Hampshire Premier Explained

Hampshire Premier
Current Season:	2019–20 Hampshire Premier
Sport:	Rugby union
Founded:	(as Hampshire 1)
Teams:	13
Champion:	Petersfield (3rd title)
Season:	2019–20) (promoted to London 3 South West
Most Champs:	Andover, Petersfield, United Services Portsmouth
Count:	3
Website:	englandrugby.com

Hampshire Premier 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 1 but was changed to Hampshire Premier due to 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. 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 London 3 South West with the league winners going straight up and the runners up playing against the runners up from Surrey 1. Relegated teams drop down to Hampshire 1. Only 1st XV sides can be promoted up into London 3 South West, although any side can be relegated to Hampshire 1.

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 outcome at home or away. The new point system has been in effect since 2010–11 season.

Teams for 2021-22

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
Alresford	Alresford Recreation Centre			9th
Bognor	Hampshire Avenue			4th
	Oaklands Park			Promoted from Hampshire 1 (champions)
Eastleigh II	The Hub			11th
Ellingham & Ringwood	Parsonage Barn Lane			10th
	Gosport Park			Relegated from London 3 South West (11th)
Fordingbridge	The Recreation Ground			7th
	Hook's Lane	1,500		3rd
Locksheath Pumas	Wide Lane Sports Ground			Promoted from Hampshire 1 (4th)
Millbrook	Lordshill Recreational Ground			8th
New Milton & District	Ashley Recreation Ground			6th
Sandown & Shanklin	The Fairway Ground			5th

Season 2020–21

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

Teams for 2019-20

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Alresford	Alresford Recreation Centre			7th
Alton	Antsey Park			Promoted from Hampshire 1 (champions)
Bognor	Hampshire Avenue			3rd
Eastleigh II	The Hub			9th
Ellingham & Ringwood	Parsonage Barn Lane			Promoted from Hampshire 1 (runners up)
Fareham Heathens	Cams Alders Recreation Centre			8th
Farnborough	Oak Farm Playing Fields			Promoted from Hampshire 1 (3rd)
Fordingbridge	The Recreation Ground			4th
	Hook's Lane	1,500		N/A
Millbrook	Lordshill Recreational Ground			6th
New Milton & District	Ashley Recreation Ground			5th
	Penn's Place			Relegated from London 3 SW (11th)
Sandown & Shanklin	The Fairway Ground			Runners up (lost playoff)

Teams for 2018-19

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Alresford	Alresford Recreation Centre			7th
	Down Grange	2,500 (250 seats)		Relegated from London 3 SW (12th)
Bognor	Hampshire Avenue			2nd (lost playoff)
Eastleigh II	The Hub			N/A
Fareham Heathens	Cams Alders Recreation Centre			6th
Fordingbridge	The Recreation Ground			4th
	Gosport Park			N/A
Millbrook	Lordshill Recreational Ground			3rd
New Milton & District	Ashley Recreation Ground			Relegated from London 3 SW (11th)
	The Rugby Camp			N/A
Sandown & Shanklin	The Fairway Ground			5th
Tottonians II	Water Lane			N/A

Teams for 2017-18

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Alresford	Alresford Recreation Centre			Promoted from Hampshire 2 (champions)
Bognor	Hampshire Avenue			Relegated from London 3 South West (12th)
Ellingham & Ringwood	Parsonage Barn Lane			5th
Fareham Heathens	Cams Alders Recreation Centre			7th
Fordingbridge	The Recreation Ground			3rd
Isle Of Wight	Footways			6th
Millbrook	Lordshill Recreational Ground			Relegated from London 3 South West (11th)
Overton	The Old Cricket Ground			Promoted from Hampshire 2 (runners up)
Sandown & Shanklin	The Fairway Ground			4th
		8,000		Relegated from London 3 South West (10th)
Ventnor	Watcombe Bottom			8th

Teams for 2016-17

• Chineham
• Ellingham & Ringwood
• Fareham Heathens
• Farnborough
• Fordingbridge
• Isle of Wight
• New Milton & District (promoted from London 3 South West)
• Petersfield
• Romsey (promoted from Hampshire 2)
• Sandown & Shanklin
• Ventnor (promoted from Hampshire 2)

Teams and results for 2015-16

Position	Team	Games	Won	Drew	Lost	Points
1	Millbrook	20	18	0	2	89
2	Bognor	20	18	0	2	88
3	Fareham Heathens	20	17	0	3	78
4	Fordlingbridge	20	11	0	9	55
5	Sandown & Shanklin	20	11	0	9	54
6	Chineham	20	10	0	10	52
7	Farnborough	20	7	1	12	38
8	Isle of Wight	20	5	0	15	32
9		20	5	1	14	26
10	Ellingham & Ringwood	20	6	0	14	22
11	Locksheath Pumas	20	1	0	19	3

