North Premier


North Premier was a level five league in the English rugby union system, with the fourteen teams drawn from across Northern England. The other leagues at this level were London & South East Premier, Midlands Premier and South West Premier. The RFU reorganised the level five leagues for season 2022–23, with an increase from four to six and reducing the teams in each from fourteen to twelve. The teams in this league now play in either Regional 1 North East or Regional 1 North West.

Format

The fourteen teams in this league were drawn from across northern England with the champions promoted to National League 2 North and the runner-up going into a play-off with the second placed team from Midlands Premier with the winner also being promoted. The league's bottom three teams are relegated to either North 1 East or North 1 West depending on their geographic location. The league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following reorganisation by the Rugby Football Union when the league was originally known as North Division 1. A further name change from National League 3 North to its final name for the 2017–18 season by the RFU in order to lessen confusion for the series of regional leagues.
The season ran from September to May and comprised twenty-six rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals home and away. The results of the matches contributed 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 point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
  • 1 additional point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match

2021–22

Nine of the fourteen teams participated in the previous season's competition. They were joined by Otley and Preston Grasshoppers who were relegated from National League 2 North, and promoted sides York together with Burnage and Northwich RUFC.
The previous season's champions Blaydon were promoted into National League 2 North alongside Harrogate, while the relegated teams were Carlisle RFC together with Morpeth and Ilkley RFC.
The teams competing in 2021–22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019–20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020–21.
Twelve of the fourteen teams from 2021–22 were placed into one of the new level five leagues for 2022–23. Alnwick, Billingham, Sandal and York were placed into Regional 1 North East while Blackburn, Burnage, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lymm, Macclesfield, Northwich, Rossendale and Wirral were placed into Regional 1 North West. The top two teams in 2021–22, Otley and Preston Grasshoppers, were promoted to the level four league National League 2 North. No teams were relegated to level six.

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AlnwickGreensfield1,200 Alnwick, Northumberland11th
BillinghamGreenwood Road1,500 Billingham, County Durham5th
BlackburnRamsgreave DriveBlackburn, Lancashire6th
BurnageVarley ParkStockport, Greater ManchesterPromoted from North 1 West
Kirkby LonsdaleUnderley ParkKirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria8th
LymmCrouchley Lane1,000Lymm, Cheshire7th
MacclesfieldPriory Park1,250 Macclesfield, Cheshire3rd
NorthwichMoss FarmNorthwich, CheshirePromoted from North 1 West
OtleyCross Green7,000 Otley, Leeds, West YorkshireRelegated from Nat 2 North
Preston GrasshoppersLightfoot Green2,250 Preston, LancashireRelegated from Nat 2 North
RossendaleMarl Pits1,100 Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire9th
SandalMilnthorpe GreenSandal Magna, Wakefield, West Yorkshire4th
WirralThe Memorial GroundClatterbridge, Wirral10th
YorkClifton ParkYork, North YorkshirePromoted from North 1 East

2020–21

On 30th October the RFU announced, that due to the coronavirus pandemic, a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 season meaning North Premier was not contested.

2019–20

Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Macclesfield who were relegated from National League 2 North, and Blackburn, Carlisle and Morpeth who were promoted into the division. Last season's champions Hull were promoted into National League 2 North, while the relegated teams were Vale of Lune and Wilmslow who all drop down into North 1 West and Kendal Rugby Union Football Club, Kendal who were relegated to North 1 East.

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AlnwickGreensfield1,200 Alnwick, Northumberland9th
BillinghamGreenwood Road1,500 Billingham, County Durham4th
BlackburnRamsgreave DriveBlackburn, LancashirePromoted from North 1 West
BlaydonCrow Trees2,000 Swalwell, Tyne and WearRunners up
CarlisleRugby Ground, Warwick Road1,500 Carlisle, CumbriaPromoted from North 1 West
HarrogateRudding Lane2,000Harrogate, North Yorkshire3rd
IlkleyStacks Field2,000 Ilkley, West Yorkshire8th
Kirkby LonsdaleUnderley ParkKirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria10th
LymmCrouchley Lane1,000Lymm, Cheshire11th
MacclesfieldPriory Park1,250 Macclesfield, CheshireRelegated from National 2 North
MorpethGrange House Field1,000Morpeth, NorthumberlandPromoted from North 1 East
RossendaleMarl Pits1,100 Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire5th
SandalMilnthorpe GreenSandal Magna, Wakefield, West Yorkshire6th
WirralThe Memorial GroundClatterbridge, Wirral7th

2018–19

Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Blaydon who were relegated from National League 2 North, while Alnwick, Vale of Lune and Wilmslow were promoted into the division. Preston Grasshoppers were promoted as champions into National League 2 North, while the relegated teams were Birkenhead Park, Morley and Pocklington.

