Counties 1 Eastern Counties (formerly London 2 North East) is an English level 7
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. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 3 North East, changing to its current name ahead of the 2009–10 season. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 1 Eastern Counties.
Promoted teams move up to
Regional 2 Anglia
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 Ad ...
whilst relegated teams go to
Counties 2 Eastern Counties.
Participating Clubs 2025-26
Departing were Norwich promoted to
Regional 2 Anglia
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 Ad ...
while Cantabrigian (12th) and
Diss (11th) were relegated to
Counties 2 Eastern Counties.
Participating Clubs 2024-25
Departing were Wymondham, promoted to
Regional 2 Anglia
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 Ad ...
while Wisbeach (12th) West Norfolk (11th) and Ipswich Y.M. (10th) were relegated to
Counties 2 Eastern Counties.
Participating Clubs 2023-24
Departing were Saffron Walden and Holt, promoted to
Regional 2 Anglia
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 Ad ...
as champions and runners-up respectively while Thurston were relegated to
Counties 2 Eastern Counties.
Participating Clubs 2022-23
This was the first season following the
RFU
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for rugby union in England. It was founded in 1871, and was the sport's international governing body prior to the formation of what is now known as World Rugby (WR) in 1886. It prom ...
Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 1 Eastern Counties.
Six teams returned and the league was supplemented with four teams from the upper end of
London 3 Eastern Counties and two reserve sides.
The London and Essex teams moved to
Counties 1 Essex
Counties 1 Essex is an English level 7 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Essex and Greater London. Administration of the leagues is divided between Essex Rugby and the Lon ...
or were promoted to
Regional 2 Anglia
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 Ad ...
.
Teams for 2021–22
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.
Season 2020–21
On 30 October the RFU announced that 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 London 2 North East was not contested.
Teams for 2019–20
Teams for 2018–19
Teams for 2017–18
Teams for 2016-17
*Campion
*Cantabrigian
*
Diss
*Epping Upper Clapton (promoted from
London 3 North East
London 3 North East was an English rugby union league that was the eighth level of club rugby union in England and was available to sides from north east London, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Promoted clubs move into London 2 Nor ...
)
*Holt
*Ipswich
*Norwich
*Old Cooperians (promoted from
London 3 North East
London 3 North East was an English rugby union league that was the eighth level of club rugby union in England and was available to sides from north east London, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Promoted clubs move into London 2 Nor ...
)
*
Rochford Hundred
*
Romford & Gidea Park
*South Woodham Ferrers
*Woodford (transferred from London 2 North West)
Teams for 2015-16
*Basildon
*Campion
*Cantabrigian (promoted from
London 3 North East
London 3 North East was an English rugby union league that was the eighth level of club rugby union in England and was available to sides from north east London, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Promoted clubs move into London 2 Nor ...
)
*
Diss
*Holt
*Ipswich (relegated from
London 1 North
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 ...
)
*Norwich
*
Rochford Hundred
*
Romford & Gidea Park (relegated from
London 1 North
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 ...
)
*Saffron Walden
*South Woodham Ferrers
*
Sudbury Sudbury may refer to:
Places Australia
* Sudbury Reef, Queensland
Canada
* Greater Sudbury, Ontario
** Sudbury (federal electoral district)
** Sudbury (provincial electoral district)
** Sudbury Airport
** Sudbury Basin, a meteorite impact cra ...
(promoted from
London 3 North East
London 3 North East was an English rugby union league that was the eighth level of club rugby union in England and was available to sides from north east London, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Promoted clubs move into London 2 Nor ...
)
Teams for 2014-15
*Basildon
*Braintree
*Campion (promoted from
London 3 North East
London 3 North East was an English rugby union league that was the eighth level of club rugby union in England and was available to sides from north east London, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Promoted clubs move into London 2 Nor ...
)
*
Chelmsford
Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London ...
*
Diss (relegated from
London 1 North
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 ...
)
*Enfield Ignatians
*Holt
*Norwich
*Old Cooperians (promoted from
London 3 North East
London 3 North East was an English rugby union league that was the eighth level of club rugby union in England and was available to sides from north east London, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Promoted clubs move into London 2 Nor ...
)
*
Rochford Hundred
*Saffron Walden
*South Woodham Ferrers
Teams for 2013-14
*Basildon (relegated from
London 1 North
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 ...
)
*Braintree
*
Chelmsford
Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London ...
*Enfield Ignatians
*Holt
*Ipswich
*Lowestoft & Yarmouth
*Norwich (promoted from
London 3 North East
London 3 North East was an English rugby union league that was the eighth level of club rugby union in England and was available to sides from north east London, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Promoted clubs move into London 2 Nor ...
)
*
Rochford Hundred
*Saffron Walden
*South Woodham Ferrers
*Stowmarket
Teams for 2012-13
*Braintree
*
Chelmsford
Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London ...
