Scottish National League Division One Explained

Scottish National League Division One
Pixels:250px
Sport:Rugby union
Founded:1973
Formerly:National League, Premiership Division Two
Teams:10
Level:2
Pyramid:Scottish rugby union system
Champion:Kelso (5th title)
Most Successful Club:Kelso and Stirling County (5 titles)
Promotion:Premiership
Relegation:National League Division Two

The Scottish National League Division One (known as Tennent's National League Division 1 for sponsorship reasons) is the second tier of the Scottish League Championship for amateur rugby union clubs in Scotland.

The division was established in its current format in 2014, with the creation of three national leagues below the Premiership.

For the 2023–24 season, the division was reduced from 12 to 10 teams.[1]

Promotion and Relegation

The winners are promoted to the Scottish Premiership, with the runners-up entering a play-off at a neutral venue against the 9th-placed team in the Premiership. The bottom two teams are relegated to Scottish National League Division Two.

Promoted from 2022–23 National League Division 2

Relegated from 2022–23 Scottish Premiership

2023–24 Clubs[2]

Club Location Home Ground
AyrMillbrae
BiggarBiggarHartree Mill
Dundee RugbyDundee
GalaGalashielsNetherdale
GHAGiffnockBraidholm
GHKGlasgowOld Anniesland
New Anniesland
HighlandInvernessCanal Park
MelroseMelroseGreenyards
WatsonianEdinburghMyreside Stadium
The Super 6 clubs were also allowed to run 2XV sides in this league for the 2019–20 season (not shown on map).

Past winners

Winners of the second tier competition – includes National League Division Two (1973–1995), Premiership Division Two (1996–2012), National League (2013–2014) and National League Division One (2015–present)National League Division Two

  1. Kelso
  2. Langholm
  3. Selkirk
  4. Melrose
  5. Kelso
  6. Melrose
  7. Gordonians RFC
  8. Selkirk
  9. Kilmarnock RFC
  10. Ayr
  11. Glasgow Academicals
  12. Kilmarnock RFC
  13. Glasgow Academicals
  14. Kilmarnock RFC
  15. Jed-Forest
  16. Stirling County
    1. Watsonians
  17. Kelso
  18. West Of Scotland
  19. Glasgow High Kelvinside
  20. Kelso

Premiership Division Two

  1. Currie
    1. Glasgow Hawks
  2. Gala
  3. Boroughmuir
  4. Stirling County
  5. Peebles
  6. Watsonians
  7. Gala
  8. Stirling County
  9. Dundee HSFP
  10. Stirling County
  11. West Of Scotland
  12. Dundee HSFP
  13. Stirling County
  14. Edinburgh Academicals (split format)
  15. Jed-Forest

National League

  1. Glasgow Hawks
  2. Boroughmuir

National League Division 1

  1. Selkirk
  2. Watsonians
  3. Marr
  4. Edinburgh Academicals
  5. Marr
  6. Null and void
  7. No competition
  8. Heriot's Blues[3]
  9. Kelso
  10. Ayr

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gould . Caitlin . 2023-04-25 . Revised season structures for men’s game unveiled by Scottish Rugby . 2023-07-02 . Scottish Rugby . en-US.
  2. Web site: Fixtures and results Scottish Rugby Union . Scottish Rugby Union.
  3. Web site: HERIOT’S BLUES WIN TENNENT’S NATIONAL 1 . Scottish Rugby Union . 1 July 2023.