History of the English rugby union system

England has a comprehensive league structure in place, including national fully professional leagues to amateur regional leagues.

The format and competitiveness of the leagues have changed greatly since their beginnings in 1987. Likewise the leagues started off amateur but professionalism has since been permitted. However, it has always had three or four national leagues with various regional and county leagues below.

Sunday Telegraph Merit Tables
The Sunday Telegraph published Merit Tables for the leading English clubs from the 1960s to the 1980s. The position of the clubs was based on the percentage of matches won with only matches against other clubs in the table counting.

Sunday Telegraph English Champions 1964 to 1987:


 * 1963-64 London Scottish
 * 1964-65 London Scottish
 * 1965-66 Bristol
 * 1966-67 London Welsh
 * 1967-68 London Welsh
 * 1968-69 London Welsh
 * 1969-70 Coventry
 * 1970-71 London Welsh
 * 1971-72 Bristol
 * 1972-73 Coventry
 * 1973-74 Bristol
 * 1974-75 Rosslyn Park
 * 1975-76 Northampton
 * 1976-77 Moseley
 * 1977-78 London Welsh
 * 1978-79 London Welsh
 * 1979-80 Leicester
 * 1980-81 Leicester
 * 1981-82 Gloucester
 * 1982-83 Coventry
 * 1983-84 Wasps
 * 1984-85 Bath
 * 1985-86 Leicester
 * 1986-87 Bath

Precursor competitions
While there were experiments with county leagues in the north in the nineteenth century for most of rugby union's history there have been no organised leagues. The 1970s saw the creation of a national cup and a series of regional and county merit leagues (the most important of which being the North, Midlands, South West and London merit league).

In 1984 this was taken one step further with the creation of two national merit leagues for the top twenty four clubs (based around playing a minimum of sixteen fixtures against each other, a factor which led to Exeter's exclusion after consideration). The top division had three clubs from each of the major merit leagues. In these clubs had to play a minimum of eight fixtures against the other clubs in their division but it was largely based around pre-existing fixtures. There was a system of promotion and relegation between the Merit Tables. 1985 saw the addition of a third national merit table, albeit without promotion and relegation to the top two.

1984–85 season
The initial lineups of the merit tables was as follows:

Merit Table A


 * Bath
 * Bristol
 * Coventry
 * Gloucester
 * Gosforth
 * Harlequins
 * Leicester
 * London Irish
 * London Scottish
 * Moseley
 * Orrell
 * Sale

Merit Table B


 * Bedford
 * Blackheath
 * Headingley
 * Liverpool
 * London Welsh
 * Northampton
 * Nottingham
 * Richmond
 * Rosslyn Park
 * Saracens
 * Wasps
 * Waterloo

Merit Table A Merit Table B
 * Champions: Sale
 * Relegated: Coventry; London Irish; Orrell
 * Promoted: Headingley; Nottingham; Wasps

1985–86
This year saw the creation of Merit Table C with the following clubs:


 * Birmingham
 * Exeter
 * Fylde
 * Metropolitan Police
 * Morley
 * Nuneaton
 * Plymouth
 * Roundhay
 * Sheffield
 * Vale of Lune
 * Wakefield
 * West Hartlepool


 * Merit Table A
 * Champions:Gloucester
 * Relegated: Gosforth; Headingley
 * Merit Table B
 * Promoted: 1st Orrell; 2nd Coventry;
 * Liverpool merge with non-league St Helens to become Liverpool-St Helens
 * Merit Table C
 * Champions (not promoted):

1986–87

 * Merit Table A
 * Champions: Bath
 * Relegated to National 2: London Scottish
 * Merit Table B
 * Promoted into National 1: Waterloo
 * Merit Table C
 * Champions (not promoted):
 * Relegated to Area League North: Roundhay
 * Admitted to National 3: Maidstone

Foundation of the national league system
In 1987 the merit tables formed the basis of the top three divisions of the national league system. For the first season there were no fixed fixtures so clubs had to arrange their own (to a minimum of ten out of eleven opponents, only one game against each club could count). For the initial season there was no promotion and relegation between National 2 and National 3 but this was created for the following season. National 3 had a minimum of two clubs per region (with the top four clubs in the previous season's Merit Table C getting a guaranteed spot outside this quota) thus Roundhay missed out on a spot to Maidstone.

