| Counties 4 Yorkshire | |
| Current Season: | 2022–23 Counties 4 Yorkshire |
| Sport: | Rugby union |
| Teams: | 15 7 (North-West Division) 7 (South-East Division) |
| Champion: | Bramley Phoenix (1st title) |
| Season: | 2019–20) (promoted to Yorkshire 3 |
| Most Champs: | Hessle, Hullensians, Old Rishworthians, Rotherham Phoenix, Stocksbridge, Wibsey |
| Count: | 2 |
| Website: | England RFU |
Counties 4 Yorkshire is an English rugby union league at the tenth tier of the domestic competition for teams from Yorkshire. Club rugby in Yorkshire operates without promotion play-offs meaning that the top two teams are automatically promoted to Yorkshire 3 and the bottom two teams were relegated to Yorkshire 5 until the RFU made changes to the Yorkshire league structure. Each season a team from Counties 3 Yorkshire or Yorkshire 4 may be picked to take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a national competition for clubs at levels 9-12.
For the 2017-18 season, Yorkshire 4 was broken up into two regional leagues - Yorkshire 4 (North West) and Yorkshire 4 (South East) - while Yorkshire 5 ceased to exist. Teams from both Yorkshire 4 and 5 were transferred into the regional divisions depending on location.[1] After the teams have played each other home and away, in February the clubs are reallocated into a Premier league and a Shield league for one further round of fixtures. The top four teams from each league play in the Premier and the other teams play in the Shield. The top two teams in the Premier league are promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire.
For the new season the league was once more split into North / South division as it had been most recently in season 2021-22. Burley were relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire but elected not to compete in league competition season 2024-25. Three new teams were added to the South league to make a total of seven, with eight competing in the North division.
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aireborough | Nunroyd Park | 5th | ||
| Hornsea | Hollis Recreation Ground | 3rd | ||
| Knaresborough | Hay-A-Park Lane | 13th | ||
| Leeds Medics & Dentists | Weetwood Playing Fields | 7th | ||
| Leeds Modernians | Cookridge Lane | 9th | ||
| Nestle Rowntree | Mille Crux | 4th | ||
| Richmondshire | Theakston Lane | 11th | ||
| York Railway Institute | New Lane | 10th | ||
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dearne Valley | Vancouver Drive | New entry | |||
| Livingstone Road | 6th | ||||
| Knottingley | Howard's Field | 8th | |||
| Maltby | Muglet Lane | New entry | |||
| Sheffield Medicals | Norton Playing Fields | Relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire | |||
| Stocksbridge | Coal Pit Lane | 12th | |||
| Wortley | Finkle Street Lane | New entry |
Despite finishing 4th in 2022-23, Mosborough did not return for the new season. Richmondshire re-entered the Yorkshire Rugby leagues having most recently competed in Durham/Northumberland 3 for season 2021-22 during which they withdrew in January 2022.
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aireborough | Nunroyd Park | 6th | ||
| Livingstone Road | 10th | |||
| Hornsea | Hollis Recreation Ground | 5th | ||
| Knaresborough | Hay-A-Park Lane | 12th | ||
| Knottingley | Howard's Field | Relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire (11th) | ||
| Leeds Medics & Dentists | Weetwood Playing Fields | Relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire (12th) | ||
| Leeds Modernians | Cookridge Lane | 11th | ||
| Nestle Rowntree | Mille Crux | 8th | ||
| Old Otliensians | Chaffers Field | 3rd | ||
| Richmondshire | Theakston Lane | Re-entry | ||
| Stocksbridge | Coal Pit Lane | 7th | ||
| Thornensians | Coulman Road | Relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire (10th) | ||
| York Railway Institute | New Lane | 9th | ||
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Yorkshire 4 albeit consolidated back into one having previously been split NW and SE. Eleven of the teams from season 2021-22 returned with two promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire and two (Sheffield Oaks and Stanley Rodillians) withdrawing from the leagues. So with four departing but only one arriving the league was reduced from 15 teams to 12.
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aireborough | Nunroyd Park | 7th (Yorks 4NW) | ||
| Livingstone Road | 5th (Yorks 4SE) | |||
| Hornsea | Hollis Recreation Ground | 2nd (Yorks 4SE) / 7th (Premier) | ||
| Ovenden Park | 6th (Yorks 4NW) | |||
| Knaresborough | Hay-A-Park Lane | 8th (Yorks 4NW) | ||
| Leeds Modernians | Cookridge Lane | 5th (Yorks 4NW) | ||
| Mosborough | Mosborough Miners Welfare Club | 3rd (Yorks 4SE) / 6th (Premier) | ||
| Nestle Rowntree | Mille Crux | 3rd Yorks 4 NW / 3rd (Premier) | ||
| Old Otliensians | Chaffers Field | 14th Yorkshire 3 | ||
| Rotherham Phoenix | Herringthorpe Playing Fields | 1st (Yorks 4SE) / 4th Premier) | ||
| Stocksbridge | Coal Pit Lane | 4th (Yorks 4SE) / 8th (Premier) | ||
| York Railway Institute | New Lane | 4th (Yorks 4NW) / 5th (Premier) | ||
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.
