The 1995–96 National Division 1 (sponsored by Courage Brewery) was the ninth season of the top tier of the English rugby union league system, the Courage Clubs Championship, currently known as Premiership Rugby. Leicester were the defending champions and Saracens the promoted team.
Bath finished as champions for the sixth time, beating holders Leicester by just one point. Despite a disastrous season with 18 defeats in as many matches, West Hartlepool kept its place in the first division due to the expansion of the league from 10 teams to 12 the following season.
Structure Each side played one another twice, in a round robin system, home and away, to make a total of eighteen matches for each team. Due to the number of teams increasing from ten to twelve for the following season there was no relegation.
Participating teams
TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaPrevious seasonBathRecreation Ground8,300 (1,000 seats)Bath, Somerset2ndBristolMemorial Stadium8,500 (1,200 seats)Bristol, Avon6thGloucesterKingsholm12,000Gloucester, Gloucestershire7thHarlequinsThe Stoop9,000 (2,000 seats)Twickenham, London8thLeicesterWelford Road16,000Leicester, LeicestershireChampionsOrrellEdge Hall Road5,300 (300 seats) Orrell, Greater Manchester5thSaleHeywood Road4,000 (500 seats) Sale, Greater Manchester4thSaracensBramley Road2,300 (300 seats)Enfield, LondonPromoted from National 2 (1st)WaspsRepton Avenue3,200 (1,200 seats)Sudbury, London3rdWest HartlepoolBrierton Lane7,000Hartlepool, County Durham9th
Table
Results The Home Team is listed in the left column.
Fixtures & Results Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Postponed due to spectator falling ill. Game rescheduled to 20 April 1996.
Round 10
Round 11
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 10 April 1996.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 April 1996.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 13 January 1996.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 March 1996.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 May 1996.
Round 12
Round 11 (rescheduled game)
Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.
Round 13
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 April 1996.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 24 April 1996.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 April 1996.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 1996.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 1996.
Round 14
Round 11 (rescheduled game)
Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.
Round 13 (rescheduled games)
Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
Round 15
Round 16
Round 11 (rescheduled game)
Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.
Round 17
Round 11 (rescheduled game)
Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.
Rounds 9 & 13 (rescheduled games)
Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
Game rescheduled from 4 November 1995.
Round 13 (rescheduled game)
Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
Round 18
Bath are champions.
Round 11 (rescheduled game)
Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.
Note
See also 1995–96 National Division 2 1995–96 National Division 3 1995–96 National Division 4 1995–96 Courage League Division 5 North 1995–96 Courage League Division 5 South
References
External links Official website