National League 2 South Explained

National League 2 South
Sport:	Rugby union
Founded:	1987
Folded:	2022
Teams:	16
Promotion:	National League 1
Relegation:	South West Premier London & South East Premier
Champion:	Esher (2nd title)
Most Champs:	Barking Henley Hawks Cambridge Esher
Count:	2
Season:	2021–22 promoted to National One
Website:	clubs.rfu.com

National League 2 South (known before September 2009 as National Division Three South) was a level four league in the English rugby union system until the end of season 2021–22. It was 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 were promoted to National League 1. The runner-up play in a promotion play-off with the runner-up of National League 2 North; the team with the best record having home advantage. The bottom three teams were relegated, to either South West Premier or London & South East Premier.^[1] Esher are the current and final champions.

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.^[2] Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) approved a new structure for the National Leagues from the 2022–23 season. Along with National League 1 and National League 2 North the size of the leagues at levels 3 and 4 are reduced to 14 teams (previously 16), 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.^[3] As part of the restructure a third league was created at level four and most of the National League 2 South teams were placed into either National League 2 East or National League 2 West.^[4]

Final season

See main article: 2021–22 National League 2 South.

Eleven of the teams listed below participated in the 2019–20 National League 2 South season. The 2019–20 champions Taunton Titans and Tonbridge Juddians, who won the (virtual) promotion play-off against Caldy, were promoted into the 2021–22 National League 1, while Canterbury were relegated into the division from the 2019–20 National League 1. Sides relegated from the 2019–20 National League 2 South included Sutton & Epsom (to London & SE Premier), Bournemouth and Old Redcliffians (both to South West Premier).

The promoted teams were Barnstaple who come up as champions of South West Premier while Rochford Hundred (champions) and Guernsey Raiders (virtual play-off) came up from London & South East Premier. Hinckley were level transferred into the division from National League 2 North in order to address an imbalance of teams in National 2, with Taunton and Tonbridge Juddians being promoted and only Canterbury dropping down from National League 1.

Fifteen of the sixteen teams from 2021–22 were placed into one of the other level-four leagues for 2022–23. Barnes, Bury St. Edmunds, Canterbury, Guernsey Raiders, Henley Hawks, Old Albanian, Rochford Hundred, Westcliff and Worthing Raiders were transferred to the newly created National League 2 East while Barnstaple, Clifton, Dings Crusaders, Hinckley, Leicester Lions and Redruth were transferred to another new level-four league, National League 2 West. The 2021–22 champions, Esher, were promoted to National League 1. No teams were relegated to level five.

Team	Stadium	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
		500		12th
	Pottingham Road	2,000 (575 seats)		Promoted from South West Premier (champions)
	The Haberden	3,000 (135 seats)		6th
	Marine Travel Ground	1,500 (75 seats)		Relegated from 2019–20 National League 1 (15th)
	Station Road	2,500 (400 seats)		5th
	Shaftsbury Park	2,250 (250 seats)		11th
		3,500		8th
			5,000 (720 seats)		Promoted from London & South East Premier (virtual play-off)
	Dry Leas	4,000		4th
		De Montfort Park	2,000		Level-transfer from National 2 North (3rd)
	Westleigh Park	2,000		7th
	Woollam's Playing Fields	1,000		10th
	The Recreation Ground	3,500 (580 seats)		3rd
	The Rugby Park	1,000		Promoted from London & South East Premier (champions)
	The Gables	1,000		13th
	Roundstone Lane	1,500 (100 seats)		9th

2020–21

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.

List of champions

Area League South

<											----> Area League South honours
Season	No of teams	No of matches	Champions	Runner-up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
	11	10	Askeans
	11	10	Lydney
	11	10	Metropolitan Police

National 4 South

<											----> National 4 South honours
Season	No of teams	No of matches	Champions	Runner-up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
	13	12	Redruth
	13	12	Havant
	13	12	Sudbury		Multiple

National Division 4

<											----> National Division 4 honours
Season	No of teams	No of matches	Champions	Runner-up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
	10	18	Clifton		Sheffield (to 5 North) and Sudbury (to 5 South)
	10	18	Rotherham^[5]		Askeans (to 5 South) and Broughton Park (to 5 North)
	10	18	Exeter		Aspatria (to 4 North) and Plymouth Albion (to 4 South)

Division 4 South

<											----> Division 4 South honours
Season	No of teams	No of matches	Champions	Runner-up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
	14	26	Newbury

