Counties 3 Hampshire Explained

Counties 3 Hampshire
Current Season:	2024-25 Counties 3 Hampshire
Founded:	(as Hampshire 2)
Teams:	10
Most Champs:	Isle Of Wight
Count:	3
Website:	englandrugby.com

Counties 3 Hampshire (formerly Hampshire 1) is an English level 9 Rugby Union league for teams based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Up until the 2017–18 season it was known as Hampshire 2 but was changed to Hampshire 1 following the restructuring of the Hampshire leagues, which would see the re-introduction of a third division as well as 2nd and 3rd XV sides joining for the first time. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 3 Hampshire.

Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.

Promoted teams move up to Counties 2 Hampshire. Relegated teams drop down to Counties 4 Hampshire.

The points system is as follows.

• 4 points awarded for a win.
• 2 points awarded for a draw.
• 0 points awarded for a loss.
• 1 "bonus" (+) point awarded for scoring 4 tries (or more).
• 1 "bonus" (+) point awarded for losing by 7 points (or fewer).

No team can get more than 5 points in a match. Points awarded are the same regardless of the outcome at home or away.

Teams for 2024-25

Departing were Havant III, Isle Of Wight and Fareham Heathans, all promoted to Counties 2 Hampshire. Alresford were relegated to Counties 4 Hampshire.

Joining were Tottonians II, relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire and Southampton, promoted from Counties 4A Hampshire.

With four teams departing and two joining the league was reduced from twelve to ten sides.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Aldershot & Fleet	Aldershot Park			5th
Andover II	Foxcotte Lane			8th
Christchurch	East Sports and Social Club			9th
Eastleigh II	The Hub			10th
Overton	The Old Cricket Ground			4th
	The Rugby Camp			7th
Romsey	Romsey Sports Centre			6th
Southampton	Test Park Playing Fields			Promoted from Counties 4A Hampshire
Tottonians II	Water Lane			Relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire
Ventnor	Watcombe Bottom			11th

Teams for 2023-24

Departing were Guernsey Vikings, Locksheath Pumas and Winchester II, all promoted to Counties 2 Hampshire, whilst Gosport & Fareham II (12th) were relegated to Counties 4 Hampshire.

Joining were Alresford and Eastleigh II, relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire together with Christchurch and Aldershot & Fleet, promoted from Counties 4A Hampshire.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Aldershot & Fleet	Aldershot Park			Promoted from Counties 4 Hampshire (runners-up)
Alresford	Alresford Recreation Centre			Relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire
Andover II	Foxcotte Lane			4th
Christchurch	East Sports and Social Club			Promoted from Counties 4 Hampshire (champions)
Eastleigh II	The Hub			Relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire
Fareham Heathens	Cams Alders Recreation Centre			11th
	Hook's Lane			7th
Isle Of Wight	Footways			6th
Overton	The Old Cricket Ground			5th
	The Rugby Camp			10th
Romsey	Romsey Sports Centre			8th
Ventnor	Watcombe Bottom			9th

Teams for 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review^[1] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 3 Hampshire.

Departing were Tottonians II and United Services Portsmouth, promoted to Counties 2 Hampshire. Fawley (3rd) did not return for the new season.

Joining were Havant III, Andover II and Winchester II, all promoted from Hampshire 2, together with Locksheath Pumas, relegated from Hampshire Premier, and Guernsey Vikings

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Andover II	Foxcotte Lane			Promoted from Hampshire 2 (runners-up)
Fareham Heathens	Cams Alders Recreation Centre			5th
	Gosport Park			7th
				New entry
	Hook's Lane			Promoted from Hampshire 2 (champions)
Isle Of Wight	Footways			6th
Locksheath Pumas	Wide Lane Sports Ground			Relegated from Hampshire Premier
Overton	The Old Cricket Ground			4th
	The Rugby Camp			8th
Romsey	Romsey Sports Centre			10th
Ventnor	Watcombe Bottom			9th
	North Walls Park				Promoted from Hampshire 2 (3rd)

Teams for 2021-22

Lockheath Pumas RFC finished 4th in 2019-20, but were promoted to Hampshire Premier for the current season, their place was taken by US Portsmouth who had withdrawn from London 3 South West in season 2019-20.

Farnborough who, were relegated from Hampshire Premier (12th) in 2019-20, fulfilled their early fixtures but subsequently withdrew from the league in November 2021.

