The 2019–20 National League 2 South was the eleventh season (33rd overall) of the
fourth tier (south) 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 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.
Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
The COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom is a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In the United Kingdom, it has resulted in confirm ...
, the Rugby Football Union officially cancelled the season on 20 March 2020, after an initial postponement of all rugby in England including training. After the cancellation was announced the RFU used a best playing record formula to decide the final table. This meant that
Taunton Titans, who were 3 points clear when the league was suspended, were promoted as champions along with runners up
Tonbridge Juddians
Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team based in Tonbridge in Kent. The club runs four senior teams, a ladies side and the full range of junior teams. The first XV play in National League 2 East for the 2022–23 se ...
, who went up as the best runner up as they had more considerably more points than
2019–20 National League 2 North runner up
Fylde.
The relegated teams included
Bournemouth
Bournemouth ( ) is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. At the 2021 census, the built-up area had a population of 196,455, making it the largest ...
,
Old Redcliffians
Old Redcliffians Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team based in Brislington, a suburb of Bristol
Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West E ...
and
Sutton & Epsom, all of whom had occupied the bottom three spots before league suspension, with 14th placed Sutton & Epsom 13 points behind 13th placed
Westcliff
Westcliff-on-Sea (previously known as Milton, often abbreviated to Westcliff, and in the past spelt as Westcliffe-on-Sea) is a suburb of the city of Southend-on-Sea, located within the ceremonial county of Essex, England. It is on the north sh ...
and safety. Taunton Titans and Tonbridge Juddians will join the
2021–22 National League 1
2021–22 National League 1 is the twelfth season (34th overall) of the third tier of the English rugby union system, English domestic rugby union competitions, since the professionalised format of the RFU Championship, second division was introd ...
(the highest level either club have reached), while
Bournemouth
Bournemouth ( ) is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. At the 2021 census, the built-up area had a population of 196,455, making it the largest ...
and
Old Redcliffians
Old Redcliffians Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team based in Brislington, a suburb of Bristol
Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West E ...
drop down to
South West Premier
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 ...
and
Sutton & Epsom to
London & South East Premier
Regional 1 South East (formerly known as London & South East Premier and 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. When this division began in 1987 ...
.
Other interesting news from the season was Taunton's
Gary Kingdom who finished as top scorer in the division for the third time, tying him with
Worthing Raiders prolific
Matthew McLean. An unwanted record was also made with Tonbridge Juddians official attendance of 0 from their game Sutton & Epsom on 21 December 2019 being the lowest ever recorded in a National League 2 South game. This was due to the game being played behind closed doors due to safety concerns caused by flooding.
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
2020–21 National League 1 and the runners-up play the second-placed team in the
2019–20 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 (formerly known as London & South East Premier and 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. When this division began in 1987 ...
or
South West Premier
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 ...
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
Eleven of the teams listed below participated in the
2018–19 National League 2 South season. The 2018–19 champions
Rams
In engineering, reliability, availability, maintainability and safety (RAMS)Canterbury
Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...
, who won the promotion play-off against
Chester
Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, Wales, River Dee, close to the England–Wales border. With a built-up area population of 92,760 in 2021, it is the most populous settlement in the borough of Cheshire West an ...
, were promoted into the
2019–20 National League 1
The 2019–20 National League 1, known for sponsorship reasons as the SSE National League 1, was the 11th season of the National League 1, third tier of the English rugby union system, since the professionalised format of the second tier RFU Champ ...
, while
Esher
Esher ( ) is a town in the borough of Borough of Elmbridge, Elmbridge in Surrey, England, to the east of the River Mole, Surrey, River Mole.
Esher is an outlying suburb of London, close to the London–Surrey border; with Esher Commons at its ...
were relegated into the division from the
2018–19 National League 1
The 2018–19 National League 1, known for sponsorship reasons as the SSE National League 1, is the tenth season of the third tier of the English rugby union system, since the professionalised format of the second tier RFU Championship was intro ...
.
Sides relegated from the 2018–19 National League 2 South included
Birmingham & Solihull (to Greater Birmingham Merit Leagues),
Guernsey
Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...
(
London & South East Premier
Regional 1 South East (formerly known as London & South East Premier and 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. When this division began in 1987 ...
) and
London Irish Wild Geese (
South West Premier
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 ...
). In the case of Birmingham & Solihull, they had initially been supposed to drop to
Midlands Premier
Regional 1 Midlands (until 2021–22 known as Midlands Premier and up until 2016–17 known as National League 3 Midlands) is a level five semi-professional league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When ...
but on further reflection decided to become an amateur club and drop out of the league system.
The promoted teams are
Bournemouth
Bournemouth ( ) is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. At the 2021 census, the built-up area had a population of 196,455, making it the largest ...
who come up as champions of
South West Premier
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 ...
while
Sutton & Epsom (champions) and
Westcliff
Westcliff-on-Sea (previously known as Milton, often abbreviated to Westcliff, and in the past spelt as Westcliffe-on-Sea) is a suburb of the city of Southend-on-Sea, located within the ceremonial county of Essex, England. It is on the north sh ...
(play-off) came up from
London & South East Premier
Regional 1 South East (formerly known as London & South East Premier and 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. When this division began in 1987 ...
.
Leicester Lions
Leicester Lions are a speedway team which originally operated from 1968 until 1983Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. and again from 2011. The team race at the Beaumont Park Stadium (or Hydroscand Arena for sponsorsh ...
were level transferred into the division 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 Northern England. The remainder of England is covered by the two counterpart leagues National L ...
in order to address an imbalance of teams in National 2, with Rams and Canterbury being promoted and only Esher dropping down from National League 1. Although there were several candidates for the level-transfer in the end Leicester Lions were deemed the most suitable due to being the most southerly club in a central position, making access to both the south-east and south-west more straightforward than alternatives such as
Luctonians.
