Counties 1 Yorkshire


Counties 1 Yorkshire is an English rugby union division, the seventh tier of the domestic competition, and the top level for local rugby union in parts of Yorkshire. The champions are automatically promoted to Regional 2 North East, a division with a wider geographical area that also encompasses northeast England. The bottom two clubs are relegated to Counties 2 Yorkshire. The current champions are North Ribblesdale who are promoted to Regional 2 North West

Format

The first-placed team is promoted to Regional 2 North West or Regional 2 North East depending on geographical location. One, two or three teams are relegated to Counties 2 Yorkshire; numbers depending on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above.
The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals, home and away. 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, however
  • 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.

2025–26

Participating teams and location

Departing were North Ribblesdale and Pocklington, promoted to Regional 2 North West and Regional 2 North East respectively. Bridlington were relegated to Counties 2 Yorkshire.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BeverleyBeaver ParkBeverley, East Riding of Yorkshire5th
DinningtonLodge LaneDinnington, South Yorkshire, SheffieldPromoted from Counties 2 Yorkshire
GooleWestfield BanksGoole, East Riding of YorkshireRelegated from Regional 2 North East
Harrogate PythonsThe Jim Saynor GroundHarrogate, North Yorkshire,8th
HullensiansSpringhead LaneKingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire3rd
KeighleyRose CottageKeighley, West Yorkshire4th
LeodiensianCrag LaneAlwoodley, Leeds, West Yorkshire11th
North RibblesdaleGrove ParkSettle, North Yorkshire
Old RishworthiansHollas LaneCopley, Halifax, West Yorkshire10th
Wath-upon-DearneMoor RoadWath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire6th
WensleydaleCawkill ParkLeyburn, North Yorkshire7th
West LeedsBluehill LaneWortley, Leeds, West Yorkshire9th
YarnburyBrownberrie LaneHorsforth, Leeds, West YorkshirePromoted from Counties 2 Yorkshire

2024–25

Participating teams and location

Departing were Bradford Salem and Wetherby, both promoted to Regional 2 North East while Bradford & Bingley were relegated to Counties 2 Yorkshire.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BeverleyBeaver ParkBeverley, East Riding of Yorkshire8th
BridlingtonDukes ParkBridlington, East Riding of YorkshireRelegated from Regional 2NE
Harrogate PythonsThe Jim Saynor GroundHarrogate, North Yorkshire,11th
HullensiansSpringhead LaneKingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire10th
KeighleyRose CottageKeighley, West Yorkshire3rd
LeodiensianCrag LaneAlwoodley, Leeds, West Yorkshire7th
North RibblesdaleGrove ParkSettle, North YorkshirePromoted from Counties 2 Yorkshire
Old RishworthiansHollas LaneCopley, Halifax, West Yorkshire9th
PocklingtonPercy RoadPocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire4th
Wath-upon-DearneMoor RoadWath-upon-Dearne, South YorkshirePromoted from Counties 2 Yorkshire
WensleydaleCawkill ParkLeyburn, North Yorkshire6th
West LeedsBluehill LaneWortley, Leeds, West Yorkshire5th

2023–24

Participating teams and location

Departing were Goole, promoted to Regional 2 North East. Also leaving were Huddersfield Laund Hill, Dinnington and Roundhegians all relegated to Counties 2 Yorkshire.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BeverleyBeaver ParkBeverley, East Riding of Yorkshire3rd
Bradford & BingleyWagon Lane4,000Bingley, West YorkshireRelegated from Regional 2 NE
Bradford SalemShay LaneHeaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire6th
Harrogate PythonsThe Jim Saynor GroundHarrogate, North Yorkshire,Promoted from Counties 2 Yorkshire
HullensiansSpringhead LaneKingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire7th
KeighleyRose CottageKeighley, West Yorkshire2nd
LeodiensianCrag LaneAlwoodley, Leeds, West Yorkshire9th
Old RishworthiansHollas LaneCopley, Halifax, West Yorkshire5th
PocklingtonPercy RoadPocklington, East Riding of YorkshireRelegated from Regional 2 NE
WensleydaleCawkill ParkLeyburn, North YorkshirePromoted from Counties 2 Yorkshire
West LeedsBluehill LaneWortley, Leeds, West Yorkshire8th
WetherbyGrange ParkWetherby, West Yorkshire4th

