London 2 North East

Counties 1 Eastern Counties
Current season or competition:
2025–26 Counties 1 Eastern Counties
SportRugby union
Instituted1987 (1987) 1987 (1987) (as London 3 North East)
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersNorwich (2024–25)
Most titlesRochford Hundred (4 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

Counties 1 Eastern Counties (formerly London 2 North East) is an English level 7 Rugby Union League.[1] 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.

The current champions are Norwich.

Format

The champions are promoted to Regional 2 Anglia. The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above, but is usually to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.

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 clubs and locations

Departing were Norwich promoted to Regional 2 Anglia while Cantabrigian (12th) and Diss (11th) were relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.

2024–25

Participating clubs and locations

Departing were the champons Wymondham, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia while Ipswich Y.M. (10th), West Norfolk (11th) and Wisbech (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties. Joining were Saffron Walden (11th) and Norwich (12th) both relegated from Regional 2 Anglia, while the champions Colchester II and the runner-up Newmarket were both promoted from Counties 2 Eastern Counties.

League table

Counties 1 Eastern Counties 2024–25
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
1 Norwich (P) 22 22 0 0 1038 351 687 21 0 109
2 Newmarket 22 15 2 5 668 515 153 13 2 79
3 Southwold 22 15 1 6 742 491 251 13 2 77
4 Ipswich 22 13 0 9 748 511 237 15 4 71
5 Saffron Walden 22 10 0 12 539 608 −69 10 7 57
6 Shelford II 22 10 0 12 530 694 −164 9 5 54
7 Ely 22 9 0 13 535 689 −154 11 5 52
8 North Walsham II 22 9 1 12 461 632 −171 11 2 51
9 Bury St Edmunds II 22 8 0 14 604 629 −25 12 7 51
10 Colchester II 22 7 0 15 644 689 −45 16 6 50
11 Diss (R) 22 6 0 16 418 617 −199 6 7 37
12 Cantabrigian (R) 22 6 0 16 404 905 −501 8 3 35
  • 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: 5 January 2026
Source:[3]

2023–24

Participating clubs and location

Departing were Saffron Walden and Holt, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia as champions and runner-up respectively, while Thurston (12th) was relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.

League table

Counties 1 Eastern Counties 2023–24
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Points deducted
1 Wymondham (P) 22 19 0 3 797 338 459 13 2 91
2 Ipswich 22 16 0 6 625 392 233 15 4 85 +2
3 Bury St Edmunds II 22 16 0 6 799 455 344 15 2 81
4 Shelford II 22 16 0 6 638 468 170 16 0 81 +1
5 Southwold 22 14 0 8 585 410 175 12 4 73 +1
6 Ely 22 14 0 8 705 369 336 12 2 65 +5
7 Cantabrigian 22 11 0 11 688 724 −36 12 0 56
8 Diss 22 8 0 14 349 683 −344 3 3 40 +2
9 North Walsham II 22 5 0 17 387 780 −393 6 1 27
10 Ipswich Y M (R) 22 4 1 17 382 612 −230 5 3 27 +1
11 West Norfolk (R) 22 6 0 16 285 697 −412 4 2 25 −5
12 Wisbech (R) 22 2 1 19 318 630 −312 5 3 8 −10
  • 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: 4 January 2026
Source:[4]

2022–23

Participating clubs and location

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 1 Eastern Counties.[5] Six teams returned and the league was supplemented with the top four teams from London 3 Eastern Counties and two reserve sides. Essex and London teams transferred to Counties 1 Essex or were promoted to Regional 2 Anglia.

League table

Counties 1 Eastern Counties 2022–23
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Points deducted
1 Saffron Walden (P) 22 22 0 0 831 239 592 17 0 106 +1
2 Holt (P) 22 18 0 4 771 508 263 17 0 90 +1
3 Wymondham 22 13 1 8 554 413 141 11 5 70
4 Shelford II 22 12 1 9 657 581 76 10 1 61
5 Ely 22 12 0 10 574 504 70 9 2 59
6 Southwold 22 10 1 11 487 505 −18 7 4 54 +1
7 Cantabrigian 22 9 1 12 493 719 −226 11 0 49
8 Bury St Edmunds II 22 9 1 12 545 485 60 9 3 45 −5
9 Ipswich Y M 22 6 2 14 400 597 −197 7 7 42
10 West Norfold 22 7 0 15 448 730 −282 10 2 41 −1
11 Diss 22 5 0 17 505 755 −250 10 4 34
12 Thurston (R) 22 5 1 16 370 599 −229 3 4 29
  • 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: 3 January 2026
Source:[6]

