Regional 1 South East | |
Current Season: | 2022–23 Regional 1 South East |
Sport: | Rugby union |
Founded: | (as London 1) |
Teams: | 12 |
Champion: | Colchester (1st title) |
Season: | 2023–24 |
Most Champs: | Barnes, Basingstoke, Canterbury, Havant and Westcombe Park |
Count: | 2 |
Website: | clubs.rfu.com |
Regional 1 South East (up until 2022–23 known as London & South East Premier and up until 2016–17 known as National League 3 London & South East) is a level five league in the English rugby union system.[1] It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London Division 1. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following re-organisation by the Rugby Football Union while the name change from National League 3 to Premier was introduced for the 2017–18 season to make it more obvious that it is a regional league.[1] London & South East Premier was the highest regional rugby union league covering London and south east England. Following the RFU Adult Competition Review the league was decreased from 14 to 12 and the name changed to Regional 1 South East. Part of the area formerly covered by London & South East Premier is now covered by a new league Regional 1 South Central.
The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to March, making a total of twenty-two matches each. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
The first-placed team at the end of season wins promotion to National League 2 East. Three teams are relegated into Regional 2 South East, Regional 2 Anglia and Regional 2 Thames depending on location
Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
---|---|---|---|---|
Weedon Lane | Promoted from Regional 2 Thames (1st) | |||
Putnoe Woods | 500 | 10th | ||
Redbourn Lane | 3rd | |||
Highfields | 7th | |||
Legends Lane, Baldock Road | 4th | |||
Norwich Road | 1,200 | Relegated from National League 2 East (14th) | ||
Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion | 9th | |||
Occupation Road | 6th | |||
The Davey Field | 2,000 (150 seats) | 5th | ||
Warners Bridge Park | Southend, Essex | Promoted from Regional 2 Anglia (1st) | ||
Whittome Field | 2nd | |||
Pendley Sports Centre | 750 | 8th | ||
Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Putnoe Woods | 500 | 7th | |||
Raven Park | 3rd | ||||
Redbourn Lane | 4th | ||||
Highfields | 9th | ||||
Legends Lane, Baldock Road | Promoted from Regional 2 Anglia (1st) | ||||
Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion | Promoted from Regional 2 East Midlands (1st) | ||||
Occupation Road | Transferred from Regional 1 Midlands (7th) | ||||
The Rugby Park | 1,000 | Relegated from National League 2 East (13th) | |||
The Davey Field | 2,000 (150 seats) | 2nd | |||
Whittome Field | 8th | ||||
Pendley Sports Centre | 750 | 5th | |||
The Gables | 1,000 | Relegated from National League 2 East (14th) |
Six of the twelve teams participated in the 2021–22 competition. They are joined by Shelford, Sudbury, Colchester and Harpenden, all promoted from London 1 North, together with Medway and Bedford Athletic promoted from London 1 South and Midlands 1 East respectively. Sutton & Epsom, Maidenhead, Havant, Wimbledon and Brighton were level transferred to Regional 1 South Central. Other teams leaving the division were Dorking, Sevenoaks and North Walsham who were promoted to National League 2 East. There was no relegation from the league at the end of last season.
Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
---|---|---|---|---|
Putnoe Woods | 500 | Promoted from Midlands 1 East (champions) | ||
Raven Park | Promoted from London 1 North (3rd) | |||
King's House Sports Ground | 14th | |||
Redbourn Lane | Promoted from London 1 North (4th) | |||
Highfields | 4th | |||
Priestfields | Promoted from London 1 South (3rd) | |||
The Davey Field | 2,000 (150 seats) | Promoted from London 1 North (champions) | ||
Crescent Farm | 9th | |||
Whittome Field | Promoted from London 1 North (runners-up) | |||
Pendley Sports Centre | 750 | 10th | ||
St Marks Recreation Ground | 3,000 | 13th | ||
Goddington Dene | 3,200 (200 seats) | 6th | ||
Nine of the fourteen teams participated in the 2019–20 competition. They are joined by Sutton & Epsom who were relegated from National League 2 South, along with three promoted sides; Havant, North Walsham and Westcombe Park. Maidenhead who played in South West Premier in 2019-20 were level transferred into London & South East Premier as the nearest club geographically to address an imbalance of teams in the league. Teams leaving the division included Rochford Hundred who were promoted into National League 2 South as champions along with Guernsey Raiders who won the virtual promotion play-off against Weston-super-Mare RFC, while teams relegated from the league included Bedford Athletic (Midlands 1 East), Guildford (London 1 South) and London Irish Wild Geese (London 1 South).
