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 or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon.

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.
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 and Rams III relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon.
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, Thatcham and Reading Abbey were relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon 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
MarlowRiverwoods 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-StourMayo 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