Counties 1 Hertfordshire

Counties 1 Hertfordshire
Current season or competition:
2025–26 Counties 1 Hertfordshire
SportRugby union
Instituted1987 (1987) (as London 3 North West)
Number of teams10
Country England
HoldersBrunel University (2024–25)
Most titlesHertford, Tabard (3 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

Counties 1 Hertfordshire (formerly Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex and before that 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 primarily in Hertfordshire together with others from parts of north-west London (that traditionally was encompassed by the historic county of Middlesex) and Essex. It was previously known as London 2 North West. After the restructuring of the English rugby union system ahead of the 2022–23 season, the league was renamed to Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex. Ahead of the 2025–26 season a decision was taken to split Hertfordshire RFU and Middlesex RFU clubs, with Middlesex teams moving on a level transfer to Counties 1 Middlesex while club 2XVs were introduced to the league. Brunel University are the current champions.

Each year the two Hertfordshire clubs in this division with the best record against other Hertfordshire clubs also take part in the Hertfordshire Presidents' Cup, the highest level county cup competition in Hertfordshire. Promoted teams typically go up to Regional 2 Thames while relegated teams drop to Counties 2 Hertfordshire.

Format

The champions are promoted to Regional 2 Thames while one or two teams are relegated to Counties 2 Hertsfordshire. Since 2025–26 the league includes Essex clubs precluded from competing in Essex Rugby leagues which don't permit reserve sides in first XV leagues. The season runs from September to April and comprises eighteen 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

This was the first season with the league containing mainly Hertfordshire RFU clubs. Leaving on a level transfer to the newly re-formed Counties 1 Middlesex league were Chiswick (9th), Ealing Trailfinders 1871 (4th), Finchley (3rd), Ruislip (6th) and Old Streetonians (5th). Also departing were Brunel University promoted to Regional 2 Thames while Hackney (11th) and Datchworth (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Middlesex and Counties 2 Hertfordshire respectively.

2024–25

Departing were London Scottish Lions promoted to Regional 2 Thames, and Enfield Ignatians and Hampstead relegated to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex. Joining were Brunel University and Ealing Trailfinders 1871, promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex, together with Fullerians, relegated from Regional 2 Thames.

League table

Counties 1 Herts/Middx 2024–25
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Adjust
1 Brunel University (P) 22 20 1 1 1085 326 759 20 1 104 +1
2 Cheshunt 22 18 1 3 1028 356 672 18 2 94
3 Finchley 22 18 0 4 798 274 524 17 4 93
4 Ealing Trailfinders 1871 22 18 0 4 768 307 461 13 2 89 +2
5 Old Streetonians 22 11 1 10 519 603 −84 9 2 57
6 Ruislip 22 9 1 12 546 747 −201 13 3 54
7 Welwyn 22 9 0 13 423 773 −350 10 2 48
8 Hitchin 22 8 1 13 442 748 −306 8 1 44 +1
9 Chiswick 22 8 0 14 442 674 −232 9 3 44
10 Fullerians 22 5 1 16 367 605 −238 6 5 33
11 Hackney (R) 22 3 0 19 262 802 −540 3 1 16
12 Datchworth (R) 22 2 0 20 326 791 −465 2 2 12
  • 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:[1]

2023–24

Departing were Hemel Hempstead and Grasshoppers, promoted to Regional 2 Thames. There was no relegation. Joining were Cheshunt and London Scottish Lions, both promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.

League table

Counties 1 Herts/Middx 2023–24
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Adjust
1 London Scottish Lions (P) 22 18 0 4 832 346 486 17 1 91 +1
2 Old Streetonians 22 18 0 4 728 447 281 13 0 85
3 Finchley 22 16 1 5 755 325 430 15 3 84
4 Cheshunt 22 15 1 6 798 392 406 17 2 81
5 Chiswick 22 15 2 5 662 400 262 12 1 78 −1
6 Welwyn 22 12 0 10 457 447 10 11 2 62 −1
7 Hitchin 22 10 0 12 523 593 −70 10 2 52
8 Ruislip 22 8 0 14 539 642 −103 10 3 45
9 Hackney 22 6 0 16 368 585 −217 6 4 34
10 Datchworth 22 6 0 16 330 792 −462 5 3 32
11 Hampstead (R) 22 4 0 18 438 732 −294 9 3 23 −5
12 Enfield Ignatians (R) 22 2 0 20 246 975 −729 2 2 2 −10
  • 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:[2]

2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 2 North West with eight of the teams competing in the previous season, while the top four moved to Regional 2 Thames or Regional 2 Anglia. They were replaced with the top three from London 3 North West and Chiswick on a level transfer from London 2 South West.

