National League 2 North, (which before September 2009 was known as National Division Three North) is a level four league in the English rugby union system and provides mostly amateur competition for teams in the northern half of England. From 2009–10 the RFU restructured the league system in England, and this league was expanded from fourteen to sixteen teams. Participating clubs are from the English Midlands and Northern England. Each team plays thirty league games on a home and away basis. The champion club is promoted to National League 1 and the runner-up participates in a one-off play-off with the runner-up of National League 2 South for promotion. Relegation is to either the National League 3 Midlands or National League 3 North leagues depending on where the teams are based.
Participating teams and locations
Eleven of the teams listed below participated in the 2015–16 National League 2 North season;
Current standings
Notes
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the league runners-up of National League 2 North and National League 2 South for the third and final promotion place to National League 1. The team with the superior league record having home advantage in the tie. As of the end of the 2015–16 season the southern teams have been more successful with eleven wins to the northern teams four.
When club rugby began in 1987 this division was called Area 4 North and contained the following teams:
Birkenhead Park (now playing in National 3 North)
Broughton Park (now playing in North 1 West)
Derby (now playing in Midlands 1 East)
Durham City (now playing in Durham/Northumberland 1)
Lichfield (now playing in National 3 Midlands)
Northern (now playing in North 1 East)
Preston Grasshoppers (still playing in National League 2 North)
Roundhay (now Yorkshire Carnegie and playing in the RFU Championship)
Rugby Lions (now playing in Midlands 3 West (South) having restarted from the bottom of the league pyramid)
Solihull (now Birmingham & Solihull and playing in National League 3 Midlands|National 3 Midlands)
Stourbridge (still playing in National League 2 North)
Note that all records are from 1996-97 season onwards as this is widely held as the dawn of professionalism across the English club game. It also offers a better comparison between seasons as the division team numbers are roughly equal (for example when league rugby union first started in 1987-88 the northern league had only 11 teams playing 10 games each, compared to 14 teams in 1996-97 playing 26 games (home & away), going up to 16 teams in 2009-10 playing 30 games each). Attendance records are from 2000 onwards unless otherwise specified. All records are up to date up till the end of the 2015-16 season.
Most titles: 3, Macclesfield (2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16)
Most times promoted from division: 3, Nuneaton (2002-03, 2005-06, 2008–09), Macclesfield (2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16)
Most times relegated from division: 3, Morley (2001-02, 2007–08, 2010–11)
Most league points in a season: 134, Hull Ionians (2014-15)
Least league points in a season: 0, Manchester (2010-11)
Most points scored in a season: 1,259, Fylde (2010-11)
Least points scored in a season: 205, Manchester (2010-11)
Most points conceded in a season: 1,985, Manchester (2010-11)
Least points conceded in a season: 305, Kendal (1999-00)
Best points difference (For/Against): 736, Fylde (2010-11)
Worst points difference (For/Against): -1,780, Manchester (2010-11)
Most games won in a season: 28, Hull Ionians (2012–13)
Most games lost in a season: 30, Manchester (2010-11), Dudley Kingswinford (2013-14)
Most games drawn in a season: 3, Worcester (1996–97), Dudley Kingswinford (2001-02, 2004-05), Liverpool St Helens (2003-04), New Brighton (2004-05), Preston Grasshoppers (2005-06, 2015-16), Leicester Lions (2007-08, 2011-12), Morley (2007-08), Huddersfield (2011-12), South Leicester (2015-16)
Most bonus points in a season: 28, Fylde (2010-11), Stourbridge (2012-13)
Largest home win: 124 - 0, Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006-07)
Largest away win: 106 - 0, Fylde away to Orrell on 31 March 2007 (2006-07)
Most points scored in a match: 124, Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006-07)
Most tries scored in a match: 18, Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006-07) and Fylde at home to Manchester on 16 April 2011 (2010-11)
Most conversions scored in a match: 17, Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006-07)
Most penalties scored in a match: 9, Luctonians at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 15 November 2014 (2014-15)
Most drop kicks scored in a match: 3, Fylde at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 7 January 2006 (2005-06), Nuneaton at home to Macclesfield on 11 October 2008 and away to Bradford & Bingley on 29 November 2008 (both 2008-09)
Most times top points scorer: 2, Tom Rhodes for Bradford & Bingley (2004-05, 2005-06), Chris Johnson for Huddersfield (2010-11, 2011-12)
Most times top try scorer: 2, Nick Royle for Fylde (2006-07) and Caldy (2015-16), Gareth Collins for Leicester Lions (2008-09, 2010-11)
Most points in a season: 422, Ross Winney for Macclesfield (2009-10)
Most tries in a season: 32, Gareth Collins for Leicester Lions (2010-11), Ryan Parkinson for Macclesfield (2013-14)
Most points in a match: 49, Ross Winney for Macclesfield away to Waterloo on 30 January 2010 (2009-10)
Most conversions in a match: 17 Anthony Mellalieu for Blaydon at home to Orrell on 24 March 2007 (2006-07)
Most tries in a match: 7, Matt Donkin for Doncaster at home to Whitchurch on 10 November 2001 (2001-02), Nick Royle for Fylde away to Orrell on 31 March 2007 (2006-07), Dominic Moon for Preston Grasshoppers at home to Otley on 14 April 2012 (2011-12)
Most penalties in a match: 9, Louis Silver for Luctonians at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 15 November 2015 (2014-15)
Most drop kicks in a match: 3, Mike Scott for Fylde at home to Preston Grasshoppers on 7 January 2006 (2005-06), Rickie Aley for Nuneaton at home to Macclesfield on 11 October 2008 and away to Bradford & Bingley on 29 November 2008 (both 2008-09)
Highest attendance (league game): 3,750, Darlington Mowden Park at home to Macclesfield on 26 April 2014 (2013-14)
Lowest attendance (league game): 39, West Park St Helens at home to Leicester Lions on 15 December 2007 (2007-08)
Highest attendance (promotion playoff): 1,500, Sedgley Park at home to Launceston (2000-01)
Lowest attendance (promotion playoff): 925, Stourbridge at home to Worthing Raiders on 11 May 2013 (2012-13)
Highest average attendance (club): 921, Fylde (2010-11)
Lowest average attendance (club): 89, West Park St Helens (2007-08)
Highest average attendance (season): 331 (2013-14)
Lowest average attendance (season): 239 (2007-08)
As of the end of the games of 7 May 2016. Stats taken from 1998-99 season onwards and include regular league games only in National League 2 North (no promotion playoff games). Points scored includes tries, drop kicks, penalties and conversions.
(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 North.)
As of the end of the games of 7 May 2016. Stats taken from 1998-99 season onwards and include regular league games only in National League 2 North (no promotion playoff games).
(Bold denotes players still playing in National League 2 North.)
