Current season or competition: 2024–25 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. 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 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
Main article: 2024–25 National League 2 WestParticipating teams and locations
BournvilleCamborneCinderfordCliftonDevonport ServicesExeter UniversityHinckleyHornetsLoughborough StudentsLuctoniansMacclesfieldOld RedcliffiansRedruthTaunton Titansclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024–25 National League 2 West teams
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bournville | Avery Fields | Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands | 10th | |
| Camborne | Crane Park | 7,000 (780 seats) | Camborne, Cornwall | 6th |
| Cinderford | Beavis Memorial Ground | 2,500 | Cinderford, Gloucestershire | Relegated from National League 1 (14th) |
| Clifton | Station Road | 2,500 (400 seats) | Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol | 3rd |
| Devonport Services | The Rectory Field | 2,000 | Devonport, Plymouth, Devon | Promoted from Regional 1 South West (champions) |
| Exeter University | Topsham Sports Ground | Exeter, Devon | 5th | |
| Hinckley | De Montfort Park | 2,000 | Hinckley, Leicestershire | 7th |
| Hornets | The Nest, Hutton Moor Park | 1,100 (100 stand) | Weston-super-Mare, Somerset | 12th |
| Loughborough Students | East Park | 1,000 | Loughborough, Leicestershire | 8th |
| Luctonians | Mortimer Park | 2,500 (300 seats) | Kingsland, Herefordshire | 2nd |
| Macclesfield | Priory Park | 1,250 (250 seats) | Macclesfield, Cheshire | Promoted from Regional 1 North West (champions) |
| Old Redcliffians | Scotland Lane | Brislington, Bristol | 4th | |
| Redruth | Recreation Ground | 3,500 (580 seats) | Redruth, Cornwall | 9th |
| Taunton Titans | Veritas Park | 2,000 (198 seats) | Taunton, Somerset | Relegated from National League 1 (13th) |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camborne | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 532 | 307 | +225 | 12 | 0 | 52 | Promotion place |
| 2 | Taunton Titans | 13 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 419 | 322 | +97 | 9 | 1 | 48 | |
| 3 | Cinderford | 13 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 390 | 310 | +80 | 7 | 2 | 47 | |
| 4 | Clifton | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 428 | 292 | +136 | 10 | 2 | 46 | |
| 5 | Luctonians | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 360 | 232 | +128 | 6 | 1 | 41 | |
| 6 | Redruth | 13 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 396 | 367 | +29 | 9 | 3 | 38 | |
| 7 | Old Redcliffians | 13 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 403 | 434 | −31 | 9 | 2 | 37 | |
| 8 | Loughborough Students | 13 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 391 | 381 | +10 | 12 | 3 | 37 | |
| 9 | Hornets | 13 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 378 | 398 | −20 | 8 | 4 | 34 | |
| 10 | Bournville | 13 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 306 | 356 | −50 | 5 | 6 | 27 | |
| 11 | Hinckley | 13 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 374 | 412 | −38 | 5 | 1 | 26 | |
| 12 | Exeter University | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 347 | 397 | −50 | 6 | 1 | 25 | |
| 13 | Macclesfield | 13 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 322 | 538 | −216 | 7 | 1 | 22 | Relegation place |
| 14 | Devonport Services | 13 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 262 | 562 | −300 | 6 | 0 | 14 |
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- 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 | ||||||||||
| 2023–24 | 14 | Dings Crusaders | Luctonians | Dudley Kingswinford, Newport (Salop) | ||||||||||
| 2024–25 | 14 | |||||||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Dings Crusaders (1)
- Leicester Lions (1)
Notes
- Also known as the Recreation Ground.
- 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
- 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.
- "Avery Fields Sports & Events". Bournville RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- "Contact us". Cinderford RFC. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ Heal Chris (29 April 2024). "Bishop's Stortford and Leicester Lions survive while Rotherham complete centenary year as champions". Talking Rugby Union.
- "Station Road". Clifton Rugby Club. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- "RUGBY REPORTS: Devonport Services dig deep to secure the Regional One South West title at Lydney". Plymouth Gazette. 24 March 2024.
- "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.
- "Macclesfield 57 – Penrith 15". Macclesfield Rugby. 6 April 2024.
- "Scotland Lane". Old Redcliffians RFC. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- "The Recreation Ground". Redruth Rugby Football Club. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- "Veritas Park". Taunton Rugby Football Club. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- "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.
External links
| National League 2 West | |
|---|---|
| 2024–25 teams | |
| Former clubs | |
| Seasons | |