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AlnwickGreensfield1,200 Alnwick, NorthumberlandPromoted from North 1 East
BillinghamGreenwood Road1,500 Billingham, County Durham6th
BlaydonCrow Trees2,000 Swalwell, Tyne and WearRelegated from National 2 North
HarrogateRudding Lane2,000Harrogate, North Yorkshire3rd
HullFerens Ground1,500 Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of YorkshireRunners up
IlkleyStacks Field2,000 Ilkley, West Yorkshire7th
KendalMint Bridge Stadium3,500 Kendal, Cumbria10th
Kirkby LonsdaleUnderley ParkKirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria8th
LymmCrouchley Lane1,000Lymm, Cheshire4th
RossendaleMarl Pits1,100 Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire5th
SandalMilnthorpe GreenSandal Magna, Wakefield, West Yorkshire11th
Vale of LunePowder House Lane4,000 Lancaster, LancashirePromoted from North 1 West
WilmslowMemorial GroundWilmslow, CheshirePromoted from North 1 West
WirralThe Memorial GroundClatterbridge, Wirral9th

2017–18

Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Preston Grasshoppers and Harrogate who were relegated from National League 2 North, while Pocklington, Kirkby Lonsdale and Birkenhead Park are promoted into the division. Huddersfield were promoted as champions into National League 2 North, with Firwood Waterloo and Stockport both relegated to North 1 West and Cleckheaton dropping to North 1 East. In order to address an imbalance of teams at tier 5, Doncaster Phoenix were level transferred to Midlands Premier. This season was the first that Kendal played at the new Mint Bridge Stadium.

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BillinghamGreenwood Road1,500 Billingham, County Durham5th
Birkenhead ParkUpper ParkBirkenhead, WirralPromoted from North 1 West
HarrogateRudding Lane2,000Harrogate, North YorkshireRelegated from National 2 North
HullFerens Ground1,500 Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire3rd
IlkleyStacks Field2,000 Ilkley, West Yorkshire9th
KendalMint Bridge Stadium3,500 Kendal, Cumbria7th
Kirkby LonsdaleUnderley ParkKirkby Lonsdale, CumbriaPromoted from North 1 West
LymmCrouchley Lane1,000Lymm, Cheshire8th
MorleyScatcherd Lane6,000 Morley, West Yorkshire10th
PocklingtonPercy RoadPocklington, East Riding of YorkshirePromoted from North 1 East
Preston GrasshoppersLightfoot Green2,250 Preston, LancashireRelegated from National 2 North
RossendaleMarl Pits1,100 Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire2nd
SandalMilnthorpe GreenSandal Magna, Wakefield, West Yorkshire6th
WirralThe Memorial GroundClatterbridge, Wirral4th

2016–17

Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Huddersfield and Sandal who were relegated from National 2 North while Doncaster Phoenix, Morley and Kendal were promoted into the league. Sheffield Tigers were promoted as champions into National 2 North while Burnage and Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. were relegated to North 1 East and Birkenhead Park dropped to North 1 West. In order to address a league imbalance, 7th placed Sheffield were level transferred to National League 3 Midlands.

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BillinghamGreenwood Road1,500 Billingham, County Durham9th
CleckheatonMoorendCleckheaton, West Yorkshire10th
Doncaster PhoenixCastle Park5,000Doncaster, South Yorkshirepromoted from North 1 East
Firwood WaterlooSt Anthony's Road9,950 Blundellsands, Merseyside4th
HuddersfieldLockwood Park1,500 Huddersfield, South Yorkshirerelegated from National 2 North
HullFerens Ground1,500 Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire5th
IlkleyStacks Field2,000 Ilkley, West Yorkshire8th
KendalMint Bridge4,600 Kendal, Cumbriapromoted from North 1 West
LymmCrouchley Lane1,000Lymm, Cheshire3rd
MorleyScatcherd Lane6,000 Morley, West Yorkshirepromoted from North 1 East
RossendaleMarl Pits1,100 Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire6th
SandalMilnthorpe GreenSandal Magna, Wakefield, West Yorkshirerelegated from National 2 North
StockportThe Memorial Ground500Stockport, Greater Manchester11th
WirralThe Memorial GroundClatterbridge, Wirral2nd

Promotion play-off

Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 North, and National League 3 Midlands participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 North. The team with the best playing record, in this case Rossendale, host the match and they lost to their opponents Sheffield 31 – 32.
TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
Rossendale26210585244340914199
Sheffield26190771743428316496

2015–16

Sheffield Tigers, are the champions, winning the league by 16 points. It was Sheffield's second promotion to National 2 North; in 2010–11 they won promotion via the play-off, beating Chester. Wirral, the second-placed team lost their play-off match against Hinckley and remain in this league for next season. Three clubs are relegated, Huddersfield YMCA to North East 1, and Birkenhead Park and Burnage, both to North West 1.