2022–23

Participating teams and location

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Yorkshire 1 with the nine lowest ranked teams returning and supplemented by the top three from Yorkshire 2. Leaving were champions Middlesbrough 'promoted' to Regional 2 North whilst 2nd to 5th place teams. With five departing but only three arriving the league was reduced from 14 teams to 12.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BeverleyBeaver ParkBeverley, East Riding of Yorkshire10th Yorkshire 1
Bradford SalemShay LaneHeaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire13th Yorkshire 1
DinningtonLodge LaneDinnington, South Yorkshire8th Yorkshire 1
GooleWestfield BanksGoole, East Riding of Yorkshire7th Yorkshire 1
Huddersfield Laund HillLaund Hill StadiumNettleton_Hill, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire14th Yorkshire 1
HullensiansSpringhead LaneKingston upon Hull, East Riding of YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 2
KeighleyRose CottageKeighley, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 2
LeodiensianCrag LaneAlwoodley, Leeds, West Yorkshire12th Yorkshire 1
Old RishworthiansHollas LaneCopley, Halifax, West Yorkshire9th Yorkshire 1
RoundhegiansThe Memorial GrounRoundhay, Leeds, West Yorkshire11th Yorkshire 1
West LeedsBluehill LaneWortley, Leeds, West Yorkshire6th Yorkshire 1
WetherbyGrange ParkWetherby, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 2

2021–22

Participating teams and location

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.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BeverleyBeaver ParkBeverley, East Riding of Yorkshire3rd
Bradford SalemShay LaneHeaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire8th
BridlingtonDukes ParkBridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire11th
DinningtonLodge LaneDinnington, South Yorkshire9th
GooleWestfield BanksGoole, East Riding of Yorkshire6th
Huddersfield Laund HillLaund Hill StadiumNettleton_Hill, Huddersfield, West YorkshireRelegated from North 1 East
LeodiensianCrag LaneAlwoodley, Leeds, West Yorkshire10th
MiddlesbroughAcklam Park5,000 Acklam, Middlesbrough, North YorkshireLevel Transfer from DN1
Old CrossleyansBroomfield AvenueHalifax, West Yorkshire4th
Old RishworthiansHollas LaneCopley, Halifax, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 2
PontefractMoor LanePontefract, West Yorkshire12th
RoundhegiansThe Memorial GrounRoundhay, Leeds, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 2
SelbySandhill LaneSelby, North Yorkshire7th
West LeedsBluehill LaneWortley, Leeds, West Yorkshire5th

2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020–21 season meaning Yorkshire 1 was not contested.

2019–20

Participating teams and location

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BeverleyBeaver ParkBeverley, East Riding of Yorkshire5th
Bradford SalemShay LaneHeaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire9th
BridlingtonDukes ParkBridlington, East Riding of YorkshireRelegated from North 1 East
DinningtonLodge LaneDinnington, South Yorkshire6th
GooleWestfield BanksGoole, East Riding of YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 2
HeathWest ValeWest Vale, Halifax, West Yorkshire2nd
HullensiansSpringhead LaneKingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire12th
KeighleyRose CottageKeighley, West Yorkshire10th
LeodiensianCrag LaneAlwoodley, Leeds, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 2
Old BrodleiansWoodheadHipperholme, Halifax, West Yorkshire7th
Old CrossleyansBroomfield AvenueHalifax, West Yorkshire4th
PontefractMoor LanePontefract, West Yorkshire3rd
SelbySandhill LaneSelby, North Yorkshire11th
West LeedsBluehill LaneWortley, Leeds, West YorkshireRelegated from North 1 East