National 2 South

<											----> National 2 South honours
Season	No of teams	No of matches	Champions	Runner-up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
	14	26	Camberley		No relegation
	14	26	Bracknell
	14	26	Esher

National Division 3 South

<											----> National Division 3 South honours
Season	No of teams	No of matches	Champions	Runner-up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
	14	26	Plymouth Albion			^[6]
	14	26	Penzance & Newlyn			^[7]
	14	26	Rosslyn Park
	14	26	Blackheath
	14	26	Barking			^[8]
	14	26	Cambridge
	14	26	Southend
	14	26	Mount's Bay			^[9]
	14	26	London Scottish

National League 2 South

<											----> National League 2 South honours
Season	No of teams	No of matches	Champions	Runner-up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
	15	28	Barking
	16	30	Ealing Trailfinders
	16	30	Old Albanian			^[10]
	15	28	Henley Hawks			^[11]
	16	30	Hartpury College
	16	30	Henley Hawks
	16	30	Cambridge
	16	30	Bishop's Stortford
	16	30	Cinderford
	16	30	Rams
	16	25	Taunton Titans
2020–21	16		Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
	16	30	Esher		No relegation due to tier 3 and 4 league reorganisation
Green background are promotion places.

^{[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]}

National Two promotion play-offs

Until the 2021–22 season there was a promotion 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 has home advantage. As of the end of the 2019–20 season the 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^[21]	Sedgley Park (N)	40–23	Launceston (S)		1,500
2001–02^[22]	Launceston (S)	26–0	Dudley Kingswinford (N)		2,500
2002–03^[23]	Lydney (S)	21–7	New Brighton (N)
2003–04^[24] ^[25]	Halifax (N)	16–18	Launceston (S)
2004–05^[26]	Redruth (S)	33–14	Macclesfield (N)		4,000
2005–06^[27] ^[28]	North Walsham (S)	5–15	Nuneaton (N)		1,302
2006–07^[29] ^[30]	Westcombe Park (S)	36–20	Tynedale (N)		1,700^[31]
2007–08^[32] ^[33]	Cinderford (S)	15–14	Darlington Mowden Park (N)		2,800
2008–09	No promotion play-off due to the restructuring of the English rugby union league system. Only the champions of the two divisions were promoted.^[34]
2009–10^[35] ^[36]	Loughborough Students (N)	21–43	Rosslyn Park (S)		1,000
2010–11^[37] ^[38]	Jersey (S)	30–5	Loughborough Students (N)		3,100
2011–12^[39] ^[40]	Richmond (S)	20–13 (aet)	Caldy (N)		1,600
2012–13^[41]	Stourbridge (N)	26–28	Worthing Raiders (S)		925
2013–14^[42]	Darlington Mowden Park (N)	30–28 (aet)	Ampthill (S)		975
2014–15^[43] ^[44]	Ampthill (N)	19–10	Bishop's Stortford (S)		1,253
2015–16^[45] ^[46]	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 to tier 3 and 4 league reorganisation.
Green background represent promoted teams. (N) stands for National League 2 North while (S) stands for National League 2 South.

Number of league titles

• Barking (2)
• Cambridge (2)
• Esher (2)
• Henley Hawks (2)
• Askeans (1)
• Bishop's Stortford (1)
• Blackheath (1)
• Bracknell (1)
• Camberley (1)
• Cinderford (1)
• Clifton (1)
• Ealing Trailfinders (1)
• Exeter (1)
• Hartpury College (1)
• Havant (1)
• London Scottish (1)
• Lydney (1)
• Metropolitan Police (1)
• Mount's Bay (1)
• Newbury (1)
• Old Albanian (1)
• Penzance & Newlyn (1)
• Plymouth Albion (1)
• Rams (1)
• Redruth (1)
• Rosslyn Park (1)
• Southend (1)
• Sudbury (1)
• Taunton Titans (1)

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

^{[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [47] [48] [49] [50] [20] [51] [52] [53]}

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 southern 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 2018–19 season.

