Herts/Middlesex 2 Explained

Herts/Middlesex 2
Current Season:	2019–20 Herts/Middlesex 2
Sport:	Rugby union
Teams:	11
Champion:	Ealing Trailfinders 1871 (1st title)
Season:	2019-20) (promoted to Herts/Middlesex 1
Most Champs:	Bank Of England, Harlequin Amateurs, Harrow, Kilburn Cosmos, Old Actonians, Saracens Amateurs
Count:	2
Website:	englandrugby.com

Herts/Middlesex 2 is a tier 10 English Rugby Union league. It is organised by the London and South East Division Rugby Football Union and is the second division competition for clubs in Hertfordshire and parts of north-west London that traditionally was encompassed by the historic county of Middlesex. 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 Herts/Middlesex 1 and there is currently no relegation (prior to 2013-14 teams had dropped into Herts/Middlesex 3). Over the course of its history, Herts/Middlesex 2 has veered between regional and single division formats.

Participating Clubs 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.

Pinner & Grammarians finished 11th in 2019-20 and whilst not relegated, did not return for 2021-22 and instead have dropped to Herts Merit 4SW.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Brunel University	Brunel University Sports Park			New to leagues
Chess Valley	Croxley Guild of Sports			8th
Cuffley	Botany Bay Cricket Club			7th
				9th
Mill Hill	Champions Way			Relegated from Herts/Middlesex 1 (10th)
Old Millhillians				3rd
Staines	The Reeves			10th
UCS Old Boys	UCS Sports Ground			New to league (withdrew from Herts/Middlesex 1 in 2019-20
Uxbridge	Uxbridge Sports Club			4th
West London	London Marathon Playing Field			5th
Watford	Radlett Road			6th

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 Herts/Middlesex 2 was not contested.

Participating Clubs 2019-20

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Chess Valley	Croxley Guild of Sports			New to leagues
Cuffley	Botany Bay Cricket Club			6th
		4,000		New to leagues
		500		8th
Old Actonians	Old Actonians Sports Ground			Relegated from Herts/Middlesex 1 (11th)
Old Millhillians				5th
Pinner & Grammarians	Shaftesbury Playing Fields			9th
Staines	The Reeves			Relegated from Herts/Middlesex 1 (12th)
Uxbridge	Uxbridge Sports Club			4th
West London	London Marathon Playing Field			7th
Watford	Radlett Road			3rd

Participating Clubs 2018-19

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Cuffley	Botany Bay Cricket Club			5th
		5,000		9th
		500		Relegated from Herts/Middlesex 1 (12th)
		4,500		Switched from Zoo Sports Shield
Mill Hill	Champions Way			3rd
Old Millhillians				4th
Pinner & Grammarians	Shaftesbury Playing Fields			Promoted from Middlesex Merit Tables 2
Uxbridge	Uxbridge Sports Club			6th
West London	London Marathon Playing Field			7th
Watford	Radlett Road			Relegated from Herts/Middlesex 1 (11th)

Participating Clubs 2017-18

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Cuffley	Botany Bay Cricket Club			9th (3rd in Shield)
Finsbury Park				Promoted from Herts/Middlesex Merit Table 3^[2]
		5,000		5th
				8th (2nd in Shield)
Mill Hill	Champions Way			7th (1st in Shield)
Old Millhillians				3rd
Thamesians	Twickenham Green			4th
Uxbridge	Uxbridge Sports Club			11th (5th in Shield)
West London	London Marathon Playing Field			6th

Participating Clubs 2016-17

• Bank of England (relegated from Herts/Middlesex 1)
• Chess Valley
• Cuffley
• Haringey Rhinos
• Harlequin Amateurs
• Mill Hill
• Old Isleworthians
• Old Milhallians (relegated from Herts/Middlesex 1)
• Thamesians
• Uxbridge
• Watford
• West London

Participating Clubs 2015-16

• Chess Valley
• Feltham (relegated from Herts/Middlesex 1)
• Haringey Rhinos (relegated from Herts/Middlesex 1)
• Harlequin Amateurs
• Hendon
• Ickenham
• Mill Hill
• Old Isleworthians
• Saracens Amateurs
• Thamesians
• Uxbridge
• Watford
• West London

