London 2 North East

Counties 1 Eastern Counties
Current season or competition:
2025–26 Counties 1 Eastern Counties
SportRugby union
Instituted1987 (1987) 1987 (1987) (as London 3 North East)
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersNorwich (2024–25)
Most titlesRochford Hundred (4 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

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.

The current champions are Norwich.

Format

The champions are promoted to Regional 2 Anglia. The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above, but is usually to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.

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 as follows:

  • 4 points are awarded for a win
  • 2 points are awarded for a draw
  • 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
  • 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
  • 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.

2026-27

Departing were Bury St Edmunds II promoted to Regional 2 Anglia while Ely (10th), Ipswich (11th) and North Walsham II (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.

2025–26

Participating clubs and locations

Departing were Norwich promoted to Regional 2 Anglia while Cantabrigian (12th) and Diss (11th) were relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.

2024–25

Participating clubs and locations

Departing were the champons Wymondham, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia while Ipswich Y.M. (10th), West Norfolk (11th) and Wisbech (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties. Joining were Saffron Walden (11th) and Norwich (12th) both relegated from Regional 2 Anglia, while the champions Colchester II and the runner-up Newmarket were both promoted from Counties 2 Eastern Counties.

League table

Counties 1 Eastern Counties 2024–25
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
1Norwich (P) 2222001038351687210109
2Newmarket 22152566851515313279
3Southwold 22151674249125113277
4Ipswich 22130974851123715471
5Saffron Walden 2210012539608−6910757
6Shelford II 2210012530694−1649554
7Ely 229013535689−15411552
8North Walsham II 229112461632−17111251
9Bury St Edmunds II 228014604629−2512751
10Colchester II 227015644689−4516650
11Diss (R) 226016418617−1996737
12Cantabrigian (R) 226016404905−5018335
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places
Updated: 5 January 2026
Source:[3]

2023–24

Participating clubs and location

Departing were Saffron Walden and Holt, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia as champions and runner-up respectively, while Thurston (12th) was relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.

League table

Counties 1 Eastern Counties 2023–24
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Points deducted
1Wymondham (P) 22190379733845913291
2Ipswich 22160662539223315485+2
3Bury St Edmunds II 22160679945534415281
4Shelford II 22160663846817016081+1
5Southwold 22140858541017512473+1
6Ely 22140870536933612265+5
7Cantabrigian 2211011688724−3612056
8Diss 228014349683−3443340+2
9North Walsham II 225017387780−3936127
10Ipswich Y M (R) 224117382612−2305327+1
11West Norfolk (R) 226016285697−4124225−5
12Wisbech (R) 222119318630−312538−10
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places
Updated: 4 January 2026
Source:[4]

2022–23

Participating clubs and location

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 1 Eastern Counties.[5] Six teams returned and the league was supplemented with the top four teams from London 3 Eastern Counties and two reserve sides. Essex and London teams transferred to Counties 1 Essex or were promoted to Regional 2 Anglia.

League table

Counties 1 Eastern Counties 2022–23
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Points deducted
1Saffron Walden (P) 222200831239592170106+1
2Holt (P) 22180477150826317090+1
3Wymondham 22131855441314111570
4Shelford II 2212196575817610161
5Ely 2212010574504709259
6Southwold 2210111487505−187454+1
7Cantabrigian 229112493719−22611049
8Bury St Edmunds II 229112545485609345−5
9Ipswich Y M 226214400597−1977742
10West Norfold 227015448730−28210241−1
11Diss 225017505755−25010434
12Thurston (R) 225116370599−2293429
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places
Updated: 3 January 2026
Source:[6]

Teams for 2021–22

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

On 30 October the RFU announced [8] 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

Teams for 2018–19

Teams for 2017–18

Teams for 2016–17

Teams for 2015–16

Teams for 2014–15

Teams for 2013–14

Teams for 2012–13

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

Teams for 2009–10

Original teams

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

London 2 North East honours

London 3 North East (1987–1993)

Originally known as London 3 North East, this division was a tier 7 league with promotion to London 2 North and relegation to Eastern Counties 1.[10]

London 3 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams
1987–8811BarkingEton ManorBury St Edmunds
1988–8911Eton ManorChingfordIpswich YMCA
1989–9011ChingfordHarlowMetropolitan Police (Chigwell)
1990–9111HarlowRomford & Gidea ParkWest Norfolk
1991–9211CambridgeOld EdwardiansNo relegation
1992–9313BrentwoodRochford HundredOld Cantabrigian, Canvey Island
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 North East (1993–1996)

