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1996–97 National Division 2

Rugby union competition in England

Rugby union competition in England

FieldValue
name1996–97 National Division 2
countriesEngland
championsRichmond (1st title)
runnersupNewcastle Falcons
relegatedRugby Lions
Nottingham
matches132
date7 September 1996 – 11 May 1997
highest attendance8,000 – Coventry v Newcastle (2 November 1996)
top point scorer334 – Simon Mason (Richmond)
top try scorer23 – John Bentley (Newcastle)
prevseason1995–96
nextseason1997–98

Nottingham

The 1996–97 National Division 2 (sponsored by Courage Brewery) was the tenth season of the top tier of the English rugby union league system, the Courage Clubs Championship, currently known as Champ Rugby, and was the first season that saw professional rugby openly introduced into the English game. It was also the tenth and final season of sponsorship by Courage. New sides to the division included Richmond, Coventry, Rugby Lions and Rotherham (all promoted from tier 3) and there had been no teams relegated from tier 1 due to league restructuring.

The top two teams, Richmond and Newcastle Falcons were automatically promoted to the new look 1997–98 Premiership 1 (formerly National Division 1), and for the first time there were play–offs between the third and fourth placed teams, and the ninth and tenth placed teams in Division One, which meant 2 to 4 teams could be promoted/relegated between the divisions. The Division 2 sides played at home first with the winners of the two matches, on aggregate score, playing in the top division the following season. Coventry and Bedford both failed to win promotion.

At the end other end of the table, Rugby Lions and Nottingham were relegated to the newly named 1997–98 National League 1 (formerly National Division 3). Last season Nottingham finished in the bottom two and escaped relegation due to the division being increased from ten clubs to twelve clubs. This season they were not so lucky and next season will be their first in Division Three.

Structure

Restructuring from the previous season increased the division from ten to twelve teams with each side playing one another twice, in a round robin system, home and away, to make a total of twenty-two matches for each team.

The reorganisation of the Courage Clubs Championship for the following season by the RFU meant there would be between two to four sides promoted to the new look look Premiership 1. Sides finishing 1st and 2nd would be automatically promoted while sides finishing 3rd and 4th would be involved in a promotion/relegation playoff against the 9th and 10th ranked sides from the 1996–97 National Division 1 with 4th v 9th and 3rd v 10th.

Participating teams

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BedfordGoldington Road6,500Bedford, Bedfordshire10th (no relegation)
BlackheathRectory Field3,500 (500 seats)Greenwich, London7th
CoventryCoundon Road10,000 (1,100 seats)Coventry, West MidlandsPromoted from National 3 (1st)
London ScottishAthletic Groundtitle=Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91year=1990publisher=Burlington Publishing Co. Ltdlocation=Windsoredition=3rdeditor=Tony Williams and Bill Mitchellpage=112chapter=Richmond F.C. (Ground Details)}}Richmond, London3rd
MoseleyThe Reddings9,999 (1,800 seats)Birmingham, West Midlands6th
NewcastleKingston Park6,600Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear8th
NottinghamIreland Avenue4,990 (590 seats)Beeston, Nottinghamshire9th (No relegation)
RichmondAthletic Ground7,300 (1,300 seats)Richmond, LondonPromoted from National 3 (2nd)
RotherhamClifton Lane2,500Rotherham, South YorkshirePromoted from National 3 (4th)
RugbyWebb Ellis Road3,200 (200 seats)Rugby, WarwickshirePromoted from National 3 (3rd)
WakefieldCollege Grove4,000 (500 seats)Wakefield, West Yorkshire4th
WaterlooSt Anthony's Road9,950 (950 seats)Blundellsands, Merseyside5th

Table

  1. two points for a win
  2. one point for a draw
  3. no points for a loss If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  4. difference between points for and against
  5. total number of points for

Fixtures & Results

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

  • Postponed due to Newcastle requesting game be switched due to international call-ups. Game rescheduled to 5 May 1997.

Round 11

Round 12

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 March 1997.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 March 1997.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 30 April 1997.

Round 13

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 1997.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 1997.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 31 March 1997.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 1997.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 March 1997.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 1997.

Round 14

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 April 1997.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 February 1997.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 25 January 1997.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 March 1997.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 3 May 1997.
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 3 May 1997.

Round 15

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 29 March 1997.

Round 14 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997.
  • Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997.

Round 16

Round 13 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997.
  • Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997.
  • Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997.
  • Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997.

Round 17

Rounds 13 & 14 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997.
  • Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997.

Round 18

Rounds 12 & 15 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 18 January 1997.
  • Game rescheduled from 28 December 1996.
  • Game rescheduled from 28 December 1996.

Round 13 (rescheduled game)

  • Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997.

Round 19

Round 20

Round 15 (rescheduled game)

  • Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997.

Round 21

Round 22

Round 12 (rescheduled game)

  • Game rescheduled from 28 December 1996.

Rounds 10, 12 & 14 (rescheduled games)

  • Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997.
  • Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997.
  • Game rescheduled from 9 November 1996.

Promotion play–offs

For the first time play–offs took place between the third and fourth placed teams in Division Two and the ninth and tenth placed teams in Division One. The play–offs followed a 4th v 9th, 3rd v 10th system - with the games being played over two legs and the second-tier team playing at home in the first leg.

