Wikipedia

London 2 North East

Counties 1 Eastern Counties (formerly London 2 North East) is an English level 7 Rugby Union League.[1] When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 3 North East, changing to its current name ahead of the 2009–10 season. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 1 Eastern Counties.

Counties 1 Eastern Counties
Current season or competition:
2024-25 Counties 1 Eastern Counties
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987) 1987; 37 years ago (1987) (as London 3 North East)
Number of teams12
Country England
Most titlesRochford Hundred (4 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

Promoted teams move up to Regional 2 Anglia whilst relegated teams go to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.

Participating Clubs 2024-25

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Participating Clubs 2023-24

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Participating Clubs 2022-23

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This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review[2] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 1 Eastern Counties.

Six teams returned and the league was supplemented with four teams from the upper end of London 3 Eastern Counties and two reserve sides.

The London and Essex teams moved to Counties 1 Essex or were promoted to Regional 2 Anglia.

Teams for 2021–22

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The teams competing in 2021-22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019–20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020–21.

Season 2020–21

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On 30 October the RFU announced [4] that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning London 2 North East was not contested.

Teams for 2019–20

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Teams for 2018–19

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Teams for 2017–18

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Teams for 2016-17

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Teams for 2015-16

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Teams for 2014-15

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Teams for 2013-14

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Teams for 2012-13

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  • Braintree
  • Chelmsford
  • Enfield Ignatians
  • Holt
  • Ipswich
  • Lowestoft & Yarmouth
  • North Walsham
  • Old Streetonians
  • Saffron Walden
  • Stevenage Town
  • Stowmarket
  • Woodford

Teams for 2009-2010

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Original teams

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When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as London 3 North East) contained the following teams:

London 2 North East Honours

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London 3 North East (1987–1993)

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Originally known as London 3 North East, this division was a tier 7 league with promotion up to London 2 North and relegation down to Eastern Counties 1.[6]

London 3 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1987–88 11 Barking Eton Manor Bury St Edmunds
1988–89 11 Eton Manor Chingford Ipswich YMCA
1989–90 11 Chingford Harlow Metropolitan Police (Chigwell)
1990–91 11 Harlow Romford & Gidea Park West Norfolk
1991–92 11 Cambridge Old Edwardians No relegation
1992–93 13 Brentwood Rochford Hundred Old Cantabrigian, Canvey Island
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 North East (1993–1996)

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At the end of the 1992–93 season, the top six teams from London 1 and the top six from South West 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that London 3 North East dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to London 2 North and Eastern Counties 1 respectively.

London 3 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1993–94 13 Romford & Gidea Park Ipswich Saffron Walden, Westcliff
1994–95 13 Colchester Rochford Hundred Woodbridge, Basildon
1995–96 13 Ipswich Lowestoft & Yarmouth Shelford, Campion
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 North East (1996–2000)

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The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that London 3 North East reverted to being a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to London 2 North and Eastern Counties 1 respectively.

London 3 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1996–97 13 Diss Chingford[c] No relegation[d]
1997–98 17 Lowestoft & Yarmouth Bury St Edmunds Upminster
1998–99[7] 17 Chelmsford Shelford Bancroft, Old Edwardians, Woodbridge
1999–00[8] 17 Rochford Hundred Basildon Multiple teams[e]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 North East (2000–2009)

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London 3 North East continued to be a tier 7 league with promotion up to London 2 North. However, the introduction of London 4 North East ahead of the 2000–01 season meant that clubs were now relegated into this new division instead of into Eastern Counties 1.

London 3 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–01[9] 10 Southend Rochford Hundred Lowestoft & Yarmouth, Braintree, Campion
2001–02[10] 10 Shelford Basildon Chelmsford
2002–03[11] 10 Romford & Gidea Park Saffron Walden Basildon, Wymondham, West Norfolk, Rochford Hundred
2003–04[12] 10 Shelford Hadleigh No relegation[f]
2004–05[13] 12 Chingford Romford & Gidea Park Braintree, Chelmsford
2005–06[14] 12 Eton Manor Diss Sudbury, Saffron Walden
2006–07[15] 12 Bury St Edmunds Harlow Campion
2007–08[16] 12 Westcliff Diss Colchester, Ipswich
2008–09[17] 12 Rochford Hundred Brentwood No relegation[g]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 2 North East (2009–2017)

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Nationwide league restructuring by the RFU ahead of the 2009–10 season saw London 3 North East renamed as London 2 North East. It remained at level 7 with promotion to London 1 North (formerly London 2 North) and relegation to London 3 North East (formerly London 4 North East).

