National Two North
Founded1987 (1987)
Country England
Number of teams14
Level on pyramidLevel 4
Promotion toNational League 1
Relegation to
Current championsSedgley Park (1st title)
(2022–23
(promoted to National One)
Most championshipsHull Ionians, Macclesfield (3 titles)
Website
Current: 2023–24 National League 2 North

National League 2 North is one of three level four leagues in the 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. Sedgley Park are the current champions.

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

The league consists of fourteen teams and each play the others on a home and away basis, to make a total of 26 matches each. The champions are promoted to National League 1. The RFU will release details of relegation in the summer.

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

Participating teams and locations

League table

2023–24 National League 2 North Table
Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Losing bonus Points
1Leeds Tykes15150061228033214074
2Rotherham Titans15140153526726811168
3Sheffield15101450137412711255
4Fylde1581647636411212450
5Wharfedale13904323281427043
6Sheffield Tigers15717430410208240
7Tynedale14617342331118539
8Hull15717376418-425136
9Lymm15519420490-707332
10Preston Grasshoppers154110400510-1108329
11Otley144010366448-827528
12Billingham14419277395-1183122
13Hull Ionians153012346532-1864622
14Huddersfield142012300604-3045013
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 13 January 2024

Source: National League 2 North RFU [13]

National Two North honours

List of National Two North honours
Season No of teams Champions Runner–up Relegated teams League name
1987–8811RugbyDurham CitySolihull, Derby, Birkenhead ParkArea League North
1988–8911Roundhay Broughton ParkBirminghamArea League North
1989–9011Broughton ParkMorleyNo relegation[a 1]Area League North
1990–9113OtleyLichfieldBirmingham & Solihull, Stoke-on-TrentNational 4 North
1991–9213AspatriaHerefordVale of Lune, NorthernNational 4 North
1992–9313HarrogateRotherhamTowcestriansNational 4 North
1993–9410CliftonHarrogateSheffield (to 5 North), Sudbury (to 5 South)Courage National League 4[a 2]
1994–9510RotherhamReadingAskeans (to 5 South), Broughton Park (to 5 North)Courage National League 4
1995–9610ExeterLondon Welsh[a 3]Aspatria (to 4 North), Plymouth Albion (to 4 South)Courage National League 4
1996–9714WorcesterBirmingham & SolihullStoke-on-Trent, HerefordNational 4 North
1997–9814Birmingham & SolihullManchesterNo relegationNational 2 North
1998–9914Preston GrasshoppersStourbridgeWinnington Park, Lichfield, HinckleyNational 2 North
1999–0014KendalStourbridgeSheffieldNational 2 North
2000–0114StourbridgeSedgley ParkWalsall, AspatriaNational 3 North
2001–0214DoncasterDudley KingswinfordWhitchurch, Morley, Sandal, West HartlepoolNational 3 North
2002–0314NuneatonNew BrightonBedford Athletic, Broadstreet, Hull Ionians, ScunthorpeNational 3 North
2003–0414WaterlooHalifaxPreston Grasshoppers, Liverpool St Helens, LongtonNational 3 North
2004–0514HalifaxMacclesfieldRugby Lions, Dudley Kingswinford, Bedford AthleticNational 3 North
2005–0614Bradford & BingleyNuneatonNew Brighton, KendalNational 3 North
2006–0714BlaydonTynedaleDarlington, Cleckheaton, OrrellNational 3 North
2007–0814TynedaleDarlington Mowden ParkMorley, West Park St Helens, BeverleyNational 3 North
2008–0914NuneatonCaldyDarlington Mowden Park, HalifaxNational 3 North
2009–1016MacclesfieldLoughborough StudentsWaterloo, Bradford & BingleyNational League 2 North
2010–1116FyldeLoughborough StudentsMorley, Rugby Lions, ManchesterNational League 2 North
2011–1216Loughborough Students CaldyHarrogate, Nuneaton, KendalNational League 2 North
2012–1316Hull IoniansStourbridgeWestoe, Stockport, HuddersfieldNational League 2 North
2013–1416MacclesfieldDarlington Mowden ParkSheffield Tigers, Bromsgrove, Dudley KingswinfordNational League 2 North
2014–1516Hull IoniansAmpthillBirmingham & Solihull, Hull, StockportNational League 2 North
2015–1616MacclesfieldSedgley ParkHuddersfield, Broadstreet, SandalNational League 2 North
2016–1716CaldySalePreston Grasshoppers, Scunthorpe, HarrogateNational League 2 North
2017–1816Sale FCSedgley ParkSheffield, Blaydon, LuctoniansNational League 2 North
2018–1916Hull IoniansChesterPeterborough Lions, South Leicester, MacclesfieldNational League 2 North
2019–2016CaldyFyldeScunthorpe, Preston Grasshoppers, OtleyNational League 2 North
2020–2116Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.National League 2 North
2021–2216HullSedgley ParkNo relegation owing to league reorganisationNational League 2 North
2022–2314Sedgley ParkFyldeBlaydon and HarrogateNational League 2 North [14]
2023–2414
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Until 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.

