2002–03 National Division One

The 2002–03 National Division One (for sponsorship reasons known as the Jewson National Division One) was the 16th full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. New teams to the division included Orrell and Plymouth Albion who were promoted from 2001–02 National Division Two while no team was relegated from the 2001–02 Zurich Premiership as Rotherham's ground was not deemed suitable for top flight games.

For the second year in a row Rotherham, were champions, and this year they were promoted to the Zurich Premiership for season 2003–04 with Worcester finishing as runners–up for the third consecutive season. Moseley and Rugby were relegated to the 2003–04 National Division Two.

Round 14

 * Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2003.


 * Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2003.


 * Postponed. Game rescheduled to 21 April 2003.

Round 15

 * Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 2003.


 * Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2003.


 * Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 March 2003.


 * Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.


 * Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.


 * Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 February 2003.

Round 17

 * Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 March 2003.

Round 18

 * Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 April 2003.

Round 14 & 15 (rescheduled games)

 * Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003..


 * Game rescheduled from 4 January 2003.


 * Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.


 * Game rescheduled from 4 January 2003.

Round 21 (rescheduled game)

 * Game brought forward from 1 March 2003.

Round 21

 * Game brought forward to 19 February 2003.


 * Game postponed. Rescheduled to 8 March 2003.


 * Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 2003.


 * Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 April 2003.

Round 15, 17 & 21 (rescheduled games)

 * Game rescheduled from 25 January 2003.


 * Game rescheduled from 1 March 2003.


 * Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.


 * Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.

Rounds 15 & 21 (rescheduled games)

 * Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.


 * Game rescheduled from 11 January 2003.


 * Game rescheduled from 1 March 2003.

Rounds 18, 21 & 26 (rescheduled games)

 * Game brought forward from 26 April 2003.


 * Game rescheduled from 1 March 2003.


 * Game rescheduled from 1 February 2003.

Round 26

 * Game brought forward to 5 April 2003.

Individual statistics

 * Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.

Team
102 - 3 Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002 75 - 7 Rotherham away to Moseley on 8 February 2003 102 - 3 Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002 Exeter Chiefs at home to Rugby Lions on 14 September 2002 Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002 Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002 Rotherham away to Moseley on 8 February 2003 Worcester away to Moseley on 22 March 2003 Bedford Blues at home to Otley on 2 November 2002 Coventry at home to Exeter Chiefs on 9 April 2003 Plymouth Albion at home to Wakefield on 8 February 2003 Bedford Blues at home to Plymouth Albion on 23 March 2003 Exeter Chiefs at home to Plymouth Albion on 19 April 2003
 * Largest home win — 99 pts
 * Largest away win — 68 pts
 * Most points scored — 102 pts
 * Most tries in a match — 14 (x2)
 * Most conversions in a match — 10 (x3)
 * Most penalties in a match — 8 (x2)
 * Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3)

Player
🇮🇹 Ramiro Pez for Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002 🇦🇺 Drew Hickey for Orrell at home to Rugby Lions on 1 September 2002 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Dan Ward-Smith for Plymouth Albion away to Rugby Lions on 26 October 2002 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Dan Ward-Smith for Plymouth Albion at home to Manchester on 4 January 2003 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Duncan Roke for Worcester away to Rugby Lions on 26 April 2003 🇮🇹 Ramiro Pez for Rotherham at home to Moseley on 6 October 2002 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jon Benson for Rotherham away to Moseley on 8 February 2003 🇨🇦 James Pritchard for Bedford Blues at home to Otley on 2 November 2002 Luke Smith for Coventry at home to Exeter Chiefs on 9 April 2003 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Tom Barlow for Plymouth Albion at home to Wakefield on 8 February 2003 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Ed Barnes for Bedford Blues at home to Plymouth Albion on 23 March 2003 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Tony Yapp for Exeter Chiefs at home to Plymouth Albion on 19 April 2003
 * Most points in a match — 37
 * Most tries in a match — 4 (x4)
 * Most conversions in a match — 10 (x2)
 * Most penalties in a match — 8 (x2)
 * Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3)

Attendances
Worcester at home to Rotherham on 12 April 2003 Wakefield at home to Rugby Lions on 2 November 2002 Worcester Wakefield
 * Highest — 5,700
 * Lowest — 250
 * Highest Average Attendance — 2,460
 * Lowest Average Attendance — 360