National League 2 West
Current season or competition: 2024–25 National League 2 West | |
Sport | Rugby union |
---|---|
Instituted | 2022 |
Number of teams | 14 |
Country | England |
Holders | Dings Crusaders (2023–24) |
Most titles | Dings Crusaders, Leicester Lions (1 title) |
Website | National League 2 West |
National League 2 West is a rugby union league at level four in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in the Midlands and South West England. The remainder of England is covered by two other regional leagues; National League 2 East and National League 2 North.[1] The champion club is promoted to National One. The last two teams are relegated to either Regional 1 Midlands or Regional 1 South West.
Prior to the 2022–23 season, National League 2 West and National League 2 East were part of a unified division known as National League 2 South.
Structure
The league consists of fourteen teams who play the others on a home and away basis, to make a total of 26 matches each. The champions are promoted to National League 1 and the bottom two teams are relegated to either Regional 1 Midlands or Regional 1 South West depending on the location of the teams.
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.
Current season
Participating teams and locations
Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bournville | Avery Fields [2] | Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands | 10th | |
Camborne | Crane Park[a] | 7,000 (780 seats) | Camborne, Cornwall | 6th |
Cinderford | Beavis Memorial Ground[3] | 2,500 | Cinderford, Gloucestershire | Relegated from National League 1 (14th)[4] |
Clifton | Station Road [5] | 2,500 (400 seats) | Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol | 3rd |
Devonport Services | The Rectory Field | 2,000 | Devonport, Plymouth, Devon | Promoted from Regional 1 South West (champions)[6] |
Exeter University | Topsham Sports Ground[7] | Exeter, Devon | 5th | |
Hinckley | De Montfort Park [8] | 2,000 | Hinckley, Leicestershire | 7th |
Hornets | The Nest, Hutton Moor Park [9] | Weston-super-Mare, Somerset | 12th | |
Loughborough Students | East Park[b] | 1,000 | Loughborough, Leicestershire | 8th |
Luctonians | Mortimer Park [10] | 2,500 (300 seats) | Kingsland, Herefordshire | 2nd |
Macclesfield | Priory Park | 1,250 (250 seats) | Macclesfield, Cheshire | Promoted from Regional 1 North West (champions)[11] |
Old Redcliffians | Scotland Lane [12] | Brislington, Bristol | 4th | |
Redruth | Recreation Ground [13] | 3,500 (580 seats) | Redruth, Cornwall | 9th |
Taunton Titans | Veritas Park[14] | 2,000 (198 seats) | Taunton, Somerset | Relegated from National League 1 (13th)[4] |
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Luctonians | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 186 | 71 | +115 | 3 | 0 | 23 | Promotion place |
2 | Loughborough Students | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 188 | 118 | +70 | 5 | 0 | 21 | |
3 | Camborne | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 217 | 161 | +56 | 5 | 0 | 21 | |
4 | Old Redcliffians | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 188 | 146 | +42 | 5 | 0 | 19 | |
5 | Bournville | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 165 | 126 | +39 | 4 | 2 | 18 | |
6 | Cinderford | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 147 | 132 | +15 | 3 | 2 | 17 | |
7 | Taunton Titans | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 131 | 151 | −20 | 3 | 0 | 15 | |
8 | Exeter University | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 168 | 145 | +23 | 3 | 0 | 13 | |
9 | Redruth | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 171 | 179 | −8 | 4 | 1 | 13 | |
10 | Clifton | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 128 | 154 | −26 | 3 | 2 | 11 | |
11 | Macclesfield | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 119 | 223 | −104 | 4 | 0 | 10 | |
12 | Hornets | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 157 | 170 | −13 | 2 | 2 | 8 | |
13 | Hinckley | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 129 | 186 | −57 | 2 | 1 | 7 | Relegation place |
14 | Devonport Services | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 93 | 225 | −132 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
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
National Two West honours
| ||||||||||||||
Season | No of teams | Champions | Runner–up | Relegated teams | Ref | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022–23 | 14 | Leicester Lions | Dings Crusaders | Barnstaple, Stourbridge | [16] | |||||||||
2023–24 | 14 | Dings Crusaders | Luctonians | Dudley Kingswinford, Newport (Salop) | [17] | |||||||||
2024–25 | 14 | |||||||||||||
Green background is the promotion place. |
Number of league titles
- Dings Crusaders (1)
- Leicester Lions (1)
Notes
- ^ Also known as the Recreation Ground.
- ^ Since relegation from the 2018–19 National League 1 Loughborough Students have switched games from the Loughborugh University Stadium to nearby East Park.
See also
- English rugby union system
- History of the English rugby union system
- National League 2 East
- National League 2 North
References
- ^ "Update on Structural Changes to National League Rugby". National League Rugby. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "Avery Fields Sports & Events". Bournville RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Contact us". Cinderford RFC. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ a b Heal Chris (29 April 2024). "Bishop's Stortford and Leicester Lions survive while Rotherham complete centenary year as champions". Talking Rugby Union.
- ^ "Station Road". Clifton Rugby Club. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "RUGBY REPORTS: Devonport Services dig deep to secure the Regional One South West title at Lydney". Plymouth Gazette. 24 March 2024.
- ^ "University of Exeter Topsham Sport Ground". Exeter University RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Leicester Road". Hinkley Rugby Club. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Contacts". Hornets RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Mortimer Park". Luctonians Sports Club. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Macclesfield 57 – Penrith 15". Macclesfield Rugby. 6 April 2024.
- ^ "Scotland Lane". Old Redcliffians RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "The Recreation Ground". Redruth Rugby Football Club. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Veritas Park". Taunton Rugby Football Club. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ "National League 2 West". NCA Rugby.
- ^ "National League 2 West Final Standings 2022–23". England Rugby. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ "National League 2 West Final Standings 2023–24". England Rugby. Retrieved 27 April 2024.