• Chineham (promoted from Hampshire 2)
• Ellingham & Ringwood (relegated from London 3 South West)
• Locksheath Pumas (promoted from Hampshire 2)
• Sandown & Shanklin (relegated from London 3 South West)

Teams and Results for 2014-2015

Position	Team	Games	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Difference	+ Points	Points
1	United Services, Portsmouth	18	18	0	0	807	266	541	18	90
2	Millbrook	18	15	0	3	557	277	280	14	76
3	Bognor	18	13	0	5	523	334	189	13	65
4	Fordingbridge	18	12	0	6	627	404	223	14	62
5	Fareham Heathens	18	11	0	7	418	332	86	10	54
6	Petersfield	18	6	0	12	394	505	-111	11	35
7	Isle of Wight	18	5	0	13	323	653	-330	4	24
8	Farnborough	18	4	0	14	331	479	-148	9	20
9	Romsey	18	4	0	14	273	604	-331	4	20
10	Alton	18	2	0	16	232	631	-399	6	9

Fareham and Petersfield promoted into Hampshire 1 at the start of the season from Hampshire 2.

Teams and Results for 2013-2014

Position	Team	Games	Won	Drew	Lost	Points
1	Andover	22	19	0	3	93
2	Fordingbridge	22	19	0	3	93
3	Millbrook	22	17	0	5	86
4		22	15	0	7	76
5	Solent Uni	22	15	0	7	70
6	Farnborough	22	13	0	9	65
7	Bognor	22	10	0	12	56
8	Romsey	22	6	0	16	34
9	Isle of Wight	22	6	0	16	33
10	Alton	22	6	0	16	30
11	Southampton	22	5	0	17	25
12	Overton	22	1	0	21	9

Solent Uni promoted into Hampshire 1 at the start of the season from Hampshire 2.

Andover promoted to London South West 3 at the end of the season.

Southampton and Overton demoted to Hampshire 2 at the end of the season.

Teams and Results for 2012-13

Position	Team	Games	Won	Drew	Lost	Points
1	New Milton & District	22	20	0	2	98
2	Fordingbridge	22	17	0	5	85
3	Alton	22	17	0	5	82
4	Millbrook	22	14	0	8	71
5		22	12	1	9	63
6	Andover	22	13	0	9	62
7	Farnborough	22	10	0	12	54
8	Romsey	22	8	1	13	44
9	Isle of Wight	22	8	0	14	42
10	Southampton	22	5	1	16	30
11		22	2	2	18	18
12	Aldershot & Fleet	22	3	1	17	17

Southampton promoted into Hampshire 1 at the start of the season from Hampshire 2.

New Milton & District promoted to London 3 South West at the end of the season.

Aldershot & Fleet and Petersfield demoted to Hampshire 2 at the end of the season.

Teams and Results for 2011-12

Position	Team	Games	Won	Drew	Lost	+ Points	Points
1	Eastleigh	22	21	0	1	16	100
2	Fordingbridge	22	18	0	4	16	88
3	United Services, Portsmouth	22	16	0	6	17	81
4	Millbrook	22	17	0	5	12	80
5	New Milton & District	22	13	0	9	16	68
6	Isle of Wight	22	13	0	9	11	63
7	Petersfield	22	12	0	10	9	57
8	Romsey	22	8	0	14	7	39
9	Farnborough	22	1	5	17	18	38
10	Ventnor	22	5	0	16	2	22
11	Lytchett Minster	22	2	0	19	1	9
12	Southsea Nomads	22	2	0	18	-1	7

Southsea Nomads promoted into Hampshire 1 at the start of the season from Hampshire 2.

Lytchett Minster transferred to Dorset and Wilts Regional Leagues at the end of the season.

Eastleigh promoted to London 3 South West at the end of the season.

Southsea Nomads and Ventnor demoted to Hampshire 2 at the end of the season.

Teams and Results for 2010-11

Position	Team	Games	Won	Drew	Lost	Points
1	Andover	20	18	0	2	86
2	Eastleigh	20	16	0	4	75
3	Millbrook	20	13	0	7	66
4	New Milton & District	20	13	0	7	60
5	Farnborough	20	10	0	10	52
6		20	11	0	9	48
7	Romsey	20	9	0	11	41
8	Ventnor	20	6	1	13	34
9	Isle of Wight	20	6	0	14	32
10	Southampton	20	5	0	15	28
11	Fareham Heathens	20	2	1	17	12

Andover promoted to London 3 South West at the end of the season.

