Essex 2 Explained

Essex 2
Current Season:	2013-14 Essex Spitfire 2
Sport:	Rugby union
Teams:	9
Champion:	May & Baker (1st title)
Season:	2013–14) (promoted to Essex 1
Most Champs:	Millwall, Writtle Wanderers
Count:	2
Website:	southeastrugby.co.uk

Essex 2 (also known as Essex Spitfire 2 for sponsorship reasons) was an English Rugby Union league at the tenth tier of the domestic competition. It was the basement division of club rugby in Essex with promoted teams moving up to Essex 1 and no relegation (up until 2008-09 relegated teams dropped to Essex 3 but this division has since been abolished). Essex 2 was created in 2003 by Essex-based teams who left East Counties 3 South. At the end of the 2013–14 season the division was abolished with teams either moving up into Essex 1 or into various Essex Merit leagues.

Original teams

When Essex 2 was introduced in 2003 it contained the following teams:

• Bancroft - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (4th)
• Burnham-On-Crouch - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (7th)
• Dagenham - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (8th)
• Loughton - transferred from Eastern Counties 3 South (3rd)
• Old Brentwoods - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (5th)
• Old Edwardians - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (10th)
• Ravens - transferred from Eastern Counties 3 South (champions)
• Runwell Wyverns - transferred from Eastern Counties 3 South (runners up)
• South Woodham Ferrers - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (6th)
• Thames - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (9th)

Essex 2 honours

Essex 2 (2003–2009)

The original Essex 2 was a tier 9 league with promotion up to Essex 1 and relegation down to Essex 3.

<											----> Essex 2
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2003–04^[1]	10	Thames
2004–05^[2]	9	Canvey Island
2005–06^[3]	9	Writtle Wanderers
2006–07^[4]	9	Millwall
2007–08^[5]	8	Clacton
2008–09^[6]	8	Millwall		No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Essex 2 (2009–2014)

Essex 2 remained a tier 10 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to Essex 1 and there was no relegation since the cancellation of Essex 3 at the end of the 2008–09 season. Essex 2 was itself disbanded at the end of the 2013–14 season with all teams either promoted to Essex 1 or transferred to the Essex Merit Leagues.

<											----> Essex 2
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2009–10^[7]	11	Pegasus Palmerians		No relegation
2010–11^[8]	9	Epping Upper Clapton		No relegation
2011–12^[9]	9	Dagenham		No relegation
2012–13^[10]	9	Writtle Wanderers		No relegation
2013–14^[11]	9	May & Baker		No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Millwall (2)
• Writtle Wanderers (2)
• Canvey Island (1)
• Clacton (1)
• Dagenham (1)
• Epping Upper Clapton (1)
• May & Baker (1)
• Pegasus Palmerians (1)
• Thames (1)

See also

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2003-2004 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 31 January 2015.
2. Web site: 2004-2005 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 31 January 2015.
3. Web site: 2005-2006 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 31 January 2015.
4. Web site: 2006-2007 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 31 January 2015.
5. Web site: 2007-2008 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 31 January 2015.
6. Web site: 2008-2009 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 31 January 2015.
7. Web site: 2009-2010 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 31 January 2015.
8. Web site: 2010-2011 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 31 January 2015.
9. Web site: 2011-2012 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 31 January 2015.
10. Web site: 2012-2013 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 31 January 2015.
11. Web site: 2013-2014 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 31 January 2015.