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 [8] that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 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

Teams for 2015–16

Teams for 2014–15

Teams for 2013–14

Teams for 2012–13

  • Braintree
  • Chelmsford
  • Enfield Ignatians
  • Holt
  • Ipswich
  • Lowestoft & Yarmouth
  • North Walsham
  • Old Streetonians
  • Saffron Walden
  • Stevenage Town
  • Stowmarket
  • Woodford

Teams for 2009–10

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as London 3 North East) contained the following teams:

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 to London 2 North and relegation to Eastern Counties 1.[10]

London 3 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams
1987–88 11 Barking Eton Manor Bury St Edmunds
1988–89 11 Eton Manor Chingford Ipswich YMCA
1989–90 11 Chingford Harlow Metropolitan Police (Chigwell)
1990–91 11 Harlow Romford & Gidea Park West Norfolk
1991–92 11 Cambridge Old Edwardians No relegation
1992–93 13 Brentwood Rochford Hundred Old Cantabrigian, Canvey Island
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 North East (1993–1996)

At the end of the 1992–93 season, the top six teams from London 1 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 and Eastern Counties 1 respectively.

London 3 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners-up Relegated teams
1993–94 13 Romford & Gidea Park Ipswich Saffron Walden, Westcliff
1994–95 13 Colchester Rochford Hundred Woodbridge, Basildon
1995–96 13 Ipswich Lowestoft & Yarmouth Shelford, Campion
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

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 and Eastern Counties 1 respectively.

London 3 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Ref
1996–97 13 Diss Chingford [c] No relegation [d]
1997–98 17 Lowestoft & Yarmouth Bury St Edmunds Upminster
1998–99 17 Chelmsford Shelford Bancroft, Old Edwardians and Woodbridge [11]
1999–00 17 Rochford Hundred Basildon Multiple teams [e] [12]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 North East (2000–2009)

London 3 North East continued to be a tier 7 league with promotion to London 2 North. 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.

London 3 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Ref
2000–01 10 Southend Rochford Hundred Lowestoft & Yarmouth, Braintree and Campion [13]
2001–02 10 Shelford Basildon Chelmsford [14]
2002–03 10 Romford & Gidea Park Saffron Walden Basildon, Wymondham, West Norfolk and Rochford Hundred [15]
2003–04 10 Shelford Hadleigh No relegation [f] [16]
2004–05 12 Chingford Romford & Gidea Park Braintree, Chelmsford [17]
2005–06 12 Eton Manor Diss Sudbury, Saffron Walden [18]
2006–07 12 Bury St Edmunds Harlow Campion [19]
2007–08 12 Westcliff Diss Colchester, Ipswich [20]
2008–09 12 Rochford Hundred Brentwood No relegation [g] [21]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 2 North East (2009–2017)

Nationwide league restructuring by the RFU 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 (formerly London 2 North) and relegation to London 3 North East (formerly London 4 North East).

London 2 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Ref
2009–10 12 Thurrock Colchester Mersea Island and Norwich [22]
2010–11 12 Rochford Hundred Braintree Harlow and Sudbury [23]
2011–12 12 Romford & Gidea Park Basildon Canvey Island and Beccles [24]
2012–13 12 North Walsham Woodford Stevenage Town and Old Streetonians [25]
2013–14 12 Ipswich Saffron Walden Lowestoft & Yarmouth and Stowmarket [26]
2014–15 11 Chelmsford Diss Old Cooperians [h] [27]
2015–16 12 Saffron Walden Sudbury Basildon [i] [29]
2016–17 12 Diss South Woodham Ferrers Campion and Holt [30]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 2 North East (2017–present)

Further restructuring ahead of the 2017–18 season, which included the cancellation of London 3 North East and introduction of London 3 Eastern Counties or London 3 Essex, 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. Following league restructuring in 2022, four teams were promoted to Regional 2 Anglia.

