The 2005–06 National Division One was the 19th full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. New teams to the division included Harlequins who had been relegated from the 2004–05 Zurich Premiership, while Doncaster and Newbury were promoted from the 2004–05 National Division Two. Additional changes saw Penzance & Newyln RFC rebrand themselves as the Cornish Pirates as well as moving from their home ground, the Mennaye Field in Penzance, to a more central location in Truro at the Kenwyn Rugby Ground (a temporary stadium built in the city) with the aim to appeal more to Cornish fans on the whole as well as making home games more accessible. Rotherham Titans also rebranded themselves as 'Earth Titans' for sponsorship purposes for this season.
After only one season Harlequins won the National Division One at the first attempt and returned to the Guinness Premiership for season 2006–07. Bedford Blues finished in second place and there was no relegation to National Division Two following the RFU's decision to expand National Division One from 14 to 16 teams for the 2006–07 season.
Participating teams
TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaBedford BluesGoldington Road5,500Bedford, BedfordshireCornish PiratesKenwyn Rugby Ground5,800Truro, CornwallCoventryButts Park Arena4,000Coventry, West MidlandsDoncasterCastle Park3,075Doncaster, South YorkshireEarth TitansClifton Lane2,500Rotherham, South YorkshireExeter ChiefsCounty Ground5,750 (750 seats)Exeter, DevonHarlequinsThe Stoop12,500Twickenham, LondonLondon WelshOld Deer Park4,500 (1,500 seats)Richmond, LondonNewburyMonk's Lane8,000Newbury, BerkshireNottinghamIreland Avenue4,990 (590 seats) Beeston, NottinghamshireOtleyCross Green7,000 (852 seats)Otley, West YorkshirePertemps BeesSharmans Cross3,500 (1,000 seats)Solihull, West MidlandsPlymouth AlbionThe Brickfields6,500Plymouth, DevonSedgley ParkPark Lane3,000Whitefield, Greater Manchester
Table
Results
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 December 2005.
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 9 (rescheduled game)
Round 13
Round 14
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 February 2006.
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 14 (rescheduled game)
Round 18
Round 19
Round 20
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 March 2006.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 March 2006.
Round 20 (rescheduled games)
Round 21
Round 22
Round 23
Round 25 (rescheduled game)
Game brought forward from 15 April 2006.
Round 24
Round 25
Rescheduled. Game brought forward to 8 April 2006.
Newbury were awarded a 0–0 win and 4 league points following this match. Pertemps Bees won the match by 35 pts to 22 pts but due to a severe injury crisis had to field three unregistered players with the prior approval of FDR in order to fulfil the fixture. All points gained by either side in the match will be disregarded for the purpose of the official league table in accordance with the RFU Regulations.
Round 26
Season attendances ClubHomeGamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% CapacityBedford Blues 13 31,358 2,412 5,500 1,477 44%Cornish Pirates 13 36,194 2,784 5,879 1,724 48%Coventry 12 25,513 2,126 4,612 1,381 52%Doncaster 12 13,768 1,252 2,768 738 41%Earth Titans 12 16,430 1,369 2,250 920 55%Exeter Chiefs 13 24,238 1,864 3,645 1,005 32%Harlequins 13 116,948 8,996 12,500 7,576 87%London Welsh 13 16,340 1,257 5,120 510 28%Newbury 12 11,704 975 3,362 475 11%Nottingham 12 15,297 1,275 3,417 572 26%Otley 12 14,546 1,212 3,417 572 17%Pertemps Bees 6 5,475 913 2,475 500 26%Plymouth Albion 13 40,453 3,112 5,672 1,953 48%Sedgley Park 12 6,582 549 1,475 325 18%
Leading scorers Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Points 1 James Moore Coventry 25 251 2 Blair Feeney Newbury 20 225 3 Phil Jones Sedgley Park 23 219 4 Mark Harris Bedford Blues 16 204 5 Michael Whitehead Earth Titans 23 200 6 Andrew Mehrtens Harlequins 20 189 7 Neil Stenhouse Nottingham 21 166 8 Tony Yapp Exeter Chiefs 17 158 9 Simon Binns Otley 15 143 10 Alastair Hepher Bedford Blues 23 142
Top try scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Tries 1 Scott Donald Earth Titans 26 20 2 Simon Keogh Harlequins 25 18 3 Ugo Monye Harlequins 18 16 Nick Easter Harlequins 25 16 4 Jon Feeley Sedgley Park 23 15 Richard Welding Cornish Pirates 25 15 Tom Williams Harlequins 18 12 Nicolas Sestaret Plymouth Albion 26 12 5 Chris Wyles Nottingham 19 11 Kevin James Cornish Pirates 22 11 Gareth Swailes London Welsh 22 11
Season records
Team Largest home win — 65 pts 70 - 5 Harlequins at home to Exeter Chiefs on 22 October 2005 Largest away win — 52 pts 68 - 16 Bedford Blues away to Pertemps Bees on 11 March 2006 Most points scored — 79 pts 79 - 22 Bedford Blues at home to Newbury on 29 April 2006 Most tries in a match — 12 (x2) Harlequins at home to Exeter Chiefs on 22 October 2005 Bedford Blues at home to Newbury on 29 April 2006 Most conversions in a match — 9 Bedford Blues at home to Newbury on 29 April 2006 Most penalties in a match — 7 Coventry at home to Newbury on 11 March 2006 Most drop goals in a match — 2 Plymouth Albion at home to Exeter Chiefs on 3 September 2005
Player Most points in a match — 34 Alastair Hepher for Bedford Blues at home to Newbury on 29 April 2006 Most tries in a match — 5 (x2) Richard Welding for Cornish Pirates at home to Earth Titans on 18 September 2005 Ugo Monye for Harlequins at home to Exeter Chiefs on 22 October 2005 Most conversions in a match — 9 Alastair Hepher for Bedford Blues at home to Newbury on 29 April 2006 Most penalties in a match — 7 James Moore for Coventry at home to Newbury on 11 March 2006 Most drop goals in a match — 1 N/A - multiple players
Attendances
Highest — 12,500 Harlequins at home to Plymouth Albion on 29 April 2006 Lowest — 325 Sedgley Park at home to Newbury on 18 February 2006 Highest Average Attendance — 8,996 Harlequins Lowest Average Attendance — 549 Orrell
See also English rugby union system
References
External links national1.co.uk