Trisha Shetty (Editor)

2005–06 National Division One

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Countries
  
England

Relegated
  
no relegation

Runners-up
  
Bedford Blues

2005–06 National Division One

Champions
  
Harlequins (first title)

Attendance
  
374,846 (average 2,245 per match)

Highest attendance
  
12,500 Harlequins at home to Plymouth Albion on 29 April 2006

The 2005–06 National Division One was the 19th full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. New teams to the division included Harlequins who had been relegated from the 2004–05 Zurich Premiership, while Doncaster and Newbury were promoted from the 2004–05 National Division Two. Additional changes saw Penzance & Newyln RFC rebrand themselves as the Cornish Pirates as well as moving from their home ground, the Mennaye Field in Penzance, to a more central location in Truro at the Kenwyn Rugby Ground (a temporary stadium built in the city) with the aim to appeal more to Cornish fans on the whole as well as making home games more accessible. Rotherham Titans also rebranded themselves as 'Earth Titans' for sponsorship purposes for this season.

Contents

After only one season Harlequins won the National Division One at the first attempt and returned to the Guinness Premiership for season 2006–07. Bedford Blues finished in second place and there was no relegation to National Division Two following the RFU's decision to expand National Division One from 14 to 16 teams for the 2006–07 season.

Table

Notes
  • Coventry were docked two points for an administrative error when re–registering a player, Dave Millard. Following a foot injury, the winger was loaned to junior club Kenilworth while he was recovering. He returned before the game against Bedford on 27 December 2005 where he was named among the seven replacements. There was an error in the paperwork submitted to the RFU, and although Millard was not used, Coventry were found guilty.
  • Statement by First Division Rugby regarding Newbury versus Birmingham & Solihull

    • Round 9

  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 December 2005.

    • Round 14

  • Postphoned. Game rescheduled to 4 February 2006.

    • Round 20

  • Postphoned. Game rescheduled to 4 March 2006.
  • Postphoned. Game rescheduled to 5 March 2006.

    • Round 25 (rescheduled game)

  • Game brought forward from 15 April 2006.

    • Round 25

  • Rescheduled. Game brought forward to 8 April 2006.
  • Newbury were awarded a 0–0 win and 4 league points following this match. Pertemps Bees won the match by 35 pts to 22 pts but due to a severe injury crisis had to field three unregistered players with the prior approval of FDR in order to fulfil the fixture. All points gained by either side in the match will be disregarded for the purpose of the official league table in accordance with the RFU Regulations.

    • Leading scorers

    If players are tied on tries or points the player with the lowest number of appearances will come first. Points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.

    References

    2005–06 National Division One Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA