Devon League 1 is an English level eight
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 ...
league for clubs based in
Devon
Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devo ...
(and sometimes includes one Cornish club — St Columba & Torpoint). The champions are promoted to
Cornwall/Devon and the runner-up plays the second team from
Cornwall League 1, with the winning team gaining promotion. Up until the end of the 2017–18 season, teams were relegated to
Devon League 2 but since that league has been abolished there is currently no relegation.
Each year a team from Devon League 1 is picked to take part in the
RFU Junior Vase
The RFU Junior Vase is a rugby union national knockout cup competition in England run by the Rugby Football Union, which has been competed for since 1990. It is mostly contested by 1st XV teams at level 9 of the English rugby union system, alth ...
– a national cup competition for clubs at levels 9–12.
Format
The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-six rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals, home and away. 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.
The top two teams are promoted to Western Counties West and the bottom three teams are relegated to either Cornwall One or Devon One depending on their location.
2021–22
2020–21
Due to the
ongoing pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
2019–20
2018–19
2017–18
2016–17
Participating clubs and locations
League table
Promotion play-off
Each season, the runners-up of
Cornwall 1 and Devon 1, usually participate in a play-off for promotion to
Cornwall/Devon. Newquay Hornets declined to play the match and Torrington were promoted.
2015–16
Participating clubs and locations
League table
Promotion play-off
Each season, the runners-up of
Cornwall 1 and Devon 1, usually participate in a play-off for promotion to
Cornwall/Devon. Camborne School of Mines were due to play Topsham, but it appears that Camborne School of Mines conceded.
2014–15
Plymouth Argaum are the champions and they are promoted to
Cornwall/Devon for season 2015–16.
The runner-up, Plymstock Albion Oaks won the play-off match against
Veor 47 – 3 to also win promotion. The last two teams Old Technicians (8th) and Torrington (9th) are relegated (subject to confirmation) to
Devon 2.
Participating clubs and locations
League table
Promotion play-off
Each season, the runners-up of
Cornwall 1 and Devon 1, participate in a play-off for promotion to
Cornwall/Devon. Plymouth Albion Oaks beat the home team Veor 47 – 3.
2013–14
The 2013–14 Devon 1 consisted of nine clubs; eight from Devon and one from Cornwall. The season started on 7 September 2013 and ended on 5 April 2014 with each team playing each of the other teams twice. South Molton finished in first place and were promoted to
Cornwall/Devon, while the runner-up, Totnes, lost to the second team in
Cornwall 1, Bodmin, in a play-off and stay in this league. The bottom team, Salcombe, were relegated to
Devon 2.
Participating clubs and locations
League table
2012–13
Participating clubs
* Dartmouth
* Exeter University
* New Cross
* Plymstock Albion Oaks
* Salcombe
* South Molton
* Topsham
* Torrington
* Totnes
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
*
Exeter Saracens
*
Honiton
Honiton ( or ) is a market town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. Honiton has a population estimated at 11,822 (based on mid-year estimates for the two Honiton Ward ...
*
Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe ( ) is a seaside resort and civil parish on the North Devon coast, England, with a small harbour surrounded by cliffs.
The parish stretches along the coast from the 'Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and along t ...
*
Ivybridge
Ivybridge is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the South Hams, in Devon, England. It lies about east of Andy Hughes’ new house in Ivybridge now he’s forgotten Ugborough. It is at the southern extremity of Dartmoor, a N ...
*
Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge is a market town and tourist hub in the South Hams district of Devon, England, with a population of 6,116 at the 2011 census. Two electoral wards bear the name of ''Kingsbridge'' (East & North). Their combined population at the ab ...
*
Old Technicians
*
Plymouth Argaum
*
Plymouth Civil Service
*
Prince Rock
A prince is a Monarch, male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary title, hereditary, in s ...
*
South Molton
South Molton is a town in Devon, England. It is part of the North Devon local government district. The town is on the River Mole. According to the 2001 census the civil parish of South Molton had a population of 4,093, increasing to 5,108 at the ...
*
Totnes
Totnes ( or ) is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England, within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is about west of Paignton, about west-southwest of Torquay and abo ...
Devon League 1 honours
Devon League 1 (1987–1993)
The original Devon 1 (sponsored by
Courage) was a tier 9 league with promotion to
Cornwall/Devon and relegation to
Devon 2.
Devon League 1 (1993–96)
The creation of
National 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Devon 1 became a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to
Cornwall/Devon and relegation to
Devon 2. The league continued to be sponsored by
Courage.
