Southern Counties North

Southern Counties North is a division at level 7 of the English rugby union system[1] sitting at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and primarily featuring teams based in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The league champions at the end of each season are automatically promoted to South West 1 East while the runner-up play against the runner-up from Southern Counties South in a play-off for the third promotion place. Relegated teams usually drop to Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier.

Southern Counties North
Current season or competition:
2019–20 Southern Counties North
SportRugby union
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersWitney (3rd title) (2019–20)
(promoted to South West 1 East)
Most titlesHigh Wycombe, Witney (3 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

Teams from Southern Counties North also participate in the RFU Intermediate Cup - a national competition for clubs at level 7.

2019-20

Participating teams and location

2018-19

Participating teams and location

2017-18

Participating teams and location

2016-17

Participating teams and location

2015–16

The 2015–16 Southern Counties North consisted of twelve teams; six from Buckinghamshire, two each from Berkshire and Oxfordshire, and one each from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The season started on 12 September 2015 and the last league matches were played on 23 April 2016.

Participating teams and location

Seven of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions High Wycombe were promoted to the South West 1 East while Milton Keynes and Alchester were relegated to the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier. Royal Wootton Bassett, who finished 4th, were level transferred to Southern Counties South.

Aylesbury
Buckingham
Stow on the Wold
Swindon College
Thatcham
Wallingford
Locations of the 2015-16 Southern Counties North teams
Locations of the 2015-16 Southern Counties North teams in South Buckinghamshire
Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season
AylesburyOstler's FieldWeston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire2nd (lost promotion play-off)
BeaconsfieldOak Lodge MeadowBeaconsfield, Buckinghamshire8th
BicesterOxford RoadBicester, Oxfordshire5th
BletchleyManor FieldsBletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshirerelegated from South West 1 East (14th)
BuckinghamFloyd FieldMaids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshirerelegated from South West 1 East (13th)
DriftersFarnham Common Sports ClubFarnham Common, Buckinghamshire9th
MarlowRiverwoods DriveMarlow, Buckinghamshire7th
Reading AbbeyRosehillReading, Berkshirepromoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (champions)
Stow-on-the-WoldOddington RoadStow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire4th
Swindon College Old BoysNationwide Sports PavilionSwindon, Wiltshirepromoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (runner-up)
ThatchamHenwicky Worthy Sports FieldThatcham, Berkshire6th
WallingfordWallingford Sports ParkWallingford, Oxfordshire10th

2014–15

Participating teams

2013–14

Participating teams

2012–13

Participating teams

Southern Counties North honours
Southern Counties North Honours
Season No of teams Champions Runners-up Relegated teams League name
1998–99[2]10OlneyBicesterFarnham RoyalSouthern Counties North
1999–00[3]10WitneyBeaconsfieldOxford, WallingfordSouthern Counties North
2000–01[4]11WindsorGroveDrifters, Bletchley, PhoenixSouthern Counties North
2001–02[5]10Oxford HarlequinsGroveOxford, Milton Keynes, Chipping NortonSouthern Counties North
2002–03[6]10High WycombeAylesburyWallingford, Beaconsfield, SwindonSouthern Counties North
2003–04[7]10AylesburyAmersham & Chilternno relegation due to league expansion from 10 to 12 teamsSouthern Counties North
2004–05[8]12High WycombeHenley WanderersPhoenix, BicesterSouthern Counties North
2005–06[9]12RedingensiansSwindonSlough, Stow-on-the-Wold, OlneySouthern Counties North
2006–07[10]12BletchleyTadleySupermarine, Chipping NortonSouthern Counties North
2007–08[11]12OlneyWallingfordNewbury Stags, Amersham & ChilternSouthern Counties North
2008–09[12]12BuckinghamMarlowBeaconsfieldSouthern Counties North
2009–10[13]12WitneyAmersham & ChilternBicester, SloughSouthern Counties North
2010–11[14]12SwindonAylesburyChipping Norton, Oxford, CrowthorneSouthern Counties North
2011–12[15]12BeaconsfieldMilton Keynes[a 1]MarlboroughSouthern Counties North
2012–13[16]12BuckinghamGroveSlough, TadleySouthern Counties North
2013–14[17]12BletchleyAylesburySwindon College Old Boys, Reading AbbeySouthern Counties North
2014–15[18]12High WycombeAylesburyMilton Keynes, AlchesterSouthern Counties North
2015–16[19]12Reading AbbeyAylesburyDrifters, Swindon College Old BoysSouthern Counties North
2016–17[20]12MarlowBicesterBletchley, Milton KeynesSouthern Counties North
2017–18[21]12BeaconsfieldWindsorDrifters, Gosford All BlacksWadworth 6X Southern Counties North
2018–19[22]12WindsorBuckinghamLittlemore, SloughWadworth 6X Southern Counties North
2019–20[23]12WitneyReadingDidcot, CheshamWadworth 6X Southern Counties North
2020–2112
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South for the third and final promotion place to South West 1 East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Southern Counties North teams have been the most successful with twelve wins to the Southern Counties South teams seven; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.

