Counties 3 Yorkshire


Counties 3 Yorkshire, previously known as Yorkshire 3, is an English rugby union league at the ninth tier of the domestic competition. Club rugby in Yorkshire operates without promotion play-offs meaning that the top two teams are automatically promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire and the bottom two teams are relegated to Counties 4 Yorkshire. Each season a team from Counties 3 Yorkshire or Counties 4 Yorkshire may be picked to take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a national competition for clubs at levels 9–12.

Participating clubs 2025–26

Departing were Old Otliensians and Halifax, both promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire while Thirsk were relegated to Counties 4 Yorkshire.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BarnsleyShaw LaneBarnsley, South Yorkshire10th
BurlyAbbey LaneHawksworth, Leeds, West Yorkshire 7th
CastlefordMethley PitchCastleford, West Yorkshire9th
Dearne ValleyVancouver DriveBolton upon Dearne, South YorkshirePromoted from Counties 4 Yorkshire (South)
HemsworthMoxon FieldsHemsworth, Pontefract, West YorkshireRelegated from Counties 2 Yorkshire
HornseaHollis Recreation GroundHornsea, East Riding of YorkshirePromoted from Counties 4 Yorkshire (North)
Leeds CorinthiansNutty SlackMiddleton, Leeds, West Yorkshire5th
Rotherham PhoenixRotherham Rugby ClubRotherham, South Yorkshire6th
SkiptonSandylandsSkipton, North Yorkshire8th
ThornensiansCoulman RoadThorne, South Yorkshire11th
West Park LeedsThe SycamoresBramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire4th
Wheatley HillsBrunel RoadDoncaster, South Yorkshire3rd

Participating clubs 2024–25

Departing were Northallerton and Halifax Vandals, both promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire while Sheffield Medicals were relegated to Counties 4 Yorkshire.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BarnsleyShaw LaneBarnsley, South Yorkshire9th
BurleyAbbeyHawksworth, Leeds, West Yorkshire 11th
CastlefordMethley PitchCastleford, West Yorkshire6th
HalifaxOvenden ParkHalifax, West Yorkshire3rd
Leeds CorinthiansNutty SlackMiddleton, Leeds, West YorkshireRelegated from Counties 2 Yorkshire
Old OtliensiansChaffers FieldOtley, West YorkshirePromoted from Counties 4 Yorkshire
Rotherham PhoenixRotherham Rugby ClubRotherham, South Yorkshire5th
SkiptonSandylandsSkipton, North Yorkshire10th
ThirskNewsham RoadThirsk, North Yorkshire4th
ThornensiansCoulman RoadThorne, South YorkshirePromoted from Counties 4 Yorkshire
West Park LeedsThe SycamoresBramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire8th
Wheatley HillsBrunel RoadDoncaster, South Yorkshire7th

Participating clubs 2023–24

Departing were Hemsworth and Ossett, both promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire. Thornensians, Knottingley and Leeds Medics & Dentists were relegated to Counties 4 Yorkshire.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BarnsleyShaw LaneBarnsley, South YorkshireRelegated from Counties 2 Yorkshire
BurleyAbbeyHawksworth, Leeds, West Yorkshire 3rd
CastlefordMethley PitchCastleford, West Yorkshire9th
HalifaxOvenden ParkHalifax, West YorkshirePromoted from Counties 4 Yorkshire
Halifax VandalsWarley Town LaneHalifax, West Yorkshire6th
NorthallertonBrompton LodgeNorthallerton, North YorkshireRelegated from Counties 2 Yorkshire
Rotherham PhoenixRotherham Rugby ClubRotherham, South YorkshirePromoted from Counties 4 Yorkshire
Sheffield MedicalsNorton Playing FieldsNorton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire8th
SkiptonSandylandsSkipton, North Yorkshire5th
ThirskNewsham RoadThirsk, North Yorkshire4th
West Park LeedsThe SycamoresBramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire7th
Wheatley HillsBrunel RoadDoncaster, South YorkshireRelegated from Counties 2 Yorkshire

