[1] The competition featured all eleven teams from the 1995–96 Rugby Football League season.

The league was won by Salford Reds for a second successive season, winning promotion to the Super League.

The club also won the Divisional Premiership final against Keighley Cougars, with Cliff Eccles winning the Tom Bergin Trophy.

Rochdale Hornets and Batley Bulldogs were both relegated to Division Two.

The following are the top points scorers in Division One during the 1996 season.