National Two promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[15]Sedgley Park (N)40–23Launceston (S)Park Lane, Whitefield, Greater Manchester1,500
2001–02[16]Launceston (S)26–0Dudley Kingswinford (N)Polson Bridge, Launceston, Cornwall2,500
2002–03[17]Lydney (S)21–7New Brighton (N)Regentsholme, Lydney, Gloucestershire
2003–04[18][19]Halifax (N)16–18Launceston (S)Ovenden Park, Halifax, West Yorkshire
2004-05[20]Redruth (S)33–14Macclesfield (N)The Recreation Ground, Redruth, Cornwall4,000
2005–06[21][22]North Walsham (S)5–15Nuneaton (N)Norwich Road, Scottow, Norfolk1,302
2006–07[23][24]Westcombe Park (S)36–20Tynedale (N)Goddington Dene, Orpington, Greater London1,700[25]
2007–08[26][27]Cinderford (S)15–14Darlington Mowden Park (N)Dockham Road, Cinderford, Gloucestershire2,800
2008–09No promotion play-offs this season due to the restructuring of the English rugby union league system, with only the champions of each division promoted.[28]
2009–10[29][30]Loughborough Students (N)21–43Rosslyn Park (S)Loughborough University Stadium, Loughborough, Leicestershire1,000
2010–11[31][32]Jersey (S)30–5Loughborough Students (N)St. Peter, Saint Peter, Jersey3,100
2011–12[33][34]Richmond (S)20–13 (aet)Caldy (N)Athletic Ground, Richmond, Greater London1,600
2012–13[35]Stourbridge (N)26–28Worthing Raiders (S)Stourton Park, Stourbridge, West Midlands925
2013–14[36]Darlington Mowden Park (N)30–28 (aet)Ampthill (S)The Northern Echo Arena, Darlington, County Durham975
2014–15[37][38]Ampthill (N)19–10Bishop's Stortford (S)Dillingham Park, Ampthill, Bedfordshire1,253
2015–16[39][40]Old Albanian (S)24–0Sedgley Park (N)Woollam Playing Fields, St Albans, Hertfordshire473
2016–17Sale FC (N)14–19Old Elthamians (S)Heywood Road, Sale, Greater Manchester1,297
2017–18Chinnor (S)40–31Sedgley Park (N)Kingsey Road, Thame, Oxfordshire1,378
2018–19Canterbury (S)19–10Chester (N)The Marine Travel Ground, Canterbury, Kent1,114
2019–20Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner-up – Tonbridge Juddians (S) promoted.
2020–21Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22Cancelled 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

Original teams

When club rugby began in 1987 this division was called Area 4 North and contained the following teams:

League format since 1987

Format of fourth tier rugby union leagues in England
Year Name No of teams No of matches
1987–93Area League North
Area League South
1110
1993–96National Division Four1018
1996–97National Four North
National Four South
1426
1997–00National Division 2 North
National Division 2 South
1426
2000–09National Division Three North
National Division Three South
1426
2009–22National League 2 North
National League 2 South
1630
2022–National Two East
National Two North
National Two West
1426

Records

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 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

  • Most titles: 3
Hull Ionians (2012–13, 2014–15, 2018–19)
Macclesfield (2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16)
  • 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: 3
Morley (2001–02, 2007–08, 2010–11)
Sheffield (1993–94, 1999–00, 2017–18)
Scunthorpe (2002–03, 2016–17, 2019–20)
  • Most league points in a season: 134
Hull Ionians (2014–15)
  • Fewest league points in a season: 0
Manchester (2010–11)
  • Most points scored in a season: 1,259
Fylde (2010–11)
  • Fewest points scored in a season: 205
Manchester (2010–11)
  • Most points conceded in a season: 1,985
Manchester (2010–11)
  • Fewest points conceded in a season: 305
Kendal (1999–00)[41]
  • Best points difference (for/against): 736
Fylde (2010–11)
  • Worst points difference (for/against): -1,780
Manchester (2010–11)
  • Most games won in a season: 28
Hull Ionians (2012–13)
  • Most games lost in a season: 30
Manchester (2010–11)
Dudley Kingswinford (2013-14)
  • Most games drawn in a season: 4
Huddersfield (2019–20)
  • Most bonus points in a season: 30
Sedgley Park (2017–18)

