2009–10 National League 2 South
The 2009–10 National League 2 South was the first season (23rd overall) of the fourth tier (south) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. Previously known as National Division 3 South, 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 North (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 15 teams (this was originally supposed to be 16 teams but one of the teams relegated from the 2008-09 National Division 2, Mounts Bay, folded at the beginning of the season).
| 2009–10 National League 2 South | |
|---|---|
| Countries | England |
| Champions | Barking |
| Runners-up | Rosslyn Park (also promoted) |
| Relegated | Bridgwater & Albion, Barnes |
| Attendance | 58,619 (average 292 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 1,473 Richmond v Rosslyn Park 26 September 2009 |
| Lowest attendance | 30 Barnes v Shelford 20 February 2010 |
| Top point scorer | Ross Laidlaw (Rosslyn Park) 318 points |
| Top try scorer | Phil Chesters (Ealing Trailfinders) 28 tries |
Barking would finish as champions with only two league defeats all season, while runners up Rosslyn Park would join them in the 2010–11 National League 1 by defeating 2009–10 National League 2 North runners up Loughborough Students in the National 2 promotion playoff. At the bottom of the table Bridgwater & Albion and newly promoted Barnes would be condemned to National League 3 South West and National League 3 London & SE respectively.