In 1988 clubs had their fixtures set by the league for them though still only played each other once.

Initial composition of major leagues
National 1


 * Bath
 * Bristol
 * Coventry
 * Gloucester
 * Harlequins
 * Leicester
 * Moseley
 * Nottingham
 * Orrell
 * Sale
 * Wasps
 * Waterloo

National 2


 * Bedford
 * Blackheath
 * Gosforth
 * Headingley
 * Liverpool-St Helens
 * London Irish
 * London Scottish
 * London Welsh
 * Northampton
 * Richmond
 * Rosslyn Park
 * Saracens

National 3


 * Birmingham
 * Exeter
 * Fylde
 * Maidstone
 * Metropolitan Police
 * Morley
 * Nuneaton
 * Plymouth
 * Sheffield
 * Vale of Lune
 * Wakefield
 * West Hartlepool

Area League North


 * Birkenhead Park
 * Broughton Park
 * Derby
 * Durham City
 * Lichfield
 * Northern
 * Preston Grasshoppers
 * Roundhay
 * Rugby
 * Solihull
 * Stourbridge

Area League South


 * Askeans
 * Camborne
 * Cheltenham
 * Havant
 * Lydney
 * Salisbury
 * Sidcup
 * Southend
 * Streatham-Croydon
 * Stroud
 * Sudbury

1987–88 season
National 1

National 2 National 3
 * Champions: Leicester
 * Relegated: Coventry; Sale
 * Promoted: Liverpool-St Helens; Rosslyn Park
 * Champions (not promoted): Wakefield
 * Relegated: Birmingham; Morley (both to Area League North)

Area League North Area League South
 * Promoted: Rugby
 * Relegated: Birkenhead Park; Derby; Solihull
 * Promoted into league: Stoke; Winnington Park
 * Promoted: Askeans
 * Relegated: Streatham-Croydon
 * Promoted into league: Ealing; Redruth

1988–89 season
National 1

National 2 National 3
 * Champions: Bath
 * Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Waterloo
 * Promoted: Bedford; Saracens
 * Relegated: London Scottish; London Welsh
 * Promoted: Rugby; Plymouth
 * Relegated: Maidstone; Metropolitan Police (both to Area League South)

Area League North Area League South
 * Promoted: Roundhay
 * Relegated: Birmingham
 * Promoted into league: Kendal; Walsall
 * Promoted: Lydney
 * Relegated: Ealing; Sidcup; Stroud
 * Promoted into league: Basingstoke; Clifton

1989–90 season
National 1

National 2 National 3
 * Champions: Wasps
 * Relegated: Bedford
 * Promoted: Liverpool-St Helens; Northampton
 * Promoted: London Scottish; Wakefield
 * Relegated to National 4 South: London Welsh

Area League North Area League South
 * Promoted: Broughton Park; Morley
 * Promoted into league: Birmingham-Solihull; Harrogate; Hereford; Otley
 * Promoted: Clifton; Metropolitan Police
 * Relegated: Salisbury
 * Promoted into league: Ealing; Maidenhead; North Walsham; Weston-super-Mare

1990–91 season
For the 1990–91 season all divisions were increased to 13 teams and the Area Leagues were renamed National 4 North and National 4 South.

National 1

National 2 National 3
 * Champions: Bath
 * Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Moseley
 * Promoted: London Irish; Rugby
 * Relegated: Headingley; Richmond
 * Promoted: Morley; West Hartlepool
 * Relegated: Metropolitan Police (to 4 South); Vale of Lune (to 4 North)

National 4 North National 4 South
 * Promoted: Otley
 * Relegated: Birmingham-Solihull; Stoke
 * Promoted into league: Aspatria; Towcestrians
 * Promoted: Redruth
 * Relegated: Cheltenham; Maidenhead
 * Promoted into league: High Wycombe; Sidcup

1991–92 season
National 1

National 2 National 3
 * Champions: Bath
 * Relegated: Nottingham; Rosslyn Park
 * Promoted: London Scottish; West Hartlepool
 * Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Plymouth
 * Promoted: Fylde; Richmond
 * Relegated: Lydney (to 4 South); Nuneaton (to 4 North)
 * Headingley and Roundhay merged to form Leeds

