Counties 1 Hertfordshire


Counties 1 Hertfordshire is a tier 7 English Rugby Union league. It is organised by the London and South East Division Rugby Football Union and is the top-tier competition for clubs primarily in Hertfordshire together with others from parts of north-west London and Essex. It was previously known as London 2 North West. After the restructuring of the English rugby union system ahead of the 2022–23 season, the league was renamed to Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex. Ahead of the 2025–26 season a decision was taken to split out Hertfordshire RFU and Middlesex RFU clubs, with Middlesex teams moving on a level transfer to Counties 1 Middlesex while club 2XVs were introduced to the league. Since 2025–26 the league includes Essex clubs precluded from competing in Essex Rugby leagues which don't permit reserve sides in first XV leagues
Each year the two Hertfordshire clubs in this division with the best record against other Hertfordshire clubs also take part in the Hertfordshire Presidents' Cup, the highest level county cup competition in Hertfordshire. Promoted teams typically go up to Regional 2 Thames while relegated teams drop to Counties 2 Hertfordshire.

Participating clubs 2025–26

This was the first season with the league containing only Hertfordshire RFU clubs. Leaving on a level transfer to the newly formed Counties 1 Middlesex league were Chiswick, Ealing Trailfinders 1871, Finchley, Ruislip and Old Streetonians.
Also departing were Brunel University promoted to Regional 2 Thames while Hackney and Datchworth were relegated to Counties 2 Middlesex and Counties 2 Hertfordshire respectively.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bishop's Stortford IISilver Leys1,600Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireNew entry
CheshuntRosedale Sports ClubCheshunt, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire2nd
Eton Manor IIThe New WildernessWanstead, LondonNew entry
FulleriansConingsby DriveWatford, Hertfordshire10th
Hemel HempsteadChaulden LaneHemel Hempstead, HertfordshireRelegated from Regional 2 Thames
Hertford IIHighfieldsWare, HertfordshireNew entry
HitchinKing George V Playing FieldsHitchin, Hertfordshire8th
Old Albanian IIWoollam's Playing Fields1,000St Albans, HertfordshireNew entry
Southend Saxons IIWarners Bridge ParkSouthend, EssexNew entry
WelwynHobbs WayWelwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire7th

Participating clubs 2024–25

Departing were London Scottish Lions promoted to Regional 2 Thames. Enfield Ignatians and Hampstead were relegated to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.
Joining were Brunel University and Ealing Trailfinders 1871, promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex, together with Fullerians, relegated from Regional 2 Thames.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Brunel UniversityBrunel University Sports ParkUxbridge, LondonPromoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex
CheshuntRosedale Sports ClubCheshunt, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire4th
ChiswickDukes MeadowsChiswick, London5th
DatchworthDatchworth Sports ClubDatchworth, Hertfordshire10th
Ealing Trailfinders 1871Trailfinders Sports Ground4,000West Ealing, LondonPromoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex
FinchleySummers Lane1,000Finchley, London3rd
FulleriansConingsby DriveWatford, HertfordshireRelegated from Regional 2 Thames
HackneySpring Hill Recreation GroundUpper Clapton, London9th
HitchinKing George V Playing FieldsHitchin, Hertfordshire7th
Old StreetoniansHaggerston ParkShoreditch, London2nd
RuislipWest End RoadRuislip, London8th
WelwynHobbs WayWelwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire6th

Participating clubs 2023–24

Departing were Hemel Hempstead and Grasshoppers, promoted to Regional 2 Thames. There was no relegation.
Joining were Cheshunt and London Scottish Lions, promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
CheshuntRosedale Sports ClubCheshunt, Hertfordshire, HertfordshirePromoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex
ChiswickDukes MeadowsChiswick, London3rd
DatchworthDatchworth Sports ClubDatchworth, Hertfordshire10th
Enfield IgnatiansDonkey LaneEnfield, London, London12th
FinchleySummers Lane1,000Finchley, London7th
HackneySpring Hill Recreation GroundUpper Clapton, London11th
HampsteadParliament Hill FieldsHighgate, London9th
HitchinKing George V Playing FieldsHitchin, Hertfordshire5th
London Scottish LionsKing's House Sports GroundChiswick, LondonPromoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex
Old StreetoniansHaggerston ParkShoreditch, London4th
RuislipWest End RoadRuislip, London6th
WelwynHobbs WayWelwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire8th

Participating clubs 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 2 North West with eight of the teams competed in the previous season returning whilst the top four moved to Regional 2 Thames ord Regional 2 Anglia. They were replaced with the top three from London 3 North West and Chiswick on a level transfer from London 2 South West.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
ChiswickDukes MeadowsChiswick, London8th L2SW
DatchworthDatchworth Sports ClubDatchworth, Hertfordshire12th
Enfield IgnatiansDonkey LaneEnfield, London, London9th
FinchleySummers Lane1,000Finchley, LondonPromoted from L3NW
GrasshoppersMacFarlane LaneIsleworth, London6th
HackneySpring Hill Recreation GroundUpper Clapton, London11th
HampsteadParliament Hill FieldsHighgate, London10th
Hemel HempsteadChaulden LaneHemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire7th
HitchinKing George V Playing FieldsHitchin, HertfordshirePromoted from L3NW
Old StreetoniansHaggerston ParkShoreditch, London5th
RuislipWest End RoadRuislip, London8th
WelwynHobbs WayWelwyn Garden City, HertfordshirePromoted from L3NW

