Lancs/Cheshire Division One


Counties 2 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire is a regional English Rugby Union league for teams from Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, ranked at tier 8 of the English league system.
The division was initially known as North-West West 1 when it was created in 1987, and had a number of different names with South Lancs/Cheshire 1 being the longest running. The division switched to its final name for the 2018–19 season due to the restructuring of the northern leagues by the Rugby Football Union as a result of 19 Lancashire clubs withdrawing from RFU competitions across the leagues to form their own competitions. This would see the North Lancashire/Cumbria division abolished, with Lancashire-based sides from that league being transferred into Lancs/Cheshire 1, while the Cumbria sides were transferred into Cumbria 1.
The introduction of North 2 West for the 2019–20 season at tier 7 of the north west leagues, meant that Lancs/Cheshire Division 1 dropped down to being a tier 8 league. Then after the cancellation of Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 season due to the coronavirus pandemic, the league was disbanded with teams transferred into the Lancashire Merit Table competitions or ADM Lancashire leagues.
After a hiatus for season 2021-22 the league returned in its new guise following the restructuring of the English rugby union system ahead of the 2022–23 season, with the league renamed to Counties 2 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire.
Promotion is to Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire and relegation to Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire.

Participating clubs 2025-26

Departing were Wigan and Warrington, promoted to Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire while Oldham and Hoylake were relegated to Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire.
Thornton-Cleveleys did not return for the new season.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BoltonAvenue StreetBolton, Greater Manchester6th
De La Salle De La Salle Sports & Social ClubSalford, Greater ManchesterPromoted from Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
GarstangHudson ParkGarstang, LancashirePromoted from Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
GlossopHargate Hill LaneCharlesworth, Glossop, DerbyshireRelegated from Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
Heaton MoorGreen LaneHeaton Moor, Stockport, Greater ManchesterRelegated from Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
LeighRound Ash ParkLeigh, Greater Manchester9th
LittleboroughRakewood RoadLittleborough, Greater Manchester3rd
Liverpool CollegiateAigburth Cricket GroundAigburth, Liverpool, Merseyside10th
SeftonThornhead LaneLiverpool, Merseyside7th
SouthportRecreation Ground3,500Southport, Merseyside4th
TyldesleySt Georges ParkTyldesley, Greater Manchester5th

Participating clubs 2024-25

Departing were Trafford MV RFCC and New Brighton, promoted to Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire while Fleetwood and De LaSalle were relegated to Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire.
Joining were Bolton and Warrington, relegated from Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire. Wigan and Thornton-Cleveleys were promoted from Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BoltonAvenue StreetBolton, Greater ManchesterRelegated from Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
HoylakeCarham RoadHoylake, Merseyside8th
LeighRound Ash ParkLeigh, Greater Manchester7th
LittleboroughRakewood RoadLittleborough, Greater Manchester6th
Liverpool CollegiateAigburth Cricket GroundAigburth, Liverpool, Merseyside9th
OldhamManor ParkOldham, Greater Manchester10th
SeftonThornhead LaneLiverpool, Merseyside5th
SouthportRecreation Ground3,500Southport, Merseyside3rd
Thornton-CleveleysThornton Sports CentreThornton, LancashirePromoted from Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
TyldesleySt Georges ParkTyldesley, Greater Manchester4th
WarringtonThe FortressWalton, Warrington, CheshireRelegated from Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
WiganDouglas ValleyWigan, Greater ManchesterPromoted from Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire

Participating clubs 2023-24

Joining were Southport, Sefton and Leigh, all relegated from Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire. New Brighton and Hoylake and were promoted from Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
At the end of the season, New Brighton and Trafford MV RFCC were promoted to Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire. Fleetwood and De La Salle were relegated to Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
De La Salle De La Salle Sports & Social ClubSalford, Greater Manchester8th
FleetwoodMelbourne AvenueFleetwood, Lancashire7th
HoylakeCarham RoadHoylake, MerseysidePromoted from Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
LeighRound Ash ParkLeigh, Greater ManchesterRelegated from Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
LittleboroughRakewood RoadLittleborough, Greater Manchester4th
Liverpool CollegiateAigburth Cricket GroundAigburth, Liverpool, Merseyside6th
New BrightonHartsfieldMoreton, MerseysidePromoted from Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
OldhamManor ParkOldham, Greater Manchester9th
SeftonThornhead LaneLiverpool, MerseysideRelegated from Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
SouthportRecreation Ground3,500Southport, MerseysideRelegated from Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire
Trafford MV RFCCMacPherson ParkTrafford, Greater Manchester3rd
TyldesleySt Georges ParkTyldesley, Greater Manchester5th

