Counties 2 Sussex

Last updated

Counties 2 Sussex
Current season or competition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2024-25 Counties 2 Sussex
Sport Rugby union
Instituted2022;2 years ago (2022)
Number of teams10
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
HoldersHaywards Heath (2023-24)
(promoted to Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex)
Website englandrugby.com

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. [1] and the London & SE RFU. [2]

Contents

Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.

Structure and format

The ten teams play home and away matches making a total of eighteen games each. The results contribute points to the league as follows:

Teams for 2024-25

Departing the league were Haywards Heath, [3] promoted to Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex whilst Burgess Hill (9th in 2023-24) dropped out the competition. Coming in were Lewes (re-entry after a year away having won Counties 3 Sussex [4] ), Hove 2XV (re-entry having last competed in 2021-22) and Ditchling (re-entry after having last competed in season 2019-20).[ citation needed ]

The London & SE RFU published fixtures for the league in June 2024. [5]

Teams for 2023-24

Departing the league were East Grinstead [7] and Eastbourne, [8] both promoted to Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex. Lewes did not return having finished 10th the previous season. In their place came Brighton 2XV and Worthing 3XV meaning the league ran with 9 sides.

Teams for 2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Sussex 1 but was supplemented by two teams from London 3 South East - Crawley and Pulborough - and the addition of Shoreham and Haywards Heath.

Haywards Heath had won London 2 South East in 2019-20 and were scheduled to join London 1 South but with the leagues being abandoned for 2020-21 [10] this did not happen and ahead of the 2021-22 season they withdrew from the league [11]

Despite winning Sussex 1 East Grinstead were not promoted since the league they would have been promoted to, London 3 South East, was disbanded and Counties 2 Sussex was itself a level 8 league as London 3 South East had been. For East Grinstead the achievement was nevertheless significant as they continued their recovery having elected to take voluntary relegation to the Sussex Intermediate League in 2016 due to being left insolvent after their director (and financial backer) pulled out of the club. [12]

Hellingly and Hove 2XV who had finished 7th and 8th respectively in Sussex 1 the previous season did not return.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Sussex</span> County of England

East Sussex is a ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Kent to the north-east, West Sussex to the west, Surrey to the north-west, and the English Channel to the south. The largest settlement is the city of Brighton and Hove, and the county town is Lewes.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tunbridge Wells RFC</span> English rugby union club, based in Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells RFC is an English Rugby union club that plays in Regional 1 South Central from Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.

Counties 4 Surrey is a rugby union competition covering the English county of Surrey and parts of south-west London. It sits at the 10th tier of the English rugby union system. The teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Promoted teams move up to Surrey 3 and relegated teams move down to Counties 5 Surrey. At the end of the 1999–2000 season, Surrey 4 was cancelled with teams automatically going up to Surrey 3 or dropping out of the league. After a hiatus of four seasons the division was reinstated.

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.

London 3 South East is an English level 8 Rugby Union League involving club sides from Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex and the south-east London. It is made up of teams predominantly from London, Sussex and Kent. The twelve teams play home and away matches from September to April. Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the RFU Senior Vase, a national competition at level 8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sussex Rugby Football Union</span> Rugby team

The Sussex Rugby Football Union is the society responsible for rugby union in the county of Sussex, England and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union.

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.

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.

Kent 1 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 London 3 South East while the runners up play against the runners up of Sussex 1 for the remaining place. Relegated teams drop down to Kent 2.

Haywards Heath Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union team. The first XV currently plays in Sussex 2, the tenth tier of English rugby union competition. The club also has a number of other teams, with their 2nd XV currently playing in the Sussex Late Red 3. They used to run a 4th Team called "The Dinos" named after the dinosaur fossil discovered by Gideon Mantell on what is now their playing fields.

Counties 2 Surrey is a level 8 English Rugby Union League. It is made up of teams predominantly from Surrey and south-west London. Teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Promoted teams move up to Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex while relegated teams drop down to Counties 3 Surrey. It was previously known as Surrey 2 and a 10 team team league prior to the RFU Adult Competition Review.

Surrey 1 is a level 9 English Rugby Union League. It is made up of teams predominantly from Surrey and south-west London. Teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Promoted teams move up to London 3 South West with the league winners going straight up and the runners up playing against the runners up from Hampshire Premier. Relegated teams drop to Surrey 2.

Sussex 3 is an English level 11 Rugby Union League. It is run by the Sussex Rugby Football Union and was originally for teams predominantly from West Sussex until a division reorganization for the 2016-17 meant that clubs from East Sussex would also take part. Promoted teams move up to Sussex 2 while relegated teams drop down to either Sussex Asahi Division 4 East or Sussex Late Red Division 4 West depending on geography. Sussex Oranjeboom 2 West was introduced in 2010–11 and is the equivalent to former division Sussex 3 which had its last season in 2003–04. It changed to its current name of Sussex Oranjeboom Division 3 in 2016–17.

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 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 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.

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.

References

  1. ↑ "Mens Leagues". Sussex Rugby. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  2. ↑ "RFU League Statistics". L&SE RFU. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  3. ↑ "Haywards Heath RFC win Sussex rugby league title despite Shoreham loss". The Argus. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  4. ↑ "Counties 3 Sussex 2023-24". RFU. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  5. ↑ "Fixtures 2024-25" (PDF). London & SE RFU. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  6. ↑ "Counties 2 Sussex". Shoreham RFC. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  7. ↑ "Massive News". East Grinstead RFC. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  8. ↑ "Eastbourne RFC go for glory in rugby's new national cup". Sussex Express. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  9. ↑ "Counties 2 Sussex". Uckfield RFC. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  10. ↑ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  11. ↑ "Haywards Heath RFC reluctantly withdraw from London 1 South - read their full statement here". Sussex World. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  12. ↑ "Tumbling East Grinstead plot a way back". East Grinstead Courier. 25 May 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.