1987–88 Courage League
The 1987–88 Courage League National Division One was the first season of a truly national league in the first tier of the English league system currently known as the Aviva Premiership. There was no fixture list, the teams arranged fixtures amongst themselves. One match would count between each of the twelve teams involved and the points scheme was such that a team received four points for a win, two for a draw and one point for a loss. Most teams played eleven games, although some played ten.
Leicester Tigers finished first in the league table and were crowned champions. Coventry and Sale were relegated to the 1988–89 Courage League National Division Two for next season, the latter side having lost all of its eleven matches. Rosslyn Park and Liverpool St Helens were promoted from the 1987–88 Courage League National Division Two for the following season.
Participating teams
| Team | Stadium | Capacity | City/Area |
| Bath | Bath | 8,200 | Bath, Somerset |
| Bristol | Memorial Stadium | 12,100 | Bristol, Avon |
| Coventry | Coundon Road | 9,000+ | Coventry, West Midlands |
| Gloucester | Kingsholm | 11,000 | Gloucester, Gloucestershire |
| Harlequins | The Stoop | 8,500 | Twickenham, London |
| Leicester Tigers | Welford Road | 16,000 | Leicester, Leicestershire |
| Moseley | The Reddings | 10,000 | Birmingham, West Midlands |
| Nottingham | Ireland Avenue | 4,950 | Beeston, Nottinghamshire |
| Orrell | Edge Hall Road | 3,000 | Orrell, Greater Manchester |
| Sale | Heywood Road | 5,400 | Sale, Greater Manchester |
| Wasps | Repton Avenue | Sudbury, London | |
| Waterloo | St Anthony's Road | 9,000 | Blundellsands, Merseyside |