Jake Lloyd (Blackheath) Jason Worrall (Chinnor) 18 tries each
The 2019–20 National League 1, known for sponsorship reasons as the SSE National League 1, was the 11th season of the third tier of the English rugby union system, since the professionalised format of the second tier RFU Championship was introduced; and was the 33rd season since league rugby began in 1987.
Newly promoted Canterbury were the first team to be relegated after losing away to league leaders Richmond on 29 February, with six games still to play.[1]Hull Ionians, also newly promoted, were the second team to be relegated after losing their rescheduled match at home to Blackheath on 14 March - Ionians having six games still to play.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom the Rugby Football Union officially cancelled the season after an initially suspension of all rugby in England including training, from which was scheduled to last until 14 April 2020.[2][3] After the cancellation was announced the RFU used a best playing record formula to decide the final table. This meant that Richmond, who had been 7 points clear when the league had been suspended, were crowned as champions, beating off stiff opposition from Rosslyn Park (who beat Richmond home and away) and newly promoted Rams, who had a fantastic debut season in the third tier. Richmond's title was their third at level 3, and tied them with Coventry and Otley as the clubs that had the most league titles. It also was the fourth time Richmond had been promoted from tier 3 - a divisional record.
With two relegation spots already decided, it was tough luck for Rotherham Titans who were designated as the third team to go down, despite a late surge which had seen them gaining ground on 13th placed Birmingham Moseley. It was also a great fall for a side that were once playing in the Premiership and the lowest level for the club since the mid-1990s.[4] Richmond would return to the 2020–21 RFU Championship after one season away, while Rotherham Titans and Hull Ionians would relegated to 2021–22 National League North and Canterbury to 2021–22 National League South.
Another interesting statistic from the season was Brandon Asher-Wood's 7 tries for Darlington Mowden Park's resounding win against Hull Ionians on 21 December 2019. Wood's tries equalled the league record of 7 previously set by Hugo Ellis of Rosslyn Park back in the 2012–13 season.
Structure
The league consists of sixteen teams with all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of thirty matches each. There is one promotion place with the champions promoted to the Greene King IPA Championship. There are usually three relegation places with the bottom three teams relegated to either National League 2 North or National League 2 South depending on the geographical location of the team.
The results of the matches contribute points to the league 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 (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.
The teams promoted into the division were Hull Ionians and Rams, champions of 2018–19 National League 2 North and 2018–19 National League 2 South respectively, along with the south runners-up Canterbury, who defeated the north's Chester in the promotion play-off.[9][10][11] Ionians return to the division after a season's absence, while Rams and Canterbury are debuting in National 1 – the highest level either club have reached since the leagues began.
Updated to match(es) played on 14 March 2020. Source: "National League 1". NCA Rugby. Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
Number of matches won
Difference between points for and against
Total number of points for
Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled Notes:
^Rams deducted 5 points due to an issue with their Payment of Players declaration during the 2018–19 National League 2 South season.[12]
On 4 April, the RFU confirmed the final table for the season.[13]
Brickfields Attendance: 939 Referee: James Milliner-Woodcock
11 January 2020 15:58
(1 BP) Richmond
86 – 7
Hull Ionians
Athletic Ground Attendance: 704 Referee: Calum Howard
[31]
Round 19
18 January 2020 14:00
Cinderford
20 – 14
Darlington Mowden Park (1 BP)
Dockham Road Attendance: 328 Referee: Harry Walbaum
18 January 2020 14:00
Hull Ionians
P – P
Blackheath
Brantingham Park
Game postponed due to the funeral of Hull Ionians player, Billy Hardy, who died on 28 December 2019 after falling ill following a gym workout.[32] Game to be rescheduled for 14 March 2020.[33]
18 January 2020 14:00
(2 BP) Old Elthamians
25 – 28
Cambridge (1 BP)
Meadow Lane Attendance: 393 Referee: Andrew Wigley
18 January 2020 14:00
(1 BP) Rams
17 – 22
Richmond
Old Bath Road Attendance: 1,131 Referee: Daniel Collins
18 January 2020 14:00
Rotherham Titans
22 – 20
Birmingham Moseley (1 BP)
Clifton Lane Attendance: 541 Referee: Charles Gayther
18 January 2020 15:00
Bishop's Stortford
17 – 30
Chinnor (1 BP)
Silver Leys Attendance: 350 Referee: Calum Howard
18 January 2020 15:00
Canterbury
5 – 52
Plymouth Albion (1 BP)
Marine Travel Ground Attendance: 357 Referee: Jonathan Cook
18 January 2020 15:00
(1 BP) Rosslyn Park
40 – 21
Sale FC
The Rock Attendance: 756 Referee: Nick Wood
[34]
Round 20
25 January 2020 14:00
(1 BP) Cambridge
29 – 28
Canterbury (2 BP)
Grantchester Road Attendance: 487 Referee: Joe James
25 January 2020 14:00
Hull Ionians
13 – 40
Rams (1 BP)
Brantingham Park Attendance: 262 Referee: Timothy Allatt
25 January 2020 14:00
(1 BP) Plymouth Albion
41 – 22
Rosslyn Park
Brickfields Attendance: 1,301 Referee: Daniel Collins
25 January 2020 15:00
(1 BP) Birmingham Moseley
22 – 23
Old Elthamians
Billesley Common Attendance: 640 Referee: Veryan Boscawen
25 January 2020 15:00
(1 BP) Blackheath
48 – 29
Sale FC
Well Hall Attendance: 567 Referee: Jonathan Cook
25 January 2020 15:00
(1 BP) Chinnor
28 – 27
Cinderford (2 BP)
Kingsey Road Attendance: 375 Referee: Charlie Gayther
Grantchester Road Attendance: 481 Referee: Daniel Collins
7 March 2020 15:00
Canterbury
24 – 15
Hull Ionians
Marine Travel Ground Attendance: 387 Referee: Joe James
7 March 2020 15:00
Cinderford
21 – 16
Blackheath (1 BP)
Dockham Road Attendance: 145 Referee: Calum Howard
7 March 2020 15:00
(1 BP) Plymouth Albion
35 – 27
Darlington Mowden Park (1 BP)
Brickfields Attendance: 920 Referee: Benjamin Russell
[41]
Rounds 19 & 23 (rescheduled games)
12 March 2020 19:45
(1 BP) Sale FC
26 – 10
Birmingham Moseley
Heywood Road Attendance: 210 Referee: Neil Chivers
Game originally rescheduled from 15 February 2020 and then again from 22 February 2020.
