| Counties 3 Kent | |
| Sport: | Rugby Union |
| Most Champs: | Midland Bank |
| Count: | 2 |
Counties 5 Kent (formerly Kent 3) is an English Rugby Union league that is the lowest RFU league for clubs in south-east London and Kent. Promoted teams go up to Counties 4 Kent and relegation is to the Kent RFU merit leagues.
Dwindling numbers of teams meant that Kent 3 folded at the end of the 2007–08 season, with all sides automatically promoted to what was then Kent 2. However, following a 15yr hiatus, and after the RFU's Adult Competition Review in 2022 - and the decsion by Kent Rugby to allow reserve teams to participate in county leagues - from season 2023-24 it was resurrected and adopted its current name Counties 5 Kent.
Departing were Canterbury III, Bromley II and Old Colfeians II, all promoted to Counties 4 Kent.
Joining were Footscray and Lordswood, relegated from Counties 4 Kent. New entries to the league were Beckenham III, Park House II, Old Alleynians III and East Peckham & Paddock Wood.
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford II | Kinney's Field | 6th | ||
| Askeans | 6,000 | 5th | ||
| Beccehamian II | Sparrow's Den | 7th | ||
| Balmoral Avenue | New entry | |||
| East Peckham & Paddock Wood | Putlands Sports & Leisure Centre | New entry | ||
| Greenwich | 8th | |||
| Lordswood | Lordswood Sports & Social Club | Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (12th) | ||
| The Common | New entry | |||
| Park House II | Barnet Wood Road | New entry | ||
| Knole Paddock | 1,000 | 4th | ||
| Sidcup III | Crescent Farm | Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (9th) | ||
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford II | Kinney's Field | New entry | ||
| Askeans | 6,000 | Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (13th) | ||
| Beccehamian II | Sparrow's Den | Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (11th) | ||
| Bromley II | Barnet Wood Road | New entry | ||
| Marine Travel Ground | 1,500 (75 seats) | New entry | ||
| Greenwich | Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (12th) | |||
| Horn Park | New entry | |||
| Knole Paddock | 1,000 | New entry | ||
League not contested
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name | ||||||||||
| 1987–88 | 9 | New Ash Green | Kent 3 | ||||||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Met Police Hayes | Kent 3 | ||||||||||||
| 1989–90 | 11 | Sheppey | Kent 3 | ||||||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | Midland Bank | Kent 3 | ||||||||||||
| 1991–92 | 12 | Thames Polytechnic | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||||
| 1992–93 | 10 | Cranbrook | Kent 3 | ||||||||||||
| 1993–94 | 10 | Old Gravesendians | Kent 3 | ||||||||||||
| 1994–95 | 10 | Lordswood | Kent 3 | ||||||||||||
| 1995–96 | 10 | Tonbridge | Kent 3 | ||||||||||||
| 1996–97 | 10 | Midland Bank | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||||
| 1997–98 | 6 | Erith | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||||
| 1998–99 | No Competition | ||||||||||||||
| 1999–00 | No Competition | ||||||||||||||
| 2000–01[1] | 6 | Bexley | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||||
| 2001–02[2] | 11 | Shooters Hill | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||||
| 2002–03[3] | 10 | Vigo | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||||
| 2003–04[4] | 11 | Brockleians | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||||
| 2004–05[5] | 9 | Deal & Betteshanger | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||||
| 2005–06[6] | 8 | Orpington | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||||
| 2006–07[7] | 6 | Medway | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||||
| 2007–08[8] | 5 | Old Williamsonians | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | |||||||||||||||