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.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Fareham Heathens	Cams Alders Recreation Centre			Relegated from Hampshire Premier (11th)
Fawley	Gang Warily Recreation Centre			5th
	Gosport Park			10th
Isle Of Wight	Footways			6th
Overton	The Old Cricket Ground			5th
	The Rugby Camp			7th
Romsey	Romsey Sports Centre			11th
Southampton University Hospitals	Southampton University Sports Ground			3rd
Tottonians II	Water Lane			8th
		8,000		N/A (joined league)
Ventnor	Watcombe Bottom			9th

Season 2020–21

On 30th October the RFU announced ^[2] that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Hampshire 1 was not contested.

Teams for 2019-20

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Oaklands Park			Transferred from Sussex 3 (7th)
Fawley	Gang Warily Recreation Centre			Promoted from Hampshire 2 (runners up)
	Gosport Park			Relegated from Hampshire Premier (12th)
Isle Of Wight	Footways			6th
Locksheath Pumas				4th
Overton	The Old Cricket Ground			5th
	The Rugby Camp			Relegated from Hampshire Premier (10th)
Romsey	Romsey Sports Centre			7th
Southampton	Test Park Playing Fields			9th
Southampton University Hospitals	Southampton University Sports Ground			N/A (joined league)
Tottonians II	Water Lane			Relegated from Hampshire Premier (11th)
Ventnor	Watcombe Bottom			8th

Teams for 2018-19

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Alton	Antsey Park			6th
Andover II	Foxcotte Lane			N/A
Ellingham & Ringwood	Parsonage Barn Lane			Relegated from Hampshire 1 (8th)
Farnborough	Oak Farm Playing Fields			Champions (not promoted)
Isle Of Wight	Footways			Relegated from Hampshire 1 (9th)
Locks Heath Pumas				3rd
Overton	The Old Cricket Ground			Relegated from Hampshire 1 (10th)
Romsey	Romsey Sports Centre			Runners up (not promoted)
Southampton	Test Park Playing Fields			4th
Ventnor	Watcombe Bottom			Relegated from Hampshire 1 (11th)

Participating Clubs 2017-18

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Aldershot & Fleet	Aldershot Park		Aldershot, Hampshire	9th
Alton	Antsey Park		Alton, Hampshire	3rd
Chineham	Fortress Chineham		Basingstoke, Hampshire	Relegated from Hampshire 1 (11th)
Farnborough	Oak Farm Playing Fields		Farnborough, Hampshire	Relegated from Hampshire 1 (10th)
Fawley	Gang Warily Recreation Centre		Fawley, Hampshire	4th
Locks Heath Pumas			Locks Heath, Fareham, Hampshire	6th
Romsey	Romsey Sports Centre		Romsey, Hampshire	Relegated from Hampshire 1 (9th)
Southsea Nomads			Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire	7th
Southampton	Test Park Playing Fields		Southampton, Hampshire	5th

Participating Clubs 2016-17

• Aldershot & Fleet
• Alresford
• Alton
• Fawley
• Kingsclere
• Loxheath Pumas (relegated from Hampshire 1)
• Lymington Mariners
• Nomads
• Overton
• Southampton

Participating Clubs 2015-2016

• Aldershot & Fleet
• Alresford
• Alton (relegated from Hampshire 1)
• Fawley
• Kingsclere
• Nomads
• Overton
• Romsey (relegated from Hampshire 1)
• Southampton
• Ventnor

Participating Clubs 2014-2015

• Aldershot & Fleet
• Alresford
• Chineham
• Fawley
• Locksheath Pumas
• Kingsclere
• Overton (relegated from Hampshire 1)
• Southampton (relegated from Hampshire 1)
• Southsea Nomads
• Ventnor

Participating Clubs 2013-14

Position	Team	Games	Won	Drew	Lost	Points
1	Petersfield	18	17	0	1	80
2	Fareham Heathens	18	14	0	4	70
3	Locksheath Pumas	18	13	1	4	64
4	Ventnor	18	12	0	6	60
5	Fawley	18	12	0	6	53
6	Chineham	18	9	1	8	49
7	Southsea Nomads	18	7	0	11	36
8	Aldershot & Fleet	18	4	0	12	11
9	Stoneham	18	1	0	17	5
10	Alresford	18	2	0	14	-3

Petersfield and Fareham Heathens promoted into Hampshire 1 at the end of the season.

Participating Clubs 2012-13

• Alresford
• Chineham
• Fareham Heathens
• Fawley
• Locksheath Pumas
• Lymington Mariners
• Nomads (relegated from Hampshire 1)
• Overton
• Solent University
• Stoneham
• Ventnor (relegated from Hampshire 1)

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Hampshire 2) contained the following teams:

• Andover
• Ellingham & Ringwood
• Fordingbridge
• Guernsey
• Nomads
• Overton
• Pegasus Palmerians
• Romsey
• Ventnor
• Waterlooville

Hampshire 1 honours

Hampshire 2 (1987–1993)

Originally known as Hampshire 2, it was tier 9 league with promotion up to Hampshire 1 and as it was the lowest league level in the region, there was no relegation.

