Counties 2 Devon (formerly Devon League 1) is an English level eight
rugby union
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
league for clubs primarily based in
Devon
Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...
(and occasionally includes one Cornish club — St Columba & Torpoint). The champions are promoted to
Counties 1 Western West and relegation is to
Counties 3 Devon North & East or
Counties 3 Devon South & West.
Format
The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-six rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals, home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
* 4 points are awarded for a win
* 2 points are awarded for a draw
* 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
* 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
* 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.
The top two teams are promoted to Western Counties West and the bottom three teams are relegated to either Cornwall One or Devon One depending on their location.
2025-26
Departing were
Torquay Athletic promoted to
Counties 1 Western West while
Exmouth II (10th) were relegated to
Counties 3 Devon North & East together with Tamar Saracens (11th) and Plymouth Argaum, both relegated to
Counties 3 Devon South & West.
2024-25
Departing were
Barnstaple II, promoted to
Counties 1 Western West. North Tawton (11th) and
Ivybridge II (12th) and were relegated to
Counties 3 Devon North & East and
Counties 3 Devon South & West respectively.
Joining were Topsham 2XV and Dartmouth, promoted from
Counties 3 Devon North & East and
Counties 3 Devon South & West respectively.
2023-24
Departing were Tavistock, promoted to
Counties 1 Western West whilst
Brixham II were relegated to
Counties 3 Devon South & West. Joining were Old Plymothian & Mannamedian and Plymouth Argaum, promoted from
Counties 3 Devon East and
Counties 3 Devon West respectively.
2022-23
This was the first season following the
RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was a continuation of Devon League 1 in name only with just the top two sides included in the new line-up of clubs. It was closer in standard to the
Cornwall/Devon League (both being level 8) with four teams who played in that league the previous season included whilst the Cornish teams were allocated to
Counties 2 Cornwall. Post ACR club sides were permitted to enter the RFU pyramid so five 2XVs joined alongside Honiton relegated from
Western Counties West.
2021–22
2020–21
Due to the
ongoing pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
2019–20
2018–19
2017–18
2016–17
Participating clubs and locations
League table
Promotion play-off
Each season, the runners-up of
Cornwall 1 and Devon 1, usually participate in a play-off for promotion to
Cornwall/Devon. Newquay Hornets declined to play the match and Torrington were promoted.
2015–16
Participating clubs and locations
League table
Promotion play-off
Each season, the runners-up of
Cornwall 1 and Devon 1, usually participate in a play-off for promotion to
Cornwall/Devon. Camborne School of Mines were due to play Topsham, but it appears that Camborne School of Mines conceded.
2014–15
Plymouth Argaum are the champions and they are promoted to
Cornwall/Devon for season 2015–16.
The runner-up, Plymstock Albion Oaks won the play-off match against
Veor 47 – 3 to also win promotion. The last two teams Old Technicians (8th) and Torrington (9th) are relegated (subject to confirmation) to
Devon 2.
Participating clubs and locations
League table
Promotion play-off
Each season, the runners-up of
Cornwall 1 and Devon 1, participate in a play-off for promotion to
Cornwall/Devon. Plymouth Albion Oaks beat the home team Veor 47 – 3.
2013–14
The 2013–14 Devon 1 consisted of nine clubs; eight from Devon and one from Cornwall. The season started on 7 September 2013 and ended on 5 April 2014 with each team playing each of the other teams twice. South Molton finished in first place and were promoted to
Cornwall/Devon, while the runner-up, Totnes, lost to the second team in
Cornwall 1, Bodmin, in a play-off and stay in this league. The bottom team, Salcombe, were relegated to
Devon 2.
Participating clubs and locations
League table
2012–13
Participating clubs
* Dartmouth
* Exeter University
* New Cross
* Plymstock Albion Oaks
* Salcombe
* South Molton
* Topsham
* Torrington
* Totnes
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
*
Exeter Saracens
*
Honiton
Honiton () is a market town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, Devon, River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. Honiton has a population estimated at 12,154 (based on 2021 census).
History
The ...
*
Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe ( ) is a seaside resort and civil parishes in England, civil parish on the North Devon coast, England, with a small harbour surrounded by cliffs.
The parish stretches along the coast from the 'Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay towar ...
*
Ivybridge
Ivybridge is a town and civil parish in the South Hams, in Devon, England. It lies about east of Plymouth. It is at the southern extremity of Dartmoor, a National Park of England and Wales and lies along the A38 "Devon Expressway" road. The ...
*
Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge is a market town in the South Hams district of Devon, England, with a population of 6,116 at the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 census. Two electoral wards bear the name of ''Kingsbridge'' (East & North). Their combined population ...
*
Old Technicians
*
Plymouth Argaum
*
Plymouth Civil Service
*
Prince Rock
*
South Molton
*
Totnes
Totnes ( or ) is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England, within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is about west of Paignton, about west-southwest of Torquay and ab ...
