The 2021–22 National League 2 South was the twelfth and final season (34th 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.
Structure
The league consisted of sixteen teams with all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of thirty matches each. As originally planned there was one promotion place and one relegation place. The champions would be promoted to the
2022–23 National League 1
2022–23 National League 1 is the 35th season of the third tier of the English domestic rugby union competitions, and following a reorganisation of the league structure, it is reverting to a 14-team format.
Structure
The league consists of ...
and the last team relegated to the most appropriate tier five league depending on the geographical location of the team.
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
2019–20 National League 2 North
The 2019–20 National League 2 North was the eleventh season (33rd overall) of the fourth tier (north) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced.
On 22 February Scun ...
season. The 2019–20 champions,
Taunton Titans, and runner-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 ...
were promoted to 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 ...
, replacing
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 were relegated from 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 ...
. The three teams relegated from National League 2 South the previous season were
Sutton & Epsom (
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
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 ...
(both
South-West Premier). The promoted teams were
Barnstaple
Barnstaple ( or ) is a river-port town and civil parish in the North Devon district of Devon, England. The town lies at the River Taw's lowest crossing point before the Bristol Channel. From the 14th century, it was licensed to export wool from ...
(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
Rochford Hundred and
Guernsey Raiders come up as champions and runner-up of
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 ...
. In order to address an imbalance of teams,
Hinckley
Hinckley is a market town in south-west Leicestershire, England, administered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. Hinckley is the third largest settlement in Leicestershire, after Leicester and Loughborough, and is about halfway between L ...
were level transferred to the 2021–22 National League 2 South as the most appropriate located team in terms of access to the southern sides.
The Rugby Football Union restructured the leagues after the 2021–22 season and National 2 South was discontinued. Fifteen of the sixteen teams were placed into one of the other level four leagues for 2022–23. Barnes, Bury St. Edmunds, Canterbury, Guernsey Raiders, Henley Hawks, Old Albanian, Rochford Hundred, Westcliff and Worthing Raiders were transferred to the newly created
National League 2 East
National League 2 East is a rugby union league at level four in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in London, South East England and the East of England. The remainder of England is covered by t ...
while Barnstaple, Clifton, Dings Crusaders, Hinckley, Leicester Lions and Redruth were transferred to another new level four league,
National League 2 West
National League 2 West is a rugby union league at level four in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in the Midlands and South West England. The remainder of England is covered by two other region ...
. The champions Esher were promoted to
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 ...
. No teams were relegated to level five.
League table
Fixtures & results
Fixtures for the season were announced by the RFU on 4 May 2021.
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 2 (rescheduled match)
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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 3, 10, 12, 15 & 16 (rescheduled matches)
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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
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Rescheduled 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
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Rescheduled matches
Attendances
Individual statistics
* Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers
[
]
Top try scorers
[
]
See also
* 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 ...
* 2021–22 National League 2 North
Notes
References
External links
NCA Rugby
{{DEFAULTSORT:National2
2021-22
4S