Eastern Counties 1

Eastern Counties 1 is 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. 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. Each year some of the 1st XV clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.

Eastern Counties 1
Current season or competition:
2019–20 Eastern Counties 1
SportRugby union
Instituted1987 (1987)
Number of teams24 (8 per divisional league)
Country England
HoldersBeccles (2nd title) (2018–19)
(promoted to London 3 Eastern Counties)
Most titlesThetford (3 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

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 2018-19

North
  • Beccles
  • Diss II
  • Lowestoft & Yarmouth
  • North Walsham II
  • Norwich II
  • Norwich Medics
  • Norwich Union
  • Wymondham II

South

West

Participating Clubs 2017-18
  • Beccles (North)
  • Brightlingsea (South)
  • Bury St. Edmunds III (West)
  • Cambridge Adventurers (West)
  • Cantabrigian II (West)
  • Colchester III (South)
  • Cottenham Renegades (West)
  • Diss II (North)
  • Fakenham (North)
  • Great Yarmouth-Broadland (North)
  • Hadleigh (South)
  • Haverhill & District (West)
  • Ipswich Magpies (South)
  • Ipswich Y.M. (South)
  • Mistley (South)
  • North Walsham II (North)
  • Norwich Medics (North)
  • Norwich Union (North)
  • Saffron Walden II (West)
  • Shelford III (West)
  • Stowmarket II (South)
  • Sudbury Talbots (South)
  • Swaffham (North)
  • Thurston (West)

Participating Clubs 2016-17

Participating Clubs 2015-16
  • Crusaders
  • Ely
  • Ipswich Y.M.
  • Mersea Island
  • Newmarket
  • Swaffham
  • Thetford
  • Thurston
  • Wisbech
  • Woodbridge
  • Wymondham

Participating Clubs 2014-15

Participating Clubs 2013-14
  • Broadland - Great Yarmouth (promoted from Eastern Counties 2)
  • Crusaders
  • Ely
  • Harwich & Dovercourt
  • Ipswich Y.M.
  • Mersea Island
  • Newmarket
  • Swaffham (promoted from Eastern Counties 2)
  • West Norfolk
  • Woodbridge

Participating Clubs 2012-13
  • Crusaders
  • Ely
  • Hadleigh
  • Harwich & Dovercourt
  • Ipswich Y.M.
  • Mersea Island
  • Newmarket
  • Southwold
  • Thurston
  • West Norfolk
  • Woodbridge
  • Wymondham

Original teams

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

Eastern Counties 1 Honours
Eastern Counties 1 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams League Name
1987–8811Met Police ChigwellCambridgeThetfordEastern Counties 1
1988–8911HarlowRomford & Gidea ParkLowestoft & YarmouthEastern Counties 1
1989–9011Canvey IslandOld EdwardiansIpswich YMCAEastern Counties 1
1990–9111ChelmsfordBasildonRedbridgeEastern Counties 1
1991–9211Rochford HundredCampion[lower-alpha 1]No relegation[lower-alpha 2]Eastern Counties 1
1992–9313Bury St EdmundsShelfordMet Police Chigwell, CrusadersEastern Counties 1
1993–9413MaldonWest NorfolkWanstead, CantabrigianEastern Counties 1
1994–9513Lowestoft & YarmouthCanvey IslandWestcliff, RavensEastern Counties 1
1995–9613DissWoodbridgeLoughton, BancroftEastern Counties 1
1996–9713BasildonCampion[lower-alpha 3]No relegation[lower-alpha 4]Eastern Counties 1
1997–9810HadleighBancroftHarwich & DovercourtEastern Counties 1
1998–99[1]10ThetfordElyWanstead, Ilford Wanderers, Met Police ChigwellEastern Counties 1
1999–00[2]9Saffron WaldenWoodbridgeOld Cooperians, WestcliffEastern Counties 1
2000–01[3]10Eton ManorUpminsterBancroft, Wanstead, CantabrigianEastern Counties 1
2001–02[4]10Mersea IslandBecclesOld Edwardians, NewmarketEastern Counties 1
2002–03[5]10ColchesterElyCanvey Island, Stanford Le Hope, Epping Upper ClaptonEastern Counties 1
2003–04[6]9ThetfordStowmarketNo relegation[lower-alpha 5]Eastern Counties 1
2004–05[7]10WisbechCrusadersWoodbridge, Southwold, ElyEastern Counties 1
2005–06[8]10BecclesMersea IslandThetford, Ipswich Y.M., CantabrigianEastern Counties 1
2006–07[9]10Mersea IslandThurstonDereham, NewmarketEastern Counties 1
2007–08[10]11WymondhamWest NorfolkElyEastern Counties 1
2008–09[11]10Lowestoft & YarmouthWisbechNo relegation[lower-alpha 6]Eastern Counties 1
2009–10[12]11NewmarketStowmarketThetford, FakenhamEastern Counties 1
2010–11[13]10StowmarketHoltThurstonGreene King IPA Eastern Counties 1
2011–12[14]11CantabrigianWisbechBroadland - Great YarmouthGreene King IPA Eastern Counties 1
2012–13[15]12WymondhamIpswich Y.M.Thurston, Hadleigh, SouthwoldGreene King IPA Eastern Counties 1
2013–14[16]12West NorfolkNewmarketBroadland - Great Yarmouth, Harwich & DovercourtGreene King IPA Eastern Counties 1
2014–15[17]12SouthwoldElyWoodbridgeGreene King IPA Eastern Counties 1
2015–16[18]11ElyWymondhamNo relegation[lower-alpha 7]Greene King IPA Eastern Counties 1
2016–17[19]12ThetfordWymondham[lower-alpha 8]SwaffhamGreene King IPA Eastern Counties 1
2017–18[20]24[lower-alpha 9]FakenhamIpswich Y.M.[lower-alpha 10]Broadland - Great Yarmouth (north), Stowmarket II (south), Haverhill & District (west)[21]Greene King IPA Eastern Counties 1
2018–19[22]24Beccles[lower-alpha 11]HadleighEly II, Harwich & Dovercourt II[lower-alpha 12]Greene King IPA Eastern Counties 1
2019–20[23]24Greene King IPA Eastern Counties 1
2020–2124Greene King IPA Eastern Counties 1
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

