The 2008β09 National Division Three South was the ninth and last season (22nd overall) of the
fourth division (south) of the
English domestic
rugby union competition using the name National Division Three South. The division was set to be re-branded National League 2 South for the following season due to an
RFU reshuffle of the entire league system.[1] New teams to the division included
Henley Hawks who were relegated from the
2007β08 National Division Two while promoted teams included
Richmond (champions) and
Worthing Raiders (playoffs) from
London Division 1,
Chinnor who returned after an absence of just one year as champions of
South West Division 1 and finally
Rugby Lions who were transferred from the
2008β09 National Division Three North to ensure that there was not an imbalance of teams between the two regional leagues.[2][3][4][5][6] The league system was 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions would go straight up into what would be known as
National League 1 from 2009-10 but unlike previous years, there would be no promotion playoff between the runners up of the division and the runners up of National Division Three North due to the league restructuring.
London Scottish finished the season as champions and clinched the only promotion spot to the (newly named)
2009β10 National League 1.[7][8] The Richmond-based side had a fantastic season with only the one draw against
Rugby Lions early on in the season blemishing what would have been a perfect record (this was achieved by Plymouth Albion back in the
2001-02 season). Fellow Londoners, runners up
Rosslyn Park had a good season which could have seen them champions on any other year but even they finished 22 points behind Scottish and did not have the consolation of a playoff due to the league restructuring. The two relegation spots were filled by
Havant, who were comfortably the worst team in the division (ending a five-year stay in National 3 South), and Chinnor, who went straight back down yet again but were much improved from their last time spent in the division.[7][9] Havant would drop to
National League 3 London & South East (formerly London Division 1) while Chinnor would drop to
National League 3 South West (formerly South West Division 1).[10][11]
^Note that 4 home attendances are missing (see below) - so the total attendance will not be 100% accurate. The average attendance has also been taken into account with the missing games not included.
^Missing home attendance v Richmond on 4 April 2009.
^Missing home attendance v Rugby Lions on 28 March 2009.
^Missing home attendance v Havant on 21 February 2009.
^Missing home attendance v Henley Hawks on 27 September 2008.
Individual statistics
Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
85 - 3 London Scottish at home to Rugby Lions on 21 March 2009
Largest away win β 58 pts
71 - 13 London Scottish away to Worthing Raiders on 11 April 2009
Most points scored β 85 pts
85 - 3 London Scottish at home to Rugby Lions on 21 March 2009
Most tries in a match β 12
London Scottish at home to Barking on 6 December 2008
Most conversions in a match β 10
London Scottish at home to Barking on 6 December 2008
Most penalties in a match β 6 (x3)
Rugby Lions at home to Bridgwater & Albion on 6 September 2008
Richmond at home to Lydney on 13 September 2008
Lydney away to Henley Hawks on 29 November 2008
Most drop goals in a match β 2
Lydney at home to Worthing Raiders on 6 September 2008
The 2008β09 National Division Three South was the ninth and last season (22nd overall) of the
fourth division (south) of the
English domestic
rugby union competition using the name National Division Three South. The division was set to be re-branded National League 2 South for the following season due to an
RFU reshuffle of the entire league system.[1] New teams to the division included
Henley Hawks who were relegated from the
2007β08 National Division Two while promoted teams included
Richmond (champions) and
Worthing Raiders (playoffs) from
London Division 1,
Chinnor who returned after an absence of just one year as champions of
South West Division 1 and finally
Rugby Lions who were transferred from the
2008β09 National Division Three North to ensure that there was not an imbalance of teams between the two regional leagues.[2][3][4][5][6] The league system was 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions would go straight up into what would be known as
National League 1 from 2009-10 but unlike previous years, there would be no promotion playoff between the runners up of the division and the runners up of National Division Three North due to the league restructuring.
London Scottish finished the season as champions and clinched the only promotion spot to the (newly named)
2009β10 National League 1.[7][8] The Richmond-based side had a fantastic season with only the one draw against
Rugby Lions early on in the season blemishing what would have been a perfect record (this was achieved by Plymouth Albion back in the
2001-02 season). Fellow Londoners, runners up
Rosslyn Park had a good season which could have seen them champions on any other year but even they finished 22 points behind Scottish and did not have the consolation of a playoff due to the league restructuring. The two relegation spots were filled by
Havant, who were comfortably the worst team in the division (ending a five-year stay in National 3 South), and Chinnor, who went straight back down yet again but were much improved from their last time spent in the division.[7][9] Havant would drop to
National League 3 London & South East (formerly London Division 1) while Chinnor would drop to
National League 3 South West (formerly South West Division 1).[10][11]
^Note that 4 home attendances are missing (see below) - so the total attendance will not be 100% accurate. The average attendance has also been taken into account with the missing games not included.
^Missing home attendance v Richmond on 4 April 2009.
^Missing home attendance v Rugby Lions on 28 March 2009.
^Missing home attendance v Havant on 21 February 2009.
^Missing home attendance v Henley Hawks on 27 September 2008.
Individual statistics
Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
85 - 3 London Scottish at home to Rugby Lions on 21 March 2009
Largest away win β 58 pts
71 - 13 London Scottish away to Worthing Raiders on 11 April 2009
Most points scored β 85 pts
85 - 3 London Scottish at home to Rugby Lions on 21 March 2009
Most tries in a match β 12
London Scottish at home to Barking on 6 December 2008
Most conversions in a match β 10
London Scottish at home to Barking on 6 December 2008
Most penalties in a match β 6 (x3)
Rugby Lions at home to Bridgwater & Albion on 6 September 2008
Richmond at home to Lydney on 13 September 2008
Lydney away to Henley Hawks on 29 November 2008
Most drop goals in a match β 2
Lydney at home to Worthing Raiders on 6 September 2008