Counties 1 Yorkshire is an English rugby union division, the seventh tier of the domestic competition, and the top level for local rugby union in parts of
Yorkshire
Yorkshire ( ) is an area of Northern England which was History of Yorkshire, historically a county. Despite no longer being used for administration, Yorkshire retains a strong regional identity. The county was named after its county town, the ...
. The champions are automatically promoted to
Regional 2 North East
Regional 2 North East is a level six league in the English rugby union system, with the twelve teams drawn in the main from across Yorkshire with others in Lancashire and Derbyshire. The other level six leagues in the Northern Division are Re ...
(formerly
North 1 East), a division with a wider geographical area that also encompasses northeast England. The runners-up participate in a playoff against the 2nd place team from the equivalent regional league,
Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland, for promotion to Regional 2 North East. The bottom two clubs are relegated to
Counties 2 Yorkshire.
Each season a team from Counties 1 Yorkshire is picked to take part in the
RFU Intermediate Cup - a national competition for clubs at level 7.
2025-26 season
Departing were North Ribblesdale (champions) and
Pocklington
Pocklington () is a market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, its population was 10,123. It lies east of York, and ...
(runners-up) promoted to
Regional 2 North West and
Regional 2 North East
Regional 2 North East is a level six league in the English rugby union system, with the twelve teams drawn in the main from across Yorkshire with others in Lancashire and Derbyshire. The other level six leagues in the Northern Division are Re ...
respectively. Bridlington were relegated to
Counties 2 Yorkshire.
2024–25 season
Departing were Bradford Salem and Wetherby, both promoted to
Regional 2 NE whilst
Bradford & Bingley
Bradford & Bingley plc was a British bank with headquarters in the West Yorkshire town of Bingley.
The bank was formed in December 2000 by demutualisation of the Bradford & Bingley Building Society following a vote of the building society's me ...
were relegated to
Counties 2 Yorkshire.
2023–24 season
Departing were Goole, promoted to
Regional 2 NE. Also leaving were Huddersfield Laund Hill (10th), Dinnington (11th) and Roundhegians (12th) all relegated to
Counties 2 Yorkshire.
2022-23 season
This was the first season following the
RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to
Yorkshire 1 with the 9 lowest ranked teams returning (1st to 5th were 'promoted' to
Regional 2 North East
Regional 2 North East is a level six league in the English rugby union system, with the twelve teams drawn in the main from across Yorkshire with others in Lancashire and Derbyshire. The other level six leagues in the Northern Division are Re ...
) and supplemented by top 3 from
Yorkshire 2 and so with five departing but only three arriving the league was reduced from 14 teams to 12.
2021-22 season
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 not 2020-21.
2020–21 season
On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced
that due to the
coronavirus pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (
National League 1
National One, up until 2023 known as National League 1 and previously known before September 2009 as National Division Two), is the third of three national leagues in the domestic rugby union competition of England. It was known as Courage Lea ...
and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Yorkshire 1 was not contested.
2019–20 season
2018–19 season
2017–18 season
2016–17 season
*Acklam (transferred from
Durham/Northumberland 1)
*
Beverley
Beverley is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located north-west of Hull city centre. At the 2021 census the built-up area of the town had a population of 30,930, and the smaller civil parish had ...
(relegated from
North 1 East)
*Bradford Salem
*Bridlington
*
Heath
A heath () is a shrubland habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and is characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great Britain—a coole ...
*Hullensians
*
Keighley
Keighley ( ) is a market town and a civil parishes in England, civil parish
in the City of Bradford Borough of West Yorkshire, England. It is the second-largest settlement in the borough, after Bradford.
Keighley is north-west of Bradford, n ...
(promoted from
Yorkshire 2)
*North Ribblesdale
*
Old Brodleians
*
Scarborough Scarborough or Scarboro may refer to:
People
* Scarborough (surname)
* Earl of Scarbrough
Places Australia
* Scarborough, Western Australia, suburb of Perth
* Scarborough, New South Wales, suburb of Wollongong
* Scarborough, Queensland, sub ...
*
Selby
Selby is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, south of York on the River Ouse. At the 2021 Census, it had a population of 17,193.
The town was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire; from 1974 until 2023, ...
*West Leeds (promoted from
Yorkshire 2)
*Yarnbury
*
York
York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...
