The 2001–02 National Division One (known as the Jewson National Division One for sponsorship reasons) was the 15th full season of rugby union within the second tier of the English league system, currently known as the RFU Championship. New teams to the division included Rotherham who had been relegated from the Zurich Premiership 2000–01 while Bracknell and Rugby Lions had been promoted from the 2000–01 National Division Two. For the first time the team finishing first, Rotherham, were denied promotion to the Zurich Premiership for season 2002–03 because their ground was not of the required standard - this was the first time a team had been denied entry to the top flight of English rugby since the leagues started in 1987 due to the introduction of the controversial 'minimum standards' rule for clubs seeking to join the Premiership. Worcester were runners-up for the second consecutive season, and Henley Hawks and Bracknell were relegated to the 2002–03 National Division Two with Bracknell spending just one season in the division.

Participating teams

Table

Results

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Round 8 (rescheduled game)

Round 11

Round 12

Round 8 (rescheduled game)

Round 13

Round 14

Round 15

Round 16

Round 17

Round 18

Round 19

Rounds 8 & 14 (rescheduled games)

Round 20

Round 14 (rescheduled games)

Round 21

Round 22

Round 17 & 19 (rescheduled games)

Round 23

Round 24

Round 25

Round 26

Total season attendances

Individual statistics

Top points scorers

Top try scorers

Season records

Team

73 - 0 Rotherham at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 13 April 2002 72 - 7 Rotherham away to Manchester on 6 April 2002 73 - 0 Rotherham at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 13 April 2002 Rotherham away to Manchester on 6 April 2002 Worcester at home to Henley Hawks on 19 January 2002 Manchester at home to Wakefield on 15 December 2001 Exeter Chiefs away to Rotherham on 10 November 2001

Player

🇹🇴 Sateki Tuipulotu for Worcester at home to Henley Hawks on 19 January 2002 🇦🇺 Chris Garrard for Worcester at home to Otley on 9 March 2002 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Michael Wood for Rotherham at home to Birmingham & Solihull on 13 April 2002 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Tony Yapp for Worcester at home to Henley Hawks on 19 January 2002 🇺🇸 Link Wilfley for Rotherham at home to Moseley on 30 March 2002 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Marcus Barrow for Manchester at home to Wakefield on 15 December 2001 🇦🇺 Chris Malone for Exeter Chiefs away to Rotherham on 10 November 2001

Attendances

Worcester at home to Rotherham on 22 September 2001 Bracknell at home to Exeter Chiefs on 2 March 2002 Moseley at home to Rugby Lions on 23 March 2002 Worcester Wakefield