League table

Counties 1 Herts/Middx 2022–23
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Adjust
1 Hemel Hempstead (P) 22 20 0 2 735 347 388 17 0 97
2 Grasshoppers (P) 22 18 0 4 719 414 305 18 3 94 +1
3 Chiswick 22 17 0 5 610 418 192 14 3 85
4 Old Streetonians 22 14 0 8 659 448 211 13 5 74
5 Hitchin 22 12 1 9 658 480 178 15 4 70 −1
6 Ruislip 22 10 0 12 451 591 −140 10 4 55 −1
7 Finchley 22 9 0 13 511 518 −7 11 5 52
8 Welwyn 22 9 0 13 545 673 −128 11 4 51
9 Hampstead 22 8 0 14 506 629 −123 9 2 43
10 Datchworth 22 6 1 15 404 645 −241 8 3 37
11 Hackney 22 4 0 18 355 557 −202 4 5 25
12 Enfield Ignatians 22 4 0 18 298 731 −433 4 2 22
  • 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.
Source:[3]

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 and not 2020–21.

Season 2020–21

On 30 October, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, the RFU announced 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 West was not contested.[4]

2019–20

2018–19

2017–18

2016–17

2015–16

2014–15

2013–14

2012–13

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division, known as London 3 North West, contained the following teams:

Counties 1 Herts honours

London 3 North West (1987–1993)

Originally known as London 3 North West, this division was a tier 7 league with promotion to London 2 North and relegation to either Hertfordshire 1 or Middlesex 1.

London 3 North West
Season No of teams Champions Runner-up Relegated teams
1987–88 11 Bishop's Stortford Hendon Old Paulines, Twickenham
1988–89 11 Finchley Tabard Letchworth Garden City, Hendon, Harrow
1989–90 11 Tabard Fullerians Twickenham, Bacavians
1990–91 11 Letchworth Garden City Hertford Mill Hill, Uxbridge
1991–92 11 Upper Clapton Lensbury St. Mary's Hospital, Hemel Hempstead
1992–93 13 Verulamians Letchworth Garden City Harpenden, Old Millhillians
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 North West (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. As a consequent, London 3 North West dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to London 2 North, while relegation was to the newly introduced Herts/Middlesex.

London 3 North West
Season No of teams Champions Runner-up Relegated teams
1993–94 13 Staines Letchworth Garden City Old Meadonians, Fullerians
1994–95 13 Hertford Grasshoppers London New Zealand, Upper Clapton
1995–96 13 Old Albanian Old Gaytonians Mill Hill, Old Elizabethans
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 North West (1996–2000)

With the cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season London 3 North West reverted to being a tier 7 league. Promotion continued to London 2 North, while relegation was to Herts/Middlesex 1 (formerly Herts/Middlesex).

London 3 North West
Season No of teams Champions Runner-up Relegated teams Ref
1996–97 13 Old Merchant Taylors' Welwyn[c] No relegation[d]
1997–98 17 Harpenden Hertford Hackney, Haringey Rhinos
1998–99 17 London Nigerian Hertford Harlequin Amateurs [5]
1999–00 17 Hertford Ealing Trailfinders Multiple teams[e] [6]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 North West (2000–2009)

London 3 North West continued to be a tier 7 league with promotion to London 2 North. With the introduction of London 4 North West ahead of the 2000–01 season clubs were now relegated to this division instead of Herts/Middlesex 1.

London 3 North West
Season No of teams Champions Runner-up Relegated teams Ref
2000–01 10 Hertford Twickenham Welwyn [7]
2001–02 10 Bank of England Letchworth Garden City Old Merchant Taylors' Lambs,[f] Finchley [8]
2002–03 10 London Scottish Ealing Trailfinders Ruislip, Metropolitan Police [9]
2003–04 9 Civil Service St Albans West London [10]
2004–05 12 St Albans Bank of England Cheshunt, Verulamians [11]
2005–06 12 Woodford Tring Fullerians, Barnet Elizabethans [12]
2006–07 12 Ruislip Welwyn Bank of England, Haringey Rhinos [13]
2007–08 12 Stevenage Town Imperial Medicals Vauxhall Motors, Datchworth [14]
2008–09 12 Harpenden Hampstead No relegation due to league restructuring [g] [15]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 2 North West (2009–present)

Nationwide league restructuring by the RFU ahead of the 2009–10 season saw London 3 North West renamed as London 2 North West. It remained at level 7 with promotion to London 1 North (formerly London 2 North) and relegation to London 3 North West (formerly London 4 North West).

