National League 2 North

Level four rugby union league in England

Football league

National Two NorthFounded| 1987; 37 years ago (1987)

|

Country|  England
Number of teams| 14
Level on pyramid| Level 4
Promotion to| National League 1
Relegation to|

* Regional 1:
* Midlands
* North East
* North West

Current champions| Sedgley Park (1st title)
(2022–23
(promoted to National One)
Most championships| Hull Ionians, Macclesfield (3 titles)
Website| [1]
Current: 2024–25 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Main article: 2024–25 National League 2 North

### Participating teams and locations

[edit]

Billingham

Chester

Fylde

Harrogate

Hull

Hull
Ionians

Leeds
Tykes

Lymm

Otley

Preston Grasshoppers

Sheffield

Sheffield Tigers

Tynedale

Wharfedale

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the 2024–25 National League 2 North teams

Team  | Ground  | Capacity  | City/Area  | Previous season

|
|
|
|

Billingham | Greenwood Road [3] | 1,500 (100 seats) | Billingham, County Durham | 12th
Chester | Hare Lane [4] | 2,000 (500 seats) | Chester, Cheshire | Transferred from National League 2 West (11th)
Fylde | Woodlands Memorial Ground[5] | 9,000 | Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire | 5th
Harrogate | Rudding Lane | 2,000 | Harrogate, North Yorkshire | Promoted from Regional 1 North East (Champions)[6]
Hull | Ferens Ground | 1,500 (288 seats) | Kingston upon Hull, East Riding | 8th
Hull Ionians | Brantingham Park [7] | 1,500 (240 seats) | Brantingham, East Riding | 13th
Leeds Tykes | The Sycamores | 1,500 | Bramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire | Runners up
Lymm | Crouchley Lane | 1,000 | Lymm, Cheshire | 10th
Otley | Cross Green[8] | 5,000 | Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire | 9th
Preston Grasshoppers | Lightfoot Green | 5,000 | Preston, Lancashire | 11th
Sheffield | Abbeydale Park[9] | 3,200 (100 seats) | Sheffield, South Yorkshire | 3rd
Sheffield Tigers | Dore Moor [10] | 1,000 | Sheffield, South Yorkshire | 7th
Tynedale | Tynedale Park [11] | 2,000 (400 seats) | Corbridge, Northumberland | 6th
Wharfedale | The Avenue [12] | 2,000 | Threshfield, North Yorkshire | 4th

### League table

[edit]

2024–25 National League 2 North table  Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Lymm | 9  | 9  | 0  | 0  | 368  | 209  | +159  | 9  | 0  | 45  | Promotion place
2  | Leeds Tykes | 9  | 8  | 0  | 1  | 297  | 163  | +134  | 8  | 1  | 41  |
3  | Sheffield | 9  | 8  | 0  | 1  | 331  | 152  | +179  | 7  | 1  | 40
4  | Fylde | 9  | 7  | 0  | 2  | 332  | 254  | +78  | 7  | 0  | 35
5  | Wharfedale | 9  | 5  | 0  | 4  | 248  | 260  | −12  | 7  | 0  | 27
6  | Preston Grasshoppers | 9  | 4  | 1  | 4  | 290  | 273  | +17  | 6  | 3  | 27
7  | Hull Ionians | 9  | 4  | 0  | 5  | 263  | 248  | +15  | 5  | 2  | 23
8  | Chester | 9  | 4  | 0  | 5  | 268  | 254  | +14  | 5  | 2  | 23
9  | Otley | 9  | 4  | 0  | 5  | 224  | 269  | −45  | 3  | 2  | 21
10  | Billingham | 9  | 3  | 1  | 5  | 187  | 266  | −79  | 3  | 0  | 17
11  | Hull | 9  | 2  | 0  | 7  | 222  | 313  | −91  | 4  | 3  | 15
12  | Tynedale | 9  | 1  | 2  | 6  | 192  | 321  | −129  | 4  | 2  | 14
13  | Sheffield Tigers | 9  | 1  | 0  | 8  | 195  | 286  | −91  | 4  | 4  | 12  | Relegation place
14  | Harrogate | 9  | 1  | 0  | 8  | 207  | 356  | −149  | 4  | 4  | 12