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Waterhall Playing Fields | 9th | |||
King's House Sports Ground | 11th | |||
The Big Field | 1,000+ | 5th | ||
Hook's Lane | 1,500 | Promoted from London 1 South (champions) | ||
Highfields | 4th | |||
Braywick Park | 1,750 (250 seats) | Level transfer from South West Premier (3rd) | ||
Norwich Road | 1,200 | Promoted from London 1 North (champions) | ||
Knole Paddock | 1,000 | 7th | ||
Crescent Farm | 8th | |||
Rugby Lane | Relegated from National 2 South (14th) | |||
Pendley Sports Centre | 750 | 10th | ||
St Marks Recreation Ground | 3,000 | 6th | ||
Goddington Dene | 3,200 (200 seats) | Promoted from London 1 South (runners-up) | ||
Beverley Meads | 1,000 | 3rd | ||
On 30th October the RFU announced[2] that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning London & South East Premier was not contested.
Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Guernsey and London Irish Wild Geese who were relegated from National League 2 South, along with three promoted sides; Brighton, Rochford Hundred and Sevenoaks.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Teams leaving the division included Sutton & Epsom who were promoted into National League 2 South as champions and Westcliff who won the promotion playoff, while teams relegated from the league included Brentwood, Chingford and Shelford (all London 1 North).
Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
---|---|---|---|---|
Putnoe Woods | 500 | 6th | ||
Waterhall Playing Fields | Promoted from London 1 South (playoff) | |||
King's House Sports Ground | 10th | |||
The Big Field | 1,000+ | 9th | ||
5,000 (720 seats) | Relegated from National 2 South (15th) | |||
Broadwater Sports Club | 11th | |||
Highfields | 5th | |||
2,000 | Relegated from National 2 South (16th) | |||
The Rugby Park | 1,000 | Promoted from London 1 North (champions) | ||
Knole Paddock | 1,000 | Promoted from London 1 South (champions) | ||
Crescent Farm | 8th | |||
Pendley Sports Centre | 750 | 4th | ||
St Marks Recreation Ground | 3,000 | 7th | ||
Beverley Meads | 1,000 | 3rd | ||
Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Wimbledon who were relegated from National League 2 South, along with four promoted sides; Bedford Athletic, Brentwood, Chingford and CS Rugby 1863. Bedford Athletic had initially been promoted into Midlands Premier but were level transferred into London & South East Premier as the nearest club geographically to address an imbalance of teams in the league. Teams leaving the division included Barnes who were promoted into National League 2 South as champions along with Guernsey who won the promotion playoff, while teams relegated from the league included Southend Saxons (London 1 North), Towcestrians (Midlands 1 East) and Westcombe Park (London 1 South).
Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
---|---|---|---|---|
Putnoe Woods | 500 | Promoted from Midlands 1 East (champions & level transfer) | ||
King George's Playing Fields | 3,000 | Promoted from London 1 North (champions) | ||
Lea Valley Playing Fields | Promoted from London 1 North (play-off) | |||
King's House Sports Ground | Promoted from London 1 South (champions) | |||
The Big Field | 1,000+ | 9th | ||
Broadwater Sports Club | 11th | |||
Highfields | 4th | |||
The Davey Field | 2,000 (150 seats) | 7th | ||
Crescent Farm | 8th | |||
Rugby Lane | 10th | |||
Pendley Sports Centre | 750 | 3rd | ||
St Marks Recreation Ground | 3,000 | 5th | ||
The Gables | 1,000 | 6th | ||
Beverley Meads | 1,000 | Relegated from National 2 South (15th) | ||
Each season, the runners-up in the London & South East Premier (National League 3 London & South East) and South West Premier (formerly National League 3 South West) participate in a play-off for the third promotion place to National League 2 South. The team with the best playing record, in this case Westcliff, hosted the match and beat their opponents Barnstaple 44 – 5 to win promotion to National League 2 South for the first time. This was Westcliff's first appearance in the play-offs and Barnstaple's second; in 2016 Barnstaple beat Tonbridge Juddians 31 – 30 at Tonbridge. The home team have won fifteen out of nineteen play-off matches and the south-east team have won the play-off thirteen times.
