2014–15 National League 1
The 2014–15 National League 1, known for sponsorship reasons as the SSE National League 1 is the sixth season of the third tier of the English domestic rugby union competitions, since the professionalised format of the second tier RFU Championship was introduced; and is the twenty-eighth season since league rugby began in 1987. Ealing Trailfinders are the champions and return to the 2015–16 RFU Championship following their relegation from that league last season. The last three clubs are relegated; Old Albanian to National League 2 South, and Tynedale and Macclesfield to National League 2 North
Structure
The league consists of sixteen teams with all the teams playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of thirty matches each. There is one promotion place and three relegation places. The champions are promoted to the Greene King IPA Championship and the bottom three teams are relegated to either National League 2 North or National League 2 South depending on the geographical location of the team.Participating teams and locations
Twelve of the sixteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2013–14 champions Doncaster Knights were promoted to the RFU Championship and are replaced by Ealing Trailfinders who only spent one season in the league above. The three relegated teams were all promoted in 2012–13 and stayed one season in National League 1; Henley Hawks and Worthing Raiders are relegated to National League 2 South and Hull Ionians to National League 2 North. The promoted teams are Hartpury College and Macclesfield champions of National League 2 South and National League 2 North respectively, and Darlington Mowden Park who won the promotion play-off against Ampthill & District.| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
| Blackheath | Rectory Field | 6,000 | Blackheath, London | 10th |
| Blaydon | Crow Trees | 2,000 | Swalwell, Tyne and Wear | 6th |
| Cinderford | Dockham Road | 2,500 | Cinderford, Gloucestershire | 11th |
| Coventry | Butts Park Arena | 4,000 | Coventry, West Midlands | 4th |
| Darlington Mowden Park | Northern Echo Arena | 25,000 | Darlington, County Durham | Promoted from the 2013–14 National League 2 North |
| Ealing Trailfinders | Trailfinders Sports Ground | 3,020 | West Ealing, London | Relegated from the 2013–14 RFU Championship |
| Esher | Molesey Road | 3,000 | Hersham, Surrey | 5th |
| Fylde | Woodlands Memorial Ground | 9,000 | Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire | 3rd |
| Hartpury College | College Stadium | 2,000 | Hartpury, Gloucestershire | Promoted from the 2013–14 National League 2 South |
| Loughborough Students | Loughborough University Stadium | 3,000 | Loughborough, Leicestershire | 12th |
| Macclesfield | Priory Park | 1,250 | Macclesfield, Cheshire | Promoted from the 2013–14 National League 2 North |
| Old Albanian | Woollam Playing Fields | 1,000 | St Albans, Hertfordshire | 9th |
| Richmond | Athletic Ground, Richmond | 4,500 | Richmond, London | 7th |
| Rosslyn Park | The Rock | 2,000 | Roehampton, London | 2nd |
| Tynedale | Tynedale Park | 2,000 | Corbridge, Northumberland | 13th |
| Wharfedale | The Avenue | 2,000 | Threshfield, North Yorkshire | 8th |
League table
Fixtures
Round 1
----Round 2
----Round 3
----Round 4
----Round 5
----Round 6
----Round 7
----Round 8
----Round 9
----Round 10
----Round 11
----Round 12
----Round 13
----Round 14
----Round 15
----Round 16
----Round 17
----Round 18
----Round 19
----Round 20
----Round 21
----Round 22
----Round 23
----Round 24
Postponed matches
----Round 25
----Round 26
----Round 27
----Round 28
----Round 29
----Round 30
Season records
Team
;Largest home win — 66 pts78 – 12 Ealing Trailfinders at home to Wharfedale on 10 January
;Largest away win — 47 pts
0 – 47 Fylde away to Macclesfield on 13 September
;Most points scored — 78
78 – 12 Ealing Trailfinders at home to Wharfedale on 10 January
;Most tries in a match — 12
78 – 12 Ealing Trailfinders at home to Wharfedale on 10 January
;Most conversions in a match — 9
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Macclesfield on 18 October
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Wharfedale on 10 January
Ealing Trailfinders at home to Richmond on 24 January
;Most penalties in a match — 6
Hartbury College home to Esher on 4 October
Blackheath away to Wharfedale on 11 October
;Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple teams
Player
;Most points in a match — 25Chris Davis for Richmond away to Hartbury College on 20 September
Ben Frankland for Tynedale away to Macclesfield on 11 October
Matthew Jones for Coventry away to Rosslyn Park on 25 April
;Most tries in a match — 5
Chris Davis for Richmond away to Hartbury College on 20 September
Ben Frankland for Tynedale away to Macclesfield on 11 October
;Most conversions in a match — 9
Matt Jarvis for Ealing Trailfinders at home to Macclesfield on 18 October
Ben Ward for Ealing Trailfinders at home to Wharfedale on 10 January
;Most penalties in a match — 6
Gareth Thompson for Hartbury College home to Esher on 4 October
Alex Gallagher for Blackheath away to Wharfedale on 11 October
;Most drop goals in a match — 1
N/A - multiple players
Attendances
;Highest — 2,278Ealing Trailfinders at home to Rosslyn Park on 18 April
;Lowest — 128
Cinderford at home to Old Albanian on 8 November
;Highest Average Attendance — 1,506
Coventry
;Lowest Average Attendance — 308
Macclesfield