The 2017–18 National League 2 South is the ninth season (31st overall) of the
fourth tier (south) 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 it ...
competitions since the professionalised 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 ...
was introduced.
On 7 April 2018
Broadstreet became the first club to be relegated, a 12–16 defeat away to fellow strugglers
Barnstaple condemning them to the drop with three games to go.
On 21 April
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 Cinde ...
became champions with a game to go following a narrow 21–19 win away to
Bury St Edmunds.
Cinderford were easily the best team in the division, finishing 12 points clear of second place
Chinnor
Chinnor is a large village and civil parish in South Oxfordshire about southeast of Thame, close to the border with Buckinghamshire. The village is a spring line settlement on the Icknield Way below the Chiltern escarpment. Since 1932 the ci ...
, who on most other seasons would have been good enough to finish champions but instead had to settle for the promotion playoff game. In winning the league title Cinderford set several National League 2 South records including winning the most games (29) and gaining the most points (143).
The battle for the final two relegation spots was one of the most keenest in several years with three teams threatened by the drop on the last day of the season. In the end it was
Wimbledon and
Barnstaple who went down on the 28 April, despite Barum getting a 17–14 win at home against the Londoners, as
Old Redcliffians managed to win at home to
Redruth. Old Reds had looked dead certs for relegation earlier in the season but turned it around with eight wins in the second half (compared to just 2 before Christmas) of the season to stay safe by 3 points, even leapfrogging 13th placed
London Irish Wild Geese who had secured safety the week before. Wimbledon also did well in the second half of the season getting eight wins (compared to one in the first half) but were ultimately left with two much to do and were 7 points from safety after their defeat at Pottingham Road. Barnstaple, by contrast, had looked safe earlier in the season but endured a torrid second half with just four wins after Christmas (for a total of ten overall). Injuries, along with poor try scoring and improvements from the teams around them, were primary contributors to Barum's downfall.
On 5 May 2018
Chinnor
Chinnor is a large village and civil parish in South Oxfordshire about southeast of Thame, close to the border with Buckinghamshire. The village is a spring line settlement on the Icknield Way below the Chiltern escarpment. Since 1932 the ci ...
would join Cinderford in the
2018–19 National League 1 after they defeated
2017–18 National League 2 North runners up
Sedgley Park
Prestwich ( ) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester, England, north of Manchester city centre, north of Salford and south of Bury.
Historically part of Lancashire, Prestwich was the seat of the ancient parish ...
40–31 in the promotion play-off game played at Kingsey Road.
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 automatic promotion place, one play-off place and three relegation places. The champions are promoted to the
2018–19 National League 1 and the runners-up play the second-placed team in the
2017–18 National League 2 North with the winner being promoted. The last three teams are relegated to either
London & South East Premier
Regional 1 South East (up until 2022-23 known as London & South East Premier and up until 2016-17 known as National League 3 London & South East) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. ...
or
South West Premier depending on the geographical location of the team (in some cases teams may join the Midlands regional leagues).
The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
*4 points are awarded for a win
*2 points are awarded for a draw
*0 points are awarded for a loss, however
*1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
*1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.
Participating teams and locations
Twelve of the teams listed below participated in the
2016–17 National League 2 South season. The 2016–17 champions
Bishop's Stortford and play-off winners
Old Elthamians, who won the promotion play-off against
Sale FC, were promoted into the
2017–18 National League 1, while no sides located in the south were relegated. The two relegated sides from National League 2 South are
Exmouth
Exmouth is a port town, civil parish and seaside resort, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe and southeast of Exeter.
In 2011 it had a population of 34,432, making Exmouth the 5th most populous settlement in Devon.
Histo ...
(who drop to
South West Premier) and
Barnes (who drop to
London & South East Premier
Regional 1 South East (up until 2022-23 known as London & South East Premier and up until 2016-17 known as National League 3 London & South East) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. ...
).
Usually three sides are relegated but when
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 ...
side
London Welsh
London Welsh Rugby Football Club ( cy, Clwb Rygbi Cymry Llundain) was a rugby union club formed in 1885. Based in Old Deer Park, Richmond-upon-Thames, London Welsh RFC played in the English Premiership in the 2012–13 and 2014–15 seaso ...
went into liquidation in the spring of 2017 it granted a reprieve for the 14th placed side in either National League 2 North or National League 2 South depending on comparable points, which in the end turned out to be
Barnstaple.
The promoted teams are
Old Redcliffians who finished as champions of
National League 3 South West
Regional 1 South West (formerly South West Premier and National League 3 South West) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 it was known as South West D ...
