2009–10 National League 2 North
The 2009–10 National League 2 North was the first season (twenty-third overall) of the fourth tier (north) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. Previously known as National Division 3 North, it had been renamed due to widespread changes to the league system by the RFU with National One becoming the Championship, National 2 becoming National 1 and so on. The league system was 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions would go straight up into National League 1 while the runners up would have a one-game playoff against the runners up from National League 2 South (at the home ground of the club with the superior league record) for the final promotion place. A further change to the league system would see the division increase from 14 to 16 teams.
| 2009–10 National League 2 North | |
|---|---|
| Countries | England |
| Champions | Macclesfield |
| Runners-up | Loughborough Students |
| Relegated | Waterloo, Bradford & Bingley, Broadstreet |
| Attendance | 55,958 (average 247 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 735 Fylde v Preston Grasshoppers 6 February 2010 |
| Lowest attendance | 100 (multiple teams) |
| Top point scorer | Ross Winney (Macclesfield) 422 points |
| Top try scorer | Paul Arnold (Caldy) 27 tries |
After finishing 3rd the previous season, Macclesfield would go two places better by winning the league title in what was a very close contest with runners up Loughborough Students - Macclesfield clinching the championship by benefit of just 3 points (one more win). Loughborough Students would fail to join Macclesfield in the 2010–11 National League 1 as they lost their playoff at home to the 2009–10 National League 2 South runners up Rosslyn Park. At the other end of the table, Waterloo suffered their 3rd successive relegation as the worst side in the division, followed at later dates by the more competitive Bradford & Bingley and newly promoted Broadstreet. Waterloo and Bradford & Bingley would drop to National League 3 North while Broadstreet would fall back down to the National League 3 Midlands.