The 2008-09 National Division Two was the ninth and final version (twenty second overall) of the third division of the
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
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 ...
league system using the name National Division Two. The
RFU
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for rugby union in England. It was founded in 1871, and was the sport's international governing body prior to the formation of what is now known as World Rugby (WR) in 1886. It pro ...
was planning to introduced a new professionalized format of the
second division
In sport, the Second Division, also called Division 2 or Division II is usually the second highest division of a league, and will often have promotion and relegation with divisions above and below. Following the rise of Premier League style compet ...
for the 2009-10 season which would lead to widespread league changes throughout the English league system including National Two being renamed National One and being increased from the 14 teams to 16 teams – a decision they made halfway through the season (more information on these changes is provided in the Divisional Changes section below). New teams to the division included Birmingham & Solihull (known the following season as Pertemps Bees) and Launceston who were relegated from the
2007–08 National Division One
The 2007–08 National Division One was the 21st full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. New teams included Northampton Saints (relegated from the Guinness Premiersh ...
while promoted teams included
Tynedale
__NOTOC__
Tynedale is an area and former local government district in south-west Northumberland, England. The district had a resident population of 58,808 according to the 2001 Census. Its main towns were Hexham, Haltwhistle and Prudhoe. The ...
coming up from the
2007–08 National Division Three North
The 2007–08 National Division Three North was the eighth season (nineteenth overall) of the fourth division (north) of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three North. New teams to the division include ...
while
Mounts Bay Mount's Bay or Mounts Bay may refer to:
*Mount's Bay, Cornwall UK
*Mounts Bay RFC, a defunct rugby club formerly based in Penzance
*Mounts Bay Road, Perth, Western Australia
*Mounts Bay, in the Swan River Estuary, Perth, see Swan River (Western Aus ...
(champions) and
Cinderford
Cinderford is a town and civil parish on the eastern fringe of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. The population was 8,777 at the 2021 Census.
The town came into existence in the 19th century, following the rapid expansion of Cind ...
(playoffs) both from the
2007–08 National Division Three South
The 2007–08 National Division Three South was the eighth season (21st overall) of the fourth division (south) of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three South. New teams to the division included Bar ...
.
At the end of the season Birmingham & Solihull made an instant return to the (newly named) 2009-10 RFU Championship. They edged out runners up
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...
by just 3 points due to the virtue of a superior bonus points record after both sides finished with 22 wins and 4 defeats each. At the bottom of the table Waterloo, Mounts Bay,
Southend
Southend-on-Sea (), commonly referred to as Southend (), is a coastal city and unitary authority area with borough status in southeastern Essex, England. It lies on the north side of the Thames Estuary, east of central London. It is bordered ...
and
Westcombe Park
Westcombe Park is a largely residential area in Blackheath in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, South East London, England. It is bounded by the main London-Dartford railway line to the north, the Blackwall Tunnel southern approach to the east, th ...
were relegated with Westcombe Park and Southend dropping to the
2009–10 National League 2 South
The 2009–10 National League 2 South was the first season (23rd overall) of the fourth tier (south) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. Previously known as ...
and Waterloo falling to the
2009–10 National League 2 North
The 2009–10 National League 2 North was the first season (twenty-third overall) of the fourth tier (north) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. Previously kno ...
. The relegation of Mounts Bay was particularly potent as it led to the club going out of business in June 2009 due to spiraling debts and an inability to cope with the increase of professionalism in the game.
Divisional Changes
Halfway through the season the
RFU
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for rugby union in England. It was founded in 1871, and was the sport's international governing body prior to the formation of what is now known as World Rugby (WR) in 1886. It pro ...
proposed to have a total restructuring of the league system. Resulting in many changes to the division:
*The league will be increased to 16 teams
*The league will be renamed National Division One
*Only one team would be promoted instead of the usual two, to the new Guinness Championship
*Five teams would be relegated into the division instead of the usual two
*Fours teams would be promoted from
National Division Three North
National League 2 North is one of three, level four leagues in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in the northern half of England, the North. The remainder of England is covered by the two counte ...
and
National Division Three South
National League 2 South (known before September 2009 as National Division Three South) was a level four league in the English rugby union system until the end of season 2021–22. It was one of two leagues at this level, with its counterpart, N ...
