North 1 East

Last updated

North 1 East
Current season or competition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2019–20 North 1 East
Sport Rugby union
Instituted1987;37 years ago (1987)
Number of teams14
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Most titles Bradford & Bingley (3 titles)
Website England RFU

North 1 East was a sixth tier league in the English rugby union domestic competition, formed in 1987 using the name North Division 2, involving clubs from the north of the country. There was also a division known as North East 1 that began in 1987 for clubs based in the north-east but this was a seventh (later eighth) tier league. North Division 2 would later split into two regional divisions, known as North 1 East and North 1 West. North 1 East was made up of teams from around the North East and Yorkshire, playing home and away matches throughout a winter season.

Contents

The league champions were automatically promoted to the North Premier, whilst the second placed team entered into a play-off match with the second placed team in the equivalent Division North 1 West. The bottom three teams were relegated to either the Counties 1 Yorkshire or the Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland leagues, the seventh tier of the English domestic rugby union competition. Following the play-off game, depending on the result, a team from the division with fifteen teams was transferred to the division with thirteen teams to level up the number of teams in each division.

The league was discontinued in 2022 as part of the Rugby Football Union Adult Competition Review. The majority of the teams in North 1 East formed the new level six Regional 2 North East league, with the remainder moving to Regional 2 North.

Clubs

2021–22

Kendal finished 5th in N1E in 2019-20 but were level transferred to North 1 West for the current season to address an imbalance of teams.

The teams competing in 2021-22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019-20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020-21.

2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced [1] that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel all adult competitive leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season, meaning North 1 East was not contested.

2019–20

Original

When league rugby began in 1987 this was a single division containing the following teams from the north of England:

Division honours

North Division 2 (1987–1993)

The original North Division 2 was a tier 6 league with promotion up to North Division 1 and relegation down to either North East 1 or North West 1.

North Division 2
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teams
1987–8811 Aspatria Halifax Wilmslow, Manchester
1988–89 [3] 11 Bradford & Bingley Middlesbrough Davenport
1989–90 [3] 11 Rotherham Widnes No relegation
1990–91 [3] 11 Stockton Sandal New Brighton
1991–92 [3] 11 Wharfedale Lymm No relegation
1992–9313 Manchester Huddersfield Sandbach
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

North Division 2 (1993–1996)

The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season, meant that North Division 2 dropped from being a tier 6 league to a tier 7 league for the years that National 5 North was active.

North Division 2
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teams
1993–9413 York West Park Bramhope Carlise, Wigan, Lymm
1994–9513 Macclesfield Bridlington Northwich
1995–9613 New Brighton Sedgley Park Birkenhead Park, West Park St Helens, Old Crossleyeans, Hartlepool Rovers [b]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

North Division 2 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National 5 North at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that North Division 2 reverted to being a tier 6 league.

North Division 2
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teams
1996–9712 Doncaster Middlesbrough Durham City
1997–9812 Northern Blaydon Halifax
1998–99 [4] 12 Bradford & Bingley Driffield York, Percy Park
1999–00 [5] 12 Darlington Mowden Park Chester No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

North 2 East

For the 2000–01 season, North Division 2 was split into two regional divisions - North 2 East and North 2 West. While promotion continued up into North Division 1, the cancellation of the North East 1, North East 2 and North East 3 meant that relegation was now to either Durham/Northumberland 1 or Yorkshire 1.

North 2 East
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
2000–01 [6] 12 Halifax Darlington York, West Park Leeds
2001–02 [7] 12 Cleckheaton Huddersfield Bridlington, Old Crossleyans, Northern
2002–03 [8] 12 Bradford & Bingley Sheffield Goole, Scarborough, Alnwick
2003-04 [9] 12 Hull Middlesbrough Northern, York, Bridlington
2004–05 [10] 12 Westoe Huddersfield Horden, Redcar, Malton & Norton
2005-06 [11] 12 Penrith Beverley Sandal, Stockton, Alnwick
2006–07 [12] 12 Middlesbrough Sheffield Tigers Horden, Percy Park, Sheffield
2007–08 [13] 12 West Hartlepool Durham City Aldwinians, York, Hartlepool Rovers
2008–09 [14] 12 Penrith Old Crossleyans Aspatria
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

North 1 East

For the 2009–10 season the division would be renamed North 1 East as part of wholesale national restructure of the league system by the RFU leading to mass changes at all levels including in the north.

