The
2007–08 National Division One was the 21st full season of
rugby union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...
within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the
RFU Championship
The RFU Championship is an English rugby union competition comprising twelve clubs. It is the second level of men’s English rugby and is played by both professional and semi-professional players. The competition has existed since 1987, when ...
. New teams included
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints (officially Northampton Rugby Football Club) is a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby.
They were formed in 1880 as "Northampton St. James", ...
(relegated from the
Guinness Premiership 2006-07) and
Esher
Esher ( ) is a town in Surrey, England, to the east of the River Mole.
Esher is an outlying suburb of London near the London-Surrey Border, and with Esher Commons at its southern end, the town marks one limit of the Greater London Built-Up Ar ...
and
Launceston (both promoted from
National Division Two 2006-07). After two seasons
Rotherham
Rotherham () is a large minster and market town in South Yorkshire, England. The town takes its name from the River Rother which then merges with the River Don. The River Don then flows through the town centre. It is the main settlement of ...
dropped the 'Earth' from their name to return to 'Rotherham Titans' (which they had been rebranded to in 2005 for the 2005-06 season) as sponsor Earth Mortgages ran into financial difficulties and Complete Technical Services instead became the club's new sponsor.
Following their relegation from the previous season,
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints (officially Northampton Rugby Football Club) is a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby.
They were formed in 1880 as "Northampton St. James", ...
won the National Division One title at the first attempt and returned to the
Guinness Premiership
Premiership Rugby, officially known as Gallagher Premiership Rugby, or the Gallagher Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is an English professional rugby union competition. The Premiership has consisted of thirteen clubs since 2021, and is the ...
for season
2008–09 with
Chris Ashton
Christopher John Ashton (born 29 March 1987) is an English rugby union and former rugby league player, and one of the few players who have represented England in both rugby codes. A wing or fullback, he joined Leicester Tigers of Premiership ...
setting what was then the English league try record of 39 tries in a season (although
Phil Chesters
Phil Chesters (born 29 October 1987) is an English rugby union player who is currently playing for Chinnor in National League 1 having signed for the club for the 2017-18 season.
Prior to that he had made his name at Ealing Trailfinders where h ...
broke this record with 70 tries in a season in
tier 4, Ashton's still stands as the highest ever in
tier 2).
Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs (officially Exeter Rugby Club) is an England, English professional rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby.
The club was founded in 1871 and since 2006 has played i ...
finished in second place, and
Pertemp Bees and
Launceston were relegated to the
2008–09 National Division Two
The 2008-09 National Division Two was the ninth and final version (twenty second overall) of the third division of the English rugby union league system using the name National Division Two. The RFU was planning to introduced a new professional ...
.
Participating teams
;Notes
Table
Results
Round 1
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Round 2
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Round 3
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Round 4
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Round 5
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Round 6
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Round 7
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Round 8
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Round 9
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Round 10
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Round 11
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Round 12
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Round 13
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Round 14
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Round 15
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 March 2008.
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Round 16
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 March 2008.
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Round 17
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 2008.
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Round 18
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Round 19
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Round 20
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 April 2008.
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Round 21
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Round 22
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 April 2008.
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Round 23
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Round 17 (rescheduled game)
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Round 24
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Round 15 (rescheduled game)
*Launceston had to play 'home game' at Franklin's Gardens due to issues with Polson Bridge floodlights
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Round 25
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Round 16 (rescheduled game)
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Round 26
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Round 27
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Round 28
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Round 20 & 22 (rescheduled games)
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Round 29
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Round 30
Total Season Attendances
Individual statistics
*Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers
Top try scorers
Season records
Team
;Largest home win — 93 pts
96 - 3 Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008
;Largest away win — 51 pts
59 - 8 Northampton Saints away to Sedgley Park on 6 October 2007
;Most points scored — 93 pts
96 - 3 Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008
;Most tries in a match — 14
Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008
;Most conversions in a match — 13
Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008
;Most penalties in a match — 6
Cornish Pirates at home to Exeter Chiefs on 7 October 2007
;Most drop goals in a match — 3
Exeter Chiefs away to Plymouth Albion on 8 September 2007
Player
;Most points in a match — 36
Bruce Reihana
Bruce Trevor Reihana (born 6 April 1976) is a former rugby union rugby player. He was a utility back, most notably for the majority of his career as captain of Northampton Saints in the English Premership.
Biography
Born in Thames, New Zea ...
for Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008
;Most tries in a match — 6
Chris Ashton
Christopher John Ashton (born 29 March 1987) is an English rugby union and former rugby league player, and one of the few players who have represented England in both rugby codes. A wing or fullback, he joined Leicester Tigers of Premiership ...
for Northampton Saints at home to Launceston on 26 April 2008
;Most conversions in a match — 13
Bruce Reihana
Bruce Trevor Reihana (born 6 April 1976) is a former rugby union rugby player. He was a utility back, most notably for the majority of his career as captain of Northampton Saints in the English Premership.
Biography
Born in Thames, New Zea ...
for Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008
;Most penalties in a match — 6
Gareth Steenson
Gareth Steenson (born 5 April 1984) is an Irish former rugby union player. He played as a Rugby union positions#Fly-half, fly-half.
Playing career Early years
Steenson, who is from Ulster, did not get opportunities with his home province with U ...
for Cornish Pirates at home to Exeter Chiefs on 7 October 2007
;Most drop goals in a match — 3
Danny Gray for Exeter Chiefs away to Plymouth Albion on 8 September 2007
Attendances
;Highest — 13,498
Northampton Saints at home to Exeter Chiefs on 22 March 2008
;Lowest — 350 (x2)
Pertemps Bees (twice) at home to Plymouth Albion on 15 September 2007 & Esher on 10 November 2007
;Highest Average Attendance — 11,494
Northampton Saints
;Lowest Average Attendance — 627
Sedgley Park
See also
*
English rugby union system
Men's Rugby union in England consists of 106 leagues, which includes professional leagues at the highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout the system.
Women's Rugby union in England cons ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:National Division 1
N1
2007-08