1995–96 Courage League Division 4

1995–96 Courage League Division 4
Countries	England
Champions	Exeter (1st title)
Runners-up	London Welsh (also promoted)^{[a 1]}
Relegated	No relegation^{[a 2]}
Matches played	162
← 1994–95 1996–97 (North) 1996–97 (South) →

The 1995–96 Courage League Division 4 was the ninth full season of rugby union within the fourth tier of the English league system, currently the regional divisions National League 2 South and National League 2 North, and the third using the name Division 4. Impending changes to the league structure by the RFU meant that this would be the last season for Courage League Division 4 as a national league with it reverting to the previous incarnation of two regional leagues - Courage League Division 4 South and Courage League Division 4 North. It would also herald the elimination of Courage League 5 North and South, which was to be divided into four regional divisions - North 1, Midlands 1, London 1 and South West 1. These changes meant that the top 8 teams would be promoted to an expanded Courage League National 3 while the bottom teams would be transferred into the new-look Courage 4 North or South depending on location, where they would be joined by teams from the discontinued Courage 5 North/South divisions.^[1]

By the end of the campaign Exeter finished as champions, 4 points ahead of runners up London Welsh. Both champions and runners up were joined by the teams ranked 3rd through to 8th in claiming promotion to the 1996–97 National Division 3. The bottom two sides were Plymouth Albion and Aspatria who would be transferred to National Division 4 South and National Division 4 North respectively.^[2]

Structure

Each team played home and away matches against each of the other teams, playing a total of eighteen matches each. Changes to the league structure by the RFU for the 1996-97 season meant that the top eight sides were promoted to Courage League National 3 while the bottom two were transferred to the new-look Courage League Division 4 South or Courage League Division 4 North depending on locality.

Participating teams and locations

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Aspatria	Bower Park		Aspatria, Cumbria	5th
Clifton	Station Road	2,500	Cribbs Causeway, Henbury, Bristol	Relegated from National 3 (9th)
Exeter	County Ground	5,200	Exeter, Devon	Relegated from National 3 (10th)
Havant	Hook's Lane	1,500	Havant, Hampshire	4th
Leeds	Clarence Field / Chandos Park		Kirkstall / Roundhay, Leeds, West Yorkshire	6th
London Welsh	Old Deer Park	5,850	Richmond, London	Promoted from Courage 5 South (champions)
Liverpool St Helens	Moss Lane		St Helens, Merseyside	3rd
Plymouth Albion	Beacon Park	3,500	Plymouth, Devon	4th
Redruth	Recreation Ground	12,000	Redruth, Cornwall	7th
Walsall	Broadway Ground	1,150	Walsall, West Midlands	Promoted from Courage 5 North (champions)

Liverpool
St Helens

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1995–96 Courage League 4 teams in England

League table

1995–96 Courage League Division 4 Table

Club

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Points for

Points against

Points diff

Points

Exeter (C)

448

230

218

London Welsh (P)

424

269

155

Liverpool St Helens (P)

471

343

128

Walsall (P)

406

324

Leeds (P)

311

345

-34

Clifton (P)

283

298

-15

Redruth (P)

358

391

-33

Havant (P)

287

368

-81

Aspatria

356

497

-141

Plymouth Albion

266

545

-279

Points are awarded as follows:

2 pts for a win
1 pt for a draw
0 pts for a loss
If teams are level at any stage, difference between points for and against applies

Green background are promotion places. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 15 December 2017

^[2]

Sponsorship

Courage League Division 4 is part of the Courage Clubs Championship and is sponsored by Courage Brewery.

Notes

^ The re-organization of the English league system by the RFU meant that the top 8 teams would be promoted to Courage League National 3 for the 1996-97 season.
^ This re-organization also meant that there was no relegation with the bottom 2 teams instead being transferred to the new-look Courage League Division 4 South or Courage League Division 4 North for the 1996-97 season.

References

^ "Courage League - Division 5 1995/96". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Courage League - Division 4 1995/96". The Rugby Archive. 15 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.

National League 2 North

2023–24 teams

Former clubs

Seasons

Area League North	1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
National 4 North	1990–91 1991–92 1992–93
National Division 4	1993–94 1994–95 1995–96
National Division 4 North	1996–97
National Division 2 North	1997–98 1998–99 1999–00
National Division 3 North	2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
National League 2 North	2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 ~~2020–21~~ 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24

National League 2 South

2021–22 teams (final season)

Former clubs

Seasons

Area League South	1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
National 4 South	1990–91 1991–92 1992–93
National Division 4	1993–94 1994–95 1995–96
National Division 4 South	1996–97
National League 2 South	1997–98 1998–99 1999–00
National Division 3 South	2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
National League 2 South	2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 ~~2020–21~~ 2021–22

Rugby union in England

Governing body

Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union for Women (merged into the RFU)

National teams

Men's	England England A 7's U-21 U-20 U-18 British & Irish Lions England Counties XV
Women's	Women's 7's

International competitions

Men's	World Cup Six Nations Rugby World Cup Sevens Sevens World Series Sevens Grand Prix Series Commonwealth Games
Women's	World Cup Six Nations World Series Sevens

Competition divisions

Men's	Premiership Championship National Leagues London and SE Division Northern Division Midland Division South West Division United Hospitals Cup
Women's	Premiership Women's Rugby