National League 2 West
| Current season or competition: 2025–26 National League 2 West | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2022 |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Country | England |
| Holders | Clifton (2024–25) |
| Most titles | Clifton, 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, South West England and Cornwall. 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.
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
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 while the runners up go into the four team National 2 playoffs with the runners up from National League 2 East and National League 2 North, as well as the 11th placed side in National League 1.[2]
The bottom two teams are relegated to either Regional 1 Midlands or Regional 1 South West, while the 12th placed side go into the four team Regional 1 playoffs with the 12th placed sides from National 2 East and National 2 North as well as the Regional 1 playoff winners.[3]
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
Participating teams and locations
|
Locations of the 2025–26 National League 2 West teams
|
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camborne | 22 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 900 | 531 | +369 | 18 | 2 | 96 | Promotion place |
| 2 | Luctonians | 22 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 673 | 445 | +228 | 16 | 2 | 86 | Promotion Play-off |
| 3 | Hinckley | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 778 | 598 | +180 | 19 | 2 | 81 | |
| 4 | Taunton Titans | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 734 | 643 | +91 | 16 | 8 | 72 | |
| 5 | Hornets | 22 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 638 | 589 | +49 | 14 | 2 | 68 | |
| 6 | Barnstaple | 22 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 608 | 657 | −49 | 16 | 1 | 63 | |
| 7 | Cinderford | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 629 | 608 | +21 | 14 | 5 | 63 | |
| 8 | Redruth | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 583 | 586 | −3 | 14 | 6 | 58 | |
| 9 | Lymm | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 638 | 703 | −65 | 13 | 3 | 56 | |
| 10 | Old Redcliffians | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 595 | 651 | −56 | 14 | 6 | 56 | |
| 11 | Chester | 22 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 622 | 786 | −164 | 15 | 5 | 54 | |
| 12 | Exeter University | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 699 | 775 | −76 | 13 | 1 | 46 | Relegation Play-off |
| 13 | Loughborough Students | 22 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 676 | 852 | −176 | 16 | 4 | 46 | Relegation place |
| 14 | Syston | 22 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 498 | 847 | −349 | 10 | 2 | 28 |
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- Number of matches drawn
- Difference between points for and against
- Total number of points for
- Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
- Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
National Two West honours
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runner–up | Relegated teams | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 14 | Leicester Lions | Dings Crusaders | Barnstaple, Stourbridge | [14] | |||||||||
| 2023–24 | 14 | Dings Crusaders | Luctonians | Dudley Kingswinford, Newport (Salop) | [15] | |||||||||
| 2024–25 | 14 | Clifton | Camborne | Devonport Services, Bournville | [16] | |||||||||
| 2025–26 | 14 | |||||||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Clifton (1)
- Dings Crusaders (1)
- Leicester Lions (1)
Notes
- ^ Since relegation from the 2018–19 National League 1 Loughborough Students have switched games from the Loughborough University Stadium to nearby East Park.
- ^ Formerly known as Veritas Park.[12]
See also
- English rugby union system
- History of the English rugby union system
- National League 2 East
- National League 2 North
References
- ^ "Update on Structural Changes to National League Rugby". National League Rugby. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "National League Play-Offs for 2025/2026". Redruth Rugby Football Club. 29 August 2025.
- ^ "How promotion and relegation will work for Men's National 1 and below and Women's Championship and below". England Rugby. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
- ^ "Hare Lane". Chester RUFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Contact us". Cinderford RFC. Retrieved 22 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.
- ^ "Taunton Rugby Club ground to be renamed the Summerfield Stadium". Taunton Chamber of Commerce. 5 September 2025.
- ^ "National League 2 West". NCA Rugby.
- ^ "National League 2 West Final Standings 2022–23". England Rugby. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ "National League 2 West Final Standings 2023–24". England Rugby. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "National League 2 West Final Standings 2024–25". England Rugby. Retrieved 26 April 2025.