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Lancashire (North), formerly known as North Lancashire 1 was a regional (tier 8) EnglishRugby Union league for teams from the South Lancashire and Manchester area. The league champions were promoted to North Lancashire/Cumbria while the runners had a playoff against the runners up from the Cumbria League for the final promotion spot.
The division was initially known as North-West East 1 when it was created in 1987, and had a number of different names since with North Lancashire 1 being the longest running. The most recent version known as Lancashire (North) was set up for the 2015-16 season when the RFU decided to break up the South Lancs/Cheshire league into 3 different zones also included Merseyside (West) and Cheshire (South). The format was not a success and South Lancs/Cheshire was resurrected for the 2016-17 with only Lancashire (North) remaining albeit with 12 teams instead of 14. When it was known as Lancashire Division 1 teams were relegated to North Lancashire 2.
After reinstating the league for one more season, at the end of 2016-17 the RFU again decided to cancel the league. Teams were instead transferred to the new Lancs/Cheshire 3 (North) division - which was created from breaking South Lancs/Cheshire 3 into two regional leagues.
The original incarnation of North Lancashire 1 was known as North-West East 1, and was a tier 10 league with promotion up to North-West East/North 1 and relegation down to North-West East 2.
North-West East 1 was renamed as Lancashire North 1 for the start of the 1992–93 season with promotion to Cumbria/Lancs North (formerly North-West East/North 1) and relegation to Lancashire North 2 (formerly North-West East 2). Initially a tier 10 league, the creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Lancashire North 1 dropped to become a tier 11 league.
The league system was restructured from top to bottom by the Rugby Football Union for the start of the 1996–97 season. Lancashire North 1 was renamed as North Lancashire 1, and the cancellation of National 5 North and creation of North West 3 meant that it remained a tier 11 league. Promotion was to North Lancs/Cumbria (formerly Cumbria/Lancs North) while relegation was to North Lancashire 2 (formerly Lancashire North 2).
North Lancashire 1 was renamed as Lancashire (North) at the start of the 2015–16 as part of North-West league restructuring by the RFU who decided to break up the North Lancashire and South Lancs/Cheshire leagues into 3 different zones - Cheshire (South), Lancashire (North) and Merseyside (West). Promotion would continue into North Lancashire/Cumbria but the cancellation of North Lancashire 2 meant there would be no relegation. After two seasons Lancashire (North) would be discontinued and all teams transferred into Lancs/Cheshire 3.
Since the 2000–01 season there was a play-off between the runners-up of the Cumbria League and Lancashire (North) for the third and final promotion place to North Lancashire/Cumbria. The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2016–17 season the Lancashire (North) teams have been the most successful with eleven wins to the Cumbria League teams four; and the home team has won promotion on twelve occasions compared to the away teams three.
Cumbria League v Lancashire (North) promotion play-off results
Reorganisation of the North-West leagues for the following season, which included the cancellation of North-West East 3, meant that was no relegation.
In order to boost the low number of teams in Lancashire North 2 (which only had 5 teams) four teams would be relegated from Lancashire North 1.
Bolton were not promoted due to Northern League restructuring.
No relegation as division due to increase from 12 to 14 teams for the following season.
Despite finishing at the top of the 2000-01 Cumbrian League according to the RFU website, Hawcoat Park actually went into the playoff rather than runners up St Benedicts. Reasons for this are not clear, although St Benedicts did play one less game than Hawcoat Park and were level on points but with a weaker for/against record, so maybe an average points total was used to determine the champions.
Despite finished third in the 2002-03 Cumbrian League, Upper Eden went into the promotion playoff as champions Netherall were not promoted, with second placed Windermere going up instead.
Despite winning the 2003-04 Cumbrian League, Egremont had to take part in the promotion playoff usually reserved for league runners up.
Due to changes to English rugby union league system by the RFU there would be no promotion playoff at the end of 2008-09 season. Instead the champions and runners up from both leagues would be automatically promoted.
Despite finishing the 2009-10 Cumbrian League in third place, Millom went into the promotion playoff game instead of runners up Egremont. Millom had actually played two less games and were only two points off the runner up spot so this may explain why they qualified for the playoff.
Due to restructuring of the north-west leagues by the RFU there would be no promotion playoff at the end of 2013-14 season. Instead the champions and runners up from both leagues would be automatically promoted.
2016–17 Lancashire (North)
England
Burnley