2001–02 National Division Three South
The 2001–02 National Division Three South was the second season (fifteenth overall) of the fourth division (south) of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three South. New teams to the division included Lydney and Camberley who were relegated from the 2000–01 National Division Two while promoted teams included Old Colfeians and Old Patesians, champions of London Division 1 and South West Division 1 respectively. The league system was 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw with the league champions going straight up into National Division Two and the runners up playing a playoff against the runners up from National Division Three North for the final promotion place.
| 2001–02 National Division Three South | |
|---|---|
| Countries | England |
| Champions | Penzance & Newlyn |
| Runners-up | Launceston (also promoted) |
| Relegated | Cinderford, Clifton |
| Attendance | 48,859 (average 388 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 3,000 Penzance & Newlyn v Launceston 26 January 2002 |
| Lowest attendance | 100 (multiple teams) |
| Top point scorer | Nat Saumi (Penzance & Newlyn) 374 points |
| Top try scorer | Richard Newton (Penzance & Newlyn) 28 tries |
Two Cornish teams dominated the division this season, with Penzance & Newlyn finishing 1 point ahead of Launceston to win the league title. Launceston, as runners up, found themselves in a similar position to that of the previous year, where they needed to win a playoff against the runners up of the 2001–02 National Division Three North. This time the Polson Bridge side were successful, beating Dudley Kingswinford 26 – 0 to clinch promotion and join Penzance & Newlyn in the 2002–03 National Division Two. At the opposite end of the table Cinderford and Clifton would be the two teams to be relegated with both sides dropping to South West Division 1.