Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex

Last updated

Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex
Sport Rugby union
Instituted1992;32 years ago (1992)(as Herts/Middlesex)
Number of teams12
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Website

Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex (formerly Herts/Middlesex 1) is a tier 9 English Rugby Union league. It is organised by the London and South East Division Rugby Football Union for clubs in Hertfordshire and parts of north-west London that traditionally was encompassed by the historic county of Middlesex. Promotion is to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex relegation is to the Middlesex RFU merit leagues.

Contents

Historically the league was a level 8 league but following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it became a level 9 competition and adopted its current name Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex.

Participating clubs 2024-25

Departing were UCS Old Boys and Verulamians promoted to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex. Three clubs did not return for the new campaign - Bank Lane (9th) disbanded in Summer 2024 and merged with London Cornish RFC, Berkhamsted (10th) joined Herts RFU Merit South 1 and Uxbridge (13th) dropped to Middlesex RFU Merit 2. Joining were Mill Hill who re-entered the RFU league system for the first time since 2021-22.

Hendon began their league campaign but withdrew in October to join the Middlesex RFU Merit leagues leaving only 9 teams to complete the season.

Participating clubs 2023-24

Departing were Old Millhillians and Brunel University promoted to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.

Joining were Royston, relegated from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex, together with Berkhamsted, Stevenage and Finsbury Park.


Participating clubs 2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review [1] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex.

Returning were five of the ten teams from the previous season. Bank of England RFC changed their name to Bank Lane RFC during Summer 2022. [2]

Departing were the top five from the previous season - London Scottish Lions, Barnet Elizabethans, Ealing Trailfinders 1871, Wasps FC and Saracens Amateurs - all promoted to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.

Joining were Old Millhillians, Brunel University, Watford, Uxbridge, Chess Valley and UCS Old Boys, all promoted.

Participating clubs 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 [3] that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Herts/Middlesex 1 was not contested.

Participating clubs 2019–20

Participating clubs 2018–19

Participating clubs 2017–18

Participating clubs 2016–17

Participating clubs 2015–16

Participating clubs 2014–15

Participating clubs 2013–14

Participating clubs 2012–13

Participating clubs 2009–10

Original teams

When this division was created in 1992 (as Herts/Middlesex) it contained the following teams:

Herts/Middlesex 1 honours

Herts/Middlesex (1992–93)

Originally known as Herts/Middlesex, this division was a tier 8 league with promotion to London 3 North West and relegation to either Hertfordshire 1 or Middlesex 1. The introduction of National 5 South ahead of the 1993–94 season meant that Herts/Middlesex dropped to become a tier 9 league.

Herts/Middlesex
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
1992–9313 Old Meadonians London New Zealand Stevenage Town, [e] Twickenham [f]
1993–9413 Barnet Old Millhillians Antlers, Harrow [g]
1994–9513 Mill Hill Fullerians Harpenden, Hitchin [h]
1995–9613 Hampstead Haringey Rhinos London New Zealand, Upper Clapton [i]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Herts/Middlesex 1 (1996–2000)

Restructuring of the leagues by the RFU, which included the cancellation of National 5 South and the merging of the Hertfordshire and Middlesex regional divisions, meant that Herts/Middlesex was renamed as Herts/Middlesex 1 and was once again a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to London 3 North West, while relegation was now to the new Herts/Middlesex 2.

Herts/Middlesex 1
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
1996–9713 Harpenden St Albans [j] No relegation [k]
1997–9816 Twickenham London Nigerian Centaurs, Hendon, Wembley [l]
1998–99 [6] 14 Imperial Medicals Hemel Hempstead No relegation [m]
1999–00 [7] 15 Bank Of England London New Zealand Multiple teams [n]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Herts/Middlesex 1 (2000–2009)

The introduction of London 4 North West ahead of the 2000–01 season meant Herts/Middlesex 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division. Relegation continued to Herts/Middlesex 2.

Herts/Middlesex 1
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
2000–01 [8] 10 Richmond London Scottish No relegation
2001–02 [9] 10 CS Rugby 1863 Old Hamptonians Mill Hill, Uxbridge
2002–03 [10] 10 Haringey Rhinos Enfield Ignatians Feltham
2003–04 [11] 9 Tring Stevenage Town Chiswick
2004–05 [12] 10 Hitchin Hammersmith & Fulham Chess Valley, Hemel Hempstead, Old Actonians
2005–06 [13] 10 Finchley U.C.S. Old Boys Old Grammarians, Old Millhillians
2006–07 [14] 10 Hemel Hempstead Old Ashmoleans Harlequin Amateurs, Mill Hill, Cheshunt
2007–08 [15] 10 Chiswick Old Merchant Taylors' Lambs (2nd XV) No relegation [16]
2008–09 [17] 10 Cheshunt Old Streetonians Old Millhillians
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Herts/Middlesex 1 (2009–present)

Herts/Middlesex 1 remained a tier 9 league despite national league restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to London 3 North West (formerly London 4 North West) and relegation to Herts/Middlesex 2.

