Courage Division 5 was a short lived Englishrugby union competition created as a tier 5 regional competition divided into Courage Division 5 North and Courage Division 5 South. In 1993 the RFU decided to change the whole league structure, with a new national league (Courage Division League 4) replacing the old North / South regional system which would become the aforementioned Courage Division 5. This led to twelve out of thirteen teams in both Courage Division 4 regions dropping into Courage Division 5 while the league winners joined Courage Division 4 along with eight teams from Courage Division 3. This system continued to the end of the 1995–96 season when the league was restructured once again – with Courage Division 4 being abolished as a national competition reverting to the old system only being renamed as National League 4 North and National League 4 South.
^By the end of this season there was another league restructure with Courage Division 4 being abolished and Courage Division 5 North reverting to a tier 4 regional competition named National League 4 North. 12 teams from Courage 5 North would join 2 teams from lower leagues (Hereford & Manchester) to form the new 14 team north division while the champions Wharfedale went into Division 3.[5]
^By the end of this season there was another league restructure with Courage Division 4 being abolished and Courage Division 5 South reverting to a tier 4 regional competition named National League 4 South. 12 teams from Courage 5 North South would join 2 teams from lower leagues (Charlton Park & Newbury) to form the new 14 team south division while the champions Lydney went into Division 3.[5]