Counties 4 Kent Explained

Counties 4 Kent (formerly known as Kent 2 or Shepherd Neame Kent 2 for sponsorship reasons) is an English level 10 Rugby Union League^[1] and is made up of teams predominantly from south-east London and Kent. The teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Currently promoted teams move up to Kent 1 and there is no relegation although until the 2007–08 season teams could drop down to Kent 3 (now folded). Now a single division, in the past Kent 2 was divided into regional divisions - Kent 2 East and Kent 2 West. Relegated teams drop down to Counties 5 Kent. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 4 Kent.

Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.

Teams for 2024-25

Departing were Beckenham II, Brockleians and Old Gravesendians, all promoted to Counties 3 Kent. Sidcup III (9th) and Lordswood (12th) were relegated to Counties 5 Kent. Footscray had finished 11th and would ordinarily have been relegated but for Sidcup electing to drop down a division.

Joining were Faversham relegated from Counties 3 Kent. Bromley II, Canterbury III, Old Colfeians II, all promoted from Counties 5 Kent. Rye completed the line-up having re-joined the RFU leagues after an extended absence.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Bromley II	Barnet Wood Road			Promoted from Counties 5 Kent (runners-up)
	Marine Travel Ground	1,500 (75 seats)		Promoted from Counties 5 Kent (champions)
Cliffe Crusaders	Recreation Ground			5th
Dartfordians II	Bourne Road			4th
Faversham	Recreation Ground			Relegated from Counties 3 Kent (10th)
	Footscray Playing Fields			11th
	Dulwich Sports Ground			8th
	Priestfields			10th
	Horn Park			Promoted from Counties 5 Kent (3rd)
Old Williamsonians				7th
Rye	New Road			Re-entry
Sheppey	Stupple Field			6th

Teams for 2023-24

Departing were Tonbridge Juddians III and Sittingbourne promoted to Counties 3 Kent. Four clubs Beccehamian II (11th), Greenwich (12th) and Askeans (14th) were relegated to Counties 5 Kent. Weavering Warriors (13th) elected to drop into the Kent RFU merit leagues.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Balmoral Avenue
Brockleians	Civil Service Sports Ground			4th
Cliffe Crusaders	Recreation Ground			3rd
Dartfordians II	Bourne Road			7th
	Footscray Playing Fields
	Dulwich Sports Ground
Lordswood	Lordswood Sports & Social Club			9th
	Priestfields
Old Gravesendians	Fleetway Sports Ground			8th
Old Williamsonians				6th
Sheppey	Stupple Field			5th
Sidcup III	Crescent Farm			10th

Teams for 2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review^[2] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 4 Kent.

Returning were 7 of the 9 teams who competed in the previous season's league.

Departing were Dartford Valley and Whitstable, promoted to Counties 3 Kent. There was no relegation.

Joining from Kent 1 were Brockleians, Cliffe Crusaders and Old Willamsonians. The league was supplemented by the addition of Tonbridge Juddians III, Beccehamian II, Dartfordians II and Sidcup III.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Askeans		6,000		9th
Beccehamian II	Sparrow's Den			New entry
Brockleians	Civil Service Sports Ground			Relegated from Kent 1 (9th)
Cliffe Crusaders	Recreation Ground			Joined from Kent 1 (7th)
Dartfordians II	Bourne Road			New entry
Greenwich				8th
Lordswood	Lordswood Sports & Social Club			7th
Old Gravesendians	Fleetway Sports Ground			4th
Old Williamsonians				Joined from Kent 1 (3rd)
Sheppey	Stupple Field			5th
Sidcup III	Crescent Farm			New entry
Sittingbourne	Gore Court Cricket Club			3rd
	The Slade	1,500		New entry
Weavering Warriors	Bicknor Road			6th

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.

Bexley, who finished 8th in 2019-20, played several of the early fixtures but withdrew from the league in November 2021.

Swanley RFC, a new entry, competed until January 2022 before withdrawing from the league.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Askeans	Rectory Field[3]	6,000		10th
Dartford Valley				3rd
Greenwich				9th
Lordswood	Lordswood Sports & Social Club			5th
Old Gravesendians	Fleetway Sports Ground			Relegated from Kent 1 (9th)
Sheppey	Stupple Field			7th
Sittingbourne	Gore Court Cricket Club			4th
Swanley	Swanley Recreation Ground			New entry
Weavering Warriors	Bicknor Road			6th
Whitstable	Reeves Way			Relegated from Kent 1 (10th)

Season 2020–21

On 30th October 2020 the RFU announced ^[4] 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 Kent 2 was not contested.