First leg

Second leg

  • Bristol won 39 – 23 on aggregate to retain their place in Division One

  • London Irish won 42 – 23 on aggregate to retain their place in Division One

Individual statistics

  • Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.

Top points scorers

RankPlayerTeamAppearancesPoints
1IRE Simon MasonRichmond22324
2ENG Rob AndrewNewcastle Falcons22297
3ENG John SteeleLondon Scottish18256
4WAL Mike RayerBedford21238
5ENG Jez HarrisCoventry20236
6ENG Mike JacksonWakefield19199
7NZ Richard Le BasMoseley14177
8ENG Chris BraithwaiteBlackheath14137
9ENG Tim StimpsonNewcastle Falcons21116
10ENG John BentleyNewcastle Falcons18115

Top try scorers

RankPlayerTeamAppearancesTries
1ENG John BentleyNewcastle Falcons1823
2SCO Gary ArmstrongNewcastle Falcons2121
WAL Scott QuinnellRichmond2121
3ENG Jim FallonRichmond2119
4ENG Andy SmallwoodCoventry2017
5SAM Pat LamNewcastle Falcons1115
IRE Darragh O'MahonyMoseley1315
6ENG Andy McAdamCoventry1814
ENG Tim StimpsonNewcastle Falcons1814
7ENG Ben WhetstoneBedford1813
IRE Guy EasterbyRotherham2113

Season records

Team

;Largest home win — 151 pts 156 - 5 Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996 ;Largest away win — 72 pts 87 - 15 Richmond away to Moseley on 5 October 1996 ;Most points scored — 151 pts 156 - 5 Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996 ;Most tries in a match — 24 Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996 ;Most conversions in a match — 18 Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996 ;Most penalties in a match — 7 Rotherham away to Richmond on 14 September 1996 ;Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x3) Coventry at home to Wakefield on 21 September 1996

London Scottish away to Blackheath on 8 February 1997

Blackheath at home to Nottingham on 22 March 1997

Player

;Most points in a match — 42 ENG Jez Harris for Coventry at home to Nottingham on 5 October 1996 ;Most tries in a match — 5 SAM Pat Lam for Newcastle Falcons at home to Rotherham on 4 May 1997 ;Most conversions in a match — 18 ENG Rob Andrew for Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996 ;Most penalties in a match — 7 AUS Matt Inman for Rotherham away to Richmond on 14 September 1996 ;Most drop goals in a match — 2 (x2) ENG Jez Harris for Coventry at home to Wakefield on 21 September 1996

ENG Chris Braithwaite for Blackheath at home to Nottingham on 22 March 1997

Attendances

  • Note that attendances were very poorly documented this season and aside from a few big games there is almost no information available

;Highest — 8,000 Coventry at home to Newcastle Falcons on 2 November 1996 ;Lowest — N/A N/A ;Highest Average Attendance — N/A N/A ;Lowest Average Attendance — N/A N/A

Notes

References

References

  1. (2000). "The Official RFU Club Directory 2000–2001". [[Queen Anne Press]].
  2. (1997). "Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98". Headline Book Publishing.
  3. "Courage League Championship 1996/97". Moseley Rugby Club.
  4. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  5. (1994). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1994–95". Tony Williamson Publications.
  6. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  7. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  8. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  9. "CLUB HISTORY". Newcastle Red Bulls.
  10. (1 March 1999). "Rugby Union: Winger Inga has the power". Independent.
  11. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  12. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  13. "Gloucester v. Leicester (PDF, opens in a new window)". Gloucester Rugby Heritage.
  14. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  15. (1990). "Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91". Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd.
  16. (9 August 2012). "Division Two 1996/97". Falcons Rugby.
  17. "Fixtures / Results (September 9, 1995 to May 4, 1996)". Rugby Archives.
  18. "1996/97 (National 2)". Rotherham Titans Rugby.
  19. (6 April 2019). "Ghosts of Nottingham Past". Rugby Network.
  20. (4 November 1996). "Rugby Union: Harris has the drop on tough Newcastle". The Independent.
  21. (8 November 1999). "Rugby Union: Leicester and Quins games off". Independent.
  22. (7 April 1997). "Rugby Union: Popplewell's punch sullies thriller". Independent.
  23. (11 May 1997). "National Two 96/97 Leading points scorers". Rugby Statbunker.
  24. (11 May 1997). "National Two 96/97 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker.
  25. (11 May 1997). "National Two 96/97 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker.
  26. (11 May 1997). "National Two 96/97 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker.
  27. (11 May 1997). "National Two 96/97 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker.
  28. (11 May 1997). "National Two 96/97 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker.
  29. (11 May 1997). "National Two 96/97 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker.
  30. (11 May 1997). "National Two 96/97 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker.
  31. (11 May 1997). "National Two 96/97 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker.
  32. (11 May 1997). "National Two 96/97 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker.
  33. (11 May 1997). "National Two 96/97 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker.
  34. (4 November 1996). "Rugby Union: Harris has the drop on tough Newcastle". The Independent.
  35. (9 August 2012). "Falcons in Division Two 1996/97". thesouthstandchoir.wordpress.com.
  36. (11 May 1997). "National Two 96/97 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker.
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