National League 1
National One, up until 2023 known as National League 1 and previously known before September 2009 as National Division Two), is the third of three national leagues in the domestic rugby union competition of England. It was known as Courage League National Division Three when it was founded in 1987. Richmond are the current champions.
The Rugby Football Union approved a new structure for the National Leagues from the 2022–23 season. This division was reduced to fourteen teams, playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of 26 matches each.
Structure
The league consists of fourteen teams, with all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis, to make a total of twenty-six matches each. For the 2025–26 season there is one automatic promotion place, with the champions going up to Champ Rugby, while the runners up will play the 13th placed Champ Rugby side in a playoff for a possible second promotion place.Clubs finishing 12th, 13th and 14th will automatically be relegated to either, National League 2 East, National League 2 North or National League 2 West, depending on the geographical location of the team. The 11th placed side will enter a four team playoff with the runners up of the three tier 4 leagues, with one side going up/remaining in National League 1.
The results of the matches contribute points to the league table 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 point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
- 1 additional point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.
Current season
Participating teams and locations
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
| Birmingham Moseley | Billesley Common | 5,000 | Birmingham, West Midlands | 7th |
| Bishop's Stortford | Silver Leys | 1,600 | Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire | 9th |
| Blackheath | Well Hall | 1,650 | Eltham, London | 6th |
| Clifton | Station Road | 2,200 | Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol | Promoted from National League 2 West |
| Dings Crusaders | Shaftesbury Park | 2,250 | Frenchay, Bristol | 10th |
| Leeds Tykes | The Sycamores | 1,500 | Bramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire | Promoted from National League 2 North |
| Leicester Lions | Westleigh Park | 2,000 | Blaby, Leicestershire | 12th |
| Plymouth Albion | The Brickfields | 8,500 | Plymouth, Devon | 4th |
| Rams | Old Bath Road | 2,000 | Sonning, Reading, Berkshire | 5th |
| Rosslyn Park | The Rock | 2,000 | Roehampton, London | 2nd |
| Rotherham Titans | Clifton Lane | 2,500 | Rotherham, South Yorkshire | 3rd |
| Sale FC | Heywood Road | 3,387 | Sale, Greater Manchester | 8th |
| Sedgley Park | Park Lane | 3,000 | Whitefield, Bury, Greater Manchester | 11th |
| Tonbridge Juddians | The Slade | 1,500 | Tonbridge, Kent | Promoted from National League 2 East |
League table
History
When the rugby union leagues were introduced in 1987 the division was known as Courage League National Division Three. Ten years later, in 1997, the league was restructured and the Premiership was introduced, which consisted of the top two divisions. Therefore, National 3 became the top league outside of the Premiership structure, and was renamed as National 1. In 2000–01, the Premiership was reduced to a single division and National 1 was renamed National 2. Following the formation of the professional RFU Championship in 2009 the league, once again, became known as National League 1, and is currently the lowest tier that is nationwide. The league has previously consisted of fourteen clubs, but from 2009 to 2010 increased to sixteen before reducing to fourteen again ahead of the 2022–23 season. Only one team was promoted to the RFU Championship and between 2009–10 and 2019–20 three teams were relegated to either National League 2 North or National League 2 South depending on geographical location. Following reorganisation in 2022, three teams are now relegated to either National League 2 East, National League 2 North or National League 2 West depending on geographical location.Summary of tier three format
Original teams
When the league system was formed in 1987, the following teams participated in the league, which was known as National 3. Thirty-three years on, only one team Plymouth Albion, are currently playing at this level.- Birmingham — now Birmingham & Solihull, playing in Midlands 4 West
- Exeter — now playing in the Premiership
- Fylde — currently playing in National League 2 North
- Maidstone — now playing in London 3 South East
- Metropolitan Police — now playing in Surrey 3
- Morley — now playing in North 1 East
- Nuneaton — now playing in Midlands Premier
- Plymouth Albion — currently playing in this division
- Sheffield — now playing in Midlands Premier
- Vale of Lune — now playing in North 1 West
- Wakefield — no longer participating in league rugby having disbanded in 2004
- West Hartlepool — now playing in North 1 East
League results
National Division Three
National League One
National Division Two
National League One
Number of league titles
- To 2024–25 season
- Richmond
- Coventry
- Otley
- Doncaster Knights
- Ealing Trailfinders
- Esher
- London Scottish
- Ampthill
- Bedford
- Birmingham & Solihull
- Bracknell
- Caldy
- Cambridge
- Chinnor
- Exeter
- Hartpury College
- Henley
- Jersey
- Moseley
- Orrell
- Penzance-Newlyn
- Plymouth Albion
- Sedgley Park
- Wakefield
- West Hartlepool
- Worcester
Records
League records
- Most titles: 4
- Most times promoted from division: 5
- Most times relegated from division: 4
- Most league points in a season: 148
- Least league points in a season: 0
- Most points scored in a season: 1,455
- Least points scored in a season: 114
- Most points conceded in a season: 2,626
- Least points conceded in a season: 299
- Best points difference : 1,078
- Worst points difference : –2,512
- Most games won in a season: 30
- Most games lost in a season: 30
- Most games drawn in a season: 4
- Most bonus points in a season: 28
Match records
- Largest home win:
- Largest away win:
- Most points scored in a match: 148
- Most tries scored in a match: 23
- Most conversions scored in a match: 19
- Most penalties scored in a match: 8
- Most drop kicks scored in a match: 3
Player records
- Most times top points scorer: 2
- Most times top try scorer: 3
- Most points in a season: 399
- Most tries in a season: 42
- Most points in a match: 51
- Most tries in a match: 7
- Most conversions in a match: 18
- Most penalties in a match: 8
- Most drop kicks in a match: 3
Attendance records
- Highest attendance : 3,758
- Lowest attendance : 50
- Highest average attendance : 2,206
- Lowest average attendance : 180
- Highest average attendance : 653
- Lowest average attendance : 463
Top ten point scorers
| Rank | Nat | Name | Years | Club | Points | Apps | Ratio | ||||
| 1 |  Top ten try scorers
|