Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex

Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex

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

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 (in locations that were historically part of Surrey), East Sussex and West Sussex. Administration of the leagues is divided between Surrey Rugby, ^[1] Sussex Rugby ^[2] and the London & SE RFU. ^[3]

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 either Regional 2 South East or Regional 2 Thames. The last three placed clubs are usually relegated to either Counties 2 Surrey or Counties 2 Sussex depending on location.

Teams for 2025–26

Departing were Twickenham, promoted to Regional 2 South Central, whilst East Grinstead (11th) and Old Haileyburians (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Sussex and Counties 2 Surrey respectively.

A month ahead of the new season began Uckfield, who had been promoted as champions of Counties 2 Sussex, withdrew from the competition having lost their head coach and a significant number of senior players to league rivals Hove.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Cobham Old Surbitonians Memorial Ground Cobham, Surrey 4th Eastbourne Park Avenue Eastbourne, East Sussex 6th Haywards Heath Whitemans Green Cuckfield, West Sussex 10th Hove Hove Recreation Ground Hove, East Sussex 9th KCS Old Boys Dornan Fields Motspur Park, London 8th London Cornish Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields Roehampton Vale, London 7th Old Caterhamians Caterham School Caterham, Surrey Promoted from Counties 2 Surrey (champions) Old Rutlishians Old Rutlishians' Sports Ground Merton Park, London 2nd Old Wimbledonians Old Wimbledonians & Donhead Sports Ground Raynes Park, London Promoted from Counties 2 Surrey (runners-up) Trinity Trinity Sanderstead Sports & Social Club Sanderstead, London 5th Weybridge Vandals Brownacres Walton-on-Thames, Surrey 3rd

KCS London Cornish Rutlishians Wimbledonians Trinity class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex teams in Greater London Cobham Eastbourne Haywards Heath Hove Caterhamians Vandals class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex teams in Surrey, East Sussex & West Sussex

Teams for 2024–25

Leaving the league were Teddington ^[4] and Old Tiffinians, promoted to Regional 2 Thames ^[5] and Regional 2 South East respectively; while Kingston, Old Walcountians ^[6] and Old Cranleighans were relegated to Counties 2 Surrey. Joining were Cobham and London Cornish both relegated from Regional 2 South East; ^[7] coming up were Haywards Heath from Counties 2 Sussex, ^[8] Old Haileyburians and Old Rutlishians ^[9] both from Counties 2 Surrey.

The London & SE RFU published fixtures for the league in June 2024. ^[10]

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Cobham Old Surbitonians Memorial Ground Cobham, Surrey Relegated from Regional 2SE (11th) East Grinstead Saint Hill East Grinstead, West Sussex 8th Eastbourne Park Avenue Eastbourne, East Sussex 6th Haywards Heath Whitemans Green Cuckfield, West Sussex Promoted from Counties 2 Sussex (champions) Hove Hove Recreation Ground Hove, East Sussex 7th KCS Old Boys Dornan Fields Motspur Park, London 5th London Cornish Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields Roehampton Vale, London Relegated from Regional 2SE (12th) Old Haileyburians Ruxley Lane Epsom, Surrey Promoted from Counties 2 Surrey (runners-up) Old Rutlishians Old Rutlishians' Sports Ground Merton Park, London Promoted from Counties 2 Surrey (champions) Trinity Trinity Sanderstead Sports & Social Club Sanderstead, London 9th [11] Twickenham Parkfields Hampton, London 4th Weybridge Vandals Brownacres Walton-on-Thames, Surrey 3rd

KCS London Cornish Rutlishians Trinity Twickenham class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex teams in Greater London Cobham Eastbourne East Grinstead Haileyburians Haywards Heath Hove Vandals class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex teams in Surrey, East Sussex & West Sussex

Teams for 2023–24

Leaving the league were Chobham promoted to Regional 2 Thames. ^[12] Warlingham were relegated to Counties 2 Surrey for what were reported as "...administrative, rather than playing, reasons...". ^[13]

Joining the league were promoted sides Teddington, ^[14] from Counties 2 Surrey, Eastbourne ^[15] and East Grinstead, both from Counties 2 Sussex. Coming down from Regional 2 South East were KCS Old Boys.