London 2 North West
Season No of teams Champions Runner-up Relegated teams Ref
2009–10 12 Tabard Hammersmith & Fulham Finchley, London Nigerian [16]
2010–11 12 Hammersmith & Fulham Harpenden West London, London New Zealand [17]
2011–12 12 Old Haberdashers Stevenage Town Welwyn, Imperial Medicals [18]
2012–13 12 Tabard Hemel Hempstead Fullerians, Grasshoppers [19]
2013–14 12 Old Priorians Twickenham London Nigerian, UCS Old Boys [20]
2014–15 12 Harrow Chiswick Hemel Hempstead, St Albans [21]
2015–16 12 Fullerians Hammersmith & Fulham Old Merchant Taylors', Staines [22]
2016–17 12 Old Haberdashers Honourable Artillery Company (H.A.C.) Stockwood Park, Welwyn [23]
2017–18 12 Honourable Artillery Company (H.A.C.) Hampstead Tabard, Harrow [24]
2018–19 11[h] Belsize Park Harpenden Enfield Ignatians [25]
2019–20 12 London Welsh Hammersmith & Fulham Luton, Welwyn [26]
2020–21 14 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22 14 Honourable Artillery Company (H.A.C.) Letchworth Garden City No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex (2022–25)

Following league reorganisation, London 2 North West is renamed Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex and continues to be a tier 7 league. Promotion is to Regional 2 Thames and relegation to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.

Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex
Season No of teams Champions Runner-up Relegated team(s) Ref
2022–23 12 Hemel Hempstead Grasshoppers No relegation. Enfield Ignatians (12th) [3]
2023–24 12 London Scottish Lions Old Streetonians Hampstead (11th) and Enfield Ignatians (12th) [2]
2024–25 12 Brunel University Cheshunt Hackney (11th) and Datchworth (12th) [1]

Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Counties 1 Herts (2025– )

The league was renamed and now only contains clubs from Hertfordshire. It continues to be a tier 7 league.The Middlesex clubs were level transferred to the newly re-formed Counties 1 Middlesex. Promotion is to Regional 2 Thames and relegation to Counties 2 Hertfordshire

Counties 1 Hertsfordshire
Season No of teams Champions Runner-up Relegated team(s) Ref
2025–26 10

Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

From 2000–01 season to 2018–19 there was 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 had home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2018–19 season the London 2 North East had ten wins and the and London 2 North West teams had nine and the home team has 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 [27]
2001–02 Letchworth Garden City (NW) 31–22 Basildon (NE) Baldock Road, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire [28]
2002–03 Ealing Trailfinders (NW) 36–12 Saffron Walden (NE) Trailfinders Sports Ground, Ealing, London [29]
2003–04 St Albans (2nd XV) (NW) 5–22 Hadleigh (NE) Oaklands Land, St Albans, Hertfordshire [30]
2004–05 Bank of England (NW) 39–0 Romford and Gidea Park (NE) Bank Lane, Roehampton, Greater London [31]
2005–06 Tring (NW) 19–5 Diss (NE) Cow Lane, Tring, Hertfordshire [32]
2006–07 Welwyn (NW) 19–6 Harlow (NE) Hobbs Way, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire [33]
2007–08 Diss (NE) 50–15 Imperial Medicals (NW) Mackenders, Roydon, Norfolk [34]
2008–09 Brentwood (NE) 23–15 Hampstead (NW) King George's Playing Fields, Brentwood, Essex [35]
2009–10 Hammersmith & Fulham (NW) 22–29 Colchester (NE) Hurlingham Park, Fulham, London [36]
2010–11 Braintree (NE) 24–14 Harpenden (NW) Robbs Wood, Braintree, Essex 300 [37]
2011–12 Basildon (NE) 38–13 Stevenage (NW) Gardiners Close, Basildon, Essex [38]
2012–13 Hemel Hempstead (NW) 13–16 (aet) Woodford (NE) Chaulden Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire 500 [39]
2013–14 Twickenham (NW) 44–43 Saffron Walden (NE) Parkfields, Hampton, Greater London [40]
2014–15 Diss (NE) 13–16 Chiswick (NW) Mackenders, Roydon, Norfolk [41]
2015–16 Sudbury (NE) 22–18 Hammersmith & Fulham (NW) Whittham Field, Sudbury, Suffolk [42]
2016–17 Honourable Artillery Company (H.A.C.) (NW) 48–7[i] South Woodham Ferrers (NE) Dukes Meadows, Chiswick, London [44]
2017–18 Hampstead (NW) 7–37 Sudbury (NE) Parliament Hill Fields, Highgate, Camden, London [45]
2018–19 Harpenden (NW) 60–6 Romford and Gidea Park (NE) Redbourn Lane, Harpenden, Hertfordshire [46]
2019–20 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner-up – Hammersmith & Fulham (NW) – promoted instead.
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

