Regional 1 North West

Regional 1 North West
Current season or competition:
2025–26 Regional 1 North West
SportRugby union
Instituted2022
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersHuddersfield (2025–26)
Most titlesLymm
Macclesfield
Rossendale
Huddersfield (1 title)
WebsiteNorthern Division

Regional 1 North West is a level five league in the English rugby union system, with the twelve teams drawn from across North West England. The other level five leagues are Regional 1 Midlands, Regional 1 North East, Regional 1 South Central, Regional 1 South East and Regional 1 South West.[1]

Huddersfield are the 2025–26 champions and will be promoted to National League 2 North.

Format

The twelve teams in this league are drawn from across North West England, with the league champions promoted to National League 2 North. The league's bottom two teams are relegated to either Regional 2 North or Regional 2 North West depending on their geographic location.[1]

The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league table 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

2026–27

Departing were Huddersfield, promoted to National League 2 North, whilst Manchester (9th - playoff losers) were relegated to Regional 2 North West as were Long Eaton (11th) and Derby (12th) both to Regional 2 Midlands North.

Also leaving were Burton (4th) who were originally allocated to the league but subsequently level transferred to Regional 1 Midlands having been displaced by Macclesfield who were involuntarily demoted into the league having declined their allocation to National League 2 West for the 2026-27 season.[2]

Sandal were originally level transferred into the league from Regional 1 North East when the provisional lineup was announced before being switched back to R1NE. In their place came Dronfield, promoted as champions of Regional 2 North Midlands who had initially been allocated to R1NE.

Participating teams and locations

2025–26

Departing were Rossendale, promoted to National League 2 North, whilst Stoke-on-Trent (11th) and Birkenhead Park (12th) were relegated to Regional 2 Midlands North and Regional 2 North West respectively. Also leaving were Penrith (7th) and Kendal (9th) on a level transfer to Regional 1 North East; as were Newport (Salop) (6th) to Regional 1 Midlands.

Participating teams and locations

League table

Regional 1 North West 2025–26
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Pts amended
1Huddersfield (P) 2221011021570432220106
2Anselmians 221912952410542211100
3Stockport 22150766145820313275
4Burton 221219617655−3818371
5Leek 2211011641646−515665
6Blackburn 2212010598690−9213162
7Bowdon 2210012550598−489554
8Rochdale 228113583796−21313552
9Manchester (R) 22811361675413813148
10Wirral 228113575642−678446
11Long Eaton (R) 224018521815−29411431
12Derby (R) 221120429867−4397513−5
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Team with most draws
  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
  • Mint background is the promotion place. (1st)
  • Green background is the promotion play-off places. (2nd-3rd)
  • Pink background are the relegation play-off places (9th-10th)
  • Salmon background are the relegation places (subject to confirmation by the RFU). (11th-12th)
  • Updated: 19 April 2026 Source:[12]

Play-offs

The champions, Huddersfield, are automatically promoted to next seasons National League 2 North. Second-placed Anselmians won the Regional 1 North West play-off against third-placed Stockport, while Alnwick (2nd) lost to Harrogate (3rd) in the Regional 1 North East play-off. In the second round Harrogate won at Anselmians for the right to play in the National League 2 North Accession Final against Rossendale. Harrogate won the final and will play in next seasons National League 2 North. In each match the highest placed team play at home. [13]


Promotion play-offs
Round 1
25 April 2026
Anselmians (2nd)31 – 25Stockport (3rd)
Malone Field, Eastham, Merseyside
25 April 2026
Alnwick (2nd)35 – 45Harrogate (3rd)
Greensfield, Alnwick
Round 2
2 May 2026
Anselmians40 – 41Harrogate
Malone Field, Eastham, Merseyside
National League 2 North Accession Final

The 12th-placed team in the National League 2 North played the winner of the Regional 1 North East and Regional 1 North West promotion play-off to decide who would be the final side in next seasons National League 2 North.