Further post-ACR adjustments meant the league was restored to containing 12 teams ^[16]

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Eastbourne Park Avenue Eastbourne, East Sussex Promoted from Counties 2 Sussex (champions) East Grinstead Saint Hill East Grinstead, West Sussex Promoted from Counties 2 Sussex (runners-up) Hove Hove Recreation Ground Hove, East Sussex 3rd KCS Old Boys Dornan Fields Motspur Park, London Relegated from Regional 2SE (12th) Kingston Hook Road Chessington, London 6th Old Cranleighans Old Cranleighan Sports Club Thames Ditton, Surrey 9th Old Tiffinians Grist's Memorial Ground Thames Ditton, Surrey 2nd Old Walcountians Clockhouse Ground Woodmansterne, Surrey 7th Teddington Udney Park Sports Ground Teddington, London Promoted from Counties 2 Surrey (champions) Trinity Trinity Sanderstead Sports & Social Club Sanderstead, London 8th Twickenham Parkfields Hampton, London 4th Weybridge Vandals Brownacres Walton-on-Thames, Surrey 5th

KCS Kingston Walcountians Teddington Trinity Twickenham class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex teams in Greater London Eastbourne East Grinstead Hove Cranleighans Tiffinians Vandals class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex teams in Surrey & East Sussex

Teams for 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 2 South West but was smaller (12 teams reduced to 10) with Counties 1 Hampshire taking teams that historically would have played in London 2 South West.

This prompted a substantial reordering of the leagues with two teams, Kingston and Trinity, ^[17] effectively achieving a 'double' promotion from level 9 (Surrey 1) to level 7 of the RFU rugby pyramid. Warlingham, ^[18] Weybridge Vandals ^[19] and Old Walcountians ^[20] were all promoted from the upper end of London 3 South West whilst, rather less predictably, Old Cranleighans also came up from the same league despite having finished at the foot of it.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Chobham Fowlers Well Chobham, Surrey 5th (L2SW) Hove Hove Recreation Ground Hove, East Sussex 9th (L2SW) Kingston Hook Road Chessington, London Promoted from (Surrey 1) (champions) Old Cranleighans Old Cranleighan Sports Club Thames Ditton, Surrey Promoted from (L3SW) (12th) Old Tiffinians Grist's Memorial Ground Thames Ditton, Surrey 6th (L2SW) Old Walcountians Clockhouse Ground Woodmansterne, Surrey Promoted from (L3SW) (4th) [21] Trinity Trinity Sanderstead Sports & Social Club Sanderstead, London Promoted from (Surrey 1) (runners-up) Twickenham Parkfields Hampton, London 10th (L2SW) Warlingham Limpsfield Road Warlingham, Surrey Promoted from (L3SW) (champions) [22] Weybridge Vandals Brownacres Walton-on-Thames, Surrey Promoted from (L3SW) (3rd)

Kingston Walcountians Trinity Twickenham Warlingham class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex teams in Greater London Chobham Hove Cranleighans Tiffinians Vandals class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex teams in Surrey & East Sussex

See also

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

References

1. "RFU Leagues". Surrey Rugby. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
2. "Mens [sic] Leagues". Sussex Rugby. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
3. "RFU League Statistics". L&SE RFU. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
4. "Teddington RFC 1st XV". Teddington RFC. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
5. "Regional 2 Thames : Teams for 2024/25 Season Confirmed". Old Priorians. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
6. "Counts down after fifth successive loss". Old Walcountians. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
7. "Friends both on and off the pitch". Cobham RFC. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
8. "Haywards Heath RFC win Sussex rugby league title despite Shoreham loss". The Argus. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
9. "Old Rutlishians revelling in record-breaking season". The Gazette. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
10. "Fixtures 2024-25" (PDF). London & SE RFU. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
11. "1XV Fixtures & Results 2024-25". Trinity RFC. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
12. "Chobham are league champions". Woking News & Mail. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
13. "How the 'Mighty' have fallen: relegation haunts rugby clubs". Inside Croydon. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
14. "Teddington RFC become league champions after walkover victory". Teddington Nub News. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
15. "Eastbourne RFC go for glory in rugby's new national cup". Sussex Express. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
16. "Level 6 Promotion/Relegation Facts!". London Cornish RFC. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
17. "TRINITY PROMOTED IN NEW LEAGUE STRUCTURE". Trinity RFC. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
18. "Warlingham go from top to bottom at the flick of a blazer's pen". Inside Croydon. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
19. "A quick look to 2022-23 Season". Weybridge Vandals RFC. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
20. "Counts fight back to overcome brave Alton". Old Walcountians RFC. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
21. "Walcountians Sports Club". Old Walcountians RFC. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
22. "Warlingham take league title without having to make a tackle". WInside Croydon. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2024.