Misplaced Pages

Counties 3 Kent

Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 3 Kent
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Number of teams	10
Country	England
Most titles	Park House (4 titles)
Website	englandrugby.com

Counties 3 Kent (formerly Kent 1 known as Shepherd Neame Kent 1 for sponsorship reasons) is an English level 9 Rugby Union League and is made up of teams predominantly from south-east London and Kent. The teams play home and away matches from September through to April. The league champions move up to Counties 2 Kent. Relegated teams drop down to Counties 4 Kent. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 3 Kent.

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 2024–25

Departing were Old Elthamians and Old Alleynians II, both promoted to Counties 2 Kent. Faversham (10th) were relegated to Counties 4 Kent.

Joining were Old Dunstonians relegated from Counties 2 Kent together with Beckenham II, Brockleians and Old Gravesendians, all promoted from Counties 4 Kent

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Beckenham II Balmoral Avenue Beckenham, London Promoted from Counties 4 Kent (champions) Brockleians Civil Service Sports Ground Eltham, London Promoted from Counties 4 Kent (runners-up) Gravesend II Rectory Field Gravesend, Kent 8th Hastings & Bexhill William Parker Lower School Hastings, East Sussex 7th New Ash Green New Ash Green Sports Pavilion New Ash Green, Kent 9th Old Dunstonians St. Dunstan's Lane Beckenham, London Relegated from Counties 2 Kent Old Gravesendians Fleetway Sports Ground Gravesend, Kent Promoted from Counties 4 Kent (3rd) Sittingbourne Gore Court Cricket Club Sittingbourne, Kent 4th Tonbridge Juddians II The Slade 1,500 Tonbridge, Kent 3rd Tunbridge Wells II St Marks Recreation Ground 3,000 Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent 5th Whitstable Reeves Way Chestfield, Kent 6th

Beckenham IIBrockleiansDunstoniansclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Kent teams in Greater London Gravesend IIHastings & BexhillNew AshGravesendians Sittingbourne Tonbridge Juddians IITunbridge Wells IIWhitstableclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Kent teams in Kent & East Sussex

Teams for 2023–24

Departing were Dartford Valley and Medway II, both promoted to Counties 2 Kent. King's College Hospital (9th) and Footscray (10th) were relegated to Counties 4 Kent.

Joining were Hastings & Bexhill relegated from Counties 2 Kent together with Sittingbourne promoted from Counties 4 Kent and Tonbridge Juddians III who upon joining this league were rebranded as Tonbridge Juddians II.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Faversham Recreation Ground Faversham, Kent 5th Gravesend II Rectory Field Gravesend, Kent 8th Hastings & Bexhill William Parker Lower School Hastings, East Sussex Relegated from Counties 2 Kent New Ash Green New Ash Green Sports Pavilion New Ash Green, Kent 7th Old Alleynians II The Common Dulwich, London 4th Old Elthamians Hospital Ground Chislehurst, London 3rd Sittingbourne Gore Court Cricket Club Sittingbourne, Kent Promoted from Counties 4 Kent (runners-up) Tonbridge Juddians II The Slade 1,500 Tonbridge, Kent Promoted from Counties 4 Kent (champions) Tunbridge Wells II St Marks Recreation Ground 3,000 Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent New entry Whitstable Reeves Way Chestfield, Kent 6th

Old Alleynians IIElthamiansclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Kent teams in Greater London FavershamGravesend IIHastings & BexhillNew AshSittingbourne Tonbridge Juddians IITunbridge Wells IIWhitstableclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Kent teams in Kent & East Sussex

Teams for 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 3 Kent.

Returning were 4 of the 9 teams who competed in the previous season's league.

Departing were Hastings & Bexhill and Park House, both promoted to Counties 2 Kent. Old Williamsonians (3rd), Cliffe Crusaders (7th), Brockleians (9th) dropped to Counties 4 Kent.

Joining were Dartford Valley and Whitstable, promoted from Kent 2. New to the league were Gravesend II, Old Elthamians, Old Alleynians II and Medway II.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Dartford Valley Leigh Academy Dartford, Kent Promoted from Kent 2 (champions) Faversham Recreation Ground Faversham, Kent 5th Footscray Footscray Playing Fields New Eltham, London 8th Gravesend II Rectory Field Gravesend, Kent New entry King's College Hospital Dulwich Sports Ground Dulwich, London 6th Medway II Priestfields Rochester, Kent New entry New Ash Green New Ash Green Sports Pavilion New Ash Green, Kent 4th Old Alleynians II The Common Dulwich, London New entry Old Elthamians Hospital Ground Chislehurst, London New entry Whitstable Reeves Way Chestfield, Kent Promoted from Kent 2 (runners-up)

FootscrayKCHOld Alleynians IIElthamiansclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Kent teams in Greater London Dartford ValleyFavershamGravesend IIMedway IINew AshWhitstableclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Kent teams in Kent

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.

