The
2004–05 National Division One
The RFU Championship, 2004–05 National Division One was the 18th full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. New teams to the division included Rotherham R.U.F.C., Roth ...
was the 18th 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 second tier of the English league system, currently known as the
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 Eng ...
. New teams to the division included
Rotherham Titans
Rotherham Rugby Union Football Club, or Rotherham Titans is a rugby union club from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, currently playing in the third tier of the English rugby union league system, following their promotion from the National League ...
who were demoted from the
2003–04 Zurich Premiership while
Sedgley Park
Prestwich ( ) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester, England, north of Manchester, north of Salford and south of Bury.
Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, Prestwich was the seat of the ...
and
Nottingham
Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...
were promoted from the
2003–04 National Division Two
The 2003–04 National Division Two was the fourth version (seventeenth overall) of the third division of the English rugby union league system using the name National Division Two. New teams to the division included Moseley and Rugby Lions who ...
. Rotherham almost went into liquidation and dropped out of the leagues following their relegation from the Premiership but were saved by a local consortium which enabled them to continue playing in National One. As well as new teams
Coventry
Coventry ( or rarely ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands county, in England, on the River Sherbourne. Coventry had been a large settlement for centurie ...
had a new ground, moving from
Coundon Road to the smaller but more modern
Butts Park Arena
Butts Park Arena is a multi-use sports stadium in Spon End, Coventry, England. Its main use is as a rugby stadium (both union and league). It is the home ground for Coventry R.F.C. (since its opening) and was the home of Midlands Hurricanes ...
.
By the end of the season, after two seasons spent in the division,
Bristol Shoguns became champions and were promoted back to the
Guinness Premiership
Premiership Rugby, officially known as Gallagher Premiership Rugby, or the Gallagher Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is an English professional rugby union competition, consisting of 10 clubs, and is the top division of the English rugby u ...
for season
2005–06.
Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs (officially Exeter Rugby Club) is an England, English professional rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby.
The club was founded in 1871 and since 2006 has played i ...
were runners–up, and
Orrell (last seasons runners–up) along with
Henley were relegated to the
2005–06 National Division Two.
Participating teams
Table
Results
Round 1
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 12 February 2005.
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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
*Despite earlier winning the game 22-15 Coventry were in breach of RFU principal regulation 11.4 and the Titans were awarded the win.
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Round 8
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 March 2005.
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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
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 February 2005.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 February 2005.
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Round 14
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 12 February 2005.
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 12 February 2005.
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Round 15
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Round 16
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Round 17
*Postponed. Game rescheduled to 19 March 2005.
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Round 18
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Round 13 (rescheduled games)
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Round 1 & 14 (rescheduled games)
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Round 19
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Round 20
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Round 8 (rescheduled game)
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Round 21
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Round 17 (rescheduled game)
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Round 22
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Round 23
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Round 24
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Round 25
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Round 26
Total Season Attendances
Individual statistics
* 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 — 53 pts (x2)
62 - 9 Bristol Shoguns at home to Sedgley Park on 16 January 2005
68 - 15 Bristol Shoguns at home to Exeter Chiefs on 27 March 2005
;Largest away win — 48 pts
53 - 5 Bristol Shoguns away to Orrell on 9 April 2005
;Most points scored — 68 pts
68 - 15 Bristol Shoguns at home to Exeter Chiefs on 27 March 2005
;Most tries in a match — 10
Bristol Shoguns away to Nottingham on 2 October 2005
;Most conversions in a match — 8 (x2)
Rotherham Titans at home to Orrell on 18 September 2004
Bristol Shoguns at home to Sedgley Park on 16 January 2005
;Most penalties in a match — 9
Coventry at home to Otley on 13 November 2004
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Bristol Shoguns at home to London Welsh on 12 September 2004
Player
;Most points in a match — 27 (x2)
Ramiro Pez for Rotherham Titans at home to Orrell on 18 September 2004
Matthew Leek for Coventry at home to Otley on 13 November 2004
;Most tries in a match — 4 (x2)
Dan Ward-Smith
Daniel Ward-Smith (born 2 January 1978) is a former New Zealand-born English rugby union player who played at number eight for Bristol & London Wasps. He also covered flanker and second row, which made him a massive forward to have in the Was ...
for Plymouth Albion at home to Coventry on 9 October 2004
Sean Marsden for Bristol Shoguns away to Orrell on 9 April 2005
;Most conversions in a match — 8
Ramiro Pez for Rotherham Titans at home to Orrell on 18 September 2004
;Most penalties in a match — 9
Matthew Leek for Coventry at home to Otley on 13 November 2004
;Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple players
Attendances
;Highest — 10,349
Bristol Shoguns at home to Exeter Chiefs on 27 March 2005
;Lowest — 237
Orrell at home to Plymouth Albion on 12 March 2005
;Highest Average Attendance — 5,234
Bristol Shoguns
;Lowest Average Attendance — 360
Orrell
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 consi ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:National Division 1
2004–05 in English rugby union leagues
2004-05