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Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Barnes who were relegated from National League 2 South along with three promoted teams Sidcup, Tring and Tunbridge Wells.[8] [9] [10] [11] Tonbridge Juddians were promoted into National League 2 South as champions along with Wimbledon who won the promotion playoff.[12] [13] Teams relegated from the league included Amersham & Chiltern and Colchester (London 1 North) and Chichester (London 1 South).[14] To address an imbalance of teams, Towcestrians were level transferred into the league from the Midlands Premier, as they were the nearest team geographically.[15]
Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
---|---|---|---|---|
Relegated from National League 2 South (15th) | ||||
The Big Field | 1,000+ | 8th | ||
5,000 (720 seats) | 5th | |||
Broadwater Sports Club | Farncombe, Surrey | 9th | ||
Highfields | 3rd | |||
The Davey Field | 2,000 (150 seats) | 6th | ||
Crescent Farm | Promoted from London 1 South (champions) | |||
Warners Bridge Park | Southend, Essex | 11th | ||
Rugby Lane | 10th | |||
Greens Norton Road | Level transfer from Midlands Premier (10th) | |||
Pendley Sports Centre | 750 | Promoted from London 1 North (champions) | ||
St Marks Recreation Ground | 3,000 | Promoted from London 1 South (playoffs) | ||
The Gables | 1,000 | Eastwood, Southend-on-Sea, Essex | 7th | |
Goddington Dene | 3,200 (200 seats) | Orpington, London | 4th | |
Each season, the runners-up in the London & South East Premier, and South West Premier participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 South. The team with the best playing record, in this case Guernsey RFC, hosted the match and beat their opponents Bournemouth 38 – 23 to win promotion.
Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Dorking and Southend Saxons who were relegated from National 2 South while three promoted teams, Amersham & Chiltern, Guildford and Sutton & Epsom were promoted into the league. London Irish Wild Geese were promoted to National League 2 South as champions while Eton Manor and Gravesend were relegated to London 1 North and London 1 South respectively. Originally, Westcliff were supposed to go down as the 14th placed team, but they were granted a reprieve when East Grinstead (who had finished 3rd) decided to take voluntary relegation, due to the loss of a key sponsor and dropped five leagues to Sussex Spitfire 1.[16] Finally Bracknell were level transferred back to National League 3 South West after just one season to address an imbalance in teams after having finished 11th.[17]
Current results see:- National League 3 London & South East results
Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
---|---|---|---|---|
Weedon Lane | promoted from London 1 North (champions) | |||
Oaklands Park | 10th | |||
Mill Road Playing Fields | 9th | |||
The Big Field | 1,000+ | relegated from National League 2 South (14th) | ||
5,000 (720 seats) | 6th | |||
Broadwater Sports Club | Farncombe, Surrey | promoted from London 1 South (play-off) | ||
Highfields | 4th | |||
The Davey Field | 2,000 (150 seats) | 7th | ||
Warners Bridge Park | Southend, Essex | relegated from National League 2 South (15th) | ||
Rugby Lane | promoted from London 1 South (champions) | |||
The Slade | 1,500 | 2nd (lost play-off) | ||
The Gables | 1,000 | Eastwood, Southend-on-Sea, Essex | 12th | |
Goddington Dene | 3,200 (200 seats) | Orpington, London | 5th | |
Beverley Meads | 1,000 | Raynes Park, Merton, London | 8th | |
Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 London and SE, and National League 3 South West participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 South. The team with the best playing record, in this case Wimbledon RFC, hosted the match and beat their opponents Dings Crusaders RFC 55 – 5 to win promotion.
