Current season or competition: 2024–25 Counties 1 Hampshire | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Country |  England |
| Website | England Rugby |
Counties 1 Hampshire is an English level 7 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in Hampshire and West Sussex and is administered by Hampshire Rugby [1] and the London & SE RFU. [2]
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:
In addition:
Promotion is to Regional 2 South Central which hosts teams from Dorset, Surrey, Berkshire, West Sussex & Hampshire; whilst ordinarily the last two placed clubs are relegated to Counties 2 Hampshire.
Departing were Petersfield [3] and Andover [4] promoted to Regional 2 South Central; there was no relegation to Counties 2 Hampshire. Promoted from were Sandown & Shanklin, [5] Basingstoke and Guernsey St Jacques Vikings - an amateur club who are the 2XV to Guernsey Raiders.
With two leaving and three joining the league was restored to twelve teams.
|  Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 1 Hampshire teams in Hampshire, Dorset, West Sussex & the Channel Islands Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 1 Hampshire teams on the Isle of Wight |
Departing were Jersey and Winchester promoted to Regional 2 South Central. Basingstoke finished 12th and were relegated to Counties 2 Hampshire. Alton finished 11th and would also have been relegated but declined to compete in the RFU leagues in 2023-24. With four teams leaving and only three joining the league ran with eleven sides.
| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 1 Hampshire teams in Hampshire, Dorset and West Sussex |
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 3 South West with six of the same sides whilst two teams - Gosport & Fareham [13] and Havant II - from Hampshire Premier (level 8) were drawn up to fill the league and two - Eastleigh and Winchester - were drawn in from London 2 South West (level 7). London 3SW teams from Surrey, Sussex and SW London were absorbed into Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex. The league was supplemented by the addition of Bournemouth 2XV and Jersey.
| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 1 Hampshire teams in Hampshire Dorset & the Channel Islands |
Hampshire Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in the county of Hampshire, England. It represent clubs sides not just from Hampshire but also from the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands, who take part in many of the competitions organized by the Hampshire RFU.
Hants & Dorset Motor Services Ltd was a stage carriage bus service operator in southern England between 1920 and 1983.
London 2 South West is an English level 7 Rugby Union League. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 3 South West, changing to its current name ahead of the 2009–10 season. The division is made up of teams predominantly from south-west London, Surrey, and Hampshire. The 12 teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Each year all clubs in the division are also invited to take part in the RFU Intermediate Cup - a level 7 national competition.
Regional 2 South East, previously known as London 1 South, is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from East Sussex, south Essex, south Greater London, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and West Sussex. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 2 South, changing to London 1 South ahead of the 2009–10 season. It used to be the feeder league for London & South East Premier into which the champion team each season was promoted whilst the second-placed team entered a play-off against the runner-up of London 1 North. Three teams were relegated into either London 2 South East and London 2 South West depending on their location. The league was renamed as Regional 2 South East for the 2022-23 season and moved from a 14 team, to a 12 team competition. The champion would be promoted to either Regional 1 South Central or Regional 1 South East depending on geographical location, whilst relegated sides would go to either Counties 1 Kent or Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex.
Counties 2 Hampshire is an English level 8 Rugby Union league for teams based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Up until the 2017–18 season it was known as Hampshire 1 but was changed to Hampshire Premier due to restructuring of the Hampshire leagues, which would see the re-introduction of a third division as well as 2nd and 3rd XV sides joining for the first time. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 2 Hampshire.
London 3 South West is an English rugby union league at the eighth level of club rugby union in England involving sides based in Hampshire, Surrey and south-west London. Promoted clubs move into London 2 South West. Relegated clubs move into either Surrey 1 or Hampshire Premier depending on their location, with sides coming up from these divisions, although only 1st XV clubs are allowed in London 3 South West. Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a level 8 national competition.
Counties 3 Hampshire is an English level 9 Rugby Union league for teams based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Up until the 2017–18 season it was known as Hampshire 2 but was changed to Hampshire 1 following the restructuring of the Hampshire leagues, which would see the re-introduction of a third division as well as 2nd and 3rd XV sides joining for the first time. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 3 Hampshire.
The 2013–14 Wessex Football League was the 28th season of the Wessex Football League since its establishment in 1986.
The 2014–15 Wessex Football League season was the 29th in the history of the Wessex Football League since its establishment in 1986.
Counties 4 Hampshire is an English level 10 rugby union league for teams based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. It was originally known as Hampshire 3 until the 2008–09 season when it was discontinued, but the division was reinstated as Hampshire 2 following restructuring of the Hampshire leagues for the 2018–19 season, which would once again see Hampshire rugby have three divisions as well as including second XV sides for the first time. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 4 Hampshire.
The Hampshire Cup is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organised by the Hampshire Rugby Football Union. It was first introduced during the 1970–71 season, with the inaugural winners being U.S. Portsmouth. It is the most important rugby union cup competition in Hampshire, ahead of the Hampshire Bowl and Hampshire Plate.
The Hampshire Bowl is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organised by the Hampshire Rugby Football Union. It was first introduced during the 1999–99 season, with the inaugural winners being Romsey. It is the second important rugby union cup competition in Hampshire, behind the Hampshire Cup but ahead of the Hampshire Plate. When it was introduced in 1999 the Bowl initially replaced the Plate competition, which was itself re-instated several years later for the 2003–04 season.
The Hampshire Plate is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organised by the Hampshire Rugby Football Union. It was first introduced during the 1990–91 season, with the inaugural winners being Fareham Heathens. It is the third most important rugby union cup competition in Hampshire, behind the Hampshire Cup and Hampshire Bowl. The Plate was initially replaced by the Bowl competition for the 1999–00 season but was re-introduced for 2003–04.
Regional 2 South Central is a level six league in the English rugby union system, one of twelve leagues, at this level. Originally part of the South West Division of the RFU, the league was transferred to the London & SE Division for season 2023–24, with a subsequent change of teams, with only five of the previous season's twelve teams remaining. Jersey are the current champions and are promoted to Regional 1 South Central.
Counties 2 Sussex is a level 8 English Rugby Union League. It is made up of teams from Sussex with teams playing home and away matches from September through to April. Promoted teams move up to Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex but there is no relegation with no lower league in the Sussex Rugby structure. It was previously known as Sussex 1 prior to the RFU Adult Competition Review. It is administered by Sussex Rugby. and the London & SE RFU.
Counties 1 Kent is an English level 7 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Kent, Greater London and East Sussex. Administration of the leagues is divided between Kent Rugby, Sussex Rugby and the London & SE RFU.
