History of the English rugby union system


England has a comprehensive league structure in place, including national fully professional leagues to amateur regional leagues.
The format and competitiveness of the leagues have changed greatly since their beginnings in 1987. Likewise the leagues started off amateur but professionalism has since been permitted. However, it has always had three or four national leagues with various regional and county leagues below.

Sunday Telegraph Merit Tables

The Sunday Telegraph published Merit Tables for the leading English clubs from the 1960s to the 1980s. The position of the clubs was based on the percentage of matches won with only matches against other clubs in the table counting.
Sunday Telegraph English Champions 1964 to 1987:
  • 1963-64 London Scottish
  • 1964-65 London Scottish
  • 1965-66 Bristol
  • 1966-67 London Welsh
  • 1967-68 London Welsh
  • 1968-69 London Welsh
  • 1969-70 Coventry
  • 1970-71 London Welsh
  • 1971-72 Bristol
  • 1972-73 Coventry
  • 1973-74 Bristol
  • 1974-75 Rosslyn Park
  • 1975-76 Northampton
  • 1976-77 Moseley
  • 1977-78 London Welsh
  • 1978-79 London Welsh
  • 1979-80 Leicester
  • 1980-81 Leicester
  • 1981-82 Gloucester
  • 1982-83 Coventry
  • 1983-84 Wasps
  • 1984-85 Bath
  • 1985-86 Leicester
  • 1986-87 Bath

Precursor competitions

While there were experiments with county leagues in the north in the nineteenth century for most of rugby union's history there have been no organised leagues. The 1970s saw the creation of a national cup and a series of regional and county merit leagues.
In 1984 this was taken one step further with the creation of two national merit leagues for the top twenty four clubs. The top division had three clubs from each of the major merit leagues. In these clubs had to play a minimum of eight fixtures against the other clubs in their division but it was largely based around pre-existing fixtures. There was a system of promotion and relegation between the Merit Tables. 1985 saw the addition of a third national merit table, albeit without promotion and relegation to the top two.

1984–85 season

The initial lineups of the merit tables was as follows:
Merit Table A
  • Bath
  • Bristol
  • Coventry
  • Gloucester
  • Gosforth
  • Harlequins
  • Leicester
  • London Irish
  • London Scottish
  • Moseley
  • Orrell
  • Sale
Merit Table B
  • Bedford
  • Blackheath
  • Headingley
  • Liverpool
  • London Welsh
  • Northampton
  • Nottingham
  • Richmond
  • Rosslyn Park
  • Saracens
  • Wasps
  • Waterloo
Merit Table A
  • Champions: Sale
  • Relegated: Coventry; London Irish; Orrell
Merit Table B
  • Promoted: Headingley; Nottingham; Wasps

1985–86

This year saw the creation of Merit Table C with the following clubs:
  • Birmingham
  • Exeter
  • Fylde
  • Metropolitan Police
  • Morley
  • Nuneaton
  • Plymouth
  • Roundhay
  • Sheffield
  • Vale of Lune
  • Wakefield
  • West Hartlepool
  • Merit Table A
  • Champions:Gloucester
  • Relegated: Gosforth; Headingley
  • Merit Table B
  • Promoted: 1st Orrell; 2nd Coventry;
  • Liverpool merge with non-league St Helens to become Liverpool-St Helens
  • Merit Table C
  • Champions :

1986–87

  • Merit Table A
  • Champions: Bath
  • Relegated to National 2: London Scottish
  • Merit Table B
  • Promoted into National 1: Waterloo
  • Merit Table C
  • Champions :
  • Relegated to Area League North: Roundhay
  • Admitted to National 3: Maidstone

Foundation of the national league system

In 1987 the merit tables formed the basis of the top three divisions of the national league system. For the first season there were no fixed fixtures so clubs had to arrange their own. For the initial season there was no promotion and relegation between National 2 and National 3 but this was created for the following season. National 3 had a minimum of two clubs per region thus Roundhay missed out on a spot to Maidstone.
In 1988 clubs had their fixtures set by the league for them though still only played each other once.