Updated to match(es) played on 9 November 2024. Source: National League Rugby [13]
Rules for classification: 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

## National Two North honours

[edit]

|  |  List of National Two North honours |

|
|

Season  | No of teams  | Champions  | Runner–up  | Relegated teams  | League name
1987–88 | 11 | Rugby | Durham City | Solihull, Derby, Birkenhead Park | Area League North
1988–89 | 11 | Roundhay | Broughton Park | Birmingham | Area League North
1989–90 | 11 | Broughton Park | Morley | No relegation[a] | Area League North
1990–91 | 13 | Otley | Lichfield | Birmingham & Solihull, Stoke-on-Trent | National 4 North
1991–92 | 13 | Aspatria | Hereford | Vale of Lune, Northern | National 4 North
1992–93 | 13 | Harrogate | Rotherham | Towcestrians | National 4 North
1993–94 | 10 | Clifton | Harrogate | Sheffield (to 5 North), Sudbury (to 5 South) | Courage National League 4[b]
1994–95 | 10 | Rotherham | Reading | Askeans (to 5 South), Broughton Park (to 5 North) | Courage National League 4
1995–96 | 10 | Exeter | London Welsh[c] | Aspatria (to 4 North), Plymouth Albion (to 4 South) | Courage National League 4
1996–97 | 14 | Worcester | Birmingham & Solihull | Stoke-on-Trent, Hereford | National 4 North
1997–98 | 14 | Birmingham & Solihull | Manchester | No relegation | National 2 North
1998–99 | 14 | Preston Grasshoppers | Stourbridge | Winnington Park, Lichfield, Hinckley | National 2 North
1999–00 | 14 | Kendal | Stourbridge | Sheffield | National 2 North
2000–01 | 14 | Stourbridge | Sedgley Park | Walsall, Aspatria | National 3 North
2001–02 | 14 | Doncaster | Dudley Kingswinford | Whitchurch, Morley, Sandal, West Hartlepool | National 3 North
2002–03 | 14 | Nuneaton | New Brighton | Bedford Athletic, Broadstreet, Hull Ionians, Scunthorpe | National 3 North
2003–04 | 14 | Waterloo | Halifax | Preston Grasshoppers, Liverpool St Helens, Longton | National 3 North
2004–05 | 14 | Halifax | Macclesfield | Rugby Lions, Dudley Kingswinford, Bedford Athletic | National 3 North
2005–06 | 14 | Bradford & Bingley | Nuneaton | New Brighton, Kendal | National 3 North
2006–07 | 14 | Blaydon | Tynedale | Darlington, Cleckheaton, Orrell | National 3 North
2007–08 | 14 | Tynedale | Darlington Mowden Park | Morley, West Park St Helens, Beverley | National 3 North
2008–09 | 14 | Nuneaton | Caldy | Darlington Mowden Park, Halifax | National 3 North
2009–10 | 16 | Macclesfield | Loughborough Students | Waterloo, Bradford & Bingley | National League 2 North
2010–11 | 16 | Fylde | Loughborough Students | Morley, Rugby Lions, Manchester | National League 2 North
2011–12 | 16 | Loughborough Students | Caldy | Harrogate, Nuneaton, Kendal | National League 2 North
2012–13 | 16 | Hull Ionians | Stourbridge | Westoe, Stockport, Huddersfield | National League 2 North
2013–14 | 16 | Macclesfield | Darlington Mowden Park | Sheffield Tigers, Bromsgrove, Dudley Kingswinford | National League 2 North
2014–15 | 16 | Hull Ionians | Ampthill | Birmingham & Solihull, Hull, Stockport | National League 2 North
2015–16 | 16 | Macclesfield | Sedgley Park | Huddersfield, Broadstreet, Sandal | National League 2 North
2016–17 | 16 | Caldy | Sale | Preston Grasshoppers, Scunthorpe, Harrogate | National League 2 North
2017–18 | 16 | Sale FC | Sedgley Park | Sheffield, Blaydon, Luctonians | National League 2 North
2018–19 | 16 | Hull Ionians | Chester | Peterborough Lions, South Leicester, Macclesfield | National League 2 North
2019–20 | 16 | Caldy | Fylde | Scunthorpe, Preston Grasshoppers, Otley | National League 2 North
2020–21 | 16 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. | National League 2 North
2021–22 | 16 | Hull | Sedgley Park | No relegation owing to league reorganisation | National League 2 North
2022–23 | 14 | Sedgley Park | Fylde | Blaydon and Harrogate | National League 2 North [14]
2023–24 | 14 | Rotherham Titans | Leeds Tykes | Huddersfield[d] | National League 2 North
2024–25 | 14 |  |  |  | National League 2 North
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

