Counties 1 Southern North


Counties 1 Southern North is a division at level 7 of the English rugby union system. When league rugby first began in 1987 it was known as Southern Counties but since 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues – Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern North currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and features teams based in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The league champions at the end of each season are automatically promoted to Regional 2 South Central. Relegated teams usually drop to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South).

Format

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 table 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

Departing were Oxford Harlequins II and Windsor, promoted to Regional 2 Thames as champions and runners-up respectively. Grove were relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (West).
TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
BicesterOxford RoadBicester, Oxfordshire10th
BletchleyManor FieldsBletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire5th
Bracknell IILily Hill ParkBracknell, Berkshire11th
BuckinghamFloyd FieldMaids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire3rd
Chinnor IIIKingsey Road2,000Thame, Oxfordshire4th
Gosford All BlacksStratfield BrakeKidlington, OxfordshirePromoted from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North
Henley IIDry LeasHenley-on-Thames, OxfordshirePromoted from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South
High WycombeKingsmead RoadHigh Wycombe, Buckinghamshire7th
OxfordNorth Hinksey ParkNorth Hinksey, Oxford, OxfordshirePromoted from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North
ReadingHolme ParkSonning, Reading, Berkshire9th
Reading AbbeyRosehillReading, Berkshire6th
WallingfordWallingford Sports ParkWallingford, Oxfordshire8th

2024–25

Departing were Beaconsfield, promoted to Regional 2 Thames whilst Milton Keynes were relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) and Rams III relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South).
TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
BicesterOxford RoadBicester, Oxfordshire7th
BletchleyManor FieldsBletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire9th
Bracknell IILily Hill ParkBracknell, Berkshire10th
BuckinghamFloyd FieldMaids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire5th
Chinnor IIIKingsey Road2,000Thame, Oxfordshire8th
GroveCane LaneGrove, Oxfordshire6th
High WycombeKingsmead RoadHigh Wycombe, BuckinghamshirePromoted from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North
Oxford Harlequins IIHorspath Sports Ground1,000Horspath, Oxfordshire4th
ReadingHolme ParkSonning, Reading, BerkshireRelegated from Regional 2 South Central
Reading AbbeyRosehillReading, BerkshirePromoted from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South
WallingfordWallingford Sports ParkWallingford, Oxfordshire3rd
WindsorHome ParkWindsor, Berkshire2nd

2023–24

Departing were Marlow promoted to Regional 2 Thames. Gosford All Blacks and High Wycombe were relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North), Thatcham and Reading Abbey were relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) whilst Swindon College Old Boys were relegated to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
BeaconsfieldOak Lodge MeadowBeaconsfield, BuckinghamshireRelegated from Regional 2 Thames
BicesterOxford RoadBicester, Oxfordshire4th
BletchleyManor FieldsBletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire7th
Bracknell IILily Hill ParkBracknell, Berkshire5th
BuckinghamFloyd FieldMaids Moreton, Buckingham, BuckinghamshireRelegated from Regional 2 South Central
Chinnor IIIKingsey Road2,000Thame, Oxfordshire1st
GroveCane LaneGrove, OxfordshireRelegated from Regional 2 South Central
Milton KeynesEmerson ValleyShenley Brook End, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire6th
Oxford Harlequins IIHorspath Sports Ground1,000Horspath, OxfordshirePromoted from Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon North
Rams IIIOld Bath Road1,250Sonning, Reading, BerkshirePromoted from Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon South
WallingfordWallingford Sports ParkWallingford, Oxfordshire3rd
WindsorHome ParkWindsor, BerkshireRelegated from Regional 2 Thames