<											----> Hampshire 2
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1987–88	10	Fordingbridge		No relegation
1988–89	10	Petersfield		No relegation
1989–90	13	Isle Of Wight		No relegation
1990–91	12	Tottonians		No relegation
1991–92	11	New Milton & District		No relegation
1992–93	12	Trojans		No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Hampshire 2 (1993–1996)

The creation of National 5 South meant that Hampshire 2 dropped from a tier 9 league to a tier 10 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to Hampshire 1, while the introduction of Hampshire 3 ahead of the 1994–95 season meant that there was now relegation.

<											----> Hampshire 2
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1993–94	12	Esso		Multiple teams
1994–95	7	Andover
1995–96	7	Ventnor
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Hampshire 2 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Hampshire 2 reverted to being a tier 9 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Hampshire 1 and Hampshire 3 respectively.

<											----> Hampshire 2
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1996–97	12	Overton
1997–98	9	Ventnor		No relegation
1998–99^[3]	8	Romsey
1999–00^[4]	9	Sandown & Shanklin
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Hampshire 2 (2000–2009)

The introduction of London 4 South West ahead of the 2000–01 season meant Hampshire 2 dropped to become a tier 10 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Hampshire 1 and Hampshire 3 respectively.

<											----> Hampshire 2
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2000–01^[5]	9	Fareham Heathens
2001–02^[6]	10	New Milton & District		Overton, Kingsclere
2002–03^[7]	9	Isle Of Wight
2003–04^[8]	8	Alresford
2004–05^[9]	8	Aldershot & Fleet
2005–06^[10]	9	Farnborough
2006–07^[11]	9	East Dorset		Alresford, Fawley
2007–08^[12]	9	Eastleigh
2008–09	8	Aldershot & Fleet		No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Hampshire 2 (2009–2018)

Hampshire 2 remained a tier 10 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to Hampshire 1 and there was no relegation due to the cancellation of Hampshire 3 at the end of the 2008–09 season.

<											----> Hampshire 2
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2009–10^[13]	12	Isle Of Wight		No relegation
2010–11^[14]	9	Nomads		No relegation
2011–12^[15]	10	Southampton		No relegation
2012–13^[16]	11	Team Solent		No relegation
2013–14^[17]	10	Petersfield		No relegation
2014–15^[18]	10	Locksheath Pumas		No relegation
2015–16^[19]	10	Romsey		No relegation
2016–17^[20]	10	Alresford		No relegation
2017–18^[21]	9	Farnborough		Multiple teams
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Hampshire 1 (2018–present)

Restructuring of the Hampshire leagues saw Hampshire 2 renamed as Hampshire 1. It remained a tier 10 league with promotion to Hampshire Premier (formerly Hampshire 1) and relegation returned to the newly introduced Hampshire 2 (formerly Hampshire 3).

<											----> Hampshire 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2018–19^[22]	10	Alton
2019–20^[23]	12	Chichester II
2020–21	12
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Isle Of Wight (3)
• Aldershot & Fleet (2)
• Alresford (2)
• Farnborough (2)
• New Milton & District (2)
• Petersfield (2)
• Romsey (2)
• Ventnor (2)
• Alton (1)
• Andover (1)
• Chichester II (1)
• East Dorset (1)
• Eastleigh (1)
• Esso (1)
• Fareham Heathens (1)
• Fordingbridge (1)
• Locksheath Pumas (1)
• Nomads (1)
• Overton (1)
• Sandown & Shanklin (1)
• Southampton (1)
• Team Solent (1)
• Tottonians (1)
• Trojans (1)

See also

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: RFU announce new men's community structure . RFU . 2022-06-13.
2. Web site: RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season . RFU . 2020-10-20 . 2020-11-09.
3. Web site: 1998-1999 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
4. Web site: 1999-2000 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
5. Web site: 2000-2001 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
6. Web site: 2001-2002 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
7. Web site: 2002-2003 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
8. Web site: 2003-2004 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
9. Web site: 2004-2005 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
10. Web site: 2005-2006 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
11. Web site: 2006-2007 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
12. Web site: 2007-2008 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
13. Web site: 2009-2010 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
14. Web site: 2010-2011 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
15. Web site: 2011-2012 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
16. Web site: 2012-2013 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
17. Web site: 2013-2014 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
18. Web site: 2014-2015 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 3 May 2015.
19. Web site: 2015-2016 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 25 April 2016.
20. Web site: 2016-2017 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 22 April 2017.
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.
23. Web site: Men's London & South East Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020.