Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland

Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland, formerly known as Durham/Northumberland 1 is an English amateur rugby union competition. The league consists of twelve clubs, and is the seventh tier of the English rugby union system, as one of the 16 regional leagues, though is the highest level of local rugby in the North East of England. The champions are automatically promoted to North 1 East, a division with a wider geographical area that also encompasses the Yorkshire region. The runners-up participate in a play-off against the runners-up from the equivalent regional league, Yorkshire 1, for promotion. The bottom two are relegated to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland.

Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland
Current season or competition:
2022–23
SportRugby union
Instituted1987 (1987)
Number of teams12
CountryEngland
HoldersPercy Park (3rd title) (2021-22)
Most titlesHorden (4 titles)
WebsiteWebsite
Related competitionYorkshire 1
Promotion toNorth 1 East
Relegation toCounties 2 Durham & Northumberland

Each season, two teams from the league are selected to take part in the RFU Intermediate Cup, a national competition for clubs in the seventh tier: one is affiliated with the Durham County RFU, the other is affiliated with the Northumberland RFU.

Clubs

Well known clubs have competed in Durham/Northumberland 1 throughout the league's history. Many of these clubs enjoyed successful histories, mainly during the amateur era of rugby. These include Gosforth RFC who in the '70s enjoyed great success, winning the John Player Cup in 1975/76 and 76/77. West Hartlepool who played in the Premiership in the 1990s, Northern who produced many international players. Clubs such as Alnwick RFC, Stockton RFC and Horden RFC have traditionally played in higher leagues and tend to finish towards the top of Durham/Northumberland 1.

Participating clubs 2022–23

Leaving the league were Percy Park, Northern, South Shields Westoe, Stockton and Aspatria who were all promoted to Regional 2 North. There was no relegation from the league.

Participating clubs 2021–22

Middlesbrough RUFC finished runners-up in DN1 in 2019-20 but were level transferred to Yorkshire 1 for the current season, the space was taken by Aspatria RUFC who were level transferred from North 2 West.

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.

Season 2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced [1] that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning DN1 was not contested.

Participating clubs 2019-20

Original teams

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

Durham/Northumberland 1 honours

Durham/Northumberland 1 (1987–1993)

The original Durham/Northumberland 1 was a tier 9 league with promotion up to North East 2 and relegation down to Durham/Northumberland 2.

Durham/Northumberland 1
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1987–8811BlythRockcliffPercy Park
1988–8911RockcliffMowden ParkWinlanton Vulcans
1989–9011AshingtonHordenPonteland, Hartlepool
1990–9111RedcarHordenWhitby
1991–9211HordenAcklam[lower-alpha 1]No relegation[lower-alpha 2]
1992–9313WhitbyDarlingtonSeghill, Hartlepool
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Durham/Northumberland 1 (1993–2000)

The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Durham/Northumberland 1 dropped to being a tier 10 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 Durham/Northumberland 1 remain at tier 10 with promotion to the new North 3 East league.

Durham/Northumberland 1
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1993–9413Mowden ParkDarlingtonConsett, Seaham
1994–9513Percy ParkSunderlandWallsend, Guisborough
1995–9612DarlingtonSunderlandNorth Durham, Ponteland
1996–9710West Hartlepool TDSOBRytonHartlepool, Guisborough, Novocastrians
1997–9810RytonAcklamNorth Durham[lower-alpha 3], Bishop Auckland
1998–99[2]10MedicalsAcklamBlyth, North Shields
1999–00[3]10ConsettWinlaton VulcansSeghill, Novocastrians, Whitley Bay Rockcliff
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Durham/Northumberland 1 (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 (tiers 7–9). This meant that Durham/Northumberland 1 became a tier 7 league, with promotion to North 2 East (currently North 1 East).

Durham/Northumberland 1
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–01[4]12WestoeDurham CityMedicals
2001–02[5]12HordenAshingtonWinlaton Vulcans, Consett
2002–03[6]12NorthernHartlepool RoversRyton, Gosforth
2003–04[7]12Hartlepool RoversAlnwickHoughton, Gateshead
2004–05[8]12Percy ParkDurham CityAshington, Hartlepool
2005–06[9]12HordenMalton and NortonAcklam, West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B.
2006–07[10]12GatesheadSunderlandNorth Shields, Consett, Gosforth
2007–08[11]12BillinghamNorthernWest Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B., Ponteland
2008–09[12]12Hartlepool RoversPercy ParkNo relegation[lower-alpha 4]
2009–10[13]14NorthernTeam NorthumbriaConsett, Hartlepool
2010–11[14]14GatesheadDarlingtonRedcar, Wallsend
2011–12[15]14DarlingtonAlnwickNovocastrians, Ashington
2012–13[16]14AlnwickGuisboroughSunderland, Ryton
2013–14[17]14HordenGuisboroughBishop Auckland, Ponteland
2014–15[18]14GuisboroughMorpethSunderland, Blyth
2015–16[19]14Durham CityMiddlesbroughDarlington, Ponteland
2016–17[20]14NorthernSouth Shields WestoeRyton, Hartlepool
2017–18[21]14ConsettDurham CityRedcar, Gosforth
2018–19[22]14Durham CityWest HartlepoolWhitby, Ponteland
2019–20[23]14ConsettMiddlesbroughBarnard Castle, North Shields, Gateshead
2020–2114N/AN/AUncontested due to the coronavirus pandemic
2021–22[24]14Percy ParkNorthernNo relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Durham/Northumberland 1 and Yorkshire 1 for the third and final promotion place to North 1 East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Yorkshire 1 teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Durham/Northumberland 1 teams six; and the home side have won ten times to the away sides nine.

