Counties 3 Surrey Explained

Counties 3 Surrey is a rugby union competition covering the English county of Surrey and parts of south-west London. It sits at the ninth tier of the English rugby union system. The teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Promoted teams move up to Counties 2 Surrey and relegated teams move down to Counties 4 Surrey.

Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-11 national competition.

Teams for 2024-25

Leaving the league were Bec Old Boys and Met Police, promoted to Counties 2 Surrey whilst Old Emanuel were relegated to Counties 4 Surrey. In their place came Law Society and Warlingham, relegated from Counties 2 Surrey whilst Streatham-Croydon and Old Hamptonians were promoted from Counties 4 Surrey.

Ordinarily having finished 9th London Media would have been relegated too but owing to Old Freemans suffering a double relegation from Counties 2 Surrey to Counties 4 Surrey they earned a repreive. Consequently the league will run with eleven sides.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Economicals	LSE Sports Ground			6th
Effingham & Leatherhead	King George V Playing Fields			8th
Law Society	King's College Sportsground			Relegated from Counties 2 Surrey (10th)
London Exiles				7th
London Media	Battersea Park			9th
Old Georgians				3rd
Old Hamptonians	Dean Road			Promoted from Counties 4 Surrey (champions)
Old Johnians				5th
	Frant Road	1,400 (200 seats)		Promoted from Counties 4 Surrey (runners-up)
Warlingham	Limpsfield Road			Relegated from Counties 2 Surrey (11th)
Worth Old Boys	North Avenue			4th

Teams for 2023-24

Departing the league were Old Caterhamians and Old Wimbledonians, promoted to Counties 2 Surrey whilst Cranleigh were relegated to Counties 4 Surrey. Also departing were Old Wellingtonians (5th in 2022-23) who withdrew from league competition.

In their place came Bec Old Boys and Old Georgians, promoted from Counties 4 Surrey whilst Effingham & Leatherhead and London Exiles joined having been relegated from Counties 2 Surrey. Old Emanuel re-joined the league structure after a sabbatical having most recently competed in London 3 South West in season 2021-22. With four leaving and five joining the league was made up of 10 sides having had 9 in its inaugural year.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Bec Old Boys				Promoted from Counties 4 Surrey (champions)
Economicals	LSE Sports Ground			6th
Effingham & Leatherhead	King George V Playing Fields			Relegated from Counties 2 Surrey (11th)
London Exiles		500		Relegated from Counties 2 Surrey (12th)
London Media	Battersea Park			8th
Metropolitan Police	Imber Court			7th
Old Emanuel	Raynes Park Sports Ground			Re-entry
Old Georgians				Promoted from Counties 4 Surrey (runners-up)
Old Johnians				4th
Worth Old Boys	North Avenue			3rd

Teams for 2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Surrey 2 but while that league had been at level 10 of the English rugby pyramid the new league was at level 9.

Seven of the teams had previously competed in Surrey 2 and they were joined from the top two from Surrey 3 - Old Caterhamians and Old Johnians.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Cranleigh	Wildwood Lane			8th Surrey 2
Economicals	LSE Sports Ground			10th Surrey 2
London Media	Battersea Park			9th Surrey 2
Metropolitan Police	Imber Court			7th Surrey 2
Old Caterhamians				Champions Surrey 3
Old Johnians				Runners-up Surrey 3
Old Wellingtonians	Ruxley Lane			6th Surrey 2
Old Wimbledonians	Old Wimbledonians & Donhead Sports Ground			4th Surrey 2
Worth Old Boys	North Avenue			5th Surrey 2

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.

Raynes Park withdrew from the league in October 2021, consequently it ran with nine teams instead.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Bec Old Boys				Relegated from Surrey 2 (9th)
	Addington Road			Promoted from Surrey 4 (champions)
Egham Hollowegians	Keith Heal Academy of Rugby			6th
Guildfordians	Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex			3rd
Merton	Morden Recreation Ground			8th
Old Caterhamians				Relegated from Surrey 2 (10th)
Old Glynonians				7th
Old Johnians				4th
Old Suttonians	Walch Memorial Ground			5th
Raynes Park	Dornan Fields			Promoted from Surrey 4 (runners up)

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 Surrey 3 was not contested.

Teams for 2019-20

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Egham Hollowegians	Keith Heal Academy of Rugby			Promoted from Surrey 4 (runners up)
Guildfordians	Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex			7th
London Media	Battersea Park			4th
Merton	Morden Recreation Ground			5th
Metropolitan Police	Imber Court			Relegated from Surrey 2 (9th)
Old Glynonians				8th
Old Johnians				3rd
Old Paulines	Old Pauline Sports Ground			6th
Old Suttonians	Walch Memorial Ground			Promoted from Surrey 4 (champions)
	Frant Road	1,400 (200 seats)		Relegated from Surrey 2 (10th)

Teams for 2018-19

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Guildfordians	Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex			Promoted from Surrey 4 (runners up)
London Media	Battersea Park			8th
Merton	Morden Recreation Ground			5th
Old Caterhamians				3rd
Old Glynonians				9th
Old Johnians				6th
Old Paulines	Old Pauline Sports Ground			Relegated from Surrey 2 (10th)
Woking	Recreation Ground			Promoted from Surrey 4 (champions)
Worth Old Boys	North Avenue			4th

