2007–08 National Division One
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bedford Blues Goldington Road 6,000 Bedford , Bedfordshire
Cornish Pirates Recreation Ground 9,000 Camborne , Cornwall
Coventry Butts Park Arena 4,000 Coventry , West Midlands
Doncaster Knights Castle Park 3,075 Doncaster , South Yorkshire
Esher Molesey Road 3,000 Hersham , Surrey
Exeter Chiefs Sandy Park 6,000 Exeter , Devon
Launceston Polson Bridge 3,000 Launceston , Cornwall
London Welsh Old Deer Park 5,850 Richmond , London
Moseley Billesley Common 3,000+ Birmingham , West Midlands
Newbury Monk 's Lane 8,000 Newbury , Berkshire
Northampton Saints Franklin 's Gardens 13,600 Northampton , Northamptonshire
Nottingham Meadow Lane 19,588 Nottingham , Nottinghamshire
Pertemps Bees Sharmans Cross 2,500 Solihull , West Midlands
Plymouth Albion The Brickfields 6,500 Plymouth , Devon
Rotherham Titans Clifton Lane 2,500 Rotherham , South Yorkshire
Sedgley Park Park Lane 3,000 Whitefield , Greater Manchester
Participating teams
BedfordCornish PiratesCoventryDoncasterEsherExeterLauncestonLondon WelshMoseleyNewburyNorthamptonNottinghamPertemps BeesPlymouthRotherhamSedgley Park Locations of the 2008–09 National Division One teams
The 2007-08 National Division One was the 21st full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. New teams included Northampton Saints (relegated from the Guinness Premiership 2006-07) and Esher and Launceston (both promoted from National Division Two 2006-07). After two seasons Rotherham dropped the 'Earth' from their name to return to 'Rotherham Titans' (which they had been rebranded to in 2005 for the 2005-06 season) as sponsor Earth Mortgages ran into financial difficulties and Complete Technical Services instead became the club's new sponsor. Following their relegation from the previous season, Northampton Saints won the National Division One title at the first attempt and returned to the Guinness Premiership for season 2008-09 with Chris Ashton setting what was then the English league try record of 39 tries in a season (although Phil Chesters broke this record with 70 tries in a season in tier 4, Ashton's still stands as the highest ever in tier 2). Exeter Chiefs finished in second place, and Pertemp Bees and Launceston were relegated to the 2008-09 National Division Two. 96 - 3 Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008
59 - 8 Northampton Saints away to Sedgley Park on 6 October 2007
96 - 3 Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008
Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008
Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008
Cornish Pirates at home to Exeter Chiefs on 7 October 2007
Exeter Chiefs away to Plymouth Albion on 8 September 2007
 Bruce Reihana for Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008
 Chris Ashton for Northampton Saints at home to Launceston on 26 April 2008
 Bruce Reihana for Northampton Saints at home to Sedgley Park on 26 January 2008
 Gareth Steenson for Cornish Pirates at home to Exeter Chiefs on 7 October 2007
 Danny Gray for Exeter Chiefs away to Plymouth Albion on 8 September 2007
Northampton Saints at home to Exeter Chiefs on 22 March 2008
Pertemps Bees (twice) at home to Plymouth Albion on 15 September 2007 & Esher on 10 November 2007
Northampton Saints
Sedgley Park