Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland

Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland
Current season or competition:
2025–26 Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland
SportRugby union
Instituted1987 (1987)
Number of teams12
CountryEngland
HoldersSunderland (1st title) (2024–25)
Most titlesHorden (4 titles)
WebsiteWebsite
Related competitionCounties 1 Yorkshire
Promotion toRegional 2 North
Relegation toCounties 2 Durham & Northumberland

Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland, formerly known as Durham/Northumberland 1 is an English amateur rugby union competition. The league consists of twelve clubs, and is in the seventh tier of the English rugby union system; one of the sixteen regional leagues and is the highest level of local rugby in North East England. The champions are promoted to Regional 2 North, a division with a wider geographical area that also encompasses the Yorkshire region. The last two clubs are relegated to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland.

Each season, two teams from the league are selected to take part in the RFU Intermediate Cup, a national competition for clubs in the seventh tier: one is affiliated with the Durham County RFU, the other is affiliated with the Northumberland RFU.

Clubs

Well known clubs have competed in Durham/Northumberland 1 throughout the league's history. Many of these clubs enjoyed success, mainly during the amateur era of rugby. These include Gosforth RFC who in the '70s enjoyed success, winning the John Player Cup in 1975–76 and 76–77; West Hartlepool who played in the Premiership in the 1990s; Northern who produced many international players; and Medicals, who have the rare distinction of having been the home club of two RFU Presidents. Clubs such as Alnwick RFC, Stockton RFC and Horden RFC have traditionally played in higher leagues and tend to finish towards the top of Durham/Northumberland 1.

Format

The champions are promoted to Regional 2 North. Teams are relegated to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland; with the number of teams relegated depending on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above.

The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two 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.

2025–26

Participating teams and location

Leaving the league were Sunderland promoted to Regional 2 North while Whitley Bay Rockcliff were relegated to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland.

2024–25

Participating teams and location

Leaving the league were Guisborough promoted to Regional 2 North while South Shields Westoe and Hartlepool Rovers were relegated to DN2. Replacing them were Stockton (relegated), Darlington and Horden and Peterlee (both promoted).

League table

2024–25 Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland[2]
Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
1 Sunderland (P) 22 22 0 0 918 382 536 19 0 107
2 Novocastrians 22 15 1 6 786 435 351 16 4 82
3 Peterlee & Horden 22 16 1 5 734 536 198 14 1 81
4 Medicals 22 15 0 7 851 500 351 17 4 81
5 Stockton 22 12 1 9 635 615 20 11 3 64
6 Ponteland 22 9 3 10 581 692 −111 12 3 57
7 Ryton 22 9 0 13 597 588 9 11 2 49
8 Darlington 22 9 0 13 500 751 −251 8 4 48
9 Acklam 22 7 1 14 537 653 −116 9 6 45
10 Bishop Auckland 22 7 0 15 536 626 −90 9 4 41
11 Hartlepool 22 5 1 16 483 807 −324 6 1 29
12 Whitley Bay Rockcliff 22 2 0 20 397 970 −573 6 4 18
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. 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: 22 November 2025

2023–24

Participating teams and location

Leaving the league were West Hartlepool promoted to Regional 2 North while Darlington and Horden and Peterlee were relegated to DN2. Replacing them were South Shields Westoe (relegated), Bishop Auckland and Ryton (both promoted).

League table

2023–24 Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland[3]
Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Pts adj
1 Guisborough (P) 22 18 0 4 723 390 333 15 0 87 0
2 Sunderland 22 17 0 5 759 359 400 15 4 87 0
3 Novocastrians 22 18 0 4 767 467 300 16 2 85 −5
4 Medicals 22 14 0 8 586 480 106 11 3 70 0
5 Ryton 22 12 0 10 708 459 249 10 6 64 0
6 Acklam 22 9 0 13 605 785 −180 15 1 53 +1
7 Bishop Auckland 22 9 0 13 551 553 −2 11 4 51 0
8 Ponteland 22 10 0 12 599 545 54 12 3 50 −5
9 Hartlepool 22 10 0 12 450 673 −223 9 1 50 0
10 Whitley Bay Rockcliff 22 7 0 15 527 817 −290 10 3 41 0
11 Hartlepool Rovers (R) 22 8 0 14 494 556 −62 5 3 40 0
12 South Shields Westoe (R) 22 0 0 22 260 945 −685 2 4 6 0
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. 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: 20 November 2025

2022–23

Participating teams and location

Leaving the league were Percy Park, Northern, South Shields Westoe, Stockton and Aspatria who were all promoted to Regional 2 North. There was no relegation.

