1997–98 Premiership 2

The Premiership 2 was the eleventh 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 West Hartlepool and Orrell who had been relegated from National Division 1 (renamed as Premiership 1) while Exeter and Fylde were promoted from National League 1 (formerly National Division 3). For the first time Premiership 2, along with Premiership 1, was sponsored by the assurance company Allied Dunbar. For the previous ten seasons the league was known as the Courage Clubs Championship and sponsored by Courage Brewery. Bedford, the champions, were promoted to the Allied Dunbar Premiership for season 1998–99, along with runner-up West Hartlepool. From next season, the top two divisions would consist of fourteen teams, an increase of two per division. The bottom two teams in the top tier played the third and fourth teams in Premiership 2 for the final two places in the top division. Third place London Scottish won promotion by beating Bristol in a two legged play-off, while fourth placed Rotherham lost to London Irish. There was no relegation to Jewson National League 1 because of the increase in teams in the top two divisions. == Participating teams == == Final table == == Results == === Round 1 === === Round 2 === match postponed and rescheduled to 25 April 1998. match postponed and rescheduled to 2 May 1998. match postponed and rescheduled to 18 April 1998. === Round 3 === === Round 4 === === Round 5 === === Round 6 === === Round 7 === === Round 8 === === Round 9 === === Round 10 === === Round 11 === === Round 12 === === Round 13 === postponed, match rescheduled to 24 January 1998. postponed, match rescheduled to 24 January 1998. postponed, match rescheduled to 18 April 1998. postponed, match rescheduled to 11 April 1998. === Rescheduled match === === Round 14 === === Round 13 (rescheduled matches) === === Round 15 === === Round 16 === === Rescheduled match === === Rescheduled matches === === Round 17 === postponed, match rescheduled to 4 April 1998. === Round 18 === === Round 19 === === Round 17 (rescheduled match) === === Round 20 (including postponed match from round 13) === postponed, match rescheduled to 22 April 1998. match rescheduled from round 13. === Round 21 (including postponed matches from rounds 2 & 13) === match rescheduled from round 2. match rescheduled from round 13. === Round 20 (rescheduled match) === === Round 22 === === Round 2 (rescheduled match) === == Individual statistics == Note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. == Season records == == See also == 1997–98 Premiership 1 1997–98 National League 1 1997–98 National League 2 North 1997–98 National League 2 South == References ==