Counties 2 Essex

Counties 2 Essex is an English rugby union league at the ninth tier of the domestic competition and features teams from Essex and parts of north-east London. Promoted clubs tend to move up to Counties 1 Essex. Relegated clubs used to drop into Essex 2 but as that division has been abolished there is currently no relegation. The division was created in 2003 by Essex-based teams who left Eastern Counties 1 and Eastern Counties 2. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name Counties 2 Essex.
Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
For the 2016–17 season the league was divided into two parallel divisions - Essex 1A and Essex 1B - divided on geographical lines with teams in Essex 1A typically based in the north and east of the county, while teams in Essex 1B are predominantly London based. Each division plays 14 home and away games from September until February. From February the top 4 teams from each division go into the Essex 1 Premiership and play for the title and promotion, while the bottom 4 sides from each group would play for the Essex 1 Shield. For the 2018–19 season Essex 1 would revert to being a single division of 11 teams.

Participating clubs 2025–26

Departing were Stanford-le-Hope and Billericay, both promoted to Counties 1 Essex.
Dagenham re-entered the RFU league pyramid having withdrawn from Regional 2 Anglia before the start of the 2024-25 season citing ""...a combination of unforeseen circumstances within the club and a significant shortage of players...".

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Basildon	Gardiners Close		Basildon, Essex	Relegated from Counties 1 Essex
Burnham-on-Crouch	Dengie Hundred Sports Centre		Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex	Relegated from Counties 1 Essex
Canvey Island	Tewkes Creek		Canvey Island, Essex	3rd
Clacton	Valley Road		Clacton-on-Sea, Essex	11th
Dagenham	Central Park		Dagenham, London	Promoted from Div 2 Essex merit leagues
Harwich & Dovercourt	Wick Lane		Harwich, Essex	7th
Kelvedon & Feering	Rye Mill Lane		Feering, Essex	8th
Kings Cross Steelers	Memorial Park		Plaistow, London	5th
Millwall	Millwall Park		Isle of Dogs, London	4th
Old Brentwoods	Ashwell Road		Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex	6th
Witham	Witham Town Football & Social Club		Witham, Essex	9th
Writtle Wanderers	Paradise Road, Writtle		Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex	10th

Participating clubs 2024–25

The experiment of dividing the league was abandoned and North and South divisions reunited.
Departing were Burnham-on-Crouch and Basildon, both promoted to Counties 1 Essex. Meanwhile Barking were relegated to the Essex RFU merit leagues.
Joining were Stanford-le-Hope, relegated from Counties 1 Essex.
South Woodham Ferrers started the season but withdrew from the league in December 2024.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Billericay	Willowbrook	1,000	Billericay, Essex	3rd
Canvey Island	Tewkes Creek		Canvey Island, Essex	5th
Clacton	Valley Road		Clacton-on-Sea, Essex	3rd
Harwich & Dovercourt	Wick Lane		Harwich, Essex	2nd
Kelvedon & Feering	Rye Mill Lane		Feering, Essex	4th
Kings Cross Steelers	Memorial Park		Plaistow, London	4th
Millwall	Millwall Park		Isle of Dogs, London	6th
Old Brentwoods	Ashwell Road		Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex	2nd
Stanford-le-Hope	Stanford Recreation Ground		Stanford-le-Hope, Essex	Relegated from Counties 1 Essex
Witham	Witham Town Football & Social Club		Witham, Essex	6th
Writtle Wanderers	Fox Burrows Lane		Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex	5th

Participating clubs 2023–24

Ahead of the new season the decision was taken to split the league into parallel North and South divisions as had previously happened in 2016–17.
Departing were Maldon and Stanford-le-Hope, promoted to Counties 1 Essex.
Joining the North league were South Woodham Ferrers, Kelvedon & Feering, Witham and Burnham-on-Crouch.