*Enfield Ignatians
*Holt
*Ipswich
*Lowestoft & Yarmouth
*
North Walsham
North Walsham is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the North Norfolk district of the county of Norfolk, England. The town is located south of Cromer and Norwich is south.
Demography
The civil parish has an area of ...
*Old Streetonians
*Saffron Walden
*Stevenage Town
*Stowmarket
*Woodford
Teams for 2009-2010
*Beccles
*Braintree
*Canvey Island
*
Chelmsford
Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London ...
*Enfield Ignatians
*
Harlow
Harlow is a town and local government district located in the west of Essex, England. Founded as a Planned community, new town in 1947, it is situated on the border with Hertfordshire, and occupies a large area of land on the south bank of the ...
*Ipswich
*Old Streetonians
*
Rochford Hundred
*
Romford & Gidea Park
*Saffron Walden
*
Sudbury Sudbury may refer to:
Places Australia
* Sudbury Reef, Queensland
Canada
* Greater Sudbury, Ontario
** Sudbury (federal electoral district)
** Sudbury (provincial electoral district)
** Sudbury Airport
** Sudbury Basin, a meteorite impact cra ...
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as London 3 North East) contained the following teams:
*
Barking
Barking may refer to:
Places
* Barking, London, a town in East London, England
** London Borough of Barking, 1965–1980
** Municipal Borough of Barking, 1931–1965
** Barking (UK Parliament constituency)
** Barking (electoral division), Greater ...
*
Brentwood
*
Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds (), commonly referred to locally as ''Bury,'' is a cathedral as well as market town and civil parish in the West Suffolk District, West Suffolk district, in the county of Suffolk, England.OS Explorer map 211: Bury St. Edmunds an ...
*
Chingford
Chingford is a suburban town in east London, England, within the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The centre of Chingford is north-east of Charing Cross, with Waltham Abbey to the north, Woodford Green and Buckhurst Hill to the east, Walt ...
*
Colchester
Colchester ( ) is a city in northeastern Essex, England. It is the second-largest settlement in the county, with a population of 130,245 at the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 Census. The demonym is ''Colcestrian''.
Colchester occupies the ...
*
Eton Manor
Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre is a sports and leisure venue located in Leyton, London Borough of Waltham Forest, to the north of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is regularly used for international field hockey fixtures by both the Great ...
*
Ipswich YMCA
*
Old Cantabrigian
*
Old Westcliffians
*
Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden is a market town and civil parish in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England, north of Bishop's Stortford, south of Cambridge and north of London. It retains a rural appearance and some buildings of the medieval period. Th ...
London 2 North East Honours
London 3 North East (1987–1993)
Originally known as London 3 North East, this division was a tier 7 league with promotion up to
London 2 North
London 2 North is a Tier 6 English Rugby Union League. It is one of two London-area leagues at this level (the other being London 2 South).
References
6
3
{{London-sport-stub ...
and relegation down to
Eastern Counties 1
Eastern Counties 1 was an English level 9 Rugby Union League. From the 2017-18 promoted teams move up to the newly created London 3 Eastern Counties with the league champions going up automatically, while relegated teams drop down to Eastern ...
.
London 3 North East (1993–1996)
At the end of the 1992–93 season, the top six teams from
London 1
Regional 1 South East (formerly known as London & South East Premier and National League 3 London & 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 ...
and the top six from
South West 1 were combined to create
National 5 South. This meant that London 3 North East dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to
London 2 North
London 2 North is a Tier 6 English Rugby Union League. It is one of two London-area leagues at this level (the other being London 2 South).
References
6
3
{{London-sport-stub ...
and
Eastern Counties 1
Eastern Counties 1 was an English level 9 Rugby Union League. From the 2017-18 promoted teams move up to the newly created London 3 Eastern Counties with the league champions going up automatically, while relegated teams drop down to Eastern ...
respectively.
London 3 North East (1996–2000)
The cancellation of
National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that London 3 North East reverted to being a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to
London 2 North
London 2 North is a Tier 6 English Rugby Union League. It is one of two London-area leagues at this level (the other being London 2 South).
References
6
3
{{London-sport-stub ...
and
Eastern Counties 1
Eastern Counties 1 was an English level 9 Rugby Union League. From the 2017-18 promoted teams move up to the newly created London 3 Eastern Counties with the league champions going up automatically, while relegated teams drop down to Eastern ...
respectively.
London 3 North East (2000–2009)
London 3 North East continued to be a tier 7 league with promotion up to
London 2 North
London 2 North is a Tier 6 English Rugby Union League. It is one of two London-area leagues at this level (the other being London 2 South).
References
6
3
{{London-sport-stub ...
. However, the introduction of
London 4 North East ahead of the 2000–01 season meant that clubs were now relegated into this new division instead of into
Eastern Counties 1
Eastern Counties 1 was an English level 9 Rugby Union League. From the 2017-18 promoted teams move up to the newly created London 3 Eastern Counties with the league champions going up automatically, while relegated teams drop down to Eastern ...