Initial composition of major leagues

National 1
  • Bath
  • Bristol
  • Coventry
  • Gloucester
  • Harlequins
  • Leicester
  • Moseley
  • Nottingham
  • Orrell
  • Sale
  • Wasps
  • Waterloo
National 2
  • Bedford
  • Blackheath
  • Gosforth
  • Headingley
  • Liverpool-St Helens
  • London Irish
  • London Scottish
  • London Welsh
  • Northampton
  • Richmond
  • Rosslyn Park
  • Saracens
National 3
  • Birmingham
  • Exeter
  • Fylde
  • Maidstone
  • Metropolitan Police
  • Morley
  • Nuneaton
  • Plymouth
  • Sheffield
  • Vale of Lune
  • Wakefield
  • West Hartlepool
Area League North
  • Birkenhead Park
  • Broughton Park
  • Derby
  • Durham City
  • Lichfield
  • Northern
  • Preston Grasshoppers
  • Roundhay
  • Rugby
  • Solihull
  • Stourbridge
Area League South
  • Askeans
  • Camborne
  • Cheltenham
  • Havant
  • Lydney
  • Salisbury
  • Sidcup
  • Southend
  • Streatham-Croydon
  • Stroud
  • Sudbury

1987–88 season

National 1
  • Champions: Leicester
  • Relegated: Coventry; Sale
National 2
  • Promoted: Liverpool-St Helens; Rosslyn Park
National 3
  • Champions : Wakefield
  • Relegated: Birmingham; Morley
Area League North
  • Promoted: Rugby
  • Relegated: Birkenhead Park; Derby; Solihull
  • Promoted into league: Stoke; Winnington Park
Area League South
  • Promoted: Askeans
  • Relegated: Streatham-Croydon
  • Promoted into league: Ealing; Redruth

1988–89 season

National 1
  • Champions: Bath
  • Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Waterloo
National 2
  • Promoted: Bedford; Saracens
  • Relegated: London Scottish; London Welsh
National 3
Area League North
  • Promoted: Roundhay
  • Relegated: Birmingham
  • Promoted into league: Kendal; Walsall
Area League South
  • Promoted: Lydney
  • Relegated: Ealing; Sidcup; Stroud
  • Promoted into league: Basingstoke; Clifton

1989–90 season

National 1
  • Champions: Wasps
  • Relegated: Bedford
National 2
  • Promoted: Liverpool-St Helens; Northampton
National 3
  • Promoted: London Scottish; Wakefield
  • Relegated to National 4 South: London Welsh
Area League North
  • Promoted: Broughton Park; Morley
  • Promoted into league: Birmingham-Solihull; Harrogate; Hereford; Otley
Area League South
  • Promoted: Clifton; Metropolitan Police
  • Relegated: Salisbury
  • Promoted into league: Ealing; Maidenhead; North Walsham; Weston-super-Mare

1990–91 season

For the 1990–91 season all divisions were increased to 13 teams and the Area Leagues were renamed National 4 North and National 4 South.
National 1
  • Champions: Bath
  • Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Moseley
National 2
  • Promoted: London Irish; Rugby
  • Relegated: Headingley; Richmond
National 3
  • Promoted: Morley; West Hartlepool
  • Relegated: Metropolitan Police ; Vale of Lune
National 4 North
  • Promoted: Otley
  • Relegated: Birmingham-Solihull; Stoke
  • Promoted into league: Aspatria; Towcestrians
National 4 South
  • Promoted: Redruth
  • Relegated: Cheltenham; Maidenhead
  • Promoted into league: High Wycombe; Sidcup

