English Rugby Union teams

The English rugby union league pyramid is topped by the Premiership. Below this are the Championship and National Leagues 1 to 3. Below this, the structure is split geographically into four regions: Midlands, North, London and South East, and South West. With the exception of the Midlands leagues, which only has regional splits, below these regional leagues are county leagues (e.g. Sussex, Kent, Hampshire). The county leagues are the lowest levels in the English game.

Level

Aviva Premiership Rugby
(English Premiership)
12 clubs

Greene King IPA Championship
(RFU Championship)
12 clubs

National League 1
16 clubs

National League 2 North
16 clubs

National League 2 South
16 clubs

Midlands Premier
14 clubs

North Premier
14 clubs

London & South East Premier
14 clubs

South West Premier
14 clubs

Midlands 1 West
14 clubs

Midlands 1 East
14 clubs