London 2 North East
Season No of teams Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Ref
2017–18 12 Rochford Hundred Sudbury Old Cooperians, Epping Upper Clapton, Chelmsford [31]
2018–19 12 Woodford Romford & Gidea Park Basildon, Harlow, Cantabrigian [32]
2019–20 12 Norwich Southwold Epping, Holt, Romford & Gidea Park [33]
2020–21 12 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22 12 Woodford Ipswich Stowmarket (3rd) and Chelmsford (4th), (also promoted). South Woodham (12th) relegated to Counties 1 Essex.
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Counties 1 Eastern Counties (2022– )

Following league reorganisation, London 2 North East is renamed Counties 1 Eastern Counties and continues to be a tier 7 league. Promotion is to Regional 2 Anglia and relegation to Counties 2 Eastern Counties

Counties 1 Eastern Counties
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners-up Relegated team(s) Ref
2022–23 12 22 Saffron Walden Holt Thurston (12th) [6]
2023–24 12 22 Wymondham Ipswich Ipswich Y M (10th), West Norfolk (11th) and Wisbech (12th) [4]
2024–25 12 22 Norwich Newmarket Diss (11th) and Cantabrigian (12th) [3]
Green background is the promotion place.

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 for the third and final promotion place to London 1 North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2018–19 season, the London 2 North East teams had ten wins to London 2 North West nine, and the home team won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.

London 2 (north-east v north-west) promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Att/Ref
2000–01 Twickenham (NW) 44–8 Rochford Hundred (NE) Parkfields, Hampton, Greater London [34]
2001–02 Letchworth Garden City (NW) 31–22 Basildon (NE) Baldock Road, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire [35]
2002–03 Ealing Trailfinders (NW) 36–12 Saffron Walden (NE) Trailfinders Sports Ground, Ealing, London [36]
2003–04 St Albans (2nd XV) (NW) 5–22 Hadleigh (NE) Oaklands Land, St Albans, Hertfordshire [37]
2004–05 Bank of England (NW) 39–0 Romford and Gidea Park (NE) Bank Lane, Roehampton, Greater London

[38]

2005–06 Tring (NW) 19–5 Diss (NE) Cow Lane, Tring, Hertfordshire [39]
2006–07 Welwyn (NW) 19–6 Harlow (NE) Hobbs Way, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire [40]
2007–08 Diss (NE) 50–15 Imperial Medicals (NW) Mackenders, Roydon, Norfolk [41]
2008–09 Brentwood (NE) 23–15 Hampstead (NW) King George's Playing Fields, Brentwood, Essex [42]
2009–10 Hammersmith & Fulham (NW) 22–29 Colchester (NE) Hurlingham Park, Fulham, London [43]
2010–11 Braintree (NE) 24–14 Harpenden (NW) Robbs Wood, Braintree, Essex 300 [44]
2011–12 Basildon (NE) 38–13 Stevenage (NW) Gardiners Close, Basildon, Essex [45]
2012–13 Hemel Hempstead (NW) 13–16 (aet) Woodford (NE) Chaulden Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire 500 [46]
2013–14 Twickenham (NW) 44–43 Saffron Walden (NE) Parkfields, Hampton, Greater London [47]
2014–15 Diss (NE) 13–16 Chiswick (NW) Mackenders, Roydon, Norfolk [48]
2015–16 Sudbury (NE) 22–18 Hammersmith & Fulham (NW) Whittham Field, Sudbury, Suffolk [49]
2016–17 H.A.C. (NW) 48–7 [j] South Woodham Ferrers (NE) Artillery Ground, Finsbury, London [51]
2017–18 Hampstead (NW) 7–37 Sudbury (NE) Parliament Hill Fields, Highgate, Camden, London [52]
2018–19 Harpenden (NW) 60–6 Romford and Gidea Park (NE) Redbourn Lane, Harpenden, Hertfordshire [53]
2019–20 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner-up – Hammersmith & Fulham (NW) – promoted.
2020–21 No play-off due to league reorganisation
Green background is the promoted team.(NE) = London 2 North East (formerly London 3 North East) and (NW) = London 2 North West (formerly London 3 North West)

Number of league titles

  • (Updated to 2025)