1991–92 season

National 1
  • Champions: Bath
  • Relegated: Nottingham; Rosslyn Park
National 2
  • Promoted: London Scottish; West Hartlepool
  • Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Plymouth
National 3
  • Promoted: Fylde; Richmond
  • Relegated: Lydney ; Nuneaton
  • Headingley and Roundhay merged to form Leeds
National 4 North
  • Promoted: Aspatria
  • Relegated: Northern; Vale of Lune
  • Promoted into league: Rotherham; Stoke
National 4 South
  • Promoted: Havant
  • Relegated: Ealing; Sidcup
  • Promoted into league: Berry Hill; Thurrock

1992–93 season

National 1
  • Champions: Bath
  • Relegated: London Scottish; Rugby; Saracens; West Hartlepool
National 2
  • Promoted: Newcastle-Gosforth
  • Relegated: Bedford; Blackheath; Coventry; Fylde; Morley; Richmond; Rosslyn Park
National 3
  • Promoted: Otley
  • Relegated to National 4: Askeans; Aspatria; Broughton Park; Clifton; Leeds; Liverpool-St Helens; Plymouth; Sheffield
National 4 North
  • Promoted into National 4: Harrogate
  • Relegated: Towcestrians
  • Promoted into league: Birmingham-Solihull; Bradford & Bingley
National 4 South
  • Promoted: Sudbury
  • Relegated: Thurrock
  • Promoted into league: Reading; Tabard

Introduction of home and away fixtures

1993–94 season

The 1993–94 season saw the reduction in size of the national divisions to 10 teams and the creation of a new National 4 division. It also saw the introduction of home and away fixtures. National 4 kept its same format but were now renamed to National 5.
National 1
  • Champions: Bath
  • Relegated: London Irish; Newcastle-Gosforth
National 2
  • Promoted: Sale; West Hartlepool
  • Relegated: Otley; Rugby
National 3
  • Promoted: Coventry; Fylde
  • Relegated: Havant; Redruth
National 4
  • Promoted: Clifton; Harrogate
  • Relegated: Sheffield ; Sudbury
National 5 North
  • Promoted: Rotherham
  • Relegated: Bradford & Bingley; Durham City
  • Promoted into league: Barkers Butts; Wharfedale
National 5 South
  • Promoted: Reading
  • Relegated: Maidstone; Southend
  • Promoted into league: Barking; Henley

1994–95 season

National 1
  • Champions: Leicester
  • Relegated: Northampton
National 2
  • Promoted: Saracens
  • Relegated: Coventry; Fylde
National 3
  • Promoted: Bedford; Blackheath
  • Relegated: Clifton; Exeter
National 4
  • Promoted: Reading; Rotherham
  • Relegated: Askeans ; Broughton Park
National 5 North
  • Promoted: Walsall
  • Relegated: Barkers Butts; Hereford
  • Promoted into league: Sandal; Worcester
National 5 South
  • Promoted: London Welsh
  • Relegated: Basingstoke; Sudbury
  • Promoted into league: Camberley; Cheltenham

1995–96 season

National 1
  • Champions: Bath
National 2
  • Promoted: London Irish; Northampton
National 3
  • Promoted: Coventry; Richmond, Rotherham; Rugby
National 4
  • No promotion as merged into National 3
  • Relegated: Aspatria ; Plymouth
National 5 North
  • Promoted: Wharfedale
  • Relegated: Broughton Park
  • Promoted into league: Hereford; Manchester
National 5 South
  • Promoted: Lydney
  • Relegated: Camborne
  • Promoted into league: Charlton Park; Newbury

Advent of professionalism

1996–97 season

This year saw the expansion of the top two divisions to 12 teams and the temporary expansion of National 3 to sixteen clubs. It also saw National 5 revert to being National 4, expanded to 14 teams, and for the first time, with home and away fixtures. The leagues became openly professional this year.
National 1
  • Champions: Wasps
  • Relegated: Orrell; West Hartlepool
National 2
  • Promoted: Newcastle; Richmond
  • Relegated: Nottingham; Rugby
National 3
  • Promoted: Exeter; Fylde
  • Relegated: Clifton; Havant; Redruth ; Walsall
National 4 North
  • Promoted: Worcester
  • Relegated: Hereford; Stoke
  • Promoted into league: Hinckley; Sedgley Park
National 4 South
  • Promoted: Newbury
  • Relegated: Askeans; Berry Hill; Charlton Park; High Wycombe
  • Promoted into league: Bridgwater; Esher

