National League 2 North Explained

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

See main article: article and 2024–25 National League 2 North.

Participating teams and locations

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Greenwood Road [3]	1,500 (100 seats)		12th
	Hare Lane [4]	2,000 (500 seats)		Transferred from National League 2 West (11th)
	Woodlands Memorial Ground[5]	9,000		5th
	Rudding Lane	2,000		Promoted from Regional 1 North East (Champions)[6]
	Ferens Ground	1,500 (288 seats)		8th
	Brantingham Park [7]	1,500 (240 seats)		13th
	The Sycamores	1,500		Runners up
	Crouchley Lane	1,000		10th
	Cross Green[8]	5,000		9th
	Lightfoot Green	5,000		11th
	Abbeydale Park[9]	3,200 (100 seats)		3rd
	Dore Moor [10]	1,000		7th
	Tynedale Park [11]	2,000 (400 seats)		6th
	The Avenue [12]	2,000		4th

League table

National Two North honours

<											-- --> List of National Two North honours
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runner–up	Relegated teams	League name
	11	Rugby			Area League North
	11	Roundhay		Birmingham	Area League North
	11	Broughton Park		No relegation	Area League North
	13	Otley			National 4 North
	13	Aspatria			National 4 North
	13	Harrogate			National 4 North
	10	Clifton		Sheffield (to 5 North), Sudbury (to 5 South)	Courage National League 4
	10	Rotherham		Askeans (to 5 South), Broughton Park (to 5 North)	Courage National League 4
	10	Exeter		Aspatria (to 4 North), Plymouth Albion (to 4 South)	Courage National League 4
	14	Worcester			National 4 North
	14	Birmingham & Solihull		No relegation	National 2 North
	14	Preston Grasshoppers			National 2 North
	14	Kendal			National 2 North
	14	Stourbridge			National 3 North
	14	Doncaster			National 3 North
	14	Nuneaton			National 3 North
	14	Waterloo			National 3 North
	14	Halifax			National 3 North
	14	Bradford & Bingley			National 3 North
	14	Blaydon			National 3 North
	14	Tynedale			National 3 North
	14	Nuneaton			National 3 North
	16	Macclesfield			National League 2 North
	16	Fylde			National League 2 North
	16	Loughborough Students			National League 2 North
	16	Hull Ionians			National League 2 North
	16	Macclesfield			National League 2 North
	16	Hull Ionians			National League 2 North
	16	Macclesfield			National League 2 North
	16	Caldy			National League 2 North
	16	Sale FC			National League 2 North
	16	Hull Ionians			National League 2 North
	16	Caldy			National League 2 North
2020–21	16	Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.			National League 2 North
	16	Hull		No relegation owing to league reorganisation	National League 2 North
	14	Sedgley Park			National League 2 North [13]
	14	Rotherham Titans			National League 2 North
	14				National League 2 North
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[14]	Sedgley Park (N)	40–23	Launceston (S)		1,500
2001–02[15]	Launceston (S)	26–0	Dudley Kingswinford (N)		2,500
2002–03[16]	Lydney (S)	21–7	New Brighton (N)
2003–04[17] [18]	Halifax (N)	16–18	Launceston (S)
2004-05[19]	Redruth (S)	33–14	Macclesfield (N)		4,000
2005–06[20] [21]	North Walsham (S)	5–15	Nuneaton (N)		1,302
2006–07[22] [23]	Westcombe Park (S)	36–20	Tynedale (N)		1,700[24]
2007–08[25] [26]	Cinderford (S)	15–14	Darlington Mowden Park (N)		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.[27]
2009–10[28] [29]	Loughborough Students (N)	21–43	Rosslyn Park (S)		1,000
2010–11[30] [31]	Jersey (S)	30–5	Loughborough Students (N)		3,100
2011–12[32] [33]	Richmond (S)	20–13 (aet)	Caldy (N)		1,600
2012–13[34]	Stourbridge (N)	26–28	Worthing Raiders (S)		925
2013–14[35]	Darlington Mowden Park (N)	30–28 (aet)	Ampthill (S)		975
2014–15[36] [37]	Ampthill (N)	19–10	Bishop's Stortford (S)		1,253
2015–16[38] [39]	Old Albanian (S)	24–0	Sedgley Park (N)		473
2016–17	Sale FC (N)	14–19	Old Elthamians (S)		1,297
2017–18	Chinnor (S)	40–31	Sedgley Park (N)		1,378
2018–19	Canterbury (S)	19–10	Chester (N)		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

• Hull Ionians (3)
• Macclesfield (3)
• Caldy (2)
• Nuneaton (2)
• Rotherham Titans (2)
• 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)
• Loughborough Students (1)
• Otley (1)
• Preston Grasshoppers (1)
• Roundhay (1)
• Rugby (1)
• Sale FC (1)
• Sedgley Park (1)
• Stourbridge (1)
• Tynedale (1)
• Waterloo (1)
• Worcester (1)

Original teams

When 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

<											-- --> Format of fourth tier rugby union leagues in England
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

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)^[40]

• 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)^[41]

• Largest away win: 106 – 0

Fylde away to Orrell on 31 March 2007 (2006–07)^[42]

• Most points scored in a match: 124

Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07)^[41]

• 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

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

Nick Royle for Fylde (2006–07) and Caldy (2015–16, 2016–17)

• 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

• 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)

• Lowest attendance (promotion play-off): 925

Stourbridge at home to Worthing Raiders on 11 May 2013 (2012–13)

• 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

Rank	width=50	Nat	width=150	Name	width=150	Years	width=150	Club(s)	width=70	Points	width=70	Apps	width=70	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

Rank	width=50	Nat	width=150	Name	width=150	Years	width=150	Club(s)	width=70	Tries	width=70	Apps	width=70	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.)

