1987–88 Courage League National Division Three
The 1987–88 Courage League National Division Three was the first full season of rugby union within the third tier of the English league system, currently known as the National League 1. Both Wakefield and West Hartlepool won ten matches, lost one and finished on twenty points. Wakefield finished as champions due to their superior points difference but neither team was promoted to National Division Two. Morley and Birmingham finished in the bottom two places and both clubs were relegated to Area League North for the following season. Almost all clubs in the national divisions reported an increase in attendances.
Structure
Each team played one match against the other teams, playing a total of eleven matches each. There was no set date for matches, clubs having to arrange the fixtures amongst themselves.Participating teams and locations
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area |
| Birmingham | Sharmans Cross | 2,500 | Solihull, West Midlands |
| Exeter | County Ground | 5,200 | Exeter, Devon |
| Fylde | Woodlands | 9,000 | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire |
| Maidstone | William Davey Memorial | Maidstone, Kent | |
| Metropolitan Police | Imber Court | East Molesey, Surrey | |
| Morley | Scatcherd Lane | Morley, Leeds | |
| Nuneaton | Harry Cleaver Ground | Nuneaton, Warwickshire | |
| Plymouth Albion | Beacon Park | 3,500 | Plymouth, Devon |
| Sheffield | Abbeydale Park | 3,200 | Dore, Sheffield, South Yorkshire |
| Vale of Lune | Powderhouse Lane | Lancaster, Lancashire | |
| Wakefield | College Grove | 3,000 | Wakefield, West Yorkshire |
| West Hartlepool | Brierton Lane | Hartlepool, Cleveland |