The 1997–98 National League 1, sponsored by
Jewson
Jewson is one of the largest chains of British general builders' merchants, selling to small and medium building contractors. The chain comprises around 500 branches located all across Great Britain. Jewson is part of Denmark's Stark Group, STAR ...
, was the eleventh full season of
rugby union
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
within the third tier of the
English league system, currently known as
National League 1
National One, up until 2023 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 Lea ...
.
Structure
The league consisted of fourteen teams, playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of twenty-six matches for each team. There were four promotion places with the top four teams promoted to the
1998–99 Allied Dunbar Premiership Two
The RFU Championship, 1998-99 Allied Dunbar Premiership Two was the twelfth full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English rugby union system, English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. The league was expand ...
. There was no relegation, this season, to either
National Division 4 North or
South
South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...
due to an increase, from twelve teams to fourteen, in the top two divisions.
Participating teams and locations
National Division Three was reduced from sixteen teams to fourteen with ten of the clubs participating in last seasons competition. To make up the numbers two of the teams (Rugby Lions and Nottingham) were relegated from National League 2, and the champions of National 4 North (Worcester) and National 4 South (Newbury) were both promoted.
League table
Sponsorship
For the first ten seasons
Courage Brewery
Courage was an English brewery, founded by John Courage in London, England, in 1787.
History Origin and family ownership
The Courage Brewery was started by John Courage (1757 – October 1793). He was a Scottish shipping agent believed to b ...
sponsored the league. Following reorganisation the top two divisions are sponsored by the assurance company
Allied Dunbar and the rest of the divisions, including National League 1 is sponsored by the building suppliers,
Jewson
Jewson is one of the largest chains of British general builders' merchants, selling to small and medium building contractors. The chain comprises around 500 branches located all across Great Britain. Jewson is part of Denmark's Stark Group, STAR ...
.
See also
*
English Rugby Union Leagues
*
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 consi ...
*
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 invol ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:1997-98 National League 1
Nat
National League 1 seasons