Nat 1 - Here we Come!
Get used to it...
By stonehousealbion
April 29 2015
I know - we've barely finished this season (Albion's annus horribilis?) and we're looking ahead already? Yes! Gotta embrace change and all that, plus there's always the need to start planning weekends away and that sort of thing. It's a good while before the fixture list will be out, but with some serious miles beyond what we've been used to of late (- the "derby" game is in the Forest od Dean, for God's sake!), it's never too early to start looking at the map and renewing old acquaintances up country.
The cup/vase/shield competitions of old have fallen by the wayside, so in a 16 team league, it's a straightforward 15 x 2, H and A format. That's 30 games in total and as far as I'm aware, Nat 1 games are all on a Sat afternoon with the odd Fri evening KO in the SE to accomodate the internationals. The RFU and NCA have now agreed a 'Structured Season' for 2015/16. It starts on 05 Sept and runs eight weeks up to and including 24 Oct. Then there's a blank Saturday on Oct 31st for the RWC 2015 Final, a week's break over Christmas and a restart on 02 Jan. Three blank weekends (27 Feb, 12 Mar and 09 Apr) until the end of season on Saturday 30th April (two of them coincide with England's home 6N games.
Here is the full nominal list (with broad location, * = ex-C'ship/ND1):
1 Ealing Trailfinders (P)
2 Rosslyn Park (London)
3 * Coventry (W Mids)
4 Fylde (Lancs)
5 Hartpury College (Glos)
6 Blackheath (London)
7 Richmond (London - ground share with L Scottish)
8 Blaydon (Tyneside)
9 Darlington Mowden Park (S Yorks)
10 * Esher (London)
11 Wharfedale (N Yorks)
12 Loughborough Students (Leics)
13 Cinderford (Glos)
14 Old Albanian (R)
15 Tynedale (R)
16 Macclesfield (R)
Up from N2S are Henley (Berkshire - Anyone remember a visit there in a Transit in the Nat Trophy in 2006?).
Up from N2N are Hull Ionians (Humberside).
The third promotees will be decided this Sat when N2N/S runners up Ampthill (Beds) host Bishop's Stortford (Herts).
NCA (parent body for Nat 1) website, fixtures page: NCA Fixtures
Current map: Nat 1 Map (Somehow, I reckon the existing clubs would have preferred Moseley to be relegated...)
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rolling-maul.com
There are separate boards for the C'ship and Nat 1, which means there's a little more keyboard work required at the moment. Technically, (I believe) we don't actually become part of Nat 1 until just before the start of the new season (Just in case anyone goes belly up in the off season?)
Coventry are the only team in our new home who have a Sportnetwork board. Just go to the dropdown menu next to the big RUGBYNETWORK.NET (top LH corner of this page) and scroll down. Or put this in to your faves as a bookmark:
Sportnetwork - Coventry
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
ampthillrufc.com
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Interesting that with Old Albanian dropping a league as well, Saracens now have a development arrangement with Ampthill...
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Similarly don't go to London to find Esher!!
(Never did in my book!).
Whatever, looking forward to renewing hostilities very soon
Don't forget when you come to see us, guys - we're just past Bristol
.Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Semper Sersum.
Fylde RFC
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!