Match records

  • Largest home win: 124 – 0
Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07)[42]
  • Largest away win: 106 – 0
Fylde away to Orrell on 31 March 2007 (2006–07)[43]
  • Most points scored in a match: 124
Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07)[42]
  • 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
Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07)
  • 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

  • Most times top points scorer: 2
England Tom Rhodes for Bradford & Bingley (2004–05, 2005–06)
England Chris Johnson for Huddersfield (2010–11, 2011–12)
England Lewis Mininkin for Hull Ionians (2015–16, 2018–19)
Wales Gavin Roberts for Caldy (2008–09, 2019–20)
  • Most times top try scorer: 3
England Nick Royle for Fylde (2006–07) and Caldy (2015–16, 2016–17)
  • Most points in a season: 422
England Ross Winney for Macclesfield (2009–10)
  • Most tries in a season: 32
England Gareth Collins for Leicester Lions (2010–11)
England Ryan Parkinson for Macclesfield (2013–14)
England Nick Royle for Caldy (2016–17)
  • Most points in a match: 49
England Ross Winney for Macclesfield away to Waterloo on 30 January 2010 (2009–10)
  • Most conversions in a match: 17
Wales Anthony Mellalieu for Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07)
  • Most tries in a match: 7
England Matt Donkin for Doncaster at home to Whitchurch on 10 November 2001 (2001–02)
England Nick Royle for Fylde away to Orrell on 31 March 2007 (2006–07)
England Dominic Moon for Preston Grasshoppers at home to Otley on 14 April 2012 (2011–12)
  • Most penalties in a match: 9
England Louis Silver for Luctonians at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 15 November 2015 (2014–15)
  • Most drop kicks in a match: 3
England Mike Scott for Fylde at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 7 January 2006 (2005–06)
England Rickie Aley for Nuneaton at home to Macclesfield on 11 October 2008 and away to Bradford & Bingley on 29 November 2008 (both 2008–09)
England 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

  • 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)[a 5]
  • Lowest attendance (promotion play-off): 925[a 6]
Stourbridge at home to Worthing Raiders on 11 May 2013 (2012–13)[a 7]
  • Highest average attendance (club): 921
Fylde (2010–11)
  • Lowest average attendance (club): 85
South Leicester (2018–19)
  • Highest average attendance (season): 348 (2019–20)
  • Lowest average attendance (season): 239 (2007–08)

National League 2 North top 10 point scorers, all time

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.[44]
Rank Nat Name Years Club(s) Points Apps Ratio
1 England Jon Boden 2006–18Leicester Lions2,0592777.4
2 England Chris Johnson 2008–12, 2018–19
2016–18
Huddersfield
Sale
1,92718710.3
3 England Mark Ireland 2009–12
2013–14
2017–
Kendal
Otley
Sheffield Tigers
1,4791599.3
4 England Stephen Collins 2010–11
2013–
Fylde
Sedgley Park
1,4701599.2
5 England Richard Vasey 2009–17Caldy1,4491589.2
6 England Ross Winney 2005–10Macclesfield1,29012610
7 Wales Gavin Roberts 2007–17, 2019–Caldy1,2842325.5
8 England Rickie Aley 2008–09
2015–18
2018–
Nuneaton
South Leicester
Stourbridge
1,12611010.2
9 England Phillip Belgian 2001–08Tynedale1,0701169
10 England Mark Bedworth 2001–05
2010–12
Darlington Mowden Park
Westoe
1,0521209

(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 North.)