Two premierships era

1997–98 season

The 1997–98 season saw the addition of sponsorship by Allied Dunbar and as a result a rebranding of National 1 and 2 to Premiership 1 and 2, whereas National 3 became the new National 1, while National 4 became National 2 accordingly.
Premiership 1
  • Champions: Newcastle Falcons
  • Relegated: Bristol
Premiership 2
  • Promoted: Bedford; London Scottish; West Hartlepool
National 1
  • Promoted: Leeds; London Welsh; Rugby; Worcester
National 2 North
  • Promoted: Birmingham-Solihull; Manchester
  • Promoted into league: New Brighton; Whitchurch
National 2 South
  • Promoted: Camberley; Henley
  • Promoted into league: Bracknell; Norwich

1998–99 season

The 1998–99 season saw the expansion of the two premiership divisions to fourteen teams.
Premiership 1
  • Champions: Leicester
  • Relegated: West Hartlepool
  • London Scottish and Richmond disband
Premiership 2
  • Promoted: Bristol
  • Relegated: Blackheath; Fylde
National 1
  • Promoted: Henley; Manchester
  • Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Morley
National 2 North
  • Promoted: Preston Grasshoppers
  • Relegated: Hinckley; Lichfield; Winnington Park
  • Promoted into league: Bedford Athletic; Doncaster
National 2 South
  • Promoted: Bracknell
  • Relegated: Havant
  • Promoted into league: Penzance & Newlyn; Westcombe Park

1999–2000 season

The 1999–2000 season saw the contraction of Premiership 1 to twelve teams with London Scottish and Richmond being absorbed into London Irish and reforming in county leagues.
Premiership 1
  • Champions: Leicester
  • Relegated: Bedford
Premiership 2
  • Promoted: Rotherham
  • Relegated: Rugby; West Hartlepool
National 1
  • Promoted: Birmingham-Solihull; Otley
  • Relegated: Blackheath; Reading
National 2 North
  • Promoted: Kendal
  • Relegated: Sheffield
  • Promoted into league: Dudley Kingswinford; Tynedale
National 2 South
  • Promoted: Esher
  • Relegated: Bridgwater & Albion; Metropolitan Police; Norwich
  • Promoted into league: Basingstoke; Launceston

One Premiership era

2000–01 season

The 2000–01 season saw Zurich take over the sponsorship of the top division with no interest in the second tier. This saw Premiership 2 rebranded National 1, with National 1 and 2 becoming National 2 and 3 respectively. It also saw the creation of a promotion play-off between the runners-up of the National 3 divisions with an extra relegation place from National 2. A new Championship competition for the top eight clubs was introduced this season. It was intended that the winners of the Championship would become champions but this decision was revoked after outcry. This season also saw the introduction of the rugby union bonus points system.
Premiership
  • Champions: Leicester
  • Relegated: Rotherham
National 1
  • Promoted: Leeds
  • Relegated: Orrell; Waterloo
National 2
  • Promoted: Bracknell; Rugby
  • Relegated: Camberley; Lydney ; West Hartlepool
National 3 North
  • Promoted: Sedgley Park; Stourbridge
  • Relegated: Aspatria; Walsall
  • Promoted into league: Blaydon; Darlington Mowden Park; Scunthorpe
National 3 South
  • Promoted: Plymouth
  • Relegated: Basingstoke; Cheltenham; Reading; Weston-super-Mare
  • Promoted into league: Cinderford; Old Colfeians; Old Patesians