Participating clubs and locations

Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They were joined by two teams relegated from National League 2 North, Hull and Stockport; and by three promoted teams, Birkenhead Park, Ilkley and Sheffield. The teams leaving the league were the 2014–15 champions, Sale who were promoted to National League 2 North, along with the runner-up Sandal, the play-off winner against Hinckley; Morley, South Shields West and Beverley were all relegated to North 1 East.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BillinghamGreenwood Road1,500 Billingham, County Durham7th
Birkenhead ParkBirkenhead ParkBirkenhead, Wirralpromoted from North 1 West
BurnageVarley ParkStockport, Greater Manchester11th
CleckheatonMoorendCleckheaton, West Yorkshire6th
Firwood WaterlooSt Anthony's Road9,950 Blundellsands, Merseyside4th
Huddersfield YMCALaund HillHuddersfield, West Yorkshire8th
HullFerens Ground1,500 Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshirerelegated from National 2 North
IlkleyStacks Field2,000 Ilkley, West Yorkshirepromoted from North 1 East
LymmCrouchley Lane1,000Lymm, Cheshire9th
RossendaleMarl Pits1,100 Rossendale, Lancashire5th
SheffieldAbbeydale Park3,200 Sheffield, South Yorkshirepromoted from North 1 East
Sheffield TigersDore MoorSheffield, South Yorkshire3rd
StockportThe Memorial Ground500Stockport, Greater Manchesterrelegated from National 2 North
WirralMemorial GroundClatterbridge, Wirral10th

Promotion play-off

Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 Midland, and National League 3 North participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 North. The team with the best playing record, in this case Hinckley, host the match and their opponents are Wirral.
ClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
Hinckley 262213790343447162108
Wirral26190767748619113493

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2014–15

Participating clubs

2013–14

Participating clubs

2012–13

Participating clubs

2009–10

Participating clubs

Inaugural clubs

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

North Premier honours

In the first season of the English rugby union league pyramid, sponsored by Courage, there was four, tier five leagues. The geographical area for teams in the north of England covered the ceremonial counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire Northumberland and Yorkshire There were eleven teams in the league and they played each other once, giving each team ten matches. The other tier five leagues were London Division One, Midlands Division One and South West Division One. This system prevailed for five seasons, and in 1992–93 the number of teams increased from eleven to thirteen. The following season the league was reorganised and the four tier five leagues became two; National 5 North and National 5 South. After three seasons, in 1996–97, a further reorganisation occurred, and there was a return to four, tier five leagues; with North Division One covering the area of northern England. This system prevailed until 2009–10 when the number of teams was increased from twelve to fourteen and renamed National League Three North.

North Division 1 (1987–1993)

The original North Division 1 was a tier 5 league with promotion to Area League 2 North and relegation to North Division 2.

North Division 1 (1993–1996)

At the end of the 1992–93 season the top six teams from North Division 1 and the top six from Midland Division 1 were combined to create National 5 North. North Division 1 dropped from a tier 5 league to a tier 6 league for the years that National 5 North was active.

North Division 1 (1996–2009)

For the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and North Division One returned to being a tier 5 league. Promotion was to National 4 North, while relegation continued to North Division 2 until 2000–01, and then into either North 2 East or North 2 West in subsequent seasons.

National League 3 North (2009–2017)

For the 2009–10 season North Division One was renamed as National League 3 North following a restructuring of the national leagues leading to changes at all levels.

North Premier (2017–2022)

The division was renamed North Premier for the 2017–18 season in order to make it more obvious that this was a regional division and the top one in the north.

Promotion play-offs

From 2000–01 season until 2018–19 there was a play-off, between the league runners-up of North Premier and Midlands Premier, for the third and final promotion place to National League 2 North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage. As of the end of the 2018–19 season the northern teams have been stronger with twelve wins to the Midlands seven, while the home team has won thirteen times compared to the away teams six.

Number of league titles