Sussex 1


Sussex 1 is an English level 9 Rugby Union League. It is made up of teams predominantly from Sussex. Teams play home and away matches from September through to April. The league champions are automatically promoted up to London 3 South East, while the second placed team plays a promotion playoff against the second placed team from Kent 1. Relegated teams drop to Sussex 2 although in recent season there has been no relegation. Only 1st XV sides can be promoted into London 3 South East.
The system from 2017 to 2018 sees the eight team league play home and away games against each team in the league up until February when the league splits into two mini leagues of 4 teams based on league ranking. Each team then a further 6 games against teams in their group with the teams in the promotion group playing off for the title, and the teams in the relegation group playing to avoid the drop. Note that points from the first stage are carried into the second.
Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.

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.
Barns Green finished 9th in 2019-20 and whilst not relegated, did not return for 2021-22 and instead have dropped to Sussex 2 West.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Burgess HillSouthway Recreation GroundBurgess Hill, West Sussex4th
East GrinsteadSaint HillEast Grinstead, West Sussex2nd
Eastbourne Park AvenueEastbourne, East Sussex3rd
HellinglyHorsebridge Recreation GroundHellingly, East Sussex5th
Hove IIHove Recreation GroundHove, East Sussex8th
LewesStanley Turner GroundLewes, East Sussex7th
SeafordSalts Recreation GroundSeaford, East Sussex 6th
UckfieldHempstead Playing FieldsUckfield, East SussexRelegated from London 3 South East

Season 2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 season meaning Sussex 1 was not contested.

Teams for 2019-20

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Barns GreenBarns Green Sports & Social ClubBarns Green, West SussexPromoted from Sussex 2
Burgess HillSouthway Recreation GroundBurgess Hill, West Sussex4th
CrawleyWilloughby FieldsCrawley, West SussexRunners up
East GrinsteadSaint HillEast Grinstead, West Sussex5th
Eastbourne Park AvenueEastbourne, East Sussex3rd
HellinglyHorsebridge Recreation GroundHellingly, East SussexN/A
Hove IIHove Recreation GroundHove, East SussexN/A
LewesStanley Turner GroundLewes, East SussexRelegated from London 3 South East
SeafordSalts Recreation GroundSeaford, East Sussex 7th

Teams for 2018-19

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Burgess HillSouthway Recreation GroundBurgess Hill, West Sussex4th
CrawleyWilloughby FieldsCrawley, West SussexRelegated from London 3 SE
DitchlingDitchling Recreation GroundDitchling, East Sussex7th
East GrinsteadSaint HillEast Grinstead, West Sussex3rd
Eastbourne Park AvenueEastbourne, East Sussex6th
PlumptonPlumpton RacecoursePlumpton, East SussexPromoted from Sussex 2
SeafordSalts Recreation GroundSeaford, East Sussex 5th
UckfieldHempstead Playing FieldsUckfield, East SussexRunners up

Teams for 2017-18

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Barns GreenBarns Green Sports & Social ClubBarns Green, West SussexPromoted from Sussex 2
Burgess HillSouthway Recreation GroundBurgess Hill, West Sussex3rd
DitchlingDitchling Recreation GroundDitchling, East SussexPromoted from Sussex 2
East GrinsteadSaint HillEast Grinstead, West SussexPromoted from Sussex 2
Eastbourne Park AvenueEastbourne, East SussexRelegated from London 3 South East
HellinglyHorsebridge Recreation GroundHellingly, East Sussex4th
SeafordSalts Recreation GroundSeaford, East Sussex 5th
UckfieldHempstead Playing FieldsUckfield, East Sussex2nd

Teams for 2016-17

Teams for 2015-16

Teams for 2014-15

Teams for 2012-13

Original teams

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

Sussex 1 honours

Sussex 1 (1987–1993)

The original Sussex 1 was a tier 8 league with promotion up to London 3 South East and relegation down to Sussex 2.

Sussex 1 (1993–1996)

The creation of National 5 South meant that Sussex 1 dropped from a tier 9 league to a tier 10 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to London 3 South East and Sussex 2 respectively.

Sussex 1 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Sussex 1 reverted to being a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to London 3 South East and Sussex 2 respectively.

Sussex 1 (2000–2009)

The introduction of London 4 South East ahead of the 2000–01 season meant Sussex 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division. Relegation continued to Sussex 2 until that league was abolished at the end of the 2003–04 season.

Sussex 1 (2009–present)

Sussex 1 remained a tier 9 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to London 3 South East and relegation was to Sussex Canterbury Jack Intermediate which was reintroduced for the 2010–11 season after an absence of six years.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Kent 1 and Sussex 1 for the third and final promotion place to London 3 South East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the Kent 1 teams have been the most successful with fourteen wins to the Sussex 1 teams five; and the home team has won promotion on eleven occasions compared to the away teams eight.

Number of league titles