League table

2022–23 Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland[4]
Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
1 West Hartlepool (P) 22 22 0 0 781 302 479 16 0 105
2 Sunderland 22 17 0 5 797 396 401 15 2 85
3 Medicals 22 15 1 6 673 339 334 15 3 80
4 Ponteland 22 12 0 10 532 506 26 12 2 62
5 Guisborough 22 10 0 12 531 473 58 9 6 55
6 Whitley Bay Rockcliff 22 11 0 11 467 454 13 7 2 53
7 Hartlepool 22 10 1 11 445 486 −41 7 3 52
8 Acklam 22 10 0 12 544 596 −52 10 2 52
9 Hartlepool Rovers 22 10 0 12 463 625 −162 8 2 50
10 Novocastrians 22 7 0 15 379 574 −195 6 1 35
11 Darlington (R) 22 4 0 18 362 611 −249 4 4 24
12 Horden & Peterlee (R) 22 3 0 19 278 890 −612 3 1 16
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. 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: 17 November 2025

2021–22

Participating teams and location

Middlesbrough finished runners-up in DN1 in 2019–20 but were level transferred to Yorkshire 1 for the current season, the space was taken by Aspatria RUFC who were level transferred from North 2 West.

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

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020–21 season meaning DN1 was not contested.[6]

2019–20

Participating teams and location

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

Durham/Northumberland 1 honours

Durham/Northumberland 1 (1987–1993)

The original Durham/Northumberland 1 was a tier 9 league with promotion to North East 2 and relegation to Durham/Northumberland 2.

Durham/Northumberland 1
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams
1987–88 11 Blyth Rockcliff Percy Park
1988–89 11 Rockcliff Mowden Park Winlanton Vulcans
1989–90 11 Ashington Horden Ponteland, Hartlepool
1990–91 11 Redcar Horden Whitby
1991–92 11 Horden Acklam[a] No relegation[b]
1992–93 13 Whitby Darlington Seghill, Hartlepool
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Durham/Northumberland 1 (1993–2000)

The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Durham/Northumberland 1 dropped to tier 10. 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 Durham/Northumberland 1 remain at tier 10 with promotion to the new North 3 East league.

Durham/Northumberland 1
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams
1993–94 13 Mowden Park Darlington Consett, Seaham
1994–95 13 Percy Park Sunderland Wallsend, Guisborough
1995–96 12 Darlington Sunderland North Durham, Ponteland
1996–97 10 West Hartlepool TDSOB Ryton Hartlepool, Guisborough, Novocastrians
1997–98 10 Ryton Acklam North Durham[c], Bishop Auckland
1998–99[7] 10 Medicals Acklam Blyth, North Shields
1999–00[8] 10 Consett Winlaton Vulcans Seghill, Novocastrians, Whitley Bay Rockcliff
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Durham/Northumberland 1 (2000–2022)

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 Durham/Northumberland 1 became a tier 7 league, with promotion to North 2 East (also known as North 1 East).

Durham/Northumberland 1
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Ref
2000–01 12 Westoe Durham City Medicals [9]
2001–02 12 Horden Ashington Winlaton Vulcans, Consett [10]
2002–03 12 Northern Hartlepool Rovers Ryton, Gosforth [11]
2003–04 12 Hartlepool Rovers Alnwick Houghton, Gateshead [12]
2004–05 12 Percy Park Durham City Ashington, Hartlepool [13]
2005–06 12 Horden Malton and Norton Acklam, West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B. [14]
2006–07 12 Gateshead Sunderland North Shields, Consett, Gosforth [15]
2007–08 12 Billingham Northern West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B., Ponteland [16]
2008–09 12 Hartlepool Rovers Percy Park No relegation[d] [17]
2009–10 14 Northern Team Northumbria Consett, Hartlepool [18]
2010–11 14 Gateshead Darlington Redcar, Wallsend [19]
2011–12 14 Darlington Alnwick Novocastrians, Ashington [20]
2012–13 14 Alnwick Guisborough Sunderland, Ryton [21]
2013–14 14 Horden Guisborough Bishop Auckland, Ponteland [22]
2014–15 14 Guisborough Morpeth Sunderland, Blyth [23]
2015–16 14 Durham City Middlesbrough Darlington, Ponteland [24]
2016–17 14 Northern South Shields Westoe Ryton, Hartlepool [25]
2017–18 14 Consett Durham City Redcar, Gosforth [26]
2018–19 14 Durham City West Hartlepool Whitby, Ponteland [27]
2019–20 14 Consett Middlesbrough Barnard Castle, North Shields, Gateshead [28]
2020–21 14 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22 14 Percy Park Northern No relegation [29]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland (2022–present)

Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Ref
2022–23 12 West Hartlepool Sunderland Darlington (11th) and Horden (12th) [4]
2023–24 12 Guisborough Sunderland Hartlepool Rovers (11th) and South Shields Westoe (12th) [3]
2024–25 12 Sunderland Novocastrians Rockcliff (12th) [2]

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.