Teams for 2019-20

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Askeans		1,650 (550 seats)		9th
Bexley	Bexley Park			6th
Brockleians	Civil Service Sports Ground			5th
Dartford Valley				7th
	Footscray Playing Fields			Relegated from Kent 1 (10th)
Greenwich				8th
Lordswood	Lordswood Sports & Social Club			3rd
Hastings & Bexhill					-	Sheppey	Stupple Field			Relegated from Kent 1 (11th)
Sittingbourne	Gore Court Cricket Club			4th
Weavering Warriors	Bicknor Road			N/A

Teams for 2018-19

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Askeans		1,650 (550 seats)		8th
Bexley	Bexley Park			5th
Brockleians	Civil Service Sports Ground			3rd
Cliffe Crusaders	Recreation Ground			Kent Merit Leagues (runners up)
Dartford Valley				7th
Faversham	Recreation Ground			6th
Greenwich				9th
Lordswood	Lordswood Sports & Social Club			4th
Sittingbourne	Gore Court Cricket Club			Relegated from Kent 1 (12th)

Teams for 2017-18

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Askeans		1,650 (550 seats)		8th
Bexley	Bexley Park			10th
Brockleians	Civil Service Sports Ground			Relegated from Kent 1 (11th)
Dartford Valley				9th
Faversham	Recreation Ground			7th
	Footscray Playing Fields			4th
Greenwich				11th
Lordswood	Lordswood Sports & Social Club			5th
Whitstable	Reeves Way			3rd

Teams for 2016-17

• Askean
• Bexley
• Dartford Valley
• Edenbridge
• Erith
• Faversham
• Footscray
• Greenwich
• Lordswood (relegated from Kent 1)
• Old Gravsesendians (relegated from Kent 1)
• Orpington
• Royal Bank of Scotland
• Shooters Hill
• Whitstable

Teams for 2015-2016

• Askean
• Bexley (relegated from Kent 1)
• Dartford Valley
• Edenbridge
• Faversham
• Footscray
• Greenwich
• Orpington
• Shooters Hill
• Sittingbourne (relegated from Kent 1)
• Snowdown C.W.
• Whitstable

Teams for 2014-2015

• Askean
• Brockleians
• Dartford Valley
• Edenbridge
• Faversham
• Footscray (relegated from Kent 1)
• Greenwich
• New Ash Green
• Orpington
• Shooters Hill (relegated from Kent 1)

Teams for 2013-2014

• Ash
• Askean
• Bexley
• Brockleians
• Dartford Valley (www.dvrfc.com)
• Edenbridge
• Faversham
• Guy's Hospital
• Lordswood
• New Ash Green
• Orpington
• Whitstable

Teams for 2009-2010

• Askean
• Bexley
• Brockleians
• Footscray
• Kings Coll. Hospital
• Lordswood
• New Ash Green
• Old Williamsonians
• Orpington
• Shooters Hill

Original teams

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

• Ashford
• Betteshanger
• Dover
• Folkestone
• Greenwich
• Lloyds Bank
• Met Police Hayes
• Midland Bank
• Orpington
• Snowdown C.W.
• Thames Polytechnic

Kent 2 honours

Kent 2 (1987–1993)

he original Kent 2 was a tier 9 league with promotion up to Kent 1 and relegation down to Kent 3.

<											----> Kent 2
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1987–88	11	Betteshanger
1988–89	11	Sevenoaks
1989–90	11	Sittingbourne
1990–91	11	Tonbridge		Linton, Cranbrook, NatWest Bank
1991–92	11	Canterbury		No relegation
1992–93	13	Thames Polytechnic
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Kent 2 (1993–1996)

The creation of National 5 South meant that Kent 2 dropped from a tier 9 league to a tier 10 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to Kent 1 and Kent 3 respectively.

<											----> Kent 2
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1993–94	13	Old Shootershillians		Lloyds Bank, Tonbridge, Bexley
1994–95	13	Ashford
1995–96	13	Betteshanger
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Kent 2 (1996–1998)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Kent 2 reverted to being a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Kent 1 and Kent 3 respectively.