National 4 North National 4 South
 * Promoted: Aspatria
 * Relegated: Northern; Vale of Lune
 * Promoted into league: Rotherham; Stoke
 * Promoted: Havant
 * Relegated: Ealing; Sidcup
 * Promoted into league: Berry Hill; Thurrock

1992–93 season
National 1 National 2 National 3
 * Champions: Bath
 * Relegated: London Scottish; Rugby; Saracens; West Hartlepool
 * Promoted: Newcastle-Gosforth
 * Relegated: Bedford; Blackheath; Coventry; Fylde; Morley; Richmond; Rosslyn Park
 * Promoted: Otley
 * Relegated to National 4: Askeans; Aspatria; Broughton Park; Clifton; Leeds; Liverpool-St Helens; Plymouth; Sheffield

National 4 North National 4 South
 * Promoted into National 4: Harrogate
 * Relegated: Towcestrians
 * Promoted into league: Birmingham-Solihull; Bradford & Bingley
 * Promoted: Sudbury
 * Relegated: Thurrock
 * Promoted into league: Reading; Tabard

1993–94 season
The 1993–94 season saw the reduction in size of the national divisions to 10 teams and the creation of a new National 4 division. It also saw the introduction of home and away fixtures. National 4 (North and South) kept its same format but were now renamed to National 5 (North and South).

National 1

National 2 National 3 National 4
 * Champions: Bath
 * Relegated: London Irish; Newcastle-Gosforth
 * Promoted: Sale; West Hartlepool
 * Relegated: Otley; Rugby
 * Promoted: Coventry; Fylde
 * Relegated: Havant; Redruth
 * Promoted: Clifton; Harrogate
 * Relegated: Sheffield (to 5 North); Sudbury (to 5 South)

National 5 North National 5 South
 * Promoted: Rotherham
 * Relegated: Bradford & Bingley; Durham City
 * Promoted into league: Barkers Butts; Wharfedale
 * Promoted: Reading
 * Relegated: Maidstone; Southend
 * Promoted into league: Barking; Henley

1994–95 season
National 1

National 2 National 3 National 4
 * Champions: Leicester
 * Relegated: Northampton
 * Promoted: Saracens
 * Relegated: Coventry; Fylde
 * Promoted: Bedford; Blackheath
 * Relegated: Clifton; Exeter
 * Promoted: Reading; Rotherham
 * Relegated: Askeans (to 5 South); Broughton Park (to 5 North)

National 5 North National 5 South
 * Promoted: Walsall
 * Relegated: Barkers Butts; Hereford
 * Promoted into league: Sandal; Worcester
 * Promoted: London Welsh
 * Relegated: Basingstoke; Sudbury
 * Promoted into league: Camberley; Cheltenham

1995–96 season
National 1

National 2 National 3 National 4
 * Champions: Bath
 * Promoted: London Irish; Northampton
 * Promoted: Coventry; Richmond, Rotherham; Rugby
 * No promotion as merged into National 3
 * Relegated: Aspatria (to 4 North); Plymouth (to 4 South)

National 5 North National 5 South
 * Promoted: Wharfedale
 * Relegated: Broughton Park
 * Promoted into league: Hereford; Manchester
 * Promoted: Lydney
 * Relegated: Camborne
 * Promoted into league: Charlton Park; Newbury

1996–97 season
This year saw the expansion of the top two divisions to 12 teams and the temporary expansion of National 3 to sixteen clubs. It also saw National 5 (North and South) revert to being National 4 (North and South), expanded to 14 teams, and for the first time, with home and away fixtures. The leagues became openly professional this year.

National 1

National 2 National 3
 * Champions: Wasps
 * Relegated: Orrell; West Hartlepool
 * Promoted: Newcastle; Richmond
 * Relegated: Nottingham; Rugby
 * Promoted: Exeter; Fylde
 * Relegated: Clifton; Havant; Redruth (all three to 2 South); Walsall (to 2 North)

National 4 North National 4 South
 * Promoted: Worcester
 * Relegated: Hereford; Stoke
 * Promoted into league: Hinckley; Sedgley Park
 * Promoted: Newbury
 * Relegated: Askeans; Berry Hill; Charlton Park; High Wycombe
 * Promoted into league: Bridgwater; Esher

1997–98 season
The 1997–98 season saw the addition of sponsorship by Allied Dunbar and as a result a rebranding of National 1 and 2 to Premiership 1 and 2, whereas National 3 became the new National 1, while National 4 (North and South) became National 2 (North and South) accordingly.