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
1993–9413Romford & Gidea ParkIpswichSaffron Walden, Westcliff
1994–9513ColchesterRochford HundredWoodbridge, Basildon
1995–9613IpswichLowestoft & YarmouthShelford, Campion
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 North East (1996–2000)

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 Ref
1996–9713DissChingford [c]No relegation [d]
1997–9817Lowestoft & YarmouthBury St EdmundsUpminster
1998–9917ChelmsfordShelfordBancroft, Old Edwardians and Woodbridge[11]
1999–0017Rochford HundredBasildonMultiple teams [e][12]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 North East (2000–2009)

London 3 North East continued to be a tier 7 league with promotion 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 Ref
2000–0110SouthendRochford HundredLowestoft & Yarmouth, Braintree and Campion[13]
2001–0210ShelfordBasildonChelmsford[14]
2002–0310Romford & Gidea ParkSaffron WaldenBasildon, Wymondham, West Norfolk and Rochford Hundred[15]
2003–0410ShelfordHadleighNo relegation [f][16]
2004–0512ChingfordRomford & Gidea ParkBraintree, Chelmsford[17]
2005–0612Eton ManorDissSudbury, Saffron Walden[18]
2006–0712Bury St EdmundsHarlowCampion[19]
2007–0812WestcliffDissColchester, Ipswich[20]
2008–0912Rochford HundredBrentwoodNo relegation [g][21]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 2 North East (2009–2017)

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 Ref
2009–1012ThurrockColchesterMersea Island and Norwich[22]
2010–1112Rochford HundredBraintreeHarlow and Sudbury[23]
2011–1212Romford & Gidea ParkBasildonCanvey Island and Beccles[24]
2012–1312North WalshamWoodfordStevenage Town and Old Streetonians[25]
2013–1412IpswichSaffron WaldenLowestoft & Yarmouth and Stowmarket[26]
2014–1511ChelmsfordDissOld Cooperians [h][27]
2015–1612Saffron WaldenSudburyBasildon [i][29]
2016–1712DissSouth Woodham FerrersCampion and Holt[30]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 2 North East (2017–present)

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. Following league restructuring in 2022, four teams were promoted to Regional 2 Anglia.

London 2 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Ref
2017–1812Rochford HundredSudburyOld Cooperians, Epping Upper Clapton, Chelmsford[31]
2018–1912WoodfordRomford & Gidea ParkBasildon, Harlow, Cantabrigian[32]
2019–2012NorwichSouthwoldEpping, Holt, Romford & Gidea Park[33]
2020–2112Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–2212WoodfordIpswichStowmarket (3rd) and Chelmsford (4th), (also promoted). South Woodham (12th) relegated to Counties 1 Essex.
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Counties 1 Eastern Counties (2022– )

Following league reorganisation, London 2 North East is renamed Counties 1 Eastern Counties and continues to be a tier 7 league. Promotion is to Regional 2 Anglia and relegation to Counties 2 Eastern Counties

Counties 1 Eastern Counties
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners-up Relegated team(s) Ref
2022–231222Saffron WaldenHoltThurston (12th)[6]
2023–241222WymondhamIpswichIpswich Y M (10th), West Norfolk (11th) and Wisbech (12th)[4]
2024–251222NorwichNewmarketDiss (11th) and Cantabrigian (12th)[3]
Green background is the promotion place.

Promotion play-offs

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 2018–19 season, the London 2 North East teams had ten wins to London 2 North West nine, and the home team won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.

London 2 (north-east v north-west) promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Att/Ref
2000–01Twickenham (NW)44–8Rochford Hundred (NE)Parkfields, Hampton, Greater London[34]
2001–02Letchworth Garden City (NW)31–22Basildon (NE)Baldock Road, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire[35]
2002–03Ealing Trailfinders (NW)36–12Saffron Walden (NE)Trailfinders Sports Ground, Ealing, London[36]
2003–04St Albans (2nd XV) (NW)5–22Hadleigh (NE)Oaklands Land, St Albans, Hertfordshire[37]
2004–05Bank of England (NW)39–0Romford and Gidea Park (NE)Bank Lane, Roehampton, Greater London

[38]

