The 2014–15 National League 1, known for sponsorship reasons as the SSE National League 1 is the sixth season of the
third tier of the English domestic
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 ...
competitions, since the professionalised format of the second tier
RFU Championship was introduced; and is the twenty-eighth season since league rugby began in 1987.
Ealing Trailfinders are the champions and return to the
2015–16 RFU Championship following their relegation from that league last season. The last three clubs are relegated;
Old Albanian to
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
Tynedale and
Macclesfield
Macclesfield () is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East, Cheshire, England. It is sited on the River Bollin and the edge of the Cheshire Plain, with Macclesfield Forest to its east; the town lies south of Ma ...
to
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 Northern England. The remainder of England is covered by the two counterpart leagues National L ...
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. The champions are promoted to the
Greene King IPA Championship and the bottom three teams are relegated to either
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 Northern England. The remainder of England is covered by the two counterpart leagues National L ...
or
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 ...
depending on the geographical location of the team.
Participating teams and locations
Twelve of the sixteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2013–14 champions
Doncaster Knights
Doncaster Knights Rugby Football Club ''(formerly, Doncaster RFC)'' are a professional rugby union club representing the city of Doncaster, England. The club play in the 2nd division of English rugby, the RFU Championship. Being the most prom ...
were promoted to the RFU Championship and are replaced by
Ealing Trailfinders who only spent one season in the league above. The three relegated teams were all promoted in 2012–13 and stayed one season in National League 1;
Henley Hawks and
Worthing Raiders are relegated to
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
Hull Ionians to
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 Northern England. The remainder of England is covered by the two counterpart leagues National L ...
. The promoted teams are
Hartpury College and
Macclesfield
Macclesfield () is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East, Cheshire, England. It is sited on the River Bollin and the edge of the Cheshire Plain, with Macclesfield Forest to its east; the town lies south of Ma ...
champions of National League 2 South and National League 2 North respectively, and
Darlington Mowden Park who won the promotion play-off against
Ampthill & District.
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
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Round 24
Postponed matches
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Round 25
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Round 26
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Round 27
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Round 28
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Round 29
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Round 30
Season records
Team
;Largest home win — 66 pts
78 – 12 Ealing Trailfinders at home to Wharfedale on 10 January
;Largest away win — 47 pts
0 – 47 Fylde away to Macclesfield on 13 September
;Most points scored — 78
78 – 12 Ealing Trailfinders at home to Wharfedale on 10 January
;Most tries in a match — 12
78 – 12 Ealing Trailfinders at home to Wharfedale on 10 January
;Most conversions in a match — 9
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Macclesfield on 18 October
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Wharfedale on 10 January
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Richmond on 24 January
;Most penalties in a match — 6
Hartbury College home to Esher on 4 October
Blackheath away to Wharfedale on 11 October
;Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple teams
Player
;Most points in a match — 25
Chris Davis for Richmond away to Hartbury College on 20 September
Ben Frankland for Tynedale away to Macclesfield on 11 October
Matthew Jones for Coventry away to Rosslyn Park on 25 April
;Most tries in a match — 5
Chris Davis for Richmond away to Hartbury College on 20 September
Ben Frankland for Tynedale away to Macclesfield on 11 October
;Most conversions in a match — 9
Matt Jarvis for Ealing Trailfinders at home to Macclesfield on 18 October
Ben Ward for Ealing Trailfinders at home to Wharfedale on 10 January
;Most penalties in a match — 6
Gareth Thompson for Hartbury College home to Esher on 4 October
Alex Gallagher for Blackheath away to Wharfedale on 11 October
;Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple players
Attendances
;Highest — 2,278
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Rosslyn Park on 18 April
;Lowest — 128
Cinderford at home to Old Albanian on 8 November
;Highest Average Attendance — 1,506
Coventry
;Lowest Average Attendance — 308
Macclesfield
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Average attendances
Leading scorers
Leading points scorers
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Top try scorers
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References
External links
NCA Rugby
{{DEFAULTSORT:2014-15 National League 1
National
National League 1 seasons