Durham/Northumberland 1 v Yorkshire 1 promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[25]Wheatley Hills (Y)21-19Percy Park (DN)[lower-alpha 5]Brunel Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
2001–02[26]Ashington (DN)17-23Scarborough (Y)Recreation Ground, Ashington, Northumberland
2002–03[27]York (Y)29-15Hartlepool Rovers (DN)Clifton Park, York, North Yorkshire
2003–04[28]Alnwick (DN)25-18Pontefract (Y)Greensfield, Alnwick, Northumberland
2004–05[29]Durham City (DN)26-13Wheatley Hills (Y)Hollow Drift, Durham, County Durham
2005–06[30]Malton and Norton (DN)19-39Old Crossleyans (Y)The Gannock, Malton, North Yorkshire
2006–07[31]Sunderland (DN)16-18York (Y)Ashbrooke Sports Club, Ashbrooke, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
2007–08[32]Northern (DN)24-28Ilkley (Y)McCracken Park, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
2008–09[33]Percy Park (DN)36-3Bridlington (Y)Preston Avenue, North Shields, Tyne and Wear
2009–10[34]Team Northumbria (DN)34-13Sheffield (Y)Coach Lane Sports Ground, Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
2010–11[35]Darlington (DN)17-18Sheffield (Y)Blackwell Meadows, Darlington, County Durham
2011–12[36]Alnwick (DN)16-18Keighley (Y)Greensfield, Alnwick, Northumberland
2012–13[37]Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. (Y)33-12Guisborough (DN)Laund Hill, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
2013–14[38]Dinnington (Y)34-20 (aet)Guisborough (DN)Lodge Lane, Dinnington, South Yorkshire
2014–15[39]Morpeth (DN)14-11Malton and Norton (Y)Grange House Field, Morpeth, Northumberland
2015–16[40]Middlesbrough (DN)17-25Malton and Norton (Y)Acklam Park, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
2016–17[41]South Shields Westoe (DN)14-19West Leeds (Y)Wood Terrace, South Shields, Tyne and Wear
2017–18[42]Durham City (DN)AWO[lower-alpha 6]Scarborough (Y)Hollow Drift, Durham, County Durham
2018–19[43]West Hartlepool (DN)24-23Heath (Y)Brinkburn, Hartlepool, County Durham
2019–20Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Heath (Y) - promoted instead.
2020–21N/AN/AN/AUncontested due to the coronavirus pandemic
2021–22N/AN/AN/AUncontested due the RFU Adult Competition Review
Green background is the promoted team. DN = Durham/Northumberland 1 and Y = Yorkshire 1

Number of league titles

Notes
  1. Runners up Acklam along with Bishop Auckland were promoted to North East 2.
  2. League restructuring meant no clubs were relegated and five clubs would be promoted from Durham/Northumberland 2
  3. North Durham merged with Gateshead Fell at the end of this season and therefore ceased to exist as a club. As such they did not take up their position in Durham/Northumberland 2 the following season.
  4. No relegation as division set to expand from 12 to 14 teams for the following season.
  5. Despite finishing third in the 2000-01 Durham/Northumberland league, Percy Park went into the promotion playoff instead of runners up Durham City.[4]
  6. Scarborough won by default as Durham City were unable to raise a team.[42]
  7. Currently known as South Shields Westoe.

See also

References
  1. "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  2. "1998-99 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  3. "1999-00 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  4. "2000-01 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  5. "2001-02 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  6. "2002-03 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  7. "2003-04 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  8. "2004-05 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  9. "2005-06 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  10. "2006-07 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  11. "2007-08 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  12. "2008-09 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  13. "2009-10 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  14. "2010-11 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  15. "2011-12 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  16. "2012-13 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  17. "2013-14 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  18. "2014-15 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  19. "2015-16 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  20. "2016-17 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  21. "2017-18 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  22. "2018-19 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  23. "Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  24. "Durham/Northumberland One table 2021-2022". England Rugby. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  25. "2000-01 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 5 May 2001.
  26. "2001-02 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 18 May 2002.
  27. "2002-03 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
  28. "2003-04 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  29. "2004-05 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 30 April 2006.
  30. "2005-06 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  31. "2006-07 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  32. "2007-08 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  33. "2008-09 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  34. "2009-10 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 1 May 2010.
  35. "2010-11 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 7 May 2011.
  36. "2011-12 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 28 April 2012.
  37. "2012-13 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 27 April 2013.
  38. "2013-14 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2014.
  39. "2014-15 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 25 April 2015.
  40. "2015-16 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 30 April 2016.
  41. "2016-17 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 29 April 2017.
  42. "Skipper Jones' delight at promotion success". The Scarborough News. 4 May 2018.
  43. "Play-offs: Heath sunk by West Hartlepool's late penalty". Halifax Courier. 28 April 2019.
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