National League 2 West
Current season or competition: 2023–24 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 |
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.
Leicester Lions became champions, with three matches to spare, following their 33 – 5 win over Loughborough Students on 25 March 2023.[2] Barnstaple (13th place) and Stourbridge (14th) are relegated to Regional 1 South West and Regional 1 Midlands respectively.
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[edit]
The 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[edit]
Participating teams and locations[edit]
|
 Locations of the 2023–24 National League 2 West teams
|
League table[edit]
| |||||||||||||||||
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Losing bonus | Points | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dings Crusaders (C) | 26 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 1007 | 382 | 625 | 18 | 3 | 111 | ||||||
| 2 | Luctonians | 26 | 20 | 0 | 6 | 859 | 443 | 416 | 20 | 4 | 104 | ||||||
| 3 | Clifton | 26 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 802 | 610 | 192 | 17 | 8 | 89 | ||||||
| 4 | Old Redcliffians | 26 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 769 | 659 | 110 | 18 | 3 | 85 | ||||||
| 5 | Exeter University | 26 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 816 | 778 | 38 | 16 | 5 | 81 | ||||||
| 6 | Camborne | 26 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 796 | 904 | -108 | 19 | 3 | 76 | ||||||
| 7 | Hinckley | 26 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 730 | 732 | -2 | 15 | 4 | 75 | ||||||
| 8 | Loughborough Students | 26 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 972 | 839 | 133 | 22 | 2 | 72 | ||||||
| 9 | Redruth | 26 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 598 | 743 | -145 | 12 | 2 | 66 | ||||||
| 10 | Bournville | 26 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 647 | 765 | -118 | 15 | 7 | 62 | ||||||
| 11 | Chester | 26 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 696 | 814 | -118 | 15 | 1 | 60 | ||||||
| 12 | Hornets | 26 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 713 | 806 | -93 | 13 | 9 | 58 | ||||||
| 13 | Newport (Salop) (R) | 26 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 515 | 935 | -420 | 11 | 4 | 39 | ||||||
| 14 | Dudley Kingswinford (R) | 26 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 511 | 1021 | -510 | 8 | 3 | 27 | ||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are relegation places. Updated: 27 April 2024 Source: National League 2 West RFU [14] | |||||||||||||||||
National Two West honours[edit]
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runner–up | Relegated teams | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 14 | Leicester Lions | Dings Crusaders | Barnstaple, Stourbridge | [15] | |||||||||
| 2023–24 | 14 | Dings Crusaders | Luctonians | Dudley Kingswinford, Newport (Salop) | ||||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles[edit]
- Dings Crusaders (1)
- Leicester Lions (1)
Notes[edit]
- ^ 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[edit]
- English rugby union system
- History of the English rugby union system
- National League 2 East
- National League 2 North
References[edit]
- ^ "Update on Structural Changes to National League Rugby". National League Rugby. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ Howkins, Mike (26 March 2023). "Lions seal the title in style on home soil". The RugbyPaper. No. 758. pp. 34–5.
- ^ "League compositions confirmed for 2023/24 season". Natiional League Rugby. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Avery Fields Sports & Events". Bourneville RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Hare Lane". Chester RUFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Station Road". Clifton Rugby Club. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Shaftsbury Park". Dings Crusaders RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Scotland Lane". Old Redcliffians RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "The Recreation Ground". Redruth Rugby Football Club. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "National League 2 West". England Rugby.
- ^ "National League 2 West". England Rugby. Retrieved 29 April 2023.