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
Datchworth Datchworth Sports ClubDatchworth, Hertfordshire10th
Enfield IgnatiansDonkey LaneEnfield Town, LondonPromoted from London 3 NW
FulleriansConingsby DriveWatford, Hertfordshire6th
GrasshoppersMacFarlane LaneIsleworth, London7th
H.A.C.Artillery GroundFinsbury, LondonRelegated from London 1 South
HackneySpring Hill Recreation GroundUpper Clapton, London9th
HampsteadParliament Hill FieldsHighgate, London4th
Hemel HempsteadChaulden LaneHemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire7th
Letchworth Garden CityLegends Lane, Baldock RoadLetchworth, Hertfordshire8th
Old PrioriansPerivaleGreenford, LondonRelegated from London 1 North
Old StreetoniansHaggerston ParkShoreditch, LondonPromoted from London 3 NW
RuislipWest End RoadRuislip, LondonRelegated from London 1 North

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 West was not contested.

Participating Clubs 2019–20

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
ChiswickDuke's MeadowsChiswick, London3rd
Datchworth Datchworth Sports ClubDatchworth, HertfordshirePromoted from London 3 NW
FulleriansConingsby DriveWatford, HertfordshireRelegated from London 1 North
GrasshoppersMacFarlane LaneIsleworth, London7th
HackneySpring Hill Recreation GroundUpper Clapton, London10th
Hammersmith & FulhamHurlingham ParkFulham, London8th
HampsteadParliament Hill FieldsHighgate, London4th
Hemel HempsteadChaulden LaneHemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire5th
Letchworth Garden CityBaldock RoadLetchworth, Hertfordshire9th
London WelshOld Deer Park5,850 Richmond, LondonPromoted from London 3 NW
LutonNewlands RoadLuton, BedfordshireRelegated from London 1 North
WelwynHobbs WayWelwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire6th

Participating Clubs 2018–19

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Belsize ParkRegent's ParkBelsize Park, London4th
ChiswickDuke's MeadowsChiswick, London7th
Enfield IgnatiansDonkey LaneEnfield Town, London10th
GrasshoppersMacFarlane LaneIsleworth, LondonPromoted from London 3 NW
Hammersmith & FulhamHurlingham ParkFulham, London8th
HampsteadParliament Hill FieldsHighgate, London2nd
HarpendenRedbourn LaneHarpenden, Hertfordshire3rd
Hemel HempsteadChaulden LaneHemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire9th
Letchworth Garden CityBaldock RoadLetchworth, HertfordshireRelegated from London 1 North
London NigerianHeston Sports GroundCranford, London5th
WelwynHobbs WayWelwyn Garden City, HertfordshirePromoted from London 3 NW

Participating Clubs 2017–18

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Belsize ParkRegent's ParkBelsize Park, London4th
ChiswickDuke's MeadowsChiswick, LondonRelegated from London 1 South
Enfield IgnatiansDonkey LaneEnfield Town, London9th
H.A.C.Artillery GroundFinsbury, London2nd
HackneySpring Hill Recreation GroundUpper Clapton, LondonPromoted from London 3 North West
Hammersmith & FulhamHurlingham ParkFulham, London8th
HampsteadParliament Hill FieldsHighgate, London3rd
HarpendenRedbourn LaneHarpenden, Hertfordshire5th
HarrowGrove FieldStanmore, London6th
Hemel HempsteadChaulden LaneHemel Hempstead, HertfordshirePromoted from London 3 North West
London NigerianHeston Sports GroundCranford, London10th
TabardCobden HillRadlett, Hertfordshire7th

Participating Clubs 2016-17

Participating Clubs 2015-16

Participating Clubs 2014-15

Participating Clubs 2013-14

  • Beaconsfield '
  • Chiswick
  • H.A.C.
  • Hammersmith & Fulham
  • Hampstead
  • Harpenden
  • Hemel Hempstead
  • London Nigerian
  • Old Priorians '
  • St Albans
  • Twickenham
  • U.C.S. Old Boys

Participating Clubs 2012-13

Original teams

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

London 2 North West Honours

London 3 North West (1987–1993)

Originally known as London 3 North West, this division was a tier 7 league with promotion up to London 2 North and relegation down to either Hertfordshire 1 or Middlesex 1.

London 3 North West (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 West dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to London 2 North, while relegation was to the newly introduced Herts/Middlesex.

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 West reverted to being a tier 7 league. Promotion continued to London 2 North, while relegation was to Herts/Middlesex 1.

London 3 North West (2000–2009)

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

London 2 North East (2009–present)

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

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 2019–20 season the London 2 North East and London 2 North West teams are tied on nine wins apiece, and the home team has won promotion on fourteen occasions compared to the away teams five.

Number of league titles