2001–02 season

Premiership
  • Champions: Leicester
National 1
  • Champions : Rotherham
  • Relegated: Bracknell; Henley
National 2
  • Promoted: Orrell; Plymouth
  • Relegated: Preston Grasshoppers; Waterloo ; Rosslyn Park
National 3 North
  • Promoted: Doncaster
  • Relegated: Morley; Sandal; West Hartlepool; Whitchurch
  • Promoted into league: Broadstreet; Halifax; Hull Ionians
National 3 South
  • Promoted: Launceston; Penzance & Newlyn
  • Relegated: Cinderford; Clifton
  • Promoted into league: Basingstoke; Havant; Weston-super-Mare

2002–03 season

This season saw the replacement of the Zurich Championship with a top four play-off, the winner of which would be crowned champions.
Premiership
  • Champions: Wasps
  • Relegated: Bristol
National 1
  • Promoted: Rotherham
  • Relegated: Moseley; Rugby
National 2
  • Promoted: Henley; Penzance & Newlyn
  • Relegated: Fylde; Kendal ; Launceston
National 3 North
  • Promoted: Nuneaton
  • Relegated: Bedford Athletic; Broadstreet; Hull Ionians; Scunthorpe
  • Promoted into league: Darlington; Longton; Macclesfield
National 3 South
  • Promoted: Lydney; Rosslyn Park
  • Relegated: Camberley; Havant
  • Promoted into league: Dings Crusaders; Haywards Heath; Southend

2003–04 season

Premiership
  • Champions: Wasps
  • Relegated: Rotherham
National 1
  • Promoted: Worcester
  • Relegated: Manchester
  • Wakefield disband
National 2
  • Promoted: Nottingham; Sedgley Park
  • Relegated: Lydney ; Rugby
National 3 North
  • Promoted: Waterloo
  • Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Longton; Preston Grasshoppers
  • Promoted into league: Bedford Athletic; Bradford & Bingley; Cleckheaton
National 3 South
  • Promoted: Blackheath; Launceston
  • Relegated: Basingstoke; Old Colfeians
  • Promoted into league: Havant; Hertford; Reading

2004–05 season

Premiership
  • Champions: Wasps
  • Relegated: Harlequins
National 1
  • Promoted: Bristol
  • Relegated: Henley; Orrell
National 2
  • Promoted: Doncaster; Newbury
  • Relegated: Bracknell; Rosslyn Park ; Nuneaton
National 3 North
  • Promoted: Halifax
  • Relegated: Bedford Athletic; Dudley Kingswinford; Rugby
  • Promoted into league: Hull Ionians; Leicester Lions; Preston Grasshoppers
National 3 South
  • Promoted: Barking; Redruth
  • Relegated: Haywards Heath; Tabard; Weston-super-Mare
  • Promoted into league: Bridgwater & Albion; Cambridge; Cinderford

2005–06 season

The 2005–06 season saw Zurich replaced as Premiership sponsors by Guinness
Premiership
  • Champions: Sale
  • Relegated: Leeds
National 1
  • Promoted: Harlequins
National 2
  • Promoted: Moseley; Waterloo
  • Relegated: Orrell
National 3 North
  • Promoted: Bradford & Bingley; Nuneaton
  • Relegated: Kendal; New Brighton
  • Promoted into league: Morley; Rugby; West Park St Helens
National 3 South
  • Promoted: Cambridge
  • Relegated: Bracknell; Reading
  • Promoted into league: Canterbury; Chinnor; Clifton

2006–07 season

The 2006–07 season saw National 1 expanded to sixteen clubs.
Premiership
  • Champions: Leicester
  • Relegated: Northampton
National 1
  • Promoted: Leeds
  • Relegated: Otley; Waterloo
National 2
  • Promoted: Esher; Launceston
  • Relegated: Barking ; Bradford & Bingley; Harrogate
National 3 North
  • Promoted: Blaydon
  • Relegated: Darlington; Cleckheaton; Orrell
  • Promoted into league: Beverley; Caldy
National 3 South
  • Promoted: Southend; Westcombe Park
  • Relegated: Chinnor; Hertford; Old Patesians
  • Promoted into league: Ealing; London Scottish; Luton; Mounts Bay

