Sheffield Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby union club based at Abbeydale Sports Club in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The club plays in Midlands Premier, at the fifth level of the English rugby union system, following relegation from National League 2 North at the end of the 2017–18 season.
Launceston Rugby Club are a Cornish rugby club who play at Polson Bridge, Launceston, Cornwall. They are currently in South West Premier, at the fifth tier of the English rugby union system following their promotion from Tribute South West 1 West via a playoff. At present the club fields two senior men's teams, colts (under-18), mini/junior sides, as well as several girls teams.
Camborne RFC was established in 1878, and are one of the most famous rugby union clubs in Cornwall. They currently play in South West Premier following promotion from Tribute South West 1 West in 2015–16; a level five league in the English rugby union system. When the rugby union leagues were introduced in 1987, Camborne was the highest placed Cornish team and played in Area 4 South. They are also one of the most successful club sides in Cornwall having won the Cornish Cup ten times as of 2016 – level with local rivals Redruth – following a record fourth title in a row in 2016. Camborne enjoys a strong a rivalry with neighbours Redruth, with the two clubs meeting each year, in what is the world's longest enduring rugby fixture.
South West Premier is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of four leagues at this level, alongside London & South East Premier, Midlands Premier and North Premier. When this division began in 1987 it was known as South West Division 1. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following reorganisation by the Rugby Football Union, and the name change from National League 3 to Premier was introduced for the 2017–18 season by the RFU in order to lessen confusion for what is a series of regional leagues. South West Premier is the highest regional rugby union league covering South West England and part of South East England. The club finishing in first place is automatically promoted to National League 2 South. The runner-up play the second placed team of London & South East Premier, with the winner also gaining promotion. Relegated teams drop down to either South West 1 East or South West 1 West depending on location, and other factors such as the location of relegated and promoted teams in other divisions.
Nick Royle is a current England Rugby Sevens International rugby union player. He plays as a winger. He is currently playing 15-aside rugby for Caldy in National League 1. As of 2018 he is the most prolific try scorer ever in National League 2 North with over 190 tries. Nick has also had success with Lancashire in the Bill Beaumont Cup - winning the competition 3 times. As well as playing international sevens, he was selected by the England Counties XV.
National League 2 South is a level four league in the English rugby union system. It is 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 are promoted to National League 1. The runners-up play in a promotion play-off with the runners-up of National League 2 North; the team with the best record having home advantage. The bottom three teams are relegated, to either South West Premier or London & South East Premier.
Bournemouth RFC is a rugby union club founded in 1893. The grounds are currently located at Chapel Gate. They currently play in National League 2 South, at the fourth tier of the English rugby union system, following their promotion as champions of South West Premier at the end of the 2018-19 season.
London 1 North is an English level 6, rugby union league for clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, north Greater London, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 2 North, changing to its current name ahead of the 2009–10 season.
London 1 South is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from East Sussex, south Essex, south Greater London, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and West Sussex. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 2 South, changing to its current name ahead of the 2009–10 season.
Devon League 1, is an English level nine, rugby union league for clubs based in Devon. The champions are promoted to Cornwall/Devon and the runner-up, plays the second team from Cornwall League 1, with the winning team gaining promotion. Up until the end of the 2017-18 season, teams were relegated to Devon League 2 but since that league has been abolished there is currently no relegation.
Brixham Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team based at Astley Park in Brixham, Devon. The club runs three senior teams and the full range of junior teams. The first XV currently plays in South West Premier, a level five league in the English rugby union system.
The 2014–15 National League 2 South is the sixth season of the fourth tier (south) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. New teams to the division include Worthing Raiders, Dorking and Old Elthamians and Lydney. The league system is 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions would go straight up into National League 1 while the runners up would have a one-game playoff against the runners up from National League 2 North for the final promotion place.
The 2009–10 National League 2 South was the first season of the fourth tier (south) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. Previously known as National Division 3 South, it had been renamed due to widespread changes to the league system by the RFU with National One becoming the Championship, National 2 becoming National 1 and so on. The league system was 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions would go straight up into National League 1 while the runners up would have a one-game playoff against the runners up from National League 2 North for the final promotion place. A further change to the league system would see the division increase from 14 to 15 teams.
Penyrn RFC is a Cornish rugby union club based in the town of Penryn, and is the oldest club side in the county having been formed in 1872. The club currently has 2 senior men's teams as well as a ladies team, colts, and multiple mini/youth sides. Nicknamed "The Borough" the club's colours are black and red. The men's first team play in Western Counties West - a league at level 7 of the English rugby union system - having been promoted from Cornwall/Devon as champions at the end of the 2018–19 season. They enjoy a rivalry with neighbours, Falmouth RFC.
St Austell RFC is a Cornish rugby union club that is based in the town of St Austell and was founded in 1963. The club run three senior men's teams as well as ladies side, a colts and multiple junior/mini sides. The club's kit is red and white hoops and the first team currently play in Tribute Western Counties West with home games at Tregorrick Park.
Truro RFC is a Cornish rugby union club that is based in the city of Truro and was formed in 1885. The club's colours are blue and yellow and they operate 2 senior men's teams, a women’s team, a colts side and various mini/junior teams. The men's first team currently play in Cornwall/Devon - a league at level 8 of the English rugby union system - following the club's relegation from Tribute Western Counties West at the end of the 2018–19 season.
Jack Lavin is an English rugby union player who is currently at Esher in National League 1 having signed from Caldy for the 2017–18 season. He plays at Fly-half or Inside Centre and is an excellent points kicker who can also score tries. As well as playing club rugby he has represented Cheshire in the county championships, finishing as runners up in 2016, as well as being capped by England Counties XV.
The RFU Junior Vase is a rugby union national knockout cup competition in England run by the Rugby Football Union, which has been competed for since 1990. It is mostly contested by 1st XV teams at level 9 of the English rugby union system, although sides as low as level 12 or even outside the league system can sometimes enter. The competition is a national one, but split into regions until the national semi-finals with the final being held at Twickenham Stadium in London. Presently, the RFU Junior Vase is the fifth most important club cup competition in England, behind the Premiership Rugby Cup, RFU Championship Cup, RFU Intermediate Cup and RFU Senior Vase.
Rochford Hundred Rugby Club is an English rugby union club based in Hawkwell near Rochford in Essex. The first XV team currently play in the National League 2 South having been promoted from the London & South East Premier, as champions in 2019–20. The club also operates other adult teams and a full academy set-up of junior teams for both boys and girls.
Tabard Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club located in Radlett, Hertfordshire. The first XV currently play in London 3 North West, although the club spent more than a decade playing in the national divisions.
Chris Fortey