Despite finishing 7th in season 2019–20, HSBC did not return to the league for the current season.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Brockleians Civil Service Sports Ground Eltham, London Promoted from Kent 2 (champions) Cliffe Crusaders Recreation Ground Cliffe, Kent 6th Faversham Recreation Ground Faversham, Kent 5th Footscray Footscray Playing Fields New Eltham, London Promoted from Kent 2 (runners up) Hastings & Bexhill William Parker Lower School Hastings, East Sussex 4th King's College Hospital Dulwich Sports Ground Dulwich, London 3rd New Ash Green New Ash Green Sports Pavilion New Ash Green, Kent 8th Old Williamsonians Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School Rochester, Kent Relegated from London 3 SE (12th) Park House Barnet Wood Road Hayes, London Relegated from London 3 SE (11th)

BrockleiansFootscrayKCHPark Houseclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2021-22 Shepherd Neame Kent 1 teams in Greater London CliffeFavershamHastings & BexhillNew AshWilliamsoniansclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2021-22 Shepherd Neame Kent 1 teams in Kent & East Sussex

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 (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Kent 1 was not contested.

Participating clubs 2019-20

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Cliffe Crusaders Recreation Ground Cliffe, Kent Promoted from Kent 2 (champions) Cranbrook Tomlin Ground Cranbrook, Kent 4th Faversham Recreation Ground Faversham, Kent Promoted from Kent 2 (runners up) Hastings & Bexhill William Parker Lower School Hastings, East Sussex Relegated from London 3 SE (10th) HSBC HSBC Sports Ground Beckenham, London 6th King's College Hospital Dulwich Sports Ground Dulwich, London 7th New Ash Green New Ash Green Sports Pavilion New Ash Green, Kent 9th Old Gravesendians Fleetway Sports Ground Gravesend, Kent 5th Southwark Lancers Burgess Park Camberwell, London 3rd Whitstable Reeves Way Chestfield, Kent 8th

HSBCKing'sSouthwarkclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2019-20 Shepherd Neame Kent 1 teams in Greater London CliffeCranbrookFavershamHastings & BexhillNew AshGravesendiansWhitstableclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2019-20 Shepherd Neame Kent 1 teams in Kent & East Sussex

Participating clubs 2018-19

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Ashford Kinney's Field Ashford, Kent 11th (not relegated) Cranbrook Tomlin Ground Cranbrook, Kent 5th Footscray Footscray Playing Fields New Eltham, London Promoted from Kent 2 (runners up) Gillingham Anchorians Darland Banks Gillingham, Kent 4th HSBC HSBC Sports Ground Beckenham, London 7th King's College Hospital Dulwich Sports Ground Dulwich, London 3rd New Ash Green New Ash Green Sports Pavilion New Ash Green, Kent 11th Old Gravesendians Fleetway Sports Ground Gravesend, Kent 9th Sheppey Stupple Field Minster, Kent Relegated from London 3 SE (11th) Southwark Lancers Burgess Park Camberwell, London 10th Whitstable Reeves Way Chestfield, Kent Promoted from Kent 2 (champions)

FootscrayHSBCKing'sSouthwarkclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2018-19 Shepherd Neame Kent 1 teams in Greater London AshfordCranbrookAnchoriansNew AshGravesendiansSheppeyWhitstableclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2018-19 Shepherd Neame Kent 1 teams in Kent

Participating clubs 2017-18

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Ashford Kinney's Field Ashford, Kent Relegated from London 3 South East (12th) Beccehamian Sparrow's Den West Wickham, London 4th Cranbrook Tomlin Ground Cranbrook, Kent 3rd Gillingham Anchorians Darland Banks Gillingham, Kent Relegated from London 3 South East (10th) HSBC HSBC Sports Ground Beckenham, London 5th King's College Hospital Dulwich Sports Ground Dulwich, London 6th New Ash Green New Ash Green Sports Pavilion New Ash Green, Kent 9th Old Gravesendians Fleetway Sports Ground Gravesend, Kent Promoted from Kent 2 (champions) Royal Bank of Scotland Goals Beckenham Beckenham, London Promoted from Kent 2 (runners up) Sittingbourne Gore Court Cricket Club Sittingbourne, Kent 10th Southwark Lancers Burgess Park Camberwell, London 7th Vigo Swanswood Field Vigo, Kent 8th

