The 1987–88 National Division 3 was the first season of the third tier tier of the English rugby union league system, the Courage Clubs Championship, and the first to be sponsored by Courage Brewery. It was also the first season of a truly national rugby union league, with the third tier currently known as National League 1.
Both Wakefield and West Hartlepool won ten matches, lost one and finished on twenty points. Wakefield finished as champions due to their superior points difference but neither team was promoted to the 1988–89 National Division 2. Morley and Birmingham (without a win) finished in the bottom two places and both clubs were relegated to the 1988–89 Area League North. Almost all clubs in the national divisions reported an increase in attendances.
Structure Each team played one match against the other teams, playing a total of eleven matches each. There was no set date for matches, clubs having to arrange the fixtures amongst themselves. For this first season there was no promotion to National Division 2 but the bottom two sides would be relegated to either Area League 2 North or Area League South depending on locality.
Participating teams and locations
TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaBirminghamSharmans Cross4,000Solihull, West Midlands Exeter County Ground 5,750 (750 seats)Exeter, DevonFylde Woodlands 7,500 (500 seats)Lytham St Annes, LancashireMaidstone William Davey Memorial2,000 (100 seats)Maidstone, KentMetropolitan PoliceImber Court3,500 (500 seats)East Molesey, SurreyMorley Scatcherd Lane6,000 (1,000 seats)Morley, LeedsNuneatonHarry Cleaver Ground 5,000 (650 seats)Nuneaton, WarwickshirePlymouth Albion Beacon Park1,950 (450 seats)Plymouth, DevonSheffield Abbeydale Park 3,300 (100 seats)Dore, Sheffield, South YorkshireVale of Lune Powderhouse Lane 9,860 (360 seats)Lancaster, LancashireWakefield College Grove 4,000 (500 seats) Wakefield, West YorkshireWest Hartlepool Brierton Lane 4,950 (450 seats) Hartlepool, Cleveland
League table
Notes
See also 1987–88 National Division 1 1987–88 National Division 2 1987–88 Area League North 1987–88 Area League South
References
External links National Clubs Association