1996–97 Courage League National Division Two


The 1996–97 Courage League National Division Two was the tenth full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship and was season that saw professional rugby openly introduced into the English game. Joining the eight teams who participated in the division in 1995–96 were Richmond, Coventry, Rugby and Rotherham all of whom were promoted from National Division Three with no teams coming down from National Division One due to league restructuring. The league was sponsored by Courage Brewery for the tenth consecutive year.
The top two teams, Richmond and Newcastle Falcons were automatically promoted, and for the first time there were play–offs between the third and fourth placed teams, and the ninth and tenth placed teams in Division One, for a place in the top tier for season 1997-98. The Division Two sides played at home first with the winners of the two matches, on aggregate score, playing in the top division the following season. Coventry and Bedford both failed to win promotion. Rugby Lions and Nottingham were relegated to Division 3 for the 1997–98 season. Last season Nottingham finished in the bottom two and escaped relegation due to the division being increased from ten clubs to twelve clubs. This season they were not so lucky and next season will be their first in Division Three.

Participating teams

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/Area
BedfordGoldington Road7,000Bedford, Bedfordshire
BlackheathRectory Field6,000Greenwich, London
CoventryCoundon Road9,000+Coventry, West Midlands
London ScottishAthletic Ground4,500Richmond, London
MoseleyThe Reddings10,000 Birmingham, West Midlands
Newcastle FalconsKingston Park10,000Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
NottinghamIreland Avenue4,950Beeston, Nottinghamshire
RichmondAthletic Ground4,500Richmond, London
RotherhamClifton Lane2,500Rotherham, South Yorkshire
RugbyWebb Ellis Road1,000Rugby, Warwickshire
WakefieldCollege Grove3,000Wakefield, West Yorkshire
WaterlooSt Anthony's Road9,000Blundellsands, Merseyside

Table

Promotion play–offs

For the first time play–offs took place between the third and fourth placed teams in Division Two and the ninth and tenth placed teams in Division One. The play–offs followed a 4th v 9th, 3rd v 10th system - with the games being played over two legs and the second tier team playing at home in the first leg.

First leg

Second leg

RankPlayerTeamAppearancesPoints
1 Simon MasonRichmond22324
2 Rob AndrewNewcastle Falcons22297
3 John SteeleLondon Scottish18256
4 Mike RayerBedford21238
5 Jez HarrisCoventry20236
6 Mike JacksonWakefield19199
7 Richard Le BasMoseley14177
8 Chris BraithwaiteBlackheath14137
9 Tim StimpsonNewcastle Falcons21116
10 John BentleyNewcastle Falcons18115

Top try scorers

RankPlayerTeamAppearancesTries
1 John BentleyNewcastle Falcons1823
2 Gary ArmstrongNewcastle Falcons2121
2 Scott QuinnellRichmond2121
3 Jim FallonRichmond2119
4 Andy SmallwoodCoventry2017
5 Pat LamNewcastle Falcons1115
5 Darragh O'MahonyMoseley1315
6 Andy McAdamCoventry1814
6 Tim StimpsonNewcastle Falcons1814
7 Ben WhetstoneBedford1813
7 Guy EasterbyRotherham2113

Season records

Team

;Largest home win — 151 pts
156 - 5 Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996
;Largest away win — 72 pts
87 - 15 Richmond away to Moseley on 5 October 1996
;Most points scored — 151 pts
156 - 5 Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996
;Most tries in a match — 24
Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996
;Most conversions in a match — 18
Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996
;Most penalties in a match — 7
Rotherham away to Richmond on 14 September 1996
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Coventry at home to Wakefield on 21 September 1996
London Scottish away to Blackheath on 8 February 1997
Blackheath at home to Nottingham on 22 March 1997

Player

;Most points in a match — 42
Jez Harris for Coventry at home to Nottingham on 5 October 1996
;Most tries in a match — 5
Pat Lam for Newcastle Falcons at home to Rotherham on 4 May 1997
;Most conversions in a match — 18
Rob Andrew for Newcastle Falcons at home to Rugby Lions on 5 October 1996
;Most penalties in a match — 7
Matt Inman for Rotherham away to Richmond on 14 September 1996
;Most drop goals in a match — 2
Jez Harris for Coventry at home to Wakefield on 21 September 1996
Chris Braithwaite for Blackheath at home to Nottingham on 22 March 1997

Attendances

;Highest — 8,000
Coventry at home to Newcastle Falcons on 2 November 1996
;Lowest — N/A
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;Highest Average Attendance — N/A
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;Lowest Average Attendance — N/A
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