Eastern Counties 1 Explained

Eastern Counties 1
Current Season:2019–20 Eastern Counties 1
Sport:Rugby union
Teams:24 (8 per divisional league)
Champion:Beccles (2nd title)
Season:2018–19)
(promoted to London 3 Eastern Counties
Most Champs:Thetford
Count:3
Website:englandrugby.com

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 Counties 2 (split into three regional divisions - north, south, west). Teams in this league tend to be based in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk or Suffolk. In the past teams from Essex used to take part until the 2003–04 season when they formed a new league - with Essex 1 being the top division.

The division was split across three geographic areas (North, South & West) for the 2017-18 as part of an RFU reorganization of the London & South East regional league. The top two teams from each Area Division shall enter the Championship Phase (Shield) to determine the final rankings for promotion to London 3 Eastern Counties. Other teams will play in the Plate, Bowl and Salver competitions, depending on league position, with clubs finishing bottom of the Salver being relegated to Eastern Counties 2.

Participating Clubs 2021-22

North

South

West

Season 2020–21

On 30 October the RFU announced[1] that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Eastern Counties 1 was not contested.

Participating Clubs 2019-20

North

South

West

Participating Clubs 2018-19

North

South

West

Participating Clubs 2017-18

Participating Clubs 2016-17

Participating Clubs 2015-16

Participating Clubs 2014-15

Participating Clubs 2013-14

Participating Clubs 2012-13

Original teams

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

Eastern Counties 1 honours

Eastern Counties 1 (1987–1993)

The original Eastern Counties 1 was a tier 8 league with promotion up to London 3 North East and relegation down to Eastern Counties 2.[2]

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Eastern Counties 1
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
1987–88 11 Met Police Chigwell
1988–89 11 Harlow
1989–90 11 Canvey Island
1990–91 11 Chelmsford
1991–92 11 Rochford Hundred No relegation
1992–93 13 Bury St Edmunds Met Police Chigwell, Crusaders
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Eastern Counties 1 (1993–1996)

The creation of National 5 South meant that Eastern Counties 1 dropped from a tier 8 league to a tier 9 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to London 3 North East and Eastern Counties 2 respectively.

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Eastern Counties 1
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
1993–94 13 Maldon
1994–95 13 Lowestoft & Yarmouth
1995–96 13 Diss Loughton, Bancroft
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Eastern Counties 1 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Eastern Counties 1 reverted to being a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to London 3 North East and Eastern Counties 2 respectively.

<---->
Eastern Counties 1
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
1996–97 13 Basildon No relegation
1997–98 10 Hadleigh
1998–99[3] 10 Thetford
1999–00[4] 9 Saffron Walden Old Cooperians, Westcliff
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Eastern Counties 1 (2000–2009)

The introduction of London 4 North East ahead of the 2000–01 season meant Eastern Counties 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division. Relegation continued to Eastern Counties 2 - split into north and south regional divisions between 2000 and 2003.

<---->
Eastern Counties 1
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
2000–01[5] 10 Eton Manor
2001–02[6] 10 Mersea Island
2002–03[7] 10 Colchester No relegation
2003–04[8] 9 Thetford No relegation
2004–05[9] 10 Wisbech
2005–06[10] 10 Beccles
2006–07[11] 10 Mersea Island
2007–08[12] 11 Wymondham
2008–09[13] 10 Lowestoft & Yarmouth No relegation
2009–10[14] 11 Newmarket
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Eastern Counties 1 (2009–2017)

Eastern Counties 1 remained a tier 9 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to London 3 North East (formerly London 4 North East) and relegation to Eastern Counties 2, which split into three regional divisions - north, south, west - from the 2014–15 season onward.

<---->
Eastern Counties 1
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
2010–11[15] 10 Stowmarket Thurston
2011–12[16] 11 Cantabrigian Broadland - Great Yarmouth
2012–13[17] 12 Wymondham
2013–14[18] 12 West Norfolk
2014–15[19] 12 Southwold
2015–16[20] 11 Ely No relegation
2016–17[21] 12 Thetford
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Eastern Counties 1 (2017–present)

The cancellation of London 3 North East and subsequent introduction of London 3 Eastern Counties ahead of the 2017–18 meant that Eastern Counties 1 remained a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division. Relegation continued to the regionalised Eastern Counties 2 (north, south, west).

<---->
Eastern Counties 1
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams
2017–18[22] 24 Fakenham
2018–19[23] 24 Beccles
2019–20[24] 24
2020–21 24
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Between 2004 and 2017 there was a play-off between the runners-up of Eastern Counties 1 and Essex 1 for the third and final promotion place to London 3 North East. The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2016–17 season the Essex 1 teams had been the most successful with seven wins to the Eastern Counties 1 teams five; and the home team has won promotion on eight occasions compared to the away teams four. Since the introduction of London 3 Eastern Counties and London 3 Essex at the end of the 2016–17 season the playoff has been cancelled.