2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Southern Counties North with eight teams returning from season 2021-22.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
BicesterOxford RoadBicester, Oxfordshire10th Southern Counties North
BletchleyManor FieldsBletchley, Milton Keynes, BuckinghamshireChampions Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
Bracknell IILily Hill ParkBracknell, BerkshireNew entry
Chinnor IIIKingsey Road2,000Thame, OxfordshireChampions Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1
Gosford All BlacksStratfield BrakeKidlington, Oxfordshire11th Southern Counties North
High WycombeKingsmead RoadHigh Wycombe, Buckinghamshire5th Southern Counties North
Marlow [Rugby Union Football Club|Marlow]Riverwoods DriveMarlow, Buckinghamshire7th Southern Counties North
Milton KeynesEmerson ValleyShenley Brook End, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire9th Southern Counties North
Reading AbbeyRosehillReading, Berkshire6th Southern Counties North
Swindon College Old BoysNationwide Sports PavilionSwindon, Wiltshire10th Southern Counties South
ThatchamHenwicky Worthy Sports FieldThatcham, Berkshire12th Southern Counties North
WallingfordWallingford Sports ParkWallingford, Oxfordshire8th Southern Counties North

League table

2021–22

TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
AylesburyOstler's FieldWeston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire6th
BicesterOxford RoadBicester, Oxfordshire7th
Gosford All BlacksStratfield BrakeKidlington, OxfordshirePromoted from BBO Premier
High WycombeKingsmead RoadHigh Wycombe, Buckinghamshire5th
MarlowRiverwoods DriveMarlow, Buckinghamshire4th
Milton KeynesEmerson ValleyShenley Brook End, Milton Keynes, BuckinghamshirePromoted from BBO Premier
ReadingHolme ParkSonning, Reading, Berkshire2nd
Reading AbbeyRosehillReading, Berkshire10th
Shipston-on-Stour [Rugby Football Club|Shipston-on-Stour]Mayo Road600Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire3rd
Stow-on-the-WoldOddington RoadStow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire8th
ThatchamHenwicky Worthy Sports FieldThatcham, BerkshireLevel transfer from Southern Counties South
WallingfordWallingford Sports ParkWallingford, Oxfordshire9th

2020–21

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the season was cancelled.

2019–20

TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
AylesburyOstler's FieldWeston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire5th
BicesterOxford RoadBicester, Oxfordshire4th
CheshamChiltern Hills AcademyChesham, BuckinghamshirePromoted from BBO Premier
DidcotBoundary ParkDidcot, OxfordshirePromoted from BBO Premier
High WycombeKingsmead RoadHigh Wycombe, Buckinghamshire9th
MarlowRiverwoods DriveMarlow, Buckinghamshire3rd
ReadingHolme ParkSonning, Reading, Berkshire8th
Reading AbbeyRosehillReading, Berkshire7th
Shipston-on-StourMayo Road600Shipston-on-Stour, WarwickshirePromoted from Midlands 3 WS
Stow-on-the-WoldOddington RoadStow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire10th
WallingfordWallingford Sports ParkWallingford, Oxfordshire6th
WitneyWitney RoadHailey, Witney, OxfordshireRelegated from South [West 1 East]

2018–19

TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
AylesburyOstler's FieldWeston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire4th
BicesterOxford RoadBicester, OxfordshireRelegated from South West 1 East
BuckinghamFloyd FieldMaids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire3rd
LittlemoreOxford AcademyLittlemore, Oxford, OxfordshirePromoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
High WycombeKingsmead RoadHigh Wycombe, Buckinghamshire9th
MarlowRiverwoods DriveMarlow, BuckinghamshireRelegated from South West 1 East
ReadingHolme ParkSonning, Reading, Berkshire7th
Reading AbbeyRosehillReading, Berkshire8th
SloughTamblyn FieldsSlough, BerkshirePromoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
Stow-on-the-WoldOddington RoadStow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire10th
WallingfordWallingford Sports ParkWallingford, Oxfordshire6th
WindsorHome ParkWindsor, BerkshireRunners up

2017–18

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
AylesburyOstler's FieldWeston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire3rd
BeaconsfieldOak Lodge MeadowBeaconsfield, Buckinghamshire7th
BuckinghamFloyd FieldMaids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire4th
DriftersFarnham Common Sports ClubFarnham Common, BuckinghamshirePromoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
Gosford All BlacksStratfield BrakeKidlington, Oxfordshire10th
High WycombeKingsmead RoadHigh Wycombe, Buckinghamshire8th
ReadingHolme ParkSonning, Reading, BerkshireRelegated from South West 1 East
Reading AbbeyRosehillReading, BerkshireRelegated from South West 1 East
Stow-on-the-WoldOddington RoadStow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire9th
ThatchamHenwicky Worthy Sports FieldThatcham, Berkshire5th
WallingfordWallingford Sports ParkWallingford, Oxfordshire6th
WindsorHome ParkWindsor, BerkshireRelegated from South West 1 East