2018–19

Participating teams and location

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BeverleyBeaver ParkBeverley, East Riding of Yorkshire4th
Bradford SalemShay LaneHeaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire11th
DinningtonLodge LaneDinnington, South YorkshireRelegated from North 1 East
GuisboroughBelmangateGuisborough, North YorkshireLevel transfer from Durham/Northumberland 1
HeathWest ValeWest Vale, Halifax, West Yorkshire5th
HullensiansSpringhead LaneKingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire10th
KeighleyRose CottageKeighley, West Yorkshire9th
MiddlesbroughAcklam Park5,000 Acklam, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire3rd
MoortownMoss ValleyAlwoodley, Leeds, West Yorkshire7th
Old BrodleiansWoodheadHipperholme, Halifax, West Yorkshire8th
Old CrossleyansBroomfield AvenueHalifax, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 2
Old RishworthiansHollas LaneCopley, Halifax, West Yorkshire6th
PontefractMoor LanePontefract, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 2
SelbySandhill LaneSelby, North Yorkshire12th

2017–18

Participating teams and location

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BeverleyBeaver ParkBeverley, East Riding of Yorkshire5th
Bradford SalemShay LaneHeaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire8th
HeathWest ValeWest Vale, Halifax, West Yorkshire9th
HullensiansSpringhead LaneKingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire10th
KeighleyRose CottageKeighley, West Yorkshire7th
MiddlesbroughAcklam Park5,000 Acklam, Middlesbrough, North YorkshireLevel transfer from Durham/Northumberland 1
MoortownMoss ValleyAlwoodley, Leeds, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 2
North RibblesdaleGrove ParkSettle, North Yorkshire12th
Old BrodleiansWoodheadHipperholme, Halifax, West Yorkshire6th
Old RishworthiansHollas LaneCopley, Halifax, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 2
ScarboroughSilver Royd1,950 Scalby, Scarborough, North Yorkshire4th
SelbySandhill LaneSelby, North Yorkshire11th
Wheatley HillsBrunnel RoadDoncaster, South YorkshireRelegated from North 1 East
YorkClifton ParkYork, North Yorkshire3rd

2016–17

Participating teams and location

2015–16

Participating teams and location

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bradford & BingleyWagon Lane4,000Bingley, West Yorkshire
Bradford SalemShay LaneHeaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire
BridlingtonDukes ParkBridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire
HeathWest ValeGreetland, Halifax, West Yorkshire
HullensiansSpringhead LaneKingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Malton & NortonThe GannockMalton, North Yorkshire
North RibblesdaleGrove ParkSettle, North Yorkshire
Old BrodleiansWoodheadHipperholme, West Yorkshire
Old CrossleyansBroomfield AvenueHalifax, West Yorkshire
ScarboroughSilver Royd4500 Scalby, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
SelbySandhill LaneSelby, North Yorkshire
West Park LeedsThe SycamoresLeeds, West Yorkshire
YarnburyBrownberrie LaneHorsforth, West Yorkshire
YorkClifton ParkYork, North Yorkshire

2014–15

2013–14

2012–13

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

Yorkshire 1 honours

Yorkshire 1 (1987–1993)

The original Yorkshire 1 was a tier 9 league with promotion to North East 2 and relegation to Yorkshire 2.

Yorkshire 1 (1993–2000)

The creation of National 5 North meant that Yorkshire 1 dropped one tier to become a tier 10 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 1 remain at tier 10 with promotion to the new North 3 East league.

Yorkshire 1 (2000–2022)

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. This meant that Yorkshire 1 became a tier 7 league, with promotion to North 2 East.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Durham/Northumberland 1 and Yorkshire 1 for the third and final promotion place to North 1 East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Yorkshire 1 teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Durham/Northumberland 1 teams six; and the home side have won ten times to the away sides nine.

Number of league titles