BeccehamianHSBCKing'sRBSSouthwarkclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2017-18 Shepherd Neame Kent 1 teams in Greater London AshfordCranbrookGillinghamNew AshGravesendiansSittingbourneVigoclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2017-18 Shepherd Neame Kent 1 teams in Kent

Participating clubs 2016-17

• Beccehamaian
• Brockleians
• Hastings & Bexhill
• HSBC
• King's College Hospital
• Lordswood
• New Ash Green
• Old Gravesendians
• Sittingbourne (promoted from Kent 2)
• Southwark Lancers
• Snowdon C.W. (promoted from Kent 2)
• Vigo

Participating clubs 2015-16

• Beccehamaian
• Brockleians (promoted from Kent 2)
• Hastings & Bexhill (relegated from London 3 South East)
• HSBC
• King's College Hospital
• Lordswood
• New Ash Green (promoted from Kent 2)
• Old Gravesendians
• Old Williamsonians
• Sheppey
• Southwark Lancers
• Vigo

Participating clubs 2014-2015

• Beccehamian (relegated from London 3 South East)
• Bexley (promoted from Kent 2)
• Cranbrook
• HSBC
• King's College Hospital
• Lordswood
• Old Gravesendians
• Old Williamsonians
• Sheppey (relegated from London 3 South East)
• Sittingbourne
• Southwark Lancers
• Vigo

Participating clubs 2010-2011

• Ashford
• Beccehamian
• Cranbrook
• Dartfordians
• Erith
• Gillingham Anchorians.
• Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital
• Hastings and Bexhill
• HSBC
• New Ash Green
• Old Gravesendians
• Shooters Hill
• Sittingbourne
• Vigo
• Whitstable

Original teams

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

• Bromley
• Charlton Park
• Erith
• Medway
• NatWest Bank
• Old Elthamians
• Old Shootershillians
• Park House
• Sevenoaks
• Thanet Wanderers
• Tonbridge

Kent 1 honours

Kent 1 (1987–1993)

The original Kent 1 was a tier 8 league with promotion up to London 3 South East and relegation down to Kent 2.

Kent 1 (1993–1996)

The creation of National 5 South meant that Kent 1 dropped from a tier 8 league to a tier 9 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to London 3 South East and Kent 2 respectively.

Kent 1 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Kent 1 reverted to being a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to London 3 South East and Kent 2 respectively.

Kent 1 (2000–2009)

The introduction of London 4 South East ahead of the 2000–01 season meant Kent 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division. Relegation continued to Kent 2.

Kent 1 (2009–present)

Kent 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 to Kent 2.

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.

Number of league titles

• Park House (4)
• Dartfordians (3)
• Ashford (2)
• Beccehamian (2)
• Cranbrook (2)
• Gillingham Anchorians (2)
• Aylesford Bulls (1)
• Bromley (1)
• Canterbury (1)
• Charlton Park (1)
• Dover (1)
• Erith (1)
• Folkestone (1)
• Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital (1)
• Hastings & Bexhill (1)
• Lordswood (1)
• Medway (1)
• Old Dunstonians (1)
• Sevenoaks (1)
• Sheppey (1)
• Southwark Lancers (1)
• Thanet Wanderers (1)
• Tunbridge Wells (1)
• Whitstable (1)

Notes

1. Tonbridge would later merge with Old Juddian in 1999 to form Tonbridge Juddians RFC.
2. No relegation as Kent 1 to increase from 11 to 13 teams.
3. 11th place Erith would drop out of the leagues before the start of the following season.
4. 3rd place Sheppey also promoted.
5. No relegation as Kent 1 to increase from 12 to 16 teams.
6. More relegations than normal due to league restructuring - Kent 2 would become a single division and Kent 3 and Kent 4 were created for the following season.
7. No relegation due to Kent 3 folding at the end of the season and the subsequent league restructuring meant that the number of teams in Kent 1 would increase to 12 for the following season.
8. Reduced from 12 to 11 teams after Royal Bank of Scotland withdrew from league.
9. 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.

See also

• London & SE Division RFU
• Kent RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

References

1. "League Make up". Kent RFU. Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
2. "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 13 June 2022.
3. "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
4. "1998-1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
5. "1999-2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
6. "2000-2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
7. "2001-2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
8. "2002-2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
9. "2003-2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
10. "2004-2005 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
11. "2005-2006 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
12. "2006-2007 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
13. "2007-2008 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
14. "2008-2009 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
15. "2009-2010 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
16. "2010-2011 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
17. "2011-2012 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
18. "2012-2013 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
19. "2013-2014 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
20. "2014-2015 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
21. "2015-2016 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
22. "2016-2017 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
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 13 April 2019.
25. "Men's London & South East Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
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.

