Counties 1 Essex

Counties 1 Essex

Current season or competition: 2024–25 Counties 1 Essex
Sport	Rugby union
Number of teams	12
Country	England
Website

Counties 1 Essex is an English level 7 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Essex and Greater London. Administration of the leagues is divided between Essex Rugby and the London & SE RFU. ^[1]

Structure and format

The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to April, making a total of twenty-two matches each. 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.

In addition:

• 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

There is one automatic promotion place and two relegation places. The first-placed team at the end of season wins promotion to Regional 2 Anglia. The last two placed clubs are typically relegated to Counties 2 Essex.

Teams for 2025–26

Departing were Braintree, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia while Burnham-on-Crouch (11th) and Basildon (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Essex.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Billericay Willowbrook 1,000 Billericay, Essex Promoted from Counties 2 Essex Campion Cottons Park Romford, London 4th Chingford Lea Valley Playing Fields Chingford, London 9th East London [2] Memorial Park West Ham, London 6th Epping Upper Clapton Upland Road Thornwood, Epping, Essex 7th Maldon Drapers Farm Playing Fields Heybridge, Essex 4th Mavericks Warley Playing Field Warley, Brentwood, Essex 10th Old Cooperians Coopers' Company & Corborn School Upminster, London 8th Romford & Gidea Park Crowlands Romford, London 3rd Stanford-le-Hope Stanford Recreation Ground Stanford-le-Hope, Essex Promoted from Counties 2 Essex Thurrock Oakfield Grays, Essex Relegated from Regional 2SE Upminster Hall Lane Upminster, London 5th

Billericay Epping Maldon Mavericks Stanford -le-Hope Thurrock class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 1 Essex teams in Essex Campion Chingford East London R&GP Cooperians Upminster class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 1 Essex teams in Greater London

Teams for 2024–25

Departing were Wanstead, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia, ^[3] and Stanford-le-Hope relegated to Counties 2 Essex. ^[4] In their place came Burnham-on-Crouch (promoted from Counties 2 Essex (North) and Basildon (promoted from Counties 2 Essex (South). ^[5]

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Basildon Gardiners Close Basildon, Essex Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (South) (champions) Braintree Robbswood Braintree, Essex 2nd Burnham-on-Crouch Dengie Hundred Sports Centre Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (North) (champions) Campion Cottons Park Romford, London 9th Chingford Lea Valley Playing Fields Chingford, London 11th East London [6] Memorial Park West Ham, London 4th Epping Upper Clapton Upland Road Thornwood, Epping, Essex 3rd Maldon Drapers Farm Playing Fields Heybridge, Essex 7th [7] Mavericks Warley Playing Field Warley, Brentwood, Essex 5th Old Cooperians Coopers' Company & Corborn School Upminster, London 10th Romford & Gidea Park Crowlands Romford, London 6th Upminster Hall Lane Upminster, London 8th

Basildon Braintree Burnham Epping Maldon Mavericks class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 1 Essex teams in Essex Campion Chingford East London R&GP Cooperians Upminster class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 1 Essex teams in Greater London

Teams for 2023–24

Departing were Dagenham ^[8] and Harlow, ^[9] promoted to Regional 2 Anglia, and South Woodham Ferrers relegated to Counties 2 Essex (North). In their place came Chingford (relegated from Regional 2 Anglia, Stanford-le-Hope and Maldon promoted from Counties 2 Essex.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Braintree Robbswood Braintree, Essex 4th Campion Cottons Park Romford, London 6th Chingford Lea Valley Playing Fields Chingford, London relegated from Regional 2 Anglia (12th) East London Memorial Park West Ham, London 5th Epping Upper Clapton Upland Road Thornwood, Epping, Essex 7th Maldon Drapers Farm Playing Fields Heybridge, Essex Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (champions) Mavericks Warley Playing Field Warley, Brentwood, Essex 9th Old Cooperians Coopers' Company & Corborn School Upminster, London 10th Romford & Gidea Park Crowlands Romford, London 8th Stanford-le-Hope Stanford Recreation Ground Stanford-le-Hope, Essex Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (runners-up) Upminster Hall Lane Upminster, London 11th Wanstead Centenary Fields Wanstead, London 3rd

Braintree Epping Maldon Mavericks Stanford-le-Hope class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 1 Essex teams in Essex Campion Chingford East London Cooperians R&GP Upminster Wanstead class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 1 Essex teams in Greater London

Teams for 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 3 Essex with the teams finishing 1st-10th returning. Kings Cross Steelers and Canvey Island, who finished 11th and 12th respectively, were placed in Counties 2 Essex. The line-up was supplemented by the addition of Wanstead and South Woodham Ferrers ^[10] (who finished 12th in London 2 North East).

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Braintree Robbswood Braintree, Essex 8th London 3 Essex Campion Cottons Park Romford, London 5th London 3 Essex Dagenham Central Park Dagenham, London 1st London 3 Essex East London Memorial Park West Ham, London 7th London 3 Essex Epping Upper Clapton Upland Road Thornwood, Epping, Essex 9th London 3 Essex Harlow Latton Park Harlow, Essex 2nd London 3 Essex Mavericks Warley Playing Field Warley, Brentwood, Essex 8th London 3 Essex Old Cooperians Coopers' Company & Corborn School Upminster, London 4th London 3 Essex Romford & Gidea Park Crowlands Romford, London 3rd London 3 Essex South Woodham Ferrers Saltcoats Playing Field South Woodham Ferrers, Essex 12th London 2 North East Upminster Hall Lane Upminster, London 10th London 3 Essex Wanstead Centenary Fields [11] Wanstead, London 10th London 2 North East

Braintree Epping Harlow Mavericks SW Ferrers class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 1 Essex teams in Essex Campion Dagenham East London Cooperians R&GP Upminster Wanstead class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 1 Essex teams in Greater London

See also

• Essex RFU
• London & SE Division RFU
• Hampshire RFU
• Kent RFU
• Surrey RFU
• Sussex RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

References

1. "RFU League Statistics". L&SE RFU. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
2. "SEASON 24/25 FIXTURES FOR ALL TEAMS". East London RFC. 11 June 2024.
3. "Regional 2 Anglia 2024/25". Stowmarket RFC. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
4. "2024/25 Counties 2 Essex fixtures confirmed". South Woodham Ferrers RFC. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
5. "First and Second teams both with their leagues!". Basildon RFC. 24 February 2024.
6. "SEASON 24/25 FIXTURES FOR ALL TEAMS". East London RFC. 11 June 2024.
7. "Malldon RFC Info". Maldon RFC. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
8. "Dagenham Rugby Club celebrate historic weekend". Barking & Dagenham Post. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
9. "Harlow Rugby Club seal glorious promotion with emphatic win". Your Harlow. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
10. "Dagenham RFC deliver big win at South Woodham Ferrers". Barking & Dagenham Post. 24 October 2022.
11. "Wanstead Rugby Club - Contacts".