<---->
Eastern Counties 1 v Essex Canterbury Jack promotion play-off results
SeasonHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttendance
2004-05[25] Crusaders (EC) 41-24 Upminster (EX)
2005–06[26] Canvey Island (EX) 31-18 Mersea Island (EC)
2006–07[27] Thurston (EC) 22-33 South Woodham Ferrers (EX)
2007–08[28] Maldon (EX) 15-20 West Norfolk (EC)
2008–09[29] Wisbech (EC) 38-14 Campion (EX)
2009–10[30] Bancroft (EX) 37-29 Stowmarket (EC)
2010–11[31] Holt (EC) HWO Millwall (EX)
2011–12[32] Wisbech (EC) 38-12 Maldon (EX)
2012–13[33] Ipswich Y.M. (EC) 20-27 Old Cooperians (EX)
2013–14[34] Newmarket (EC) 17-18 Clacton (EX)
2014–15[35] Epping Upper Clapton (EX) 36-22 Ely (EC) 400
2015–16[36] Ilford Wanderers (EX) 66-17 Wymondham (EC)
2016–17 No promotion playoff this season due to restructuring of Eastern Counties and Essex leagues.[37]
Green background is the promoted team. EC = Eastern Counties 1 and EX = Essex Canterbury Jack (formerly Essex 1)

Number of league titles

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season . RFU . 2020-10-20 . 2020-11-09.
  2. Web site: EASTERN COUNTIES RUGBY UNION HANDBOOK 2015/16 . Eastern Counties RU . 12 June 2019 . 12 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160812154713/http://files.pitchero.com/counties/76/1441812607.pdf . dead .
  3. Web site: 1998-1999 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 29 January 2015. RFU.
  4. Web site: 1999-2000 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 29 January 2015. RFU.
  5. Web site: 2000-2001 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 29 January 2015. RFU.
  6. Web site: 2001-2002 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 29 January 2015. RFU.
  7. Web site: 2002-2003 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 29 January 2015.
  8. Web site: 2003-2004 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 29 January 2015.
  9. Web site: 2004-2005 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 29 January 2015.
  10. Web site: 2005-2006 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 29 January 2015.
  11. Web site: 2006-2007 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 29 January 2015.
  12. Web site: 2007-2008 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 29 January 2015.
  13. Web site: 2008-2009 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 29 January 2015.
  14. Web site: 2009-2010 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 29 January 2015.
  15. Web site: 2010-2011 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 29 January 2015.
  16. Web site: 2011-2012 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 29 January 2015.
  17. Web site: 2012-2013 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 29 January 2015.
  18. Web site: 2013-2014 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 29 January 2015.
  19. Web site: 2014-2015 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 3 May 2015. RFU.
  20. Web site: 2015-2016 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 25 April 2016. RFU.
  21. Web site: 2016-2017 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 22 April 2017. RFU.
  22. Web site: 2017-2018 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 28 April 2018. RFU.
  23. Web site: 2018-2019 London & South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 13 April 2019.
  24. Web site: Men's London & South East Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020.
  25. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2004-05 . England Rugby . 30 April 2005.
  26. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2005-06 . England Rugby . 29 April 2006.
  27. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2006-07 . England Rugby . 28 April 2007.
  28. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2007-08 . England Rugby . 26 April 2008.
  29. Web site: Rugby: Wisbech's fine win secures promotion. Peterborough Today. 27 April 2009.
  30. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2009-10 . England Rugby . 24 April 2009.
  31. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2010-11 . England Rugby . 30 April 2010.
  32. Web site: Long delighted as Wisbech Rugby Club win promotion play-off in his final game as skipper. Eastern Daily Press. 27 April 2012.
  33. Web site: OLD COOPERIANS PROMOTED to London North East 3. Old Cooperians RFC (Pitchero). 4 May 2013.
  34. Web site: Newmarket stay down with a narrow defeat to Clacton. Newmarket Journal. 1 May 2014.
  35. Web site: Epping v Ely 25.04.15. Epping Upper Clapton RFC (Pitchero). 25 April 2015.
  36. Web site: Wanderers earn their place in London 3 NE. Ilford Wanderers RFC (Pitchero). 3 May 2016.
  37. Web site: Wymondham v Wisbech EC1 - Sat 8th Apr. Wymondham RFC (Pitchero). 8 April 2017.

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