Tables
At the date the leagues were suspended, the National League 2 South table read as follows:
On 4 April, the Rugby Football Union confirmed the final table for the season.
Fixture & 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
*Postponed due to unplayable pitch caused by bad weather (rain). Game to be rescheduled for 22 February 2020.
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Round 11
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Round 12
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Round 13
*Abandoned after 60 minutes due to power cut. Game eventually rescheduled for 22 February 2020.
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Round 14
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Round 15
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Round 16
*Postponed due to unplayable pitch caused by heavy rain. Game to be rescheduled for 21 February 2020.
*Postponed due to unplayable pitch caused by heavy rain. Game to be rescheduled for 22 February 2020.
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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
*Postponed. Game to be rescheduled for 14 March 2020.
*Postponed. Game to be rescheduled for 14 March 2020.
*Postponed. Game to be rescheduled for 14 March 2020.
*Postponed. Game to be rescheduled for 14 March 2020.
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Rounds 10, 13 & 16 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 21 December 2019.
*Game originally rescheduled from 9 November 2019 but postponed again due to poor weather. Game to be rescheduled for 11 April 2020.
*Game rescheduled from 21 December 2019.
*Game rescheduled from 30 November 2019.
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Round 24
*Postponed due to unplayable pitch caused by heavy rain. Game to be rescheduled for 11 April 2020.
*Postponed due to unplayable pitch caused by heavy rain. Game to be rescheduled for 11 April 2020.
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Round 25
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Round 23 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 15 February 2020.
*Game originally rescheduled from 15 February 2020 but postponed again due a Dings player being potentially exposed to
coronavirus
Coronaviruses are a group of related RNA viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans and birds, they cause respiratory tract infections that can range from mild to lethal. Mild illnesses in humans include some cases of the comm ...
. Game to be rescheduled.
*Game rescheduled from 15 February 2020.
*Game rescheduled from 15 February 2020.
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Round 26
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Round 27
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Round 28
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Rounds 10 & 24 (rescheduled games)
*Game rescheduled from 29 February 2020.
*Game rescheduled from 29 February 2020.
*Game rescheduled from 9 November 2019 and then 22 February 2020.
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Round 29
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Round 30
Attendances
* Does not include promotion play-off.
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 — 73 points
83 – 10 Tonbridge Juddians at home to Sutton & Epsom on 21 December 2019
;Largest away win — 60 points
74 – 14 Tonbridge Juddians away to Sutton & Epsom on 14 September 2019
;Most points scored — 83 points
83 – 10 Tonbridge Juddians at home to Sutton & Epsom on 21 December 2019
;Most tries in a match — 13
Tonbridge Juddians at home to Sutton & Epsom on 21 December 2019
;Most conversions in a match — 9 (3)
Henley Hawks at home to Worthing Raiders on 5 October 2019
Tonbridge Juddians at home to Taunton Titans on 5 October 2019
Tonbridge Juddians at home to Sutton & Epsom on 21 December 2019
;Most penalties in a match — 5 (2)
Worthing Raiders at home to Old Redcliffians on 7 September 2019
Taunton Titans at home to Bury St Edmunds on 23 November 2019
;Most drop goals in a match — 1 (3)
Redruth at home to Old Redcliffians on 30 November 2019
Bury St Edmunds at home to Tonbridge Juddians on 14 December 2019
Leicester Lions away to Old Redcliffians on 7 March 2020
Attendances
;Highest — 1,076
Dings Crusaders at home to Clifton on 14 September 2019
;Lowest — 0
Tonbridge Juddians at home to Sutton & Epsom on 21 December 2019
;Highest average attendance — 676
Redruth
;Lowest average attendance — 136
Leicester Lions
Player
;Most points in a match — 26
Tristan Roberts
Tristan Roberts (born 23 March 1987 in Maidstone, England) is a rugby union player who currently plays for Esher in National League 1, having previously been at US Cognac ( France's third division) and Ealing Trailfinders (RFU Championship). ...
for Esher away to Barnes on 14 September 2019
;Most tries in a match — 4 (2)
Murray Galbraith-Lowe for Tonbridge Juddians at home to Taunton Titans on 5 October 2019
Ewan Fenley for Henley Hawks away to Dings Crusaders on 30 November 2019
;Most conversions in a match — 9 (3)
Ben Bolster for Henley Hawks at home to Worthing Raiders on 5 October 2019
Will Robinson for Tonbridge Juddians at home to Taunton Titans on 5 October 2019
Will Robinson for Tonbridge Juddians at home to Sutton & Epsom on 21 December 2019
;Most penalties in a match — 5 (3)
Matthew McLean for Worthing Raiders at home to Old Redcliffians on 7 September 2019
Gary Kingdom for Taunton Titans at home to Bury St Edmunds on 23 November 2019
;Most drop goals in a match — 1 (3)
Fraser Honey for Redruth at home to Old Redcliffians on 30 November 2019
Kodie Drury-Hawkins for Bury St Edmunds at home to Tonbridge Juddians on 14 December 2019
Ben Young for Leicester Lions away to Old Redcliffians on 7 March 2020
Notes
See also
*
2019–20 National League 2 North
*
2019–20 National League 1
The 2019–20 National League 1, known for sponsorship reasons as the SSE National League 1, was the 11th season of the National League 1, third tier of the English rugby union system, since the professionalised format of the second tier RFU Champ ...
*
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
External links
NCA Rugby
{{DEFAULTSORT:National2
2019–20
4S
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 ...