League records

• Most titles: 2

Barking (2004–05, 2009–10)

Henley Hawks (2012–13, 2014–15)

Cambridge (2005–06, 2015–16)

• Most times promoted from division: 3

Henley Hawks (1997–98, 2012–13, 2014–15)

• Most times relegated from division: 3

Havant (1998–99, 2002–03, 2008–09)

Barnes (2009–10, 2011–12, 2016–17)

• Most league points in a season: 143

Cinderford (2017–18)

• Fewest league points in a season: 0

Metropolitan Police (1999–00)^[54]

Camberley (2002–03)

• Most points scored in a season: 1,490

Ealing Trailfinders (2010–11)

• Fewest points scored in a season: 270

Camberley (2002–03)

• Most points conceded in a season: 2,055

Newbury Blues (2010–11)

• Fewest points conceded in a season: 240

Plymouth Albion (2000–01)

• Best points difference (For/Against): 1,066

Ealing Trailfinders (2010–11)

• Worst points difference (For/Against):-1,676

Newbury Blues (2010–11)

• Most games won in a season: 29

Cinderford (2017–18)

• Most games lost in a season: 29

Newbury Blues (2010–11)

Launceston (2015–16)

• Most games drawn in a season: 4

Rugby Lions (2008–09)

Barnes (2015–16)

• Most bonus points in a season: 30

Bishop's Stortford (2014–15)

Match records

• Largest home win: 132 – 0

Old Albanian at home to Newbury Blues on 26 March 2011 (2010–11)

• Largest away win: 85 – 3

Henley Hawks away to Barking on 27 October 2012 (2012–13)

• Most points scored in a match: 132

Old Albanian at home to Newbury Blues on 26 March 2011 (2010–11)

• Most tries scored in a match: 20

Jersey at home to Newbury Blues on 6 November 2011 (2010–11)

Ealing Trailfinders at home to Hinckley on 12 March 2011 (2010–11)

Old Albanian at home to Newbury Blues on 26 March 2011 (2010–11)

• Most conversions scored in a match: 16

Old Albanian at home to Newbury Blues on 26 March 2011 (2010–11)

Ealing Trailfinders at home to Lydney on 30 April 2011 (2010–11)

• Most penalties scored in a match: 7

Blackheath at home to Redruth on 14 December 2002 (2002–03)

Hertford at home to Rosslyn Park on 30 September 2006 (2006–07)

Clifton at home to Lydney on 21 October 2006 (2006–07)

Dings Crusaders at home to Southend on 6 November 2011 (2010–11)

Launceston at home to Hartpury College on 28 September 2013 (2013–14)

Launceston away to Dings Crusaders on 27 September 2014 (2014–15)

• Most drop kicks scored in a match: 3

Westcombe Park at home to Ealing Trailfinders on 5 December 2009 (2009–10)

Player records

• Most times top points scorer: 3

Matthew McLean for Worthing Raiders (2011–12, 2017–18, 2018–19)

Gary Kingdom for Taunton Titans (2014–15, 2015–16, 2019–20)

• Most times top try scorer: 2

Phil Chesters for Ealing Trailfinders (2009–10, 2010–11)

Ian Clark for Hartpury College (2011–12, 2012–13)

• Most points in a season: 374

Nat Saumi for Penzance & Newlyn (2000–01)

• Most tries in a season: 70

Phil Chesters for Ealing Trailfinders (2010–11))

• Most points in a match: 45

Adam Westall for Lydney away to Haywards Heath on 12 March 2005 (2004–05)

• Most tries in a match: 7

James O'Brien for Old Patesians at home to Old Colfeians on 27 March 2004 (2003–04)

Phil Chesters for Ealing Trailfinders at home to Newbury Blues on 2 October 2010 and at home to Lydney on 30 April 2011 (2010–11)

• Most conversions in a match: 16

Richard Gregg for Old Albanian at home to Newbury Blues on 26 March 2011 (2010–11)

• Most penalties in a match: 7

Jonathan Griffin for Blackheath at home to Redruth on 14 December 2002 (2002–03)

Kieron Davies for Hertford at home to Rosslyn Park on 30 September 2006 (2006–07)

John Barnes for Clifton at home to Lydney on 21 October 2006 (2006–07)

Mitch Burton for Dings Crusaders at home to Southend on 6 November 2011 (2010–-11)

Luke Cozens for Hartpury College away to Dings Crusaders on 17 November 2012 (2012–13)

Danial Trigg for Dings Crusaders away to Lydney on 1 December 2012 (2012–13)

Kieron Lewitt for Launceston away to Dings Crusaders on 27 September 2014 (2014–15)

• Most drop kicks in a match: 3

Lee Audis for Westcombe Park at home to Ealing Trailfinders on 5 December 2009 (2009–10)

