Rugby divisions in the UK: every level of the league pyramid
Rugby divisions are the levels of a league pyramid. The UK has separate rugby union and rugby league pyramids, and each union nation runs its own: England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland (which includes Northern Ireland). English men's rugby union alone has 24 leagues at levels 1 to 6, from PREM Rugby down to twelve Regional 2 leagues, with Counties leagues from level 7. Rugby league's divisions are Super League, the Championship and the National Community Rugby League.
The quickest way to understand the rugby divisions and leagues in the UK is to start with who runs them. Clubs move up or down each pyramid through promotion and relegation, or, at the top of English rugby union and in Super League, by meeting entry criteria. Use the tables on this page to place any club: if a club's profile says "Regional 2", it plays at level 6 of English rugby union; "National Premier League" means the top of community rugby league.
| Nation / code | Governing body | Top men's division | Next level down |
|---|---|---|---|
| England – rugby union | Rugby Football Union (RFU) | PREM Rugby (10 clubs) | Champ Rugby |
| England – rugby league | Rugby Football League (RFL) | Super League (14 clubs in 2026) | RFL Championship (20 clubs) |
| Wales – rugby union | Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) | United Rugby Championship (Welsh regions) | Super Rygbi Cymru (10 clubs) |
| Scotland – rugby union | Scottish Rugby | United Rugby Championship (Edinburgh, Glasgow Warriors) | Scottish Premiership (10 clubs) |
| Northern Ireland – rugby union | Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) | United Rugby Championship (Ulster) | Energia All-Ireland League |
Every club in our directory has a profile, and English union clubs show their current division where we could confirm it. The directory holds 637 clubs: 353 English union clubs, 96 English rugby league clubs, 64 in Wales, 45 in Scotland and 6 in Northern Ireland.
Rugby union leagues vs rugby league: what is the difference?
Rugby union and rugby league are two different sports that split in 1895. Union is played 15-a-side with contested rucks, lineouts and scrums. League is 13-a-side with a six-tackle limit. Each code has its own clubs, divisions and governing body, so a "rugby union league" and "rugby league" mean different things.
| Rugby union | Rugby league | |
|---|---|---|
| Players per side | 15 | 13 |
| Possession | Contested at rucks and mauls | Six tackles, then a turnover |
| Set pieces | Scrums and lineouts | Scrums (uncontested) and play-the-ball |
| England's governing body | RFU | RFL |
| Heartland | Everywhere, especially the South, Midlands, Wales and Scotland | Yorkshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cumbria |
| Clubs in our directory | 470 | 101 |
The naming causes real confusion: "rugby league" is the name of a sport, while a "rugby union league" is simply a division in the other sport. Many northern towns have clubs of both codes, so check the Sport field at the top of every directory listing before you go.
English rugby union divisions (RFU leagues)
English men's rugby union runs from PREM Rugby at level 1 through Champ Rugby, National League 1 and the three National League 2 divisions. Below those come six Regional 1 leagues, twelve Regional 2 leagues, and county-based Counties leagues from level 7 down. Most community clubs play in the Regional or Counties divisions.
| Level | Rugby union division (England) | Leagues at this level |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PREM Rugby | 1 (10 clubs) |
| 2 | Champ Rugby | 1 |
| 3 | National League 1 | 1 |
| 4 | National League 2 East, North, West | 3 |
| 5 | Regional 1 | 6 |
| 6 | Regional 2 | 12 |
| 7+ | Counties 1, 2, 3 and below | Many, run by the RFU's four divisions |
The biggest change for 2026-27 is at the top. The RFU Council voted in February 2026 to end automatic promotion and relegation between PREM Rugby and Champ Rugby, so a Champ club can now join the top division only through a criteria-based process covering on-field performance, finances, commercial strength, stadium and geographical reach. Below the PREM, promotion and relegation still work in the usual way, with automatic places and play-offs. For a level-by-level breakdown with promotion rules and old league names, read our English rugby union league structure guide.
