Counties 1 Southern North Explained

Counties 1 Southern North
Current Season:	2023–24 Counties 1 Southern North
Sport:	Rugby union
Founded:	(as Southern Counties)
Teams:	12
Champion:	Chinnor III
Season:	2022–23
Most Champs:	High Wycombe, Witney
Count:	3
Website:	englandrugby.com

Counties 1 Southern North (formerly known as Southern Counties North) is a division at level 7 of the English rugby union system.^[1] When league rugby first began in 1987 it was known as Southern Counties but since 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues – Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern North currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and features teams based in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The league champions at the end of each season are automatically promoted to Regional 2 South Central. Relegated teams usually drop to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South.

Format

The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league table as follows:

• 4 points are awarded for a win
• 2 points are awarded for a draw
• 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
• 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
• 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match

2024-25

Team	Ground	Capacity	Town/Area	Previous season
	Oxford Road			7th
	Manor Fields			9th
	Lily Hill Park ^[2]			10th
Buckingham	Floyd Field			5th
	Kingsey Road	2,000		8th
Grove	Cane Lane			6th
	Kingsmead Road			Promoted from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North (1st)
	Horspath Sports Ground^[3]	1,000		4th
				Relegated from Regional 2 South Central (12th)
	Rosehill			Promoted from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South (1st)
Wallingford	Wallingford Sports Park			3rd
Windsor	Home Park			2nd

2023-24

Team	Ground	Capacity	Town/Area	Previous season
	Oak Lodge Meadow
	Oxford Road			4th
	Manor Fields			7th
	Lily Hill Park ^[4]			5th
Buckingham	Floyd Field			Relegated from Regional 2 South Central (12th)
	Kingsey Road	2,000		1st
Grove	Cane Lane			Relegated from Regional 2 South Central (11th)
	Emerson Valley			6th
	Horspath Sports Ground^[5]	1,000		Promoted from Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon North (1st)
	Old Bath Road	1,250		Promoted from Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon South (1st)
Wallingford	Wallingford Sports Park			3rd
Windsor	Home Park

2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Southern Counties North with eight teams returning from season 2021-22.

Team	Ground	Capacity	Town/Area	Previous season
	Oxford Road			10th Southern Counties North
	Manor Fields			Champions Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
	Lily Hill Park ^[6]			New entry
	Kingsey Road	2,000		Champions Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1
Gosford All Blacks	Stratfield Brake
	Kingsmead Road			5th Southern Counties North
	Riverwoods Drive			7th Southern Counties North
	Emerson Valley			9th Southern Counties North
	Rosehill			6th Southern Counties North
	Nationwide Sports Pavilion			10th Southern Counties South
Thatcham	Henwicky Worthy Sports Field			12th Southern Counties North
Wallingford	Wallingford Sports Park			8th Southern Counties North

League table

<															-- --> width=20% style="border:0px" Counties 1 Southern North 2022–23
	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points for	Points against	Points diff	Try bonus	Loss bonus	Points	Points deducted
1	Chinnor III	22	19	2	1	852	219	633	16	0	98
2		22	18	1	3	755	301	454	16	2	92
3	Wallingford	22	16	1	5	495	246	249	10	3	80
4		22	15	1	6	699	370	329	10	2	74
5	Bracknell II	22	12	1	9	697	384	313	12	6	68
6		22	12	0	10	462	486	−24	9	0	58
7	Bletchley	22	7	0	15	352	563	−211	7	3	39
8	Gosford All Blacks	22	8	0	14	385	586	−201	5	5	38	−5
9		21	6	0	15	263	599	−336	4	3	32
10		22	7	0	15	365	629	−264	5	1	29	−5
11	Swindon College Old Boys (R)	21	5	0	16	382	770	−388	5	0	25
12	Thatcham (R)	22	3	0	19	212	766	−554	1	2	5	−20
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Number of draws Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
	Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places. Updated: 18 April 2023 Source:^[7]

2021–22

Team	Ground	Capacity	Town/Area	Previous season
Aylesbury	Ostler's Field			6th
	Oxford Road			7th
Gosford All Blacks	Stratfield Brake			Promoted from BBO Premier (champions)
	Kingsmead Road			5th
	Riverwoods Drive			4th
	Emerson Valley			Promoted from BBO Premier (runners-up)
				2nd
	Rosehill			10th
	Mayo Road	600		3rd
Stow-on-the-Wold	Oddington Road			8th
Thatcham	Henwicky Worthy Sports Field			Level transfer from Southern Counties South (11th)
Wallingford	Wallingford Sports Park			9th

2020–21

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the season was cancelled.

