# 1997–98 National League 1

The 1997–98 National League 1, sponsored by Jewson, was the eleventh full season of rugby union within the third tier of the English league system, currently known as National League 1.

## Structure

The league consisted of fourteen teams, playing each other on a home and away basis to make a total of twenty-six matches for each team. There were four promotion places with the top four teams promoted to the 1998–99 Allied Dunbar Premiership Two. There was no relegation, this season, to either National Division 4 North or South due to an increase, from twelve teams to fourteen, in the top two divisions.

## Participating teams and locations

National Division Three was reduced from sixteen teams to fourteen with ten of the clubs participating in last seasons competition. To make up the numbers two of the teams (Rugby Lions and Nottingham) were relegated from National League 2, and the champions of National 4 North (Worcester) and National 4 South (Newbury) were both promoted.
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Last season |
| Harrogate | Claro Road | 3,000 | Harrogate, North Yorkshire | 5th |
| Leeds Tykes | Headingley Stadium | 22,250 | Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire | 3rd |
| Liverpool St Helens | Moss Lane | 3,000 | St Helens, Merseyside | 12th |
| London Welsh | Old Deer Park | 5,850 | Richmond, London | 11th |
| Lydney | Regentsholm | 1,500 | Lydney, Gloucestershire | 10th |
| Morley | Scatcherd Lane | | Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire | 4th |
| Newbury | Monks Lane | 8,000 | Newbury, Berkshire | Promoted from National 4 South (champions) |
| Nottingham | Ireland Avenue | 4,950 | Nottingham, Nottinghamshire | Relegated from Courage National League 2 (12th) |
| Otley | Cross Green | 5,000 | Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire | 9th |
| Reading | Holme Park | | Sonning, Berkshire | 6th |
| Rosslyn Park | The Rock | 2,000 | Roehampton, London | 8th |
| Rugby Lions | Webb Ellis Road | 4,000 | Rugby Warwickshire | Relegated from Courage National League 2 (11th) |
| Wharfedale | The Avenue | 2,000 | Threshfield, North Yorkshire | 7th |
| Worcester | Sixways | 8,477 | Worcester, Worcestershire | Promoted from National 4 North (champions) |

## League table

1997–98 Jewson National Division One table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Worcester (C) | 26 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 1001 | 331 | +670 | 48 | Promoted |
| 2 | Leeds Tykes | 26 | 21 | 1 | 4 | 858 | 407 | +451 | 43 | Promoted |
| 3 | London Welsh | 26 | 21 | 1 | 4 | 848 | 478 | +370 | 43 | Promoted |
| 4 | Rugby Lions | 26 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 733 | 405 | +328 | 42 | Promoted |
| 5 | Rosslyn Park | 26 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 486 | 537 | −51 | 27 | |
| 6 | Nottingham | 26 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 527 | 602 | −75 | 26 | |
| 7 | Newbury | 26 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 639 | 545 | +94 | 24 | |
| 8 | Reading | 26 | 11 | 1 | 14 | 620 | 697 | −77 | 23 | |
| 9 | Otley | 26 | 10 | 1 | 15 | 447 | 682 | −235 | 21 | |
| 10 | Wharfedale | 26 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 476 | 684 | −208 | 19 | |
| 11 | Liverpool St Helens | 26 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 430 | 767 | −337 | 15 | |
| 12 | Lydney | 26 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 361 | 575 | −214 | 10 | |
| 13 | Morley | 26 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 372 | 844 | −472 | 10 | |
| 14 | Harrogate | 26 | 4 | 1 | 21 | 463 | 707 | −244 | 9 | |
* 1 2 2 points deducted

## Sponsorship

For the first ten seasons Courage Brewery sponsored the league. Following reorganisation the top two divisions are sponsored by the assurance company Allied Dunbar and the rest of the divisions, including National League 1 is sponsored by the building suppliers, Jewson.