Rugby league divisions in England
In 2026, men's professional rugby league in England has two divisions. Super League has 14 clubs, and the RFL Championship has 20 after it merged with League One. Below them, the National Community Rugby League (NCRL) replaced the National Conference League as the top of the amateur game, with regional men's leagues underneath.
Super League
The 14 Super League clubs in 2026 are Bradford Bulls, Castleford Tigers, Catalans Dragons, Huddersfield Giants, Hull FC, Hull KR, Leeds Rhinos, Leigh Leopards, St Helens, Toulouse Olympique, Wakefield Trinity, Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors and York Knights. The division grew from 12 clubs to 14 for 2026, with places decided by the RFL's club grading system rather than purely by results: Bradford, Toulouse and York joined, and Salford dropped into the Championship.
Championship and the community game
For 2026 the RFL combined the Championship and League One into a single 20-club second division, including former Super League sides such as Salford Red Devils and London Broncos. Below that, the National Conference League was dissolved and replaced by the National Community Rugby League:
- National Premier League: 12 clubs, including Siddal, Heworth, Thatto Heath Crusaders, West Hull, Wigan St Judes and Castleford Lock Lane.
- National League One sits below it.
- Five National Conferences: Cumbria, North West, Southern, and two Yorkshire divisions.
- Regional men's leagues sit below the National Conferences.
The amateur divisions are where most people play rugby league. Professional clubs rarely run open-age teams for beginners, so start with your nearest amateur (ARLFC) club. Our rugby league clubs page lists 101 of them.
Rugby divisions in Wales
Welsh rugby union has the professional regions in the United Rugby Championship at the top. Below them is Super Rygbi Cymru, a 10-team semi-professional division that replaced the Welsh Premiership in 2024. Community clubs then play in the Admiral Championship (East and West) and the regional divisions below.
The 10 Super Rygbi Cymru clubs, most now carrying a regional prefix, are Glamorgan Aberavon, Glamorgan Bridgend Ravens, Glamorgan Cardiff, Carmarthen Quins, Monmouthshire Ebbw Vale, Llandovery, Monmouthshire Newport, Monmouthshire Pontypool, RGC 1404 and Glamorgan Swansea. Below Super Rygbi Cymru, the Admiral Championship is split into East and West conferences, then Division One is split by area: North, East, East Central, West Central and West.
Wales is where our directory is most club-dense outside England. See our Cardiff rugby clubs page, or browse all Welsh clubs. Welsh club names changed a lot with the creation of Super Rygbi Cymru, but searching for the old name, such as "Cardiff RFC", usually still finds the club.
Rugby divisions in Scotland
Scotland's professional teams, Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors, play in the United Rugby Championship. The club game is led by the 10-team Scottish Premiership, then National Leagues One to Four (40 clubs). Below those, regional divisions are run by the Caledonia, East and West regions. The semi-professional Super Series ended in 2024.
| Level | Division | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Professional | United Rugby Championship: Edinburgh Rugby, Glasgow Warriors | 2 |
| 1 | Scottish Premiership | 10 |
| 2–5 | National League One to Four | 40 (10 each) |
| 6+ | Regional leagues: Caledonia, East, West | Varies |
The top four in the Premiership play off for the Scottish title. Clubs such as Boroughmuir in Edinburgh and the Borders clubs have long been at this level.
Rugby divisions in Northern Ireland and Ireland
Rugby union in Northern Ireland is run by the IRFU on an all-Ireland basis. Ulster represents the province in the United Rugby Championship. Clubs play in the Energia All-Ireland League, which runs Division 1A, 1B and 2A. From 2026-27 the lower AIL divisions are reorganised into regional 2B North and 2B South divisions to cut travel.
2BN covers clubs north of a line from Dublin to Galway and 2BS covers clubs south of it. Below the AIL, clubs play in provincial leagues; for Northern Ireland, that means the Ulster leagues. See our Ulster Rugby and IRFU profiles for more.
