Yorkshire 5

Yorkshire 5 was an English Rugby Union league at the eleventh tier of the domestic competition and was the basement league of club rugby in Yorkshire. This league was not always the bottom division as for a while there was a Yorkshire 6 but this league merged with Yorkshire 5. Also, for a short period, Yorkshire 5 was split into two parallel leagues based on geographical location. Promoted teams moved up to Yorkshire 4.

Yorkshire 5
Current season or competition:
2016–17 Yorkshire 5
SportRugby union
Instituted1987 (1987)
Ceased2017 (2017)
Number of teams8
Country England
HoldersWibsey (1st title) (2016–17)
(promoted to Yorkshire 4)
Most titlesHalifax Vandals, Knaresborough (3 titles)
WebsiteEngland RFU

At the end of the 2016-17 season Yorkshire 5 was abolished due to RFU changes to the Yorkshire league structure. This restructuring would see Yorkshire 4 broken up into two regional leagues - Yorkshire 4 (North West) and Yorkshire 4 (South East) - with teams from both Yorkshire 4 and 5 transferred into these new leagues.[1]

Participating Clubs 2016-17
  • Garforth
  • Knaresborough
  • Mosborough (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
  • Rossington Hornets
  • Sheffield Oaks (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
  • Thirsk
  • Wibsey
  • Withernsea

Participating Clubs 2015-16
  • Garforth
  • Hallamshire
  • Hornsea (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
  • Knaresborough (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
  • Rossington Hornets
  • Stanley Rodillians
  • Thirsk
  • Wibsey

Participating Clubs 2014-15
  • Garforth
  • Hallamshire
  • Hessle (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
  • Rossington Hornets
  • Rotherham Clifton
  • Stanley Rodillians
  • Thirsk
  • Wibsey

Participating Clubs 2013–14
  • Garforth
  • Hallamshire
  • Knaresborough - (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
  • Marist - (relegated from Yorkshire 4)
  • Rossington Hornets
  • Rotherham Clifton
  • Stanley Rodillians
  • Thirsk
  • Wensleydale
  • Wibsey

Participating Clubs 2012–13
  • Adwick Le Street
  • Doncaster Amateurs
  • Garforth
  • Rawmarsh
  • Rossington Hornets
  • Rotherham Clifton
  • Sheffield Oaks
  • Stanley Rodillians
  • Stocksbridge
  • Wensleydale
  • Wibsey

Clubs joining the League

As this is currently the basement league of club rugby in Yorkshire, any club wishing to join the rugby union club hierarchy must begin at the bottom so all Yorkshire-based teams start in Yorkshire 5 and these are the clubs who have been accepted into the league structure for the first time.

  • 2012-13: Doncaster Amateurs
  • 2013-14: Hallamshire, Thirsk
  • 2016-17: Withernsea

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

  • BP Chemicals
  • Halifax Vandals
  • Hornsea
  • Knaresborough
  • Leeds Corinthians
  • Old Rishworthians
  • Ossett
  • Phoenix Park
  • Rowntrees
  • Withernsea
  • Yorkshire Main

Yorkshire 5 Honours

Yorkshire 5 (1987–1993)

The original Yorkshire 5 was a tier 13 league with promotion up to Yorkshire 4 and relegation down to Yorkshire 6 until that division was cancelled at the end of the 1991–92 season.

Yorkshire 5 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1987–8811Halifax VandalsOld RishworthiansKnaresborough, Withernsea
1988–8911Sheffield OaksPhoenix ParkHornsea, Leeds Corinthians
1989–9011WetherbyOssettRowntrees
1990–9111BurleyLeeds CorinthiansKnaresborough[lower-alpha 1]
1991–9211SkiptonDanum Phoenix[lower-alpha 2]No relegation[lower-alpha 3]
1992–9313KnaresboroughRowntreesNo relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Yorkshire 5 (1993–2000)

The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 5 dropped to become a tier 14 league. A further restructure at the end of the 1995–96 season, which included the cancellation of National 5 North and the addition of North East 3 at tier 9, saw Yorkshire 5 remain at tier 14. During this period Yorkshire 6 (and relegation) was re-introduced in 1996-97, cancelled, and then re-introduced for the third time for the 1999–00 season.

