Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex

Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex is a tier 7 English Rugby Union league. It is organised by the London and South East Division Rugby Football Union and is the top tier competition for clubs in Hertfordshire and parts of north-west London that traditionally was encompassed by the historic county of Middlesex. It was previously known as London 2 North West. After the restructuring of the English rugby union system ahead of the 2022-23 season, the league was renamed to Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex.

Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex
Current season or competition:
2023–24 Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex
SportRugby union
Instituted1992 (1992) (as Herts/Middlesex)
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersHemel Hempstead (1st title) (2022–23)
(promoted to Regional 2 Thames)
Website

Each year the two Hertfordshire clubs in this division with the best record against other Hertfordshire clubs also take part in the Hertfordshire Presidents' Cup, the highest level county cup competition in Hertfordshire. Promoted teams typically go up to Regional 2 Thames while relegated teams drop to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.

Participating Clubs 2023-24


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.

Season 2020–21

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

Participating Clubs 2019-20

Participating Clubs 2018-19

Participating Clubs 2017-18

Participating Clubs 2016-17

Participating Clubs 2015-16

Participating Clubs 2014-15

Participating Clubs 2013-14

Participating Clubs 2012-13

Participating Clubs 2009-10

Original teams

When this division was created in 1992 (as Herts/Middlesex) it contained the following teams:

Herts/Middlesex 1 honours

Herts/Middlesex (1992–93)

Originally known as Herts/Middlesex, this division was a tier 8 league with promotion to London 3 North West and relegation to either Hertfordshire 1 or Middlesex 1. The introduction of National 5 South ahead of the 1993–94 season meant that Herts/Middlesex dropped to become a tier 9 league.

Herts/Middlesex
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1992–9313Old MeadoniansLondon New ZealandStevenage Town[lower-alpha 5], Twickenham[lower-alpha 6]
1993–9413BarnetOld MillhilliansAntlers, Harrow[lower-alpha 7]
1994–9513Mill HillFulleriansHarpenden, Hitchin[lower-alpha 8]
1995–9613HampsteadHaringey RhinosLondon New Zealand, Upper Clapton[lower-alpha 9]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Herts/Middlesex 1 (1996–2000)

Restructuring of the leagues by the RFU, which included the cancellation of National 5 South and the merging of the Hertfordshire and Middlesex regional divisions, meant that Herts/Middlesex was renamed as Herts/Middlesex 1 and was once again a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to London 3 North West, while relegation was now to the new Herts/Middlesex 2.

Herts/Middlesex 1
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1996–9713HarpendenSt Albans[lower-alpha 10]No relegation[lower-alpha 11]
1997–9816TwickenhamLondon NigerianCentaurs, Hendon, Wembley[lower-alpha 12]
1998–99[4]14Imperial MedicalsHemel HempsteadNo relegation[lower-alpha 13]
1999–00[5]15Bank Of EnglandLondon New ZealandMultiple teams[lower-alpha 14]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Herts/Middlesex 1 (2000–2009)

The introduction of London 4 North West ahead of the 2000–01 season meant Herts/Middlesex 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division. Relegation continued to Herts/Middlesex 2.

Herts/Middlesex 1
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–01[6]10RichmondLondon ScottishNo relegation
2001–02[7]10CS Rugby 1863Old HamptoniansMill Hill, Uxbridge
2002–03[8]10Haringey RhinosEnfield IgnatiansFeltham
2003–04[9]9TringStevenage TownChiswick
2004–05[10]10HitchinHammersmith & FulhamChess Valley, Hemel Hempstead, Old Actonians
2005–06[11]10FinchleyU.C.S. Old BoysOld Grammarians, Old Millhillians
2006–07[12]10Hemel HempsteadOld AshmoleansHarlequin Amateurs, Mill Hill, Cheshunt
2007–08[13]10ChiswickOld Merchant Taylors' Lambs (2nd XV)No relegation[14]
2008–09[15]10CheshuntOld StreetoniansOld Millhillians
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Herts/Middlesex 1 (2009–present)

Herts/Middlesex 1 remained a tier 9 league despite national league restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to London 3 North West (formerly London 4 North West) and relegation to Herts/Middlesex 2.