Participating Clubs 2014-15

• Chess Valley
• Harlequin Amateurs
• Hendon
• Hillingdon Abbots
• Ickenham
• London French
• Mill Hill
• Old Isleworthains
• Quintin
• Saracens Amateurs
• Thamesians
• Uxbridge
• Watford
• West London

Participating Clubs 2013-14

• Chess Valley
• Feltham
• Hillingdon Abbots
• Hendon
• Ickenham
• London Welsh Amateurs
• Quintin
• Saracens Amateurs
• Thamesians
• Uxbridge

Participating Clubs 2012-13

• • Chess Valley Hillingdon Abbots
• Ickenham
• Kilburn Cosmos
• Old Grammarians
• Old Isleworthians
• Pinner & Grammarians
• Quintin
• Royston
• Saracens Amateurs
• Uxbridge

Participating Clubs 2009-10

• Belsize Park
• Ickenham
• London French
• Old Isleworthians
• Old Merchant Taylors'
• Old Millhillians
• Old Tottonians
• Pinner and Grammarians
• Royston
• Quintin
• Uxbridge

Original teams

When this division began in 1996 it contained the following teams:

• Actonians - transferred from Middlesex 1 (10th)
• CS Stags 1863 - transferred from Middlesex 1 (3rd)
• Datchworth - transferred from Hertfordshire 1 (3rd)
• Enfield Ignatians - promoted from Middlesex 2 (champions)
• Harrow - transferred from Middlesex 1 (4th)
• H.A.C. - transferred from Middlesex 1 (6th)
• London New Zealand - relegated from Herts/Middlesex (13th)
• Old Haberdashers - transferred from Middlesex 1 (5th)
• Old Paulines - transferred from Middlesex 1 (7th)
• Stevenage Town - transferred from Hertfordshire 1 (2nd)
• Twickenham - transferred from Middlesex 1 (9th)
• Upper Clapton - relegated from Herts/Middlesex (12th)
• Wembley - transferred from Middlesex 1 (8th)

Herts/Middlesex 2 Honours

<											----> Herts/Middlesex 2 Honours
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	League Name
1996–97	13	Harrow		No relegation	Herts/Middlesex 2
1997–98	13	UCS Old Boys			Herts/Middlesex 2
1998–99^[3]	12	Bank Of England		No relegation	Herts/Middlesex 2
1999–00^[4]	13	Northolt		Multiple teams	Herts/Middlesex 2
2000–01^[5]	9	CS Rugby 1863			Herts/Middlesex 2
2001–02^[6]	9	Haringey Rhinos			Herts/Middlesex 2
2002–03^[7]	10	Hammersmith & Fulham			Herts/Middlesex 2
2003–04^[8]	9	Old Actonians		No relegation	Herts/Middlesex 2
2004–05^[9]	9	Mill Hill			Herts/Middlesex 2 North
2004–05^[10]	9	Harlequin Amateurs			Herts/Middlesex 2 South
2005–06^[11]	8	Hemel Hempstead			Herts/Middlesex 2 North
2005–06^[12]	9	Old Actonians			Herts/Middlesex 2 South
2006–07^[13]	9	Saracens Amateurs			Herts/Middlesex 2 North
2006–07^[14]	8	Kilburn Cosmos			Herts/Middlesex 2 South
2007–08^[15]	9	Old Streetonians			Herts/Middlesex 2 North
2007–08^[16]	8	Harlequin Amateurs			Herts/Middlesex 2 South
2008–09^[17]	9	Hendon		No relegation	Herts/Middlesex 2
2009–10^[18]	10	H.A.C.			Herts/Middlesex 2
2010–11^[19]	11	Old Millhillians			Herts/Middlesex 2
2011–12^[20]	11	Harrow			Herts/Middlesex 2
2012–13^[21]	11	Kilburn Cosmos		Old Grammarians, Old Isleworthians, Pinner & Grammarians	Herts/Middlesex 2
2013–14^[22]	11	Feltham		No relegation	Herts/Middlesex 2
2014–15^[23]	14	Hillingdon Abbots		No relegation	Herts/Middlesex 2
2015–16^[24]	12	Saracens Amateurs		No relegation	Herts/Middlesex 2
2016–17^[25]	12	Bank Of England		No relegation	Herts/Middlesex 2
2017–18^[26]	9	Finsbury Park		No relegation	Herts/Middlesex 2
2018–19^[27]	10	London Scottish Lions		No relegation	Herts/Middlesex 2
2019–20^[28]	11	Ealing Trailfinders 1871		No relegation	Herts/Middlesex 2
2020–21	11			No relegation	Herts/Middlesex 2
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Between 2004 and 2008 there was a play-off between the runners-up of Herts/Middlesex 2 North and Herts/Middlesex 2 South for the third and final promotion place to Herts/Middlesex 1. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie.