2007–08 season

Premiership
  • Champions: Wasps
  • Relegated: Leeds
National 1
  • Promoted: Northampton
  • Relegated: Birmingham-Solihull; Launceston
National 2
  • Promoted: Manchester; Otley
  • Relegated: Halifax; Nuneaton ; Henley
National 3 North
  • Promoted: Tynedale
  • Relegated: Beverley; Morley; West Park St Helens
  • Transferred to 3 South: Rugby
  • Promoted into league: Huddersfield; Kendal; Loughborough Students
National 3 South
  • Promoted: Cinderford; Mounts Bay
  • Relegated: Clifton; Luton; North Walsham
  • Promoted into league: Chinnor; Richmond; Worthing

2008–09 season

Premiership
  • Champions: Leicester
  • Relegated: Bristol
National 1
  • Promoted: Leeds
  • Relegated: Esher; Manchester; Newbury; Otley; Sedgley Park
National 2
  • Promoted: Birmingham-Solihull
  • Relegated: Southend; Westcombe Park ; Waterloo
  • Mounts Bay disband
National 3 North
  • Promoted: Nuneaton
  • Relegated: Darlington Mowden Park
  • Halifax disband
  • Promoted into league: Broadstreet; Hull; Westoe
National 3 South
  • Promoted: London Scottish
  • Relegated: Chinnor; Havant
  • Transferred to 2 North: Rugby
  • Promoted into league: Barnes; Clifton; Shelford

Additional National 3 divisions

The 2009–10 season saw the creation of several National 3 divisions. The North and South divisions were replaced with North, Midlands, South West and London divisions.
National 3 North
  • Beverley
  • Birkenhead Park
  • Chester
  • Cleckheaton
  • Darlington Mowden Park
  • Middlesbrough
  • Morley
  • Penrith
  • Rochdale
  • Rossendale
  • Sheffield Tigers
  • Stockport
  • West Hartlepool
  • West Park St Helens
National 3 Midlands
  • Ampthill
  • Bedford Athletic
  • Bromsgrove
  • Hereford
  • Hinckley
  • Kenilworth
  • Kettering
  • Longton
  • Luctonians
  • Luton
  • Malvern
  • Newport
  • Peterborough
  • South Leicester
National 3 South West
  • Barnstable
  • Bournemouth
  • Chinnor
  • Chippenham
  • Cleve
  • Coney Hill
  • Exmouth
  • Maidenhead
  • Old Patesians
  • Oxford Harlequins
  • Reading
  • Redingensians
  • Taunton
  • Weston-super-Mare
National 3 London
  • Basingstoke
  • Bishop's Stortford
  • Bracknell
  • Diss
  • Dorking
  • Havant
  • Haywards Heath
  • Hertford
  • Jersey
  • North Walsham
  • Old Albanians
  • Portsmouth
  • Sutton & Epsom
  • Tring

2009–10 season

The 2009–10 season saw major changes to the league system below the Premiership. The second tier was reduced to twelve teams and rebranded the RFU Championship with a play-off system and only one relegation spot. National 2 and 3 reverted to National 1 and National 2, and were expanded to sixteen teams. Four National 3 divisions were created based around the top regional leagues with fourteen teams in each. National play-offs for the title were created for the winners of the National 2 and National 3 divisions. A similar play-off series was created for the eight winners of the regional divisions.
Premiership
  • Champions: Leicester
  • Relegated: Worcester
Championship
  • Promoted: Exeter
  • Relegated: Coventry
National 1
  • Promoted: Esher
  • Relegated: Manchester; Nuneaton ; Newbury
National 2 North
  • Promoted: Macclesfield
  • Relegated: Broadstreet ; Bradford & Bingley; Waterloo
National 2 South
  • Promoted: Barking; Rosslyn Park
  • Relegated: Barnes ; Bridgwater & Albion
National 3 North
  • Promoted: Morley
  • Relegated: Cleckheaton; West Hartlepool; West Park St Helens
  • Transferred to 3 Midlands: Sheffield Tigers
  • Promoted in: Billingham; Lymm; Sandal
National 3 Midlands
  • Promoted: Hinckley ; Luctonians
  • Relegated: Bedford Athletic; Kettering
  • Transferred to 3 London: Ampthill
  • Promoted in: Burton; Old Northamptonians; Scunthorpe
National 3 South West
  • Promoted: Taunton
  • Relegated: Chippenham; Maidenhead; Reading
  • Promoted in: Cheltenham; Hartpury College; Newton Abbot
National 3 London
  • Promoted: Jersey; Old Albanians
  • Relegated: Haywards Heath; Portsmouth; Sutton & Epsom
  • Promoted in: Civil Service; Gravesend; Staines

