Kent 3

Last updated

Kent 3
SportRugby Union
Instituted1987;37 years ago (1987)
Most titles Midland Bank (2 titles)

Counties 3 Kent (formerly Kent 3) 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.

Contents

Dwindling numbers of teams meant that Kent 3 folded at the end of the 2007–08 season, with all sides automatically promoted to what was then Kent 2. However, following a 15yr hiatus, and after the RFU's Adult Competition Review in 2022 - and the decsion by Kent Rugby to allow reserve teams to participate in county leagues - from season 2023-24 it was resurrected and adopted its current name Counties 5 Kent.

2024-25

Departing were Canterbury III, Bromley II and Old Colfeians II, all promoted to Counties 4 Kent.

Joining were Footscray and Lordswood, relegated from Counties 4 Kent. New entries to the league were Beckenham III, Park House II, Old Alleynians III and East Peckham & Paddock Wood.

2023-24

2008-2023

League not contested

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

Kent 3 honours

Kent 3 Honours
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated TeamsLeague Name
1987–889 New Ash Green Linton Bexley Kent 3
1988–8911 Met Police Hayes Sittingbourne Orpington, Thames Polytechnic Kent 3
1989–9011 Sheppey Cranbrook Darenth Valley Kent 3
1990–9111 Midland Bank Vigo Footscray, Orpington Kent 3
1991–9212 Thames Polytechnic NatWest Bank [lower-alpha 3] No relegation [lower-alpha 4] Kent 3
1992–9310 Cranbrook Lloyds Bank Greenwich, Old Olavians Kent 3
1993–9410 Old Gravesendians Whitstable Orpington, Footscray [lower-alpha 5] Kent 3
1994–9510 Lordswood Old Williamsonians Lloyds Bank, Greenwich Kent 3
1995–9610 Tonbridge New Ash Green Darenth Valley Kent 3
1996–9710 Midland Bank New Ash Green [lower-alpha 6] No relegation [lower-alpha 7] Kent 3
1997–986 Erith [lower-alpha 8] Faversham [lower-alpha 9] No relegation [lower-alpha 10] Kent 3
1998–99No Competition
1999–00No Competition
2000–01 [2] 6 Bexley Old Gravesendians No relegation [lower-alpha 11] Kent 3
2001–02 [3] 11 Shooters Hill Old Olavians No relegationKent 3
2002–03 [4] 10 Vigo Dover No relegationKent 3
2003–04 [5] 11 Brockleians Bexley [lower-alpha 12] No relegationKent 3
2004–05 [6] 9 Deal & Betteshanger HSBC No relegationKent 3
2005–06 [7] 8 Orpington Foots Cray No relegationKent 3
2006–07 [8] 6 Medway Bexley No relegationKent 3
2007–08 [9] 5 Old Williamsonians Orpington [lower-alpha 13] No relegationKent 3
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

Notes

  1. ↑ Deal Wanderers RFC would later merge with Betteshanger RFC in 2006 to form Deal & Betteshanger Rugby Club. [1]
  2. ↑ Now known as Aylesford Bulls RFC.
  3. ↑ Restructuring of the Kent leagues meant that the top six clubs were promoted from Kent 3 including Deal Wanderers, Bexley, Linton and Old Gravesendians.
  4. ↑ Restructuring of the Kent leagues meant there was no relegation.
  5. ↑ 8th place Kent Police would drop out of the league at the end of the season.
  6. ↑ Due to Kent league restructuring, the top nine teams were promoted from Kent 3.
  7. ↑ Kent league restructuring meant there was no relegation - with bottom side Canterbury Exiles the only team to remain in the division for the following season.
  8. ↑ The cancellation of Kent 3 and Kent 4 and restructuring of Kent 2 for the following season meant that champions Erith would be promoted to the new regional Kent 2 East division.
  9. ↑ The cancellation of Kent 3 and Kent 4 and restructuring of Kent 2 meant that runners up Faversham would also be promoted to the new Kent 2 East division while 3rd place Greenwich would go into Kent 2 South West. 4th place Darenth Valley would fold at the end of the season but would reform as Dartford Valley RFC in Kent 2 West.
  10. ↑ The cancellation of Kent 4 meant that there was no relegation - bottom two sides Meopham and Canterbury Exiles would drop out of the leagues.
  11. ↑ No relegation as Kent 4 abolished at the end of the season.
  12. ↑ 3rd place Dartford Valley were also promoted.
  13. ↑ As this was the final season of Kent 3 all teams in the division were automatically promoted to Kent 2.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "CLUB HISTORY". Deal and Betteshanger Rugby Club. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  2. ↑ "2000-2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "2001-2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "2002-2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "2003-2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "2004-2005 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "2005-2006 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "2006-2007 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "2007-2008 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
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