The playoffs were ended before the 2008–09 season when the two regional divisions re-merged into a single division called Herts/Middlesex 2. At the end of the 2007–08 season the Herts/Middlesex 2 North teams had been the most successful with three wins to the Herts/Middlesex 2 South teams one; and the home team has won promotion on all four occasions.

<											----> Herts/Middlesex 2 North v Herts/Middlesex 2 South promotion play-off results
Season	Home team	Score	Away team	Venue	Attendance
2004–05^[29]	Hillingdon Abbots (S)	30-20	Wealdstone (N)
2005–06^[30]	Old Ashmoleans (N)	35-17	Uxbridge (S)
2006–07^[31]	Old Millhillians (N)	15-10	Belsize Park (S)
2007–08^[32]	Cheshunt (N)	17-10	H.A.C. (S)
Green background is the promoted team. N = Herts/Middlesex 2 North and S = Herts/Middlesex 2 South

Number of league titles

• Bank Of England (2)
• Harlequin Amateurs (2)
• Harrow (2)
• Kilburn Cosmos (2)
• Old Actonians (2)
• Saracens Amateurs (2)
• Civil Service (1)
• Ealing Trailfinders 1871 (1)
• Feltham (1)
• Finsbury Park (1)
• H.A.C. (1)
• Hammersmith & Fulham (1)
• Haringey Rhinos (1)
• Hemel Hempstead (1)
• Hendon (1)
• Hillingdon Abbots (1)
• Mill Hill (1)
• Northolt (1)
• Old Millhillians (1)
• Old Streetonians (1)
• UCS Old Boys (1)

See also

• London & SE Division RFU
• Hertfordshire RFU
• Middlesex 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: Season 2016-17 Final Merit Tables. Hertfordshire and Middlesex Rugby. 9 September 2017.
3. Web site: 1998-1999 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
4. Web site: 1999-2000 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
5. Web site: 2000-2001 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
6. Web site: 2001-2002 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
7. Web site: 2002-2003 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
8. Web site: 2003-2004 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
9. Web site: 2004-2005 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
10. Web site: 2004-2005 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
11. Web site: 2005-2006 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
12. Web site: 2005-2006 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
13. Web site: 2006-2007 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
14. Web site: 2006-2007 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
15. Web site: 2007-2008 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
16. Web site: 2007-2008 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
17. Web site: 2008-2009 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
18. Web site: 2009-2010 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
19. Web site: 2010-2011 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
20. Web site: 2011-2012 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
21. Web site: 2012-2013 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
22. Web site: 2013-2014 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 9 February 2015.
23. Web site: 2014-2015 London South-East Division. England Rugby. 3 May 2015.
24. Web site: 2015-2016 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 25 April 2016.
25. Web site: 2016-2017 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 22 April 2017.
26. Web site: 2017-2018 London South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 21 April 2018.
27. Web site: 2018-2019 London & South-East Division. England Rugby. RFU . 13 April 2019.
28. Web site: Men's London & South East Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020.
29. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2004-05 . England Rugby . 30 April 2005.
30. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2005-06 . England Rugby . 29 April 2006.
31. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2008-09 . England Rugby . 28 April 2008.
32. Web site: London & SE Division Play-Offs 2008-09 . England Rugby . 27 April 2008.