Premiership 1

Premiership 2 National 1
 * Champions: Newcastle Falcons
 * Relegated: Bristol
 * Promoted: Bedford; London Scottish; West Hartlepool
 * Promoted: Leeds; London Welsh; Rugby; Worcester

National 2 North National 2 South
 * Promoted: Birmingham-Solihull; Manchester
 * Promoted into league: New Brighton; Whitchurch
 * Promoted: Camberley; Henley
 * Promoted into league: Bracknell; Norwich

1998–99 season
The 1998–99 season saw the expansion of the two premiership divisions to fourteen teams.

Premiership 1

Premiership 2 National 1
 * Champions: Leicester
 * Relegated: West Hartlepool
 * London Scottish and Richmond disband
 * Promoted: Bristol
 * Relegated: Blackheath; Fylde
 * Promoted: Henley; Manchester
 * Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Morley (both to 2 North)

National 2 North National 2 South
 * Promoted: Preston Grasshoppers
 * Relegated: Hinckley; Lichfield; Winnington Park
 * Promoted into league: Bedford Athletic; Doncaster
 * Promoted: Bracknell
 * Relegated: Havant
 * Promoted into league: Penzance & Newlyn; Westcombe Park

1999–2000 season
The 1999–2000 season saw the contraction of Premiership 1 to twelve teams with London Scottish and Richmond being absorbed into London Irish and reforming in county leagues.

Premiership 1

Premiership 2 National 1
 * Champions: Leicester
 * Relegated: Bedford
 * Promoted: Rotherham
 * Relegated: Rugby; West Hartlepool
 * Promoted: Birmingham-Solihull; Otley
 * Relegated: Blackheath; Reading (both to 3 South)

National 2 North National 2 South
 * Promoted: Kendal
 * Relegated: Sheffield
 * Promoted into league: Dudley Kingswinford; Tynedale
 * Promoted: Esher
 * Relegated: Bridgwater & Albion; Metropolitan Police; Norwich
 * Promoted into league: Basingstoke; Launceston

2000–01 season
The 2000–01 season saw Zurich take over the sponsorship of the top division with no interest in the second tier. This saw Premiership 2 rebranded National 1, with National 1 and 2 (North and South) becoming National 2 and 3 (North and South) respectively. It also saw the creation of a promotion play-off between the runners-up of the National 3 divisions with an extra relegation place from National 2. A new Championship competition for the top eight clubs was introduced this season. It was intended that the winners of the Championship would become champions but this decision was revoked after outcry. This season also saw the introduction of the rugby union bonus points system.

Premiership National 1 National 2 National 3 North National 3 South
 * Champions: Leicester
 * Relegated: Rotherham
 * Promoted: Leeds
 * Relegated: Orrell; Waterloo
 * Promoted: Bracknell; Rugby
 * Relegated: Camberley; Lydney (both to 3 South); West Hartlepool (to 3 North)
 * Promoted: Sedgley Park; Stourbridge
 * Relegated: Aspatria; Walsall
 * Promoted into league: Blaydon; Darlington Mowden Park; Scunthorpe
 * Promoted: Plymouth
 * Relegated: Basingstoke; Cheltenham; Reading; Weston-super-Mare
 * Promoted into league: Cinderford; Old Colfeians; Old Patesians

2001–02 season
Premiership National 1 National 2 National 3 North National 3 South
 * Champions: Leicester
 * Champions (not promoted): Rotherham
 * Relegated: Bracknell; Henley
 * Promoted: Orrell; Plymouth
 * Relegated: Preston Grasshoppers; Waterloo (both to 3 North); Rosslyn Park (to 3 South)
 * Promoted: Doncaster
 * Relegated: Morley; Sandal; West Hartlepool; Whitchurch
 * Promoted into league: Broadstreet; Halifax; Hull Ionians
 * Promoted: Launceston; Penzance & Newlyn
 * Relegated: Cinderford; Clifton
 * Promoted into league: Basingstoke; Havant; Weston-super-Mare

2002–03 season
This season saw the replacement of the Zurich Championship with a top four play-off, the winner of which would be crowned champions.