.
London 2 North East (2009–2017)
Nationwide league restructuring by the
RFU
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for rugby union in England. It was founded in 1871, and was the sport's international governing body prior to the formation of what is now known as World Rugby (WR) in 1886. It prom ...
ahead of the 2009–10 season saw London 3 North East renamed as London 2 North East. It remained at level 7 with promotion to
London 1 North
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 ...
(formerly London 2 North) and relegation to
London 3 North East
London 3 North East was an English rugby union league that was the eighth level of club rugby union in England and was available to sides from north east London, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Promoted clubs move into London 2 Nor ...
(formerly London 4 North East).
London 2 North East (2017–present)
Further restructuring ahead of the 2017–18 season, which included the cancellation of
London 3 North East
London 3 North East was an English rugby union league that was the eighth level of club rugby union in England and was available to sides from north east London, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Promoted clubs move into London 2 Nor ...
and introduction of
London 3 Eastern Counties or
London 3 Essex
London 3 Essex was an English rugby union league at the eighth level of the English rugby union system and was available to club sides based in Essex and north-east London. Promoted teams moved up to London 2 North East with league champions g ...
, meant that relegation was now to either of these new leagues. Overwise, London 2 North East was unchanged, remaining as a tier 7 division with promotion continuing to
London 1 North
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 ...
.
Promotion play-offs
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of London 2 North East and
London 2 North West
Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex (formerly London 2 North West) 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 ...
for the third and final promotion place to
London 1 North
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 ...
. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2018–10 season the London 2 North East and London 2 North West teams are tied on nine wins apiece, and the home team has won promotion on fourteen occasions compared to the away teams five.
Number of league titles
*
Rochford Hundred (4)
*
Romford & Gidea Park (3)
*
Chingford
Chingford is a suburban town in east London, England, within the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The centre of Chingford is north-east of Charing Cross, with Waltham Abbey to the north, Woodford Green and Buckhurst Hill to the east, Walt ...
(2)
*
Diss (2)
*
Chelmsford
Chelmsford () is a city in the City of Chelmsford district in the county of Essex, England. It is the county town of Essex and one of three cities in the county, along with Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. It is located north-east of London ...
(2)
*
Eton Manor
Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre is a sports and leisure venue located in Leyton, London Borough of Waltham Forest, to the north of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is regularly used for international field hockey fixtures by both the Great ...
(2)
*
Ipswich
Ipswich () is a port town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in Suffolk, England. It is the county town, and largest in Suffolk, followed by Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds, and the third-largest population centre in East Anglia, ...
(2)
*
Shelford (2)
*
Barking
Barking may refer to:
Places
* Barking, London, a town in East London, England
** London Borough of Barking, 1965–1980
** Municipal Borough of Barking, 1931–1965
** Barking (UK Parliament constituency)
** Barking (electoral division), Greater ...
(1)
*
Brentwood (1)
*
Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds (), commonly referred to locally as ''Bury,'' is a cathedral as well as market town and civil parish in the West Suffolk District, West Suffolk district, in the county of Suffolk, England.OS Explorer map 211: Bury St. Edmunds an ...
(1)
*
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...
(1)
*
Colchester
Colchester ( ) is a city in northeastern Essex, England. It is the second-largest settlement in the county, with a population of 130,245 at the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 Census. The demonym is ''Colcestrian''.
Colchester occupies the ...
(1)
*
Harlow
Harlow is a town and local government district located in the west of Essex, England. Founded as a Planned community, new town in 1947, it is situated on the border with Hertfordshire, and occupies a large area of land on the south bank of the ...
(1)
*
Lowestoft & Yarmouth (1)
*
North Walsham
North Walsham is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the North Norfolk district of the county of Norfolk, England. The town is located south of Cromer and Norwich is south.
Demography
The civil parish has an area of ...
(1)
*
Norwich
Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of the county of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. It lies by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. The population of the Norwich ...
(1)
*
Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden is a market town and civil parish in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England, north of Bishop's Stortford, south of Cambridge and north of London. It retains a rural appearance and some buildings of the medieval period. Th ...
(1)
*
Southend
Southend-on-Sea (), commonly referred to as Southend (), is a coastal city and unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in south-eastern Essex, England. It lies on the nor ...
(1)
*
Thurrock
Thurrock () is a unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Essex, England. It lies on the north bank of the River ...
(1)
*
Westcliff
Westcliff-on-Sea (previously known as Milton, often abbreviated to Westcliff, and in the past spelt as Westcliffe-on-Sea) is a suburb of the city of Southend-on-Sea, located within the ceremonial county of Essex, England. It is on the north sh ...
(1)
*
Woodford (1)
Notes
See also
*
London & SE Division RFU
*
Eastern Counties RFU
*
Essex 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
External links
London 2 North East results at the Rugby Football Union
{{Rugby union in England
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