2015–16 season
2014–15 season
*Bridlington
*
Doncaster Phoenix
*
Heath
A heath () is a shrubland habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and is characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great Britain—a coole ...
*Hullensians (promoted from
Yorkshire 2)
*Malton & Norton (relegated from
North 1 East)
*
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough ( ), colloquially known as Boro, is a port town in the Borough of Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England. Lying to the south of the River Tees, Middlesbrough forms part of the Teesside Built up area, built-up area and the Tees Va ...
(relegated from
North 1 East)
*North Ribblesdale
*
Old Brodleians
*
Pontefract
Pontefract is a historic market town in the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district in West Yorkshire, England. It lies to the east of Wakefield and south of Castleford. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is one of the ...
*
Scarborough Scarborough or Scarboro may refer to:
People
* Scarborough (surname)
* Earl of Scarbrough
Places Australia
* Scarborough, Western Australia, suburb of Perth
* Scarborough, New South Wales, suburb of Wollongong
* Scarborough, Queensland, sub ...
*
Selby
Selby is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, south of York on the River Ouse. At the 2021 Census, it had a population of 17,193.
The town was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire; from 1974 until 2023, ...
*Wath Upon Dearne
*Yarnbury (promoted from
Yorkshire 2)
*
York
York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...
2013–14 season
*Acklam
*Bridlington
*Dinnington
*
Doncaster Phoenix (promoted from
Yorkshire 2)
*
Heath
A heath () is a shrubland habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and is characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great Britain—a coole ...
*
Ilkley
Ilkley is a spa town and civil parish in the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, in Northern England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Ilkley civil parish includes the adjacent village of Ben Rhydding and is a ward within ...
*
Keighley
Keighley ( ) is a market town and a civil parishes in England, civil parish
in the City of Bradford Borough of West Yorkshire, England. It is the second-largest settlement in the borough, after Bradford.
Keighley is north-west of Bradford, n ...
(relegated from
North 1 East)
*North Ribblesdale
*
Old Brodleians
*
Pontefract
Pontefract is a historic market town in the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district in West Yorkshire, England. It lies to the east of Wakefield and south of Castleford. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is one of the ...
*
Scarborough Scarborough or Scarboro may refer to:
People
* Scarborough (surname)
* Earl of Scarbrough
Places Australia
* Scarborough, Western Australia, suburb of Perth
* Scarborough, New South Wales, suburb of Wollongong
* Scarborough, Queensland, sub ...
*
Selby
Selby is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, south of York on the River Ouse. At the 2021 Census, it had a population of 17,193.
The town was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire; from 1974 until 2023, ...
(promoted from
Yorkshire 2)
*Wath Upon Dearne
*
York
York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...
2012–13 season
*Barnsley
*Bridlington
*Dinnington
*
Driffield
Driffield, also known as Great Driffield (neighbouring Little Driffield), is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield. By ...
*
Heath
A heath () is a shrubland habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and is characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great Britain—a coole ...
*
Huddersfield YMCA
*
Ilkley
Ilkley is a spa town and civil parish in the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, in Northern England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Ilkley civil parish includes the adjacent village of Ben Rhydding and is a ward within ...
*Knottingley
*North Ribblesdale
*
Old Brodleians
*
Pontefract
Pontefract is a historic market town in the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district in West Yorkshire, England. It lies to the east of Wakefield and south of Castleford. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is one of the ...
*
Scarborough Scarborough or Scarboro may refer to:
People
* Scarborough (surname)
* Earl of Scarbrough
Places Australia
* Scarborough, Western Australia, suburb of Perth
* Scarborough, New South Wales, suburb of Wollongong
* Scarborough, Queensland, sub ...
*Wath Upon Dearne
*
York
York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
*
Bramley
*
Castleford
Castleford is a town within the City of Wakefield district, West Yorkshire, England. It had a population of 45,106 at a 2021 population estimate. Historic counties of England, Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, to the north of the t ...
*
Cleckheaton
Cleckheaton is a town in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Historic counties of England, Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is situated south of Bradford, east of Brighouse, west of Batley and so ...
*
Driffield
Driffield, also known as Great Driffield (neighbouring Little Driffield), is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield. By ...
*
Goole
Goole is a port town and civil parish on the River Ouse, Yorkshire, River Ouse in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The town's Historic counties of England, historic county is the West Riding of Yorkshire.
At the 2021 United Kingdom censu ...
