Wikipedia

London 1 North

London 1 North was an English level 6, rugby union league for clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, north Greater London, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk.[1] When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 2 North, changing to its final name ahead of the 2009–10 season.

London 1 North
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987) (as London 2 North)
Number of teams14
Country Englandle)
HoldersShelford (2nd tit (2021–22)
(promoted to Regional 1 South East)
Most titlesCheshunt (3 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

The fourteen teams played home and away matches from September through to April. The first placed team in the league won promotion to London & South East Premier while the league runner-up played the second placed team from London 1 South in a play-off for promotion. Relegated teams dropped to either London 2 North East or London 2 North West depending on the location of the club.

The Rugby Football Union reorganised the level six leagues for season 2022–23, with an increase from eight to twelve leagues, and a reduction of the teams in each from fourteen to twelve.[2] The teams in this league were transferred to either Regional 2 Anglia, Regional 2 Thames or Regional 2 East Midlands.[3]

2021–22 (final season)

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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.

Ten of the fourteen teams from 2021–22 were placed into one of the new level six leagues for 2022–23. Amersham & Chiltern, Belsize Park and Old Haberdashers were placed into Regional 2 Thames, while Brentwood, Chingford, Eton Manor, Norwich, Southend Saxons and Thurrock were placed into Regional 2 Anglia. Leighton Buzzard were placed into Regional 2 East Midlands. The top four teams in 2021–22, Colchester, Harpenden, Shelford and Sudbury, were promoted to the level five league Regional 1 South East. No teams were relegated to level seven.

2020–21

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On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced 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 London 1 North was not contested.[4]

Teams 2019–20

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Teams 2018–19

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Teams 2017–18

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Teams 2016-17

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Teams 2015–16

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Amersham & Chiltern, the champions, are promoted to National League 3 London & SE for next season. There are only two relegated clubs (Harrow and Luton) as East Grinstead took voluntary relegation from the National League 3 London & SE to the Sussex Leagues.[5]

Teams 2014–15

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Teams 2013–14

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Teams 2012–13

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Teams 2011–12

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Teams 2009–10

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Original teams

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When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as London 2 North) and contained the following teams:

London 1 North honours

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London 2 North (1987–1993)

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In the first season of the English rugby union league pyramid, sponsored by Courage, there was six, tier six leagues. The initial name was London 2 North and was for teams based in London and the counties of Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. There was eleven teams in the league and each team played one match against each of the other teams, giving each team five home matches and five away matches. The winning team was awarded two points, and there was one point for each team in a drawn match.[6]

The original London 2 North was a tier 6 league with promotion to London 1 and relegation to either London 3 North East or London 3 North West.

London 2 North
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Reference
1987–88 10[b] 9 North Walsham Grasshoppers St. Mary's Hospital [7]
1988–89 11 10 Cheshunt Bishop's Stortford Hertford, Upper Clapton [7]
1989–90 11 10 Thurrock Eton Manor Grasshoppers [7]
1990–91 11 10 Eton Manor Bishop's Stortford Old Albanian [8]
1991–92 11 10 Tabard Barking Old Merchant Taylor's, Letchworth Garden City [9]
1992–93 13 12 Harlow Cheshunt No relegation [10]

London 2 North (1993–1996)

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At the end of the 1992–93 season the top six teams from London Division 1 and the top six from South West Division 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that London 2 North dropped from a tier 6 league to a tier 7 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to London 1 and relegation to either London 3 North East or London 3 North West.

London 2 North
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Reference
1993–94 13 12 Ruislip Verulamians Old Edwardians, Upper Clapton
1994–95 13 12 Staines Verulamians Old Gaytonians, Chingford
1995–96 13 12 Norwich Thurrock Eton Manor, Hertford

London 2 North (1998–2009)

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The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that London 2 North reverted to being a tier 6 league. Promotion continued to London 1 and relegation to either London 3 North East or London 3 North West (renamed to London 2 North East and London 2 North West from the 2000–01 season onward).

London Division 2 North
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Reference
1996–97 12 Cheshunt Bishop's Stortford No relegation[c]
1997-98 17 Woodford Bishop's Stortford Ealing
1998–99 17 Cambridge Ipswich Chingford, Colchester [11]
1999–00 17 London Nigerian Bishop's Stortford Multiple teams[d] [12]
2000–01 12 Cheshunt London Nigerian Chelmsford, Romford & Gidea Park, Ruislip [13]
2001–02 12 Hertford Southend Metropolitan Police, Verulamians [14]
2002–03 12 Bishop's Stortford Old Albanian Sudbury, Ipswich, Shelford [15]
2003–04 12 London Scottish Cambridge Cheshunt, Romford & Gidea Park, Bank of England [16]
2004–05 12 Ealing Trailfinders Staines Harlow, Diss, Woodford [17]
2005–06 12 Shelford CS Rugby 1863 Bank of England, Hadleigh [18]
2006–07 12 CS Rugby 1863 Tring Twickenham, St Albans, Norwich [19]
2007–08 12 Tring Staines Tabard, Thurrock, London Nigerian [20]
2008–09 12 Diss Staines No relegation due to league restructure[e] [21]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 1 North

