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Historical tables

Printed From: National League Rugby Discussion Forum
Category: League Rugby - www.leaguerugby.co.uk
Forum Name: National 1
Forum Description: Discuss the 14 clubs in the third level of the English game
URL: http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=20665
Printed Date: 04 Mar 2025 at 10:08
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Historical tables
Posted By: Rothman2
Subject: Historical tables
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2025 at 03:17
I thought you might be interested to see how National 1 shaped up when the leagues were first formed in 1987/88. The league being sponsored by Courage.

There were 12 teams in the league who played each other once but the clubs had to arrange their own fixtures which meant a disparity for some teams in the number of home & away games played. Four points were awarded for a win, two for a draw & one for a loss.

I have inserted the final tables below but here are a few factoids (as Steve Wright used to say)

1. Of the original level 3 teams, only Plymouth are at the same 
    level. 

2. Only Exeter have improved their standing (see current levels in
    the right hand column. They were promoted to the Premiership
    in 2010 and have been there ever since.

3. No teams were promoted in this season but two were relegated 
    (brutal).

4. Birmingham in this case were Birmingham RFC who merged with
    Solihull RFC in 1989, so the comparative league they play in is
    for the merged entity.

5. Maidstone RFC currently play in Counties 2 Kent (level 8).
    Coincidentally they play in the same league as Old Elthamians 
    (Remember them). Elthamians currently have a 25 point lead in
    the Division after 19 games

If anyone is interested I can publish a few more tables going forward.

For now the original Courage National 3 final table is below:

1987–88 Courage League National Division Three table






Pos

Team

Pld

W

D

L

PF

PA

PD

Pts


Current level

1

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakefield_RFC" rel="nofollow - Wakefield (C)

11

10

0

1

308

90

218

20

No promotion

Folded 2004

2

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Hartlepool_R.F.C." rel="nofollow - West Hartlepool

11

10

0

1

249

105

144

20


6

3

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Albion_R.F.C." rel="nofollow - Plymouth Albion

11

8

0

3

276

125

151

16


3

4

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffield_RUFC" rel="nofollow - Sheffield

11

7

1

3

134

161

-27

15


4

5

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vale_of_Lune_RUFC" rel="nofollow - Vale of Lune

11

7

0

4

183

149

34

14


6

6

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fylde_Rugby_Club" rel="nofollow - Fylde

11

6

0

5

269

170

99

12


4

7

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Metropolitan_Police_RFC&action=edit&redlink=1" rel="nofollow - Metropolitan Police

11

5

0

6

130

128

2

10


8

8

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maidstone_RFC" rel="nofollow - Maidstone

11

4

0

7

134

162

-28

8


8

9

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exeter_Chiefs" rel="nofollow - Exeter

11

3

2

6

128

197

-69

1


6

10

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuneaton_R.F.C." rel="nofollow - Nuneaton

11

2

1

8

94

157

-63

5


6

11

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morley_R.F.C." rel="nofollow - Morley

11

1

1

9

109

235

-126

3

Relegated

6

12

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_%26_Solihull_R.F.C." rel="nofollow - Birmingham

11

0

1

10

46

381

-335

1

Relegated

8









-------------
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.

Groucho Marx


Replies:
Posted By: Rabbie Burns
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2025 at 07:29
I think Blackheath were the league above this

-------------
So many Christians not enough Lions

Posted By: Storty
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2025 at 07:51
Very interesting. My fun fact to contribute is apparently Stortford are the only team to have never been relegated! I read that in a program once so must be true! 

Posted By: tigerburnie
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2025 at 09:50
Originally posted by Storty Storty wrote:

Very interesting. My fun fact to contribute is apparently Stortford are the only team to have never been relegated! I read that in a program once so must be true! 
Well no Leicester Lions have never been relegated.....................................up till now.............Wink

Posted By: Rothman2
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2025 at 09:57
Originally posted by Rabbie Burns Rabbie Burns wrote:

I think Blackheath were the league above this

Rabbie:

1987–88 Courage League National Division Two table











Pos

Team

Pld

W

D

L

PF

PA

PD

Pts


1

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosslyn_Park_F.C." rel="nofollow - Rosslyn Park (C)

11

8

2

1

155

83

72

37

Promoted

2

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_St_Helens" rel="nofollow - Liverpool St Helens

11

8

1

2

154

97

57

36

Promoted

3

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saracens_F.C." rel="nofollow - Saracens

11

7

2

2

228

86

142

34


4

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds_Tykes" rel="nofollow - Headingley

11

6

2

3

202

164

38

31


5

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_Blues" rel="nofollow - Bedford

11

6

2

3

152

139

13

31


6

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_F.C." rel="nofollow - Richmond

11

6

0

5

140

156

-16

29


7

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Scottish_F.C." rel="nofollow - London Scottish

11

4

1

6

141

158

-17

24


8

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Irish" rel="nofollow - London Irish

11

4

1

6

120

177

-57

24


9

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Welsh_RFC" rel="nofollow - London Welsh

11

3

2

6

153

185

-32

22


10

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gosforth_Rugby_Football_Club" rel="nofollow - Gosforth

10

2

1

7

99

129

-30

17


11

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackheath_F.C." rel="nofollow - Blackheath

11

2

0

9

102

187

-85

17

No relegation

12

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northampton_Saints" rel="nofollow - Northampton

10

1

0

9

81

226

-145

13

No relegation



-------------
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.

Groucho Marx

Posted By: Nat1
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2025 at 10:06
This got me thinking about who was placed in the top league at the time, and why those clubs were chosen, anyone know?

I never knew that Moseley and Nottingham had once been up there.
PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester_Tigers" rel="nofollow - Leicester Tigers  (C)10901225133+9237Champions
2 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasps_RFC" rel="nofollow - Wasps 11812218136+8236
3 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequin_F.C." rel="nofollow - Harlequins 11614261128+13330
4 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bath_Rugby" rel="nofollow - Bath 11614197156+4130
5 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloucester_R.F.C." rel="nofollow - Gloucester 10613206121+8529
6 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orrell_R.U.F.C." rel="nofollow - Orrell 11515192153+3927
7 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moseley_R.F.C." rel="nofollow - Moseley 11506167170−326
8 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nottingham_R.F.C." rel="nofollow - Nottingham 11416146170−2424
9 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Bears" rel="nofollow - Bristol 10415171145+2623
10 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterloo_R.F.C." rel="nofollow - Waterloo 10406123208−8522
11 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry_R.F.C." rel="nofollow - Coventry  (R)11317139246−10721Relegated
12 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sale_Sharks" rel="nofollow - Sale  (R)11001195374−27911


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