1995–96 Courage League National Division Three

1995–96 Courage League National Division Three
Countries	England
Champions	Coventry (2nd title)
Runners-up	Richmond (also promoted)
Matches played	90
Top point scorer	215 Ralph Zoing (Harrogate)
Top try scorer	12 Collin Phillips (Reading)^[1]
← 1994–95 1996–97 →

The 1995–96 Courage League National Division Three was the ninth full season of rugby union within the third tier of the English league system, currently known as National League 1. Following relegation last season, Coventry won the division by three points to finish as champions and are promoted back to National Division Two. Richmond, as runner-up, was also promoted and owing to an increase in the number of teams in the above divisions, next season, Rugby and Rotherham were also promoted. There was no relegation because National Division Three will consist of sixteen teams next season.^[2]

Structure

The league consists of ten teams, playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of eighteen matches for each team. There are usually two promotion places and two relegation places, with the champions and runner-up promoted to National League 2 and the last two teams relegated to National Division 4. Owing to a reorganisation of the league system four teams are promoted and none relegated this season.^[2]

Participating teams and locations

Six of the clubs participated in last seasons competition.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Coventry	Coundon Road	9,000	Coventry, West Midlands	Relegated from Courage League Division 2 (10th)
Fylde	Woodlands	9,000	Lytham St Annes, Lancashire	Relegated from Courage League Division 2 (9th)
Harrogate	Claro Road		Harrogate, North Yorkshire	7th
Morley	Scatcherd Lane		Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire	5th
Otley	Cross Green	5,000	Otley, West Yorkshire	6th
Reading	Holme Park		Reading, Berkshire	Promoted from Division 4 (champions)
Richmond	Athletic Ground	4,500	Richmond, London	8th
Rosslyn Park	The Rock	2,000	Roehampton, London	4th
Rotherham	Clifton Lane	2,500	Rotherham, South Yorkshire	Promoted from Division 4 (runners up)
Rugby	Webb Ellis Road	1,000	Rugby, Warwickshire	3rd

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1995–96 Courage League National Division Three teams in England

League table

	Club	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points for	Points against	Points diff	Points
1995–96 Courage League National Division Three Table^[3]
1	Coventry	18	15	0	3	524	264	258	30
2	Richmond	18	13	1	4	476	266	210	27
3	Rugby	18	12	1	5	395	284	111	25
4	Rotherham	18	12	0	6	384	368	16	24
5	Morley	18	9	2	7	336	328	8	20
6	Harrogate	18	6	3	9	333	387	−54	15
7	Otley	18	6	1	11	278	441	−163	13
8	Reading	18	5	1	12	397	484	−87	13
9	Rosslyn Park	18	3	2	13	290	426	−136	11
10	Fylde	18	3	1	14	283	448	–161	9
Points are awarded as follows: 2 pts for a win 1 pt for a draw 0 pts for a loss
If teams are level at any stage, the following tiebreaker is applied: Difference between points for and against
Green background are promotion places. There was no relegation this season.

Sponsorship

National Division Three is part of the Courage Clubs Championship and is sponsored by Courage Brewery.

References

^ McCormack, Stephen (2000). The Official RFU Club Directory 2000–2001. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. pp. 313–319. ISBN 1 85291 627 3.
^ ^a ^b Mick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7472-7771-2.
^ "Courage Clubs Championship 1995/96". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 2 September 2016.

National League 1

2023–24 teams

Former clubs

Seasons

National Division Three	1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97
National League One	1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000
National Division Two	2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
National League One	2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 ~~2020–21~~ 2021–22
National League 1	2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

Rugby union in England

Governing body

Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union for Women (merged into the RFU)

National teams

Men's	England England A 7's U-21 U-20 U-18 British & Irish Lions England Counties XV
Women's	Women's 7's

International competitions

Men's	World Cup Six Nations Rugby World Cup Sevens Sevens World Series Sevens Grand Prix Series Commonwealth Games
Women's	World Cup Six Nations World Series Sevens

Competition divisions

Men's	Premiership Championship National Leagues London and SE Division Northern Division Midland Division South West Division United Hospitals Cup
Women's	Premiership Women's Rugby