It was the first season of a truly national rugby union league, which is currently known as the Gallagher Premiership.

Leicester Tigers finished first in the league table and were crowned champions.

Coventry and Sale were relegated to the 1988–89 Courage League National Division Two for next season, the latter side having lost all of its eleven matches.

Rosslyn Park and Liverpool St Helens were promoted from the 1987–88 Courage League National Division Two for the following season.

Clubs had to organise their own fixtures so there was no organised round by round fixture lists and also no equal allocation of home and away matches.