Herts/Middlesex 1
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
2009–10 [18] 10 Wasps Amateurs Old Haberdashers Hillingdon Abbots
2010–11 [19] 12 H.A.C. London Welsh Amateurs Kilburn Cosmos, Old Grammarians
2011–12 [20] 10 Wasps Amateurs Old Priorians Saracens Amateurs, Hendon, Harlequin Amateurs
2012–13 [21] 11 Harrow Old Merchant Taylors' West London, Hendon, London Welsh Amateurs
2013–14 [22] 12 Hackney Belsize Park Imperial Medicals
2014–15 [23] 12 Old Actonians London Nigerian Feltham, Haringey Rhinos
2015–16 [24] 12 Kilburn Cosmos Cheshunt Old Millhillians, Bank Of England
2016–17 [25] 11 Verulamians Old Streetonians Hillingdon Abbots RFC
2017–18 [26] 12 London Welsh Royston London French, Watford
2018–19 [27] 12 Hitchin Finsbury Park Staines, Old Actonians
2019–20 [28] 10 [o] Hendon St Albans Mill Hill
2020–2110
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Despite finishing 12th in L3NW in season 2019-20 Harrow RFC were not relegated, instead Kilburn Cosmos dropped to Herts/Middlesex 1 for season 2021-22.
  2. ↑ Currently known as Teddington RFC. [4]
  3. ↑ Old Meadonians would be renamed as Chiswick RFC in 1996. [5]
  4. ↑ In 1997 St. Mary's Hospital become part of Imperial Medicals Rugby Club.
  5. ↑ Stevenage Town were relegated to Hertfordshire 1.
  6. ↑ Twickenham were relegated to Middlesex 1.
  7. ↑ Antlers and Harrow were both relegated to Middlesex 1.
  8. ↑ Harpenden and Hitchin were both relegated to Hertfordshire 1.
  9. ↑ London New Zealand and Upper Clapton were relegated to the newly introduced Herts/Middlesex 2.
  10. ↑ League restructuring meant that the top eight clubs including Old Meadonians, Tring, Hackney, Uxbridge and Mill Hill were promoted to London 3 North West. 5th place Old Elizabethans were also due to be promoted but would instead merge with Barnet to form Barnet Elizabethans playing in London 2 North.
  11. ↑ League restructuring meant there was no relegation.
  12. ↑ Relegated sides Centaurs and Wembley would drop out of the leagues.
  13. ↑ No relegation as division would increase from 14 to 15 teams the next season.
  14. ↑ Relegated teams included Epping Upper Clapton, Hitchin, Old Haberdashers, H.A.C., Haringey Rhinos, U.C.S. Old Boys and CS Rugby 1863. The reason for so many relegated teams was due to league restructuring for the following season meaning that the division would decrease from 15 to 10 teams.
  15. ↑ League reduced from 12 to 10 teams after UCS Old Boys drop out.
  16. ↑ Chiswick's titles include one won when known as Old Meadowians RFC.

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References

  1. ↑ "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 13 June 2022.
  2. ↑ "Bank of England drops rugby team over Eurostar antics". 18 May 2022. Archived from the original on 15 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ↑ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  4. ↑ "Teddington RFC 50 Years Celebration Ball" (PDF). Teddington RFC. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "CLUB HISTORY". Chiswick RFC. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "1998-1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "1999-2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "2000-2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "2001-2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "2002-2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "2003-2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "2004-2005 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "2005-2006 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "2006-2007 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "2007-2008 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  16. ↑ No relegation due to the lower divisions in the Herts/Middlesex league being restructured for the following season.
  17. ↑ "2008-2009 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  18. ↑ "2009-2010 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  19. ↑ "2010-2011 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "2011-2012 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  21. ↑ "2012-2013 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  22. ↑ "2013-2014 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  23. ↑ "2014-2015 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  24. ↑ "2015-2016 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  25. ↑ "2016-2017 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  26. ↑ "2017-2018 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  27. ↑ "2018-2019 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  28. ↑ "Men's London & South East Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
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