## Promotion play-offs

[edit]

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[16] | Sedgley Park (N) | 40–23 | Launceston (S) | Park Lane, Whitefield, Greater Manchester | 1,500
2001–02[17] | Launceston (S) | 26–0 | Dudley Kingswinford (N) | Polson Bridge, Launceston, Cornwall | 2,500
2002–03[18] | Lydney (S) | 21–7 | New Brighton (N) | Regentsholme, Lydney, Gloucestershire |
2003–04[19][20] | Halifax (N) | 16–18 | Launceston (S) | Ovenden Park, Halifax, West Yorkshire |
2004-05[21] | Redruth (S) | 33–14 | Macclesfield (N) | The Recreation Ground, Redruth, Cornwall | 4,000
2005–06[22][23] | North Walsham (S) | 5–15 | Nuneaton (N) | Norwich Road, Scottow, Norfolk | 1,302
2006–07[24][25] | Westcombe Park (S) | 36–20 | Tynedale (N) | Goddington Dene, Orpington, Greater London | 1,700[26]
2007–08[27][28] | Cinderford (S) | 15–14 | Darlington Mowden Park (N) | Dockham Road, Cinderford, Gloucestershire | 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.[29]
2009–10[30][31] | Loughborough Students (N) | 21–43 | Rosslyn Park (S) | Loughborough University Stadium, Loughborough, Leicestershire | 1,000
2010–11[32][33] | Jersey (S) | 30–5 | Loughborough Students (N) | St. Peter, Saint Peter, Jersey | 3,100
2011–12[34][35] | Richmond (S) | 20–13 (aet) | Caldy (N) | Athletic Ground, Richmond, Greater London | 1,600
2012–13[36] | Stourbridge (N) | 26–28 | Worthing Raiders (S) | Stourton Park, Stourbridge, West Midlands | 925
2013–14[37] | Darlington Mowden Park (N) | 30–28 (aet) | Ampthill (S) | The Northern Echo Arena, Darlington, County Durham | 975
2014–15[38][39] | Ampthill (N) | 19–10 | Bishop's Stortford (S) | Dillingham Park, Ampthill, Bedfordshire | 1,253
2015–16[40][41] | Old Albanian (S) | 24–0 | Sedgley Park (N) | Woollam Playing Fields, St Albans, Hertfordshire | 473
2016–17 | Sale FC (N) | 14–19 | Old Elthamians (S) | Heywood Road, Sale, Greater Manchester | 1,297
2017–18 | Chinnor (S) | 40–31 | Sedgley Park (N) | Kingsey Road, Thame, Oxfordshire | 1,378
2018–19 | Canterbury (S) | 19–10 | Chester (N) | The Marine Travel Ground, Canterbury, Kent | 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

[edit]

* Hull Ionians (3)
* Macclesfield (3)
* Caldy (2)
* Nuneaton (2)
* Rotherham Titans (2)[e]
* 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

|  |  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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* 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)[42]

* 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

[edit]

* Largest home win: 124 – 0

Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07)[43]

* Largest away win: 106 – 0

Fylde away to Orrell on 31 March 2007 (2006–07)[44]

* Most points scored in a match: 124

Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006–07)[43]

* 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

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

* 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)[f]

* Lowest attendance (promotion play-off): 925[g]

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

* 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

[edit]

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.[45]
Rank  | Nat  | Name  | Years  | Club(s)  | Points  | Apps  | 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

[edit]

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).[46]
Rank  | Nat  | Name  | Years  | Club(s)  | Tries  | Apps  | 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.)

