1980–81 Rugby Union County Championship
The 1980–81 Thorn EMI Rugby Union County Championship was the 81st edition of England's County Championship rugby union club competition.
Northumberland won their second title after defeating Gloucestershire in the final.
First Round
| Pos | Midlands Group A | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| 1 | North Midlands | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 4 |
| 2 | Staffordshire | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 2 |
| 3 | East Midlands | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 24 | 0 |
| Pos | London Group A | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| 1 | Surrey | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 18 | 4 |
| 2 | Middlesex | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 51 | 26 | 2 |
| 3 | Eastern Counties | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 62 | 0 |
| Pos | South-West Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| 1 | Gloucestershire | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 25 | 6 |
| 2 | Cornwall | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 17 | 4 |
| 3 | Devon | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 34 | 41 | 2 |
| 4 | Somerset | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 51 | 0 |