Counties 4 Surrey

Last updated

Counties 4 Surrey
Sport Rugby union
Instituted1988;36 years ago (1988)
Number of teams9
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Holders Streatham-Croydon (2nd title) (2021–22)
Most titles Haslemere
Old Bevonians
Old Glynonians
Streatham-Croydon
University of Surrey (2 titles)
Website englandrugby.com

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.

Contents

Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase – a level 9–11 national competition.

Teams for 2024–25

Departing were Old Hamptonians and Streatham-Croydon both promoted to Counties 3 Surrey whilst Staines and Guildfordians were relegated to Counties 5 Surrey. In their place came London French and Reigate, promoted from Counties 5 Surrey with Old Emanuel relegated from Counties 3 Surrey. Also joining were Old Freemans who elected to suffer a double relegation from Counties 2 Surrey.

Teams for 2023–24

Departing the league were Bec Old Boys and Old Georgians, promoted to Counties 3 Surrey whilst Croydon were relegated to Counties 5 Surrey. Old Suttonians who finished 9th in 2022-23 but declined to return in Counties 5 Surrey withdrawing from league rugby instead. Joining were Cranleigh, relegated from Counties 3 Surrey, Haselmere and Old Hamptonians, both promoted from Counties 5 Surrey together with Southwark Lancers who came on a level transfer from the Kent Rugby leagues. Re-entering on a level transfer from the Middlesex leagues were Staines who had most recently competed in Herts/Middlesex 2 in 2021-22.

With four leaving and five joining the league was made up of 10 sides having had 9 in its inaugural year.

Teams for 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Surrey 3 but while that league had been at level 11 of the English rugby pyramid the new league was at level 10.

Six of the teams had previously competed in Surrey 3 and they were joined from the top two from Surrey 4 - Streatham-Croydon and Old Paulines. Also joining were Old Georgians who elected to drop two leagues from L3SW at level 8 for the new season.

Teams for 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.

Season 2020–21

On 30th October the RFU announced that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020–21 season meaning Surrey 4 was not contested. [1]

Teams for 2019–20

Teams for 2018–19

Teams for 2017–18

Teams for 2016–17

Teams for 2015–16

Teams for 2014–15

Teams for 2013–14

Teams for 2012–13

Teams for 2011–12

Teams for 2010–11

Teams for 2009–10

Surrey Reserve League 1st XV's

Below Surrey 4 there is the Surrey Reserve Leagues this is for Surrey teams 2XV's and below, there are some 1XVs playing here.

Original teams

When this division was introduced in 1988 it contained the following teams:

Surrey 4 honours

Surrey 4 (1988–1993)

The original Surrey 4 was tier 11 league with promotion to Surrey 3 and relegation to Surrey 5, until that division was cancelled at the end of the 1991–92 season.

Surrey 4
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teams
1988–897 University of Surrey [b] Royal Holloway College Multiple teams [c]
1989–9011 Old Bevonians Reigate & Redhill Shene Old Grammarians, Old Epsomians
1990–9111 London Fire Brigade BBC University of Surrey, Racal-Decca, Gibraltar Engineers [d]
1991–9210 Old Caterhamians King's College Hospital [e] No relegation [f]
1992–9311 Haslemere Lightwater [g] No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Surrey 4 (1993–1996)

The creation of National 5 South meant that Surrey 4 dropped from a tier 11 league to a tier 12 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion was to Surrey 3 and there was no relegation as Surrey 4 was at the lowest level of the league structure.

Surrey 4
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teams
1993–948 Egham Old Johnians No relegation
1994–9510 Kew Occasionals Old Wellingtonians No relegation
1995–9611 King's College Hospital Worth Old Boys No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Surrey 4 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Surrey 4 reverted to being a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Surrey 3 and there was no relegation. Surrey 4 was cancelled at the end of the 1999–00 season, with the majority of teams transferring to Surrey 3 or dropping out of the league system.

Surrey 4
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teams
1996–978 Haslemere Old Johnians No relegation
1997–986 University of Surrey St George's Hospital [h] No relegation
1998–99 [3] 3 Old Bevonians Old Johnians No relegation
1999–00 [4] 5 Old Abingdonians Economicals [i] No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Surrey 4 (2005–2009)

Surrey 4 was reintroduced as a tier 12 league for the 2005–06 season. Promotion was to Surrey 3 and, as the division was at the lowest level of the English league system, there was no relegation.

Surrey 4
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teams
2005–06 [5] 10 Pelhamians Teddington 2nd XV [j] No relegation
2006–07 [6] 9 Merton Woking No relegation
2007–08 [7] 7 Old Oundelians Haslemere No relegation
2008–09 [8] 10 CL London Old Radleian No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Surrey 4 (2009–present)

Surrey 4 remained a tier 12 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion continued to Surrey 3 and there was no relegation.

Surrey 4
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teams
2009–10 [9] 8 Old Glynonians Economicals No relegation
2010–11 [10] 9 Streatham-Croydon Haslemere No relegation
2011–12 [11] 10 Guildfordians Reigate No relegation
2012–13 [12] 9 Old Glynonians Metropolitan Police No relegation
2013–14 [13] 9 Old Georgians Merton No relegation
2014–15 [14] 10 Reeds Weybridge Reigate No relegation
2015–16 [15] 10 Old Haileyburians Old Johnians No relegation
2016–17 [16] 9 Horley Old Glynonians No relegation
2017–18 [17] 9 Woking Guildfordians No relegation
2018–19 [18] 8 [k] Old Suttonians Egham Hollowegians No relegation
2019–20 [19] 7 Croydon Raynes Park No relegation
2020–21Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22 [20] 9 Streatham-Croydon Old PaulineNo relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

Notes

  1. In June 2019 Reigate RFC senior section 'absorbed' Horley RFC seniors and stated an intention to compete as Reigate & Horley in season 2019-20. [2]
  2. Restructuring of the Surrey leagues due to the introduction of Surrey 5 for the following season meant that champions University of Surrey were not promoted.
  3. The introduction of Surrey 5 for the following season meant that four clubs were relegated including Lightwater, Racal-Decca, Economicals and Oxted. Bottom side British Aerospace would ultimately drop out of the league system.
  4. Gibraltar Engineers would drop out of the league.
  5. The restructuring of the Surrey leagues caused by the cancellation of Surrey 5 at the end of the season meant that seven clubs were promoted including Chipstead, Shene Old Grammarians, Old Suttonians, Royal Holloway College and Woking.
  6. The cancellation of Surrey 5 at the end of the season meant there was no relegation.
  7. 3rd place London Media were also promoted.
  8. Runners up St George's Hospital would later drop out of the league system.
  9. Due to the low number of teams Surrey 4 would be cancelled until the 2005-06 season. Old Abingdonian and Economicals would be promoted to Surrey 3, Kings Cross Steelers would transfer to East Counties 3 South while the remaining teams would drop out of the league altogether.
  10. London Media were also promoted along with champions Pelhamians and runners up Teddington 2nd XV.
  11. Reduced from 9 to 8 teams after Mitcham & Carshalton dropped out of the league.

See also

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