Devon League 1 (1996–2009)
The cancellation of
National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Devon League 1 return to being a tier 9 division. Promotion continued to
Cornwall/Devon and relegation to
Devon 2. From the 2008–09 season onward the league sponsor was
Tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of land which the state conqu ...
.
Cornwall/Devon League (2009–2018)
Despite widespread league restructuring by 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 ...
, Devon 1 continued as a tier 9 division, with promotion to
Cornwall/Devon and relegation to
Devon 2.
Tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of land which the state conqu ...
continued to sponsor the league.
Devon League 1 (2018–present)
From the 2018–19 Devon 1 continued as a tier 9 division, with promotion to
Cornwall/Devon. However, the cancellation of
Devon 2 meant there was no longer relegation.
Tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of land which the state conqu ...
continues to sponsor the league
Promotion play-offs
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of
Cornwall League 1 and Devon League 1 for the third and final promotion place to
Cornwall/Devon. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the Devon League 1 teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Cornwall League 1 teams five; and the home team has won promotion on twelve occasions compared to the away teams six.
Number of league titles
*
South Molton
South Molton is a town in Devon, England. It is part of the North Devon local government district. The town is on the River Mole. According to the 2001 census the civil parish of South Molton had a population of 4,093, increasing to 5,108 at the ...
(4)
*
Old Plymothian & Mannamedian (3)
*
Wessex
la, Regnum Occidentalium Saxonum
, conventional_long_name = Kingdom of the West Saxons
, common_name = Wessex
, image_map = Southern British Isles 9th century.svg
, map_caption = S ...
(3)
*
Exeter Saracens (2)
*
Teignmouth
Teignmouth ( ) is a seaside town, fishing port and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is situated on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign, about 12 miles south of Exeter. The town had a population of 14,749 at th ...
(2)
*
Withycombe (2)
*
Devonport Services (1)
*
Exeter University
, mottoeng = "We Follow the Light"
, established = 1838 - St Luke's College1855 - Exeter School of Art1863 - Exeter School of Science 1955 - University of Exeter (received royal charter)
, type = Public
, ...
(1)
*
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 ...
(1)
*
Honiton
Honiton ( or ) is a market town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. Honiton has a population estimated at 11,822 (based on mid-year estimates for the two Honiton Ward ...
(1)
*
Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge is a market town and tourist hub in the South Hams district of Devon, England, with a population of 6,116 at the 2011 census. Two electoral wards bear the name of ''Kingsbridge'' (East & North). Their combined population at the ab ...
(1)
*
Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish on the River Teign in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England. Its 2011 population of 24,029 was estimated to reach 26,655 in 2019. It grew rapidly in the Victorian era as the home of the So ...
(1)
*
North Tawton
North Tawton is a small town in Devon, England, situated on the river Taw. It is administered by West Devon Council. The population of the electoral ward at the census 2011 was 2,026.
History
Romans crossed the River Taw at what is now Newl ...
(1)
*
Okehampton
Okehampton ( ) is a town and civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. It is situated at the northern edge of Dartmoor, and had a population of 5,922 at the 2011 census. Two electoral wards are based in the town (east and west) ...
(1)
*
Paignton
Paignton ( ) is a seaside town on the coast of Tor Bay in Devon, England. Together with Torquay and Brixham it forms the borough of Torbay which was created in 1998. The Torbay area is a holiday destination known as the English Riviera. Paignt ...
(1)
*
Plymouth Argaum (1)
*
Plymouth Barbarians (1)
*
Plymouth Civil Service (1)
*
Sidmouth
Sidmouth () is a town on the English Channel in Devon, South West England, southeast of Exeter. With a population of 12,569 in 2011, it is a tourist resort and a gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. A large part of the town h ...
(1)
*
Tamar Saracens (1)
*
Tavistock
Tavistock ( ) is an ancient stannary and market town within West Devon, England. It is situated on the River Tavy from which its name derives. At the 2011 census the three electoral wards (North, South and South West) had a population of 13 ...
(1)
*
Torrington (1)
*
Totnes
Totnes ( or ) is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England, within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is about west of Paignton, about west-southwest of Torquay and abo ...
(1)
Tier nine format since 1987
Notes
See also
* South West Division RFU
* Devon RFU
* Devon 2
* Devon 3
* 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
{{Rugby union in England
9
Sports leagues established in 1987
Recurring sporting events established in 1987
Rugby union in Devon
Rugby union in Cornwall