*
Hemsworth
Hemsworth is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the City of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. Historic counties of England, Historically within the West Riding of Yorkshire and had a population of 13,311 at the 2001 census, ...
*
Moortown
*
Roundhegians
*
Scarborough Scarborough or Scarboro may refer to:
People
* Scarborough (surname)
* Earl of Scarbrough
Places Australia
* Scarborough, Western Australia, suburb of Perth
* Scarborough, New South Wales, suburb of Wollongong
* Scarborough, Queensland, sub ...
*
West Park Bramhope
*York Railway Institute
Yorkshire 1 honours
Yorkshire 1 (1987–1993)
The original Yorkshire 1 was a tier 9 league with promotion up to
North East 2 and relegation down to
Yorkshire 2.
Yorkshire 1 (1993–2000)
The creation of
National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 1 dropped to become a tier 10 league. A further restructure at the end of the 1995–96 season, which included the cancellation of National 5 North and the addition of
North East 3 at tier 9, saw Yorkshire 1 remain at tier 10 with promotion to the new North 3 East league.
Yorkshire 1 (2000–present)
Northern league restructuring by the
RFU at the end of the 1999-2000 season saw the cancellation of
North East 1,
North East 2 and
North East 3 (tiers 7-9). This meant that Yorkshire 1 became a tier 7 league, with promotion to
North 2 East (currently North 1 East).
Promotion play-offs
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of
Durham/Northumberland 1 and Yorkshire 1 for the third and final promotion place to
North 1 East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Yorkshire 1 teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Durham/Northumberland 1 teams six; and the home side have won ten times to the away sides nine.
Number of league titles
*
Bridlington
Bridlington (previously known as Burlington) is a seaside town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is on the Holderness part (Flamborough Head to the Humber estuary) of the Yorkshire Coast by the North Sea. The town is ...
(2)
*
Driffield
Driffield, also known as Great Driffield (neighbouring Little Driffield), is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield. By ...
(2)
*
Malton & Norton (2)
*
Old Brodleians (2)
*
Pocklington
Pocklington () is a market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, its population was 10,123. It lies east of York, and ...
(2)
*
Wheatley Hills (2)
*
Beverley
Beverley is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located north-west of Hull city centre. At the 2021 census the built-up area of the town had a population of 30,930, and the smaller civil parish had ...
(1)
*
Bradford & Bingley
Bradford & Bingley plc was a British bank with headquarters in the West Yorkshire town of Bingley.
The bank was formed in December 2000 by demutualisation of the Bradford & Bingley Building Society following a vote of the building society's me ...
(1)
*
Bradford Salem (1)
*
Bramley (1)
*
Bridlington Mariners (1)
*
Cleckheaton
Cleckheaton is a town in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Historic counties of England, Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is situated south of Bradford, east of Brighouse, west of Batley and so ...
(1)
*
Doncaster Phoenix (1)
*
Goole
Goole is a port town and civil parish on the River Ouse, Yorkshire, River Ouse in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The town's Historic counties of England, historic county is the West Riding of Yorkshire.
At the 2021 United Kingdom censu ...
(1)
*
Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. (1)
*
Hull (1)
*
Ilkley
Ilkley is a spa town and civil parish in the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, in Northern England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Ilkley civil parish includes the adjacent village of Ben Rhydding and is a ward within ...
(1)
*
Moortown (1)
*
North Ribblesdale (1)
*
Pontefract
Pontefract is a historic market town in the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district in West Yorkshire, England. It lies to the east of Wakefield and south of Castleford. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is one of the ...
(1)
*
Roundhegians (1)
*
Sandal
Sandals are an open type of shoe, consisting of a sole held to the wearer's foot by straps going over the instep and around the ankle. Sandals can also have a heel. While the distinction between sandals and other types of footwear can sometim ...
(1)
*
Sheffield Tigers (1)
*
West Leeds (1)
*
West Park Bramhope (1)
*
Yarnbury (1)
*
York
York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...
(1)
Notes
See also
*
Yorkshire RFU
*
English rugby union system
Men's Rugby union in England consists of 106 leagues, which includes professional leagues at the highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout the system.
Women's Rugby union in England consi ...
*
Rugby union in England
Rugby union in England is one of the leading professional and recreational team sports. In 1871 the Rugby Football Union, the governing body for rugby union in England, was formed by 21 rugby clubs, and the first international match, which invol ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yorkshire 1
7
Rugby union competitions in Yorkshire