| dbo:abstract
|
- The 2008–09 National Division Three South was the ninth and last season (22nd overall) of the fourth division (south) of the English domestic rugby union competition using the name National Division Three South. The division was set to be re-branded National League 2 South for the following season due to an RFU reshuffle of the entire league system. New teams to the division included Henley Hawks who were relegated from the 2007–08 National Division Two while promoted teams included Richmond (champions) and Worthing Raiders (playoffs) from London Division 1, Chinnor who returned after an absence of just one year as champions of South West Division 1 and finally Rugby Lions who were transferred from the 2008–09 National Division Three North to ensure that there was not an imbalance of teams between the two regional leagues. 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 what would be known as National League 1 from 2009-10 but unlike previous years, there would be no promotion playoff between the runners up of the division and the runners up of National Division Three North due to the league restructuring. London Scottish finished the season as champions and clinched the only promotion spot to the (newly named) 2009–10 National League 1. The Richmond-based side had a fantastic season with only the one draw against Rugby Lions early on in the season blemishing what would have been a perfect record (this was achieved by Plymouth Albion back in the 2001-02 season). Fellow Londoners, runners up Rosslyn Park had a good season which could have seen them champions on any other year but even they finished 22 points behind Scottish and did not have the consolation of a playoff due to the league restructuring. The two relegation spots were filled by Havant, who were comfortably the worst team in the division (ending a five-year stay in National 3 South), and Chinnor, who went straight back down yet again but were much improved from their last time spent in the division. Havant would drop to National League 3 London & South East (formerly London Division 1) while Chinnor would drop to National League 3 South West (formerly South West Division 1). (en)
|