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The runners-up in the National League 3 London and SE, and National League 3 South West participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 South. The team with the best playing record, in this case Tonbridge Juddian, host the match and their opponents are Barnstaple. Juddians lost the match 31 – 30 to a penalty in the last minute of the match and will stay in National 3 London and SE for next season.[18]
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The runners-up in the National League 3 London and SE, and National League 3 South West participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 South. The team with the best playing record, in this case Exmouth, hosts the match; their opponents were Barnes and the match was played on 25 April 2015. At the end of full-time the match score was 22 – 22, and Barnes scored the only points in extra-time, to win the match 27– 22.[19]
----After extra time (80 mins: 22 – 22)----
First season as a national league
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as London 1) contained the following teams:
In the first season of the English rugby union league pyramid, sponsored by Courage, there was four, tier five leagues. These were London Division 1, Midland Division 1, North Division 1 and South West Division 1. In 1987 the geographical area for teams in the south-east of England was known as the London and South East Division and covered the counties of Essex, Hampshire, Kent, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey and Sussex. The league was also known as London League 1 and London 1. There were eleven teams in the league and they played each team once, giving each team ten matches.[22] This system prevailed for five seasons, and in 1992–93 the number of teams increased from eleven to thirteen. The following season (1993–94) the league was reorganised and the four tier five leagues became two; National 5 North and National 5 South.[23] After three seasons, in 1996–97, a further reorganisation occurred, and there was a return to four, tier five leagues; with London Division One covering the same area as before.[24] This system prevailed until 2009–10 when the number of teams was increased from twelve to fourteen and renamed National League Three London & South East. The league name changed once more for the 2017–18, when it was renamed to London & South East Premier.[1]
The original London Division One was a tier five league with promotion up to Area League 2 South and relegation down to either London 2 North or London 2 South.
+ London Division One | |||||||
Season | No of teams | No of matches | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987–88 | 11 | 10 | Ealing | [25] | |||
1988–89 | 11 | 10 | Basingstoke | ||||
1989–90 | 11 | 10 | North Walsham | No relegation | |||
1990–91 | 11 | 10 | Sidcup | ||||
1991–92 | 11 | 10 | Thurrock | [26] | |||
1992–93 | 13 | 12 | Tabard | [27] |
The top six teams from London Division One and the top six from South West Division One were combined to create National 5 South. London Division 1 was now the name of a tier six league and was one of two feeder leagues for National 5 South.
+ London 1 | |||||||
Season | No of teams | No of matches | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1993–94 | 13 | 12 | Barking | [28] | |||
1994–95 | 13 | 12 | Camberley | [29] | |||
1995–96 | 13 | 12 | Charlton Park |
For the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 South was discontinued and London Division One returned to being a tier five league. Promotion was to National 4 South (renamed to National 3 South in 2000–01), while relegation continued to London 2 North and London 2 South.
+ London Division One | |||||||
Season | No of teams | No of matches | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1996–97 | 14 | 13 | Esher | [30] | |||
1997–98 | 17 | 16 | Norwich | Askeans | [31] | ||
1998–99 | 17 | 16 | Westcombe Park | [32] | |||
1999–00 | 17 | 16 | Basingstoke | [33] | |||
2000–01 | 11 | 20 | Old Colfeians | [34] | |||
2001–02 | 12 | 22 | Havant | [35] | |||
2002–03 | 12 | 22 | Southend | [36] | |||
2003–04 | 12 | 22 | Havant | [37] | |||
2004–05 | 12 | 22 | Cambridge | [38] | |||
2005–06 | 12 | 22 | Canterbury | [39] | |||
2006–07 | 12 | 22 | London Scottish | [40] | |||
2007–08 | 12 | 22 | Richmond | [41] | |||
2008–09 | 12 | 22 | Shelford | No relegation | [42] |
The division was renamed National League 3 London & SE following a restructuring of the national leagues which led to changes at all levels. It continued as a tier 5 league with promotion to National League 2 South (formerly National 3 South) and relegation to either London 1 North or London 1 South (formerly London 2 North and London 2 South).
+ National League 3 London & South East | |||||||||||||||
Season | No of teams | No of matches | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009–10 | 14 | 26 | Jersey | [43] | |||||||||||
2010–11 | 14 | 26 | Barnes | [44] | |||||||||||
2011–12 | 14 | 26 | Canterbury | [45] | |||||||||||
2012–13 | 14 | 26 | Bishop's Stortford | [46] | |||||||||||
2013–14 | 14 | 26 | Dorking | [47] | |||||||||||
2014–15 | 14 | 26 | Bury St Edmunds | [48] | |||||||||||
2015–16 | 14 | 26 | London Irish Wild Geese | [49] | |||||||||||
2016–17 | 14 | 26 | Tonbridge Juddians | [50] | |||||||||||
Green background are the promotion places. |
The division was renamed London & South East Premier in order to make it more obvious that it was a regional league and the pinnacle of the London & South East region. It continued to be a tier 5 league with promotion to National League 2 South and relegation to London 1 North or London 1 South.
