National League 2 South (known before September 2009 as National Division Three South) was a level four league in the English rugby union system until the end of season 2021–22. It was one of two leagues at this level, with its counterpart, National League 2 North, covering the north of England. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following reorganisation by the Rugby Football Union. The champions were promoted to National League 1. The runner-up play in a promotion play-off with the runner-up of National League 2 North; the team with the best record having home advantage. The bottom three teams were relegated, to either South West Premier or London & South East Premier.[1]Esher are the current and final champions.
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.[2] Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) approved a new structure for the National Leagues from the 2022–23 season. Along with National League 1 and National League 2 North the size of the leagues at levels 3 and 4 are reduced to 14 teams (previously 16), 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.[3] As part of the restructure a third league was created at level four and most of the National League 2 South teams were placed into either National League 2 East or National League 2 West.[4]
Fifteen of the sixteen teams from 2021–22 were placed into one of the other level four leagues for 2022–23. Barnes, Bury St. Edmunds, Canterbury, Guernsey Raiders, Henley Hawks, Old Albanian, Rochford Hundred, Westcliff and Worthing Raiders were transferred to the newly-created National League 2 East while Barnstaple, Clifton, Dings Crusaders, Hinckley, Leicester Lions and Redruth were transferred to another new level four league, National League 2 West. The 2021–22 champions, Esher, were promoted to National League 1. No teams were relegated to level five.
Until the 2021–22 season there was a promotion 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 has home advantage. As of the end of the 2019–20 season the 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.
Note 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 southern 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 2018–19 season.
All time National League 2 South top 10 point scorersedit
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 South (no promotion play-off games). Points scored includes tries, drop kicks, penalties and conversions.[60]
(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 South)
All time National League 2 South top 10 try scorersedit
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 South (no promotion play-off games).[61]
(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 South)
Notesedit
^This year there was a league restructure with a new league (Courage National League 4) becoming the new tier 4. Courage National 4 would contain 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 would continue for several years before being abolished at the end of 1996 where the league would revert to the old system.
^This year there was a league restructure with a new league (Courage National League 4) becoming the new tier 4. Courage National 4 would contain 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 would continue for several years before being abolished at the end of 1996 where the league would revert 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
^Mounts Bay were originally scheduled to participate in the 2009–10 season after being demoted at the end of the previous season but folded in July 2009. As they were unable to participate, the division went ahead with fifteen teams instead of the expected sixteen.[10]
^Rugby Lions were on the original 2012–13 fixture list after winning promotion from National League 3 Midlands but during July 2012 they went into liquidation and were unable to participate in the division, leaving fifteen teams instead of the usual sixteen.[12]
^Due to London Welsh being expelled from the RFU Championship in January 2017 only 5 teams would be relegated from National League 2 North and National League South instead of the usual 6 - meaning that the 14th placed side in one of the leagues would be safe. In the end 14th placed Barnstaple (National League 2 South) gained more points (51) than 14th placed Harrogate (47) (National League 2 North) condemning them to the drop instead.[14]
^Clifton's league title was won during the period when tier 4 was a single national league (1993-96).
^Exeter's league title was won during the period when tier 4 was a single national league (1993-96).
^Penzance & Newlyn are now known as the Cornish Pirates.
^Note that due to poor attendance keeping by press and online sources means that the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons are excluded from these statistics due to lack of information.
^"SSE National and Divisional Leagues". RFU. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
^"RFU ends the 2019/20 rugby season in England". EnglandRugby. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
^"RFU approve future competition structure for 2022/23". ncarugby. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
^"Update on Structural Changes to National League Rugby". National League Rugby. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
^"Courage League - Division 4 1994/95". rugbyarchive.net. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
^Stephen McCormack, ed. (2001). The Official RFU Club Directory 2001–2002. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 1852916400.
^Stephen McCormack, ed. (2002). The Official RFU Club Directory 2002–2003. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 1852916451.
^"Final League Tables 2004 – 2005". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
^"Final League Tables, 2007 - 2008". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
^"Mounts Bay fall off the rugby map". BBC. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
^"Final League Tables 2011 – 2012". Trelawney's Army. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
^"RUGBY LIONS: It's all over as Lions fail to meet RFU deadline". Rugby Advertiser. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
^"Final League Tables 2012 – 2013". Trelawney's Army. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
^"London Welsh: RFU refuses permission for Exiles to stay in Championship". BBC Sport. 24 January 2017.
^"Following government advice, the RFU will suspend all rugby activity in England, at both professional and community level". England Rugby. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
^"RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
^ abTony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). Courage Clubs Championship. Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990-91. Horsham: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 1873057024.
^ abTony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1991). Courage Clubs Championship. Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1991-92. Taunton: Tony Williams. ISBN 1869833155.
^ abStephen Jones, ed. (1991). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991-92. London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0356202496.
^ abStephen Jones, ed. (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994-95. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0747278504.
^ abMick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 074727732X.
^ ab"Final League Tables 1997-98". Trelawney's Army. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
^ abMick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1999). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1999-2000. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0747275319.
^ abStephen McCormack, ed. (2000). The Official RFU Club Directory 2000-2001. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 1852916273.
^ ab"National 3 South 08/09 / League Table". nca rugby. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
^"National League 3 Playoffs 2000-01". englandrugby.com. 26 May 2001.
^"Rugby Union: National Three Play-off - DK's dream shattered by Launceston power show; Launceston 26 Dudley Kingswinf'rd 0". Birmingham Post & Mail. 29 April 2002.
^"National League Playoffs 2002-03". englandrugby.com. 26 April 2003.
^"National League Playoffs 2003-04". englandrugby.com. 15 May 2004.
^"Play-off agony for Halifax". Yorkshire Post. 17 May 2004.
^"The 2004-2005 league season". trelawnysarmy.org. 1 May 2005.