London 2 North East


Counties 1 Eastern Counties is an English level 7 Rugby Union League. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 3 North East, changing to its current name ahead of the 2009–10 season. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name Counties 1 Eastern Counties.
The current champions are Norwich.

Format

The champions are promoted to Regional 2 Anglia. The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above, but is usually to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.
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 clubs and locations

Departing were Norwich promoted to Regional 2 Anglia while Cantabrigian and Diss were relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bury St Edmunds IIThe Haberden3,000 Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk9th
Colchester IIRaven ParkColchester, Essex10th
ElyCambridge Commodities ParkEly, Cambridgeshire7th
IpswichHumber Doucy LaneIpswich, Suffolk4th
Ipswich Y.M.The StreetIpswich, SuffolkPromoted from Counties 2 Eastern Counties
NewmarketScaltback PavilionNewmarket, Suffolk2nd
North Walsham IINorwich Road1,600Scottow, Norfolk8th
Saffron WaldenChickney RoadHenham, Essex5th
Shelford IIThe Davey Field2,000 Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire6th
SouthwoldThe CommonSouthwold, Suffolk3rd
StowmarketChilton FieldsStowmarket, SuffolkRelegated from Regional 2 Anglia
West NorfolkGatehouse LaneNorth Wootton, King's Lynn, NorfolkPromoted from Counties 2 Eastern Counties

2024–25

Participating clubs and locations

Departing were the champons Wymondham, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia while Ipswich Y.M., West Norfolk and Wisbech were relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties. Joining were Saffron Walden and Norwich both relegated from Regional 2 Anglia, while the champions Colchester II and the runner-up Newmarket were both promoted from Counties 2 Eastern Counties.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bury St Edmunds IIThe Haberden3,000 Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk3rd
CantabrigianSedley Taylor RoadCambridge, Cambridgeshire7th
Colchester IIRaven ParkColchester, EssexPromoted from Counties 2 Eastern Counties
DissMackendersRoydon, Norfolk8th
ElyCambridge Commodities ParkEly, Cambridgeshire6th
IpswichHumber Doucy LaneIpswich, Suffolk2nd
NewmarketScaltback PavilionNewmarket, SuffolkPromoted from Counties 2 Eastern Counties
North Walsham IINorwich Road1,600Scottow, Norfolk9th
NorwichBeeston HyrneNorwich, NorfolkRelegated from Regional 2 Anglia
Saffron WaldenChickney RoadHenham, EssexRelegated from Regional 2 Anglia
Shelford IIThe Davey Field2,000 Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire4th
SouthwoldThe CommonSouthwold, Suffolk5th

2023–24

Participating clubs and location

Departing were Saffron Walden and Holt, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia as champions and runner-up respectively, while Thurston was relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bury St Edmunds IIThe Haberden3,000 Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk8th
CantabrigianSedley Taylor RoadCambridge, Cambridgeshire7th
DissMackendersRoydon, Norfolk11th
ElyCambridge Commodities ParkEly, Cambridgeshire5th
IpswichHumber Doucy LaneIpswich, SuffolkRelegated from Regional 2 Anglia
Ipswich Y.M.The StreetIpswich, Suffolk9th
North Walsham IINorwich Road1,600Scottow, NorfolkPromoted from Counties 2 Eastern Counties
Shelford IIThe Davey Field2,000 Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire4th
SouthwoldThe CommonSouthwold, Suffolk6th
West NorfolkGatehouse LaneNorth Wootton, King's Lynn, Norfolk10th
WisbechChapel RoadWisbech, CambridgeshirePromoted from Counties 2 Eastern Counties
WymondhamThe Foster Harrison Memorial GroundWymondham, Norfolk3rd

2022–23

Participating clubs and location

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 1 Eastern Counties. Six teams returned and the league was supplemented with the top four teams from London 3 Eastern Counties and two reserve sides. Essex and London teams transferred to Counties 1 Essex or were promoted to Regional 2 Anglia.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bury St Edmunds IIThe Haberden3,000 Bury St Edmunds, SuffolkRaging Bull Shield Div 2
CantabrigianSedley Taylor RoadCambridge, Cambridgeshire5th
DissMackendersRoydon, Norfolk10th
ElyCambridge Commodities ParkEly, CambridgeshireL3EC
HoltBridge RoadHolt, NorfolkL3EC
Ipswich Y.M.The StreetIpswich, SuffolkL3EC
Saffron WaldenChickney RoadHenham, Essex7th
Shelford IIThe Davey Field2,000 Great Shelford, CambridgeshireEssex Merit League Div 1
SouthwoldThe CommonSouthwold, Suffolk9th
ThurstonRobinson FieldThurston, SuffolkL3EC
West NorfolkGatehouse LaneNorth Wootton, King's Lynn, Norfolk11th
WymondhamThe Foster Harrison Memorial GroundWymondham, Norfolk6th

Teams for 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.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
CantabrigianSedley Taylor RoadCambridge, CambridgeshirePromoted from London 3 EC
ChelmsfordCoronation ParkChelmsford, EssexPromoted from London 3 Essex
DissMackendersRoydon, Norfolk5th
IpswichHumber Doucy LaneIpswich, Suffolk3rd
Saffron WaldenChickney RoadHenham, Essex7th
South Woodham FerrersSaltcoats Playing FieldSouth Woodham Ferrers, Essex8th
SouthwoldThe CommonSouthwold, Suffolk2nd
StowmarketChilton FieldsStowmarket, Suffolk6th
WansteadCentenary FieldsWanstead, London9th
West NorfolkGatehouse LaneNorth Wootton, King's Lynn, NorfolkPromoted from London 3 EC
WoodfordHighamsWoodford, LondonRelegated from London 1 North
WymondhamThe Foster Harrison Memorial GroundWymondham, Norfolk4th

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 London 2 North East was not contested.

