1995–96 National Division 2

1995–96 National Division 2
Countries England
Date9 September 1995 – 27 April 1996
ChampionsNorthampton (2nd title)
Runners-upLondon Irish
RelegatedNone
Matches played90
Top point scorer301 – Michael Corcoran (London Irish)
Top try scorer20 – Matt Allen (Northampton)[1]

The 1995–96 National Division 2 (sponsored by Courage Brewery) was the ninth season of the second tier of the English rugby union league system, the Courage Clubs Championship, currently known as Champ Rugby. New teams to the division included Northampton (relegated from tier 1) and Bedford and Blackheath (both promoted from tier 3).

Northampton were easily the best side in the division, finishing as champions 6 points clear of runners up London Irish, with both sides promoted to the 1996–97 National Division 1. It was the second time Northampton had won the Division 2 title and it was also the second time a team had won all of their matches in a season, with 18 wins out of 18 and a huge points for difference of +664. Bedford finished last but were not relegated to the 1996–97 National Division 3 due to the expansion of Division 2 in 1996–97 to twelve teams.[2]

Structure

Each side played one another twice, in a round robin system, home and away, to make a total of eighteen matches for each team. The top two sides would be promoted to National Division 1 and there would be no relegation due to the expansion of National Division 2 from ten to twelve teams for the following season.

Participating teams

Locations of the 1995–96 National Division 2 teams
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area Previous season
Bedford Goldington Road 4,800 (800 seats)[3] Bedford, Bedfordshire Promoted from National 3 (1st)
Blackheath Rectory Field 3,500 (500 seats)[4] Greenwich, London Promoted from National 3 (2nd)
London Irish The Avenue 3,600 (600 seats)[5] Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey 5th
London Scottish Athletic Ground 7,300 (1,300 seats)[6] Richmond, London 4th
Moseley The Reddings 9,999 (1,800 seats)[7] Birmingham, West Midlands 6th
Newcastle Gosforth Kingston Park 6,600[8] Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear 3rd
Northampton Franklin's Gardens 6,000 (2,000 seats)[9] Northampton, Northamptonshire Relegated from National 1 (10th)
Nottingham Ireland Avenue 4,990 (590 seats)[10] Beeston, Nottinghamshire 7th
Wakefield College Grove 4,000 (500 seats)[11] Wakefield, West Yorkshire 2nd
Waterloo St Anthony's Road 9,950 (950 seats)[12] Blundellsands, Merseyside 8th

Table

1995–96 National Division 2 table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Northampton 18 18 0 0 867 203 +664 36 Promoted
2 London Irish 18 15 0 3 584 405 +179 30
3 London Scottish 18 10 2 6 361 389 −28 22
4 Wakefield 18 8 0 10 328 331 −3 16
5 Waterloo 18 7 2 9 309 483 −174 16
6 Moseley 18 7 0 11 327 447 −120 14
7 Blackheath 18 6 1 11 341 469 −128 13
8 Newcastle Gosforth 18 5 1 12 348 405 −57 11
9 Nottingham 18 5 1 12 333 433 −100 11
10 Bedford Blues 18 5 1 12 287 520 −233 11
Source: [13]
Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows:
  1. two points for a win
  2. one point for a draw
  3. no points for a loss

If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

  1. difference between points for and against
  2. total number of points for
There was no relegation this season.

Fixtures & Results

Round 1

9 September 1995
London Irish32 – 65Northampton
The Avenue
9 September 1995
Moseley9 – 0Newcastle Gosforth
The Reddings
9 September 1995
Nottingham31 – 17Blackheath
Ireland Avenue
9 September 1995
Wakefield32 – 23Bedford
College Grove
9 September 1995
Waterloo3 – 11London Scottish
St Anthony's Road

[14]

Round 2

16 September 1995
Bedford10 – 10Waterloo
Goldington Road
16 September 1995
Blackheath20 – 16Wakefield
Rectory Field
16 September 1995
London Scottish19 – 15London Irish
Athletic Ground
16 September 1995
Newcastle Gosforth31 – 24Nottingham
Kingston Park
16 September 1995
Northampton50 – 7Moseley
Franklin's Gardens

[14]