National League 2 North top 10 try scorers, all time

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).[45]
Rank Nat Name Years Club(s) Tries Apps Ratio
1 England Nick Royle 2003–04
2005–11
2014–17, 2019–
Liverpool St Helens
Fylde
Caldy
1932120.9
2 England Jamie Broadley 2009–11
2011–12, 2016–
2014-15
Harrogate
Sheffield Tigers
Hull
1571900.8
3 England Gareth Collins 2004–05
2005–14
Rugby Lions
Leicester Lions
1522290.7
4 England Andrew Riley 2013–Sedgley Park1221710.7
5 Wales Gavin Roberts 2007–17Caldy1142320.5
6 England Oliver Brennand 2004–11Fylde961020.9
7 England Devon Constant 2014–19Leicester Lions881350.7
8 England Andrew Soutar 2006–-08
2008–17
West Park St Helens
Caldy
832810.3
9 England Peter Swatkins 2011–Sheffield Tigers821480.6
England Craig Ross 2007–08, 2009–11, 2013–14
2014–
Caldy
Chester
821650.5
England Nicholas Sharpe 2006–07
2008–13, 2014–16, 2017–
Rugby Lions
Huddersfield
822610.3

(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 North.)

Notes

  1. As no northern teams from National 3 were relegated into the division, there was no relegation.
  2. 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.
  3. The top eight teams were all promoted to the re-organised, sixteen team, Courage League Division 3 for season 1996–97
  4. Rotherham's league title was won during the period when tier 4 was a single national league (1993-96).
  5. 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.
  6. 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).
  7. 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

References

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  2. "RFU approve future competition structure for 2022/23". ncarugby. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
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  4. "Contact details". Fylde RFC. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  5. "Our Partners". Huddersfield Rugby Union Football Club. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  6. "Brantingham Park". Hull Ionians RUFC. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  7. "Contact". Otley Rugby Club. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  8. "Clifton Lane: The Perfect Function Room Venue". Titans Rugby. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  9. "Abbeydale Park". Sheffield RUFC. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  10. "Directions". Sheffield Tigers RUFC. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  11. "Tynedale RFC". Tynedale Rugby Football Club. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  12. "The Avenue Clubhouse Bar". Wharfedale RUFC. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  13. "National League 2 North". England Rugby.
  14. "National League 2 North 2022/23 – Points Table". National League Rugby. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
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  16. "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.
  17. "National League Playoffs 2002-03". englandrugby.com. 26 April 2003.
  18. "National League Playoffs 2003-04". englandrugby.com. 15 May 2004.
  19. "Play-off agony for Halifax". Yorkshire Post. 17 May 2004.
  20. "The 2004-2005 league season". trelawnysarmy.org. 1 May 2005.
  21. "North Walsham 6-15 Nuneaton". BBC. 17 May 2006.
  22. "National League Playoffs 2005-06". englandrugby.com. 13 May 2006.
  23. "NINE-MINUTE BLITZ ENDS TYNEDALE'S DREAMS". News and Star. 4 May 2007.
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  25. "Level 6". Rolling Maul. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
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  27. "Foresters play-off win 'no fluke'". BBC News. 30 April 2008.
  28. "Championship plan gains support". BBC News. 14 November 2008.
  29. "Party time for Rosslyn Park". Richmond and Twickenham Times. 21 May 2010.
  30. "Students miss out on promotion in heartbreaker". Loughborough Echo. 21 May 2010.
  31. "SSE National League Playoffs". englandrugby.com. 5 May 2011.
  32. "Jersey beat Loughborough in play-off final". BBC. 28 May 2011.
  33. "Heartbreak for Caldy as they lose National League Two play-off final against Richmond". Liverpool Echo. 7 May 2012.
  34. "Richmond v Caldy play off". Rolling Maul. 5 May 2012.
  35. "Results - SSE National League 2S". The Rugby Paper. 12 May 2013. p. 32.
  36. Craggs, Andy (3 May 2014). "DMPRFC 30 - Ampthill RFC 28". DMP. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  37. "Ampthill in 'dreamland' after play-off final victory". Bedfordshire News. 2 May 2015.
  38. "National League 2 Playoffs". The RUGBYPaper. No. 346. Rugby Paper Ltd. 3 May 2015. pp. 24 & 32.
  39. "Old Albanian back in National One after play-off win secures promotion". The Herts Advertiser. 16 May 2016.
  40. "National League 2 play-off". The RUGBYPaper. No. 400. Rugby Paper Ltd. 15 May 2016. pp. 26 & 36.
  41. "Jewson National League 2 1999/00". rugbyarchive.net. 1 December 2015.
  42. 1 2 "Blaydon proving a point". Chronicle Live. 27 March 2007.
  43. "Orrell 0, Fylde RU 106". Blackpool Gazette. 2 April 2007.
  44. "National Two North All time leading scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 27 April 2019.
  45. "National Two North All time try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 27 April 2019.
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