## Notes

[edit]

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. ^ Only 14th place Huddersfield would be relegated at the end of the 2023–24 season. This was because of the liquidation of RFU Championship side Jersey Reds in September 2023, which meant that the best 13th placed side would escape relegation, in this case National League 2 North side Hull Ionians.[15]
5. ^ One of Rotherham's league titles was won during the period when tier 4 was a single national league (1993-96).
6. ^ 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.
7. ^ 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).
8. ^ 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

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

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

## External links

[edit]

* NCA Rugby

* v
* t
* e

National League 2 North

2024–25 teams|

* Billingham
* Chester
* Fylde
* Harrogate
* Hull
* Hull Ionians
* Leeds Tykes
* Lymm
* Otley
* Preston Grasshoppers
* Sheffield
* Sheffield Tigers
* Tynedale
* Wharfedale

Former clubs|

* Ampthill
* Aspatria
* Barkers Butts
* Bedford Athletic
* Beverley
* Birkenhead Park
* Birmingham & Solihull
* Blaydon
* Bournville
* Bradford & Bingley
* Broadstreet
* Bromsgrove
* Broughton Park
* Caldy
* Chester
* Cleckheaton
* Darlington
* Darlington Mowden Park
* Derby
* Doncaster
* Dudley Kingswinford
* Durham City
* Halifax
* Hereford
* Hinckley
* Huddersfield
* Kendal
* Leicester Lions
* Lichfield
* Liverpool St Helens
* Longton
* Loughborough Students
* Luctonians
* Macclesfield
* Manchester
* Morley
* New Brighton
* Northern
* Nuneaton
* Orrell
* Peterborough Lions
* Rotherham Titans
* Roundhay
* Rugby Lions
* Sale FC
* Sandal
* Sedgley Park
* Scunthorpe
* Solihull
* South Leicester
* Stockport
* Stoke-on-Trent
* Stourbridge
* Towcestrians
* Vale of Lune
* Walsall
* Waterloo
* West Hartlepool
* Westoe
* West Park
* Whitchurch
* Winnington Park
* Worcester

Seasons|

| Area League North|

* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90

|

National 4 North|

* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93

National Division 4|

* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96

National Division 4 North|

* 1996–97

National Division 2 North|

* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–00

National Division 3 North|

* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09

National League 2 North|

* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* ~~2020–21~~
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in England

Governing body|

* Rugby Football Union
* Rugby Football Union for Women (merged into the RFU)

National teams|

| Men's|

* England
* England A
* 7's
* U-21
* U-20
* U-18
* British & Irish Lions
* England Counties XV

|

Women's|

* Women's
* 7's

International competitions|

| Men's|

* World Cup
* Six Nations
* Rugby World Cup Sevens
* Sevens World Series
* Sevens Grand Prix Series
* Commonwealth Games

|

Women's|

* World Cup
* Six Nations
* World Series Sevens

Competition divisions|

| Men's|

* Premiership
* Championship
* National Leagues
* London and SE Division
* Northern Division
* Midland Division
* South West Division
* United Hospitals Cup

|

Women's|

* Premiership Women's Rugby

European competitions|

* European Rugby Champions Cup
* European Rugby Challenge Cup

National competitions|

* Premiership Rugby
* Premiership Cup
* RFU Championship
* Championship Cup
* National League 1
* National League 2 East
* National League 2 North
* National League 2 West
* RFU Intermediate Cup
* RFU Senior Vase
* RFU Junior Vase
* Premiership Rugby Sevens Series
* Women's Premiership
* Premier 15s

