Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex


Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex is an English level 7 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Surrey, Greater London, East Sussex and West Sussex. Administration of the leagues is divided between Surrey Rugby, Sussex Rugby and the London & SE RFU.

Structure and format

The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to April, making a total of twenty-two matches each. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
  • 4 points are awarded for a win.
  • 2 points are awarded for a draw.
  • 0 points are awarded for a loss.
In addition:
  • 1 losing point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
  • 1 additional point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match
Promotion is either Regional 2 South East, Regional 2 South Central or Regional 2 Thames whilst relegated teams drop to either Counties 2 Surrey or Counties 2 Sussex depending on location.

Teams for 2025–26

Departing were Twickenham, promoted to Regional 2 South Central, whilst East Grinstead and Old Haileyburians were relegated to Counties 2 Sussex and Counties 2 Surrey respectively.
A month ahead of the new season began Uckfield, who had been promoted as champions of Counties 2 Sussex, withdrew from the competition having lost their head coach and a significant number of senior players to league rivals Hove.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
CobhamOld Surbitonians Memorial GroundCobham, Surrey4th
Eastbourne Park AvenueEastbourne, East Sussex6th
Haywards HeathWhitemans GreenCuckfield, West Sussex10th
HoveHove Recreation GroundHove, East Sussex9th
KCS Old BoysDornan FieldsMotspur Park, London8th
London CornishRichardson Evans Memorial Playing FieldsRoehampton Vale, London7th
Old CaterhamiansCaterham SchoolCaterham, SurreyPromoted from Counties 2 Surrey
Old RutlishiansOld Rutlishians' Sports GroundMerton Park, London2nd
Old WimbledoniansOld Wimbledonians & Donhead Sports GroundRaynes Park, LondonPromoted from Counties 2 Surrey
TrinityTrinity Sanderstead Sports & Social ClubSanderstead, London5th
Weybridge VandalsBrownacresWalton-on-Thames, Surrey3rd

Teams for 2024–25

Leaving the league were Teddington and Old Tiffinians, promoted to Regional 2 Thames and Regional 2 South East respectively; while Kingston, Old Walcountians and Old Cranleighans were relegated to Counties 2 Surrey. Joining were Cobham and London Cornish both relegated from Regional 2 South East; coming up were Haywards Heath from Counties 2 Sussex, Old Haileyburians and Old Rutlishians both from Counties 2 Surrey.
The London & SE RFU published fixtures for the league in June 2024.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
CobhamOld Surbitonians Memorial GroundCobham, SurreyRelegated from Regional 2SE
East GrinsteadSaint HillEast Grinstead, West Sussex8th
Eastbourne Park AvenueEastbourne, East Sussex6th
Haywards HeathWhitemans GreenCuckfield, West SussexPromoted from Counties 2 Sussex
HoveHove Recreation GroundHove, East Sussex7th
KCS Old BoysDornan FieldsMotspur Park, London5th
London CornishRichardson Evans Memorial Playing FieldsRoehampton Vale, LondonRelegated from Regional 2SE
Old HaileyburiansRuxley LaneEpsom, SurreyPromoted from Counties 2 Surrey
Old RutlishiansOld Rutlishians' Sports GroundMerton Park, LondonPromoted from Counties 2 Surrey
TrinityTrinity Sanderstead Sports & Social ClubSanderstead, London9th
TwickenhamParkfieldsHampton, London4th
Weybridge VandalsBrownacresWalton-on-Thames, Surrey3rd

Teams for 2023–24

Leaving the league were Chobham promoted to Regional 2 Thames. Warlingham were relegated to Counties 2 Surrey for what were reported as "...administrative, rather than playing, reasons...".
Joining the league were promoted sides Teddington, from Counties 2 Surrey, Eastbourne and East Grinstead, both from Counties 2 Sussex. Coming down from Regional 2 South East were KCS Old Boys.
Further post-ACR adjustments meant the league was restored to containing 12 teams
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Eastbourne Park AvenueEastbourne, East SussexPromoted from Counties 2 Sussex
East GrinsteadSaint HillEast Grinstead, West SussexPromoted from Counties 2 Sussex
HoveHove Recreation GroundHove, East Sussex3rd
KCS Old BoysDornan FieldsMotspur Park, LondonRelegated from Regional 2SE
KingstonHook RoadChessington, London6th
Old CranleighansOld Cranleighan Sports ClubThames Ditton, Surrey9th
Old TiffiniansGrist's Memorial GroundThames Ditton, Surrey2nd
Old WalcountiansClockhouse GroundWoodmansterne, Surrey7th
TeddingtonUdney Park Sports GroundTeddington, LondonPromoted from Counties 2 Surrey
TrinityTrinity Sanderstead Sports & Social ClubSanderstead, London8th
TwickenhamParkfieldsHampton, London4th
Weybridge VandalsBrownacresWalton-on-Thames, Surrey5th

Teams for 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 2 South West but was smaller with Counties 1 Hampshire taking teams that historically would have played in London 2 South West.
This prompted a substantial reordering of the leagues with two teams, Kingston and Trinity, effectively achieving a 'double' promotion from level 9 to level 7 of the RFU rugby pyramid. Warlingham, Weybridge Vandals and Old Walcountians were all promoted from the upper end of London 3 South West whilst, rather less predictably, Old Cranleighans also came up from the same league despite having finished at the foot of it.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
ChobhamFowlers WellChobham, Surrey5th
HoveHove Recreation GroundHove, East Sussex9th
KingstonHook RoadChessington, LondonPromoted from
Old CranleighansOld Cranleighan Sports ClubThames Ditton, SurreyPromoted from
Old TiffiniansGrist's Memorial GroundThames Ditton, Surrey6th
Old WalcountiansClockhouse GroundWoodmansterne, SurreyPromoted from
TrinityTrinity Sanderstead Sports & Social ClubSanderstead, LondonPromoted from
TwickenhamParkfieldsHampton, London10th
WarlinghamLimpsfield RoadWarlingham, SurreyPromoted from
Weybridge VandalsBrownacresWalton-on-Thames, SurreyPromoted from