The 2005–06 National Division One was the 19th 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 Harlequins who had been relegated from the 2004–05 Zurich Premiership, while Doncaster and Newbury were promoted from the 2004–05 National Division Two. Additional changes saw Penzance & Newyln RFC rebrand themselves as the Cornish Pirates as well as moving from their home ground, the Mennaye Field in Penzance, to a more central location in Truro at the Kenwyn Rugby Ground (a temporary stadium built in the city) with the aim to appeal more to Cornish fans on the whole as well as making home games more accessible. Rotherham Titans also rebranded themselves as 'Earth Titans' for sponsorship purposes for this season. After only one season Harlequins won the National Division One at the first attempt and returned to the Guinness Premiership for season 2006–07. Bedford Blues finished in second place and there was no relegation to National Division Two following the RFU's decision to expand National Division One from 14 to 16 teams for the 2006–07 season.

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 11

Round 12

Round 9 (rescheduled game)

Round 13

Round 14

Round 15

Round 16

Round 17

Round 14 (rescheduled game)

Round 18

Round 19

Round 20

Round 20 (rescheduled games)

Round 21

Round 22

Round 23

Round 25 (rescheduled game)

Round 24

Round 25

Round 26

Season attendances

Leading scorers

Top points scorers

Top try scorers

Season records

Team

70 - 5 Harlequins at home to Exeter Chiefs on 22 October 2005 68 - 16 Bedford Blues away to Pertemps Bees on 11 March 2006 79 - 22 Bedford Blues at home to Newbury on 29 April 2006 Harlequins at home to Exeter Chiefs on 22 October 2005 Bedford Blues at home to Newbury on 29 April 2006 Bedford Blues at home to Newbury on 29 April 2006 Coventry at home to Newbury on 11 March 2006 Plymouth Albion at home to Exeter Chiefs on 3 September 2005

Player

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Alastair Hepher for Bedford Blues at home to Newbury on 29 April 2006 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Richard Welding for Cornish Pirates at home to Earth Titans on 18 September 2005 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Ugo Monye for Harlequins at home to Exeter Chiefs on 22 October 2005 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Alastair Hepher for Bedford Blues at home to Newbury on 29 April 2006 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 James Moore for Coventry at home to Newbury on 11 March 2006 N/A - multiple players

Attendances

Harlequins at home to Plymouth Albion on 29 April 2006 Sedgley Park at home to Newbury on 18 February 2006 Harlequins Orrell