<											----> Kent 2
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1996–97	13	Folkestone		No relegation
1997–98	14	Midland Bank		No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Kent 2 East / West (1998–2000)

The cancellation of Kent 3 ahead of the 1997–98 season saw Kent 2 restructured into two regional division - Kent 2 East and Kent 2 West - both of which were tier 9 leagues. Promotion continued to Kent 1 and there was no relegation until Kent 3 was reintroduced.

<											----> Kent 2: East / West
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	League Name
1998–99 [5] [6]	14	New Ash Green		No relegation	Kent 2 East
	4	Greenwich		No relegation	Kent 2 West
1999–00 [7] [8]	8	Aylesford Bulls		Multiple teams	Kent 2 East
	9	Erith		Multiple teams	Kent 2 West
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Kent 2 (2000–2009)

Kent 2 was restructured back into a single division for the 2000–01 season, although the introduction of London 4 South East meant that it fell to become a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Kent 1, while the reintroduction of Kent 3 meant that there was relegation until this league was cancelled at the end of the 2007–08 season.

<											----> Kent 2
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2000–01[9]	9	Ashford		No relegation
2001–02[10]	10	Aylesford Bulls
2002–03[11]	10	Old Elthamians
2003–04[12]	9	Park House		No relegation
2004–05[13]	10	Brockleians
2005–06[14]	9	Old Gravesendians
2006–07[15]	8	Erith
2007–08[16]	8	Medway		No relegation
2008–09[17]	10	HSBC		No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Kent 2 (2009–present)

Kent 2 remained a tier 10 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion continued to Kent 1 and there was no relegation.

<											----> Kent 2
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2009–10[18]	10	Lordswood		No relegation
2010–11[19]	11	Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital		No relegation
2011–12[20]	9	King's College Hospital		No relegation
2012–13[21]	11	Old Williamsonians		No relegation
2013–14[22]	10	Bexley		No relegation
2014–15[23]	10	New Ash Green		No relegation
2015–16[24]	12	Sittingbourne		No relegation
2016–17[25]	13	Old Gravesendians		No relegation
2017–18[26]	9	Whitstable		No relegation
2018–19[27]	9	Cliffe Crusaders		No relegation
2019–20[28]	10	Brockleians		No relegation
2020–21	10			No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Ashford (2)
• Aylesford Bulls (2)
• Betteshanger (2)
• Brockleians (2)
• Erith (2)
• New Ash Green (2)
• Old Gravesendians (2)
• Sittingbourne (2)
• Bexley (1)
• Canterbury (1)
• Cliffe Crusaders (1)
• Folkestone (1)
• Greenwich (1)
• Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital (1)
• HSBC (1)
• King's College Hospital (1)
• Lordswood (1)
• Medway (1)
• Midland Bank (1)
• New Ash Green (1)
• Old Elthamians (1)
• Old Shootershillians (1)
• Old Williamsonians (1)
• Park House (1)
• Sevenoaks (1)
• Thames Polytechnic (1)
• Tonbridge (1)
• Whitstable (1)

See also

• London & SE Division RFU
• Kent RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

External links

• Kent Rugby Football Union

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kent RFU. League Make up. 9 July 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100701140607/http://www.kentrugby.org/5_rfu_rfuw_leaglinks.html. 1 July 2010. dead. dmy-all.
2. Web site: RFU announce new men's community structure . RFU . 2022-06-13.
3. Web site: Rugby returns to the Rectory Field as Askeans move in . 2 November 2021 .
4. Web site: RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season . RFU . 2020-10-20 . 2020-11-09.
5. Web site: 1998-1999 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
6. Web site: 1998-1999 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
7. Web site: 1999-2000 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
8. Web site: 1999-2000 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
9. Web site: 2000-2001 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
10. Web site: 2001-2002 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
11. Web site: 2002-2003 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
12. Web site: 2003-2004 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
13. Web site: 2004-2005 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
14. Web site: 2005-2006 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
15. Web site: 2006-2007 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
16. Web site: 2007-2008 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
17. Web site: 2008-2009 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
18. Web site: 2009-2010 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
19. Web site: 2010-2011 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
20. Web site: 2011-2012 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
21. Web site: 2012-2013 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
22. Web site: 2013-2014 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 14 February 2015.
23. Web site: 2014-2015 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 3 May 2015.
24. Web site: 2015-2016 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 25 April 2016.
25. Web site: 2016-2017 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 22 April 2017.
26. Web site: 2017-2018 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 21 April 2018.
27. Web site: 2018-2019 London & South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 13 April 2019.
28. Web site: Men's London & South East Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020.