Notes

  1. ^ Currently known as Cantabrigian RUFC.
  2. ^ Currently known as Westcliff RFC.
  3. ^ 3rd place Braintree also promoted.
  4. ^ No relegation as league was set to expand from 13 to 17 teams for the following season.
  5. ^ The creation of London 4 North East for the following season meant that eleven teams were relegated. Maldon, Colchester and Eton Manor dropped two divisions to Eastern Counties 1, while Newmarket, Holt, Ely, West Norfolk, Hadleigh, Canvey Island, Bury St Edmunds and Thetford went into the new London 4 North East division.
  6. ^ Due to league restructure from 10 to 12 teams for the 2004–05 season there was no relegation.
  7. ^ There was no relegation this year as the division was renamed London Division 2 North East for the 2009–10 season and along with the whole national restructure of the league system by the RFU lead to mass changes at all levels.
  8. ^ Only one team went down this season due to league returning to 12 teams for the following season.
  9. ^ Only one team went down this season as 11th placed Campion were given a reprieve due to East Grinstead dropping out of National League 3 London & SE due to financial difficulties.[28]
  10. ^ The initial result of the 2016–17 play-off was overturned by the RFU after HAC were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player. South Woodham Ferrers were promoted instead.[50]

See also

References

  1. ^ "League Make up". Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  2. ^ "Regional 2 Anglia 2024/25". Stowmarket RFC. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Counties 1 Eastern Counties". England Rugby.
  4. ^ a b "Counties 1 Eastern Counties". England Rugby.
  5. ^ "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 13 June 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Counties 1 Eastern Counties". England Rugby.
  7. ^ "Wanstead Rugby Club - Contacts".
  8. ^ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Wanstead Rugby Club - Contacts".
  10. ^ "EASTERN COUNTIES RUGBY UNION HANDBOOK 2015/16" (PDF). Eastern Counties RU. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  11. ^ "1998–1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  12. ^ "1999–2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  13. ^ "2000–2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  14. ^ "2001–2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  15. ^ "2002–2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  16. ^ "2003-2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  17. ^ "2004–2005 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  18. ^ "2005–2006 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  19. ^ "2006–2007 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  20. ^ "2007–2008 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  21. ^ "2008-2009 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  22. ^ "2009–2010 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  23. ^ "2010–2011 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  24. ^ "2011–2012 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  25. ^ "2012–2013 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  26. ^ "2013–2014 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  27. ^ "2014–2015 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  28. ^ "Tumbling East Grinstead plot a way back". East Grinstead Courier. 25 May 2016.
  29. ^ "2015–2016 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  30. ^ "2016–2017 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  31. ^ "2017–2018 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  32. ^ "2018–2019 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  33. ^ "Men's level 5 – 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  34. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2000–1". England Rugby. 19 May 2001.
  35. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2001–02". England Rugby. 27 April 2002.
  36. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2002–03". England Rugby. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  37. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2003–04". England Rugby. 6 June 2004.
  38. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2004–05". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  39. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2005–06". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  40. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2006–07". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  41. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2007–08". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  42. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2008–09". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  43. ^ "Hammers 22 Colchester 29". Fulham Rugby. 17 April 2010.
  44. ^ "RUGBY: Braintree promoted with pulsating win against Harpenden". This is Essex. 28 April 2011.
  45. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2011-12". England Rugby. 21 April 2009.
  46. ^ "Woodford seal Promotion with Extra Time Victory". Hemel Hempstead RFC (Pitchero). 27 April 2013.
  47. ^ "Fantastic, brilliant, stunning and oh so near to pulling off a great win". Saffron Walden RFC (Pitchero). 3 May 2014.
  48. ^ "Champagne for Chiswick as they go the Diss-tance to secure promotion". Get West London. 27 April 2015.
  49. ^ "MATCH REPORT: Sudbury secure back-to-back promotions". Suffolk Free Press. 30 April 2016.
  50. ^ "Woodham win shock promotion, three weeks after losing play-off final". Echo. 17 May 2017.
  51. ^ sport/15247351.Woodham_beaten_by_HAC_in_play_off_final/ "Woodham beaten by HAC in play-off final". Echo. 30 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  52. ^ "Sudbury Rugby Club cruise to promotion play-off victory". Suffolk Free Press. 21 April 2018.
  53. ^ "Harpenden secure promotion to London One". Herts Advertiser. 16 April 2019.
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