Regional 2 Thames

Last updated

Regional 2 Thames
Current season or competition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2024–25 Regional 2 Thames
Sport Rugby union
Instituted2022;2 years ago (2022)
Number of teams12
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Holders Amersham and Chiltern (1st title) (2023–24)
Website

Regional 2 Thames is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Greater London, Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Surrey. It was created following the 2022 Adult Competition Review by the Rugby Football Union (RFU). Amersham and Chiltern are the champions and are promoted to Regional 1 South East.

Contents

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:

There is one automatic promotion place and two relegation places. The first-placed team at the end of season wins promotion to either Regional 1 South Central or Regional 1 South East.

Teams for 2024–25

Departing were Amersham & Chiltern, promoted to Regional 1 South East whilst Fullerians were relegated to Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex. Also leaving were Chobham on a level transfer to Regional 2 South Central. Replacing them were London Irish Wild Geese returning to the league on a level transfer from Regional 2 South Central together with London Scottish Lions promoted from Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex, Teddington promoted from Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex and Beaconsfield from Counties 1 Southern North. With three departing and four joining, the league was restored to twelve teams.

2023–24

Leaving the league were Hammersmith & Fulham, promoted to Regional 1 South Central whilst Beaconsfield and Windsor were relegated to Counties 1 Southern North. Also departing were Cobham and London Cornish on a level transfer to Regional 2 South East as did London Irish Wild Geese to Regional 2 South Central

In their place came Chobham promoted from Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex, Hemel Hempstead and Grasshoppers, both promoted from Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex, and Marlow promoted from Counties 1 Southern North whilst H.A.C. joined on a level transfer from Regional 2 Anglia.

Leighton Buzzard had joined on a level transfer from Regional 2 Midlands East (10th in 2022-23) but after conceding numerous walkovers withdrew [1] leaving the league with just eleven sides.

League table

Regional 2 Thames 2023–24
TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
1 Amersham & Chiltern 20161376632244417386
2 Belsize Park 20170368941127814284
3Honourable Artillery Company20163157536920611182
4Old Priorians20110959846813010559
5Hemel Hempstead20929516584−6811354
6Grasshoppers209011569579−1013554
7 Chobham 209011555684−12914252
8Old Haberdashers20929501525−246349
9 Marlow 205015388749−3616228
10Aylesbury202117497679−1828826
RFullerians202117342626−2841516
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Number of draws
  3. Difference between points for and against
  4. Total number of points for
  5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  6. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background is the relegation place.
Updated: 27 August 2024
Source: [2]

Teams for 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league had similarities to London 2 North West but was a level higher in the English rugby pyramid being 6 not 7. Some of the teams joining would have previously played in London 2 South West being Surrey Rugby affiliated clubs. It also picked up three Berkshire RFU and Bucks RFU clubs who had historically competed in SW Division leagues.

League table

Regional 2 Thames 2022–23
TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
1 Hammersmith & Fulham 22180486934852117392
2 Amersham & Chiltern 22170567347519815487
3 Chobham 22160666952814114482
4Old Priorians22150765744721013477
5 London Irish Wild Geese 2212010530574−4413263
6 London Cornish 2210012534591−5713659
7Aylesbury2210012606686−8014559
8Fullerians218112460539−798648
9 Belsize Park 218013392506−1147443
10Old Haberdashers228014490616−1265643
11 Beaconsfield 224117442636−19451033
12Windsor224018343719−3765324
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Number of draws
  3. Difference between points for and against
  4. Total number of points for
  5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  6. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background is the relegation place.
Updated: 1 September 2024
Source: [3]

Regional 2 Thames honours

List of Regional 2 Thames honours
Season No of teamsChampionsRunner–upRelegated team(s)Ref
2022–2312 Hammersmith & Fulham Amersham and Chiltern Beaconsfield and Windsor
2023–2411 Amersham and Chiltern Belsize Park Fullerians
Green background is the promotion place.

See also

Related Research Articles

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.

The London and South East Division Rugby Football Union is a rugby union governing body for London and South East England and is part of the Rugby Football Union.

London Cornish RFC is a rugby union club which was originally formed for Cornish expats in London. It was established in 1962 by a group who met in Fleet Street's Cock Tavern, and were originally known as the ″Cornish Exiles″.

Counties 1 Southern North is a division at level 7 of the English rugby union system. When league rugby first began in 1987 it was known as Southern Counties but since 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues – Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern North currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and features teams based in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The league champions at the end of each season are automatically promoted to Regional 2 South Central. Relegated teams usually drop to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South.

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.

Amersham and Chiltern RFC is an English rugby union team located in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England. Founded as Chiltern Wanderers in 1924, the club changed their name to Amersham and Chiltern RFC in 1992. They are member's of Buckinghamshire Rugby Football Union. They currently play in Regional 1 South East following their promotion from Regional 2 Thames in season 2023–24. The 2nd XV play in Counties 2 Berks, Bucks & Oxon North & the 3rd XV play in Herts Middlesex Merit Table 5. The club colours are claret and white.

Herts/Middlesex 4 was a tier 12 English Rugby Union league that was organized by the London and South East Division Rugby Football Union. It was the fourth division competition for clubs in Hertfordshire and parts of north-west London that traditionally belonged to the historic county of Middlesex. Promoted teams moved up to Herts/Middlesex 3 and since the cancellation of Herts/Middlesex 5 there was no relegation.

South West 1 East is an English, level six, rugby union league in south and south-west England; mainly Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Gloucester, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Wiltshire. Originally a single division known as South West 2, since 1996 the division has been split into two regional leagues – South West 1 East and South West 1 West.

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.

London 3 North West is a level 8 league within the RFU league structure and is made up of teams predominantly from north-west London and Hertfordshire. Promoted sides tend to move up to London 2 North West while relegated teams drop to Herts/Middlesex 1. Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a level 8 national competition.

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.

Herts/Middlesex 2 is a tier 10 English Rugby Union league. It is organised by the London and South East Division Rugby Football Union and is the second division competition for clubs in Hertfordshire and parts of north-west London that traditionally was encompassed by the historic county of Middlesex. Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.

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.

London 2 North West is an English rugby union league which is at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and is made up of teams predominantly from north-west London and Hertfordshire. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 3 North West, changing to its current name ahead of the 2009–10 season.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chobham Rugby</span> English rugby union club, based in Chobham, Surrey

Chobham Rugby Football Club; founded in 1967, is a community rugby union club run by volunteers and based at Fowlers Wells in Chobham, Surrey. Chobham RFC has more than 2000 members with players in senior, boys and girls minis and juniors, walking and touch rugby teams participating in a full annual programme of fixtures; including friendly games, leagues and festivals. They also run a Mixed Ability Team – The Surrey Chargers. The 1st XV team participates in Regional 2 South Central; the sixth tier of the English rugby union system, having won Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex in 2022–23. Their highest league position finish was second in London 1 in 2014–15; tier six.

Regional 2 South Central is a level six league in the English rugby union system, one of twelve leagues, at this level. Originally part of the South West Division of the RFU, the league was transferred to the London & SE Division for season 2023–24, with a subsequent change of teams, with only five of the previous season's twelve teams remaining. Jersey are the current champions and are promoted to Regional 1 South Central.

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.

Regional 2 Anglia is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Essex, Hertfordshire, Greater London, Suffolk and Norfolk. It was created as a product of 2022 Adult Competition Review.

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

  1. "Tough season for promoted Marlow set for a very satisfying conclusion". Maidenhead Advertiser. 6 March 2024.
  2. "Regional 2 Thames".
  3. "Regional 2 Thames". englandrugby.com. Retrieved 28 September 2024.