Teams for 2017-18

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Addington Road			8th
Horley	New Defence Sports Club			Promoted from Surrey 4 (champions)
London Media	Battersea Park			7th
Merton	Morden Recreation Ground			6th
Metropolitan Police	Imber Court			3rd
Old Caterhamians				Relegated from Surrey 2 (10th)
Old Glynonians				Promoted from Surrey 4 (runners up)
Old Johnians				5th
Old Rutlishians	Old Rutlishians' Sports Ground			4th
Worth Old Boys	North Avenue			Relegated from Surrey 2 (9th)

Teams for 2016-17

• Croydon (relegated from Surrey 2)
• Guildfordians (relegated from Surrey 2)
• London Media
• Merton
• Metropolitan Police
• Old Haileyburians (promoted from Surrey 4)
• Old Johnians (promoted from Surrey 4)
• Old Rutlishians
• Reeds Weybridge
• Reigate

Teams for 2015-16

• Bec Old Boys
• London Media
• Merton
• Metropolitan Police
• Mitcham & Carshalton
• Old Glynonians
• Old Rutlishians
• Reeds Weybridge (promoted from Surrey 4)
• Reigate (promoted from Surrey 4)
• Streatham-Croydon

Teams for 2014-15

• Bec Old Boys (relegated from Surrey 2)
• London Media
• Merton (promoted from Surrey 4)
• Metropolitan Police
• Mitcham
• Old Georgians (promoted from Surrey 4)
• Old Glynonians
• Old Rutlishians (relegated from Surrey 2)
• Streatham-Croydon (relegated from Surrey 2)
• Worth Old Boys

Teams for 2013-14

• Guildfordians
• London Media
• Metropolitan Police
• Mitcham
• Old Caterhamians
• Old Glynonians
• Old Haileyburians
• Old Radleian
• Raynes Park
• Worth Old Boys

Teams for 2012-13

• Economicals
• Guildfordians
• London Media
• Mitcham
• Old Amplefordians
• Old Caterhamians
• Old Haileyburians
• Old Radleian
• Raynes Park
• Reigate

Teams for 2011-12

• Economicals
• Haslemere
• London Media
• Mitcham
• Old Amplefordians
• Old Caterhamians
• Old Radleian
• Old Tonbridgians
• Raynes Park
• Streatham-Croydon

Teams for 2010-11

• Economicals
• London Media
• Merton
• Mitcham
• Old Amplefordians
• Old Glynonians
• Old Radleian
• Old Rutlishians
• Old Tonbridgians
• Worth Old Boys

Teams for 2009-10

• CL London - promoted from Surrey 4 in 2009
• Haslemere
• Merton
• Mitcham
• Old Amplefordians
• Old Oundelians
• Old Radleian
• Old Tiffinians
• Streatham-Croydon
• Worth Old Boys

Original teams

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

• Battersea Ironsides
• BBC
• Harrodians
• Haslemere
• Law Society
• Lightwater
• London Fire Brigade
• Old Caterhamians
• Old Croydonians
• Racal-Decca
• Reigate & Redhill
• Surrey Police

Surrey 3 Honours

Surrey 3 (1987–1993)

The original Surrey 3 was tier 10 league, with promotion up to Surrey 2 (initially Surrey 2A and Surrey 2B) and relegation down to Surrey 4.

<											----> Surrey 3
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1987–88	12	Harrodians	Law Society	Lightwater, Racal-Decca
1988–89	10	Battersea Ironsides		Multiple teams
1989–90	11	Shirley Wanderers	Farnham	King's College Hospital, Chipstead
1990–91	11	Old Reedonians	Kingston	Old Johnians, Old Suttonians
1991–92	10	Bec Old Boys		No relegation
1992–93	12	Old Caterhamians	Chipstead
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Surrey 3 (1993–1996)

The creation of National 5 South meant that Surrey 3 dropped from a tier 10 league to a tier 11 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to Surrey 2 and Surrey 4 respectively.

<											----> Surrey 3
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1993–94	13	Woking	London Fire Brigade
1994–95	11	Old Suttonians	Battersea Ironsides	Haslemere
1995–96	11	Old Freemens	London Media
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Surrey 3 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Surrey 3 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Surrey 2 and Surrey 4 respectively.

<											----> Surrey 3
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1996–97	11	Old Wellingtonians	Reigate & Redhill	No relegation
1997–98	12	London Cornish	London Fire Brigade	Old Bevonians, Old Johnians
1998–99[2]	11	Haslemere	Mitcham	No relegation
1999–00[3]	11	Lightwater	Old Freemens	No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Surrey 3 (2000–2009)

The introduction of London 4 South West ahead of the 2000–01 season meant Surrey 3 dropped to become a tier 11 league. Promotion was to Surrey 2, while the cancellation of Surrey 4 at the end of the 1999–00 season, meant that there was no relegation until Surrey 4 was reinstated from the 2005–06 season onward.