9 May 2026
Rossendale14 – 21Harrogate
Marl Pits, Rawtenstall
  • Harrogate promoted.
9 May 2026
–
Relegation play-off

The 9th and 10th placed teams held a play-off, with the losing team playing in the Regional 1 Accession Final, against Vale of Lune, the winner of the Regional 2 North West promotion play-off. Vale of Lune are promoted to Regional 1 North West and Manchester are relegated to Regional 2 North West.[13]

25 April 2026
Manchester (9th)19 – 36Wirral (10th)
Grove Park, Cheadle Hulme
Regional 1 Accession Final
9 May 2026
Manchester13 – 16Vale of Lune
Grove Park, Cheadle Hulme


2024–25

Departing were Macclesfield, promoted to National League 2 West, whilst Sandbach and Northwich were relegated to Regional 2 North West.

Participating teams and locations

League table

Regional 1 North West 2024–25
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
CRossendale22181399457042419194
2Anselmians22180470245824414288
3Manchester22170583550233318187
4Wirral2216066275299815281
5Stockport22140877856221616375
6Newport (Salop)22110116616332813562
7Penrith2283117236794915558
8Blackburn227114594805−21110343
9Kendal226115564649−8512543
10Leek227015588836−24810442
RStoke-on-Trent224018602915−31315334
RBirkenhead Park223019447977−5307221
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Team with most draws
  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
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are relegation places (subject to confirmation by the RFU).

Updated: 15 April 2025

Source:[22]

2023–24

Departing were Lymm, promoted to National League 2 North whilst Kirkby Lonsdale and Burnage were relegated to Regional 2 North West.

Participating teams and locations

League table

Regional 1 North West 2023–24
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
CMacclesfield222011908378+530220104
2Rossendale2219121081402+679212101
3Blackburn221615877435+44219287
4Wirral221408550514+3614373
5Manchester221318528519+911267
6Kendal229112488627−1398349
7Stockport228014448611−1639445
8Penrith227015504751−24710442
9Anselmians227213382653−2716341
10Leek225116483658−1754733
RSandbach225017395680−2855530
RNorthwich225017390806−4165126
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Team with most draws
  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
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 12 May 2024
Source:[31]

Results

Home \ Away ANS BLA KEN LEE MAC MAN NOR PEN ROS SAN STO WIR
Anselmians — 29–29 19–12 13–14 5–33 22–22 18–7 26–22 25–57 13–11 22–12 14–27
Blackburn 45–3 — 24–19 57–0 14–29 24–25 62–15 64–17 25–24 42–14 40–5 47–5
Kendal 5–28 38–80 — 20–17 14–25 14–25 47–20 13–0 17–34 26–18 33–24 31–30
Leek 47–20 20–50 25–25 — 11–24 17–28 64–20 41–43 19–34 18–13 11–18 17–22
Macclesfield 75–5 34–26 38–22 41–5 — 31–21 38–17 57–15 36–60 66–24 46–6 22–10
Manchester 18–12 17–24 38–34 20–15 13–29 — 29–18 40–32 26–46 29–14 28–17 33–28
Northwich 29–28 26–87 15–22 34–30 13–66 17–7 — 69–19 7–68 21–5 17–32 13–31
Penrith 38–15 15–21 27–7 21–27 24–33 17–34 35–5 — 35–66 19–14 29–12 23–24
Rossendale 71–7 40–21 45–14 54–12 26–26 27–5 43–3 106–14 — 45–7 40–10 61–33
Sandbach 35–19 8–47 17–30 44–38 12–41 24–12 33–7 21–24 12–75 — 18–17 24–37
Stockport 26–29 24–26 31–34 24–14 7–50 26–34 27–10 32–23 34–33 27–20 — 27–26
Wirral 18–10 28–22 27–15 33–21 32–48 31–24 15–7 24–12 14–26 27–7 28–10 —
Updated to match(es) played on 6 April 2024. Source: Regional 1 North West
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review.

Eight of the twelve teams were drawn from the 2021–22 North Premier league sides with four promoted or transferred in. Of the remaining six North Premier clubs, four went to Regional 1 North East and the top two were promoted to National League 2 North.

