Sussex 1

Sussex 1 (known as Harvey's of Sussex 1 due to sponsorship reasons) is an English level 9 Rugby Union League.[1] 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.

Sussex 1
Current season or competition:
2019–20 Sussex 1
SportRugby union
Instituted1987 (1987)
Number of teams9
Country England
HoldersEast Grinstead Rugby Football Club (2021–22)
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Most titlesUckfield (5 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

The system from 2017 to 2018 sees the eight team league play home and away games against each team in the league (14 games each) up until February when the league splits into two mini leagues of 4 teams (Sussex 1A and Sussex 1B) based on league ranking. Each team then a further 6 games against teams in their group (home and away) with the teams in the promotion group (1A) playing off for the title, and the teams in the relegation group (1B) 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.

Season 2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced [2] 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 Sussex 1 was not contested.

Teams for 2019-20

Teams for 2018-19

Teams for 2017-18

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
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1987–8811BognorChichesterHastings & Bexhill
1988–8911HoveChichesterHellingly
1989–9011ChichesterHaywards HeathCrowborough, St. Francis
1990–9111Hastings & BexhillEast GrinsteadSussex Police, Seaford
1991–9211BrightonEast GrinsteadNo relegation[lower-alpha 1]
1992–9312Haywards HeathHastings & BexhillSt. Francis, Hellingly
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

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
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1993–9412Heathfield & WaldronUckfieldBA Wingspan
1994–9513UckfieldSeafordDitchling, Crowborough
1995–9613BognorCrawleySun Alliance, Hellingly, BA Wingspan
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

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
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1996–9713Heathfield & WaldronUckfield[lower-alpha 2]Burgess Hill
1997–989EastbourneHovePulborough, BA Wingspan
1998–99[3]9HoveCrowboroughBurgess Hill, Ditchling, Old Brightonian
1999–00[4]8BognorCrowboroughNo relegation[lower-alpha 3]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

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 (briefly two regional divisions) until that league was abolished at the end of the 2003–04 season.

Sussex 1
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–01[5]10UckfieldHastings & BexhillHolbrook, Newick, Seaford
2001–02[6]10ChichesterHeathfield & WaldronSt. Francis, Sussex Police
2002–03[7]9UckfieldHastings & BexhillChichester IHE, Hellingly
2003–04[8]10HoveHastings & BexhillRye, Norfolk Arms
2004–05[9]8HorshamHastings & BexhillNo relegation[lower-alpha 4]
2005–06[10]9CrowboroughHastings & BexhillHellingly[lower-alpha 5]
2006–07[11]10Hastings & BexhillHorshamPlumpton[lower-alpha 6]
2007–08[12]9Heathfield & WaldronEast GrinsteadBurgess Hill, Hellingly[lower-alpha 7]
2008–09[13]11BrightonUckfieldNo relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Sussex 1 (2009–present)

Sussex 1 remained a tier 9 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to London 3 South East (formerly London 4 South East) and relegation was to Sussex Canterbury Jack Intermediate (Sussex 2) which was reintroduced for the 2010–11 season after an absence of six years.

Sussex 1
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2009–10[14]12CrawleyUckfieldLewes II
2010–11[15]12UckfieldBurgess HillSt. Francis, Worthing III
2011–12[16]10PulboroughEast Grinstead II, Burgess Hill (3rd)[lower-alpha 8]Eastbourne II[lower-alpha 9]
2012–13[17]12Burgess HillEastbourneMidhurst, Newick
2013–14[18]12PulboroughCrawleyLewes II, Haywards Heath II
2014–15[19]12EastbourneBurgess HillHolbrook, Rye
2015–16[20]12LewesHaywards HeathCrowborough II, Midhurst
2016–17[21]10[lower-alpha 10]CrawleyUckfieldHorsham II, Brighton II
2017–18[22][23]8HellinglyUckfieldBarns Green
2018–19[24][25]8UckfieldCrawleyNo relegation
2019–209CrawleyEast GrinsteadNo relegation
2020–21
2021–228East GrinsteadUckfield
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

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.