Durham/Northumberland 1 v Yorkshire 1 promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[30] Wheatley Hills (Y) 21-19 Percy Park (DN)[e] Brunel Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
2001–02[31] Ashington (DN) 17-23 Scarborough (Y) Recreation Ground, Ashington, Northumberland
2002–03[32] York (Y) 29-15 Hartlepool Rovers (DN) Clifton Park, York, North Yorkshire
2003–04[33] Alnwick (DN) 25-18 Pontefract (Y) Greensfield, Alnwick, Northumberland
2004–05[34] Durham City (DN) 26-13 Wheatley Hills (Y) Hollow Drift, Durham, County Durham
2005–06[35] Malton and Norton (DN) 19-39 Old Crossleyans (Y) The Gannock, Malton, North Yorkshire
2006–07[36] Sunderland (DN) 16-18 York (Y) Ashbrooke Sports Club, Ashbrooke, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
2007–08[37] Northern (DN) 24-28 Ilkley (Y) McCracken Park, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
2008–09[38] Percy Park (DN) 36-3 Bridlington (Y) Preston Avenue, North Shields, Tyne and Wear
2009–10[39] Team Northumbria (DN) 34-13 Sheffield (Y) Coach Lane Sports Ground, Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
2010–11[40] Darlington (DN) 17-18 Sheffield (Y) Blackwell Meadows, Darlington, County Durham
2011–12[41] Alnwick (DN) 16-18 Keighley (Y) Greensfield, Alnwick, Northumberland
2012–13[42] Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. (Y) 33-12 Guisborough (DN) Laund Hill, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
2013–14[43] Dinnington (Y) 34-20 (aet) Guisborough (DN) Lodge Lane, Dinnington, South Yorkshire
2014–15[44] Morpeth (DN) 14-11 Malton and Norton (Y) Grange House Field, Morpeth, Northumberland
2015–16[45] Middlesbrough (DN) 17-25 Malton and Norton (Y) Acklam Park, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
2016–17[46] South Shields Westoe (DN) 14-19 West Leeds (Y) Wood Terrace, South Shields, Tyne and Wear
2017–18[47] Durham City (DN) AWO[f] Scarborough (Y) Hollow Drift, Durham, County Durham
2018–19[48] West Hartlepool (DN) 24-23 Heath (Y) Brinkburn, Hartlepool, County Durham
2019–20 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Heath (Y) - promoted instead.
2020–21 N/A N/A N/A Uncontested due to the coronavirus pandemic
2021–22 N/A N/A N/A Uncontested due the RFU Adult Competition Review
Green background is the promoted team. DN = Durham/Northumberland 1 and Y = Yorkshire 1

Number of league titles

Notes

  1. ^ Runners up Acklam along with Bishop Auckland were promoted to North East 2.
  2. ^ League restructuring meant no clubs were relegated and five clubs would be promoted from Durham/Northumberland 2
  3. ^ North Durham merged with Gateshead Fell at the end of this season and therefore ceased to exist as a club. As such they did not take up their position in Durham/Northumberland 2 the following season.
  4. ^ No relegation as division set to expand from 12 to 14 teams for the following season.
  5. ^ Despite finishing third in the 2000-01 Durham/Northumberland league, Percy Park went into the promotion playoff instead of runners up Durham City.[9]
  6. ^ Scarborough won by default as Durham City were unable to raise a team.[47]
  7. ^ Currently known as South Shields Westoe.

See also

References

  1. ^ Bill Mitchell, ed. (1988). "Durham City". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1988–89. Horsham: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 104.
  2. ^ a b "Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland". Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland". Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Counties 1 adm Lancashire & Cheshire". EnglandRugby. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  5. ^ Stephen McCormack, ed. (1997). "Aspatria R.U.F.C. (Club & Ground Details)". Tetley's Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1997–98 (10th ed.). Taunton: Tony Williams Publications Ltd. p. 362.
  6. ^ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  7. ^ "1998-99 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  8. ^ "1999-00 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  9. ^ a b "2000-01 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  10. ^ "2001-02 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  11. ^ "2002-03 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  12. ^ "2003-04 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  13. ^ "2004-05 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  14. ^ "2005-06 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  15. ^ "2006-07 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  16. ^ "2007-08 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  17. ^ "2008-09 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  18. ^ "2009-10 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  19. ^ "2010-11 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  20. ^ "2011-12 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  21. ^ "2012-13 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  22. ^ "2013-14 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  23. ^ "2014-15 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  24. ^ "2015-16 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  25. ^ "2016-17 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  26. ^ "2017-18 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  27. ^ "2018-19 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  28. ^ "Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  29. ^ "Durham/Northumberland One table 2021-2022". England Rugby. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  30. ^ "2000-01 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 5 May 2001.
  31. ^ "2001-02 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 18 May 2002.
  32. ^ "2002-03 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
  33. ^ "2003-04 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  34. ^ "2004-05 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 30 April 2006.
  35. ^ "2005-06 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  36. ^ "2006-07 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  37. ^ "2007-08 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  38. ^ "2008-09 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  39. ^ "2009-10 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 1 May 2010.
  40. ^ "2010-11 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 7 May 2011.
  41. ^ "2011-12 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 28 April 2012.
  42. ^ "2012-13 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 27 April 2013.
  43. ^ "2013-14 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2014.
  44. ^ "2014-15 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 25 April 2015.
  45. ^ "2015-16 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 30 April 2016.
  46. ^ "2016-17 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 29 April 2017.
  47. ^ a b "Skipper Jones' delight at promotion success". The Scarborough News. 4 May 2018.
  48. ^ "Play-offs: Heath sunk by West Hartlepool's late penalty". Halifax Courier. 28 April 2019.
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