North

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Burnham-on-Crouch	Dengie Hundred Sports Centre		Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex	Re-entry
Clacton	Valley Road		Clacton-on-Sea, Essex	4th
Harwich & Dovercourt	Wick Lane		Harwich, Essex	7th
Kelvedon & Feering	Rye Mill Lane		Feering, Essex	New entry
South Woodham Ferrers	Saltcoats Playing Field		South Woodham Ferrers, Essex	Relegated from Counties 1 Essex
Witham	Witham Town Football & Social Club		Witham, Essex	Re-entry
Writtle Wanderers	Fox Burrows Lane		Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex	11th

South

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Barking	Goresbrook	1,000	Becontree, London	13th
Basildon	Gardiners Close		Basildon, Essex	8th
Billericay	Willowbrook	1,000	Billericay, Essex	5th
Canvey Island	Tewkes Creek		Canvey Island, Essex	10th
Kings Cross Steelers	Memorial Park		Plaistow, London	3rd
Millwall	Millwall Park		Isle of Dogs, London	6th
Old Brentwoods	Ashwell Road		Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex	9th

Participating clubs 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 2 Essex.
Returning were nine teams took part in Essex 1 in 2021–22: Barking, Basildon, Billericay, Clacton, Harwich & Dovercourt, Maldon, Millwall, Old Brentwoods and Writtle Wanderers. Bancroft did not return.
Joining were Canvey Island and Kings Cross Steelers relegated from London 3 Essex together with Pegasus Palmerians and Stanford le Hope who both re-joined the league.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Barking	Goresbrook	1,000	Becontree, London	10th
Basildon	Gardiners Close		Basildon, Essex	5th
Billericay	Willowbrook	1,000	Billericay, Essex	2nd
Canvey Island	Tewkes Creek		Canvey Island, Essex	Relegated from London 3 Essex
Clacton	Valley Road		Clacton-on-Sea, Essex	3rd
Harwich & Dovercourt	Wick Lane		Harwich, Essex	6th
Kings Cross Steelers	Memorial Park		Plaistow, London	Relegated from London 3 Essex
Maldon	Drapers Farm Playing Fields		Heybridge, Essex	1st
Millwall	Millwall Park		Isle of Dogs, London	7th
Old Brentwoods	Ashwell Road		Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex	9th
Pegasus Palmerians	St Cleres School		Stanford-le-Hope, Essex	Re-entry
Stanford-le-Hope	Stanford Recreation Ground		Stanford-le-Hope, Essex	Re-entry
Writtle Wanderers	Fox Burrows Lane		Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex	4th

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.
Ilford Wanderers, who had been relegated from London 3 Essex in 11th place in season 2019–20, withdrew from the league in Autumn 2021 meaning it was completed with eleven teams.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Bancroft	Buckhurst Way		Buckhurst Hill, Essex	New Entry
Barking	Goresbrook	1,000	Becontree, London	Relegated from London 3 Essex
Basildon	Gardiners Close		Basildon, Essex	Relegated from London 3 Essex
Billericay	Willowbrook	1,000	Billericay, Essex	6th
Clacton	Valley Road		Clacton-on-Sea, Essex	5th
Harwich & Dovercourt	Wick Lane		Harwich, Essex	7th
Maldon	Drapers Farm Playing Fields		Heybridge, Essex	3rd
Millwall	Millwall Park		Isle of Dogs, London	4th
Old Brentwoods	Ashwell Road	500	Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex	9th
Writtle Wanderers	Fox Burrows Lane		Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex	8th

Season 2020–21

On 30 October the RFU announced that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 season meaning Essex 1 was not contested.

Participating clubs 2019–20

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Billericay	Willowbrook	1,000	Billericay, Essex	6th
Canvey Island	Tewkes Creek		Canvey Island, Essex	Relegated from London 3 Essex
Clacton	Valley Road		Clacton-on-Sea, Essex	4th
Dagenham	Central Park		Dagenham, London	3rd
Harwich & Dovercourt	Wick Lane		Harwich, Essex	5th
Maldon	Drapers Farm Playing Fields		Heybridge, Essex	Relegated from London 3 Essex
Millwall	Millwall Park		Isle of Dogs, London	Relegated from London 3 Essex
Old Brentwoods	Ashwell Road	500	Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex	8th
Writtle Wanderers	Fox Burrows Lane		Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex	7th

Participating clubs 2018–19

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Billericay	Willowbrook	1,000	Billericay, Essex	6th
Clacton	Valley Road		Clacton-on-Sea, Essex	Relegated from London 3 Essex
Dagenham	Central Park		Dagenham, London	3rd
Harwich & Dovercourt	Wick Lane		Harwich, Essex	1st
Mavericks	Warley Playing Field		Warley, Brentwood, Essex	Relegated from London 3 Essex
Mersea Island	The Glebe		West Mersea, Mersey Island, Essex	4th
Old Brentwoods	Ashwell Road	500	Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex	7th
Thames	Garron Lane		South Ockendon, Essex	N/A
Upminster	Hall Lane		Upminster, London	Relegated from London 3 Essex
Writtle Wanderers	Fox Burrows Lane		Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex	5th

