Current season or competition:![]() | |
Sport | Rugby union |
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Number of teams | 12 |
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Website |
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, [1] Sussex Rugby [2] and the London & SE RFU. [3] (The locations in Greater London are all in areas that were historically part of Kent.)
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:
There is one automatic promotion place and two relegation places. The first-placed team at the end of season wins promotion to Regional 2 South East. The last twoplaced clubs are typically relegated to either Counties 2 Kent or Counties 2 Sussex depending on location.
Departing were Dartfordians promoted to Regional 2 South East as runners-up [4] (Canterbury Pilgrims finished top [5] but owing to league regulations were not permitted to be promoted to Level 6) with Thanet being relegated to Counties 2 Kent. [6] With no team coming down from Regional 2 South East there was a reprieve for Charlton Park who finished 11th and would ordinarily have been relegated to Counties 2 Kent. Coming up were Sevenoaks 2XV [7] and Park House.
| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 1 Kent teams in London Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 1 Kent teams in Kent and East Sussex |
Departing were Old Alleynians [8] promoted to Regional 2 South East with Folkestone [9] and Aylesford Bulls relegated to Counties 2 Kent. In their place In their place came Dover and Canterbury Pilgrims promoted as 'joint champions' [10] from Counties 2 Kent whilst Dartfordians were relegated from Regional 2 South East.
| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 1 Kent teams in London Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 1 Kent teams in Kent and East Sussex |
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Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Loss bonus | Points | Adjust | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Canterbury Pilgrims | 22 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 846 | 439 | +407 | 18 | 0 | 98 | |||||
2 | Dartfordians | 22 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 692 | 444 | +248 | 19 | 1 | 90 | |||||
3 | Beccehamian | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 839 | 299 | +540 | 16 | 1 | 86 | -5 | ||||
4 | Bromley | 22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 621 | 416 | 205 | 13 | 3 | 79 | |||||
5 | Crowborough | 22 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 530 | 463 | +67 | 9 | 1 | 70 | |||||
6 | Dover | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 466 | 548 | -82 | 9 | 3 | 50 | |||||
7 | Heathfield & Waldron | 22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 459 | 469 | -10 | 7 | 6 | 50 | |||||
8 | Deal & Betteshanger | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 403 | 582 | -179 | 6 | 4 | 42 | |||||
9 | Ashford | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 345 | 518 | −173 | 3 | 3 | 30 | |||||
10 | Cranbrook | 22 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 388 | 756 | −368 | 4 | 4 | 26 | |||||
11 | Charlton Park | 22 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 371 | 684 | −313 | 5 | 3 | 23 | -5 | ||||
R | Thanet Wanderers | 22 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 378 | 720 | −342 | 4 | 3 | 21 | |||||
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Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places. Updated: 25 June 2024 Source: [11] |
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 2 South East with the teams placed 5th-12th returning. The teams finishing 1st - 4th were promoted to Regional 2 South East (level 6) with the top four teams coming up from London 3 South East (level 8). [12]
| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 1 Kent teams in London Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 1 Kent teams in Kent and East Sussex |
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Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Loss bonus | Points | Adjust | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Old Alleynians | 22 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 890 | 257 | +633 | 16 | 1 | 97 | |||||
2 | Bromley | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 575 | 316 | +259 | 12 | 1 | 77 | |||||
3 | Beccehamian | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 596 | 381 | +215 | 11 | 4 | 71 | |||||
4 | Heathfield & Waldron | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 468 | 486 | -18 | 9 | 3 | 68 | |||||
5 | Charlton Park | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 525 | 537 | -12 | 10 | 1 | 67 | |||||
6 | Cranbrook | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 538 | 511 | 27 | 10 | 1 | 59 | |||||
7 | Ashford | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 440 | 399 | 41 | 4 | 4 | 56 | |||||
8 | Deal & Betteshanger | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 448 | 507 | -39 | 7 | 3 | 55 | |||||
9 | Crowborough | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 443 | 552 | −109 | 7 | 1 | 35 | -5 | ||||
10 | Thanet Wanderers | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 309 | 593 | −284 | 5 | 0 | 33 | |||||
R | Folkestone | 22 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 346 | 797 | −451 | 5 | 4 | 21 | |||||
R | Aylesford Bulls | 22 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 341 | 603 | −262 | 3 | 6 | 13 | |||||
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Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places. |
Regional 1 South East is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London Division 1. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following re-organisation by the Rugby Football Union while the name change from National League 3 to Premier was introduced for the 2017–18 season to make it more obvious that it is a regional league. London & South East Premier was the highest regional rugby union league covering London and south east England. Following the RFU Adult Competition Review the league was decreased from 14 to 12 and the name changed to Regional 1 South East. Part of the area formerly covered by London & South East Premier is now covered by a new league Regional 1 South Central.