(now South West Premier), while
Tonbridge Juddians (champions) and
Wimbledon (playoffs) came up from
National League 3 London & SE
Regional 1 South East (up until 2022-23 known as London & South East Premier and up until 2016-17 known as National League 3 London & South East) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. ...
(now London & South East Premier).
Broadstreet were also included in the division when they were level transferred from
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 ...
having been promoted as champions of
National League 3 Midlands
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 ...
(now Midlands Premier). Broadstreet's inclusion came due to an imbalance of teams as both Bishop's Stortford and Old Elthamians had gone up into National League 1 coupled with no teams coming down the opposite way, and as the most southerly club, Broadstreet were deemed the most suitable for a level transfer.
League 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
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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
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Round 24
*Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game rescheduled to 17 March 2018.
*Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game rescheduled to 17 March 2018.
*Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game rescheduled to 17 March 2018.
*Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game rescheduled to 17 March 2018.
*Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game rescheduled to 17 March 2018.
*Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game rescheduled to 17 March 2018.
*Postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game rescheduled to 17 March 2018.
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Round 25
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Round 24 (rescheduled games)
*Rescheduled from 3 March 2018.
*Rescheduled from 3 March 2018.
*Rescheduled from 3 March 2018.
*Rescheduled from 3 March 2018.
*Rescheduled from 3 March 2018.
*Rescheduled from 3 March 2018.
*Game originally rescheduled from 3 March 2018 but postponed again due to bad weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 30 March 2018.
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Round 26
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Round 24 (rescheduled game)
*Game originally rescheduled from 3 March 2018 & then 18 March 2018 when it was postponed again.
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Round 27
*Broadstreet are relegated.
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Round 28
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Round 29
*Cinderford are champions.
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Round 30
*Barnstaple and Wimbledon are both relegated.
Promotion play-off
Each season, the runners-up in the
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 ...
and National League 2 South participate in a play-off for promotion to
National League 1
National One (last season known as National League 1 and previously known before September 2009 as National Division Two), is the third of three national leagues in the domestic rugby union competition of England. It was known as Courage Leagu ...
.
Chinnor
Chinnor is a large village and civil parish in South Oxfordshire about southeast of Thame, close to the border with Buckinghamshire. The village is a spring line settlement on the Icknield Way below the Chiltern escarpment. Since 1932 the ci ...
were runners up in the 2017–18 National League 2 South, and because they had a better record than the
2017–18 National League 2 North runners up,
Sedgley Park
Prestwich ( ) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester, England, north of Manchester city centre, north of Salford and south of Bury.
Historically part of Lancashire, Prestwich was the seat of the ancient parish ...
, they host the play-off match.
Attendances
* Does not include promotion play-off.
Individual statistics
* Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. Appearance figures also include coming on as substitutes (unused substitutes not included). Does not include promotion playoff.
Top points scorers
Top try scorers
Season records
Team
;Largest home win — 67 points
81 - 14 Taunton Titans at home to Worthing Raiders on 8 October 2017
;Largest away win — 73 points
90 - 17 Cinderford away to Henley Hawks on 16 September 2017
;Most points scored — 90
90 - 17 Cinderford away to Henley Hawks on 16 September 2017
;Most tries in a match — 14
Cinderford away to Henley Hawks on 16 September 2017
;Most conversions in a match — 10
Cinderford away to Henley Hawks on 16 September 2017
;Most penalties in a match — 5 (2)
Clifton at home to Canterbury on 11 November 2017
Old Redcliffians at home to Worthing Raiders on 7 April 2018
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Broadstreet away to Wimbledon on 9 December 2017
Attendances
;Highest — 1,016
Chinnor at home to Henley Hawks on 9 September 2017
;Lowest — 89
Clifton at home to Bury St Edmunds on 17 March 2018
;Highest average attendance — 774
Redruth
;Lowest average attendance — 157
Clifton
Player
;Most points in a match — 30
Ollie Rice for Taunton Titans at home to Wimbledon on 13 January 2018
;Most tries in a match — 6
Ollie Rice for Taunton Titans at home to Wimbledon on 13 January 2018
;Most conversions in a match — 10
James Moffat for Cinderford away to Henley Hawks on 16 September 2017
;Most penalties in a match — 5 (2)
Bradley Barnes for Clifton at home to Canterbury on 11 November 2017
Kieran Hill for Old Redcliffians at home to Worthing on 7 April 2018
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Clifford Hodgson for Broadstreet away to Wimbledon on 9 December 2017
Notes
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 ...
*
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 invo ...
References
External links
NCA Rugby
{{DEFAULTSORT:National2
2017-18
4S