2016–17

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
AylesburyOstler's FieldWeston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire2nd
BeaconsfieldOak Lodge MeadowBeaconsfield, Buckinghamshire6th
BicesterOxford RoadBicester, Oxfordshire4th
BletchleyManor FieldsBletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire8th
BuckinghamFloyd FieldMaids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire3rd
Gosford All BlacksStratfield BrakeKidlington, OxfordshirePromoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
High WycombeKingsmead RoadHigh Wycombe, BuckinghamshireRelegated from South West 1 East
MarlowRiverwoods DriveMarlow, Buckinghamshire7th
Milton KeynesEmerson ValleyMilton Keynes, BuckinghamshirePromoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
Stow-on-the-WoldOddington RoadStow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire9th
ThatchamHenwicky Worthy Sports FieldThatcham, Berkshire10th
WallingfordWallingford Sports ParkWallingford, Oxfordshire5th

2015–16

The 2015–16 Southern Counties North consisted of twelve teams; six from Buckinghamshire, two each from Berkshire and Oxfordshire, and one each from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The season started on 12 September 2015 and the last league matches were played on 23 April 2016.
Seven of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions High Wycombe were promoted to the South West 1 East while Milton Keynes and Alchester were relegated to the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier. Royal Wootton Bassett, who finished 4th, were level transferred to Southern Counties South.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
AylesburyOstler's FieldWeston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire2nd
BeaconsfieldOak Lodge MeadowBeaconsfield, Buckinghamshire8th
BicesterOxford RoadBicester, Oxfordshire5th
BletchleyManor FieldsBletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshirerelegated from South West 1 East
BuckinghamFloyd FieldMaids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshirerelegated from South West 1 East
DriftersFarnham Common Sports ClubFarnham Common, Buckinghamshire9th
MarlowRiverwoods DriveMarlow, Buckinghamshire7th
Reading AbbeyRosehillReading, Berkshirepromoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
Stow-on-the-WoldOddington RoadStow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire4th
Swindon College Old BoysNationwide Sports PavilionSwindon, Wiltshirepromoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
ThatchamHenwicky Worthy Sports FieldThatcham, Berkshire6th
WallingfordWallingford Sports ParkWallingford, Oxfordshire10th

2014–15

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

Southern Counties (1987–1993)

Originally the Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South leagues were combined in a single division called Southern Counties. It was a tier 7 league with promotion to South West 2 and relegation to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 or Bucks/Oxon 1.

Southern Counties (1993–1996)

At the end of the 1992–93 season the top six teams from London Division 1 and the top six from South West Division 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that Southern Counties dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to South West 2 and relegation to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 or Bucks/Oxon 1.

Southern Counties North (1996–2000)

Restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Southern Counties split into two separate leagues, Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. They reverted to tier 7 leagues due to the cancellation of National 5 South. Promotion from Southern Counties North was now to the new South West 2 East while relegation was now only to Bucks/Oxon 1.

Southern Counties North (2000–2009)

Southern Counties North remained a tier 7 league, with promotion continuing to South West 2 East. However, the transfer of Berkshire clubs from the Dorset/Wilts leagues to the Bucks/Oxon leagues, meant that relegation was now to new Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1.

Southern Counties North (2009–2022)

Despite widespread league restructuring by the RFU, Southern Counties North continued as a tier 7 league, with promotion to South West 1 East and relegation to Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier.

Counties 1 Southern North (2022– )

Following the reorganisation of the leagues, Southern Counties North was renamed Counties 1 Southern North and remained a level seven league. The champions are promoted to Regional 2 South Central and the bottom side is relegated, depending on location, to a level eight league; Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South for the third and final promotion place to South West 1 East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Southern Counties North teams have been the most successful with twelve wins to the Southern Counties South teams seven; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.

Number of league titles