2019–20

Team	Ground	Capacity	Town/Area	Previous season
Aylesbury	Ostler's Field			5th
	Oxford Road			4th
Chesham				Promoted from BBO Premier (champions)
Didcot	Boundary Park			Promoted from BBO Premier (runners up)
	Kingsmead Road			9th
	Riverwoods Drive			3rd
				8th
	Rosehill			7th
	Mayo Road	600		Promoted from Midlands 3 WS (runners up - level transfer)
Stow-on-the-Wold	Oddington Road			10th
Wallingford	Wallingford Sports Park			6th
Witney	Witney Road			Relegated from South West 1 East (12th)

2018–19

Team	Ground	Capacity	Town/Area	Previous season
Aylesbury	Ostler's Field			4th
	Oxford Road			Relegated from South West 1 East (14th)
Buckingham	Floyd Field			3rd
Littlemore				Promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (runners up)
	Kingsmead Road			9th
	Riverwoods Drive			Relegated from South West 1 East (12th)
				7th
	Rosehill			8th
Slough	Tamblyn Fields			Promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (champions)
Stow-on-the-Wold	Oddington Road			10th
Wallingford	Wallingford Sports Park			6th
Windsor	Home Park			Runners up (lost playoff)

2017–18

Team	Ground	Capacity	Town/Village	Previous season
Aylesbury	Ostler's Field			3rd
	Oak Lodge Meadow			7th
Buckingham	Floyd Field			4th
Drifters	Farnham Common Sports Club			Promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (runners up)
Gosford All Blacks	Stratfield Brake			10th
	Kingsmead Road			8th
				Relegated from South West 1 East (14th)
	Rosehill			Relegated from South West 1 East (13th)
Stow-on-the-Wold	Oddington Road			9th
Thatcham	Henwicky Worthy Sports Field			5th
Wallingford	Wallingford Sports Park			6th
Windsor	Home Park			Relegated from South West 1 East (12th)

2016–17

Team	Ground	Capacity	Town/Village	Previous season
Aylesbury	Ostler's Field			2nd (lost playoff)
	Oak Lodge Meadow			6th
	Oxford Road			4th
	Manor Fields			8th
Buckingham	Floyd Field			3rd
Gosford All Blacks	Stratfield Brake			Promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (champions)
	Kingsmead Road			Relegated from South West 1 East (12th)
	Riverwoods Drive			7th
	Emerson Valley			Promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (runners up)
Stow-on-the-Wold	Oddington Road			9th
Thatcham	Henwicky Worthy Sports Field			10th
Wallingford	Wallingford Sports Park			5th

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.

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.

width=20%	Team	width=20%	Ground	width=8%	Capacity	width=27%	Town/Village	width=25%	Previous season
	Ostler's Field			2nd (lost promotion play-off)
	Oak Lodge Meadow			8th
	Oxford Road			5th
	Manor Fields			relegated from South West 1 East (14th)
	Floyd Field			relegated from South West 1 East (13th)
	Farnham Common Sports Club			9th
	Riverwoods Drive			7th
	Rosehill			promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (champions)
	Oddington Road			4th
	Nationwide Sports Pavilion			promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (runner-up)
	Henwicky Worthy Sports Field			6th
	Wallingford Sports Park			10th

2014–15

• Alchester
• Aylesbury
• Beaconsfield
• Bicester (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier)
• Drifters
• High Wycombe
• Marlow (relegated from South West 1 East)
• Milton Keynes
• Royal Wootton Bassett
• Stow-on-the-Wold
• Thatcham
• Wallingford

2013–14

• Alchester
• Aylesbury
• Bletchley
• Drifters
• High Wycombe
• Milton Keynes
• Reading Abbey
• Royal Wootton Bassett
• Stow-on-the-Wold
• Swindon College Old Boys
• Thatcham
• Wallingford

2012–13

• Alchester
• Aylesbury
• Buckingham
• Drifters
• Grove
• Milton Keynes
• Olney
• Reading Abbey
• Slough
• Tadley
• Thatcham
• Wallingford

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Southern Counties) contained the following teams:

• Aylesbury
• Banbury
• Bletchley
  • Bracknell Marlow
• Oxford Marathon
• Oxford Old Boys
• Redingensians
• Swindon
• Wimborne
• Windsor

Counties 1 Southern North honours

Southern Counties (1987–1993)

Originally the Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South leagues were combined in a single division called Southern Counties. It was a tier 7 league with promotion to South West 2 and relegation to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 or Bucks/Oxon 1.

