2016–17 National League 2 South
| 2016–17 National League 2 South | |
|---|---|
| Countries |
 England
|
| Date | September 2016 – May 2017 |
| Champions | Bishop's Stortford (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Old Elthamians (also promoted) |
| Relegated | Exmouth, Barnes |
| Matches played | 240 |
| Attendance | 91,074 (average 379 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 1,664 Bishop's Stortford v Barnes (29 April 2017) |
| Lowest attendance | 45 Barnes v Worthing Raiders (17 December 2016) |
| Top point scorer |
Tom Banks (Bishop's Stortford) 323 |
| Top try scorer |
 Dominic Lespierre(Old Elthamians) 36 |
|
← 2015–16
2017–18 →
|
|
The 2016–17 National League 2 South is the eight season (30th overall) of the fourth tier (south) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. New teams to the division include Henley Hawks and Cinderford (both relegated from National League 1 while Exmouth (champions) and Barnstaple were promoted from National League 3 South West along with London Irish Wild Geese who won National League 3 London & SE. The league system is 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and additional bonus points being awarded for scoring 4 or more tries and/or losing within 7 points of the victorious team. In terms of promotion the league champions are promoted to National League 1 while the second-placed team play-off against the second-placed team from National League 2 North (at the home ground of the club with the superior league record) for the final promotion place.
At the end of the season Bishop's Stortford were crowned champions on 22 April 2017 after beating Exmouth 60-7 away - reaching the highest level in the clubs' history. It was a worthy reward for Bishop's Stortford who finished 3rd the previous season and lost the playoff the season before that. A further highlight for Bishop's Stortford was the club record attendance of 1,664 that attending Silver Leys for the final league match of the season - a figure that was also the highest in National League 2 South that year. Although Bishop's Stortford's won the league with a game to spare it had been a very close battle for promotion as they faced strong competition from Chinnor and Old Elthamians up until the penultimate game. Chinnor had looked likely champions during the first half of the season but in the end missed out on promotion altogether, as despite finishing dead level on points with Old Elthamians they had one less win than the Kent side.
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