See also

Notes

  1. ^ H.A.C. won the 2016–17 play-off, but were denied promotion and the result overturned by the RFU due to H.A.C. fielding an ineligible player.
  2. ^ Kingsburians later merged with Gaytonians and Roxeth Manor to form West London RFC.
  3. ^ 3rd place Barnet also promoted.
  4. ^ No relegation as the league was expanded from 13 to 17 teams.
  5. ^ The creation of London 4 North West for the following season meant that twelve teams were relegated. Uxbridge and Mill Hill dropped two divisions to Herts/Middlesex 1, while Tring, St Albans, Old Millhillians, Hampstead, Letchworth Garden City, Chiswick and Hemel Hempstead were relegated to the new London 4 North West division. Eleventh place Kingsburians were also supposed to be relegated to the new division but folded at the end of the season and amalgamated with West London RFC.
  6. ^ The Lambs are Old Merchant Taylors' 2nd team.
  7. ^ The division was renamed London Division 2 North West for the following season and along with the national restructuring of the league system by the RFU, it led to changes at all levels.
  8. ^ League reduced to 11 teams after London Nigerian withdrew from the league.
  9. ^ 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.[43]

References

  1. ^ a b "Counties 1 Herts/Middx 2024–25". Old Streetonians. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Counties 1 Herts/Middx 2023–24". Rugby England. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Counties 1 Herts/Middx 2022–23". Rugby England. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  4. ^ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. ^ "1998–1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  6. ^ "1999–2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  7. ^ "2000–2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  8. ^ "2001–2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  9. ^ "2002–2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  10. ^ "2003-2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  11. ^ "2004–2005 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  12. ^ "2005–2006 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  13. ^ "2006–2007 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  14. ^ "2007–2008 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  15. ^ "2008–2009 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  16. ^ "2009–2010 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  17. ^ "2010–2011 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  18. ^ "2011–2012 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  19. ^ "2012–2013 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  20. ^ "2013–2014 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  21. ^ "2014–2015 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  22. ^ "2015–2016 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  23. ^ "2016–2017 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  24. ^ "2017–2018 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  25. ^ "2018–2019 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Men's level 5 – 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  27. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2000–01". England Rugby. 19 May 2001.
  28. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2001–02". England Rugby. 27 April 2002.
  29. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2002–03". England Rugby. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  30. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2003–04". England Rugby. 6 June 2004.
  31. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2004–05". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  32. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2005–06". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  33. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2006–07". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  34. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2007–08". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  35. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2008–09". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  36. ^ "Hammers 22 Colchester 29". Fulham Rugby. 17 April 2010.
  37. ^ "RUGBY: Braintree promoted with pulsating win against Harpenden". This is Essex. 28 April 2011.
  38. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2011–12". England Rugby. 21 April 2009.
  39. ^ "Woodford seal Promotion with Extra Time Victory". Hemel Hempstead RFC (Pitchero). 27 April 2013.
  40. ^ "Fantastic, brilliant, stunning and oh so near to pulling off a great win". Saffron Walden RFC (Pitchero). 3 May 2014.
  41. ^ "Champagne for Chiswick as they go the Diss-tance to secure promotion". Get West London. 27 April 2015.
  42. ^ "MATCH REPORT: Sudbury secure back-to-back promotions". Suffolk Free Press. 30 April 2016.
  43. ^ "Woodham win shock promotion, three weeks after losing play-off final". Echo. 17 May 2017.
  44. ^ "Woodham beaten by HAC in play-off final". Echo. 30 April 2016.
  45. ^ "Sudbury Rugby Club cruise to promotion play-off victory". Suffolk Free Press. 21 April 2018.
  46. ^ "Harpenden secure promotion to London One". Herts Advertiser. 16 April 2019.
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