División de Honor de Rugby

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
División de Honor de Rugby
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023–24 División de Honor de Rugby
SportRugby union
Founded1953; 71 years ago (1953)
Owner(s)Federación Española de Rugby
No. of teams12
Country Spain
Most recent
champion(s)
Valladolid RAC (12th title)
Most titlesValladolid RAC (12 titles)
TV partner(s)TVE
FERUGBYTV on YouTube (Live Streams)
Relegation toDivisión de Honor B
International cup(s)European Rugby Challenge Cup
European Rugby Continental Shield
Related
competitions
Copa del Rey de Rugby Supercopa de España de Rugby
Official websiteferugby.es

The División de Honor de Rugby is Spain's top level professional men's rugby union competition. The División de Honor de Rugby Championship is organised by the Federación Española de Rugby (Spanish Rugby Federation) and currently consists of 12 teams.

The last-placed team in the competition is relegated at the end of the season to the División de Honor B, Spain`s second level of men's rugby union. The team finishing 11th enters a relegation/promotion playoff with the runner-up from the Division de Honor B playoffs.

Format

The División de Honor season takes place between September and May, with every team playing each other home and away for a total of 22 matches. Points are awarded according to the following:

  • 4 points for a win
  • 2 points for a draw
  • 1 bonus point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match
  • 1 bonus point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer

The six teams with the highest number of points at the end of 22 rounds of matches play the championship playoffs. The top two teams win a semi-final berth automatically, while the next four teams participate in semi-final play-off to take the remaining two spots.

Promotion and relegation

The bottom team in the standings is relegated to the División de Honor B, while the team finishing 11th plays in the promotion/relegation playoff against a team from the second tier of rugby union in Spain.

The top team from the División de Honor B is promoted to the División de Honor.


History

The Spanish Rugby Championship (now the Copa del Rey) was created in 1926, and was the only national rugby competition for decades. A national league was not considered until the 1950s, with the first season being 1952-53. Four teams competed: two from Catalonia and two from Castille.

FC Barcelona won the league that year and retained the title the following season, but the league folded. There were various attempts to relaunch it, but none bore fruit until the 1969-70 season, when the National Rugby League was created. Six clubs competed in the first division, which was increased to eight in 1970-71 and then ten in 1972-73.

For the 1978-79 season, the league was restructured into four regional groups of eight teams. The top team from each region were crowned champions.

From the 1979-1980 season, the four regional champions progressed to a final stage, named the Superliga. This format was maintained until the 1982-1983 season, when a national division of eight teams was created.

Performance by season

The following scrollable table shows the teams' final league positions in each season.

The playoff champions - not necessarily the team finishing first in the league - are highlighted in gold, except in 1979 when the championship was shared.

For the years 1979-1982, all participating teams are denoted with an X.

Team Seasons 🏆
09-10
08-09
07-08
06-07
05-06
04-05
03-04
02-03
01-02
00-01
99-00
98-99
97-98
96-97
95-96
94-95
93-94
92-93
91-92
90-91
89-90
88-89
87-88
86-87
85-86
84-85
83-84
82-83
81-82
80-81
79-80
78-79
77-78
76-77
75-76
74-75
73-74
72-73
71-72
70-71
69-70
53-54
52-53
Santboiana 54 8 4 2 9 5 7 6 4 4 2 8 2 3 7 6 5 8 3 1 1 4 5 4 8 3 2 2 1 1 5 7 5 2 5 5 1 2 1 2 7 1 3 x x x x 7 6 4 6 7 4 3 4 3
Complutense Cisneros 40 2 7 6 7 10 10 9 5 5 3 3 7 10 10 8 10 7 4 7 10 4 7 6 8 2 4 5 3 1 6 x x x x 5 3 1 2 5 7 5
El Salvador 38 8 1 3 2 2 2 1 2 5 2 4 7 3 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 7 2 5 1 9 6 3 7 6 1 2 5 3 8 3 2 2
Pozuelo 37 5 11 12 8 5 6 5 1 3 2 5 2 4 3 6 1 4 3 6 5 12 10 10 4 7 x x x x 8 7 5 4 3 1 1 1 3
Getxo RT 35 1 12 12 11 8 9 7 8 5 10 5 8 5 7 8 10 9 8 8 8 2 3 2 2 1 5 3 4 9 4 4 9 5 x x x
Valladolid 35 12 1 9 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 5 4 4 4 4 6 4 3 3 5 1 5 1 4 4 7 3 4 10 10 x x x
Ciencias 32 2 3 5 8 9 12 12 9 8 6 3 3 2 10 6 9 4 6 3 7 5 2 4 1 3 1 9 3 6 4 4 x x
Arquitectura 29 9 10 10 11 3 6 1 5 6 4 4 1 3 1 2 1 3 7 4 1 1 x x 2 1 2 1 1 2 4
FC Barcelona 26 2 6 7 5 6 6 7 10 7 11 10 6 7 4 5 3 x x x 10 9 6 8 3 2 1 1
Valencia 22 1 10 7 12 9 9 8 11 11 8 6 9 5 3 8 5 6 1 x 3 3 x 6


