Regional 1 North East is a level five league in the English rugby union system, with the twelve teams drawn from across North East England and the East Midlands. The other level five leagues are Regional 1 Midlands, Regional 1 North West, Regional 1 South Central, Regional 1 South East and Regional 1 South West.
Scunthorpe are the current champions and are promoted to National League 2 North.
The twelve teams in this league are drawn from across North East England and the East Midlands, with the league champions promoted to National 2 North. The league's bottom two teams are relegated to either Regional 2 North, Regional 2 North East or Regional 2 North Midlands, depending on their geographic location.
The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league table as follows:
Departing were Scunthorpe , promoted to National 2 North while Percy Park (11th) and Selby (12th) were relegated to Regional 2 North and Regional 2 NE respectively. Also leaving were Huddersfield (runners-up) on a level transfer to Regional 1 North West.
Departing were Harrogate, promoted to National 2 North while Doncaster Phoenix (11th) and Pontefract (12th) were relegated to Regional 2 NE.
Nine of last seasons teams compete in this season's competition. Last season's champions, Billingham, are promoted to National League 2 North, while two teams were relegated to Regional 2 North Midlands; Paviors (11th) and West Bridgford (12th). New teams in the league are Blaydon and Harrogate, relegated from National League 2 North, and one team was promoted from Regional 2 North East, Pontefract.
Billingham are the first team to win this league and are promoted to National League 2 North.