14 March 2020 14:00
Hull Ionians
17 – 64
Blackheath (1 BP)
Brantingham Park Attendance: 176 Referee: Samuel Phillips
Game rescheduled from 18 January 2020. Hull Ionians are relegated.
14 March 2020 15:00
(2 BP) Cinderford
38 – 40
Rams (1 BP)
Dockham Road Attendance: 220 Referee: James O'Brien
Game rescheduled from 15 February 2020.
[42]
Round 26
21 March 2020 14:30
Rams
C – C
Canterbury
Old Bath Road
21 March 2020 15:00
Bishop's Stortford
C – C
Old Elthamians
Silver Leys
21 March 2020 15:00
Blackheath
C – C
Birmingham Moseley
Well Hall
21 March 2020 15:00
Chinnor
C – C
Plymouth Albion
Kingsey Road
21 March 2020 15:00
Cinderford
C – C
Rotherham Titans
Dockham Road
21 March 2020 15:00
Darlington Mowden Park
C – C
Cambridge
Northern Echo Arena
21 March 2020 15:00
Hull Ionians
C – C
Rosslyn Park
Brantingham Park
21 March 2020 15:00
Richmond
C – C
Sale FC
Athletic Ground
[43]
Round 27
28 March 2020 14:00
Old Elthamians
C – C
Cinderford
College Meadow
28 March 2020 14:00
Rotherham Titans
C – C
Blackheath
Clifton Lane
28 March 2020 14:30
Sale FC
C – C
Hull Ionians
Heywood Road
28 March 2020 15:00
Birmingham Moseley
C – C
Darlington Mowden Park
Billesley Common
28 March 2020 15:00
Cambridge
C – C
Chinnor
Grantchester Road
28 March 2020 15:00
Canterbury
C – C
Bishop's Stortford
Marine Travel Ground
28 March 2020 15:00
Plymouth Albion
C – C
Richmond
Brickfields
28 March 2020 15:00
Rosslyn Park
C – C
Rams
The Rock
[44]
Round 28
4 April 2020 14:00
Rotherham Titans
C – C
Old Elthamians
Clifton Lane
4 April 2020 14:30
Rams
C – C
Sale FC
Old Bath Road
4 April 2020 15:00
Bishops Stortford
C – C
Rosslyn Park
Silver Leys
4 April 2020 15:00
Blackheath
C – C
Darlington Mowden Park
Well Hall
4 April 2020 15:00
Chinnor
C – C
Birmingham Moseley
Kingsey Road
4 April 2020 15:00
Cinderford
C – C
Canterbury
Dockham Road
4 April 2020 15:00
Hull Ionians
C – C
Plymouth Albion
Brantingham Park
4 April 2020 15:00
Richmond
C – C
Cambridge
Athletic Ground
Round 8 (rescheduled game)
11 April 2020 14:00
Cinderford
C – C
Hull Ionians
Dockham Road
Game rescheduled from 26 October 2019 and then 22 February 2020.