Alcobendas 19 1 3 1 3 3 3 3 6 10 8 9 9 8 7 2 1 5 12 x x
Ordizia RE 20 - 8 4 4 4 4 5 7 9 7 6 5 2 2 7 7 6 7 7 x x
At. San Sebastián 17 3 10 2 4 2 x x x 1 1 8 8 7 4 8 6 5 1
CAU Madrid 15 2 9 8 3 x x 1 1 3 2 3 3 6 7 8 4
RC Cornellà 15 1 10 12 8 9 8 7 x x x 1 4 5 6 10 9
Gernika RT 16 - 12 12 12 8 8 11 6 9 3 6 4 8 12 8 7 x
Hernani CRE 15 - 12 9 11 9 10 10 10 11 10 10 2 2 2 2 x
Liceo Francés 14 - 9 8 3 4 7 5 9 8 2 3 2 7 9 x
CDU Valladolid 14 - 12 10 7 5 6 x x x x 10 4 9 8 8
Bera Bera RT 12 - 9 9 6 7 5 4 3 5 10 11 9 8
CN Barcelona 11 - x x x x 9 10 5 2 5 7 3
Independiente 10 - 11 7 8 4 6 3 4 4 x x
BUC 10 - 3 10 8 6 9 11 10 6 x x
CDU Sevilla 9 - 9 6 6 6 2 10 6 8 12
La Vila 9 1 13 11 11 10 12 4 1 2 8
CAR / RACA 7 1 x x 4 1 9 7 9
CN Montjuïc 7 - 11 10 11 9 x x x
Les Abelles 7 - 10 10 10 10 9 8 x
Olímpico RC 6 - 11 9 7 x x 10
CDU Granada 5 - 9 6 x x x
Aparejadores 5 - 2 8 6 8 5


Vigo RC 4 - 12 11 10 9
Oviedo RC 4 - 10 7 9 12
Filosofía y Letras RC 4 - 11 8 6 6
Irún RT 4 - x x x x
Zaharrean RT 4 - x x x x
Sevilla FC 4 - x x x x
CR Divina Pastora 4 - x x x x
CEU Barcelona 4 - 10 5 6 6


CAU Valencia 3 - 10 9 7
CR At.Portuense 3 - x x x


CDU Bilbao 3 - x x x
GEiEG 3 - x x x
Juv. Karmen 3 - x x x
Bilbao RC 3 - x x x
L'Hospitalet 2 - 9 8
Tatami RC 2 - 10 x
CN Poble Nou 2 - x x
Hípica RC 2 - x x
Atlético Madrid 2 - 2 2
Bathco 1 - 11
CDU Córdoba 1 - x
Sporting Gijón 1 - x
CDC San José 1 - x
CM Isabel la Católica 1 - x
Arquitectos Granada 1 - x
Arquitectura Sevilla 1 - x
SEU Madrid 1 - 4
AD Plus Ultra 1 - 4
Belenos RC 1 - 9

