The 1990–91 National Division 2 (sponsored by Courage Brewery) was the fourth season of the second tier of the English rugby union league system, the Courage Clubs Championship, currently known as Champ Rugby. New sides to the division included Bedford who were relegated from the top flight after a gap of just one season, while London Scottish and Wakefield were promoted from tier 3. In 1990 the Gosforth club split into two clubs, one became Newcastle Gosforth and moved to Kingston Park, known then as the New Ground while Gosforth Rugby Club continued as an amateur side working in partnership with Northumbria University.
Rugby, the champions, were promoted to the 1991–92 National Division 1 along with the league runner–up, London Irish. Headingley finished last and were relegated to the 1991–92 National Division 3 as were Richmond who finished one place above them. It was a competitive season with both the promotion and relegation spots going all the way to the last game.
Structure The division increased from twelve teams to thirteen, each side playing the others once to make a total of twelve matches each. The top two sides would be promoted to National Division 1 while the bottom two would drop to National Division 3.
Participating teams
TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaPrevious seasonBedfordGoldington Road4,800 (800 seats)Bedford, BedfordshireRelegated from National 1 (12th)BlackheathRectory Field3,500 (500 seats)Greenwich, London10thCoventryCoundon Road10,000 (1,100 seats) Coventry, West Midlands4thNewcastle GosforthKingston Park6,600Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear12th (no relegation)HeadingleyClarence Fields7,850 (850 seats)Leeds, West Yorkshire8thLondon IrishThe Avenue3,600 (600 seats)Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey5thLondon ScottishAthletic Ground7,300 (1,300 seats)Richmond, LondonPromoted from National 3 (1st)Plymouth AlbionBeacon Park1,950 (450 seats)Plymouth, Devon7thRichmondAthletic Ground7,300 (1,300 seats)Richmond, London3rdRugbyWebb Ellis Road3,200 (200 seats) Rugby, Warwickshire6thSaleHeywood Road4,000 (500 seats) Sale, Greater Manchester9thWakefieldCollege Grove4,000 (500 seats) Wakefield, West YorkshirePromoted from National 3 (2nd)WaterlooSt Anthony's Road9,950 (950 seats) Blundellsands, Merseyside11th (no relegation)
Table
Fixtures & Results Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 March 1991.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 March 1991.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 March 1991.
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 March 1991.
Round 9 (rescheduled game)
Game rescheduled from 23 February 1991.
Round 10
Round 9 (rescheduled game)
Game rescheduled from 23 February 1991.
Round 11
Round 9 (rescheduled games)
Game rescheduled from 23 February 1991.
Game rescheduled from 23 February 1991.
Round 12
Round 13
Headingley are relegated.
Richmond are relegated while London Irish are promoted as league runners up.
Rugby are promoted as league champions.
Notes
See also 1990–91 National Division 1 1990–91 National Division 3 1990–91 National Division 4 North 1990–91 National Division 4 South
References