York RI and Nestle Rowntree were level transferred from Yorkshire 4 South East for the current season.
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aireborough | Nunroyd Park | Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (14th) | ||
| Leeds Medics & Dentists | Weetwood Playing Fields | 5th (Yorks 4 NW) / 1st (Shield) | ||
| Leeds Modernians | Cookridge Lane | 3rd (Yorks 4 NW) / 6th (Premier) | ||
| Ovenden Park | 4th (Yorks 4 NW) / 8th (Premier) | |||
| Knaresborough | Hay-A-Park Lane | 7th (Yorks 4 NW) / 6th (Shield) | ||
| Nestle Rowntree | Mille Crux | 5th (Yorks 4 SE) / 2nd (Shield) | ||
| Thirsk | Thirsk Athletic Club | 6th (Yorks 4 NW) / 4th (Shield) | ||
| York Railway Institute | New Lane | 2nd (Yorks 4 SE) / 3rd (Premier) | ||
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingstone Road | 6th (Yorks 4 SE) / 3rd (Shield) | |||
| Hornsea | Hollis Recreation Ground | Promoted from Yorkshire RFU Eastern League 1 (runners-up) | ||
| Mosborough | Mosborough Miners Welfare Club | 1st (Yorks 4 SE) / 4th (Premier) | ||
| Rotherham Phoenix | Herringthorpe Playing Fields | Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (13th) | ||
| Sheffield Oaks | Parson Cross Park | 7th (Yorks 4 SE) / 5th (Shield) | ||
| Stanley Rodillians | Manley Park | 4th (Yorks 4 SE) / 5th (Premier) | ||
| Stocksbridge | Coal Pit Lane | 3rd (Yorks 4 SE) / 7th (Premier) | ||
On 30 October 2020 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 Yorkshire 4 was not contested.
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bramley Phoenix | Grosmont Terrace | 6th (Premier) | ||
| Burley | Abbey | 1st (Shield) | ||
| Leeds Medics & Dentists | Weetwood Playing Fields | 8th (Premier) | ||
| Leeds Modernians | Cookridge Lane | Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (14th) | ||
| Ovenden Park | 4th (Shield) | |||
| Knaresborough | Hay-A-Park Lane | 7th (Premier) | ||
| Thirsk | Thirsk Athletic Club | 3rd (Shield) | ||
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingstone Road | 4th (Premier) | |||
| Mosborough | Mosborough Miners Welfare Club | 5th (Premier) | ||
| Nestle Rowntree | Mille Crux | 6th (Shield) | ||
| Sheffield Oaks | Parson Cross Park | 7th (Shield) | ||
| Stanley Rodillians | Manley Park | 5th (Shield) | ||
| Stocksbridge | Coal Pit Lane | 2nd (Shield) | ||
| York Railway Institute | New Lane | 3rd (Premier) | ||
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bramley Phoenix | Grosmont Terrace | 1st (Shield) | ||
| Burley | Abbey | 5th (Premier) | ||
| Leeds Medics & Dentists | Weetwood Playing Fields | Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (14th) | ||
| Ovenden Park | 4th (Shield) | |||
| Knaresborough | Hay-A-Park Lane | 4th (Premier) | ||
| Thirsk | Thirsk Athletic Club | Runners up (Shield) | ||
| Wibsey | Northfield Road | 7th (Premier) | ||
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingstone Road | 3rd (Shield) | |||
| Mosborough | Mosborough Miners Welfare Club | 3rd (Premier) | ||
| Nestle Rowntree | Mille Crux | Joined from Yorkshire Merit Leagues | ||
| Ossett | Ossett Cricket and Athletic Club | 6th (Premier) | ||
| Sheffield Oaks | Parson Cross Park | 6th (Shield) | ||
| Stanley Rodillians | Manley Park | 8th (Premier) | ||
| Stocksbridge | Coal Pit Lane | Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (13th) | ||
| York Railway Institute | New Lane | 5th (Shield) | ||
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bramley Phoenix | Grosmont Terrace | Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (9th) | ||
| Burley | Abbey | Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (4th) | ||
| Ovenden Park | Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (14th) | |||
| Knaresborough | Hay-A-Park Lane | Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (3rd) | ||
| Leeds Corinthians | Nutty Slack | Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (5th) | ||
| Thirsk | Thirsk Athletic Club | Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (5th) | ||
| Wibsey | Northfield Road | Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (champions) | ||
| Team | Ground | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingstone Road | Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (6th) | |||
| Mosborough | Mosborough Miners Welfare Club | Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (2nd) | ||
| Ossett | Ossett Cricket and Athletic Club | Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (8th) | ||
| Sheffield Oaks | Parson Cross Park | Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (4th) | ||
| Stanley Rodillians | Manley Park | Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (10th) | ||
| Rossington Hornets | Rossington Miners Welfare Club | Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (8th) | ||
| Herringthorpe Playing Fields | Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (3rd) | |||
| York Railway Institute | New Lane | Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (7th) | ||
In February, after the teams have played each other home and away, the clubs in both Yorkshire 4 leagues are reallocated into a Premier league and a Shield league for one further round of fixtures. The top four teams from each league play in the Premier and the other teams play in the Shield.