Southern Counties North v Southern Counties South promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[24]Salisbury (S)49-20Grove (N)Castle Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire
2001–02[25]Grove (N)30-13Oakmeadians (S)Recreation Lane, Grove, Oxfordshire
2002–03[26]Oakmeadians (S)24-17Aylesbury (N)Meryick Park, Bournemouth, Dorset
2003–04[27]Amersham & Chiltern (N)[a 2]Tadley (S)Ash Grove, Amersham, Buckinghamshire
2004–05[28]Frome (S)12-38Henley Wanderers (N)Gypsy Lane, Frome, Somerset
2005–06[29]Oldfield Old Boys (S)32-33Swindon (N)Shaft Road, Monkton Combe, Somerset
2006–07[30]Wootton Bassett (S)17-20Tadley (N)Ballards Ash Sports Ground, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire
2007–08[31]Wallingford (N)22-3Wootton Bassett (S)Wallingford Sports Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire
2008–09[32]Marlow (N)18-15Wootton Bassett (S)Riverwoods Drive, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
2009–10[33]Amersham & Chiltern (N)45-12Frome (S)Ash Grove, Amersham, Buckinghamshire
2010–11[34]Aylesbury (N)10-39Oldfield Old Boys (S)Ostler's Field, Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
2011–12[35]Windsor (N)22-15Dorcester (S)Home Park, Windsor, Berkshire
2012–13[36]Grove (N)39-20Trowbridge (S)Recreation Lane, Grove, Oxfordshire
2013–14[37]Trowbridge (S)27-19Aylesbury (N)Doric Park, Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire
2014–15[38]Salisbury (S)34-16Aylesbury (N)Castle Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire
2015–16[39]Midsomer Norton (S)29-22Aylesbury (N)Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset
2016–17[40]Bicester (N)53-20Trowbridge (S)Oxford Road, Bicester, Oxfordshire
2017–18[41]Windsor (N)29-31Marlborough (S)Home Park, Windsor, Berkshire
2018–19[42]Frome (S)10-23Buckingham (N)Gypsy Lane, Frome, Somerset400
2019–20Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Frome (S) - promoted instead.
2020–21
Green background is the promoted team. N = Southern Counties North and S = Southern Counties South

Number of league titles

Notes
  1. Although the RFU website has Milton Keynes as runners up, third place Windsor actually went into the playoffs and won promotion.[15]
  2. The result of the 2003-04 playoff between Amersham & Chiltern and Tadley is unknown due to all the south-west promotion playoff games from this season missing from the RFU website. However, as Amersham & Chiltern were in the higher division the next season (and Tadley were not) it is assumed they won the playoff game. Amersham & Chiltern would also have hosted the game as they had a better points record in their league than Tadley did in theirs.
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See also

References
  1. Rugby First
  2. "1998-99 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  3. "1999-00 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  4. "2000-01 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  5. "2001-02 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  6. "2002-03 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  7. "2003-04 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  8. "2004-05 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  9. "2005-06 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  10. "2006-07 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  11. "2007-08 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  12. "2008-09 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  13. "2009-10 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  14. "2010-11 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  15. "2011-12 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  16. "2012-13 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  17. "2013-14 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  18. "2014-15 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  19. "2015-16 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  20. "2016-17 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  21. "2017-18 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  22. "2018-19 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  23. "Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  24. "South West Play-Offs 2000-01". England Rugby. 19 May 2001.
  25. "South West Play-Offs 2001-02". England Rugby. 27 April 2002.
  26. "South West Play-Offs 2002-03". England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
  27. "South West Play-Offs 2003-04". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  28. "South West Play-Offs 2004-05". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  29. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  30. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  31. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  32. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  33. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 7 May 2010.
  34. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 23 April 2011.
  35. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 28 April 2012.
  36. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 27 April 2013.
  37. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 26 April 2014.
  38. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 25 April 2015.
  39. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 30 April 2016.
  40. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 29 April 2017.
  41. "Marlborough win promotion after play-off win at Windsor". Gazette & Herald. 30 April 2018.
  42. "Frome RFC 10 - 23 Buckingham RFC". Frome RFC. 27 April 2019.
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