<											----> Surrey 3
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2000–01[4]	9	Old Amplefordians	Old Abingdonians	No relegation
2001–02[5]	9	London Cornish	Reigate	No relegation
2002–03[6]	10	Worth Old Boys		No relegation
2003–04[7]	5	Wandsworthians	London Fire Brigade	No relegation
2004–05[8]	8	Bec Old Boys		Multiple teams
2005–06[9]	9	Bec Old Boys	Old Walcountians	No relegation
2006–07[10]	10	London Media	Teddington 2nd XV	Lightwater, Wandsworthians, Pelhamians
2007–08[11]	10	Old Cranleighans	Old Haileyburians	Guildfordians, Woking
2008–09[12]	10	Old Blues	Raynes Park
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Surrey 3 (2009–present)

Surrey 3 remained a tier 11 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion and relegation continued to Surrey 2 and Surrey 4 respectively.

<											----> Surrey 3
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2009–10[13]	9	CL London	Old Tiffinians
2010–11[14]	10	Worth Old Boys	Old Rutlishians	Merton, Old Glynonians, Mitcham
2011–12[15]	9	Streatham-Croydon	Old Tonbridgians	No relegation
2012–13[16]	10	Old Amplefordians	Economicals
2013–14[17]	9	Old Caterhamians	Guildfordians	Raynes Park, Old Haileyburians
2014–15[18]	10	Old Georgians	Worth Old Boys	No relegation
2015–16[19]	10	Streatham-Croydon	Bec Old Boys	Old Glynonians, Mitcham & Carshalton
2016–17[20]	10	Old Haileyburians	Reeds Weybridge	Reigate, Guildfordians
2017–18[21]	10	Metropolitan Police	Old Rutlishians
2018–19[22]	9	Worth Old Boys	Old Caterhamians	Woking
2019–20[23]	10	London Media	Metropolitan Police
2020–21	9	Old Caterhamians	Old Johnians
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Bec Old Boys (3)
• Old Caterhamians (3)
• Worth Old Boys (3)
• London Media (2)
• Old Amplefordians (2)
• London Cornish (2)
• Streatham-Croydon (2)
• Battersea Ironsides (1)
• CL London (1)
• Harrodians (1)
• Haslemere (1)
• Lightwater (1)
• Metropolitan Police (1)
• Old Blues (1)
• Old Cranleighans (1)
• Old Freemens (1)
• Old Georgians (1)
• Old Haileyburians (1)
• Old Reedonians (1)
• Old Suttonians (1)
• Old Wellingtonians (1)
• Shirley Wanderers (1)
• Wandsworthians (1)
• Woking (1)

See also

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

External links

• Surrey Rugby Football Union

Notes and References

1. Web site: RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season . RFU . 2020-10-20 . 2020-11-09 . 23 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201123223553/https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/rfu-cancels-adult-competitive-leaguesfor-the-202021-season . live .
2. Web site: 1998-1999 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224748/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/1998-1999/group/9029. live.
3. Web site: 1999-2000 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224634/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/1999-2000/group/9326. live.
4. Web site: 2000-2001 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224726/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2000-2001/group/9651. live.
5. Web site: 2001-2002 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224719/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2001-2002/group/9985. live.
6. Web site: 2002-2003 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224630/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2002-2003/group/10320. live.
7. Web site: 2003-2004 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224623/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2003-2004/group/10705. live.
8. Web site: 2004-2005 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224734/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2004-2005/group/11105. live.
9. Web site: 2005-2006 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224641/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2005-2006/group/11461. live.
10. Web site: 2006-2007 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224647/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2006-2007/group/11807. live.
11. Web site: 2007-2008 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224656/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2007-2008/group/12215. live.
12. Web site: 2008-2009 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224755/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2008-2009/group/12698. live.
13. Web site: 2009-2010 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224706/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2009-2010/group/13647. live.
14. Web site: 2010-2011 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224711/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2010-2011/group/14516. live.
15. Web site: 2011-2012 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224745/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2011-2012/group/15533. live.
16. Web site: 2012-2013 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224738/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2012-2013/group/16234. live.
17. Web site: 2013-2014 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 15 February 2015. 19 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519224619/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2013-2014/group/17251. live.
18. Web site: 2014-2015 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 3 May 2015. 8 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150508131118/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2014-2015/group/18340. live.
19. Web site: 2015-2016 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 25 April 2016. 8 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160508001704/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2015-2016/group/19845. live.
20. Web site: 2016-2017 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 22 April 2017. 9 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161009033149/http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2016-2017/group/21331. live.
21. Web site: 2017-2018 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 21 April 2018.
22. Web site: 2018-2019 London & South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU. 13 April 2019. 18 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418204749/https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2018-2019/group/26600. live.
23. Web site: Men's London & South East Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020. 25 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200625014735/https://www.englandrugby.com/dxdam/a9/a93fd8a1-289e-4cbe-8d83-92a5bfa91aaa/FINAL%20L%26SE%20Level%208%20%26%20below_v2.pdf. live.