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London 2 North was renamed to London 1 North from the 2009–10 season onward. It continued as a tier 6 league with promotion to National League 3 London & South East (formerly London 1 and currently known as London & South East Premier) and relegation to London 2 North East and London 2 North West (formerly London 3 North East and London 3 North West).

London Division 1 North
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Reference
2009–10 14 Staines CS Rugby 1863 Welwyn, Harpenden, Rochford Hundred [22]
2010–11 14 Westcliff Sidcup Woodford, Tabard, Stevenage Town [23]
2011–12 14 Thurrock Colchester Braintree, Hammersmith & Fulham, North Walsham [24]
2012–13 14 Bury St Edmunds Eton Manor Basildon, Rochford Hundred, Beaconsfield [25]
2013–14 14 Westcliff Eton Manor Old Haberdashers, Diss, Tabard [26]
2014–15 14 Colchester Eton Manor Woodford, Romford & Gidea Park, Ipswich [27]
2015–16 14 Amersham & Chiltern Tring Luton, Harrow[f] [29]
2016–17 14 Tring Chingford Barking, Chelmsford, Sudbury [30]
2017–18 14 Brentwood Chingford South Woodham Ferrers, Letchworth Garden City, Saffron Walden [31]
2018–19 14 Rochford Hundred Colchester Diss, Luton, Fullerians [32]
2019–20 14 North Walsham Colchester Ruislip, Woodford, Old Priorians [33]
2020–21 14 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22 14 Shelford Sudbury No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

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Between 2000–01 season and 2019–20 there was a play-off between the runners-up of London 1 North and London 1 South for the third and final promotion place to London & South East Premier. The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the London 1 South teams have been the most successful with eleven wins to the London 1 North teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.

London 1 (north v south) promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000-01[34] Canterbury (S) 21-27 London Nigerian (N) Merton Lane, Canterbury, Kent
2001-02[35] Southend (N) 37-15 Portsmouth (S) Warners Bridge Park, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
2002-03[36] Old Albanian (2nd XV) (N) 28-12 Portsmouth (S) Woollam Playing Fields, St Albans, Hertfordshire
2003-04[37] Cambridge (N) 21-19 Barnes (S) Grantchester Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
2004-05[38] Staines (N) 55-12 Portsmouth (S) The Reeves, Hanworth, Greater London
2005-06[39] Guildford (S) 27-14 CS Rugby 1863 (N) Broadwater Sports Club, Farncombe, Surrey
2006-07[40] Tring (N) 7-20 Thanet Wanderers (S) Cow Lane, Tring, Hertfordshire
2007-08[41] Jersey (S) 15-0 Staines (S) St. Peter, Saint Peter, Jersey
2008-09[42] Staines (N) 7-11 Dorking (S) The Reeves, Hanworth, Greater London
2009-10[43] CS Rugby 1863 (N) 31-14 Dover (S) King's House Sports Ground, Chiswick, Greater London
2010-11[44] London Irish Wild Geese (S) 21-14 Sidcup (N) Hazelwood, Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey 1,000
2011-12[45] Old Elthamians (S) 16-8 Colchester (N) Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst, Greater London 600
2012-13[46] Basingstoke (S) 27-3 Eton Manor (N) Down Grange, Basingstoke, Hampshire
2013-14[47] Chichester (S) 25-16 Eton Manor (N) Oaklands Park, Chichester, West Sussex
2014-15[48] Eton Manor (N) 17-14 Chobham (S) The New Wilderness, Redbridge, London 400
2015-16[49] Tring (N) 21-26 Guildford (S) Cow Lane, Tring, Hertfordshire 700
2016–17[50] Chingford (N) 33-35 Tunbridge Wells (S) Lea Valley Playing Fields, Chingford, London 500
2017-18[51] Chingford (N) 21-17 Medway (S) Lea Valley Playing Fields, Chingford, London 500[52]
2018-19[53] Colchester (N) 26-33 Brighton (S) Mill Road Playing Fields, Colchester, Essex
2019–20 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Westcombe Park (S) - promoted instead.
2020–21 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22 Cancelled due to the reorganisation of the league
Green background is the promoted team. N = London 1 North (formerly London 2 North) and S = London 1 South (formerly London 2 South).

