2017–18 National League 1
The 2017–18 National League 1, known for sponsorship reasons as the SSE National League 1 is the ninth 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 31st season since league rugby began in 1987.
| 2017–18 National League 1 | |
|---|---|
| Countries | England |
| Date | 2 September 2017 – 28 April 2018 |
| Champions | Coventry (3rd title) |
| Runners-up | Darlington Mowden Park |
| Relegated | Fylde, Old Albanian, Hull Ionians |
| Matches played | 240 |
| Attendance | 156,700 (average 653 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 3,758 Coventry v Hull Ionians 28 April 2018 |
| Lowest attendance | 103 Loughborough Students v Cambridge 23 December 2017 |
| Tries scored | 1651 (average 6.9 per match) |
| Top point scorer | 262 Will Maisey (Coventry) |
| Top try scorer | 21 Sam Baker (Ampthill) James Stokes (Coventry) |
Following defeat at Blackheath on 10 March, Fylde are the first team to be relegated. A week later Coventry became the league champions with five games to go after beating Caldy away on the 17 March. On 21 April Old Albanian became the second team to go down with a game to go, losing 21–24 away to Plymouth Albion. The third and final relegation spot went to the taken by Hull Ionians who lost 21–38 away to champions Coventry on 28 April 2018 in front of a divisional record attendance of 3,758. As champions, Coventry are promoted into the 2018–19 RFU Championship, while relegated sides Fylde and Hull Ionians drop to the 2018–19 National League 2 North, and Old Albanian into the 2018–19 National League 2 South.
Of further interest were a number of divisional records set or equalled during the course of the season. These included a record crowd (3,758 at Coventry) and record overall league average attendance (653), while Coventry's promotion meant they now had 3 tier titles (equal with Otley). Ampthill also equalled a more obscure record of four league draws previously achieved by both Wharfedale and Richmond.