See also

• English rugby union system
• History of the English rugby union system
• National League 2 South
• National League 2 East
• National League 2 West

External links

• NCA Rugby

Notes and References

1. Web site: RFU ends the 2019/20 rugby season in England . EnglandRugby . 24 December 2020.
2. Web site: RFU approve future competition structure for 2022/23 . ncarugby . 18 December 2020 . 24 December 2020.
3. Web site: Billingham RUFC . Billingham Rugby Club . 13 June 2023.
4. Web site: Hare Lane . Chester RUFC . 10 June 2023.
5. Web site: Contact details . Fylde RFC . 13 June 2023.
6. Web site: Harrogate Rugby Club secure promotion at first attempt . The Stray Ferret. 9 April 2024.
7. Web site: Brantingham Park . Hull Ionians RUFC . 13 June 2023.
8. Web site: Contact . Otley Rugby Club . 13 June 2023.
9. Web site: Abbeydale Park . Sheffield RUFC . 13 June 2023.
10. Web site: Directions . Sheffield Tigers RUFC . 13 June 2023.
11. Web site: Tynedale RFC . Tynedale Rugby Football Club . 13 June 2023.
12. Web site: The Avenue Clubhouse Bar . Wharfedale RUFC . 13 June 2023.
13. Web site: National League 2 North 2022/23 – Points Table . National League Rugby . 29 April 2023.
14. Web site: National League 3 Playoffs 2000-01 . englandrugby.com . 26 May 2001 .
15. Web site: 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 .
16. Web site: National League Playoffs 2002-03 . englandrugby.com . 26 April 2003 .
17. Web site: National League Playoffs 2003-04 . englandrugby.com . 15 May 2004 .
18. News: Play-off agony for Halifax . Yorkshire Post . 17 May 2004 .
19. Web site: The 2004-2005 league season . trelawnysarmy.org . 1 May 2005 .
20. Web site: North Walsham 6-15 Nuneaton . BBC . 17 May 2006 .
21. Web site: National League Playoffs 2005-06 . englandrugby.com . 13 May 2006 .
22. Web site: NINE-MINUTE BLITZ ENDS TYNEDALE'S DREAMS . News and Star . 4 May 2007 .
23. Web site: National League Playoffs 2006-07 . englandrugby.com . 28 April 2006 .
24. Web site: Level 6 . Rolling Maul . 29 April 2018 .
25. Web site: National League Play Offs 2007-08 . englandrugby.com . 26 April 2008 .
26. Web site: Foresters play-off win 'no fluke' . BBC News . 30 April 2008 .
27. Web site: Championship plan gains support . BBC News . 14 November 2008 .
28. Web site: Party time for Rosslyn Park . Richmond and Twickenham Times . 21 May 2010 .
29. Web site: Students miss out on promotion in heartbreaker . Loughborough Echo . 21 May 2010 .
30. Web site: SSE National League Playoffs . englandrugby.com. 5 May 2011.
31. Web site: Jersey beat Loughborough in play-off final . BBC. 28 May 2011.
32. Web site: Heartbreak for Caldy as they lose National League Two play-off final against Richmond . Liverpool Echo. 7 May 2012.
33. Web site: Richmond v Caldy play off . Rolling Maul. 5 May 2012.
34. News: Results - SSE National League 2S. The Rugby Paper. 12 May 2013. 32.
35. Web site: DMPRFC 30 - Ampthill RFC 28 . DMP . Andy . Craggs . 3 May 2014 . 9 May 2014.
36. Web site: Ampthill in 'dreamland' after play-off final victory . Bedfordshire News . 2 May 2015.
37. News: National League 2 Playoffs. The RUGBYPaper. 346. Rugby Paper Ltd. 3 May 2015. 24 & 32.
38. Web site: Old Albanian back in National One after play-off win secures promotion. The Herts Advertiser . 16 May 2016 .
39. News: National League 2 play-off. The RUGBYPaper. 400. Rugby Paper Ltd. 15 May 2016. 26 & 36.
40. Web site: Jewson National League 2 1999/00 . rugbyarchive.net . 1 December 2015 .
41. Web site: Blaydon proving a point . Chronicle Live . 27 March 2007 .
42. Web site: Orrell 0, Fylde RU 106 . Blackpool Gazette . 2 April 2007 .