External links

• Kent Rugby Football Union

v t e Rugby union in England
Governing body	Rugby Football Union Rugby Football Union for Women (merged into the RFU)
National teams	Men's England England A 7's U-21 U-20 U-18 British & Irish Lions England Counties XV Women's Women's 7's
International competitions	Men's World Cup Six Nations Rugby World Cup Sevens Sevens World Series Sevens Grand Prix Series Commonwealth Games Women's World Cup Six Nations World Series Sevens
Competition divisions	Men's Premiership Championship National Leagues London and SE Division Northern Division Midland Division South West Division United Hospitals Cup Women's Premiership Women's Rugby
European competitions	European Rugby Champions Cup European Rugby Challenge Cup
National competitions	Premiership Rugby Premiership Cup RFU Championship Championship Cup National League 1 National League 2 East National League 2 North National League 2 West RFU Intermediate Cup RFU Senior Vase RFU Junior Vase Premiership Rugby Sevens Series Women's Premiership Premier 15s
London and South East competitions	Regional 1 South East Regional 1 South Central Regional 2 Anglia Regional 2 South Central Regional 2 South East Regional 2 Thames London 1 North London 2 North East London 2 North West London 2 South East London 2 South West London 3 North West London 3 South East London 3 South West Counties 2 Eastern Counties London 3 Essex Eastern Counties 1 Eastern Counties 2 Eastern Counties 3 Counties 2 Essex Counties 2 Hampshire Counties 3 Hampshire Counties 4 Hampshire Hampshire Cups Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex Herts/Middlesex 2 Hertfordshire Cups Middlesex Cups Counties 3 Kent Counties 4 Kent Counties 5 Kent Kent Cups Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex Counties 2 Surrey Counties 3 Surrey Counties 4 Surrey Counties 5 Surrey Surrey Cups Counties 2 Sussex Sussex 1 Sussex Cups
Midland competitions	Regional 1 Midlands Regional 2 North Midlands Regional 2 West Midlands Regional 2 East Midlands Counties 1 Midlands West (North) Counties 1 Midlands West (South) Midlands 2 East (North) Midlands 2 East (South) Midlands 3 West (North) Midlands 3 West (South) Midlands 3 East (North) Midlands 3 East (South) Midlands 4 West (North) Midlands 4 West (South) Midlands 4 East (North) Midlands 4 East (South) Midlands 5 West (South) Leicestershire Cups North Midlands Cups Staffordshire Cups Warwickshire Cups
Northern competitions	Regional 1 North East Regional 1 North West Regional 2 North Regional 2 North East Regional 2 North West North 1 East North 1 West North 2 West Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire Lancs/Cheshire 1 Lancs/Cheshire 2 Cheshire Cups Lancashire Cups Counties 1 Cumbria Cumbria Cups Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland Counties 3 Durham & Northumberland Durham Cups Northumberland Cups Counties 1 Yorkshire Counties 2 Yorkshire Counties 3 Yorkshire Counties 4 Yorkshire Yorkshire Cups
South West competitions	Regional 1 South West Regional 2 Severn Regional 2 South West Counties 1 Southern North Counties 1 Southern South Counties 1 Western North Counties 1 Western West Counties 2 Cornwall Counties 3 Cornwall Cornwall Cups Counties 2 Devon Counties 3 Devon East Counties 3 Devon West Devon Cups Gloucester Premier Gloucester 1 Gloucester 2 North Gloucester 2 South Gloucestershire Cups Counties 2 Somerset Somerset 1 Somerset 2 North Somerset 2 South Somerset 3 North Somerset 3 South Somerset Cups Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier Oxfordshire Cups Dorset & Wilts 1 North Dorset & Wilts 1 South Dorset & Wilts 2 North Dorset & Wilts 2 South Dorset & Wilts 3 North
County competitions	Division 1 Division 2 Division 3
Discontinued competitions	Anglo-Welsh Cup Cornwall/Devon League Divisional Championship National League 2 South North Premier RFU Knockout Cup South West 1 East
Related articles	International players Clubs Churchill Cup Calcutta Cup Millennium Trophy Ella-Mobbs Trophy Hillary Shield
Other	English rugby union system Timeline of rugby union on UK television

• Rugby union leagues in England
• Rugby union in Kent