Premiership National 1 National 2 National 3 North National 3 South
 * Champions: Wasps
 * Relegated: Bristol
 * Promoted: Rotherham
 * Relegated: Moseley; Rugby
 * Promoted: Henley; Penzance & Newlyn
 * Relegated: Fylde; Kendal (both to 3 North); Launceston (to 3 South)
 * Promoted: Nuneaton
 * Relegated: Bedford Athletic; Broadstreet; Hull Ionians; Scunthorpe
 * Promoted into league: Darlington; Longton; Macclesfield
 * Promoted: Lydney; Rosslyn Park
 * Relegated: Camberley; Havant
 * Promoted into league: Dings Crusaders; Haywards Heath; Southend

2003–04 season
Premiership National 1 National 2 National 3 North National 3 South
 * Champions: Wasps
 * Relegated: Rotherham
 * Promoted: Worcester
 * Relegated: Manchester
 * Wakefield disband
 * Promoted: Nottingham; Sedgley Park
 * Relegated: Lydney (to 3 South); Rugby (to 3 North)
 * Promoted: Waterloo
 * Relegated: Liverpool-St Helens; Longton; Preston Grasshoppers
 * Promoted into league: Bedford Athletic; Bradford & Bingley; Cleckheaton
 * Promoted: Blackheath; Launceston
 * Relegated: Basingstoke; Old Colfeians
 * Promoted into league: Havant; Hertford; Reading

2004–05 season
Premiership National 1 National 2 National 3 North National 3 South
 * Champions: Wasps
 * Relegated: Harlequins
 * Promoted: Bristol
 * Relegated: Henley; Orrell
 * Promoted: Doncaster; Newbury
 * Relegated: Bracknell; Rosslyn Park (both to 3 South); Nuneaton (to 3 North)
 * Promoted: Halifax
 * Relegated: Bedford Athletic; Dudley Kingswinford; Rugby
 * Promoted into league: Hull Ionians; Leicester Lions; Preston Grasshoppers
 * Promoted: Barking; Redruth
 * Relegated: Haywards Heath; Tabard; Weston-super-Mare
 * Promoted into league: Bridgwater & Albion; Cambridge; Cinderford

2005–06 season
The 2005–06 season saw Zurich replaced as Premiership sponsors by Guinness

Premiership National 1 National 2 National 3 North National 3 South
 * Champions: Sale
 * Relegated: Leeds
 * Promoted: Harlequins
 * Promoted: Moseley; Waterloo
 * Relegated: Orrell (to 3 North)
 * Promoted: Bradford & Bingley; Nuneaton
 * Relegated: Kendal; New Brighton
 * Promoted into league: Morley; Rugby; West Park St Helens
 * Promoted: Cambridge
 * Relegated: Bracknell; Reading
 * Promoted into league: Canterbury; Chinnor; Clifton

2006–07 season
The 2006–07 season saw National 1 expanded to sixteen clubs.

Premiership National 1 National 2 National 3 North National 3 South
 * Champions: Leicester
 * Relegated: Northampton
 * Promoted: Leeds
 * Relegated: Otley; Waterloo
 * Promoted: Esher; Launceston
 * Relegated: Barking (to 3 South); Bradford & Bingley; Harrogate (both to 3 North)
 * Promoted: Blaydon
 * Relegated: Darlington; Cleckheaton; Orrell
 * Promoted into league: Beverley; Caldy
 * Promoted: Southend; Westcombe Park
 * Relegated: Chinnor; Hertford; Old Patesians
 * Promoted into league: Ealing; London Scottish; Luton; Mounts Bay

2007–08 season
Premiership National 1 National 2 National 3 North National 3 South
 * Champions: Wasps
 * Relegated: Leeds
 * Promoted: Northampton
 * Relegated: Birmingham-Solihull; Launceston
 * Promoted: Manchester; Otley
 * Relegated: Halifax; Nuneaton (both to 3 North); Henley (to 3 South)
 * Promoted: Tynedale
 * Relegated: Beverley; Morley; West Park St Helens
 * Transferred to 3 South: Rugby
 * Promoted into league: Huddersfield; Kendal; Loughborough Students
 * Promoted: Cinderford; Mounts Bay
 * Relegated: Clifton; Luton; North Walsham
 * Promoted into league: Chinnor; Richmond; Worthing