Kent 1 v Sussex 1 promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[26]Hastings & Bexhill (S)12-29Betteshanger (K)William Parker Lower School, Hastings, East Sussex
2001–02[27]Heathfield & Waldron (S)25-12Whitstable (K)Hardy Roberts Recreational Ground, Cross In Hand, Heathfield, East Sussex
2002–03[28]Ashford (K)10-0Hastings & Bexhill (S)Canterbury Road, Ashford, Kent
2003–04[29]Hastings & Bexhill (S)13-21Old Elthamians (K)William Parker Lower School, Hastings, East Sussex
2004–05[30]Hastings & Bexhill (S)0-22Sittingbourne (K)William Parker Lower School, Hastings, East Sussex
2005–06[31]Hastings & Bexhill (S)17-18Ashford (K)William Parker Lower School, Hastings, East Sussex
2006–07[32]Horsham (S)33-7Park House (K)Coolhurst Ground, Horsham, West Sussex
2007–08[33]Old Gravesendians (K)8-14East Grinstead (S)Fleetway Sports Ground, Gravesend, Kent
2008–09[34]Old Gravesendians (K)10-5Uckfield (S)Fleetway Sports Ground, Gravesend, Kent300
2009–10[35]Uckfield (S)19-21Cranbrook (K)Hempstead Playing Fields, Uckfield, East Sussex
2010–11[36]Sheppey (K)42-10Burgess Hill (S)Stupple Field, Minster, Kent500
2011–12[37]Vigo (K)10-7Burgess Hill (S)[lower-alpha 11]Swanswood Field, Meopham, Kent400
2012–13[38]Eastbourne (S)0-47Beccehamian (K)Park Avenue, Eastbourne, East Sussex
2013–14[39]Crawley (S)22-41Hastings & Bexhill (K)Willoughby Fields Pavilion, Crawley, West Sussex
2014–15[40]Burgess Hill (S)26-23Sheppey (K)Southway Recreation Ground, Burgess Hill, West Sussex
2015–16[41]Haywards Heath (S)13-8Old Williamsonians (K)Whitemans Green, Cuckfield, West Sussex
2016–17[42]Old Williamsonians (K)20-17Uckfield (S)Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Rochester, Kent
2017–18[43]Vigo (K)31-17Uckfield (S)Swanswood Field, Meopham, Kent
2018–19[44]Gillingham Anchorians (K)23-21Crawley (S)Darland Banks, Gillingham, Kent
2019–20Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Cranbrook (K) - promoted instead.
2020–21
Green background is the promoted team. K = Shepherd Neame Kent 1 and S = Sussex 1

Number of league titles

See also

Notes
  1. Restructuring of the Sussex leagues caused by the cancellation of Sussex 3 for the following season, meant that there was no relegation.
  2. 3rd and 4th place East Grinstead and Crawley were also promoted.
  3. No relegation as Sussex 3 would be abolished at the end of the season leading to the Sussex league being restructured and Sussex 1 increasing from 8 to 10 teams.
  4. No relegation as Sussex 2 and Sussex 3 would be abolished at the end of the season. Sussex 2 and 3's equivalents would reappearing in 2010-11 as Sussex Canterbury Jack Intermediate and the Asahi 2 East/Oranjeboom 2 West respectively.
  5. Hellingly drop out of league by season's end.
  6. Plumpton drop out of league by season's end.
  7. Burgess Hill and Hellingly drop out of league by season's end.
  8. Despite finishing 2nd East Grinstead II were not able to take part in the 2011-12 promotion playoff due to the East Grinstead first team being in the division above. This meant that 3rd placed Burgess Hill went into the playoff game instead.
  9. Despite finishing 2nd Eastbourne II were relegated as the Eastbourne first team would drop down to division.
  10. A number of teams (mostly 2nd teams) would withdraw prior to the 2016-17 season.
  11. Despite finishing 3rd in the league Burgess Hill took 2nd placed East Grinstead II place in the 2011-12 promotion playoff as East Grinstead's first team were in the division above.

References
  1. "League Make up". Sussex Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 12 January 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  2. "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  3. "1998-1999 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  4. "1999-2000 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  5. "2000-2001 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  6. "1998-1999 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  7. "2002-2003 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  8. "2003-2004 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  9. "2004-2005 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  10. "2005-2006 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  11. "2006-2007 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  12. "2007-2008 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  13. "2008-2009 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  14. "2009-2010 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  15. "2010-2011 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  16. "2011-2012 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  17. "2012-2013 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  18. "2013-2014 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  19. "1998-1999 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  20. "2015-2016 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  21. "2016-2017 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  22. "2017-2018 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  23. "2017-2018 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  24. "2018-2019 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  25. "2018-2019 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  26. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2000-01". England Rugby. 19 May 2001.
  27. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2001-02". England Rugby. 27 April 2002.
  28. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2002-03". England Rugby. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  29. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2003-04". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  30. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2004-05". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  31. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2005-06". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  32. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2006-07". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  33. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2007-08". England Rugby. 27 April 2008.
  34. "Old Gravesendians 10-5 Uckfield". News Shopper. 28 April 2009.
  35. "Cranes in stunning fightback". This is Kent. 23 April 2010.
  36. "Sheppey 42 - 10 Burgess Hill". Sheppey RFC (Pitchero). 16 April 2011.
  37. "Vigo 10 - 7 Burgess Hill". Burgess Hill RFC (Pitchero). 28 April 2012.
  38. "What a finish to the season..." Beccehamian RFC (Pitchero). 27 April 2013.
  39. "Crawley Miss Out On Successive Promotions". Crawley RFC (Pitchero). 26 April 2014.
  40. "BHRFC 1 v Sheppey". Burgess Hill RFC (Pitchero). 25 April 2015.
  41. "Haywards Heath 13, Old Williamsonians 8: Heath gain promotion with home win after tense play-off". Mid Sussex Times. 2 May 2016.
  42. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2016-17". England Rugby. 22 April 2017.
  43. "LONDON & SOUTH EAST DIVISION PLAY OFFS: VIGO 31 UCKFIELD 17". Vigo RFC (Pitchero). 21 April 2018.
  44. "Gillingham Anchorians v Crawley London & SE Division – Level 9 Play-off, 15:00 13th April 2019". Gillingham Anchorians RFC. 15 April 2019.
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