Attendance records

• Highest attendance (league game): 3,270

Henley Hawks at home to Worthing Raiders on 4 May 2013 (2012–13)

• Lowest attendance (league game): 0

Tonbridge Juddians at home to Sutton & Epsom on 21 December 2019 (2019–20)

• Highest attendance (promotion playoff): 4,000

Redruth at home to Macclesfield on 1 May 2005 (2004–05)

• Lowest attendance (promotion playoff): 473

Old Albanian at home to Sedgley Park on 14 May 2016 (2015–16)

• Highest average attendance (club): 1,281

Plymouth Albion (2000–01)

• Lowest average attendance (club): 96

Old Patesians (2006–07)

• Highest average attendance (season): 573 (2000–01)
• Lowest average attendance (season): 292 (2009–10)

All time National League 2 South top 10 point scorers

Rank	width=50	Nat	width=150	Name	width=100	Years	width=150	Club(s)	width=70	Points	width=70	Apps	width=70	Ratio
1		Matthew McLean	2008–13, 2014–	Worthing Raiders	2,314	237	9.8
2		Gary Kingdom	2010–	Taunton Titans	1,979	245	8.1
3		Adam Westall	2002–03, 2004–08 2008–10	Lydney Dings Crusaders	1,368	130	11
4		Andy Frost	2005–07, 2009–13 2014–15	Southend Saxons Dorking	1,302	117	11
5		Derek Coates	2000–03 2003-04	Westcombe Park Blackheath	1,183	99	12
6		Kieron Lewitt	2007–09 2011–15	Canterbury Launceston	1,134	131	9
7		James Comben	2009–13, 2014–15	Henley Hawks	924	103	9
8		Tom Best	2009–11 2012–		858	202	4.2
9		Bradley Barnes	2012–14, 2015- 2014–15		830	168	4.9
10		Tom White	2014–17		778	85	9.2

(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 South)

All time National League 2 South top 10 try scorers

Rank	width=50	Nat	width=150	Name	width=100	Years	width=150	Club(s)	width=70	Tries	width=70	Apps	width=70	Ratio
1		Phil Chesters	2009–11 2017 2017–	Ealing Trailfinders Old Elthamians Chinnor	117	75	1.6
2		Matthew McLean	2008–13, 2014–	Worthing Raiders	115	237	0.5
3		Andy Thorpe	2001–08	North Walsham	114	143	0.8
4		Michael Melford	2006–11, 2012–13	Canterbury	92	148	0.6
5		Mark Billings	2005–07, 2009–16	Southend	89	213	0.4
6		Alexander Nielsen	2008–13, 2014–17	Worthing Raiders	83	139	0.6
7		Owen Bruynseels	2007–11	Ealing Trailfinders	81	95	0.9
8		Nick Hankin	2013–17	Bishop's Stortford	80	119	0.7
		Gert De Kock	2003–05 2006–11	Westcombe Park Canterbury	80	166	0.5
		William Pomphrey	2009–	Clifton	80	175	0.5

(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 South)