Number of league titles

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ In 1997 St. Mary's Hospital become part of Imperial Medicals Rugby Club.
  2. ^ League reduced from 11 to 10 teams after West London Institute withdrew.
  3. ^ There would be no relegation due to the league increased from 12 to 17 teams for the following season.
  4. ^ Lowestoft & Yarmouth, Braintree, Finchley, Southend, Brentwood and Barnet Elizabethans were the relegated teams this year. The reason for so many relegated teams was due to the creation of a new division 4 for the next season in the London league which would lead to a restructure of the whole league including a downsizing of this division from 17 teams to 12 teams.
  5. ^ The division would be renamed London Division 1 North for the next season and along with the whole national restructure of the league system by the RFU lead to mass changes at all levels.
  6. ^ After finishing 12th, Barking were due to be relegated but due to East Grinstead's voluntary relegation from National League 3 London & SE (all the way to level 10), the club were granted a reprieve from relegation and would remain in London 1 North for the 2016-17 season.[28]

References

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  1. ^ "League Make up". Sussex Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 12 January 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Renaming of RFU National 3 Leagues". Oxfordshire RFU. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  3. ^ "League Structure and Leagues for 2022/2023". RFU Community Communications. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  4. ^ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. ^ Harvey, Neale (22 May 2016). "French exile Ollie relishing new role at Barking". RugbyPaper. No. 401. p. 30.
  6. ^ Williams, Tony; Mitchell, Bill (eds.). Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Taunton: Football Directories. ISBN 1 873057 01 6.
  7. ^ a b c Williams, Tony; Mitchell, Bill, eds. (1990). Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990-91. Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd. pp. 564–566. ISBN 1873057 024.
  8. ^ Williams, Tony; Mitchell, Bill, eds. (1992). Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1991–92. Taunton: Football Directories. p. 605. ISBN 1 869833 15 5.
  9. ^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1992). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992–93. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 170–185. ISBN 0 7472 7907 1.
  10. ^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94 (22nd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing Ltd. pp. 151–167. ISBN 0 7472 7891 1.
  11. ^ "1998-1999 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  12. ^ "1999-2000 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  13. ^ "2000-2001 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  14. ^ "2001-2002 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  15. ^ "2002-2003 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  16. ^ "2003-2004 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  17. ^ "2004-2005 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  18. ^ "2005-2006 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  19. ^ "2006-2007 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  20. ^ "2007-2008 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  21. ^ "2008-2009 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  22. ^ "2009-2010 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  23. ^ "2010-2011 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  24. ^ "2011-2012 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  25. ^ "2012-2013 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  26. ^ "2013-2014 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  27. ^ "2014-2015 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  28. ^ "Barking RFC to remain in London 1 North". Barking RFC. 11 May 2016.
  29. ^ "2015-2016 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  30. ^ "2016-2017 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  31. ^ "2017-2018 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  32. ^ "2018-2019 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  33. ^ "Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  34. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2000-01". England Rugby. 19 May 2001.
  35. ^ "Rugby: Scratch Portsmouth pipped for promotion". The News (Portsmouth). 29 April 2002.
  36. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2002-03". England Rugby. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  37. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2003-04". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  38. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2004-05". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  39. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2005-06". England Rugby. 28 April 2006.
  40. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2006-07". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  41. ^ "Jersey rugby club gain promotion". BBC Sport. 27 April 2008.
  42. ^ "Staines 7 - Dorking 11". Everything Rugby. 27 April 2009.
  43. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2009-10". England Rugby. 28 April 2012.
  44. ^ "London Irish Wild Geese Rugby I XV 21 – 14 Sidcup Rugby I XV: London Division 1 Promotion play off – 23rd April 2011". In Touch Rugby. 23 April 2011.
  45. ^ "Old Elthamians 16 Colchester 8". Old Elthamians RFC (Pitchero). 28 April 2012.
  46. ^ "Honour in defeat to Basingstoke". Eton Manor RFC (Pitchero). 27 April 2013.
  47. ^ "Chichester 25 - Eton Manor 16 - Match Report by Roger Gould". Eton Manor RFC (Pitchero). 26 April 2014.
  48. ^ "Manor promoted after titanic battle". Eton Manor RFC (Pitchero). 25 April 2015.
  49. ^ "Guildford Promoted to National 3". Guildford Rugby (Pitchero). 30 April 2016.
  50. ^ "Chingford 33 Tunbridge Wells 35". Tunbridge Wells (Pitchero). 29 April 2017.
  51. ^ "Chingford 21-17 Medway". Kent Sports News. 28 April 2018.
  52. ^ "Chingford RFC 21 17 Medway". Chingford Rugby Club (Pitchero). 28 April 2018.
  53. ^ "Colchester 1st XV 26 33 Brighton Blues". Colchester RFC (Pitchero). 27 April 2019.
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