<											----> Southern Counties
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners-up	Relegated teams	Ref
1987–88	11	Redingensians
1988–89	11	Banbury
1989–90	11	Marlow
1990–91	11	Sherborne
1991–92	11	Banbury		No relegation
1992–93	13	Swanage & Wareham
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Southern Counties (1993–1996)

At the end of the 1992–93 season the top six teams from London Division 1 and the top six from South West Division 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that Southern Counties dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to South West 2 and relegation to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 or Bucks/Oxon 1.

<											----> Southern Counties North
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners-up	Relegated teams	Ref
1993–94	13	Bournemouth			^[8]
1994–95	13	Dorchester			^[9]
1995–96	13	Amersham & Chiltern		No relegation	^[10]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Southern Counties North (1996–2000)

Restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Southern Counties split into two separate leagues, Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. They reverted to tier 7 leagues due to the cancellation of National 5 South. Promotion from Southern Counties North was now to the new South West 2 East while relegation was now only to Bucks/Oxon 1.

<											----> Southern Counties North
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners-up	Relegated teams	Ref
1996–97	10	Stow-on-the-Wold
1997–98	10	Slough
1998–99	10	Olney			^[11]
1999–00	10	Witney			^[12]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Southern Counties North (2000–2009)

Southern Counties North remained a tier 7 league, with promotion continuing to South West 2 East. However, the transfer of Berkshire clubs from the Dorset/Wilts leagues to the Bucks/Oxon leagues, meant that relegation was now to new Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 (formerly Bucks/Oxon 1).

<											----> Southern Counties North
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners-up	Relegated teams	Ref
2000–01	11	Windsor			^[13]
2001–02	10	Oxford Harlequins			^[14]
2002–03	10	High Wycombe			^[15]
2003–04	10	Aylesbury		No relegation	^[16]
2004–05	12	High Wycombe			^[17]
2005–06	12	Redingensians			^[18]
2006–07	12	Bletchley			^[19]
2007–08	12	Olney			^[20]
2008–09	12	Buckingham			^[21]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Southern Counties North (2009–2022)

Despite widespread league restructuring by the RFU, Southern Counties North continued as a tier 7 league, with promotion to South West 1 East (formerly South West 2 East) and relegation to Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier.

<											----> Southern Counties North
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners-up	Relegated teams	Ref
2009–10	12	Witney			^[22]
2010–11	12	Swindon			^[23]
2011–12	12	Beaconsfield			^[24]
2012–13	12	Buckingham			^[25]
2013–14	12	Bletchley			^[26]
2014–15	12	High Wycombe			^[27]
2015–16	12	Reading Abbey			^[28]
2016–17	12	Marlow			^[29]
2017–18	12	Beaconsfield			^[30]
2018–19	12	Windsor			^[31]
2019–20	12	Witney			^[32]
2020–21	12	Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22	12	Stow-on-the-Wold		No relegation due to league reorganisation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Counties 1 Southern North (2022–)

Following the reorganisation of the leagues, Southern Counties North was renamed Counties 1 Southern North and remained a level seven league. The champions are promoted to Regional 2 South Central and the bottom side is relegated, depending on location, to a level eight league; Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South.

Regional 2 South Central
Season	No of teams	No of matches	Champions	Runners-up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
2022–23	12	22	Chinnor III		Swindon College Old Boys and Thatcham
Green background is the promotion place.

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^[33]	Salisbury (S)	49-20	Grove (N)
2001–02^[34]	Grove (N)	30-13	Oakmeadians (S)
2002–03^[35]	Oakmeadians (S)	24-17	Aylesbury (N)
2003–04^[36]	Amersham & Chiltern (N)		Tadley (S)
2004–05^[37]	Frome (S)	12-38	Henley Wanderers (N)
2005–06^[38]	Oldfield Old Boys (S)	32-33	Swindon (N)
2006–07^[39]	Wootton Bassett (S)	17-20	Tadley (N)
2007–08^[40]	Wallingford (N)	22-3	Wootton Bassett (S)
2008–09^[41]	Marlow (N)	18-15	Wootton Bassett (S)
2009–10^[42]	Amersham & Chiltern (N)	45-12	Frome (S)
2010–11^[43]	Aylesbury (N)	10-39	Oldfield Old Boys (S)
2011–12^[44]	Windsor (N)	22-15	Dorcester (S)
2012–13^[45]	Grove (N)	39-20	Trowbridge (S)
2013–14^[46]	Trowbridge (S)	27-19	Aylesbury (N)
2014–15^[47]	Salisbury (S)	34-16	Aylesbury (N)
2015–16^[48]	Midsomer Norton (S)	29-22	Aylesbury (N)
2016–17^[49]	Bicester (N)	53-20	Trowbridge (S)
2017–18^[50]	Windsor (N)	29-31	Marlborough (S)
2018–19^[51]	Frome (S)	10-23	Buckingham (N)		400
2019–20	Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Frome (S) - promoted instead.
2020–21	Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22	No play-off due to league reorganisation
Green background is the promoted team. N = Southern Counties North and S = Southern Counties South

