London 3 South East

Last updated

Counties 2 Kent
Current season or competition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2024-25 Counties 2 Kent
Sport Rugby union
Instituted2000;24 years ago (2000)(as London 4 South East)
Number of teams12
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Most titles Aylesford Bulls, Crowborough (2 titles)
Website englandrugby.com

Counties 2 Kent (formerly 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. [1] 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.

Contents

Promoted teams move up to Counties 1 Kent. Relegated teams drop down to Counties 3 Kent.

Teams for 2024-25

Departing were Sevenoaks II and Park House promoted to Counties 1 Kent. Old Dunstonians were relegated to Counties 3 Kent.

Joining were Thanet Wanderers, relegated from Counties 1 Kent together with Old Alleynians II and Old Elthamians, both promoted from Counties 3 Kent.

Teams for 2023-24

Departing were Canterbury II and Dover promoted to Counties 1 Kent as joint champions. Southwark Lancers were relegated and moved on a level transfer to Counties 4 Surrey whilst Hastings & Bexhill were relegated to Counties 3 Kent.

Joining were Folkestone and Aylesford Bulls, both relegated from Counties 1 Kent together with Dartford Valley and Medway II, both promoted from Counties 3 Kent.

Teams for 2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review [2] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 2 Kent.

Returning were 6 of the 12 teams who competed in the previous season's league.

Departing were Bromley, Aylesford Bulls, Cranbrook and Heathfield & Waldron, all promoted to Counties 1 Kent. Also leaving on a level transfer to Counties 2 Sussex were Pulborough (10th) and Crawley (12th).

Joining were Hastings & Bexhill and Park House, both promoted. There were also new entries with the 2XVs from Sidcup, Canterbury, Sevenoaks and Westcombe Park added.

Teams for 2021–22

The teams competing in 2021-22 season earned their places in the league based on their performances in the 2019-20, Thus, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to the 2019-20 season, not the 2020-21 season.

Season 2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced [3] that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning London 3 South East was not contested.

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 2012-2013

Original teams

When this division was introduced in 2000 (as London 4 South East) it contained the following teams:

London 3 South East honours

London 4 South East (2000–2009)

Originally known as London 4 South East, this division was a tier 8 league with promotion up to London 3 South East and relegation down to either Kent 1 or Sussex 1.

London 4 South East Honours
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
2000–01 [4] 10 Dartfordians Old Dunstonians Park House, Chichester, Heathfield & Waldron
2001–02 [5] 10 Betteshanger Eastbourne Askean, Cranbrook, Uckfield
2002–03 [6] 10 Chichester Bognor Heathfield & Waldron, Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital, Beccehamian
2003–04 [7] 10 Aylesford Bulls Folkestone Uckfield
2004–05 [8] 10 Old Dunstonians Lordswood Crawley, Ashford
2005–06 [9] 10 Old Elthamians Betteshanger East Grinstead, Horsham, Sittingbourne
2006–07 [10] 10 Eastbourne Dover Dartfordians, Brighton, Ashford
2007–08 [11] 10 Bognor Hove No relegation [lower-alpha 1]
2008–09 [12] 12 Tonbridge Juddians Bromley Beccehamian
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 South East (2009–present)

League restructuring by the RFU ahead of the 2009–10 season saw London 4 South East renamed as London 3 South East. Remaining as a tier 8 league promotion was to London 2 South East (formerly London 3 South East), while relegation continued to either Kent 1 or Sussex 1.

London 3 South East
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
2009–10 [13] 12 East Grinstead Brighton Old Gravesendians, Whitstable, Hastings & Bexhill
2010–11 [14] 12 Heathfield & Waldron Charlton Park Dartfordians, Cranbrook, Crawley
2011–12 [15] 12 Crowborough Medway Eastbourne, Uckfield
2012–13 [16] 12 Maidstone Tunbridge Wells Vigo, Pulborough, Park House
2013–14 [17] 12 Thanet Wanderers Ashford Beccehamian, Burgess Hill, Sheppey
2014–15 [18] 12 Horsham Dartfordians Hastings & Bexhill, Lewes
2015–16 [19] 12 Bromley Heathfield & Waldron Uckfield, Burgess Hill
2016–17 [20] 12 Pulborough Haywards Heath Ashford, Eastbourne
2017–18 [21] 12 Aylesford Bulls Thanet Wanderers Crawley, Sheppey
2018–19 [22] 11 [lower-alpha 2] Crowborough Beccehamian Lewes, Hastings & Bexhill
2019–20 [23] 12 Ashford Folkestone Old Williamsonians, Park House, Uckfield
2020–2112
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

Notes

  1. No relegation as league to increase from 10 to 12 teams for the following season.
  2. Only 11 teams this season after Hellingly dropped out of the league.

See also

Related Research Articles

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.

<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.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maidstone FC</span> Rugby team

Maidstone Football Club is an English rugby union club based in Maidstone, Kent. The men's first XV currently compete in Counties 2 Kent - a league at the eighth tier of the English rugby union system. The club has thriving mini and youth sections, with enjoyment and development a priority. There are three men's senior teams, catering for all ages and abilities, along with a senior women's team.

Counties 2 Hampshire is an English level 8 Rugby Union league for teams based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Up until the 2017–18 season it was known as Hampshire 1 but was changed to Hampshire Premier due to restructuring of the Hampshire leagues, which would see the re-introduction of a third division as well as 2nd and 3rd XV sides joining for the first time. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 2 Hampshire.

Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex is a tier 7 English Rugby Union league. It is organised by the London and South East Division Rugby Football Union and is the top-tier competition for clubs in Hertfordshire and parts of north-west London that traditionally was encompassed by the historic county of Middlesex. It was previously known as London 2 North West. After the restructuring of the English rugby union system ahead of the 2022–23 season, the league was renamed to Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex.

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.

Counties 2 Essex is an English rugby union league at the ninth tier of the domestic competition and features teams from Essex and parts of north-east London. Promoted clubs tend to move up to Counties 1 Essex. Relegated clubs used to drop into Essex 2 but as that division has been abolished there is currently no relegation. The division was created in 2003 by Essex-based teams who left Eastern Counties 1 and Eastern Counties 2. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name Counties 2 Essex.

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.

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.

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.

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.

References

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