See also

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

External links

• NCA Rugby

Notes and References

1. Web site: SSE National and Divisional Leagues. RFU. 19 December 2012.
2. Web site: RFU ends the 2019/20 rugby season in England . EnglandRugby . 24 December 2020.
3. Web site: RFU approve future competition structure for 2022/23 . ncarugby . 24 December 2020.
4. Web site: 2022-05-24 . Update on Structural Changes to National League Rugby . 2022-05-25 . National League Rugby . en-US.
5. Web site: Courage League - Division 4 1994/95. rugbyarchive.net. 2 December 2015.
6. Book: The Official RFU Club Directory 2001–2002. 2001. Queen Anne Press. Harpenden. 1852916400. Stephen McCormack.
7. Book: The Official RFU Club Directory 2002–2003. 2002. Queen Anne Press. Harpenden. 1852916451. Stephen McCormack.
8. Web site: Final League Tables 2004 – 2005. Trelawny's Army. 27 August 2016.
9. Web site: Final League Tables, 2007 - 2008. Trelawny's Army. 27 August 2014.
10. Web site: Final League Tables 2011 – 2012. Trelawney's Army. 26 August 2016.
11. Web site: Final League Tables 2012 – 2013. Trelawney's Army. 26 August 2016.
12. Book: Courage Clubs Championship. Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990-91. 1990. Burlington Publishing Co Ltd. Horsham. 1873057024. Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell.
13. Book: Courage Clubs Championship. Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1991-92. 1991. Tony Williams. Taunton. 1869833155. Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell.
14. Book: Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991-92. 1991. Queen Anne Press. London. 0356202496. Stephen Jones.
15. Book: Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994-95. 1994. Headline Book Publishing. London. 0747278504. Stephen Jones.
16. Book: Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98. 1997. Headline Book Publishing. London. 074727732X. Mick Cleary and John Griffiths.
17. Web site: Final League Tables 1997-98. Trelawney's Army. 12 June 2013.
18. Book: Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1999-2000. 1999. Headline Book Publishing. London. 0747275319. Mick Cleary and John Griffiths.
19. Book: The Official RFU Club Directory 2000-2001. 2000. Queen Anne Press. Harpenden. 1852916273. Stephen McCormack.
20. Web site: National 3 South 08/09 / League Table. nca rugby. 13 June 2013.
21. Web site: National League 3 Playoffs 2000-01 . englandrugby.com . 26 May 2001 .
22. 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 .
23. Web site: National League Playoffs 2002-03 . englandrugby.com . 26 April 2003 .
24. Web site: National League Playoffs 2003-04 . englandrugby.com . 15 May 2004 .
25. News: Play-off agony for Halifax . Yorkshire Post . 17 May 2004 .
26. Web site: The 2004-2005 league season . trelawnysarmy.org . 1 May 2005 .
27. Web site: North Walsham 6-15 Nuneaton . BBC . 17 May 2006 .
28. Web site: National League Playoffs 2005-06 . englandrugby.com . 13 May 2006 .
29. Web site: NINE-MINUTE BLITZ ENDS TYNEDALE'S DREAMS . News and Star . 4 May 2007 .
30. Web site: National League Playoffs 2006-07 . englandrugby.com . 28 April 2006 .
31. Web site: Level 6 . Rolling Maul . 29 April 2018 .
32. Web site: National League Play Offs 2007-08 . englandrugby.com . 26 April 2008 .
33. Web site: Foresters play-off win 'no fluke' . BBC News . 30 April 2008 .
34. Web site: Championship plan gains support . BBC News . 14 November 2008 .
35. Web site: Party time for Rosslyn Park . Richmond and Twickenham Times . 21 May 2010 .
36. Web site: Students miss out on promotion in heartbreaker . Loughborough Echo . 21 May 2010 .
37. Web site: SSE National League Playoffs . englandrugby.com. 5 May 2011.
38. Web site: Jersey beat Loughborough in play-off final . BBC. 28 May 2011.
39. Web site: Heartbreak for Caldy as they lose National League Two play-off final against Richmond . Liverpool Echo. 7 May 2012.
40. Web site: Richmond v Caldy play off . Rolling Maul. 5 May 2012.
41. News: Results - SSE National League 2S. The Rugby Paper. 12 May 2013. 32.
42. Web site: DMPRFC 30 - Ampthill RFC 28 . DMP . Andy . Craggs . 3 May 2014 . 9 May 2014.
43. Web site: Ampthill in 'dreamland' after play-off final victory . Bedfordshire News . 2 May 2015.
44. News: National League 2 Playoffs. The RUGBYPaper. 346. Rugby Paper Ltd. 3 May 2015. 24 & 32.
45. Web site: Old Albanian back in National One after play-off win secures promotion. The Herts Advertiser . 16 May 2016 .
46. News: National League 2 play-off. The RUGBYPaper. 400. Rugby Paper Ltd. 15 May 2016. 26 & 36.
47. Book: The Official RFU Club Directory 2001-2002. 2001. Queen Anne Press. Harpenden. 1852916400. Stephen McCormack.
48. Book: The Official RFU Club Directory 2002-2003. 2002. Queen Anne Press. Harpenden. 1852916451. Stephen McCormack.
49. Web site: Final League Tables 2004,2005. Trelawny's Army. 13 June 2013.
50. Web site: Final League Tables, 2007 - 2008. Trelawny's Army. 13 June 2013.
51. Web site: National Two South 09/10 / League Table. nca rugby. 13 June 2013.
52. Web site: Final League Tables, 2011 - 2012. Trelawny's Army. 13 June 2013.
53. Web site: Final League Tables, 2012 - 2013. Trelawny's Army. 13 June 2013.
54. Web site: Jewson National League 2 1999/00 . rugbyarchive.net . 4 December 2015 .