2015–16 National League 1
The 2015–16 National League 1, known for sponsorship reasons as the SSE National League 1 is the seventh season of the third tier of the English rugby union system, since the professionalised format of the second tier RFU Championship was introduced; and is the twenty-ninth season since league rugby began in 1987.
| 2015–16 National League 1 | |
|---|---|
| Countries | England |
| Date | 5 September 2015 – 30 April 2016 |
| Champions | Richmond (2nd title) |
| Runners-up | Hartpury College |
| Relegated | Henley Hawks, Cinderford, Wharfedale |
| Matches played | 240 |
| Attendance | 134,861 (average 562 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 1,843 Plymouth Albion v Hartpury College on 23 April 2016 |
| Lowest attendance | 80 Blaydon v Fylde on 7 November 2015 |
| Tries scored | 1540 (average 6.4 per match) |
| Top point scorer | Gareth Thompson (Hartpury College) 283 |
| Top try scorer | Jonas Mikalcius (Hartpury College) Jason Smithson (Blaydon) 27 |
Richmond are the current champions and will play in the Green King IPA Championship next season. Henley Hawks, Cinderford and Wharfedale are relegated. Henley and Cinderford to National League 2 South and Wharfedale to National League 2 North. Plymouth Albion went into administration on 8 April 2016 and an interim licence to run the club ended on 6 May 2016. Albion were deducted 30 points by the RFU and dropped from 5th place to 8th. The club have submitted a business case and await a decision by the RFU on 18 May. If the RFU reject the plan Albion could be relegated to the bottom of the league structure i.e. Devon League 2. If that happens Wharfedale will not be relegated and subsequently other teams down through the league structure could be reprieved.