Past winners

Year Champion Runner-up Third place
1953 Catalonia FC Barcelona Community of Madrid Atlético Madrid Catalonia Santboiana
1954 Catalonia FC Barcelona Community of Madrid Atlético Madrid Catalonia Natació Barcelona
1955-69 Not held
1970 Basque Country (autonomous community) Atlético San Sebastián Catalonia FC Barcelona Community of Madrid Canoe
1971 Community of Madrid Canoe Castile and León El Salvador Catalonia FC Barcelona
1972 Community of Madrid Canoe Castile and León El Salvador Catalonia Santboiana
1973 Community of Madrid Canoe Community of Madrid Arquitectura Castile and León El Salvador
1974 Community of Madrid Arquitectura Catalonia Natació Barcelona Community of Madrid Canoe
1975 Community of Madrid Arquitectura Community of Madrid Cisneros Community of Madrid CAU Madrid
1976 Community of Madrid Cisneros Community of Madrid Arquitectura Community of Madrid CAU Madrid
1977 Community of Madrid Arquitectura Community of Madrid CAU Madrid Community of Madrid Cisneros
1978 Basque Country (autonomous community) Atlético San Sebastián Community of Madrid Arquitectura Community of Madrid CAU Madrid
1979 Basque Country (autonomous community) Atlético San Sebastián Basque Country (autonomous community) Hernani Basque Country (autonomous community) Irún
Community of Madrid CAU Madrid Community of Madrid Cisneros Community of Madrid Arquitectura
Catalonia Cornellà Catalonia Santboiana Valencian Community Valencia
Andalusia Amigos del Rugby Andalusia Sevilla FC Andalusia Universidad de Granada
1980 Community of Madrid CAU Madrid Basque Country (autonomous community) Hernani Valencian Community Valencia
1981 Community of Madrid Arquitectura Basque Country (autonomous community) Hernani Valencian Community Valencia
1982 Community of Madrid Arquitectura Basque Country (autonomous community) Hernani Catalonia FC Barcelona
1983 Valencian Community Valencia Basque Country (autonomous community) Atlético San Sebastián Catalonia Santboiana
1984 Catalonia Santboiana Community of Madrid CAU Madrid Basque Country (autonomous community) Hernani
1985 Community of Madrid Cisneros Basque Country (autonomous community) Atlético San Sebastián Community of Madrid Arquitectura
1986 Community of Madrid Arquitectura Catalonia Santboiana Community of Madrid Cisneros
1987 Catalonia Santboiana Community of Madrid Arquitectura Valencian Community Valencia
1988 Community of Madrid Arquitectura Catalonia Santboiana Castile and León El Salvador
1989 Catalonia Santboiana Community of Madrid CR Complutense Cisneros Community of Madrid Arquitectura
1990 Community of Madrid Arquitectura Castile and León El Salvador Andalusia Ciencias Sevilla
1991 Castile and León El Salvador Community of Madrid Liceo Francés Basque Country (autonomous community) Getxo
1992 Andalusia Ciencias Sevilla Catalonia Santboiana Community of Madrid Liceo Francés
1993 Basque Country (autonomous community) Getxo Community of Madrid Liceo Francés Andalusia Ciencias Sevilla
1994 Andalusia Ciencias Sevilla Basque Country (autonomous community) Getxo Castile and León El Salvador
1995 Community of Madrid Arquitectura Basque Country (autonomous community) Getxo Castile and León Valladolid
1996 Catalonia Santboiana Andalusia Ciencias Sevilla Basque Country (autonomous community) Getxo
1997 Catalonia Santboiana Basque Country (autonomous community) Getxo Community of Madrid Arquitectura
1998 Castile and León El Salvador Catalonia Santboiana Community of Madrid Real Canoe
1999 Castile and León Valladolid Catalonia Santboiana Andalusia Ciencias Sevilla
2000 Community of Madrid Real Canoe Castile and León El Salvador Catalonia Santboiana
2001 Castile and León Valladolid Andalusia Universidad de Sevilla Community of Madrid Liceo Francés
2002 Community of Madrid Moraleja Alcobendas Castile and León El Salvador Community of Madrid Madrid 2012
2003 Castile and León El Salvador Community of Madrid Moraleja Alcobendas Castile and León Valladolid
2004 Castile and León El Salvador Community of Madrid UCM 2M12 Castile and León Valladolid RAC
2005 Catalonia Santboiana Castile and León El Salvador Basque Country (autonomous community) Bera Bera
2006 Catalonia Santboiana Castile and León El Salvador Catalonia USAP BCN
2007 Castile and León El Salvador Community of Madrid Madrid Noroeste Catalonia Santboiana
2008 Castile and León El Salvador Andalusia Ciencias Sevilla Community of Madrid Pozuelo Boadilla
2009 Community of Madrid CRC Madrid Castile and León El Salvador Andalusia Ciencias Sevilla
2010 Castile and León El Salvador Valencian Community La Vila Andalusia Ciencias Sevilla
2011 Valencian Community La Vila Basque Country (autonomous community) Ordizia Castile and León El Salvador
2012 Castile and León Valladolid Basque Country (autonomous community) Ordizia Catalonia Santboiana
2013 Castile and León Valladolid Catalonia Santboiana Basque Country (autonomous community) Gernika
2014 Castile and León Valladolid Castile and León El Salvador Community of Madrid CR Complutense Cisneros
2015 Castile and León Valladolid Catalonia Santboiana Community of Madrid Complutense Cisneros
2016 Castile and León El Salvador Castile and León Valladolid Cantabria Bathco Independiente
2017 Castile and León Valladolid Castile and León El Salvador Community of Madrid Alcobendas
2018 Castile and León Valladolid Castile and León El Salvador Community of Madrid Alcobendas
2019 Castile and León Valladolid Castile and León El Salvador Community of Madrid Alcobendas
2020 Castile and León Valladolid Castile and León El Salvador Community of Madrid Alcobendas
2021 Castile and León Valladolid Community of Madrid Alcobendas Castile and León El Salvador
2022 Catalonia Santboiana Basque Country (autonomous community) AMPO Ordizia Castile and León El Salvador
2023 Castile and León Valladolid Castile and León Recoletas Burgos–UBU Andalusia Real Ciencias Enerside

Titles by team

Team Titles Year Region
Valladolid 12 1999, 2001, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 Castile and León
Arquitectura 9 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995 Community of Madrid
Santboiana 8 1984, 1987, 1989, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2022 Catalonia
El Salvador 8 1991, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2016 Castile and León
Canoe/CRC Madrid 5 1971, 1972, 1973, 2000, 2009 Community of Madrid
Atlético San Sebastián 3 1970, 1978, 1979* Basque Country (autonomous community)
Ciencias Sevilla 2 1992, 1994 Andalusia
Cisneros 2 1976, 1985 Community of Madrid
CAU Madrid 2 1979*, 1980 Community of Madrid
FC Barcelona 2 1953, 1954 Catalonia
La Vila 1 2011 Valencian Community
Moraleja Alcobendas 1 2002 Community of Madrid
Getxo Artea 1 1993 Basque Country (autonomous community)
Valencia 1 1983 Valencian Community
Amigos del Rugby 1 1979* Andalusia
Cornellà 1 1979* Catalonia

*1978–79 season; 4 groups competition format, thus 4 champions.

See also

External links