Participating clubs 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Yorkshire 3 with teams ranked 4th to 12th returning and supplemented by top 2 from Yorkshire 4 and one coming down from Yorkshire 2 so with five departing but only three arriving the league was reduced from 14 teams to 12.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BurleyAbbeyHawksworth, Leeds, West Yorkshire 8th Yorkshire 3
CastlefordMethley PitchCastleford, West Yorkshire4th Yorkshire 3
Halifax VandalsWarley Town LaneHalifax, West Yorkshire6th Yorkshire 3
HemsworthMoxon FieldsHemsworth, West Yorkshire12th Yorkshire 3
KnottingleyHoward's FieldKnottingley, West Yorkshire10th Yorkshire 3
Leeds Medics & DentistsWeetwood Playing FieldsWeetwood, Leeds, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 4
OssettQueens Terrace, Ossett CCOssett, West Yorkshire5th Yorkshire 3
Sheffield MedicalsNorton Playing FieldsNorton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire9th Yorkshire 3
SkiptonSandylandsSkipton, North Yorkshire7th Yorkshire 3
ThirskThirsk Athletic ClubThirsk, North YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 4
ThornensiansCoulman RoadThorne, South YorkshireRelegated from Yorkshire 2
West Park LeedsThe SycamoresBramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire11th Yorkshire 3

Participating clubs 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
BarnsleyShaw LaneBarnsley, South YorkshireRelegated from Yorkshire 2
Bramley PhoenixGrosmont TerraceBramley, Leeds, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 4
BurleyAbbeyHawksworth, Leeds, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 4
CastlefordMethley PitchCastleford, West Yorkshire8th
Harrogate PythonsStation ViewHarrogate, North Yorkshire4th
HemsworthMoxon FieldsHemsworth, West Yorkshire11th
KnottingleyHoward's FieldKnottingley, West Yorkshire3rd
Old OtliensiansChaffers FieldOtley, West Yorkshire5th
OssettOssett Cricket and Athletic ClubOssett, West Yorkshire7th
Sheffield MedicalsNorton Playing FieldsNorton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire10th
SkiptonSandylandsSkipton, North Yorkshire12th
West Park LeedsThe SycamoresBramhope, Leeds, West YorkshireRelegated from Yorkshire 2
WibseyNorthfield RoadWibsey, Bradford, West Yorkshire6th

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 Yorkshire 3 was not contested.

Participating clubs 2019–20

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AireboroughNunroyd ParkYeadon, West Yorkshire13th
BaildonJenny LaneBaildon, West Yorkshire11th
CastlefordMethley PitchCastleford, West Yorkshire5th
Halifax Vandals RUFCWarley Town LaneHalifax, West Yorkshire9th
Harrogate PythonsStation ViewHarrogate, North Yorkshire3rd
HemsworthMoxon FieldsHemsworth, West Yorkshire8th
KnottingleyHoward's FieldKnottingley, West Yorkshire6th
Leeds CorinthiansNutty SlackMiddleton, Leeds, West Yorkshire4th
Old OtliensiansChaffers FieldOtley, West YorkshireRelegated from Yorkshire 2
OssettOssett Cricket and Athletic ClubOssett, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 4
Rotherham PhoenixHerringthorpe Playing FieldsClifton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire7th
Sheffield MedicalsNorton Playing FieldsNorton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire12th
SkiptonSandylandsSkipton, North Yorkshire10th
WibseyNorthfield RoadWibsey, Bradford, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 4

Participating clubs 2018–19

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AireboroughNunroyd ParkYeadon, West Yorkshire6th
BaildonJenny LaneBaildon, West Yorkshire12th
CastlefordMethley PitchCastleford, West Yorkshire5th
Halifax VandalsWarley Town LaneHalifax, West YorkshireRelegated from Yorkshire 2
Harrogate PythonsStation ViewHarrogate, North Yorkshire10th
HemsworthMoxon FieldsHemsworth, West Yorkshire7th
KnottingleyHoward's FieldKnottingley, West Yorkshire8th
Leeds CorinthiansNutty SlackMiddleton, Leeds, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 4
Leeds ModerniansCookridge LaneCookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire4th
Rotherham PhoenixHerringthorpe Playing FieldsClifton, Rotherham, South YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 4
Sheffield MedicalsNorton Playing FieldsNorton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire9th
SkiptonSandylandsSkipton, North Yorkshire11th
ThornensiansCoulman RoadThorne, South YorkshireRelegated from Yorkshire 2
WensleydaleCawkill ParkLeyburn, North Yorkshire3rd