Rossington Hornets did not participate in the Shield competition.
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
The original Yorkshire 4 was a tier 12 league with promotion up to Yorkshire 3 and relegation down to Yorkshire 5.
| < | ---->
| ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | |||||||||||
| 1987–88 | 11 | Wibsey | Skipton, Burley | ||||||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Hessle | Wetherby, Yorkshire CW | ||||||||||||
| 1989–90 | 11 | Bradford Salem | Phoenix Park | ||||||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | Northallerton | Yorkshire CW | ||||||||||||
| 1991–92 | 11 | Hullensians | Halifax Vandals | No relegation | |||||||||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | Ossett | Yorkshire CW | ||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | |||||||||||||||
The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 4 dropped to become a tier 13 league. A further restructure at the end of the 1995–96 season, which included the cancellation of National 5 North and the addition of North East 3 at tier 9, saw Yorkshire 4 remain at tier 13.
| < | ---->
| ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | |||||||||||
| 1993–94 | 13 | Phoenix Park | No relegation | ||||||||||||
| 1994–95 | 13 | Mosborough | Knaresborough | ||||||||||||
| 1995–96 | 13 | Stocksbridge | Multiple teams | ||||||||||||
| 1996–97 | 9 | York Railway Institute | No relegation | ||||||||||||
| 1997–98 | 9 | Heath | Knaresborough | ||||||||||||
| 1998–99[3] | 10 | Old Rishworthians | Nestle Rowntree, Ossett, Garforth | ||||||||||||
| 1999–00[4] | 9 | Old Modernians | Marist, Hornsea, Rotherham Clifton | ||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | |||||||||||||||
Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999-2000 season saw the cancellation of North East 1, North East 2 and North East 3 (tiers 7-9). This meant that Yorkshire 4 became a tier 10 league.
| < | ---->
| ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | |||||||||||
| 2000–01[5] | 11 | Stocksbridge | |||||||||||||
| 2001–02[6] | 12 | Knottingley | |||||||||||||
| 2002–03[7] | 12 | Roundhegians | Sheffield Medicals, Sheffield Oaks | ||||||||||||
| 2003–04[8] | 12 | Barnsley | |||||||||||||
| 2004–05[9] | 11 | Wath Upon Dearne | |||||||||||||
| 2005–06[10] | 12 | Aireborough | |||||||||||||
| 2006–07[11] | 12 | Hullensians | Sheffield Oaks, Mosborough, Wetherby | ||||||||||||
| 2007–08[12] | 12 | Hessle | |||||||||||||
| 2008–09[13] | 12 | Old Rishworthians | |||||||||||||
| 2009–10[14] | 12 | Rotherham Phoenix | York Railway Institute | ||||||||||||
| 2010–11[15] | 12 | Sheffield Medicals | |||||||||||||
| 2011–12[16] | 12 | Leeds Medics & Dentists | |||||||||||||
| 2012–13[17] | 12 | Old Grovians | |||||||||||||
| 2013–14[18] | 12 | Old Otliensians | |||||||||||||
| 2014–15[19] | 12 | Wetherby | |||||||||||||
| 2015–16[20] | 12 | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–17[21] | 11 | Hemsworth | Skipton | No relegation | |||||||||||
| 2017–18[22] | 15 | Rotherham Phoenix | No relegation | ||||||||||||
| 2018–19[23] | 15 | Wibsey | No relegation | ||||||||||||
| 2019–20[24] | 14 | Bramley Phoenix | No relegation | ||||||||||||
| 2020–21 | 14 | ||||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | |||||||||||||||