Herts/Middlesex 1
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2009–10[16]10Wasps AmateursOld HaberdashersHillingdon Abbots
2010–11[17]12H.A.C.London Welsh AmateursKilburn Cosmos, Old Grammarians
2011–12[18]10Wasps AmateursOld PrioriansSaracens Amateurs, Hendon, Harlequin Amateurs
2012–13[19]11HarrowOld Merchant Taylors'West London, Hendon, London Welsh Amateurs
2013–14[20]12HackneyBelsize ParkImperial Medicals
2014–15[21]12Old ActoniansLondon NigerianFeltham, Haringey Rhinos
2015–16[22]12Kilburn CosmosCheshuntOld Millhillians, Bank Of England
2016–17[23]11VerulamiansOld StreetoniansHillingdon Abbots RFC
2017–18[24]12London WelshRoystonLondon French, Watford
2018–19[25]12HitchinFinsbury ParkStaines, Old Actonians
2019–20[26]10[lower-alpha 15]HendonSt AlbansMill Hill
2020–2110
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

Notes
  1. Despite finishing 12th in L3NW in season 2019-20 Harrow RFC were not relegated, instead Kilburn Cosmos dropped to Herts/Middlesex 1 for season 2021-22.
  2. Currently known as Teddington RFC.[2]
  3. Old Meadonians would be renamed as Chiswick RFC in 1996.[3]
  4. In 1997 St. Mary's Hospital become part of Imperial Medicals Rugby Club.
  5. Stevenage Town were relegated to Hertfordshire 1.
  6. Twickenham were relegated to Middlesex 1.
  7. Antlers and Harrow were both relegated to Middlesex 1.
  8. Harpenden and Hitchin were both relegated to Hertfordshire 1.
  9. London New Zealand and Upper Clapton were relegated to the newly introduced Herts/Middlesex 2.
  10. League restructuring meant that the top eight clubs including Old Meadonians, Tring, Hackney, Uxbridge and Mill Hill were promoted to London 3 North West. 5th place Old Elizabethans were also due to be promoted but would instead merge with Barnet to form Barnet Elizabethans playing in London 2 North.
  11. League restructuring meant there was no relegation.
  12. Relegated sides Centaurs and Wembley would drop out of the leagues.
  13. No relegation as division would increase from 14 to 15 teams the next season.
  14. Relegated teams included Epping Upper Clapton, Hitchin, Old Haberdashers, H.A.C., Haringey Rhinos, U.C.S. Old Boys and CS Rugby 1863. The reason for so many relegated teams was due to league restructuring for the following season meaning that the division would decrease from 15 to 10 teams.
  15. League reduced from 12 to 10 teams after UCS Old Boys drop out.
  16. Chiswick's titles include one won when known as Old Meadowians RFC.

See also

References
  1. "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  2. "Teddington RFC 50 Years Celebration Ball" (PDF). Teddington RFC. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  3. "CLUB HISTORY". Chiswick RFC. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  4. "1998-1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  5. "1999-2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  6. "2000-2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  7. "2001-2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  8. "2002-2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  9. "2003-2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  10. "2004-2005 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  11. "2005-2006 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  12. "2006-2007 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  13. "2007-2008 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  14. No relegation due to the lower divisions in the Herts/Middlesex league being restructured for the following season.
  15. "2008-2009 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  16. "2009-2010 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  17. "2010-2011 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  18. "2011-2012 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  19. "2012-2013 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  20. "2013-2014 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  21. "2014-2015 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  22. "2015-2016 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  23. "2016-2017 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  24. "2017-2018 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  25. "2018-2019 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  26. "Men's London & South East Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
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