Participating clubs 2017–18

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AireboroughNunroyd ParkYeadon, West Yorkshire8th
BaildonJenny LaneBaildon, West Yorkshire7th
CastlefordMethley PitchCastleford, West Yorkshire12th
Harrogate PythonsStation ViewHarrogate, North Yorkshire11th
HemsworthMoxon FieldsHemsworth, West YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 4
KnottingleyHoward's FieldKnottingley, West Yorkshire3rd
Leeds Medics & DentistsWeetwood Playing FieldsWeetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire5th
Leeds ModerniansCookridge LaneCookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire6th
NorthallertonBrompton LodgeNorthallerton, North Yorkshire4th
Old OtliensiansChaffers FieldOtley, West Yorkshire9th
Sheffield MedicalsNorton Playing FieldsNorton, Sheffield, South YorkshireRelegated from Yorkshire 2
SkiptonSandylandsSkipton, North YorkshirePromoted from Yorkshire 4
StocksbridgeCoal Pit LaneStocksbridge, South Yorkshire13th
WensleydaleCawkill ParkLeyburn, North Yorkshire10th

Participating clubs 2016–17

  • Aireborough
  • Baildon
  • Castleford '
  • Goole
  • Halifax
  • Halifax Vandals '
  • Harrogate Pythons
  • Knottingley
  • Leeds Medics and Dentists
  • Leeds Modernians
  • Northallerton
  • Old Otliensians
  • Stocksbridge
  • Wensleydale ''''''

Participating clubs 2015–16

  • Aireborough
  • Baildon
  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Goole '
  • Halifax '
  • Harrogate Pythons
  • Leeds Medics and Dentists
  • Leeds Modernians
  • Northallerton
  • Old Otliensians
  • Rotherham Phoenix
  • Stocksbridge
  • Thornensians
  • Wetherby ''''''

Participating clubs 2014–15

  • Aireborough
  • Baildon '
  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Burley
  • Castleford
  • Harrogate Pythons
  • Hemsworth
  • Northallerton
  • Old Grovians
  • Old Modernians
  • Old Otliensians '
  • Rotherham Phoenix
  • Stocksbridge
  • Thornensians

Participating clubs 2013–14

  • Aireborough
  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Burley
  • Castleford
  • Goole
  • Harrogate Pythons '
  • Hemsworth
  • Leeds Medics and Dentists
  • Northallerton
  • Old Grovians '
  • Old Modernians
  • Rotherham Phoenix
  • Skipton
  • Thornensians

Participating clubs 2012–13

  • Aireborough
  • Baildon
  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Burley
  • Goole
  • Hemsworth
  • Hessle
  • Leeds Medics and Dentists
  • Northallerton
  • Old Modernians
  • Old Rishworthians
  • Rotherham Phoenix
  • Thornensians
  • York Railway Institute

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
  • Airebronians
  • Baildon
  • Bradford Salem
  • Bridlington
  • Heath
  • Knottingley
  • Leeds CSSA
  • Marist
  • Northallerton
  • Rodillians
  • Yarnbury

Yorkshire 3 honours

Yorkshire 3 (1987–1993)

The original Yorkshire 3 was a tier 11 league with promotion up to Yorkshire 2 and relegation down to Yorkshire 4.

Yorkshire 3 (1993–2000)

The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 3 dropped to become a tier 12 league. A further restructure at the end of the 1995–96 season, which included the cancellation of National 5 North and the addition of North East 3 at tier 9, saw Yorkshire 3 remain at tier 12.

Yorkshire 3 (2000–present)

Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999–2000 season saw the cancellation of North East 1, North East 2 and North East 3. This meant that Yorkshire 3 became a tier 9 league.

Number of league titles

  • Aireborough
  • Heath
  • Hemsworth
  • Leeds Corinthians
  • Roundhegians
  • Wetherby
  • Wath upon Dearne
  • Yarnbury
  • Barnsley
  • Bradford Salem
  • Bridlington
  • Goole
  • Halifax Vandals
  • Huddersfield Y.M.C.A.
  • Hullensians
  • Knottingley
  • Leodiensian
  • Moortown
  • Northallerton
  • Pocklington
  • Old Grovians
  • Old Rishworthians
  • Skipton
  • Wensleydale
  • West Park Leeds
  • York Railway Institute