London 2 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2009–10[18] 12 Thurrock Colchester Mersea Island, Norwich
2010–11[19] 12 Rochford Hundred Braintree Harlow, Sudbury
2011–12[20] 12 Romford & Gidea Park Basildon Canvey Island, Beccles
2012–13[21] 12 North Walsham Woodford Stevenage Town, Old Streetonians
2013–14[22] 12 Ipswich Saffron Walden Lowestoft & Yarmouth, Stowmarket
2014–15[23] 11 Chelmsford Diss Old Cooperians[h]
2015–16[24] 12 Saffron Walden Sudbury Basildon[i]
2016–17[26] 12 Diss South Woodham Ferrers Campion, Holt
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 2 North East (2017–present)

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Further restructuring ahead of the 2017–18 season, which included the cancellation of London 3 North East and introduction of London 3 Eastern Counties or London 3 Essex, meant that relegation was now to either of these new leagues. Overwise, London 2 North East was unchanged, remaining as a tier 7 division with promotion continuing to London 1 North.

London 2 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2017–18[27] 12 Rochford Hundred Sudbury Old Cooperians, Epping Upper Clapton, Chelmsford
2018–19[28] 12 Woodford Romford & Gidea Park Basildon, Harlow, Cantabrigian
2019–20[29] 12 Norwich Southwold Epping, Holt, Romford & Gidea Park
2020–21 12
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

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Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of London 2 North East and London 2 North West for the third and final promotion place to London 1 North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2018–10 season the London 2 North East and London 2 North West teams are tied on nine wins apiece, and the home team has won promotion on fourteen occasions compared to the away teams five.

London 2 (north-east v north-west) promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[30] Twickenham (NW) 44-8 Rochford Hundred (NE) Parkfields, Hampton, Greater London
2001–02[31] Letchworth Garden City (NW) 31-22 Basildon (NE) Baldock Road, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire
2002–03[32] Ealing Trailfinders (NW) 36-12 Saffron Walden (NE) Trailfinders Sports Ground, Ealing, London
2003–04[33] St Albans (2nd XV) (NW) 5-22 Hadleigh (NE) Oaklands Land, St Albans, Hertfordshire
2004–05[34] Bank of England (NW) 39-0 Romford and Gidea Park (NE) Bank Lane, Roehampton, Greater London
2005–06[35] Tring (NW) 19-5 Diss (NE) Cow Lane, Tring, Hertfordshire
2006–07[36] Welwyn (NW) 19-6 Harlow (NE) Hobbs Way, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
2007–08[37] Diss (NE) 50-15 Imperial Medicals (NW) Mackenders, Roydon, Norfolk
2008–09[38] Brentwood (NE) 23-15 Hampstead (NW) King George's Playing Fields, Brentwood, Essex
2009–10[39] Hammersmith & Fulham (NW) 22-29 Colchester (NE) Hurlingham Park, Fulham, London
2010–11[40] Braintree (NE) 24-14 Harpenden (NW) Robbs Wood, Braintree, Essex 300
2011–12[41] Basildon (NE) 38-13 Stevenage (NW) Gardiners Close, Basildon, Essex
2012–13[42] Hemel Hempstead (NW) 13-16 (aet) Woodford (NE) Chaulden Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire 500
2013–14[43] Twickenham (NW) 44-43 Saffron Walden (NE) Parkfields, Hampton, Greater London
2014–15[44] Diss (NE) 13-16 Chiswick (NW) Mackenders, Roydon, Norfolk
2015–16[45] Sudbury (NE) 22-18 Hammersmith & Fulham (NW) Whittham Field, Sudbury, Suffolk
2016–17[46] H.A.C. (NW) 48-7[j] South Woodham Ferrers (NE) Artillery Ground, Finsbury, London
2017–18[48] Hampstead (NW) 7-37 Sudbury (NE) Parliament Hill Fields, Highgate, Camden, London
2018–19[49] Harpenden (NW) 60-6 Romford and Gidea Park (NE) Redbourn Lane, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
2019–20 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Hammersmith & Fulham (NW) - promoted instead.
2020–21
Green background is the promoted team. NE = London 2 North East (formerly London 3 North East) and NW = London 2 North West (formerly London 3 North West)