+ London & South East Premier | |||||||||||||||
Season | No of teams | No of matches | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 | 26 | Barnes | [51] | ||||||||||||
2018–19 | 14 | 26 | Sutton & Epsom | [52] | |||||||||||
2019–20 | 14 | 22 | Rochford Hundred | [53] | |||||||||||
2020–21 | 14 | 26 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. | ||||||||||||
2021–22 | 14 | 26 | Sevenoaks | North Walsham (also promoted). No relegation due to league reorganisation. | |||||||||||
Green background are the promotion places. |
Following a reorganisation of the league structure by the RFU, this league is now one of six at tier 5. Promotion is to National League 2 East and relegation to either Regional 2 Anglia, Regional 2 South East or Regional 2 Thames depending on location.
+ London & South East Premier | |||||||||||||||
Season | No of teams | No of matches | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022–23 | 12 | 22 | Westcombe Park | [54] | |||||||||||
2023–24 | 12 | 22 | Colchester | [55] | |||||||||||
Green background is the promotion place. |
Between seasons 2000–01 and 2018–19 there has been a play-off between the runners-up of London & South East Premier and South West Premier for the third and final promotion place to National League 2 South. The team with the superior league record has home advantage. At the end of the 2019–20 season the London and south-east teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the south-west teams six; and the home team has won promotion on fifteen occasions compared to the away teams four.
+ London & South East Premier v South West Premier promotion play-off results | ||||||||||||||
Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | Reference | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000–01 | Cinderford (SW) | 26–10 | Havant (LSE) | |||||||||||
2001–02 | Basingstoke (LSE) | 29–13 | Dings Crusaders (SW) | [56] | ||||||||||
2002–03 | Haywards Heath (LSE) | 34–21 | Reading (SW) | [57] [58] | ||||||||||
2003–04 | Hertford (LSE) | 25–14 | Cinderford (SW) | [59] | ||||||||||
2004–05 | Worthing Raiders (LSE) | 26–30 | Bridgwater & Albion (SW) | 1,200 | [60] [61] | |||||||||
2005–06 | Richmond (LSE) | 3–12 | Clifton (SW) | 1,100 | [62] [63] | |||||||||
2006–07 | Ealing Trailfinders (LSE) | 48–16 | Cleve (SW) | [64] [65] | ||||||||||
2007–08 | Worthing Raiders (LSE) | 18–5 | Bracknell (SW) | [66] [67] | ||||||||||
2008–09 | Barnes (LSE) | 39–18 | Bracknell (SW) | [68] [69] | ||||||||||
2009–10 | Old Albanian (LSE) | 15–0 | Old Patesians (SW) | [70] [71] | ||||||||||
2010–11 | Hertford (LSE) | 23–22 | Bournemouth (SW) | 1,000 | [72] [73] | |||||||||
2011–12 | Chinnor (SW) | 19–8 | Tonbridge Juddians (LSE) | [74] [75] | ||||||||||
2012–13 | Exmouth (SW) | 21–20 | Dorking (LSE) | [76] [77] | ||||||||||
2013–14 | Old Elthamians (LSE) | 17–10 | Redingensians (SW) | 1,350 | [78] [79] | |||||||||
2014–15 | Exmouth (SW) | 22–27 (aet) | Barnes (LSE) | 1,000 | [80] [81] | |||||||||
2015–16 | Tonbridge Juddians (LSE) | 30–31 | Barnstaple (SW) | 600 | [82] [83] | |||||||||
2016–17 | Wimbledon (LSE) | 55–5 | Dings Crusaders (SW) | 350 | [84] | |||||||||
2017–18 | Guernsey (LSE) | 38–23 | Bournemouth (SW) | [85] | ||||||||||
2018–19 | Westcliff (LSE) | 44–5 | Barnstaple (SW) | 750[86] | [87] | |||||||||
2019–20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up – Guernsey (LSE) – promoted instead. | |||||||||||||
2020–21 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. | |||||||||||||
2021–22 | Cancelled due to the reorganisation of the league | |||||||||||||
Green background is the promoted team. (LSE = London & South East teams while SW = South West teams). | ||||||||||||||