Number of league titles

• High Wycombe (3)
• Witney (3)
• Banbury (2)
• Beaconsfield (2)
• Bletchley (2)
• Buckingham (2)
• Marlow (2)
• Olney (2)
• Redingensians (2)
• Windsor (2)
• Amersham & Chiltern (1)
• Aylesbury (1)
• Bournemouth (1)
• Dorchester (1)
• Oxford Harlequins (1)
• Reading Abbey (1)
• Sherborne (1)
• Slough (1)
• Stow-on-the-Wold (2)
• Chinnor III (1)
• Swanage & Wareham (1)
• Swindon (1)

See also

• South West Division RFU
• Berkshire RFU
• Buckinghamshire RFU
• Oxfordshire RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

Notes and References

1. http://clubs.rfu.com/fixtures/MatchByDivision.aspx?DivID=158565924 Rugby First
2. Web site: Bracknell RFC . Bracknell RFC . 31 May 2023.
3. Web site: Oxford Harlequins RUFC . Oxford Harlequins RUFC . 31 May 2023.
4. Web site: Bracknell RFC . Bracknell RFC . 31 May 2023.
5. Web site: Oxford Harlequins RUFC . Oxford Harlequins RUFC . 31 May 2023.
6. Web site: Bracknell RFC . Bracknell RFC . 31 May 2023.
7. Web site: Counties 1 Tribute Southern North . Rugby England . 20 July 2023.
8. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. 1994. Headline Bookline Publishing. London. 0-7472-7850-4.
9. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. 1995. Headline Bookline Publishing. London. 0-7472-7816-4.
10. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. 1996. Headline Book Publishing. London. 0-7472-7771-0.
11. Web site: 1998-99 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
12. Web site: 1999-00 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
13. Web site: 2000-01 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
14. Web site: 2001-02 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
15. Web site: 2002-03 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
16. Web site: 2003-04 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
17. Web site: 2004-05 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
18. Web site: 2005-06 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
19. Web site: 2006-07 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
20. Web site: 2007-08 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
21. Web site: 2008-09 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
22. Web site: 2009-10 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
23. Web site: 2010-11 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
24. Web site: 2011-12 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
25. Web site: 2012-13 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
26. Web site: 2013-14 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
27. Web site: 2014-15 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
28. Web site: 2015-16 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
29. Web site: 2016-17 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 1 May 2017.
30. Web site: 2017-18 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 21 April 2018.
31. Web site: 2018-19 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 13 April 2018.
32. Web site: Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020.
33. Web site: South West Play-Offs 2000-01. England Rugby . 19 May 2001 .
34. Web site: South West Play-Offs 2001-02. England Rugby . 27 April 2002 .
35. Web site: South West Play-Offs 2002-03. England Rugby . 26 April 2003 .
36. Web site: South West Play-Offs 2003-04. England Rugby . 24 April 2004 .
37. Web site: South West Play-Offs 2004-05. England Rugby . 30 April 2005 .
38. Web site: South West Play-Offs. England Rugby . 29 April 2006 .
39. Web site: South West Play-Offs. England Rugby . 28 April 2007 .
40. Web site: South West Play-Offs. England Rugby . 26 April 2008 .
41. Web site: South West Play-Offs. England Rugby . 25 April 2009 .
42. Web site: South West Play-Offs. England Rugby . 7 May 2010 .
43. Web site: South West Play-Offs. England Rugby . 23 April 2011 .
44. Web site: South West Play-Offs. England Rugby . 28 April 2012 .
45. Web site: South West Play-Offs. England Rugby . 27 April 2013 .
46. Web site: South West Play-Offs. England Rugby . 26 April 2014 .
47. Web site: South West Play-Offs. England Rugby . 25 April 2015 .
48. Web site: South West Play-Offs. England Rugby . 30 April 2016 .
49. Web site: South West Play-Offs. England Rugby . 29 April 2017 .
50. Web site: Marlborough win promotion after play-off win at Windsor. Gazette & Herald . 30 April 2018 .
51. Web site: Frome RFC 10 - 23 Buckingham RFC. Frome RFC . 27 April 2019 .