North 1 East
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
2009–10 [15] 14 Billingham Sandal Ilkley, Gateshead, Darlington
2010–11 [16] 14 West Hartlepool Percy Park Hartlepool Rovers, Driffield, Pontefract
2011–12 [17] 14 Billingham Percy Park Team Northumbria [c] , Gateshead, Old Brodleians
2012–13 [18] 14 Beverley Morley Darlington, Durham City, Keighley
2013–14 [19] 14 Cleckheaton Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. Malton & Norton, Middlesbrough, Morpeth
2014–15 [20] 14 Ilkley Sheffield Horden, Old Crossleyans, Bradford and Bingley
2015–16 [21] 14 Doncaster Phoenix Morley Beverley, South Shields Westoe, Northern
2016–17 [22] 14 Pocklington Penrith Wheatley Hills, Guisborough, Durham City
2017–18 [23] 14 Alnwick Driffield Northern, West Hartlepool, Dinnington
2018–19 [24] 14 Morpeth Scarborough Consett, West Leeds, Bridlington
2019–20 [25] 14 York Cleckheaton Huddersfield Y.M.C.A., West Hartlepool, Percy Park
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of North 1 East and North 1 West for the third and final promotion place to North Premier. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the North 1 East have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the North 1 West teams six; and the home team has won promotion on fifteen occasions compared to the away teams five.

North 1 East v North 1 West promotion play-off results
SeasonHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttendance
2000–01 [26] Darlington (E)49-0 Aldwinians (W)Blackwell Meadows, Darlington, County Durham
2001–02 [27] Huddersfield (E)26-10 Vale of Lune (W)Lockwood Park, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
2002–03 [28] Sheffield (E)32-15 Rochdale (W) Abbeydale Park, Dore, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
2003–04 [29] Middlesbrough (E)21-13 Caldy (W)Acklam Park, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
2004–05 [30] Huddersfield (E)22-13 Stockport (W)Lockwood Park, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
2005–06 [31] Beverley (E)21-16 Winnington Park (W)Beaver Park, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire
2006–07 [32] Sheffield Tigers (E)50-10 Lymm (W)Dore Moor, Dore, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
2007–08 [33] Durham City (E)13-18 Stockport (W)Hollow Drift, Durham, County Durham
2008–09 [34] Old Crossleyans (E)25-31 Rossendale (W)Broomfield Avenue, Halifax, West Yorkshire
2009–10 [35] Sandal (E)30-22 Northwich (W)Milnthorpe Green, Sandal Magna, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
2010–11 [36] Percy Park (E)26-27 Burnage (W)Preston Avenue, North Shields, Tyne and Wear 1200
2011–12 [37] Percy Park (E)18-12 Liverpool St Helens (W)Preston Avenue, North Shields, Tyne and Wear 800
2012–13 [38] Liverpool St Helens (W)17-28 Morley (E)Moss Lane, St Helens, Merseyside
2013–14 [39] Birkenhead Park (W)19-29 Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. (E)Upper Park, Birkenhead, Merseyside
2014–15 [40] Kirkby Lonsdale (W)29-35 Sheffield (E)Underley Park, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria 1,000
2015–16 [41] Kirkby Lonsdale (W)33-38 (aet) Morley (E)Underley Park, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria
2016–17 [42] Birkenhead Park (W)29-21 Penrith (E)Upper Park, Birkenhead, Merseyside
2017–18 [43] Driffield (E)21-24 Wilmslow (W)Show Ground, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire
2018–19 [44] Blackburn (W)17-7 Scarborough (E)Ramsgreave Drive, Blackburn, Lancashire
2019–20Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Northwich (W) - promoted instead.
2020–21
Green background is the promoted team. E = North 1 East (formerly North 2 East) and W = North 1 West (formerly North 2 West)

Number of league titles

See also

Notes

  1. Davenport would be renamed as Stockport RUFC in 1992. [2]
  2. The introduction of a number of new leagues in the north for the 1996–97 season meant that more teams than normal were relegated between leagues to populate the new divisions.
  3. Team Northumbria disbanded after relegation. Although they still do participate in the Northumberland Senior Cup.
  4. One of Bradford & Bingley's titles was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  5. Aspatria's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  6. Doncaster's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  7. Manchester's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  8. Manchester's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  9. New Brighton's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  10. Northern's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  11. Rotherham's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  12. Stockton's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  13. Currently known as South Shields Westoe.
  14. Wharfedale's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.
  15. York's title was won when league was a single division known as North Division 2.

Related Research Articles

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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.

Counties 1 Southern South is a level 7 league in the Rugby Football Union South West Division, the rugby union governing body for South West England, part of the Rugby Football Union. When league rugby first began in 1987 it was a single league known as Southern Counties but in 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues: Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern South currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and primarily features teams based in Dorset and Wiltshire.

Counties 1 Southern North is a division at level 7 of the English rugby union system. When league rugby first began in 1987 it was known as Southern Counties but since 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues – Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern North currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and features teams based in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The league champions at the end of each season are automatically promoted to Regional 2 South Central. Relegated teams usually drop to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South.

National One, up until 2023 known as National League 1 and previously known before September 2009 as National Division Two), is the third of three national leagues in the domestic rugby union competition of England. It was known as Courage League National Division Three when founded in 1987. Chinnor are the current champions.

Counties 1 Midlands West (South) (formerly Midlands 2 West (South)) is a level seven English rugby union league and level three of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the West Midlands region including Herefordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands West 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 West (South) and post the Rugby Football Union (RFU)'s Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name.

Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland, formerly known as Durham/Northumberland 1 is an English amateur rugby union competition. The league consists of twelve clubs, and is the seventh tier of the English rugby union system, as one of the 16 regional leagues, though is the highest level of local rugby in the North East of England. The champions are automatically promoted to Regional 2 North, a division with a wider geographical area that also encompasses the Yorkshire region. The runners-up participate in a play-off against the runners-up from the equivalent regional league, Counties 1 Yorkshire, for promotion. The bottom two are relegated to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland.

Counties 1 Midlands West (North) (formerly Midands 2 West (North)) is a level 7 English rugby union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of clubs from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands and occasionally Cheshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands West 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 West (North) and post the Rugby Football Union (RFU)'s Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name.

Counties 1 Midlands East (North) (formerly Midland 2 East (North)) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occasional team from Leicestershire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 East (North) and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name

Counties 1 Cumbria is a competitive rugby union league at level 7 of the English rugby union system run by the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) for club sides based in Cumbria. It was previously a tier 7 league but the creation of North 2 West demoted it to level 8. Promoted teams typically go up to North 2 West and since Cumbria 2 was cancelled at the end of the 2018–19 season there is no relegation. Each season a team from Cumbria 1 is picked to take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a national competition for clubs at level 8. The original Cumbria league was formed at the start of the 1992–93 season when the North-West North 1 division was cancelled.

North 1 West is a rugby union league at the sixth level within the English league system. The league is made up of teams from north west England and the Isle of Man; principally consisting of the English counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. The league was known as North Division 2 when it was first created back in 1987 and was a single division. It has since split into two regional leagues, with North West 1 and its compatriot North 1 East being the longest running versions of the division.

Counties 1 Yorkshire is an English rugby union division, the seventh tier of the domestic competition, and the top level for local rugby union in parts of Yorkshire. The champions are automatically promoted to Regional 2 North East, a division with a wider geographical area that also encompasses northeast England. The runners-up participate in a playoff against the 2nd place team from the equivalent regional league, Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland, for promotion to Regional 2 North East. The bottom two clubs are relegated to Counties 2 Yorkshire.

Counties 2 Yorkshire, previously known as Yorkshire 2 is an English rugby union league at the eighth tier of the domestic competition for teams from Yorkshire. Club rugby in Yorkshire operates without promotion play-offs meaning that the top two teams are automatically promoted to Counties 1 Yorkshire and the bottom two teams are relegated to Counties 3 Yorkshire. Each season a team from Yorkshire 2 is picked to take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a national competition for clubs at level 8.

Yorkshire 5 was an English Rugby Union league at the eleventh tier of the domestic competition and was the basement league of club rugby in Yorkshire. This league was not always the bottom division as for a while there was a Yorkshire 6 but this league merged with Yorkshire 5. Also, for a short period, Yorkshire 5 was split into two parallel leagues based on geographical location. Promoted teams moved up to Yorkshire 4.

Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland, formerly known as Durham/Northumberland 2, is an English rugby union league at the eighth tier of the domestic competition for teams from North East England. The champions and runner-up are promoted to Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland and the bottom two clubs are relegated to Counties 3 Durham & Northumberland. Each season two teams from Durham/Northumberland 2 are picked to take part in the RFU Senior Vase - one affiliated with the Durham County RFU, the other with the Northumberland RFU. Ponteland won their fourth title in 2020 with Sunderland also promoted.

Counties 3 Durham & Northumberland, previously known as Durham/Northumberland 3, is an English rugby union league at the ninth tier of the domestic competition and is currently the basement league of club rugby in North East England. Any club in the north east wishing to join the rugby union club hierarchy must begin at the bottom so all new teams from the north east start in this division - although until 2005-06 there was relegation to the now defunct Durham/Northumberland 4. The champions and runner-up are promoted to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland.

Counties 2 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire is a regional English Rugby Union league for teams from Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, ranked at tier 8 of the English league system.

Lancs/Cheshire 3 was an English rugby union league. Promoted teams entered South Lancs/Cheshire 2, ranked at tier 9 of the English league system. This was the basement level for club rugby union for teams in the South Lancashire, Manchester and Cheshire areas and any team from this area wanting to begin in club rugby union had to join this league. Up until 2008–09 there was relegation with teams dropping down and coming up from South Lancs/Cheshire 4.

North Lancashire/Cumbria was an English Rugby Union League at the seventh tier of club rugby union for teams from North Lancashire and Cumbria that ran until the end of 2017–18 season. Promotion from this division used to be into North 1 West with the champions going straight up and the league runners up facing the league runners up from South Lancs/Cheshire 1 for their place. Clubs at the bottom of the table were relegated either to North Lancashire 1, South Lancs/Cheshire 2 or the Cumbria League depending on their geographical location.

Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire is a regional English Rugby Union league for teams in Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and Greater Manchester at level 9 of the English rugby union system.

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