Women's rugby divisions in the UK
Women's rugby has its own pyramid in both codes. In England, Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) is the top union division, with national and regional women's leagues below it. In rugby league, the RFL runs the Women's Super League. Many community clubs now run a women's team as well as men's and junior sides.
If you are looking for a women's team, the division matters less than finding a club with a squad near you. Start with our women's rugby clubs guide, which lists clubs with women's sides and explains how to get started.
How to find out which division a rugby club plays in
Look the club up on its governing body's competition site: England Rugby for English union, the WRU, Scottish Rugby or IRFU elsewhere, and the RFL for rugby league. League tables there are official and current. Our directory shows the confirmed division on English union club profiles, with the date we last checked it.
- Find the club's profile in the UK rugby club directory and note its exact name and town.
- Open the governing body's club finder. For English union clubs, our profiles link to the club's England Rugby fixtures page.
- Check the first XV, not the 2nd or 3rd XV. Lower teams often play in separate merit or reserve leagues, which can make a club look lower than it is.
- Check the season. Divisions are reorganised every summer, so a table from last season can be wrong by September.
- Ignore sponsor names when comparing. "Regional 1 Tribute Ale South West" and "Regional 1 South West" are the same division.
- Merit leagues are not part of the pyramid. The Essex Merit League and Kent Metropolitan League are separate competitions, often for lower teams, with no promotion into the RFU leagues.
- Old division names still appear online. "South West 1", "London 1" and "Midlands 1" were replaced in 2022. Our league structure guide has a conversion table.
- "Rugby league" in a club name can mislead. Some union clubs sit in towns famous for rugby league, and the other way round. Always check the code.
Where UK clubs actually play: what our directory data shows
Most rugby clubs are community clubs, not professional teams. Of the 267 English union clubs in our directory with a confirmed 2026-27 division, only 11 play in Champ Rugby and 8 in National League 1. The rest play at levels 4 to 7 and below, and 118 of them (44%) are in the Counties leagues.
| Division | Clubs in our directory | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Champ Rugby (level 2) | 11 | 4% |
| National League 1 (level 3) | 8 | 3% |
| National League 2 (level 4) | 25 | 9% |
| Regional 1 (level 5) | 42 | 16% |
| Regional 2 (level 6) | 60 | 22% |
| Counties (level 7 and below) | 118 | 44% |
| Merit or other leagues | 3 | 1% |
This matters if you are choosing a club. A Counties or Regional 2 club usually trains twice a week, runs several adult teams and welcomes beginners, while a National League club trains more often and recruits more selectively. Neither is better; they suit different players. Source: UK Rugby Club Directory. Divisions confirmed from England Rugby team pages on 31 October 2026. Professional PREM clubs are excluded.
Rugby divisions and leagues: frequently asked questions
How many rugby leagues are there in the UK?
There is no single number, because each nation and each code runs its own pyramid. English men's rugby union alone has 24 leagues across levels 1 to 6: one each at levels 1 to 3, three at level 4, six at level 5 and twelve at level 6. Below that are many more Counties leagues. Rugby league adds Super League, the Championship and the community leagues.
What is the top rugby division in England?
For rugby union it is PREM Rugby, with 10 clubs. For rugby league it is Super League, with 14 clubs in 2026.
Is there still promotion and relegation in English rugby?
Yes, below the top flight. From 2026-27 there is no automatic promotion from Champ Rugby to PREM Rugby; clubs must meet entry criteria instead. Every division from Champ Rugby downwards still has promotion and relegation, including play-offs.
What happened to League One in rugby league?
It merged with the Championship for the 2026 season, creating a single 20-club second division below Super League.
What are the rugby divisions in England?
In rugby union, England's divisions are PREM Rugby, Champ Rugby, National League 1, the three National League 2 divisions, then Regional 1, Regional 2 and the Counties leagues. In rugby league, they are Super League, the Championship and the National Community Rugby League.
Which rugby division should a beginner join?
Not a division as such, but a club. Look for a community club at Counties level (union) or an amateur ARLFC (league) near you. Our find a club page lists 637 clubs.
Sources and further reading
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