TAUNTON Titans are to play at National 1 level next season, after being declared champions of National 2 South today.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced yesterday that the final league positions would be confirmed on April 3, with the season having been brought to a halt by the coronavirus pandemic.
The RFU statement added: "It was agreed that final standings for the men’s and women’s community game would be calculated on a best playing record formula, maintaining promotion and relegation for those leagues."
Taunton moved top of the National 2 South standings with victory over Esher on March 14, the last weekend before rugby was suspended, but have been made to wait to find out whether they would be promoted, or whether all results would be declared void.
Today, however, it has been confirmed that Taunton will indeed be going up alongside Tonbridge Juddians.
We are really excited to be heading up into NATIONAL ONE LEAGUE for the 20/21 season 🏆
— Taunton Rugby Club (@tauntonrfc) April 3, 2020
This has been a number of years in the making and although this is not the way we had envisaged celebrating, we are looking forward to the challenge nonetheless ❗️ pic.twitter.com/Lstn93pifa
National 1 is the third tier of English rugby, below only the Gallagher Premiership and Greene King IPA Championship.
As well as featuring teams in the Midlands and London, National 1 is home to Plymouth Albion, and northern teams Darlington Mowden Park, Rotherham Titans and Sale FC.
Taunton have been at National 2 South level since the 2010/11 season.
In addition to the Titans' promotion, Wellington RFC's 1st XV are also going up as winners of Western Counties West - level 7 in the English rugby system.
Wellington, and runners-up St Austell, will be playing at level 6 next season and could well face Bridgwater & Albion and North Petherton in South West 1 West.
At the other end of the Western Counties West table, Wiveliscombe have survived - just.
Wivey (39.30) have edged out fellow strugglers Saltash (39.00) and Cullompton (34.27), who have both been relegated.
The full league tables can be viewed here.
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