2008–09 season
Premiership National 1 National 2 National 3 North National 3 South
 * Champions: Leicester
 * Relegated: Bristol
 * Promoted: Leeds
 * Relegated: Esher; Manchester; Newbury; Otley; Sedgley Park
 * Promoted: Birmingham-Solihull
 * Relegated: Southend; Westcombe Park (both to 2 South); Waterloo (to 2 North)
 * Mounts Bay disband
 * Promoted: Nuneaton
 * Relegated: Darlington Mowden Park
 * Halifax disband
 * Promoted into league: Broadstreet; Hull; Westoe
 * Promoted: London Scottish
 * Relegated: Chinnor; Havant
 * Transferred to 2 North: Rugby
 * Promoted into league: Barnes; Clifton; Shelford

Additional National 3 divisions
The 2009–10 season saw the creation of several National 3 divisions. The North and South divisions were replaced with North, Midlands, South West and London divisions.

National 3 North


 * Beverley
 * Birkenhead Park
 * Chester
 * Cleckheaton
 * Darlington Mowden Park
 * Middlesbrough
 * Morley
 * Penrith
 * Rochdale
 * Rossendale
 * Sheffield Tigers
 * Stockport
 * West Hartlepool
 * West Park St Helens

National 3 Midlands


 * Ampthill
 * Bedford Athletic
 * Bromsgrove
 * Hereford
 * Hinckley
 * Kenilworth
 * Kettering
 * Longton
 * Luctonians
 * Luton
 * Malvern
 * Newport (Salop)
 * Peterborough
 * South Leicester

National 3 South West


 * Barnstable
 * Bournemouth
 * Chinnor
 * Chippenham
 * Cleve
 * Coney Hill
 * Exmouth
 * Maidenhead
 * Old Patesians
 * Oxford Harlequins
 * Reading
 * Redingensians
 * Taunton
 * Weston-super-Mare

National 3 London


 * Basingstoke
 * Bishop's Stortford
 * Bracknell
 * Diss
 * Dorking
 * Havant
 * Haywards Heath
 * Hertford
 * Jersey
 * North Walsham
 * Old Albanians
 * Portsmouth
 * Sutton & Epsom
 * Tring

2009–10 season
The 2009–10 season saw major changes to the league system below the Premiership. The second tier was reduced to twelve teams and rebranded the RFU Championship with a play-off system and only one relegation spot. National 2 and 3 (North and South) reverted to National 1 and National 2 (North and South), and were expanded to sixteen teams. Four National 3 divisions were created based around the top regional leagues with fourteen teams in each (see above). National play-offs for the title were created for the winners of the National 2 and National 3 divisions. A similar play-off series was created for the eight winners of the regional divisions.

Premiership Championship National 1 National 2 North National 2 South National 3 North National 3 Midlands National 3 South West National 3 London
 * Champions: Leicester
 * Relegated: Worcester
 * Promoted: Exeter
 * Relegated: Coventry
 * Promoted: Esher
 * Relegated: Manchester; Nuneaton (both to National 2 North); Newbury (to National 2 South)
 * Promoted: Macclesfield
 * Relegated: Broadstreet (to 3 Midlands); Bradford & Bingley; Waterloo (both to 3 North)
 * Promoted: Barking; Rosslyn Park
 * Relegated: Barnes (to 3 London); Bridgwater & Albion (to 3 South West)
 * Promoted: Morley
 * Relegated: Cleckheaton; West Hartlepool; West Park St Helens
 * Transferred to 3 Midlands: Sheffield Tigers
 * Promoted in: Billingham; Lymm; Sandal
 * Promoted: Hinckley (to 2 South); Luctonians (to 2 North)
 * Relegated: Bedford Athletic; Kettering
 * Transferred to 3 London: Ampthill
 * Promoted in: Burton; Old Northamptonians; Scunthorpe
 * Promoted: Taunton
 * Relegated: Chippenham; Maidenhead; Reading
 * Promoted in: Cheltenham; Hartpury College; Newton Abbot
 * Promoted: Jersey; Old Albanians
 * Relegated: Haywards Heath; Portsmouth; Sutton & Epsom
 * Promoted in: Civil Service; Gravesend; Staines

