1996–97 Courage League National Division Two Explained

1996–97 Courage League National Division Two
Champions:Richmond (1st title)
Runnersup:Newcastle Falcons
Relegated:Rugby Lions and Nottingham
Matches:132
Highest Attendance:8,000 Coventry at home to Newcastle Falcons on 2 November 1996
Top Point Scorer: Simon Mason,
(Richmond) 334 points
Top Try Scorer: John Bentley,
(Newcastle Falcons) 23 tries[1]
Prevseason:1995–96
Nextseason:1997–98

The 1996–97 Courage League National Division Two was the tenth full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship and was season that saw professional rugby openly introduced into the English game. Joining the eight teams who participated in the division in 1995–96 were Richmond, Coventry, Rugby and Rotherham all of whom were promoted from National Division Three with no teams coming down from National Division One due to league restructuring. The league was sponsored by Courage Brewery for the tenth consecutive year.

The top two teams, Richmond and Newcastle Falcons were automatically promoted, and for the first time there were play–offs between the third and fourth placed teams, and the ninth and tenth placed teams in Division One, for a place in the top tier for season 1997–98.[2] The Division Two sides played at home first with the winners of the two matches, on aggregate score, playing in the top division the following season. Coventry and Bedford both failed to win promotion. Rugby Lions and Nottingham were relegated to Division 3 for the 1997–98 season. Last season Nottingham finished in the bottom two and escaped relegation due to the division being increased from ten clubs to twelve clubs. This season they were not so lucky and next season will be their first in Division Three.[3]

Participating teams

width=25%Teamwidth=25%Stadiumwidth=25%Capacitywidth=25%City/Area
BedfordGoldington Road7,000Bedford, Bedfordshire
BlackheathRectory Field6,000Greenwich, London
CoventryCoundon Road9,000+Coventry, West Midlands
London ScottishAthletic Ground4,500Richmond, London
MoseleyThe Reddings10,000 (est)Birmingham, West Midlands
Newcastle FalconsKingston Park10,000Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
NottinghamIreland Avenue4,950Beeston, Nottinghamshire
RichmondAthletic Ground4,500Richmond, London
RotherhamClifton Lane2,500Rotherham, South Yorkshire
RugbyWebb Ellis Road1,000Rugby, Warwickshire
WakefieldCollege Grove3,000Wakefield, West Yorkshire
WaterlooSt Anthony's Road9,000Blundellsands, Merseyside

Promotion play–offs

For the first time play–offs took place between the third and fourth placed teams in Division Two and the ninth and tenth placed teams in Division One. The play–offs followed a 4th v 9th, 3rd v 10th system - with the games being played over two legs and the second-tier team playing at home in the first leg.[3]

Second leg

Individual statistics

Top points scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Points
1 22 324
2 22 297
3 18 256
4 21 238
5 20 236
6 19 199
7 14 177
8 14 137
9 21 116
10 18 115
[4]

Top try scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Tries
1 18 23
2 21 21
21 21
3 21 19
4 20 17
5 11 15
13 15
6 18 14
18 14
7 18 13
21 13
[5]

Season records

Team

Largest home win — 151 pts156 - 5 Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996
  • Largest away win — 72 pts87 - 15 Richmond away to Moseley on 5 October 1996
  • Most points scored — 151 pts156 - 5 Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996
  • Most tries in a match — 24Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996
  • Most conversions in a match — 18Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996
  • Most penalties in a match — 7Rotherham away to Richmond on 14 September 1996
  • Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3)Coventry at home to Wakefield on 21 September 1996
    London Scottish away to Blackheath on 8 February 1997
    Blackheath at home to Nottingham on 22 March 1997
  • [6] [7] [8] [9]

    Player

    Most points in a match — 42 Jez Harris for Coventry at home to Nottingham on 5 October 1996
  • Most tries in a match — 5 Pat Lam for Newcastle Falcons at home to Rotherham on 4 May 1997
  • Most conversions in a match — 18 Rob Andrew for Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996
  • Most penalties in a match — 7 Matt Inman for Rotherham away to Richmond on 14 September 1996
  • Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x2) Jez Harris for Coventry at home to Wakefield on 21 September 1996
    Chris Braithwaite for Blackheath at home to Nottingham on 22 March 1997
  • [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

    Attendances

    Highest — 8,000Coventry at home to Newcastle Falcons on 2 November 1996[15] [16]
  • Lowest — N/AN/A
  • Highest Average Attendance — N/AN/A
  • Lowest Average Attendance — N/AN/A
  • [17]

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. Book: The Official RFU Club Directory 2000–2001. 2000. Queen Anne Press. Harpenden. Stephen McCormack.
    2. Web site: Courage League Championship 1996/97. Moseley Rugby Club. 8 August 2012.
    3. Book: Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98. 1997. Headline Book Publishing. London. 0 7472 7732 X. Mick Cleary and John Griffiths.
    4. Web site: National Two 96/97 Leading points scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
    5. Web site: National Two 96/97 Leading try scorers . Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
    6. Web site: National Two 96/97 Most tries in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 11 May 1997 .
    7. Web site: National Two 96/97 Most conversions in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 11 May 1997 .
    8. Web site: National Two 96/97 Most penalties in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 11 May 1997 .
    9. Web site: National Two 96/97 Most drop goals in a match (Team) . Rugby Statbunker . 11 May 1997 .
    10. Web site: National Two 96/97 Most points in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 11 May 1997 .
    11. Web site: National Two 96/97 Most tries in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 11 May 1997 .
    12. Web site: National Two 96/97 Most conversions in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 11 May 1997 .
    13. Web site: National Two 96/97 Most penalties in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 11 May 1997 .
    14. Web site: National Two 96/97 Most drop goals in a match (Player) . Rugby Statbunker . 11 May 1997 .
    15. Web site: Rugby Union: Harris has the drop on tough Newcastle . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-harris-has-the-drop-on-tough-newcastle-1350637.html . 2022-05-01 . subscription . The Independent . 4 November 1996.
    16. Web site: Falcons in Division Two 1996/97 . thesouthstandchoir.wordpress.com . 9 August 2012.
    17. Web site: National Two 96/97 Home attendance . Rugby Statbunker . 11 May 1997 .