Round 3

23 September 1995
Bedford21 – 18Blackheath
Goldington Road
23 September 1995
Moseley19 – 21London Scottish
The Reddings
23 September 1995
Nottingham7 – 43Northampton
Ireland Avenue
23 September 1995
Wakefield26 – 7Newcastle Gosforth
College Grove
23 September 1995
Waterloo16 – 50London Irish
St Anthony's Road

[14]

Round 4

30 September 1995
Blackheath21 – 9Waterloo
Rectory Field
30 September 1995
London Irish49 – 8Moseley
The Avenue
30 September 1995
London Scottish17 – 9Nottingham
Athletic Ground
30 September 1995
Newcastle Gosforth23 – 30Bedford
Kingston Park
30 September 1995
Northampton23 – 0Wakefield
Franklin's Gardens

[14]

Round 5

7 October 1995
Bedford17 – 49Northampton Saints
Goldington Road
7 October 1995
Blackheath39 – 19Newcastle Gosforth
The Rectory
7 October 1995
Nottingham9 – 22London Irish
Ireland Avenue
7 October 1995
Wakefield16 – 20London Scottish
College Grove
7 October 1995
Waterloo22 – 17Moseley
St Anthony's Road

[14]

Round 6

14 October 1995
London Irish31 – 7Wakefield
The Avenue
14 October 1995
London Scottish50 – 10Bedford
Athletic Ground
14 October 1995
Moseley18 – 6Nottingham
The Reddings
14 October 1995
Newcastle Gosforth26 – 29Waterloo
Kingston Park
14 October 1995
Northampton69 – 14Blackheath
Franklin's Gardens

[14]

Round 7

21 October 1995
Bedford29 – 46London Irish
Goldington Road
21 October 1995
Blackheath16 – 16London Scottish
Rectory Field
21 October 1995
Newcastle Gosforth9 – 52Northampton
Kingston Park
21 October 1995
Nottingham12 – 19Waterloo
Ireland Avenue
21 October 1995
Wakefield9 – 11Moseley
College Grove

[14]

Round 8

28 October 1995
London Irish32 – 9Blackheath
The Avenue
28 October 1995
London Scottish28 – 8Newcastle Gosforth
Athletic Ground
28 October 1995
Moseley27 – 18Bedford
The Reddings
28 October 1995
Nottingham22 – 18Wakefield
Ireland Avenue
28 October 1995
Waterloo3 – 69Northampton
St Anthony's Road

[14]

Round 9

4 November 1995
Bedford20 – 12Nottingham
Goldington Road
4 November 1995
Blackheath9 – 27Moseley
Rectory Field
4 November 1995
Newcastle Gosforth19 – 23London Irish
Kingston Park
4 November 1995
Northampton54 – 11London Scottish
Franklin's Gardens
4 November 1995
Wakefield14 – 6Waterloo
College Grove

[14]

Round 10

11 November 1995
Bedford20 – 13Wakefield
Goldington Road
11 November 1995
Blackheath25 – 16Nottingham
Rectory Field
11 November 1995
London Scottish16 – 16Waterloo
Athletic Ground
11 November 1995
Newcastle Gosforth8 – 9Moseley
Kingston Park
11 November 1995
Northampton52 – 24London Irish
Franklin's Gardens

[14]

Round 11

6 January 1996
Blackheath23 – 8Bedford
Rectory Field
6 January 1996
London Irish39 – 16Waterloo
The Avenue
6 January 1996
London Scottish17 – 8Moseley
Athletic Ground
6 January 1996
Newcastle Gosforth11 – 17Wakefield
Kingston Park
6 January 1996
Northampton35 – 5Nottingham
Franklin's Gardens

[14]

Round 12

13 January 1996
London Irish21 – 20London Scottish
The Avenue
13 January 1996
MoseleyP – PNorthampton
The Reddings
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 24 February 1996.
13 January 1996
Nottingham24 – 24Newcastle Gosforth
Ireland AVenue
13 January 1996
Wakefield17 – 0Blackheath
College Grove
13 January 1996
Waterloo48 – 24Bedford
St Anthony's Road

[14]