2010–11 season

Premiership
  • Champions: Saracens
  • Relegated: Leeds
  • Championship
  • Promoted: Worcester
  • Relegated: Birmingham-Solihull
National 1
  • Promoted: London Scottish
  • Relegated: Otley ; Launceston; Redruth
National 2 North
  • Promoted: Fylde
  • Relegated: Manchester; Rugby Lions ; Morley
National 2 South
  • Promoted: Ealing Trailfinders; Jersey
  • Relegated: Canterbury ; Hinckley ; Newbury
National 3 North
  • Promoted: Stockport
  • Relegated: Billingham; Middlesbrough; Rochdale
  • Promoted in: Altrincham Kersal; Burnage; West Hartlepool
National 3 Midlands
  • Promoted: Bromsgrove; Sheffield Tigers
  • Relegated: Burton; Kenilworth; Peterborough
  • Transferred to 3 London: Luton
  • Promoted in: Dudley Kingswinford; Mansfield; Syston
National 3 South West
National 3 London
  • Promoted: Barnes; Hertford
  • Relegated: Basingstoke; Diss; North Walsham
  • Promoted in: London Irish Amateurs; Tonbridge Juddian; Westcliff

2011–12 season

;Premiership
  • Champions: Harlequins
  • Relegated: Newcastle Falcons
;Championship
  • Promoted: London Welsh
  • Relegated: Esher
;National 1
  • Promoted: Jersey
  • Relegated: Birmingham & Solihull; Stourbridge ; Barking
;National 2 North
  • Promoted: Loughborough Students
  • Relegated: Harrogate; Kendal ; Nuneaton
;National 2 South
  • Promoted: Old Albanians; Richmond
  • Relegated: Barnes; Hertford; Westcombe Park
;National 3 North
  • Promoted: Darlington Mowden Park
  • Relegated: Beverley; Altrincham Kersal; Morley
  • Promoted in: Billingham; Percy Park
;National 3 Midlands
  • Promoted: Dudley Kingswinford ; Rugby Lions were due to be promoted to 2 South but were expelled before the season started
  • Relegated: Hereford; Old Northamptonians; Manchester
  • Transferred to 3 South West: Malvern
  • Promoted in: Sutton Coldfield; Bournville; Derby; Sandbach
;National 3 South West
  • Promoted: Bournemouth; Chinnor
  • Relegated: Old Redcliffians; Newbury Blues; Bridgwater & Albion
  • Promoted in: Maidenhead; Brixham; Avonmouth Old Boys
;National 3 London
  • Promoted: Canterbury
  • Relegated: Bracknell; Luton; Havant
  • Transferred to 3 Midlands: Ampthill
  • Transferred to 3 South West: London Irish Amateurs
  • Promoted in: Thurrock; Guernsey; Old Elthamians

