This structure continued for until the end of 1996 when the league reverted to the old system.
- ↑ The top eight teams were all promoted to the re-organised, sixteen team, Courage League Division 3 for season 1996–97.
- ↑ Only 14th place Huddersfield would be relegated at the end of the 2023–24 season. This was because of the liquidation of RFU Championship side Jersey Reds in September 2023, which meant that the best 13th placed side would escape relegation, in this case National League 2 North side Hull Ionians.[20]
- ↑ Normally two sides would be relegated from National League 2 North but due to reorganisation of the RFU Championship for the 2025–26 season, one 13th placed side from tier 4 would be exempt from relegation, which ended up being Billingham due to a superior record to their counterparts in National 2 East and National 2 West.
- ↑ One of Rotherham's league titles was won during the period when tier 4 was a single national league (1993-96).
- ↑ Roundhay were a parent club to the modern day Leeds Tykes.
- ↑ Note that promotion play-off games include stats for northern clubs only. Southern club attendances will be covered on the National League 2 South page.
- ↑ Note that due to poor attendance keeping by press and online sources means that only seasons from 2004–-05 onwards are included (apart from play-off games).
- ↑ This attendance is the lowest recorded but may not actually be the lowest as a couple of play-off games involving northern clubs have no attendance figures due to poor coverage. It is also worth noting than many Stourbridge fans felt the crowd was twice this large but this is the figure given in The Rugby Paper.
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "RFU ends the 2019/20 rugby season in England". EnglandRugby. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ↑ "RFU approve future competition structure for 2022/23". ncarugby. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ↑ "National League Play-Offs for 2025/2026". Redruth Rugby Football Club. 29 August 2025.
- ↑ "Billingham RUFC". Billingham Rugby Club. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ↑ "Promotion/Relegation 2024-25". London & SE Division Rugby Football Union. 2 March 2025.
- ↑ "The Darlington Arena". Darlington Mowden Park RFC. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ↑ "Contact details". Fylde RFC. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ↑ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Fylde R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 142.
- ↑ "Brantingham Park". Hull Ionians RUFC. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ↑ "Contact". Otley Rugby Club. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ↑ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Otley R.U.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 178.
- ↑ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 179.
- ↑ "Rossendale Sports Club". Rossendale RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
- ↑ "Abbeydale Park". Sheffield RUFC. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ↑ "Directions". Sheffield Tigers RUFC. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ↑ "Tynedale RFC". Tynedale Rugby Football Club. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ↑ "The Avenue Clubhouse Bar". Wharfedale RUFC. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ↑ "National League 2 North". NCA Rugby.
- ↑ "National League 2 North 2022/23 – Points Table". National League Rugby. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ↑ "National League Rugby – Promotion and Relegation: 2023-24". National League Rugby. 14 December 2023.
- ↑ "National League 3 Playoffs 2000-01". englandrugby.com. 26 May 2001. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
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- ↑ "The 2004-2005 league season". trelawnysarmy.org. 1 May 2005.
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- ↑ "Level 6". Rolling Maul. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
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- ↑ "Foresters play-off win 'no fluke'". BBC News. 30 April 2008.
- ↑ "Championship plan gains support". BBC News. 14 November 2008.
- ↑ "Party time for Rosslyn Park". Richmond and Twickenham Times. 21 May 2010.
- ↑ "Students miss out on promotion in heartbreaker". Loughborough Echo. 21 May 2010.
- ↑ "SSE National League Playoffs". englandrugby.com. 5 May 2011.
- ↑ "Jersey beat Loughborough in play-off final". BBC. 28 May 2011.
- ↑ "Heartbreak for Caldy as they lose National League Two play-off final against Richmond". Liverpool Echo. 7 May 2012.
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- ↑ "Results - SSE National League 2S". The Rugby Paper. 12 May 2013. p. 32.
- ↑ Craggs, Andy (3 May 2014). "DMPRFC 30 - Ampthill RFC 28". DMP. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ↑ "Ampthill in 'dreamland' after play-off final victory". Bedfordshire News. 2 May 2015.
- ↑ "National League 2 Playoffs". The RUGBYPaper. No. 346. Rugby Paper Ltd. 3 May 2015. pp. 24 & 32.
- ↑ "Old Albanian back in National One after play-off win secures promotion". The Herts Advertiser. 16 May 2016. Archived from the original on 22 May 2016.
- ↑ "National League 2 play-off". The RUGBYPaper. No. 400. Rugby Paper Ltd. 15 May 2016. pp. 26 & 36.
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- ↑ "National Two North All time leading scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 27 April 2019.
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