2005–06Tring (NW)19–5Diss (NE)Cow Lane, Tring, Hertfordshire[39]
2006–07Welwyn (NW)19–6Harlow (NE)Hobbs Way, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire[40]
2007–08Diss (NE)50–15Imperial Medicals (NW)Mackenders, Roydon, Norfolk[41]
2008–09Brentwood (NE)23–15Hampstead (NW)King George's Playing Fields, Brentwood, Essex[42]
2009–10Hammersmith & Fulham (NW)22–29Colchester (NE)Hurlingham Park, Fulham, London[43]
2010–11Braintree (NE)24–14Harpenden (NW)Robbs Wood, Braintree, Essex300 [44]
2011–12Basildon (NE)38–13Stevenage (NW)Gardiners Close, Basildon, Essex[45]
2012–13Hemel Hempstead (NW)13–16 (aet)Woodford (NE)Chaulden Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire500 [46]
2013–14Twickenham (NW)44–43Saffron Walden (NE)Parkfields, Hampton, Greater London[47]
2014–15Diss (NE)13–16Chiswick (NW)Mackenders, Roydon, Norfolk[48]
2015–16Sudbury (NE)22–18Hammersmith & Fulham (NW)Whittham Field, Sudbury, Suffolk[49]
2016–17H.A.C. (NW)48–7 [j]South Woodham Ferrers (NE)Artillery Ground, Finsbury, London[51]
2017–18Hampstead (NW)7–37Sudbury (NE)Parliament Hill Fields, Highgate, Camden, London[52]
2018–19 Harpenden (NW)60–6Romford and Gidea Park (NE)Redbourn Lane, Harpenden, Hertfordshire[53]
2019–20Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner-up – Hammersmith & Fulham (NW) – promoted.
2020–21No play-off due to league reorganisation
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

  • (Updated to 2025)

Notes

  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 was no relegation.
  7. ↑ There was no relegation this year as the division was 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 returning 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.[28]
  10. ↑ The initial result of the 2016–17 play-off was overturned by the RFU after HAC were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player. South Woodham Ferrers were promoted instead.[50]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "League Make up". Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  2. ↑ "Regional 2 Anglia 2024/25". Stowmarket RFC. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Counties 1 Eastern Counties". England Rugby.
  4. 1 2 "Counties 1 Eastern Counties". England Rugby.
  5. ↑ "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 13 June 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Counties 1 Eastern Counties". England Rugby.
  7. ↑ "Wanstead Rugby Club - Contacts".
  8. ↑ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  9. ↑ "Wanstead Rugby Club - Contacts".
  10. ↑ "EASTERN COUNTIES RUGBY UNION HANDBOOK 2015/16" (PDF). Eastern Counties RU. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  11. ↑ "1998–1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "1999–2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "2000–2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "2001–2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  15. ↑ "2002–2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  16. ↑ "2003-2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  17. ↑ "2004–2005 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  18. ↑ "2005–2006 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "2006–2007 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  20. ↑ "2007–2008 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  21. ↑ "2008-2009 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  22. ↑ "2009–2010 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  23. ↑ "2010–2011 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  24. ↑ "2011–2012 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  25. ↑ "2012–2013 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  26. ↑ "2013–2014 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  27. ↑ "2014–2015 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  28. ↑ "Tumbling East Grinstead plot a way back". East Grinstead Courier. 25 May 2016.
  29. ↑ "2015–2016 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  30. ↑ "2016–2017 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  31. ↑ "2017–2018 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  32. ↑ "2018–2019 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  33. ↑ "Men's level 5 – 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  34. ↑ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2000–1". England Rugby. 19 May 2001.
  35. ↑ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2001–02". England Rugby. 27 April 2002.
  36. ↑ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2002–03". England Rugby. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  37. ↑ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2003–04". England Rugby. 6 June 2004.
  38. ↑ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2004–05". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  39. ↑ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2005–06". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  40. ↑ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2006–07". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  41. ↑ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2007–08". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  42. ↑ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2008–09". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  43. ↑ "Hammers 22 Colchester 29". Fulham Rugby. 17 April 2010.
  44. ↑ "RUGBY: Braintree promoted with pulsating win against Harpenden". This is Essex. 28 April 2011.
  45. ↑ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2011-12". England Rugby. 21 April 2009.
  46. ↑ "Woodford seal Promotion with Extra Time Victory". Hemel Hempstead RFC (Pitchero). 27 April 2013.
  47. ↑ "Fantastic, brilliant, stunning and oh so near to pulling off a great win". Saffron Walden RFC (Pitchero). 3 May 2014.
  48. ↑ "Champagne for Chiswick as they go the Diss-tance to secure promotion". Get West London. 27 April 2015.
  49. ↑ "MATCH REPORT: Sudbury secure back-to-back promotions". Suffolk Free Press. 30 April 2016.
  50. ↑ "Woodham win shock promotion, three weeks after losing play-off final". Echo. 17 May 2017.
  51. ↑ sport/15247351.Woodham_beaten_by_HAC_in_play_off_final/ "Woodham beaten by HAC in play-off final". Echo. 30 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  52. ↑ "Sudbury Rugby Club cruise to promotion play-off victory". Suffolk Free Press. 21 April 2018.
  53. ↑ "Harpenden secure promotion to London One". Herts Advertiser. 16 April 2019.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.