2012–13 season

; Premiership
  • Champions: Leicester Tigers
  • Relegated: London Welsh
; Championship
  • Promoted: Newcastle Falcons
  • Relegated: Doncaster Knights
; National 1
  • Promoted: Ealing Trailfinders
  • Relegated: Macclesfield; Sedgley Park ; Cambridge
; National 2 North
  • Promoted: Hull Ionians
  • Relegated: Huddersfield; Stockport; Westoe
; National 2 South
  • Promoted: Henley Hawks; Worthing
  • Relegated: Barking ; Lydney
; National 3 North
  • Promoted: Chester; Harrogate
  • Relegated: Birkenhead Park; Kendal; West Hartlepool
  • Transferred to 3 Midlands: Lymm
  • Promoted in: Beverley; Morley; Sale
; National 3 Midlands
  • Promoted: Ampthill
  • Relegated: Derby; Mansfield
  • Promoted in: Bedford Athletic; Old Halesonians
; National 3 South West
  • Promoted: Exmouth; London Irish Amateur
  • Relegated: Maidenhead; Malvern; Oxford Harlequins
  • Promoted in: Bracknell; Old Centralians; Old Redcliffians; Worcester Wanderers
; National 3 London
  • Promoted: Bishop's Stortford
  • Relegated: Gravesend; Staines; Westcliff
  • Promoted in: Basingstoke; Bury St Edmunds; East Grinstead

2013–14 season

; Premiership
  • Champions: Northampton Saints
  • Relegated: Worcester Warriors
; Championship
  • Promoted: London Welsh
  • Relegated: Ealing Trailfinders
; National 1
  • Promoted: Doncaster Knights
  • Relegated: Henley Hawks; Worthing Raiders ; Hull Ionians
; National 2 North
  • Promoted: Darlington Mowden Park; Macclesfield
  • Relegated: Bromsgrove; Dudley Kingswinford ; Sheffield Tigers
; National 2 South
  • Promoted: Hartpury College
  • Relegated: Bournemouth; Exmouth ; London Irish Amateur
  • Transferred to 2 North: Ampthill
; National 3 North
  • Promoted: Huddersfield; Stockport
  • Relegated: Bradford & Bingley; Penrith; Percy Park
  • Promoted in: Cleckheaton; Huddersfield YMCA; Wirral
; National 3 Midlands
  • Promoted: Broadstreet
  • Relegated: Bedford Athletic; Newport; Syston
  • Transferred to 3 North: Lymm
  • Promoted in: Burton; Lichfield; Peterborough Lions
; National 3 South West
  • Promoted: Lydney
  • Relegated: Avonmouth Old Boys; Chippenham; Worcester Wanderers
  • Promoted in: Chard; Hornets; Oxford Harlequins
  • Transferred to 3 London: Amersham & Chiltern
; National 3 London
  • Promoted: Dorking; Old Elthamians
  • Relegated: Barking; Basingstoke; Thurrock
  • Promoted in: Chichester; Gravesend; Westcliff

2014–15 season

; Premiership
  • Champions: Saracens
  • Relegated: London Welsh
; Championship
  • Promoted: Worcester Warriors
  • Relegated: Plymouth Albion
; National 1
  • Promoted: Ealing Trailfinders
  • Relegated: Macclesfield; Tynedale ; Old Albanians
; National 2 North
  • Promoted: Ampthill; Hull Ionians
  • Relegated: Birmingham & Solihull ; Hull; Stockport
; National 2 South
  • Promoted: Henley Hawks
  • Relegated: Dings Crusaders; Lydney ; Shelford
; National 3 North
  • Promoted: Sale Amateurs; Sandal
  • Relegated: Beverley; Morley; Westoe
  • Promoted in: Birkenhead Park; Ilkley; Sheffield
; National 3 Midlands
  • Promoted: South Leicester
  • Relegated: Bournville; Burton; Dudley Kingswinford
  • Promoted in: Newport ; Old Northamptonians; Syston
; National 3 South West
  • Promoted: Redingensians
  • Relegated: Chard; Oxford Harlequins; Weston-super-Mare
  • Promoted in: Cleve; Chippenham; Ivybridge
  • Transferred to 3 London: Bracknell
; National 3 London
  • Promoted: Barnes; Bury St Edmunds
  • Relegated: Amersham & Chiltern; CS Rugby 1863; Tring
  • Promoted in: Colchester; Eton Manor; Wimbledon