2010–11 season
Premiership National 1 National 2 North National 2 South National 3 North National 3 Midlands National 3 South West National 3 London
 * Champions: Saracens
 * Relegated: Leeds
 * Championship
 * Promoted: Worcester
 * Relegated: Birmingham-Solihull
 * Promoted: London Scottish
 * Relegated: Otley (to National 2 North); Launceston; Redruth (both to National 2 South)
 * Promoted: Fylde
 * Relegated: Manchester; Rugby Lions (both to 3 Midlands); Morley (to 3 North)
 * Promoted: Ealing Trailfinders; Jersey
 * Relegated: Canterbury (to 3 London); Hinckley (to 3 Midlands); Newbury (to 3 South West)
 * Promoted: Stockport
 * Relegated: Billingham; Middlesbrough; Rochdale
 * Promoted in: Altrincham Kersal; Burnage; West Hartlepool
 * Promoted: Bromsgrove; Sheffield Tigers
 * Relegated: Burton; Kenilworth; Peterborough
 * Transferred to 3 London: Luton
 * Promoted in: Dudley Kingswinford; Mansfield; Syston
 * Promoted: Hartpury College
 * Relegated: Cheltenham; Cleve; Coney Hill
 * Promoted in: Amersham & Chiltern; Chippenham; Old Redcliffians
 * Promoted: Barnes; Hertford
 * Relegated: Basingstoke; Diss; North Walsham
 * Promoted in: London Irish Amateurs; Tonbridge Juddian; Westcliff

2011–12 season

 * Premiership
 * Champions: Harlequins
 * Relegated: Newcastle Falcons


 * Championship
 * Promoted: London Welsh
 * Relegated: Esher


 * National 1
 * Promoted: Jersey
 * Relegated: Birmingham & Solihull; Stourbridge (both to National 2 North); Barking (to National 2 South)


 * National 2 North
 * Promoted: Loughborough Students
 * Relegated: Harrogate; Kendal (both to 3 North); Nuneaton (to 3 Midlands)


 * National 2 South
 * Promoted: Old Albanians; Richmond
 * Relegated: Barnes; Hertford; Westcombe Park (to 3 London)


 * National 3 North
 * Promoted: Darlington Mowden Park
 * Relegated: Beverley; Altrincham Kersal; Morley
 * Promoted in: Billingham; Percy Park


 * National 3 Midlands
 * Promoted: Dudley Kingswinford (to 2 North); Rugby Lions were due to be promoted to 2 South but were expelled before the season started
 * Relegated: Hereford; Old Northamptonians; Manchester
 * Transferred to 3 South West: Malvern
 * Promoted in: Sutton Coldfield; Bournville; Derby; Sandbach


 * National 3 South West
 * Promoted: Bournemouth; Chinnor
 * Relegated: Old Redcliffians; Newbury Blues; Bridgwater & Albion
 * Promoted in: Maidenhead; Brixham; Avonmouth Old Boys


 * National 3 London
 * Promoted: Canterbury
 * Relegated: Bracknell; Luton; Havant
 * Transferred to 3 Midlands: Ampthill
 * Transferred to 3 South West: London Irish Amateurs
 * Promoted in: Thurrock; Guernsey; Old Elthamians

2012–13 season

 * Premiership
 * Champions: Leicester Tigers
 * Relegated: London Welsh


 * Championship
 * Promoted: Newcastle Falcons
 * Relegated: Doncaster Knights


 * National 1
 * Promoted: Ealing Trailfinders
 * Relegated: Macclesfield; Sedgley Park (both to National 2 North); Cambridge (to National 2 South)


 * National 2 North
 * Promoted: Hull Ionians
 * Relegated: Huddersfield; Stockport; Westoe (all to 2 North)


 * National 2 South
 * Promoted: Henley Hawks; Worthing
 * Relegated: Barking (to 3 London); Lydney (to 3 South West)