London and South East
competitions|

* Regional 1 South East
* Regional 1 South Central
* Regional 2 Anglia
* Regional 2 South Central
* Regional 2 South East
* Regional 2 Thames
* London 1 North
* London 2 North East
* London 2 North West
* London 2 South East
* London 2 South West
* London 3 North West
* London 3 South East
* London 3 South West
* Counties 2 Eastern Counties
* London 3 Essex
* Eastern Counties 1
* Eastern Counties 2
* Eastern Counties 3
* Counties 2 Essex
* Counties 2 Hampshire
* Hampshire 1
* Hampshire Cups
* Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex
* Herts/Middlesex 2
* Hertfordshire Cups
* Middlesex Cups
* Counties 3 Kent
* Counties 4 Kent
* Counties 5 Kent
* Kent Cups
* Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex
* Counties 2 Surrey
* Counties 3 Surrey
* Counties 4 Surrey
* Counties 5 Surrey
* Surrey Cups
* Counties 2 Sussex
* Sussex 1
* Sussex Cups

Midland competitions|

* Regional 1 Midlands
* Regional 2 North Midlands
* Regional 2 West Midlands
* Regional 2 East Midlands
* Midlands 2 West (North)
* Midlands 2 West (South)
* Midlands 2 East (North)
* Midlands 2 East (South)
* Midlands 3 West (North)
* Midlands 3 West (South)
* Midlands 3 East (North)
* Midlands 3 East (South)
* Midlands 4 West (North)
* Midlands 4 West (South)
* Midlands 4 East (North)
* Midlands 4 East (South)
* Midlands 5 West (South)
* Leicestershire Cups
* North Midlands Cups
* Staffordshire Cups
* Warwickshire Cups

Northern competitions|

* Regional 1 North East
* Regional 1 North West
* Regional 2 North
* Regional 2 North East
* Regional 2 North West
* North 1 East
* North 1 West
* North 2 West
* Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
* Lancs/Cheshire 1
* Lancs/Cheshire 2
* Cheshire Cups
* Lancashire Cups
* Counties 1 Cumbria
* Cumbria Cups
* Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland
* Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland
* Counties 3 Durham & Northumberland
* Durham Cups
* Northumberland Cups
* Counties 1 Yorkshire
* Counties 2 Yorkshire
* Counties 3 Yorkshire
* Counties 4 Yorkshire
* Yorkshire Cups

South West competitions|

* Regional 1 South West
* Regional 2 Severn
* Regional 2 South West
* Counties 1 Southern North
* Counties 1 Southern South
* Counties 1 Western North
* Counties 1 Western West
* Counties 2 Cornwall
* Counties 3 Cornwall
* Cornwall Cups
* Counties 2 Devon
* Counties 3 Devon East
* Counties 3 Devon West
* Devon Cups
* Gloucester Premier
* Gloucester 1
* Gloucester 2 North
* Gloucester 2 South
* Gloucestershire Cups
* Somerset Premier
* Somerset 1
* Somerset 2 North
* Somerset 2 South
* Somerset 3 North
* Somerset 3 South
* Somerset Cups
* Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
* Oxfordshire Cups
* Dorset & Wilts 1 North
* Dorset & Wilts 1 South
* Dorset & Wilts 2 North
* Dorset & Wilts 2 South
* Dorset & Wilts 3 North

County competitions|

* Division 1
* Division 2
* Division 3

Discontinued competitions|

* Anglo-Welsh Cup
* Cornwall/Devon League
* Divisional Championship
* National League 2 South
* North Premier
* RFU Knockout Cup
* South West 1 East

Related articles|

* International players
* Clubs
* Churchill Cup
* Calcutta Cup
* Millennium Trophy
* Ella-Mobbs Trophy
* Hillary Shield

Other|

* English rugby union system
* Timeline of rugby union on UK television

*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Matches played
*[W]: Matches won
*[D]: Matches drawn
*[L]: Matches lost
*[PF]: Match points for
*[PA]: Match points against
*[PD]: Match points difference
*[TB]: Try bonus competition points
*[LB]: Losing bonus competition points
*[Pts]: Total competition points