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 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire.
At the end of the season, Eccles and Heaton Moor were promoted to Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire. Ormskirk, Wigan and Orrell were relegated to Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
De La Salle De La Salle Sports & Social ClubSalford, Greater Manchester
EcclesGorton StreetEccles, Greater Manchester
FleetwoodMelbourne AvenueFleetwood, Lancashire
Heaton MoorGreen LaneHeaton Moor, Stockport, Greater Manchester
LittleboroughRakewood RoadLittleborough, Greater Manchester
Liverpool CollegiateAigburth Cricket Ground3,000Aigburth, Liverpool, Merseyside
OldhamManor ParkOldham, Greater Manchester
OrmskirkGreen LaneOrmskirk, Lancashire
OrrellSt John Rigby CollegeOrrell, Greater Manchester
Trafford MV RFCCMacPherson ParkTrafford, Greater Manchester
TyldesleySt Georges ParkTyldesley, Greater Manchester
WiganDouglas ValleyWigan, Greater Manchester

Season 2021-22

Not contested as many of the Lancashire RFU affiliated clubs had joined the Lanacashire ADM splinter leagues.

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 the league was not contested.

Teams 2019–20

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BirchfieldBirchfield RoadWidnes, Cheshire5th
CongletonCongleton ParkCongleton, Cheshire4th
Ellesmere PortWhitby Sports & Social ClubEllesmere Port, CheshirePromoted from Lancs/Cheshire 3
GarstangHudson ParkGarstang, Lancashire8th
HoylakeCarham RoadHoylake, MerseysideRelegated from Lancs/Cheshire 1
New BrightonHartsfield2,000Moreton, Merseyside7th
OrrellSt John Rigby CollegeOrrell, Greater Manchester3rd
RamseyMooragh ParkRamsey, Isle of ManPromoted from Lancs/Cheshire 3

Teams 2018–19

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Altrincham KersalStelfox AvenueTimperley, Altrincham, Greater ManchesterRelegated from North 1 West
BoltonAvenue StreetBolton, Greater ManchesterTransferred from North Lancashire/Cumbria
BowdonClay LaneTimperley, Altrincham, Greater Manchester5th
FleetwoodMelbourne AvenueFleetwood, LancashireTransferred from North Lancashire/Cumbria
GlossopHargate Hill LaneCharlesworth, Glossop, Derbyshire3rd
HoylakeCarham RoadHoylake, Merseyside11th
LeighRound Ash ParkLeigh, Greater Manchester7th
Liverpool CollegiateAigburth Cricket Ground3,000Aigburth, Liverpool, MerseysidePromoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2
RochdaleMoorgate AvenueRochdale, Greater ManchesterRelegated from North 1 West
SeftonThornhead LaneLiverpool, Merseyside10th
SouthportRecreation Ground3,500Southport, Merseyside9th
TarletonCarr LaneTarleton, LancashireTransferred from North Lancashire/Cumbria
Winnington ParkBurrows Hill5,000Hartford, Northwich, CheshirePromoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2

Teams 2017–18

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AnselmiansMalone FieldEastham, Merseyside11th
BowdonClay LaneTimperley, Altrincham, Greater Manchester5th
Broughton ParkHough EndChorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester3rd
GlossopHargate Hill LaneCharlesworth, Glossop, Derbyshire4th
HoylakeCarham RoadHoylake, MerseysidePromoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2
LeighRound Ash ParkLeigh, Greater ManchesterRelegated from North 1 West
Liverpool St HelensMoss Lane4,370 St. Helens, Lancashire6th
New BrightonHartsfield2,000Moreton, Merseyside10th
SeftonThornhead LaneLiverpool, Merseyside8th
SouthportRecreation Ground3,500Southport, Merseyside9th
TyldesleySt Georges ParkTyldesley, Greater ManchesterPromoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2
West Park St HelensRed RocksSt. Helens, LancashireRelegated from North 1 West
WidnesHeath RoadWidnes, Cheshire7th

