| Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex | |
| Current Season: | 2024–25 Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex |
| Sport: | Rugby union |
| Teams: | 12 |
| Website: | https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/search-results?competition=261&division=56612&season=2024-2025#fixtures |
Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex is an English level 7 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Surrey, Greater London, East Sussex and West Sussex. Administration of the leagues is divided between Surrey Rugby.,[1] Sussex Rugby[2] and the London & SE RFU.[3] (The locations in Greater London are all in areas that were historically part of Surrey.)
The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to April, making a total of twenty-two matches each. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
In addition:
There is one automatic promotion place and two relegation places. The first-placed team at the end of season wins promotion to either Regional 2 South East or Regional 2 Thames. The last three placed clubs are usually relegated to either Counties 2 Surrey or Counties 2 Sussex depending on location.
Leaving the league were Teddington [4] and Old Tiffinians, promoted to Regional 2 Thames[5] and Regional 2 South East respectively; while Kingston, Old Walcountians [6] and Old Cranleighans were relegated to Counties 2 Surrey. Joining were Cobham and London Cornish both relegated from Regional 2 South East;[7] coming up were Haywards Heath from Counties 2 Sussex,[8] Old Haileyburians and Old Rutlishians [9] both from Counties 2 Surrey.
The London & SE RFU published fixtures for the league in June 2024.[10]
| Team | Ground | Capacity | Town/area | Previous season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Surbitonians Memorial Ground | Relegated from Regional 2SE (11th) | ||||
| Saint Hill | 200 | 8th | |||
| Eastbourne | Park Avenue | 6th | |||
| Promoted from Counties 2 Sussex (champions) | |||||
| Hove Recreation Ground | 7th | ||||
| KCS Old Boys | Dornan Fields | 5th | |||
| Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields | Relegated from Regional 2SE (12th) | ||||
| Old Haileyburians | Ruxley Lane | Promoted from Counties 2 Surrey (runners-up) | |||
| Old Rutlishians | Old Rutlishians' Sports Ground | Promoted from Counties 2 Surrey (champions) | |||
| Trinity | Trinity Sanderstead Sports & Social Club | 9th[11] | |||
| Twickenham | Parkfields | 4th | |||
| Weybridge Vandals | Brownacres | 3rd |
Leaving the league were Chobham promoted to Regional 2 Thames.[12] Warlingham were relegated to Counties 2 Surrey for what were reported as "...administrative, rather than playing, reasons...".[13]
Joining the league were promoted sides Teddington,[14] from Counties 2 Surrey, Eastbourne [15] and East Grinstead, both from Counties 2 Sussex. Coming down from Regional 2 South East were KCS Old Boys.
Further post-ACR adjustments meant the league was restored to containing 12 teams [16]
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastbourne | Park Avenue | Promoted from Counties 2 Sussex (champions) | |||
| Saint Hill | Promoted from Counties 2 Sussex (runners-up) | ||||
| Hove Recreation Ground | 3rd | ||||
| KCS Old Boys | Dornan Fields | Relegated from Regional 2SE (12th) | |||
| Kingston | Hook Road | 6th | |||
| Old Cranleighans | Old Cranleighan Sports Club | 9th | |||
| Old Tiffinians | Grist's Memorial Ground | 2nd | |||
| Old Walcountians | Clockhouse Ground | 7th | |||
| Teddington | Udney Park Sports Ground | Promoted from Counties 2 Surrey (champions) | |||
| Trinity | Trinity Sanderstead Sports & Social Club | 8th | |||
| Twickenham | Parkfields | 4th | |||
| Weybridge Vandals | Brownacres | 5th |
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 2 South West but was smaller (12 teams reduced to 10) with Counties 1 Hampshire taking teams that historically would have played in London 2 South West.
This prompted a substantial reordering of the leagues with two teams, Kingston and Trinity,[17] effectively achieving a 'double' promotion from level 9 (Surrey 1) to level 7 of the RFU rugby pyramid. Warlingham,[18] Weybridge Vandals [19] and Old Walcountians [20] were all promoted from the upper end of London 3 South West whilst, rather less predictably, Old Cranleighans also came up from the same league despite having finished at the foot of it.
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fowlers Well | 5th (L2SW) | ||||
| Hove Recreation Ground | 9th (L2SW) | ||||
| Kingston | Hook Road | Promoted from (Surrey 1) (champions) | |||
| Old Cranleighans | Old Cranleighan Sports Club | Promoted from (L3SW) (12th) | |||
| Old Tiffinians | Grist's Memorial Ground | 6th (L2SW) | |||
| Old Walcountians | Clockhouse Ground | Promoted from (L3SW) (4th)[21] | |||
| Trinity | Trinity Sanderstead Sports & Social Club | Promoted from (Surrey 1) (runners-up) | |||
| Twickenham | Parkfields | 10th (L2SW) | |||
| Warlingham | Limpsfield Road | Promoted from (L3SW) (champions)[22] | |||
| Weybridge Vandals | Brownacres | Promoted from (L3SW) (3rd) |