Fareham Heathens and Southampton demoted to Hampshire 2 at the end of the season.

Teams and Results for 2009-10

Position	Team	Games	Won	Drew	Lost	Points
1	Alton	20	19	0	1	38
2		19	16	0	3	32
3	Eastleigh	20	15	0	5	30
4	Millbrook	20	11	1	8	23
5	Romsey	20	11	0	9	22
6	Southampton	20	10	0	10	20
7	New Milton & District	20	7	0	13	14
8		20	6	1	13	13
9	Farnborough	20	6	0	14	12
10	Fareham Heathens	20	5	1	14	11
11	Aldershot & Fleet	19	1	1	17	3

Alton promoted to London 3 South West at the end of the season.

Aldershot & Fleet demoted to Hampshire 2 at the end of the season.

Teams and Results for 2008-09

Position	Team	Games	Won	Drew	Lost	Points
1	Fordingbridge	18	14	1	3	29
2	Sandown & Shanklin	18	12	2	4	26
3		18	11	2	5	24
4	Farnborough, Hampshire	Farnborough	18	11	0	7	22
5	Alton	18	8	1	9	17
6	Romsey	18	6	1	11	13
7	New Milton & District	18	8	0	10	12
8	Eastleigh	18	5	1	12	11
9	Southampton	18	5	0	13	10
10	East Dorset	18	6	0	11	8

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Hampshire 1) contained the following teams:

• Esso
• Fareham Heathens
• Gosport
• Isle Of Wight
• Millbrook
• New Milton & District
• Petersfield
• Rushmoor
• Sandown & Shanklin
• Southampton
• Tottonians

Hampshire Premier honours

Hampshire 1 (1987–1993)

Originally known as Hampshire 1, it was tier 8 league with promotion up to London 3 South West and relegation down to Hampshire 2.

<											----> Hampshire 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1987–88	11	Gosport		New Milton & District, Petersfield
1988–89	11	Southampton
1989–90	11	Eastleigh
1990–91	11	Winchester
1991–92	11	Jersey
1992–93	12	Southampton
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Hampshire 1 (1993–1996)

The creation of National 5 South meant that Hampshire 1 dropped from a tier 8 league to a tier 9 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to London 3 South West and Hampshire 2 respectively.

<											----> Hampshire 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1993–94	13	Gosport
1994–95	13	Jersey		Isle Of Wight, New Milton & District, Sandown & Shanklin
1995–96	13	Winchester
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Hampshire 1 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Hampshire 1 reverted to being a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to London 3 South West and Hampshire 2 respectively.

<											----> Hampshire 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1996–97	12	Esso
1997–98	9	Andover		No relegation
1998–99^[2]	10	Tottonians
1999–00^[3]	10	United Services Portsmouth
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Hampshire 1 (2000–2009)

The introduction of London 4 South West ahead of the 2000–01 season meant Hampshire 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division. Relegation continued to Hampshire 1.

<											----> Hampshire 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2000–01^[4]	10	Farnborough
2001–02^[5]	10	Petersfield
2002–03^[6]	10	Romsey
2003–04^[7]	10	Guernsey
2004–05^[8]	10	Trojans
2005–06^[9]	10	Sandown & Shanklin
2006–07^[10]	10	Trojans
2007–08^[11]	10	Ellingham & Ringwood		Fareham Heathens
2008–09^[12]	10	Fordingbridge		No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Hampshire 1 (2009–2018)

Hampshire 1 remained a tier 9 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to London 3 South West (formerly London 4 South West) and relegation to Hampshire 2.

<											----> Hampshire 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2009–10^[13]	11	Alton		Aldershot & Fleet
2010–11^[14]	11	Andover
2011–12^[15]	12	Eastleigh		Nomads, Lytchett Minster, Ventnor
2012–13^[16]	12	New Milton & District
2013–14^[17]	12	Andover
2014–15^[18]	10	United Services Portsmouth
2015–16^[19]	11	Millbrook
2016–17^[20]	11	Petersfield
2017–18^[21]	11	United Services Portsmouth
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Hampshire Premier (2018–present)

Restructuring of the Hampshire leagues saw Hampshire 1 renamed as Hampshire Premier. It remained a tier 9 league with promotion to London 3 South West and relegation to the new Hampshire 1 (formerly Hampshire 2).

<											----> Hampshire Premier
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2018–19^[22]	12	Basingstoke
2019–20^[23]	13	Petersfield
2020–21	13
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Hampshire Premier and Surrey 1 for the third and final promotion place to London 3 South West. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the Surrey 1 teams have been the most successful with twelve wins to the Hampshire Premier teams seven; and the home team has won promotion on eleven occasions compared to the away teams eight.