Yorkshire 5 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1993–9410GarforthStocksbridgeNo relegation
1994–956RawmarshNorth EarswickNo relegation
1995–969KnaresboroughPadseyMenwith Hill
1996–979MaristEddington & Wick[lower-alpha 4]No relegation
1997–989OssettOssettNo relegation
1998–99[3]8Rotherham CliftonEdlington GranbyWithernsea, Rawmarsh, Wickersley Exel, Adwick Le Street[lower-alpha 5]
1999–00[4]5Wakefield Cougars[lower-alpha 6]OssettNestle Rowntree, Garforth, Knaresborough
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Yorkshire 5 (2000–2004)

Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999-2000 season saw the cancellation of North East 1, North East 2 and North East 3 (tiers 7-9). This meant that Yorkshire 5 became a tier 11 league. Relegation continued to Yorkshire 6 until that division was abolished ahead of the 2003–04 season.

Yorkshire 5 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–01[5]10Wakefield CougarsDoncaster PhoenixWickersley Exel
2001–02[6]10Sheffield MedicalsThornensiansRotherham Clifton, Rawmarsh, Marist
2002–03[7]10Stanley RodilliansHornseaOssett, Wibsey
2003–04[8]10Sheffield OaksBurleyNo relegation[lower-alpha 7]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Yorkshire 5 North-East / South East (2004–2007)

For the 2004–05 season Yorkshire 5 was divided into two regional divisions - Yorkshire 5 North-West and Yorkshire 5 South East.

Yorkshire 5 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams League Name
2004–05
[9][10]		8Halifax VandalsAireboroughNo relegationYorkshire 5 North-West
8HornseaOssettNo relegationYorkshire 5 South-East
2005–06
[11][12]		8KnaresboroughWetherbyNo relegationYorkshire 5 North-West
8MosboroughPontefract PythonsNo relegationYorkshire 5 South-East
2006–07
[13][14]		9BurleyGarforthNo relegationYorkshire 5 North-West
7HemsworthSheffield MedicalsNo relegationYorkshire 5 South-East
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Yorkshire 5A / 5B (2007–2009)

For the 2007-08 season Yorkshire 5 switched from regional divisions into conferences - Yorkshire 5A and Yorkshire 5B. Relegation returned with the reintroduction of Yorkshire 6 (for the fourth time) ahead of the 2009–10 season.

Yorkshire 5 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams League Name
2007–08
[15][16]		8Halifax VandalsSheffield MedicalsNo relegationYorkshire 5A
8Old RishworthiansRotherham PhoenixNo relegationYorkshire 5B
2008–09
[17][18]		9Sheffield MedicalsHemsworth[lower-alpha 8]Sheffield OaksYorkshire 5A
9Leeds Medics & DentistsOld Grovians[lower-alpha 9]Leeds Metropolitan University[lower-alpha 10] , Wetherby, Rossington HornetsYorkshire 5B
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Yorkshire 5 (2009–2017)

Yorkshire 5 once more returned to being a single division from the 2009-10 season onward. The cancellation of Yorkshire 6 after just one season meant that there was no relegation. At the end of the 2016–17 season Yorkshire 5 was cancelled.

Yorkshire 5 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2009–10[19]7MosboroughMarist[lower-alpha 11]No relegation[lower-alpha 12]
2010–11[20]12WetherbyKnaresboroughNo relegation
2011–12[21]10HornseaMaristNo relegation
2012–13[22]9Doncaster AmateursStocksbridge[lower-alpha 13]No relegation
2013–14[23]9WensleydaleKnaresboroughNo relegation
2014–15[24]8HessleRotherham CliftonNo relegation
2015–16[25]7Stanley RodilliansHornseaNo relegation
2016–17[26]8WibseyMosboroughNo relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Between 2005 and 2007 there was a play-off between the runners-up of Yorkshire 5 North-West and Yorkshire 5 South-West for the third and final promotion place to Yorkshire 4. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2016–17 season Yorkshire 5 North-West have been the most successful winning all three games; and the away team has won promotion on two occasions compared to the home teams one.

