1997–98 National League 1

The 1997–98 National League 1, sponsored by Jewson, was the eleventh full season of rugby union within the third tier of the English league system, currently known as National League 1.

1997–98 NationalLeague 1
Countries England
ChampionsWorcester (1st title)
Runners-upLeeds Tykes (also promoted)
Relegatedno relegation

Structure

The league consisted of fourteen teams, playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of twenty-six matches for each team. There were four promotion places with the top four teams promoted to the 1998–99 Allied Dunbar Premiership Two. There was no relegation, this season, to either National Division 4 North or South due to an increase, from twelve teams to fourteen, in the top two divisions.[1][2]

Participating teams and locations
1997–98 Courage League National Division Three teams in England

National Division Three was reduced from sixteen teams to fourteen with ten of the clubs participating in last seasons competition. To make up the numbers two of the teams (Rugby Lions and Nottingham) were relegated from National League 2, and the champions of National 4 North (Worcester) and National 4 South (Newbury) were both promoted.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Last season
HarrogateClaro RoadHarrogate, North Yorkshire5th
Leeds TykesHeadingley Stadium22,250Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire3rd
Liverpool St HelensMoss LaneSt Helens, Merseyside12th
London WelshOld Deer Park5,850Richmond, London11th
LydneyRegentsholm1,500Lydney, Gloucestershire10th
MorleyScatcherd LaneMorley, Leeds, West Yorkshire4th
NewburyMonks Lane8,000Newbury, BerkshirePromoted from National 4 South (champions)
NottinghamIreland Avenue4,950Nottingham, NottinghamshireRelegated from Courage National League 2 (12th)
OtleyCross Green5,000Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire9th
ReadingHolme ParkSonning, Berkshire6th
Rosslyn ParkThe Rock2,000Roehampton, London8th
Rugby LionsWebb Ellis Road1,000Rugby WarwickshireRelegated from Courage National League 2 (11th)
WharfedaleThe Avenue2,000Threshfield, North Yorkshire7th
WorcesterSixways8,477Worcester, WorcestershirePromoted from National 4 North (champions)

League table
1997–98 Jewson National Division One table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Worcester (C) 26 24 0 2 1001 331 +670 48 Promoted
2 Leeds Tykes 26 21 1 4 858 407 +451 43
3 London Welsh 26 21 1 4 848 478 +370 43
4 Rugby Lions 26 21 0 5 733 405 +328 42
5 Rosslyn Park 26 13 1 12 486 537 −51 27
6 Nottingham 26 13 0 13 527 602 −75 26
7 Newbury 26 12 2 12 639 545 +94 24[lower-alpha 1]
8 Reading 26 11 1 14 620 697 −77 23
9 Otley 26 10 1 15 447 682 −235 21
10 Wharfedale 26 8 3 15 476 684 −208 19
11 Liverpool St Helens 26 8 1 17 430 767 −337 15[lower-alpha 1]
12 Lydney 26 5 0 21 361 575 −214 10
13 Morley 26 5 0 21 372 844 −472 10
14 Harrogate 26 4 1 21 463 707 −244 9
Source: [3]
Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows: 2 pts for a win, 1 pt for a draw, 0 pts for a loss. If teams are level at any stage, the following tiebreaker is applied: Difference between points for and against. There was no relegation this season.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. 2 points deducted

Sponsorship

For the first ten seasons Courage Brewery sponsored the league. Following reorganisation the top two divisions are sponsored by the assurance company Allied Dunbar and the rest of the divisions, including National League 1 is sponsored by the building suppliers, Jewson.[2]

See also

References
  1. Mick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98 (26 ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 87–100. ISBN 0 7472 7732 X.
  2. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1998). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998–99 (27th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 84–98. ISBN 0 7472 7653 6.
  3. "Leagues 1997/98". Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
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