Participating clubs 2016–17

Participating clubs 2015–16

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AnselmiansMalone FieldEastham, Merseyside8th
BowdonClay LaneTimperley, Altrincham, Greater Manchester11th
DouglasPort-e-Chee MeadowDouglas, Isle of Man10th
GlossopHargate Hill LaneCharlesworth, Glossop, Derbyshire7th
HoylakeCarham RoadHoylake, Merseyside12th
Liverpool CollegiateAigburth Cricket Ground3,000Liverpool, MerseysidePromoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2
Liverpool St HelensMoss Lane4,370 St. Helens, Lancashire2nd
ManchesterGrove Park4,000 Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, Greater Manchester9th
New BrightonHartsfield2,000Moreton, MerseysideRelegated from North 1 West
NorthwichMoss FarmNorthwich, Cheshire3rd
SeftonThornhead LaneLiverpool, Merseyside6th
West Park St HelensRed RocksSt. Helens, Lancashire5th
WiganDouglas ValleyWigan, LancashireLevel transfer from North Lancashire/Cumbria
Winnington ParkBurrows Hill5,000Winnington, Northwich, Cheshire4th

Participating clubs 2014–15

Participating clubs 2013–14

Participating clubs 2012–13

Original teams

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

Lancs/Cheshire 1 honours

North-West West 1 (1987–1992)

The original incarnation of Lancs/Cheshire 1 was known as North-West West 1, and was a tier 9 league with promotion up to North West 2 and relegation down to North-West West 2.

Cheshire/Lancs South (1992–1996)

Restructuring of north-west leagues saw North-West West 1 renamed as Cheshire/Lancs South for the 1993–94 season. Promotion continued to be up to North West 2, while relegation was to either Cheshire or Lancashire South. The division was initially at tier 9 but the creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Cheshire/Lancs South dropped to become a tier 10 league.

South Lancs/Cheshire 1 (1996–2000)

The league system was restructured from top to bottom by the Rugby Football Union for the start of the 1996–97 season. Firstly, as part of the reorganisation of the Cheshire and Lancashire leagues, Cheshire/Lancs South was renamed South Lancs/Cheshire 1. The cancellation of National 5 North and creation of North West 3 meant that South/Lancs Cheshire 1 remained a tier 10 league, with promotion to North West 3 and relegation to the newly named South/Lancs Cheshire 2 - now back to being a single division. From the 1998–99 season onward the league was known as EuroManx South Lancs/Cheshire 1 after its sponsor EuroManx.

South Lancs/Cheshire 1 (2000–2018)

Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999–2000 season saw the cancellation of North West 1, North West 2 and North West 3. This meant that South/Lancs Cheshire 1 became a tier 7 league, with promotion to North 2 West. The division would continue to be known as EuroManx South Lancs/Cheshire 1 until the 2007–08 season when EuroManx ceased operations. Relegation during this time continued to be to South Lancs/Cheshire 2 except for one season where teams dropped to Cheshire (South), Lancashire (North) or Merseyside (West).

Lancs/Cheshire 1 (2018-present)

South Lancs/Cheshire 1 was renamed as Lancs/Cheshire 1 for the 2018–19 season continuing as a tier 7 league with promotion to North 1 West. The creation of North 2 West for the 2019–20 season meant that Lancs/Cheshire 1 dropped to being a tier 8 league with promotion into this new division. Relegation continued to Lancs/Cheshire 2.

Promotion play-offs

For the 2018–19 season there was play-off between the runners-up of Lancashire/Cheshire 1 and Cumbria 1 and for the third and final promotion place to North 1 West. Previously Lancs/Cheshire sides had faced teams from North Lancashire/Cumbria. As of 2019–20 Lancashire/Cheshire 1 sides have one win to Cumbria's zero; and the home side has one win to the away side's zero. The introduction of North 2 West for the 2019–20 and the subsequent demotion of both Lancashire/Cheshire 1 and Cumbria 1 to tier 8 divisions, means that if the playoff continues it will be in place in the newly introduced division.

Discontinued promotion play-offs

Between the 2000–01 and 2017–18 seasons there was a play-off between the runners-up of North Lancashire/Cumbria and South Lancs/Cheshire 1 for the third and final promotion place to North 1 West. The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. This continued until the North Lancashire/Cumbria division was abolished due to RFU restructuring of the leagues. At the end of the 2017–18 season the North Lancashire/Cumbria and South Lancs/Cheshire 1 team sides had nine wins apiece; and the home team had won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams five.

Number of league titles