[24]

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
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2004-05[25]Crusaders (EC)41-24Upminster (EX)Beckhithe, Little Melton, Norfolk
2005–06[26]Canvey Island (EX)31-18Mersea Island (EC)Tewkes Creek, Canvey Island, Essex
2006–07[27]Thurston (EC)22-33South Woodham Ferrers (EX)Robinson Field, Thurston, Suffolk
2007–08[28]Maldon (EX)15-20West Norfolk (EC)Drapers Farm Playing Fields, Heybridge, Essex
2008–09[29]Wisbech (EC)38-14Campion (EX)Chapel Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
2009–10[30]Bancroft (EX)37-29Stowmarket (EC)Buckhurst Way, Buckhurst Hill, Essex
2010–11[31]Holt (EC)HWO[lower-alpha 13]Millwall (EX)Bridge Road, Holt, Norfolk
2011–12[32]Wisbech (EC)38-12Maldon (EX)Chapel Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
2012–13[33]Ipswich Y.M. (EC)20-27Old Cooperians (EX)The Street, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich, Suffolk
2013–14[34]Newmarket (EC)17-18Clacton (EX)The NSDA Pavilion, Newmarket, Suffolk
2014–15[35]Epping Upper Clapton (EX)36-22Ely (EC)Upland Road, Thornwood, Essex400
2015–16[36]Ilford Wanderers (EX)66-17Wymondham (EC)Ilford Wanderers Sports Ground, Barkingside, Greater London
2016–17No 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
  • Thetford (3)
  • Beccles (2)
  • Lowestoft & Yarmouth (2)
  • Mersea Island (2)
  • Wymondham (2)
  • Basildon (1)
  • Bury St Edmunds (1)
  • Cantabrigian (1)
  • Canvey Island (1)
  • Chelmsford (1)
  • Colchester (1)
  • Diss (1)
  • Ely (1)
  • Eton Manor (1)
  • Fakenham (1)
  • Hadleigh (1)
  • Harlow (1)
  • Maldon (1)
  • Met Police Chigwell (1)
  • Newmarket (1)
  • Rochford Hundred (1)
  • Saffron Walden (1)
  • Southwold (1)
  • Stowmarket (1)
  • West Norfolk (1)
  • Wisbech (1)

Notes
  1. 3rd place Braintree also promoted.
  2. As the league was due to increase from 11 to 13 teams for the following season, there was no relegation.
  3. Due to restructuring of the London & South East leagues for the following season, seven clubs were promoted including Upminster, Holt, Wymondham, Newmarket and Shelford.
  4. Due to restructuring of the London & South East leagues for the following season, there was no relegation.
  5. No relegation as league increased from 9 to 10 teams for the following season.
  6. No relegation as league increased from 10 to 11 teams for the following season.
  7. No relegation as league increased from 11 to 12 teams for the following season.
  8. Due to London 3 North East being split into London 3 Eastern Counties and London 3 Essex, six teams would be promoted this season instead of the usual 1 or 2, including Thetford, Wymondham, Crusaders, Newmarket, Woodbridge and Wisbech.
  9. Divided into 3 regional divisions (north/south/west) with 8 teams in each.
  10. 3rd placed Thurston also promoted.
  11. Beccles were winners of the Eastern Counties 1 Shield - the final promotion stage of the Eastern Counties 1 competition.
  12. Ely II and Harwich & Dovercourt Rugby Club II were the two lowest ranked sides in the Eastern Counties 1 Salver - the final relegation stage of the Eastern Counties 1 competition.
  13. Holt were promoted as Millwall did not manage to raise a team for the 2010-11 play-off game.
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See also

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