Number of league titles

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Notes

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  1. ^ Currently known as Cantabrigian RUFC.
  2. ^ Currently known as Westcliff RFC.
  3. ^ 3rd place Braintree also promoted.
  4. ^ No relegation as league was set to expand from 13 to 17 teams for the following season.
  5. ^ The creation of London 4 North East for the following season meant that eleven teams were relegated. Maldon, Colchester and Eton Manor dropped two divisions to Eastern Counties 1, while Newmarket, Holt, Ely, West Norfolk, Hadleigh, Canvey Island, Bury St Edmunds and Thetford went into the new London 4 North East division.
  6. ^ Due to league restructure from 10 to 12 teams for the 2004-05 season there would be no relegation.
  7. ^ There was no relegation this year as the division would be renamed London Division 2 North East for the 2009-10 season and along with the whole national restructure of the league system by the RFU lead to mass changes at all levels.
  8. ^ Only one team went down this season due to league going back to 12 teams for the following season.
  9. ^ Only one team went down this season as 11th placed Campion were given a reprieve due to East Grinstead dropping out of National League 3 London & SE due to financial difficulties.[25]
  10. ^ The initial result of the 2016-17 playoff was overturned by the RFU after HAC were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player. This meant that South Woodham Ferrers were promoted instead.[47]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "League Make up". Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  2. ^ "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 13 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Wanstead Rugby Club - Contacts".
  4. ^ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Wanstead Rugby Club - Contacts".
  6. ^ "EASTERN COUNTIES RUGBY UNION HANDBOOK 2015/16" (PDF). Eastern Counties RU. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  7. ^ "1998-1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  8. ^ "1999-2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  9. ^ "2000-2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  10. ^ "2001-2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  11. ^ "2002-2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  12. ^ "2003-2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  13. ^ "2004-2005 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  14. ^ "2005-2006 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  15. ^ "2006-2007 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  16. ^ "2007-2008 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  17. ^ "2008-2009 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  18. ^ "2009-2010 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  19. ^ "2010-2011 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  20. ^ "2011-2012 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  21. ^ "2012-2013 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  22. ^ "2013-2014 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  23. ^ "2014-2015 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  24. ^ "2015-2016 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  25. ^ "Tumbling East Grinstead plot a way back". East Grinstead Courier. 25 May 2016.
  26. ^ "2016-2017 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  27. ^ "2017-2018 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  28. ^ "2018-2019 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  30. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2000-01". England Rugby. 19 May 2001.
  31. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2001-02". England Rugby. 27 April 2002.
  32. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2002-03". England Rugby. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  33. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2003-04". England Rugby. 6 June 2004.
  34. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2004-05". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  35. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2005-06". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  36. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2006-07". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  37. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2007-08". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  38. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2008-09". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  39. ^ "Hammers 22 Colchester 29". Fulham Rugby. 17 April 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  40. ^ "RUGBY: Braintree promoted with pulsating win against Harpenden". This is Essex. 28 April 2011.
  41. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2011-12". England Rugby. 21 April 2009.
  42. ^ "Woodford seal Promotion with Extra Time Victory". Hemel Hempstead RFC (Pitchero). 27 April 2013.
  43. ^ "Fantastic, brilliant, stunning and oh so near to pulling off a great win". Saffron Walden RFC (Pitchero). 3 May 2014.
  44. ^ "Champagne for Chiswick as they go the Diss-tance to secure promotion". Get West London. 27 April 2015.
  45. ^ "MATCH REPORT: Sudbury secure back-to-back promotions". Suffolk Free Press. 30 April 2016.
  46. ^ "Woodham beaten by HAC in play-off final". Echo. 30 April 2017.
  47. ^ "Woodham win shock promotion, three weeks after losing play-off final". Echo. 17 May 2017.
  48. ^ "Sudbury Rugby Club cruise to promotion play-off victory". Suffolk Free Press. 21 April 2018.
  49. ^ "Harpenden secure promotion to London One". Herts Advertiser. 16 April 2019.
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