London 2 South is an English league of Rugby Union teams, representing the second level in the Rugby Football Union's London & South East Division, making it a Level 6 league in the RFU's league hierarchy. The clubs come mainly from Hampshire, Kent, South London, Surrey and Sussex.
Regional 2 Midlands East is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the eastern region of the Midlands, including sides from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and occasionally Bedfordshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire. When this division began in 1987 it was known as Midlands 2 East, and has been restructured several times, most notably as a single division known as Midlands 2 between 1992 and 2000, and Midlands 1 East before regionalising again to its present format with the new name of Regional 2 Midlands East as part of England Rugby's Future Competition Structure change at the start of the 2022–23 season.
South West 1 East was an English, level six, rugby union league in south and south-west England; mainly Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Gloucester, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Wiltshire. Originally a single division known as South West 2, it was split into two regional leagues in 1996 – South West 1 East and South West 1 West.
Sussex 1 is an English level 9 Rugby Union League. It is made up of teams predominantly from Sussex. Teams play home and away matches from September through to April. The league champions are automatically promoted up to London 3 South East, while the second placed team plays a promotion playoff against the second placed team from Kent 1. Relegated teams drop to Sussex 2 although in recent season there has been no relegation. Only 1st XV sides can be promoted into London 3 South East.
Counties 2 Kent is an English level 8 Rugby Union League involving club sides from Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex and the south-east London. The twelve teams play home and away matches from September to April. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 2 Kent.
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.
London 2 South East is an English level 7 Rugby Union League. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 3 South East, changing to its current name ahead of the 2009–10 season. The division is made up of teams predominantly from south-east London, Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex. The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the RFU Intermediate Cup - a level 7 national competition.
Sussex 2 is an English level 10 Rugby Union League. It is run by the Sussex Rugby Football Union and contains teams predominantly from West Sussex. The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Promoted teams move up to Sussex 1 and demoted teams fall to Sussex 3. Up until 2003-04 the league was known as Sussex 2 which was abolished at the end of that season. Sussex Canterbury Jack Intermediate emerged in 2010-11 as the second-tier competition for Sussex with a large number of 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams taking part. The division name changed to Sussex Canterbury Jack Division 2 for the 2016–17 season. A further name change resulted in Sussex Canterbury Jack 2 becoming Sussex 2 Armada Ale for the 2017–18 season.
London 1 North was an English level 6, rugby union league for clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, north Greater London, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 2 North, changing to its final name ahead of the 2009–10 season.
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 4 Kent is an English level 10 Rugby Union League and is made up of teams predominantly from south-east London and Kent. The teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Currently promoted teams move up to Kent 1 and there is no relegation although until the 2007–08 season teams could drop down to Kent 3. Now a single division, in the past Kent 2 was divided into regional divisions - Kent 2 East and Kent 2 West. Relegated teams drop down to Counties 5 Kent. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 4 Kent.
Counties 3 Kent is an English level 9 Rugby Union League and is made up of teams predominantly from south-east London and Kent. The teams play home and away matches from September through to April. The league champions move up to Counties 2 Kent. Relegated teams drop down to Counties 4 Kent. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 3 Kent.
Counties 5 Kent is an English Rugby Union league that is the lowest RFU league for clubs in south-east London and Kent. Promoted teams go up to Counties 4 Kent and relegation is to the Kent RFU merit leagues.
The Kent Rugby Football Union is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in the county of Kent in England. The union is the constituent body of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for Kent, and administers and organises rugby union clubs and competitions in the county. It also administers the Kent county rugby representative teams.
The Kent Plate is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organised by the Kent Rugby Football Union. It was first introduced during the 2001–02 season, with the inaugural winners being Bromley. It is the fourth most important rugby union cup competition in Kent, behind the Kent Cup, Kent Shield and Kent Vase, but ahead of the Kent Salver.
Regional 1 South Central is a level five league in the English rugby union system, with the twelve teams drawn from across southern and South East England. The other level five leagues are Regional 1 Midlands, Regional 1 North West, Regional 1 North East, Regional 1 South East and Regional 1 South West.
Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex is an English level 7 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Surrey, Greater London, East Sussex and West Sussex. Administration of the leagues is divided between Surrey Rugby, Sussex Rugby and the London & SE RFU.
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 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.