The 1988–89 Courage League National Division One was the second season of the first tier of the English league system currently known as the Gallagher Premiership. Leicester Tigers were the defending champions while new sides Rosslyn Park and Liverpool St Helens were promoted from the 1987–88 Courage League National Division Two.
The fixture list was much more organised than with the previous season, where clubs had organised their own fixtures. Games were now played in rounds and home and away games were fairer, although as sides only played each other once, half the league had six home matches while the others had five. The points system was changed so that a win counted for 2 points, a draw 1 point and a loss no points (previously this had been 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw and 1 for a loss).
Bath became champions for the first time winning the league by a convincing margin from runners–up Gloucester. Waterloo and Liverpool St.Helens finished in the bottom two and were relegated to the 1989–90 Courage League National Division Two.[1]
Locations of the 1988–89 Courage League National Division One teams
| Team
|
Stadium
|
Capacity
|
City/Area
|
| Bath
|
Recreation Ground
|
8,200
|
Bath, Somerset
|
| Bristol
|
Memorial Stadium
|
12,100
|
Bristol, Avon
|
| Gloucester
|
Kingsholm
|
11,000
|
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
|
| Harlequins
|
The Stoop
|
14,800
|
Twickenham, London
|
| Leicester Tigers
|
Welford Road
|
16,000
|
Leicester, Leicestershire
|
| Liverpool St Helens
|
Moss Lane
|
|
St Helens, Merseyside
|
| Moseley
|
The Reddings
|
10,000
|
Birmingham, West Midlands
|
| Nottingham
|
Ireland Avenue
|
4,950
|
Beeston, Nottinghamshire
|
| Orrell
|
Edge Hall Road
|
5,500
|
Orrell, Greater Manchester
|
| Rosslyn Park
|
The Rock
|
2,000
|
Roehampton, London
|
| Wasps
|
Repton Avenue
|
3,000
|
Sudbury, London
|
| Waterloo
|
St Anthony's Road
|
9,000
|
Blundellsands, Merseyside
|
Source: [2]
Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows:
- 2 pts for a win
- 1 pt for a draw
- 0 pt for a loss
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
The home team is listed on the left column.
Source: [3]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
| Leicester Tigers | 15 – 6 | Wasps |
| | |
| Rosslyn Park | 9 – 18 | Nottingham |
| | |
| Waterloo | 6 – 12 | Liverpool St Helens |
| | |
[4]
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,000[5]
| Liverpool St Helens | 12 – 23 | Leicester Tigers |
| | |
| Moseley | 7 – 13 | Rosslyn Park |
| | |
[4]
| Harlequins | 15 – 6 | Liverpool St Helens |
| | |
| Leicester Tigers | 15 – 27 | Orrell |
| | |
[4]
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,000[5]
| Liverpool St Helens | 9 – 31 | Gloucester |
| | |
| Nottingham | 12 – 12 | Leicester Tigers |
| | |
[4]
| Orrell | 20 – 4 | Liverpool St Helens |
| | |
| Rosslyn Park | 8 – 26 | Gloucester |
| | |
| Waterloo | 22 – 34 | Leicester Tigers |
| | |
[4]
| Harlequins | 23 – 24 | Waterloo |
| | |
| Leicester Tigers | 28 – 15 | Rosslyn Park |
| | |
| Liverpool St Helens | 15 – 22 | Nottingham |
| | |
[4]
| Leicester Tigers | 21 – 31 | Harlequins |
| | |
| Moseley | 18 – 15 | Liverpool St Helens |
| | |
| Rosslyn Park | 18 – 16 | Bristol |
| | |
| Waterloo | 15 – 15 | Gloucester |
| | |
[4]
| Gloucester | 28 – 0 | Leicester Tigers |
| | |
| Liverpool St Helens | 7 – 21 | Bath |
| | |
| Rosslyn Park | 12 – 16 | Harlequins |
| | |
[4]
| Harlequins | 26 – 11 | Gloucester |
| | |
| Leicester Tigers | 13 – 12 | Bristol |
| | |
| Wasps | 16 – 10 | Liverpool St Helens |
| | |
| Waterloo | 14 – 24 | Rosslyn Park |
| | |
[4]
| Liverpool St Helens | 12 – 32 | Rosslyn Park |
| | |
| Moseley | 22 – 13 | Leicester Tigers |
| | |
| Nottingham | 12 – 0 | Harlequins |
| | |
[4]
| Bristol | 50 – 14 | Liverpool St Helens |
| | |
| Gloucester | 13 – 6 | Nottingham |
| | |
| Leicester Tigers | 15 – 12 | Bath |
| | |
[4]
National Division One is part of the Courage Clubs Championship and is sponsored by Courage Brewery
England