| Counties 1 Essex | |
| Current Season: | 2024–25 Counties 1 Essex |
| Sport: | Rugby union |
| Teams: | 12 |
| Website: | https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/search-results?division=56601&competition=261&season=2024-2025 |
Counties 1 Essex is an English level 7 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Essex and Greater London. Administration of the leagues is divided between Essex Rugby and the London & SE RFU.[1]
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:
In addition:
There is one automatic promotion place and two relegation places. The first-placed team at the end of season wins promotion to Regional 2 South East. The last two placed clubs are typically relegated to Counties 2 Essex.
Departing were Wanstead, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia,[2] and Stanford-le-Hope relegated to Counties 2 Essex.[3] In their place came Burnham-on-Crouch (promoted from Counties 2 Essex (North) and Basildon (promoted from Counties 2 Essex (South).[4]
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basildon | Gardiners Close | Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (South) (champions) | |||
| Braintree | Robbswood | 2nd | |||
| Burnham-on-Crouch | Dengie Hundred Sports Centre | Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (North) (champions) | |||
| Campion | Cottons Park | Romford, London | 9th | ||
| Lea Valley Playing Fields | Chingford, London | 11th | |||
| East London[5] | Memorial Park | West Ham, London | 4th | ||
| Epping Upper Clapton | Upland Road | 3rd | |||
| Maldon | Drapers Farm Playing Fields | 7th[6] | |||
| Mavericks | Warley Playing Field | 5th | |||
| Old Cooperians | Coopers' Company & Corborn School | Upminster, London | 10th | ||
| Crowlands | Romford, London | 6th | |||
| Upminster | Hall Lane | Upminster, London | 8th |
Departing were Dagenham[7] and Harlow,[8] promoted to Regional 2 Anglia, and South Woodham Ferrers relegated to Counties 2 Essex (North). In their place came Chingford (relegated from Regional 2 Anglia, Stanford-le-Hope and Maldon promoted from Counties 2 Essex.
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braintree | Robbswood | 4th | |||
| Campion | Cottons Park | Romford, London | 6th | ||
| Lea Valley Playing Fields | Chingford, London | relegated from Regional 2 Anglia (12th) | |||
| East London | Memorial Park | West Ham, London | 5th | ||
| Epping Upper Clapton | Upland Road | 7th | |||
| Maldon | Drapers Farm Playing Fields | Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (champions) | |||
| Mavericks | Warley Playing Field | 9th | |||
| Old Cooperians | Coopers' Company & Corborn School | Upminster, London | 10th | ||
| Crowlands | Romford, London | 8th | |||
| Stanford-le-Hope | Stanford Recreation Ground | Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (runners-up) | |||
| Upminster | Hall Lane | Upminster, London | 11th | ||
| Wanstead | Centenary Fields | Wanstead, London | 3rd |
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 3 Essex with the teams finishing 1st-10th returning. Kings Cross Steelers and Canvey Island, who finished 11th and 12th respectively, were placed in Counties 2 Essex. The line-up was supplemented by the addition of Wanstead and South Woodham Ferrers[9] (who finished 12th in London 2 North East).
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braintree | Robbswood | 8th London 3 Essex | |||
| Campion | Cottons Park | Romford, London | 5th London 3 Essex | ||
| Dagenham | Central Park | Dagenham, London | 1st London 3 Essex | ||
| East London | Memorial Park | West Ham, London | 7th London 3 Essex | ||
| Epping Upper Clapton | Upland Road | 9th London 3 Essex | |||
| Latton Park | 2nd London 3 Essex | ||||
| Mavericks | Warley Playing Field | 8th London 3 Essex | |||
| Old Cooperians | Coopers' Company & Corborn School | Upminster, London | 4th London 3 Essex | ||
| Crowlands | Romford, London | 3rd London 3 Essex | |||
| South Woodham Ferrers | Saltcoats Playing Field | 12th London 2 North East | |||
| Upminster | Hall Lane | Upminster, London | 10th London 3 Essex | ||
| Wanstead | Centenary Fields[10] | Wanstead, London | 10th London 2 North East |