For the 2007-08 season Yorkshire 5 was re-organized into non-geographical groups named Yorkshire 5A and Yorkshire 5B, with Yorkshire 5B being the most successful by winning the only playoff game played. After the 2008-09 season Yorkshire 5 returned to a single division meaning that there have been no more play-offs since.

Yorkshire 5A v Yorkshire 5B promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2004–05[27]Ossett6-30Aireborough (NW)Ossett Cricket and Athletic Club, Ossett, West Yorkshire
2005–06[28]Wetherby (NW)64-3Pontefract Pythons (SE)Grange Park, Wetherby, West Yorkshire
2006–07[29]Sheffield Medicals (SE)10-13Garforth (NW)Norton Playing Fields, Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
2007–08Rotherham Phoenix (B)15-10Sheffield Medicals (A)Clifton Lane, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Green background is the promoted team. NW = Yorkshire 5 North-West, SE = Yorkshire 5 South-East, A = Yorkshire 5A and B = Yorkshire 5B

Number of league titles
  • Halifax Vandals (3)
  • Knaresborough (3)
  • Burley (2)
  • Hornsea (2)
  • Mosborough (2)
  • Sheffield Medicals (2)
  • Sheffield Oaks (2)
  • Stanley Rodillians (2)
  • Wakefield Cougars (2)
  • Wetherby (2)
  • Doncaster Amateurs (1)
  • Garforth (1)
  • Hemsworth (1)
  • Hessle (1)
  • Leeds Medics & Dentists (1)
  • Marist (1)
  • Old Rishworthians (1)
  • Ossett (1)
  • Rawmarsh (1)
  • Rotherham Clifton (1)
  • Skipton (1)
  • Wensleydale (1)
  • Wibsey (1)

Notes
  1. Relegated side Knaresborough would transfer to Durham/Northumberland 4 for the following season instead of dropping to Yorkshire 6.
  2. League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant eight clubs were promoted into Yorkshire 4 including Hornsea, De La Salle (Sheffield), Withernsea, Phoenix Park, BP Chemicals and Yorkshire Main. Hull & East Riding were also meant to be promoted but they merged with Old Hymerians to form Hull RUFC who would play in North 2 East.[2]
  3. League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant no clubs were relegated.
  4. Runners up Eddington & Wick were supposed to be promoted to Yorkshire 4 but would instead drop out of the league system at the end of the season.
  5. The reintroduction of Yorkshire 6 would see multiple teams relegated to populate the new division.
  6. No promotion as division to increase from 5 to 10 teams for the following season.
  7. No relegation as Yorkshire 6 to be cancelled at the end of the season - it would re-emerge briefly in 2009-10 for one season only.
  8. Four clubs promoted including Ossett and Harrogate Pythons due to league restructure - Yorkshire 6 to be reinstated and Yorkshire 5 to merge back into a single division.
  9. 3rd place Adwick Le Street also promoted due to league restructure - Yorkshire 6 to be reinstated and Yorkshire 5 to merge back into a single division.
  10. Leeds Metropolitan University would drop out of the league for the following season.
  11. 3rd place Stanley Rodillians also promoted.
  12. No relegation as Yorkshire 6 cancelled after just one season.
  13. 3rd place Sheffield Oaks also promoted.

See also

References
  1. "Changes to the Structure of Yorkshire Four and Five (June 14 2017)". RFU North. 14 June 2017.
  2. "History". Hull RUFC. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  3. "1998–1999 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  4. "1999–2000 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  5. "2000-2001 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  6. "2001-2002 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  7. "2002-2003 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  8. "2003-2004 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  9. "2004-2005 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  10. "2004-2005 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  11. "2005-2006 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  12. "2005-2006 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  13. "2006-2007 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  14. "2006-2007 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  15. "2007-2008 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  16. "2007-2008 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  17. "2008-2009 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  18. "2008-2009 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  19. "2009-2010 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  20. "2010-2011 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  21. "2011-2012 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  22. "2012-2013 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  23. "2013-2014 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  24. "2014-2015 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  25. "2015-2016 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  26. "2016-2017 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  27. "2004-05 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  28. "2005-06 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  29. "2006-07 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 25 April 2007.
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