Participating teams and locations

Final league table

Regional 1 North West 2022–23
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
PLymm221903108937371619196
2Blackburn221903108536971619196
3Rossendale22160686848238617182
4Sandbach22150770343127210171
5Macclesfield22130976057918115471
6Stockport22121964953011912466
7Wirral22110116035614213360
8Manchester229013650665−1514656
9Northwich229112565675−11010250
10Kendal226016560774−2149437
RBurnage222020381975−5944214
RKirkby Lonsdale2200221891616−1427000
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 17 April 2023
Source:[32]

Results

Home \ Away BLA BUR KEN KIR LYM MAC MAN NOR ROS SAN STO WIR
Blackburn — 68–12 34–24 190–0 27–7 31–14 52–17 33–21 26–13 14–22 33–17 50–26
Burnage 7–45 — 7–39 38–7 14–87 24–43 10–33 13–23 27–31 10–44 26–45 5–38
Kendal 10–57 69–14 — 41–0 19–50 12–41 18–17 38–10 17–35 32–34 26–27 3–28
Kirkby Lonsdale 7–90 7–40 23–46 — 7–95 0–77 10–47 22–54 5–95 5–86 17–42 7–47
Lymm 38–21 90–12 79–21 118–3 — 32–36 43–10 81–5 35–22 29–14 30–14 52–26
Macclesfield 25–19 59–10 53–26 58–17 15–38 — 37–17 26–50 29–35 22–24 23–25 45–24
Manchester 28–50 37–28 50–19 65–5 7–36 31–17 — 28–31 28–34 13–18 31–25 59–21
Northwich 17–36 29–14 29–24 51–8 10–47 38–35 37–40 — 19–23 17–13 17–17 32–42
Rossendale 13–26 40–12 61–28 87–0 36–14 69–22 75–24 36–27 — 38–26 33–19 29–12
Sandbach 23–36 46–29 62–12 106–14 18–31 7–25 31–14 27–17 25–21 — 10–0 32–7
Stockport 15–35 66–7 26–19 79–17 24–26 29–35 36–29 28–14 48–37 15–22 — 24–22
Wirral 7–34 29–22 37–17 64–8 12–32 21–23 32–35 44–17 13–5 30–13 21–28 —
Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2023. Source: Regional 1 North East
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Regional 1 North West honours

List of Regional 1 North West honours
Season No of teams Champions Runner–up Relegated teams Ref
2022–2312LymmBlackburnBurnage and Kirkby Lonsdale
2023–2412MacclesfieldRossendaleSandbach and Northwich[33]
2024–2512RossendaleAnselmians RUFCStoke-on-Trent and Birkenhead Park[22]
Green background is the promotion place.

References

  1. 1 2 "League Structure and Leagues for 2022/2023". RFU Community Communications. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "National League Rugby Statement: Composition of National 2". National League Rugby. 12 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "Contact". Blackburn RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "Mint Bridge". Kendal RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "Rossendale Sports Club". Rossendale RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  6. ↑ "The Memorial Ground". Stockport RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Memorial Ground". Wirral RFC.
  8. ↑ "Contact". Blackburn RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "Grove Lane". Manchester Rugby Club. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "The Memorial Ground". Stockport RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "Memorial Ground". Wirral RFC.
  12. ↑ "Regional 1 North West". England Rugby. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Men's End of Season Playoffs". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "Contact". Blackburn RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  15. ↑ "Mint Bridge". Kendal RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  16. ↑ "Grove Lane". Manchester Rugby Club. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  17. ↑ "Contact". Penrith RUFC LTD. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "Rossendale Sports Club". Rossendale RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  19. ↑ "The Memorial Ground". Stockport RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  20. ↑ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Stoke on Trent R.U.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 180.
  21. ↑ "Memorial Ground". Wirral RFC.
  22. 1 2 "Regional 1 North West". England Rugby. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  23. ↑ "Contact". Blackburn RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  24. ↑ "Mint Bridge". Kendal RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  25. ↑ "Grove Lane". Manchester Rugby Club. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  26. ↑ "Contact". Penrith RUFC LTD. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  27. ↑ "Rossendale Sports Club". Rossendale RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  28. ↑ "Sandbach RUFC". Contact. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  29. ↑ "The Memorial Ground". Stockport RUFC. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  30. ↑ "Memorial Ground". Wirral RFC.
  31. ↑ "Regional 1 North". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  32. ↑ "Regional 1 North". England Rugby. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  33. ↑ "Macclesfield 57 – Penrith 15". Macclesfield Rugby. 6 April 2024.
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