<											----> Hampshire Premier v Surrey 1 promotion play-off results
Season	Home team	Score	Away team	Venue	Attendance
2000–01^[24]	Trojans (H)	15-14	Kingston (S)
2001–02^[25]	Southampton (H)	27-18	KCS Old Boys (S)
2002–03^[26]	Farnborough (H)	5-63	Old Paulines (S)
2003–04^[27]	Trojans (H)	14-46	Old Reigatian (S)
2004–05^[28]	London Cornish (S)	27-14	Sandown & Shanklin (H)
2005–06^[29]	United Services Portsmouth (H)	20-28	Old Caterhamians (S)
2006–07^[30]	London South Africa (S)	71-10	Ellingham & Ringwood (H)
2007–08^[31]	Sandown & Shanklin (H)	15-16	Old Alleynians (S)
2008–09^[32]	Sandown & Shanklin (H)	17-10	Old Whitgiftian (S)
2009–10^[33]	Petersfield (H)	19-15	Old Whitgiftian (S)
2010–11^[34]	Eastleigh (H)	30-10	Old Blues (S)
2011–12^[35]	Fordingbridge (H)	11-29	Old Paulines (S)
2012–13^[36]	Old Cranleighans (S)	21-19	Fordingbridge (H)
2013–14^[37]	Fordingbridge (H)	6-36	Old Tonbridgians (S)
2014–15^[38]	Camberley (S)	49-10	Millbrook (H)
2015–16^[39]	Bognor (H)	HWO	Old Freemens (S)
2016–17^[40]	New Milton & District (H)	41-17	Old Whitgiftian (S)
2017–18^[41]	Bognor (H)	7-52	Old Georgians (S)
2018–19^[42]	Sandown & Shanklin (H)	18-22	Weybridge Vandals (S)
2019–20	Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Alton (H) - promoted instead.
2020–21
Green background is the promoted team. H = Hampshire Premier and S = Surrey 1

Number of league titles

• Andover (3)
• Petersfield (3)
• United Services Portsmouth (3)
• Eastleigh (2)
• Gosport (2)
• Jersey (2)
• Southampton (2)
• Trojans (2)
• Winchester (2)
• Alton (1)
• Basingstoke (1)
• Ellingham & Ringwood (1)
• Esso (1)
• Farnborough (1)
• Fordingbridge (1)
• Guernsey (1)
• Millbrook (1)
• New Milton & District (1)
• Romsey (1)
• Tottonians (1)

See also

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season . RFU . 2020-10-20 . 2020-11-09.
2. Web site: 1998-1999 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
3. Web site: 1999-2000 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
4. Web site: 2000-2001 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
5. Web site: 2001-2002 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
6. Web site: 2002-2003 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
7. Web site: 2003-2004 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
8. Web site: 2004-2005 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
9. Web site: 2005-2006 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
10. Web site: 2006-2007 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
11. Web site: 2007-2008 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 1 February 2015.
12. Web site: 2008-2009 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.
24. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2000-01 . England Rugby . 28 April 2001.
25. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2001-02 . England Rugby . 27 April 2002.
26. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2002-03 . England Rugby . 6 May 2017.
27. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2003-04 . England Rugby . 24 April 2004.
28. Web site: HURRIES HALTED DESPITE LATE FIGHT-BACK . Isle of Wight County Press . 6 May 2005.
29. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2003-04 . England Rugby . 29 April 2006.
30. Web site: LSA force a promotion. The South African. 1 May 2007.
31. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2007-08 . England Rugby . 26 April 2008.
32. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2008-09 . England Rugby . 25 April 2009.
33. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2009-10 . England Rugby . 17 April 2010.
34. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2010-11 . England Rugby . 16 April 2011.
35. Web site: A Bridge too far . Fordingbridge Rugby Club (Pitchero) . 28 April 2012.
36. Web site: So close . Fordingbridge Rugby Club (Pitchero) . 20 April 2013.
37. Web site: Hot to Handle . Fordingbridge Rugby Club (Pitchero) . 26 April 2014.
38. Web site: Cam Overwhelm Millbrook and win Promotion . Camberley RFC (Pitchero) . 25 April 2015.
39. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2015-16 . England Rugby . 30 April 2016.
40. Web site: Milton Win Promotion Play Off. Camberley RFC (Pitchero). 22 April 2017.
41. Web site: Play-off tussle is a step too far for Bognor. Bognor Regis Observer. 3 May 2018.
42. Web site: Hurricanes Come Agonisingly Close to Promotion. Sandown & Shanklin RFC (Pitchero). 13 April 2019.