National League Rugby Play-Offs: How it all works

With title races and relegation battles going right to the wire, we now head into the play-offs to see who will be staying in or moving divisions for next season.

This is the first season since 2018/19 that National League Rugby has had play-offs, so with that in mind, how does the new format work?

NB: In all play-off games, the match will be played at the home ground of the club at the highest league level.

If clubs are at the same league level, the match will be played at the home ground of the club that finished with the best playing record.

National 1 Promotion

National 1 Promotion Play-Off

Blackheath v Plymouth Albion – Saturday 9th May – 3pm. Live on ClubberTV.

Champ Relegation Play-Off

Richmond v London Scottish – Saturday 16th May

Champ Accession Final

Champ Relegation Play-Off Loser v Winner of Blackheath v Plymouth Albion – Saturday 23rd May – (Kick-Off TBC)

Winner will play in Champ Rugby next season.

National 1 Relegation and National 2 Promotion

National 2 Promotion Play-Offs 

Birmingham Moseley v Luctonians – Saturday 9th May – 3pm

Tynedale v Oundle – Saturday 9th May – 3pm

National 1 Accession Final

Winner of Birmingham Moseley v Luctonians VS winner of Tynedale v Oundle – Saturday 16th May – (Kick-Off TBC)

• If Birmingham Moseley beat Luctonians, they will be at home to the winner of Tynedale v Oundle
• If Luctonians beat Birmingham Moseley, they will be away to the winners of Tynedale v Oundle

Winner will play in National One next season.

National 2 Accession Finals

Henley Hawks v Tunbridge Wells – Saturday 9th May – 3pm

Exeter University v Stourbridge – Saturday 9th May – (Kick-Off TBC)

Rossendale v Harrogate – Saturday 9th May – 3pm

Winners will play in National Two next season.

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If scores are level at the end of normal time in any of the play-off matches, there will be a five-minute break (with teams remaining on the pitch) before extra time begins.

Extra time consists of two 10-minute halves with a one-minute interval.

If the scores are still level after extra time, the winner will be the team that has scored the most tries (including extra time).

If the teams are still level on tries, the match will be decided by a place-kick competition. More information here.