2001–02 National Division One
The 2001–02 National Division One (known as the Jewson National Division One for sponsorship reasons) was the 15th full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. New teams to the division included Rotherham who had been relegated from the Zurich Premiership 2000–01 while Bracknell and Rugby Lions had been promoted from the 2000–01 National Division Two. For the first time the team finishing first, Rotherham, were denied promotion to the Zurich Premiership for season 2002–03 because their ground was not of the required standard  - this was the first time a team had been denied entry to the top flight of English rugby since the leagues started in 1987 due to the introduction of the controversial 'minimum standards' rule for clubs seeking to join the Premiership. Worcester were runners-up for the second consecutive season, and Henley Hawks and Bracknell were relegated to the 2002–03 National Division Two with Bracknell spending just one season in the division. 73 - 0 Rotherham at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 13 April 2002 72 - 7 Rotherham away to Manchester on 6 April 2002 73 - 0 Rotherham at home to  Birmingham & Solihull on 13 April 2002 Rotherham away to Manchester on 6 April 2002 Worcester at home to Henley Hawks on 19 January 2002 Manchester at home to Wakefield on 15 December 2001 Exeter Chiefs away to Rotherham on 10 November 2001 Sateki Tuipulotu for Worcester at home to Henley Hawks on 19 January 2002 Chris Garrard for Worcester at home to Otley on 9 March 2002 Season records. Player. Michael Wood for Rotherham at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 13 April 2002 Tony Yapp for Worcester at home to Henley Hawks on 19 January 2002 Marcus Barrow for Manchester  at home to Wakefield on 15 December 2001 Chris Malone for Exeter Chiefs away to Rotherham on 10 November 2001 Worcester at home to Rotherham on 22 September 2001 Bracknell at home to Exeter Chiefs on 2 March 2002 Attendances. Moseley at home to Rugby Lions on 23 March 2002 Worcester Wakefield