 * National 3 North
 * Promoted: Chester; Harrogate
 * Relegated: Birkenhead Park; Kendal; West Hartlepool
 * Transferred to 3 Midlands: Lymm
 * Promoted in: Beverley; Morley; Sale


 * National 3 Midlands
 * Promoted: Ampthill (to 2 South)
 * Relegated: Derby; Mansfield
 * Promoted in: Bedford Athletic; Old Halesonians


 * National 3 South West
 * Promoted: Exmouth; London Irish Amateur
 * Relegated: Maidenhead; Malvern; Oxford Harlequins
 * Promoted in: Bracknell; Old Centralians; Old Redcliffians; Worcester Wanderers


 * National 3 London
 * Promoted: Bishop's Stortford
 * Relegated: Gravesend; Staines; Westcliff
 * Promoted in: Basingstoke; Bury St Edmunds; East Grinstead

2013–14 season

 * Premiership
 * Champions: Northampton Saints
 * Relegated: Worcester Warriors


 * Championship
 * Promoted: London Welsh
 * Relegated: Ealing Trailfinders


 * National 1
 * Promoted: Doncaster Knights
 * Relegated: Henley Hawks; Worthing Raiders (both to National 2 South); Hull Ionians (to National 2 North)


 * National 2 North
 * Promoted: Darlington Mowden Park; Macclesfield
 * Relegated: Bromsgrove; Dudley Kingswinford (both to 3 Midlands); Sheffield Tigers (to 3 North)


 * National 2 South
 * Promoted: Hartpury College
 * Relegated: Bournemouth; Exmouth (both to 3 South West); London Irish Amateur (to 3 London)
 * Transferred to 2 North: Ampthill


 * National 3 North
 * Promoted: Huddersfield; Stockport
 * Relegated: Bradford & Bingley; Penrith; Percy Park
 * Promoted in: Cleckheaton; Huddersfield YMCA; Wirral


 * National 3 Midlands
 * Promoted: Broadstreet
 * Relegated: Bedford Athletic; Newport; Syston
 * Transferred to 3 North: Lymm
 * Promoted in: Burton; Lichfield; Peterborough Lions


 * National 3 South West
 * Promoted: Lydney
 * Relegated: Avonmouth Old Boys; Chippenham; Worcester Wanderers
 * Promoted in: Chard; Hornets; Oxford Harlequins
 * Transferred to 3 London: Amersham & Chiltern


 * National 3 London
 * Promoted: Dorking; Old Elthamians
 * Relegated: Barking; Basingstoke; Thurrock
 * Promoted in: Chichester; Gravesend; Westcliff

2014–15 season

 * Premiership
 * Champions: Saracens
 * Relegated: London Welsh


 * Championship
 * Promoted: Worcester Warriors
 * Relegated: Plymouth Albion


 * National 1
 * Promoted: Ealing Trailfinders
 * Relegated: Macclesfield; Tynedale (both to National 2 North); Old Albanians (to National 2 South)


 * National 2 North
 * Promoted: Ampthill; Hull Ionians
 * Relegated: Birmingham & Solihull (to 3 Midlands); Hull; Stockport (to 3 North)


 * National 2 South
 * Promoted: Henley Hawks
 * Relegated: Dings Crusaders; Lydney (both to 3 South West); Shelford (to 3 London)


 * National 3 North
 * Promoted: Sale Amateurs; Sandal
 * Relegated: Beverley; Morley; Westoe
 * Promoted in: Birkenhead Park; Ilkley; Sheffield


 * National 3 Midlands
 * Promoted: South Leicester
 * Relegated: Bournville; Burton; Dudley Kingswinford
 * Promoted in: Newport (Salop); Old Northamptonians; Syston


 * National 3 South West
 * Promoted: Redingensians
 * Relegated: Chard; Oxford Harlequins; Weston-super-Mare
 * Promoted in: Cleve; Chippenham; Ivybridge
 * Transferred to 3 London: Bracknell


 * National 3 London
 * Promoted: Barnes; Bury St Edmunds
 * Relegated: Amersham & Chiltern; CS Rugby 1863; Tring
 * Promoted in: Colchester; Eton Manor; Wimbledon

Other sources

 * The Times newspaper 1984 onwards. News articles and results section.