The 2007–08 National Division One was the 21st full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. New teams included Northampton Saints (relegated from the Guinness Premiership 2006–07) and Esher and Launceston (both promoted from National Division Two 2006–07). After two seasons Rotherham dropped the 'Earth' from their name to return to 'Rotherham Titans' (which they had been rebranded to in 2005 for the 2005–06 season) as sponsor Earth Mortgages ran into financial difficulties and Complete Technical Services instead became the club's new sponsor.

Following their relegation from the previous season, Northampton Saints won the National Division One title at the first attempt and returned to the Guinness Premiership for season 2008–09 with Chris Ashton setting what was then the English league try record of 39 tries in a season (although Phil Chesters broke this record with 70 tries in a season in tier 4, Ashton's still stands as the highest ever in tier 2). Exeter Chiefs finished in second place, and Pertemp Bees and Launceston were relegated to the 2008–09 National Division Two.

Participating teams

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/areaBedford BluesGoldington Road5,307Bedford, BedfordshireCornish PiratesRecreation Ground9,000Camborne, CornwallCoventryButts Park Arena4,000Coventry, West MidlandsDoncaster KnightsCastle Park3,075Doncaster, South YorkshireEsherMolesey Road3,000Hersham, SurreyExeter ChiefsSandy Park6,000Exeter, DevonLauncestonPolson Bridge3,000Launceston, CornwallLondon WelshOld Deer Park4,500 (1,500 seats)Richmond, LondonMoseleyBillesley Common3,000+Birmingham, West MidlandsNewburyMonk's Lane8,000Newbury, BerkshireNorthampton SaintsFranklin's Gardens13,600Northampton, NorthamptonshireNottinghamMeadow Lane19,588Nottingham, NottinghamshirePertemps BeesSharmans Cross3,500 (1,000 seats)Solihull, West MidlandsPlymouth AlbionThe Brickfields6,500Plymouth, DevonRotherham TitansClifton Lane2,500Rotherham, South YorkshireSedgley ParkPark Lane3,000Whitefield, Greater Manchester Notes

Table

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

Round 13

Round 14

Round 15

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 March 2008.

Round 16

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 March 2008.

Round 17

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 2008.

Round 18

Round 19

Round 20

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 April 2008.

Round 21

Round 22

Postponed. Game rescheduled to 11 April 2008.

Round 23

Round 17 (rescheduled game)

Round 24

Round 15 (rescheduled game)

Launceston had to play 'home game' at Franklin's Gardens due to issues with Polson Bridge floodlights

Round 25

Round 16 (rescheduled game)

Round 26

Round 27

Round 28

Round 20 & 22 (rescheduled games)

Round 29

Round 30

Total season attendances

ClubHomegamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% capacityBedford Blues 15 35,128 2,342 5,307 1,590 44%Cornish Pirates 15 52,294 3,486 6,487 2,275 39%Coventry 15 20,490 1,366 3,100 873 34%Doncaster Knights 15 18,939 1,263 3,075 500 41%Esher 15 13,593 906 2,500 426 30%Exeter Chiefs 15 60,466 4,031 5,859 2,820 67%Launceston 15 25,307 1,687 8,201 729 55%London Welsh 15 14,653 977 2,400 420 22%Moseley 15 13,608 907 1,358 675 30%Newbury 15 10,756 717 2,345 402 9%Northampton Saints 15 172,408 11,494 13,498 10,071 85%Nottingham 15 22,448 1,497 4,751 932 8%Pertemps Bees 15 9,791 653 1,577 350 19%Plymouth Albion 15 48,348 3,223 6,381 2,132 50%Rotherham Titans 15 17,095 1,140 2,807 607 46%Sedgley Park 15 9,401 627 1,325 467 21%

Individual statistics Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.

Top points scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Points 1 Gareth Steenson Cornish Pirates 27 287 2 Mark Woodrow Doncaster Knights 30 263 3 Bruce Reihana Northampton Saints 29 262 4 Phil Jones Sedgley Park 29 225 5 Ross Laidlaw Plymouth Albion 27 209 6 Chris Ashton Northampton Saints 25 197 7 James Pritchard Bedford Blues 23 196 8 Stephen Myler Northampton Saints 25 190 9 Matthew Jones Moseley / London Welsh 24 181 10 Danny Gray Exeter Chiefs 19 172

Top try scorers Rank Player Team Appearances Tries 1 Chris Ashton Northampton Saints 25 39 2 Bruce Reihana Northampton Saints 29 28 3 Josh Drauniniu Exeter Chiefs 27 22 4 Jason Luff Exeter Chiefs 26 19 5 Paul Diggin Northampton Saints 24 17 Matt Jess Launceston 30 17 6 Chris Briers Sedgley Park 28 14 7 Donovan van Vuuren Doncaster Knights 18 13 Luke Sherriff Nottingham 19 13 8 Paul Devlin Cornish Pirates 19 11 Alex Page Bedford Blues 24 11 Paul Sampson London Welsh 28 11 Douglas Flockhart Esher 29 11 Bryn Griffiths Doncaster Knights 29 11

Season records

Team Largest home win — 93 pts 96 - 3 Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008 Largest away win — 51 pts 59 - 8 Northampton Saints away to Sedgley Park on 6 October 2007 Most points scored — 93 pts 96 - 3 Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008 Most tries in a match — 14 Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008 Most conversions in a match — 13 Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008 Most penalties in a match — 6 Cornish Pirates at home to Exeter Chiefs on 7 October 2007 Most drop goals in a match — 3 Exeter Chiefs away to Plymouth Albion on 8 September 2007

Player Most points in a match — 36 Bruce Reihana for Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008 Most tries in a match — 6 Chris Ashton for Northampton Saints at home to Launceston on 26 April 2008 Most conversions in a match — 13 Bruce Reihana for Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008 Most penalties in a match — 6 Gareth Steenson for Cornish Pirates at home to Exeter Chiefs on 7 October 2007 Most drop goals in a match — 3 Danny Gray for Exeter Chiefs away to Plymouth Albion on 8 September 2007

Attendances

Highest — 13,498 Northampton Saints at home to Exeter Chiefs on 22 March 2008 Lowest — 350 (x2) Pertemps Bees (twice) at home to Plymouth Albion on 15 September 2007 & Esher on 10 November 2007 Highest Average Attendance — 11,494 Northampton Saints Lowest Average Attendance — 627 Sedgley Park

See also English rugby union system

References