1987–88 National Division 1
| 1987–88 National Division 1 | |
|---|---|
| Countries | England |
| Date | 5 September 1987 – 30 April 1988 |
| Champions | Leicester (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Wasps |
| Relegated | Coventry Sale |
| Matches played | 64 |
| Top point scorer | 126 – Dusty Hare (Leicester) |
| Top try scorer | 11 – Andrew Harriman (Harlequins) |
The 1987–88 National Division 1 was the first season of the top tier of the English rugby union league system, the Courage Clubs Championship, and the first to be sponsored by Courage Brewery. It was the first season of a truly national rugby union league, with the top flight currently known as Premiership Rugby.
At the end of the season Leicester finished top of the league table and were crowned as the first ever champions, while Coventry and Sale were relegated to the 1988–89 National Division 2, the latter side having lost all of its eleven matches.