Counties 1 Kent

Counties 1 Kent
Current season or competition:
2025–26 Counties 1 Kent
SportRugby union
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersCanterbury Pilgrims (2024–25)
Most titlesCanterbury Pilgrims (2 titles)
Website[1]

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,[1] Sussex Rugby[2] and the London & SE RFU.[3] (The locations in Greater London are all in areas that were historically part of Kent.)

The current champions are Canterbury Pilgrims.

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:

  • 4 points are awarded for a win.
  • 2 points are awarded for a draw.
  • 0 points are awarded for a loss.

In addition:

  • 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

Promotion is to Regional 2 South East and relegation is to either Counties 2 Kent or Counties 2 Sussex depending on location.

2025–26

Departing were Canterbury II and Bromley, both promoted to Regional 2 South East.

2024–25

Canterbury Pilgrims finished top but owing to league regulations were not permitted to be promoted to level 6.[4] Departing were Dartfordians promoted to Regional 2 South East as runner-up with Thanet being relegated to Counties 2 Kent.[5][6] With no team coming down from Regional 2 South East there was a reprieve for Charlton Park who finished 11th and would ordinarily have been relegated to Counties 2 Kent. Joining were Sevenoaks 2XV and Park House from Counties 2 Kent.[7]

League table

Counties 1 Kent 2024–25
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Adjust
1 Canterbury Pilgrims (P) 22 20 0 2 740 309 431 15 1 99 +2
2 Bromley (P) 22 18 1 3 748 419 329 13 3 90
3 Sevenoaks II 22 16 0 6 698 448 250 15 4 85 +2
4 Crowborough 22 12 0 10 486 419 67 13 5 67 +1
5 Beccehamian 22 12 0 10 607 450 157 12 5 66 +1
6 Dover 22 12 1 9 510 524 −14 9 4 64 +1
7 Heathfield & Waldron 22 11 0 11 571 457 114 11 5 60
8 Park House 22 8 0 14 532 605 −73 9 7 48
9 Deal & Betteshanger 22 9 0 13 418 726 −308 6 2 44
10 Ashford 22 7 0 15 364 598 −234 6 4 38
11 Cranbrook 22 3 0 19 297 715 −418 4 3 9 −10
12 Charlton Park 22 3 0 19 284 585 −301 4 1 2 −15
  • 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 are the promotion places. Pink background are the relegation places.
Updated: 12 January 2024
Source:[8]

2023–24

Departing were Old Alleynians promoted to Regional 2 South East, while Folkestone and Aylesford Bulls were relegated to Counties 2 Kent.[9][10] In their place came Dover and Canterbury Pilgrims both promoted as 'joint champions' from Counties 2 Kent, whilst Dartfordians were relegated from Regional 2 South East.[11]

League table

Counties 1 Kent 2023–24
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Adjust
C Canterbury Pilgrims 22 20 0 2 846 439 407 18 0 98
2 Dartfordians 22 17 1 4 692 444 248 19 1 90
3 Beccehamian 22 18 1 3 839 299 540 16 1 86 −5
4 Bromley 22 15 1 6 621 416 205 13 3 79
5 Crowborough 22 14 2 6 530 463 67 9 1 70
6 Dover 22 9 1 12 466 548 −82 9 3 50
7 Heathfield & Waldron 22 8 2 12 459 469 −10 7 6 50
8 Deal & Betteshanger 22 8 0 14 403 582 −179 6 4 42
9 Ashford 22 6 0 16 345 518 −173 3 3 30
10 Cranbrook 22 4 1 17 388 756 −368 4 4 26
11 Charlton Park 22 5 0 17 371 684 −313 5 3 23 −5
12 Thanet Wanderers (R) 22 3 1 18 378 720 −342 4 3 21
  • 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 are the relegation places.
Updated: 25 June 2024
Source:[12]

2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 2 South East with the teams placed 5th to 12th returning. The teams finishing 1st to 4th were promoted to Regional 2 South East (level 6) with the top four teams promoted from London 3 South East (level 8).[13]

League table

Counties 1 Kent 2022–23
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Adjust
1 Old Alleynians (P) 22 20 0 2 890 257 633 16 1 97
2 Bromley 22 16 0 6 575 316 259 12 1 77
3 Beccehamian 22 14 0 8 596 381 215 11 4 71
4 Heathfield & Waldron 22 14 0 8 468 486 −18 9 3 68
5 Charlton Park 22 14 0 8 525 537 −12 10 1 67
6 Cranbrook 22 12 0 10 538 511 27 10 1 59
7 Ashford 22 12 0 10 440 399 41 4 4 56
8 Deal & Betteshanger 22 11 0 11 448 507 −39 7 3 55
9 Crowborough 22 8 0 14 443 552 −109 7 1 35 −5
10 Thanet Wanderers 22 7 0 15 309 593 −284 5 0 33
11 Folkestone (R) 22 3 0 19 346 797 −451 5 4 21
12 Aylesford Bulls (R) 22 1 0 21 341 603 −262 3 6 13
  • 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 are the relegation places.
Source:[16]

Counties 1 Kent honours (2022–present)

Following the RFU Adult Competition Review, eight teams finishing 5th to 12th were transferred from London 2 South East and the top four from London 3 South East were promoted to this league. Promotion is to Regional 2 South East and relegation to Counties 2 Kent or Counties 2 Sussex.

Counties 1 Kent
Season No of teams Champions Runner-up Relegated team(s) Ref
2022–23 12 Old Alleynian Bromley Folkestone (11th) and Aylesford Bulls (12th) [16]
2023–24 12 Canterbury Pilgrims Dartfordians Thanet Wanderers (12th) [12]
2024–25 12 Canterbury Pilgrims Bromley No relegation [8]
Green background is the promotion place(s).

See also

References

  1. ^ "RFU Leagues". Surrey Rugby. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Mens [sic] Leagues". Sussex Rugby. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  3. ^ "RFU League Statistics". L&SE RFU. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  4. ^ "PILGRIMS ARE CHAMPIONS". Canterbury RFC. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Dartfordians RFC celebrating 100th anniversary season with promotion and a lunch in support of the IPF". RFU Injured Players Foundation. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Relegation looks certain for Wanderers". Isle of Thanet News. 25 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Sevenoaks 2s are Kent Champions!". Local Sports News. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Counties 1 Kent 2024–25". Rugby England. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Old Alleynians 1XV win the League with a record win!". Old Alleynians. 19 March 2023.
  10. ^ "RELEGATION LOOMS FOR FOLKESTONE AFTER ANOTHER LOSS". Folkestone RFC. 12 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Player-coach Martyn Beaumont on Dover Rugby Club being named 'joint-champions' of Kent 2 with Canterbury 2nds". Kent Online. 9 April 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Counties 1 Kent 2023-24". England Rugby. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Rugby union competition structure gets overhaul ahead of the 2022/23 season". Kent Online. 28 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Addition to the coaching team for next season". Bromley RFC. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Deal & Betteshanger coach Danny Vaughan reacts to news the club will be playing in new Counties 1 Kent Division following Rugby Football Union's restructure". Kent Online. 11 June 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Counties 1 Kent 2022–23". Rugby England. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
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