Round 29
18 April 2020 14:00
Sale FC
C – C
Bishop's Stortford
18 April 2020 15:00
Birmingham Moseley
C – C
Richmond
Billesley Common
18 April 2020 15:00
Cambridge
C – C
Hull Ionians
Grantchester Road
18 April 2020 15:00
Canterbury
C – C
Rotherham Titans
Marine Travel Ground
18 April 2020 15:00
Darlington Mowden Park
C – C
Chinnor
Northern Echo Arena
18 April 2020 15:00
Old Elthamians
C – C
Blackheath
College Meadow
18 April 2020 15:00
Plymouth Albion
C – C
Rams
Brickfields
18 April 2020 15:00
Rosslyn Park
C – C
Cinderford
The Rock
Round 30
25 April 2020 15:00
Bishop's Stortford
C – C
Plymouth Albion
Silver Leys
25 April 2020 15:00
Chinnor
C – C
Blackheath
Kingsey Road
25 April 2020 15:00
Cinderford
C – C
Sale FC
Dockham Road
25 April 2020 15:00
Hull Ionians
C – C
Birmingham Moseley
Brantingham Park
25 April 2020 15:00
Old Elthamians
C – C
Canterbury
College Meadow
25 April 2020 15:00
Rams
C – C
Cambridge
Old Bath Road
25 April 2020 15:00
Richmond
C – C
Darlington Mowden Park
Athletic Ground
25 April 2020 15:00
Rotherham Titans
C – C
Rosslyn Park
Clifton Lane
Round 24 (rescheduled game)
2 May 2020 15:00
Bishop's Stortford
C – C
Cinderford
Silver Leys
Game rescheduled from 29 February 2020.
Attendances
Club
Home games
Total
Average
Highest
Lowest
% Capacity
Birmingham Moseley
13
9,066
697
882
578
14%
Bishop's Stortford
11
4,852
441
825
350
28%
Blackheath
13
6,698
515
832
352
41%
Cambridge
13
6,217
518
832
352
23%
Canterbury
13
5,239
403
610
296
27%
Chinnor
12
6,203
517
1,024
252
26%
Cinderford
11
3,212
292
425
145
12%
Darlington Mowden Park
13
10,599
815
1,128
479
3%
Hull Ionians
12
2,945
245
411
176
16%
Old Elthamians
12
3,140
262
515
174
15%
Plymouth Albion
13
13,071
1,005
1,301
826
12%
Rams
12
7,070
589
1,131
356
47%
Richmond
12
7,449
621
756
495
31%
Rosslyn Park
13
9,449
727
2,000
495
36%
Rotherham Titans
12
6,298
525
687
462
21%
Sale FC
13
5,216
401
712
210
12%
Individual statistics
Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. Appearance figures also include coming on as substitutes (unused substitutes not included).
92 – 7 Darlington Mowden Park at home to Hull Ionians on 21 December 2019
Largest away win — 50 points
50 – 0 Richmond away to Canterbury on 9 November 2019
Most points scored — 92
92 – 7 Darlington Mowden Park at home to Hull Ionians on 21 December 2019
Most tries in a match — 14
Darlington Mowden Park at home to Hull Ionians on 21 December 2019
Richmond at home to Hull Ionians on 11 January 2020
Most conversions in a match — 11
Darlington Mowden Park at home to Hull Ionians on 21 December 2019
Most penalties in a match — 5 (6)
Old Elthamians at home to Plymouth Albion on 28 September 2019
Birmingham Moseley at home to Sale FC on 2 November 2019
Rosslyn Park at home to Chinnor on 9 November 2019
Birmingham Moseley at home to Rams on 21 December 2019
Sale FC away to Blackheath on 25 January 2020
Blackheath at home to Plymouth Albion on 8 February 2020
Most drop goals in a match — 1 (3)
Plymouth Albion at home to Canterbury on 5 October 2019
Sale FC at home to Rosslyn Park on 5 October 2019
Bishop's Stortford at home to Rams on 26 October 2019
Attendances
Highest — 2,000
Rosslyn Park at home to Richmond on 6 March 2020
Lowest — 145
Cinderford at home to Blackheath on 7 March 2020
Highest average attendance — 1,005
Plymouth Albion
Lowest average attendance — 245
Hull Ionians
Player
Most points in a match — 35
Brandon Asher-Wood for Darlington Mowden Park at home to Hull Ionians on 21 December 2019
Most tries in a match — 7
Brandon Asher-Wood for Darlington Mowden Park at home to Hull Ionians on 21 December 2019
Most conversions in a match — 9
Warren Seals for Darlington Mowden Park at home to Birmingham Moseley on 30 November 2019
Most penalties in a match — 5 (6)
Tom White for Old Elthamians at home to Plymouth Albion on 28 September 2019 Clifford Hodgson for Birmingham Moseley at home to Sale FC on 2 November 2019 Craig Holland for Rosslyn Park at home to Chinnor on 9 November 2019 Clifford Hodgson for Birmingham Moseley at home to Rams on 21 December 2019 Chris Johnson for Sale FC away to Blackheath on 25 January 2020 Mark Cooke for Blackheath at home to Plymouth Albion on 8 February 2020
Most drop goals in a match — 1 (3)
Connor Eastgate for Plymouth Albion at home to Canterbury on 5 October 2019 Chris Johnson for Sale FC at home to Rosslyn Park on 5 October 2019 Bradley Burr for Bishop's Stortford at home to Rams on 26 October 2019
^ a b"Win or bust for Park, Caldy set for coronation and Clifton out to dent another title bid". NCA Rugby. 6 March 2020.
^"Following government advice, the RFU will suspend all rugby activity in England, at both professional and community level". England Rugby. Retrieved 17 March 2020.