The 2013–14 National League 1, known for sponsorship reasons as the SSE National League 1 is the fifth season of the third tier of the English domestic

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 ...

competitions, since the professionalised format of the second tier

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 ...

was introduced. After being relegated last season, Doncaster Knights are the champions and became the first team to be promoted straight back to the RFU Championship for the 2014-15 season. The teams promoted last season from

2012–13 National League 2 South The 2012–13 National League 2 South was the fourth season (26th overall) of the fourth tier (south) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. The league system was ...

and 2012–13 National League 2 North, Henley Hawks, Hull Ionians and Worthing Raiders finished in the bottom three places with Henley and Worthing to join the

2014–15 National League 2 South The 2014–15 National League 2 South is the sixth season (28th overall) of the fourth tier (south) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. New teams to the divisio ...

and Ionians to the

2014–15 National League 2 North The 2014–15 National League 2 North is the sixth season (28th overall) of the National League 2 North, fourth tier of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the RFU Championship, second division was i ...

Participating teams and locations

After eight seasons in the second tier,

Doncaster Knights Doncaster Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club representing the town of Doncaster, England. The first XV are known as the "Doncaster Knights", and play in the RFU Championship. Being the most promoted side in English history has led to ...

find themselves playing in this league following their relegation from the

Henley Hawks Henley Hawks is a rugby union club based in Henley-on-Thames and is one of the leading rugby clubs in the Thames Valley. The first team play in the fourth tier of the English league system; National League 2 East. History Henley RFC was fo ...

and

Hull Ionians Hull Ionians is a rugby union club in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The first team play in English rugby's National League 2 North, the fourth tier of the English rugby union system, following their relegation from National League 1 ...

were promoted as champions of their respected leagues

National League 2 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 ...

and

National League 2 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 ...

respectively. The third team to win promotion to the league was Worthing Raiders who beat

Stourbridge Stourbridge is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the West Midlands, England, situated on the River Stour. Historically in Worcestershire, it was the centre of British glass making during the Industrial Revolution. The 20 ...

in the promotion play-off 28–26. It is the first appearance at this level for both Hull Ionians and Worthing Raiders.

Structure

The league consists of sixteen teams with all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of thirty matches each. There is one promotion place and three relegation places.

League table

Fixtures

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

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Round 16

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Round 17

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Round 18

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Round 19

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Round 20

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Round 21

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Round 22

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Round 23

Postponed matches (1)

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Round 24

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Round 25

* The above match was the 150th anniversary of rugby's oldest fixture.

Postponed matches (2)

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Round 26

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Round 27

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Round 28

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Round 29

Postponed match (3)

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Round 30

Postponed match (4)

Season records

Team

;Largest home win — 53 pts 67 – 14 Coventry v Hull Ionians on 26 April ;Largest away win — 48 pts 12 – 60 Rosslyn Park at Hull Ionians on 12 April ;Most points scored — 67pts 67 – 14 Coventry v Hull Ionians on 26 April ;Most points scored away from home — 60 pts 12 – 60 Rosslyn Park at Hull Ionians on 12 April ;Most tries in a match — 10 63 – 21 Coventry v Blackheath on 26 October
12 – 60 Rosslyn Park at Hull Ionians on 12 April
67 – 14 Coventry v Hull Ionians on 26 April ;Most conversions in a match — 8 Esher home to Tynedale on 9 November
Fylde home to Loughborough Students on 26 January ;Most penalties in a match — 7 Wharfdale v Loughborough Students on 21 September
Wharfdale at Tynedale on 28 September ;Most drop goals in a match — 1 N/A - multiple teams

Player

;Most points in a match — 28 pts Clifford Hodgson for Coventry at home to Blackheath on 26 October ;Most tries in a match — 4 Ben Frankland for Tynedale home to Blackheath on 18 January
Howe for Rosslyn Park at Hull Ionians on 12 April ;Most conversions in a match — 8 Luke Daniels for Esher home to Tynedale on 9 November ;Most penalties in a match — 7 Tom Barrett for Wharfdale at home to Loughborough Students on 21 September
Tom Barrett for Wharfdale at Tynedale on 28 September
;Most drop goals in a match — 1 N/A - multiple players ;Fastest try from kick-off 7.24 seconds by Tyson Lewis for Doncaster Knights at Old Albanians – the fastest ever try by a professional rugby union player. The try was originally timed at 8.13 seconds, but

Guinness World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

recorded it as 7.24 seconds. The previous record was 8.28 seconds by

Lee Blackett Lee Blackett (born 21 November 1982 in Chester, Cheshire, United Kingdom) is an English former rugby union footballer. Educated at King Edward VII and Queen Mary School in Lytham, he played some of his earlier rugby at Fylde Rugby Club. His usu ...

for

Leeds Carnegie Leeds Carnegie was a brand name used by several sports teams associated with the Carnegie School of Physical Education, now part of Leeds Beckett University. These include: Current * Leeds Carnegie Handball Club Changed name * Leeds Carnegie (ba ...

at home to Newcastle Falcons in the 2007–08 English Premiership.

Attendances

;Highest — 1,756 Rosslyn Park at home to Doncaster Knights on 29 March 2014 ;Lowest — 100 Loughborough Students at home to Hull Ionians on 22 March 2014 ;Highest Average Attendance — 1,198 Coventry ;Lowest Average Attendance — 283 Hull Ionians

Total Season Attendances

Leading scorers

Leading points scorers

Top try scorers

References

External links

NCA Rugby
{{DEFAULTSORT:2013-14 National League 1

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 ...

National League 1 seasons