Devon League 1 honours
Devon League 1 (1987–1993)
The original Devon 1 (sponsored by
Courage
Courage (also called bravery, valour ( British and Commonwealth English), or valor (American English)) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in ...
) was a tier 9 league with promotion to
Cornwall/Devon and relegation to
Devon 2.
Devon League 1 (1993–96)
The creation of
National 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Devon 1 became a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to
Cornwall/Devon and relegation to
Devon 2. The league continued to be sponsored by
Courage
Courage (also called bravery, valour ( British and Commonwealth English), or valor (American English)) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in ...
.
Devon League 1 (1996–2009)
The cancellation of
National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Devon League 1 return to being a tier 9 division. Promotion continued to
Cornwall/Devon and relegation to
Devon 2. From the 2008–09 season onward the league sponsor was
Tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of lands which the state con ...
.
Cornwall/Devon League (2009–2018)
Despite widespread league restructuring by the
RFU, Devon 1 continued as a tier 9 division, with promotion to
Cornwall/Devon and relegation to
Devon 2.
Tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of lands which the state con ...
continued to sponsor the league.
Devon League 1 (2018–present)
From the 2018–19 Devon 1 continued as a tier 9 division, with promotion to
Cornwall/Devon. However, the cancellation of
Devon 2 meant there was no longer relegation.
Tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of lands which the state con ...
continues to sponsor the league
Promotion play-offs
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of
Cornwall League 1 and Devon League 1 for the third and final promotion place to
Cornwall/Devon. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the Devon League 1 teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Cornwall League 1 teams five; and the home team has won promotion on twelve occasions compared to the away teams six.
Number of league titles
*
South Molton (4)
*
Old Plymothian & Mannamedian (3)
*
Wessex
The Kingdom of the West Saxons, also known as the Kingdom of Wessex, was an Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy, kingdom in the south of Great Britain, from around 519 until Alfred the Great declared himself as King of the Anglo-Saxons in 886.
The Anglo-Sa ...
(3)
*
Exeter Saracens (2)
*
Teignmouth
Teignmouth ( ) is a seaside town, fishing port and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign, about south of Exeter. The town had a population of 14 ...
(2)
*
Withycombe (2)
*
Devonport Services (1)
*
Exeter University
The University of Exeter is a research university in the West Country of England, with its main campus in Exeter, Devon. Its predecessor institutions, St Luke's College, Exeter School of Science, Exeter School of Art, and the Camborne School o ...
(1)
*
Exmouth
Exmouth is a harbor, port town, civil parishes in England, civil parish and seaside resort situated on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe, southeast of Exeter.
In 2011 it had a population of 34,432, making Exmouth the List of settl ...
(1)
*
Honiton
Honiton () is a market town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, Devon, River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. Honiton has a population estimated at 12,154 (based on 2021 census).
History
The ...
(1)
*
Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge is a market town in the South Hams district of Devon, England, with a population of 6,116 at the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 census. Two electoral wards bear the name of ''Kingsbridge'' (East & North). Their combined population ...
(1)
*
Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish on the River Teign in the Teignbridge, Teignbridge District of Devon, England. Its population was 24,029 in 2011, and was estimated at 26,655 in 2019. It grew rapidly in ...
(1)
*
North Tawton
North Tawton is a small town in Devon, England, situated on the river Taw. It is administered by West Devon Council. The population of the electoral ward at the census 2011 was 2,026.
History
Romans crossed the River Taw at what is now Newla ...
(1)
*
Okehampton
Okehampton ( ) is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. At the 2021 census, the parish had a population of 7,313, which was slightly more than the 7,104 recorded at the 2011 census. Th ...
(1)
*
Paignton
Paignton ( ) is a seaside town on the coast of Tor Bay in Devon, England. Together with Torquay and Brixham it forms the unitary authority, borough of Torbay which was created in 1968. The Torbay area is a holiday destination known as the Engli ...
(1)
*
Plymouth Argaum (1)
*
Plymouth Barbarians (1)
*
Plymouth Civil Service (1)
*
Sidmouth
Sidmouth () is a town on the English Channel in Devon, South West England, southeast of Exeter. With a population of 13,258 in 2021, it is a tourist resort and a gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. A large part of the town has ...
(1)
*
Tamar Saracens (1)
*
Tavistock
Tavistock ( ) is an ancient stannary and market town and civil parish in the West Devon district, in the county of Devon, England. It is situated on the River Tavy, from which its name derives. At the 2011 census, the three electoral wards (N ...
(1)
*
Torrington (1)
*
Totnes
Totnes ( or ) is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England, within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is about west of Paignton, about west-southwest of Torquay and ab ...
(1)
Tier nine format since 1987
Notes
See also
* South West Division RFU
* Devon RFU
* Devon 2
* Devon 3
* 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
{{Rugby union in England
9
Sports leagues established in 1987
Rugby union in Devon
Rugby union in Cornwall
1987 establishments in England