National League 2 West is a rugby union league at level four in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in the Midlands and South West England. The remainder of England is covered by two other regional leagues; National League 2 East and National League 2 North.[1] The champion club is promoted to National One. The last two teams are relegated to either Regional 1 Midlands or Regional 1 South West.
Current season or competition: 2024–25 National League 2 West | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2022 |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Country |  England |
| Holders | Dings Crusaders (2023–24) |
| Most titles | Dings Crusaders, Leicester Lions (1 title) |
| Website | National League 2 West |
Prior to the 2022–23 season, National League 2 West and National League 2 East were part of a unified division known as National League 2 South.
Structure
editThe league consists of fourteen teams who play the others on a home and away basis, to make a total of 26 matches each. The champions are promoted to National League 1 and the bottom two teams are relegated to either Regional 1 Midlands or Regional 1 South West depending on the location of the teams.
The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
- 4 points are awarded for a win
- 2 points are awarded for a draw
- 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
- 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
- 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.
Current season
editParticipating teams and locations
edit
Locations of the 2024–25 National League 2 West teams
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bournville | Avery Fields [2] | Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands | 10th | |
| Camborne | Crane Park[a] | 7,000 (780 seats) | Camborne, Cornwall | 6th |
| Cinderford | Beavis Memorial Ground[3] | 2,500 | Cinderford, Gloucestershire | Relegated from National League 1 (14th)[4] |
| Clifton | Station Road [5] | 2,500 (400 seats) | Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol | 3rd |
| Devonport Services | The Rectory Field | 2,000 | Devonport, Plymouth, Devon | Promoted from Regional 1 South West (champions)[6] |
| Exeter University | Topsham Sports Ground[7] | Exeter, Devon | 5th | |
| Hinckley | De Montfort Park [8] | 2,000 | Hinckley, Leicestershire | 7th |
| Hornets | The Nest, Hutton Moor Park [9] | 1,100 (100 stand) | Weston-super-Mare, Somerset | 12th |
| Loughborough Students | East Park[b] | 1,000 | Loughborough, Leicestershire | 8th |
| Luctonians | Mortimer Park [10] | 2,500 (300 seats) | Kingsland, Herefordshire | 2nd |
| Macclesfield | Priory Park | 1,250 (250 seats) | Macclesfield, Cheshire | Promoted from Regional 1 North West (champions)[11] |
| Old Redcliffians | Scotland Lane [12] | Brislington, Bristol | 4th | |
| Redruth | Recreation Ground [13] | 3,500 (580 seats) | Redruth, Cornwall | 9th |
| Taunton Titans | Veritas Park[14] | 2,000 (198 seats) | Taunton, Somerset | Relegated from National League 1 (13th)[4] |
League table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camborne | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 438 | 257 | +181 | 10 | 0 | 46 | Promotion place |
| 2 | Taunton Titans | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 327 | 251 | +76 | 7 | 1 | 36 | |
| 3 | Clifton | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 343 | 272 | +71 | 8 | 2 | 36 | |
| 4 | Cinderford | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 290 | 251 | +39 | 5 | 2 | 33 | |
| 5 | Luctonians | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 307 | 216 | +91 | 5 | 1 | 32 | |
| 6 | Old Redcliffians | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 348 | 361 | −13 | 8 | 1 | 31 | |
| 7 | Loughborough Students | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 338 | 314 | +24 | 10 | 2 | 30 | |
| 8 | Hornets | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 315 | 315 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 27 | |
| 9 | Redruth | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 317 | 322 | −5 | 7 | 3 | 26 | |
| 10 | Exeter University | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 318 | 334 | −16 | 6 | 1 | 25 | |
| 11 | Bournville | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 268 | 269 | −1 | 5 | 4 | 25 | |
| 12 | Hinckley | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 325 | 328 | −3 | 5 | 1 | 22 | |
| 13 | Macclesfield | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 242 | 430 | −188 | 5 | 1 | 16 | Relegation place |
| 14 | Devonport Services | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 203 | 459 | −256 | 5 | 0 | 9 |
Updated to match(es) played on 16 November 2024. Source: National League Rugby [15]
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- Difference between points for and against
- Total number of points for
- Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
- Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
National Two West honours
edit
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runner–up | Relegated teams | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 14 | Leicester Lions | Dings Crusaders | Barnstaple, Stourbridge | [16] | |||||||||
| 2023–24 | 14 | Dings Crusaders | Luctonians | Dudley Kingswinford, Newport (Salop) | [17] | |||||||||
| 2024–25 | 14 | |||||||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
edit- Dings Crusaders (1)
- Leicester Lions (1)
Notes
edit- ^ Also known as the Recreation Ground.
- ^ Since relegation from the 2018–19 National League 1 Loughborough Students have switched games from the Loughborugh University Stadium to nearby East Park.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Update on Structural Changes to National League Rugby". National League Rugby. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "Avery Fields Sports & Events". Bournville RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Contact us". Cinderford RFC. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ a b Heal Chris (29 April 2024). "Bishop's Stortford and Leicester Lions survive while Rotherham complete centenary year as champions". Talking Rugby Union.
- ^ "Station Road". Clifton Rugby Club. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "RUGBY REPORTS: Devonport Services dig deep to secure the Regional One South West title at Lydney". Plymouth Gazette. 24 March 2024.
- ^ "University of Exeter Topsham Sport Ground". Exeter University RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Leicester Road". Hinkley Rugby Club. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Contacts". Hornets RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Mortimer Park". Luctonians Sports Club. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Macclesfield 57 – Penrith 15". Macclesfield Rugby. 6 April 2024.
- ^ "Scotland Lane". Old Redcliffians RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "The Recreation Ground". Redruth Rugby Football Club. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Veritas Park". Taunton Rugby Football Club. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ "National League 2 West". NCA Rugby.
- ^ "National League 2 West Final Standings 2022–23". England Rugby. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ "National League 2 West Final Standings 2023–24". England Rugby. Retrieved 27 April 2024.