1997–98 National League 1

1997–98 NationalLeague 1
Countries	England
Champions	Worcester (1st title)
Runners-up	Leeds Tykes (also promoted)
Relegated	no relegation

The 1997–98 National League 1, sponsored by Jewson, was the eleventh full season of rugby union within the third tier of the English league system, currently known as National League 1.

Structure

The league consisted of fourteen teams, playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of twenty-six matches for each team. There were four promotion places with the top four teams promoted to the 1998–99 Allied Dunbar Premiership Two. There was no relegation, this season, to either National Division 4 North or South due to an increase, from twelve teams to fourteen, in the top two divisions.[1][2]

Participating teams and locations

Liverpool
St Helens

L Welsh

Lydney

Harrogate

Leeds Tykes

Morley

Newbury

Nottingham

Otley

Reading

Rosslyn P

Rugby

Wharfedale

Worcester

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1997–98 Courage League National Division Three teams in England

National Division Three was reduced from sixteen teams to fourteen with ten of the clubs participating in last seasons competition. To make up the numbers two of the teams (Rugby Lions and Nottingham) were relegated from National League 2, and the champions of National 4 North (Worcester) and National 4 South (Newbury) were both promoted.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Last season
Harrogate	Claro Road	3,000	Harrogate, North Yorkshire	5th
Leeds Tykes	Headingley Stadium	22,250	Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire	3rd
Liverpool St Helens	Moss Lane	3,000[3]	St Helens, Merseyside	12th
London Welsh	Old Deer Park	5,850	Richmond, London	11th
Lydney	Regentsholm	1,500	Lydney, Gloucestershire	10th
Morley	Scatcherd Lane		Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire	4th
Newbury	Monks Lane	8,000	Newbury, Berkshire	Promoted from National 4 South (champions)
Nottingham	Ireland Avenue	4,950	Nottingham, Nottinghamshire	Relegated from Courage National League 2 (12th)
Otley	Cross Green	5,000	Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire	9th
Reading	Holme Park		Sonning, Berkshire	6th
Rosslyn Park	The Rock	2,000	Roehampton, London	8th
Rugby Lions	Webb Ellis Road	4,000[4]	Rugby Warwickshire	Relegated from Courage National League 2 (11th)
Wharfedale	The Avenue	2,000	Threshfield, North Yorkshire	7th
Worcester	Sixways	8,477	Worcester, Worcestershire	Promoted from National 4 North (champions)

League table

1997–98 Jewson National Division One table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Worcester (C)	26	24	0	2	1001	331	+670	48	Promoted
2	Leeds Tykes	26	21	1	4	858	407	+451	43
3	London Welsh	26	21	1	4	848	478	+370	43
4	Rugby Lions	26	21	0	5	733	405	+328	42
5	Rosslyn Park	26	13	1	12	486	537	−51	27
6	Nottingham	26	13	0	13	527	602	−75	26
7	Newbury	26	12	2	12	639	545	+94	24[a]
8	Reading	26	11	1	14	620	697	−77	23
9	Otley	26	10	1	15	447	682	−235	21
10	Wharfedale	26	8	3	15	476	684	−208	19
11	Liverpool St Helens	26	8	1	17	430	767	−337	15[a]
12	Lydney	26	5	0	21	361	575	−214	10
13	Morley	26	5	0	21	372	844	−472	10
14	Harrogate	26	4	1	21	463	707	−244	9

Source: [5]
Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows: 2 pts for a win, 1 pt for a draw, 0 pts for a loss. If teams are level at any stage, the following tiebreaker is applied: Difference between points for and against. There was no relegation this season.
(C) Champions
Notes:

1. 2 points deducted

Sponsorship

For the first ten seasons Courage Brewery sponsored the league. Following reorganisation the top two divisions are sponsored by the assurance company Allied Dunbar and the rest of the divisions, including National League 1 is sponsored by the building suppliers, Jewson.[2]

See also

• English Rugby Union Leagues
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

References

1. Mick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98 (26 ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 87–100. ISBN 0 7472 7732 X.
2. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1998). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998–99 (27th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 84–98. ISBN 0 7472 7653 6.
3. "Liverpool St Helens". Rugby Journal. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
4. "Gloucester v. Leicester (PDF, opens in a new window)" (PDF). Gloucester Rugby Heritage. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
5. "Leagues 1997/98". Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2016.