Round 13

10 February 1996
BedfordP – PNewcastle Gosforth
Goldington Road
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 March 1996.
10 February 1996
MoseleyP – PLondon Irish
The Reddings
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 March 1996.
10 February 1996
NottinghamP – PLondon Scottish
Ireland Avenue
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 March 1996.
10 February 1996
WakefieldP – PNorthampton
College Grove
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 April 1996.
10 February 1996
Waterloo32 – 10Blackheath
St Anthony's Road

[14]

Round 14

17 February 1996
London Irish39 – 27Nottingham
The Avenue
17 February 1996
London Scottish22 – 31Wakefield
Athletic Ground
17 February 1996
Moseley24 – 30Waterloo
The Reddings
17 February 1996
Newcastle Gosforth25 – 10Blackheath
Kingston Park
17 February 1996
NorthamptonP – PBedford
Franklin's Gardens
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 1996.

[14]

Round 12 (rescheduled game)

24 February 1996
Moseley16 – 46Northampton
The Reddings
  • Game rescheduled from 13 January 1996.

Round 13 (rescheduled games)

9 March 1996
Bedford6 – 24Newcastle Gosforth
Goldington Road
  • Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
9 March 1996
Moseley26 – 29London Irish
The Reddings
  • Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
9 March 1996
Nottingham12 – 19London Scottish
Ireland Avenue
  • Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.

[14]

Round 14 (rescheduled game)

23 March 1996
Northampton48 – 0Bedford
Franklin's Gardens
  • Game rescheduled from 17 February 1996.

[14]

Round 15

30 March 1996
Bedford21 – 19London Scottish
Goldington Road
30 March 1996
Blackheath10 – 24Northampton
The Rectory
30 March 1996
Nottingham48 – 27Moseley
Ireland Avenue
30 March 1996
Wakefield19 – 31London Irish
College Grove
30 March 1996
Waterloo13 – 36Newcastle Gosforth
St Anthony's Road

[14]

Round 16

6 April 1996
London Irish25 – 13Bedford
The Avenue
6 April 1996
London Scottish27 – 26Blackheath
Athletic Ground
6 April 1996
Moseley15 – 26Wakefield
The Reddings
6 April 1996
Northampton26 – 5Newcastle Gosforth
Franklin's Gardens
6 April 1996
Waterloo13 – 24Nottingham
St Anthony's Road

[14]

Round 17

13 April 1996
Bedford8 – 23Moseley
Goldington Road
13 April 1996
Blackheath23 – 46London Irish
Rectory Field
  • London Irish are promoted as league runners up.
13 April 1996
Newcastle Gosforth45 – 11London Scottish
Kingston Park
13 April 1996
Northampton69 – 5Waterloo
Franklin's Gardens
  • Northampton are promoted as champions.
13 April 1996
Wakefield15 – 36Nottingham
College Grove

[14]

Round 13 (rescheduled game)

20 April 1996
Wakefield21 – 34Northampton
College Grove
  • Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.

[14]

Round 18

27 April 1996
London Irish29 – 28Newcastle Gosforth
The Avenue
27 April 1996
London Scottish17 – 59Northampton
Athletic Ground
27 April 1996
Moseley36 – 51Blackheath
The Reddings
27 April 1996
Nottingham30 – 11Bedford
Ireland Avenue
27 April 1996
Waterloo20 – 10Wakefield
St Anthony's Road

[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Stephen McCormack, ed. (2000). The Official RFU Club Directory 2000–2001. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press.
  2. ^ Mick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7472-7771-2.
  3. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Bedford R.U.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 85.
  4. ^ Bill Mitchell, ed. (1994). "Blackheath FC (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1994–95. Windsor: Tony Williamson Publications. p. 179.
  5. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "London Irish R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 98.
  6. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Richmond F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 112.
  7. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Moseley F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 61.
  8. ^ "Rugby Union: Winger Inga has the power". Independent. 1 March 1999.
  9. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Northampton F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 64.
  10. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Nottingham R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 66.
  11. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Wakefield R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 123.
  12. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Waterloo F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 126.
  13. ^ "Courage Clubs Championship 1995/96". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Fixtures / Results (September 9, 1995 to April 27, 1996)". Rugby Archives. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
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