2026–27 National League 1

2026–27 National League 1
Countries England
DateSeptember 2026 – April 2027

The 2026–27 National League 1 is the 39th season of the third tier of the English domestic rugby union competitions.

Structure

The league consists of fourteen teams, with all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis, to make a total of twenty-six matches each. From the 2025–26 season there is one automatic promotion place, with the champions going up to Champ Rugby, while clubs ranked 2nd and 3rd will contest the National League 1 playoff (the 2nd ranked team having home advantage), with the winner going on to play the 13th placed Champ Rugby side for a possible second promotion place.[1][2]

Clubs finishing 12th, 13th and 14th will automatically be relegated to either, National League 2 East, National League 2 North or National League 2 West, depending on the geographical location of the team. The 11th placed side will enter a four team playoff with the runners up of the three tier 4 leagues, with one side going up/remaining in National League 1.[3][2]

Participating teams and locations

2026–27 Greater London National League 1 clubs
Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Birmingham MoseleyBillesley Common[4]5,000 (1,300 seats)Birmingham, West Midlands11th
Bishop's StortfordSilver Leys[5]1,600Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire6th
Bury St EdmundsThe Haberden3,000 (135 seats)Bury St Edmunds, SuffolkPromoted from National 2 East[6]
CambridgeGrantchester Road2,200 (200 seats)Cambridge, CambridgeshireRelegated from Champ Rugby (14th)
CamborneRecreation Ground7,000 (780 seats)Camborne, CornwallPromoted from National 2 West[7]
Dings CrusadersShaftesbury Park[8]2,250 (250 seats)Frenchay, Bristol10th
Leeds TykesThe Sycamores[a]1,500Bramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire9th
London ScottishAthletic Ground4,500 (1,000 seats)Richmond, LondonRelegated from Champ Rugby (13th)
Plymouth AlbionThe Brickfields[9]5,600Plymouth, Devon3rd
RamsOld Bath Road[10]2,000 (300 seats)[11]Sonning, Reading, Berkshire7th
Rosslyn ParkThe Rock2,000 (630 seats)Roehampton, London4th
Sale FCHeywood Road[12]3,387Sale, Greater Manchester5th
SheffieldAbbeydale Park[13]3,300 (100 seats)Sheffield, South YorkshirePromoted from National 2 North
Tonbridge JuddiansThe Slade[b]1,500Tonbridge, Kent8th

League table

2026–27 National League 1 table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Birmingham Moseley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion place
2 Bishop's Stortford 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion play-off
3 Bury St Edmunds 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Cambridge 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Camborne 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Dings Crusaders 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Leeds Tykes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 London Scottish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Plymouth Albion 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Rams 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Rosslyn Park 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation play-off
12 Sale FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation place
13 Sheffield 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Tonbridge Juddians 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on 27 June 2026. Source: National League Rugby [14]
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Number of matches drawn
  3. Difference between points for and against
  4. Total number of points for
  5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  6. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled

Fixtures & results

Round 1

5 September 2026
14:00
Leeds Tykes–Camborne
The Sycamores
5 September 2026
15:00
Birmingham Moseley–Cambridge
Billesley Common
5 September 2026
15:00
Bishop's Stortford–Dings Crusaders
Silver Leys
5 September 2026
15:00
Bury St Edmunds–London Scottish
The Haberden
5 September 2026
15:00
Rams–Sale FC
Old Bath Road
5 September 2026
15:00
Rosslyn Park–Plymouth Albion
The Rock
5 September 2026
15:00
Tonbridge Juddians–Sheffield
The Slade

Attendances

  • Does not include promotion/relegation play-offs.
Club Home

Games

 Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
Birmingham Moseley 0 0 0 0 0 0%
Bishop's Stortford 0 0 0 0 0 0%
Bury St Edmunds 0 0 0 0 0 0%
Camborne 0 0 0 0 0 0%
Cambridge 0 0 0 0 0 0%
Ding's Crusaders 0 0 0 0 0 0%
Leeds Tykes 0 0 0 0 0 0%
London Scottish 0 0 0 0 0 0%
Plymouth Albion 0 0 0 0 0 0%
Rams 0 0 0 0 0 0%
Rosslyn Park 0 0 0 0 0 0%
Sale FC 0 0 0 0 0 0%
Sheffield 0 0 0 0 0 0%
Tonbridge Juddians 0 0 0 0 0 0%

Individual statistics

  • Does not include promotion/relegation play-offs.


See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Leeds Tykes will also play one home game at the 19,700 capacity Headingley Stadium in Leeds.
  2. ↑ Tonbridge Juddians occasionally play home games at their 4G training pitch at Vizard (owned by The Judd School) in the event of flooding at their regular ground The Slade.

References

  1. ↑ "Extra drama added at both ends as RFU unveil new-look Champ Rugby". www.rugbypass.com. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  2. 1 2 "National League Rugby Play-Offs: Key Information". National League Rugby. 11 February 2026.
  3. ↑ "National League Play-Offs for 2025/2026". Redruth Rugby Football Club. 29 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Contact us". Moseley Rugby. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "Silver Leys". Bishop Stortford RFC. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  6. ↑ "Bury St Edmunds secure National League 2 East title and promotion to National League 1 with convincing 95-28 victory over Old Albanian". Suffolk News. 27 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "Camborne with National Two West title after Luctonians loss". The Packet. 21 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "Shaftesbury Park". Dings Crusaders RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  9. ↑ "Contact Us". Plymouth Albion RFC. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  10. ↑ "Rams Rugby Club". Rams Rugby Football Club. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Rams would be happy to play in RFU's new Tier 2". The RugbyPaper. No. 802. 28 January 2024. p. 1-2.
  12. ↑ "Contact Us". SaleFC. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  13. ↑ "Abbeydale Park". Sheffield RUFC. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  14. ↑ "National League 1". NCA Rugby.
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