Teams for 2019–20

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
DissMackendersRoydon, NorfolkRelegated from London 1 North
Epping Upper ClaptonUpland RoadThornwood, Epping, EssexPromoted from London 3 Essex
HoltBridge RoadHolt, NorfolkPromoted from London 3 EC
IpswichHumber Doucy LaneIpswich, Suffolk7th
NorwichBeeston HyrneNorwich, Norfolk4th
Romford & Gidea ParkCrowlandsRomford, LondonRunners up
Saffron WaldenChickney RoadHenham, Essex5th
South Woodham FerrersSaltcoats Playing FieldSouth Woodham Ferrers, Essex9th
SouthwoldThe CommonSouthwold, Suffolk8th
StowmarketChilton FieldsStowmarket, Suffolk3rd
WansteadCentenary FieldsWanstead, London6th
WymondhamThe Foster Harrison Memorial GroundWymondham, NorfolkPromoted from London 3 EC

Teams for 2018–19

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BasildonGardiners CloseBasildon, EssexPromoted from London 3 Essex
CantabrigianSedley Taylor RoadCambridge, Cambridgeshire8th
HarlowLatton ParkHarlow, Essex5th
IpswichHumber Doucy LaneIpswich, Suffolk6th
NorwichBeeston HyrneNorwich, Norfolk3rd
Romford & Gidea ParkCrowlandsRomford, London7th
Saffron WaldenChickney RoadHenham, EssexRelegated from London 1 North
South Woodham FerrersSaltcoats Playing FieldSouth Woodham Ferrers, EssexRelegated from London 1 North
SouthwoldThe CommonSouthwold, SuffolkPromoted from London 3 EC
StowmarketChilton FieldsStowmarket, SuffolkPromoted from London 3 EC
WansteadRoding Lane NorthWanstead, London4th
WoodfordHighamsWoodford, London9th

Teams for 2017–18

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
CantabrigianSedley Taylor RoadCambridge, Cambridgeshire3rd
ChelmsfordCoronation ParkChelmsford, EssexRelegated from London 1 North
Epping Upper ClaptonUpland RoadThornwood, Epping, Essex5th
HarlowLatton ParkHarlow, EssexPromoted from London 3 North East
IpswichHumber Doucy LaneIpswich, Suffolk10th
NorwichBeeston HyrneNorwich, Norfolk9th
Old CooperiansCoopers' Company & Corborn SchoolUpminster, London6th
Rochford HundredThe Rugby Park1,000Hawkwell, Rochford, Essex8th
Romford & Gidea ParkCrowlandsRomford, London4th
SudburyWhittome FieldGreat Cornard, Sudbury, SuffolkRelegated from London 1 North
WansteadRoding Lane NorthWanstead, LondonPromoted from London 3 North East
WoodfordHighamsWoodford, London7th

Teams for 2016–17

Teams for 2015–16

Teams for 2014–15

Teams for 2013–14

  • Basildon '
  • Braintree
  • Chelmsford
  • Enfield Ignatians
  • Holt
  • Ipswich
  • Lowestoft & Yarmouth
  • Norwich '
  • Rochford Hundred
  • Saffron Walden
  • South Woodham Ferrers
  • Stowmarket

Teams for 2012–13

  • Braintree
  • Chelmsford
  • Enfield Ignatians
  • Holt
  • Ipswich
  • Lowestoft & Yarmouth
  • North Walsham
  • Old Streetonians
  • Saffron Walden
  • Stevenage Town
  • Stowmarket
  • Woodford

Teams for 2009–10

Original teams

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

London 2 North East honours

London 3 North East (1987–1993)

Originally known as London 3 North East, this division was a tier 7 league with promotion to London 2 North and relegation to Eastern Counties 1.

London 3 North East (1993–1996)

At the end of the 1992–93 season, the top six teams from London 1 and the top six from South West 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that London 3 North East dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to London 2 North and Eastern Counties 1 respectively.

London 3 North East (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that London 3 North East reverted to being a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to London 2 North and Eastern Counties 1 respectively.

London 3 North East (2000–2009)

London 3 North East continued to be a tier 7 league with promotion to London 2 North. However, the introduction of London 4 North East ahead of the 2000–01 season meant that clubs were now relegated into this new division instead of into Eastern Counties 1.

London 2 North East (2009–2017)

Nationwide league restructuring by the RFU ahead of the 2009–10 season saw London 3 North East renamed as London 2 North East. It remained at level 7 with promotion to London 1 North and relegation to London 3 North East.

London 2 North East (2017–present)

Further restructuring ahead of the 2017–18 season, which included the cancellation of London 3 North East and introduction of London 3 Eastern Counties or London 3 Essex, meant that relegation was now to either of these new leagues. Overwise, London 2 North East was unchanged, remaining as a tier 7 division with promotion continuing to London 1 North. Following league restructuring in 2022, four teams were promoted to Regional 2 Anglia.

Counties 1 Eastern Counties (2022– )

Following league reorganisation, London 2 North East is renamed Counties 1 Eastern Counties and continues to be a tier 7 league. Promotion is to Regional 2 Anglia and relegation to Counties 2 Eastern Counties

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of London 2 North East and London 2 North West for the third and final promotion place to London 1 North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2018–19 season, the London 2 North East teams had ten wins to London 2 North West nine, and the home team won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.

Number of league titles

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