Participating clubs 2017–18

Essex Canterbury Jack League 1A

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Billericay	Willowbrook	1,000	Billericay, Essex	8th
Burnham-on-Crouch	Dengie Hundred Sports Centre		Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex	7th
Harwich & Dovercourt	Wick Lane		Harwich, Essex	2nd
Mersea Island	The Glebe		West Mersea, Mersey Island, Essex	Transferred from Eastern Counties 2 (South)
Stanford-le-Hope	Stanford Recreation Ground		Stanford-le-Hope, Essex	6th
Witham	Witham Town Football & Social Club		Witham, Essex	8th
Writtle Wanderers	Fox Burrows Lane		Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex	1st

Essex Canterbury Jack League 1B

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Bancroft	Buckhurst Way		Buckhurst Hill, Essex	3rd
Dagenham	Central Park		Dagenham, London	5th
Ilford Wanderers	Ilford Wanderers Sports Ground		Ilford, London	Transferred from London 3 North East
Kings Cross Steelers	Memorial Park	500	Plaistow, London	6th
May & Baker	M&B Eastbrook Community Club		Dagenham, London	N/A
Old Brentwoods	Ashwell Road	500	Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex	7th
Pegasus Palmerians	St Cleres School		Stanford-le-Hope, Essex	4th

Participating clubs 2016–17

Essex 1A

Bancroft
Billericay
Dagenham
Kings Cross Steelers
Millwall
Old Brentwoods
Pegasus Palmerians
Stanford Le Hope

Essex 1B

Braintree
Burnham-on-Crouch
Canvey Island
Clacton
Harwich & Dovercourt
Maldon
Writtle Wanderers
Witham

Participating clubs 2015–16

Bancroft
Billericay '
Braintree
Canvey Island
Clacton '
East London
Ilford Wanderers
Kings Cross Steelers
Maldon
Millwall
Pegasus Palmerians
Stanford Le Hope
Writtle Wanderers

Participating clubs 2014–15

Bancroft
Burnham-on-Crouch
Canvey Island
Dagenham
East London
Epping Upper Clapton
Ilford Wanderers
Maldon
May & Baker
Millwall
Pegasus Palmerians
Writtle Wanderers

Original teams

When Essex 1 was introduced in 2003 it contained the following teams:

Billericay - transferred from Eastern Counties 1
Canvey Island - transferred from Eastern Counties 1
East London - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South
Epping Upper Clapton - transferred from Eastern Counties 1
Ilford Wanderers II - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South
Maldon - transferred from Eastern Counties 1
Stanford Le Hope - transferred from Eastern Counties 1
Upminster - relegated from London 4 North East
Wanstead - transferred from Eastern Counties 1
Westcliff - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South

Essex 1 honours

Essex 1 (2004–2009)

The original Essex 1 was a tier 9 league with promotion up to London 4 North East and relegation down to Essex 2.

Essex 1 (2009–2017)

Essex 1 remained a tier 9 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to London 3 North East and relegation was to Essex 2 until that division was disbanded at the end of the 2013–14 season.

Essex 1 (2017–present)

The cancellation of London 3 North East and subsequent introduction of London 3 Essex ahead of the 2017–18 meant that Essex 1 remained a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division, and as it was the lowest division for clubs in Essex, there was no relegation.

Promotion play-offs

From 2004 to 2016 there was a play-off between the runners-up of Eastern Counties 1 and Essex 1 for the third and final promotion place to London 3 North East. The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2015–16 season the Essex 1 teams had been the most successful with seven wins to the Eastern Counties 1 teams five; and the home team had won promotion on eight occasions compared to the away teams four. Since the introduction of London 3 Eastern Counties and London 3 Essex at the start of the 2017–18 season the playoff has been cancelled.

Number of league titles

Billericay
Campion
East London
Upminster
Wanstead
Braintree
Dagenham
Kings Cross Steelers
Maldon
May & Baker
Old Brentwoods
Westcliff