The 1995–96 National Division 2 (sponsored by Courage Brewery) was the ninth season of the second tier of the English rugby union league system, the Courage Clubs Championship, currently known as Champ Rugby. New teams to the division included Northampton (relegated from tier 1) and Bedford and Blackheath (both promoted from tier 3).
Northampton were easily the best side in the division, finishing as champions 6 points clear of runners up London Irish, with both sides promoted to the 1996–97 National Division 1. It was the second time Northampton had won the Division 2 title and it was also the second time a team had won all of their matches in a season, with 18 wins out of 18 and a huge points for difference of +664. Bedford finished last but were not relegated to the 1996–97 National Division 3 due to the expansion of Division 2 in 1996–97 to twelve teams.
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. The top two sides would be promoted to National Division 1 and there would be no relegation due to the expansion of National Division 2 from ten to twelve teams for the following season.
Participating teams
TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaPrevious seasonBedfordGoldington Road4,800 (800 seats)Bedford, BedfordshirePromoted from National 3 (1st)BlackheathRectory Field3,500 (500 seats)Greenwich, LondonPromoted from National 3 (2nd)London IrishThe Avenue3,600 (600 seats)Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey5thLondon ScottishAthletic Ground7,300 (1,300 seats)Richmond, London4thMoseleyThe Reddings9,999 (1,800 seats)Birmingham, West Midlands6thNewcastle GosforthKingston Park6,600Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear3rdNorthamptonFranklin's Gardens6,000 (2,000 seats)Northampton, NorthamptonshireRelegated from National 1 (10th)NottinghamIreland Avenue4,990 (590 seats) Beeston, Nottinghamshire7thWakefieldCollege Grove4,000 (500 seats) Wakefield, West Yorkshire2ndWaterlooSt Anthony's Road9,950 (950 seats) Blundellsands, Merseyside8th
Table
Fixtures & Results Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 24 February 1996.
Round 13
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 March 1996.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 March 1996.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 March 1996.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 April 1996.
Round 14
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 1996.
Round 12 (rescheduled game)
Game rescheduled from 13 January 1996.
Round 13 (rescheduled games)
Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
Round 14 (rescheduled game)
Game rescheduled from 17 February 1996.
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
London Irish are promoted as league runners up.
Northampton are promoted as champions.
Round 13 (rescheduled game)
Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
Round 18
See also 1995–96 National Division 1 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