(two teams each) instead of the usual three
Participating teams and locations
Final league table
Results
Round 1
----
Round 2
----
Round 3
----
Round 4
----
Round 5
----
Round 6
----
Round 7
----
Round 8
----
Round 9
----
Round 10
----
Round 11
----
Round 12
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 14 April 2009.
----
Round 13
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 February 2009.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 7 February 2009.
----
Round 14
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 14 March 2009.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 January 2009.
----
Round 15
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 April 2009.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 May 2009.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 February 2009.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 10 April 2009.
----
Round 16
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 14 March 2009.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 14 March 2009.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 May 2009.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 May 2009.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 28 February 2009.
----
Round 14 (Rescheduled game)
*Game rescheduled from 20 December 2008.
----
Round 17
----
Round 18
----
Round 13 (Rescheduled game)
*Game rescheduled from 6 December 2008.
----
Round 19
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 April 2009.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 May 2009.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 April 2009.
----
Round 20
----
Rounds 13, 15 & 16 (Rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 6 December 2008.
*Game rescheduled from 10 January 2009.
*Game rescheduled from 3 January 2009.
----
Round 21
----
Rounds 14 & 16 (Rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 10 January 2009.
*Game rescheduled from 10 January 2009.
*Game rescheduled from 20 December 2008.
----
Round 22
----
Round 23
----
Round 24
----
Rounds 15 & 19 (Rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 14 February 2009.
*Game rescheduled from 3 January 2009.
*Game rescheduled from 3 January 2009.
*Game rescheduled from 14 February 2009.
----
Round 12 (Rescheduled game)
*Game rescheduled from 29 November 2008.
----
Round 25
----
Round 26
----
Rounds 15 & 16 (Rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 3 January 2009.
*Game rescheduled from 10 January 2009.
*Game rescheduled from 10 January 2009.
----
Round 19 (Rescheduled game)
*Game rescheduled from 14 February 2009.
Total season attendances
Individual statistics
* Note if players are tied on tries or points the player with the lowest number of appearances will come first. Also 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 — 115 pts
115 - 0 Birmingham & Solihull at home to Waterloo on 4 April 2009
;Largest away win — 61 pts
85 - 24 Blackheath away to Waterloo on 28 February 2009
;Most points scored — 115 pts
115 - 0 Birmingham & Solihull at home to Waterloo on 4 April 2009
;Most tries in a match — 17
115 - 0 Birmingham & Solihull at home to Waterloo on 4 April 2009
;Most conversions in a match — 15
115 - 0 Birmingham & Solihull at home to Waterloo on 4 April 2009
;Most penalties in a match — 7
Mounts Bay at home to Southend on 5 November 2008
;Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple teams
Player
;Most points in a match — 35 (x2)
Alastair Bressington
Alastair Nigel Bressington (born 28 November 1979) is a former English cricketer and rugby union player. He was a left-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler. Bressington was born in Bristol, and he was educated at University of Wa ...
for Stourbridge away to Westcombe Park on 25 October 2008
Mark Woodrow
Mark Woodrow (born 16 September 1980) is an English rugby union player-coach for Dings Crusaders Rugby Football Club, Dings Crusaders currently playing in the English National League 3 South West. His position of choice is fly-half. Mark has pla ...
for Birmingham & Solihull at home to Waterloo on 4 April 2009
;Most tries in a match — 5
Emyr Lewis
Emyr Lewis (born 29 August 1968) Scrum.com is a former
Mark Woodrow
Mark Woodrow (born 16 September 1980) is an English rugby union player-coach for Dings Crusaders Rugby Football Club, Dings Crusaders currently playing in the English National League 3 South West. His position of choice is fly-half. Mark has pla ...
for Birmingham & Solihull at home to Waterloo on 4 April 2009
;Most penalties in a match — 7
Daniel Hawkes for Mounts Bay at home to Southend on 5 November 2008
;Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple players
Attendances
;Highest — 2,218
Redruth at home to Mounts Bay on 20 December 2008
;Lowest — 131
Westcombe Park at home to Wharfedale on 29 November 2008
;Highest Average Attendance — 1,170
Redruth
;Lowest Average Attendance — 233
Westcombe Park
See also
*
English Rugby Union Leagues
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 ...
*
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 ...
*
Rugby union in England
Rugby union in England is one of the leading professional and recreational team sports. In 1871 the Rugby Football Union, the governing body for rugby union in England, was formed by 21 rugby clubs, and the first international match, which involv ...
National
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, ce ...