1996–97 Courage League National Division Two

The 1996–97 Courage League National Division Two was the tenth full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship and was season that saw professional rugby openly introduced into the English game. Joining the eight teams who participated in the division in 1995–96 were Richmond, Coventry, Rugby and Rotherham all of whom were promoted from National Division Three with no teams coming down from National Division One due to league restructuring. The league was sponsored by Courage Brewery for the tenth consecutive year.

1996–97 Courage League National Division Two
Countries England
ChampionsRichmond (1st title)
Runners-upNewcastle Falcons
RelegatedRugby Lions and Nottingham
Matches played132
Highest attendance8,000 Coventry at home to Newcastle Falcons on 2 November 1996
Top point scorerIreland Simon Mason,
(Richmond) 334 points
Top try scorerEngland John Bentley,
(Newcastle Falcons) 23 tries[1]

The top two teams, Richmond and Newcastle Falcons were automatically promoted, 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, for a place in the top tier for season 1997-98.[2] The Division Two 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. Rugby Lions and Nottingham were relegated to Division 3 for the 1997–98 season. 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.[3]

Participating teams
Locations of the 1996–97 Courage League National Division Two teams
Greater London Courage League National Division Two clubs
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bedford Goldington Road 7,000 Bedford, Bedfordshire
Blackheath Rectory Field 6,000 Greenwich, London
Coventry Coundon Road 9,000+ Coventry, West Midlands
London Scottish Athletic Ground 4,500 Richmond, London
Moseley The Reddings 10,000 (est) Birmingham, West Midlands
Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park 10,000 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Nottingham Ireland Avenue 4,950 Beeston, Nottinghamshire
Richmond Athletic Ground 4,500 Richmond, London
Rotherham Clifton Lane 2,500 Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Rugby Webb Ellis Road 1,000 Rugby, Warwickshire
Wakefield College Grove 3,000 Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Waterloo St Anthony's Road 9,000 Blundellsands, Merseyside

Table
1996–97 Courage League National Division Two Table[2]
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Points
1Richmond22192198641057640
2Newcastle Falcons221912125534690939
3Coventry22161573839434433
4Bedford22150772048223830
5London Scottish2211011549568–1922
6Wakefield2211011504557–5322
7Rotherham2210012525661–13620
8Moseley229013492741–24918
9Waterloo228014506661–15516
10Blackheath227015412641–22914
11Rugby Lions2230193171060–7436
12Nottingham222020344827–4834
  • Points are awarded as follows:
  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:
  1. difference between points for and against
  2. total number of points for
Green background are promotion places. Buff background are promotion play–off places. Pink background are relegation places.

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.[3]

First leg
7 May 1997
Bedford11 – 20Bristol
Goldington Road
7 May 1997
Coventry16 – 14London Irish
Coundon Road

Second leg
11 May 1997
Bristol19 – 12Bedford
Memorial Ground
  • Bristol won 39 – 23 on aggregate to retain their place in Division One
11 May 1997
London Irish28 – 7Coventry
The Avenue
  • 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.

Season records

See also

References
  1. Stephen McCormack, ed. (2000). The Official RFU Club Directory 2000–2001. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press.
  2. "Courage League Championship 1996/97". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  3. Mick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7732 X.
  4. "National Two 96/97 Leading points scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
  5. "National Two 96/97 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
  6. "National Two 96/97 Most tries in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
  7. "National Two 96/97 Most conversions in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
  8. "National Two 96/97 Most penalties in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
  9. "National Two 96/97 Most drop goals in a match (Team)". Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
  10. "National Two 96/97 Most points in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
  11. "National Two 96/97 Most tries in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
  12. "National Two 96/97 Most conversions in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
  13. "National Two 96/97 Most penalties in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
  14. "National Two 96/97 Most drop goals in a match (Player)". Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
  15. "Rugby Union: Harris has the drop on tough Newcastle". The Independent. 4 November 1996. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01.
  16. "Falcons in Division Two 1996/97". thesouthstandchoir.wordpress.com. 9 August 2012.
  17. "National Two 96/97 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 11 May 1997.
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