Counties 4 Kent
Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 4 Kent | |
Sport | Rugby union |
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Instituted | 1987 |
Number of teams | 10 |
Country | England |
Most titles | Ashford, Aylesford Bulls, Betteshanger, Brockleians, Erith, New Ash Green, Old Gravesendians, Sittingbourne (2 titles) |
Website | englandrugby.com |
Counties 4 Kent (formerly known as Kent 2 or Shepherd Neame Kent 2 for sponsorship reasons) is an English level 10 Rugby Union League[1] 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. Currently promoted teams move up to Kent 1 and there is no relegation although until the 2007–08 season teams could drop down to Kent 3 (now folded). Now a single division, in the past Kent 2 was divided into regional divisions - Kent 2 East and Kent 2 West. Relegated teams drop down to Counties 5 Kent. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 4 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 Beckenham II, Brockleians and Old Gravesendians, all promoted to Counties 3 Kent. Sidcup III (9th) and Lordswood (12th) were relegated to Counties 5 Kent. Footscray had finished 11th and would ordinarily have been relegated but for Sidcup electing to drop down a division.
Joining were Faversham relegated from Counties 3 Kent. Bromley II, Canterbury III, Old Colfeians II, all promoted from Counties 5 Kent. Rye completed the line-up having re-joined the RFU leagues after an extended absence.
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Teams for 2023-24
Departing were Tonbridge Juddians III and Sittingbourne promoted to Counties 3 Kent. Four clubs Beccehamian II (11th), Greenwich (12th) and Askeans (14th) were relegated to Counties 5 Kent. Weavering Warriors (13th) elected to drop into the Kent RFU merit leagues.
Joining were King's College Hospital and Footscray, both relegated from Counties 3 Kent, together with Beckenham II and Medway III
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Teams for 2022-23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review[2] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 4 Kent.
Returning were 7 of the 9 teams who competed in the previous season's league.
Departing were Dartford Valley and Whitstable, promoted to Counties 3 Kent. There was no relegation.
Joining from Kent 1 were Brockleians, Cliffe Crusaders and Old Willamsonians. The league was supplemented by the addition of Tonbridge Juddians III, Beccehamian II, Dartfordians II and Sidcup III.
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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.
Bexley, who finished 8th in 2019-20, played several of the early fixtures but withdrew from the league in November 2021.
Swanley RFC, a new entry, competed until January 2022 before withdrawing from the league.
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Season 2020–21
On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced [4] 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 2 was not contested.
Teams for 2019-20
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Teams for 2018-19
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Teams for 2017-18
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Teams for 2016-17
- Askean
- Bexley
- Dartford Valley
- Edenbridge
- Erith
- Faversham
- Footscray
- Greenwich
- Lordswood (relegated from Kent 1)
- Old Gravsesendians (relegated from Kent 1)
- Orpington
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- Shooters Hill
- Whitstable
Teams for 2015-2016
- Askean
- Bexley (relegated from Kent 1)
- Dartford Valley
- Edenbridge
- Faversham
- Footscray
- Greenwich
- Orpington
- Shooters Hill
- Sittingbourne (relegated from Kent 1)
- Snowdown C.W.
- Whitstable
Teams for 2014-2015
- Askean
- Brockleians
- Dartford Valley
- Edenbridge
- Faversham
- Footscray (relegated from Kent 1)
- Greenwich
- New Ash Green
- Orpington
- Shooters Hill (relegated from Kent 1)
Teams for 2013-2014
- Ash
- Askean
- Bexley
- Brockleians
- Dartford Valley (www.dvrfc.com)
- Edenbridge
- Faversham
- Guy's Hospital
- Lordswood
- New Ash Green
- Orpington
- Whitstable
Teams for 2009-2010
- Askean
- Bexley
- Brockleians
- Footscray
- Kings Coll. Hospital
- Lordswood
- New Ash Green
- Old Williamsonians
- Orpington
- Shooters Hill
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
- Ashford
- Betteshanger[a]
- Dover
- Folkestone
- Greenwich
- Lloyds Bank
- Met Police Hayes
- Midland Bank
- Orpington
- Snowdown C.W.
- Thames Polytechnic
Kent 2 honours
Kent 2 (1987–1993)
he original Kent 2 was a tier 9 league with promotion up to Kent 1 and relegation down to Kent 3.
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Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
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1987–88 | 11 | Betteshanger | Snowdown C.W. | Orpington, Met Police Hayes, Thames Polytechnic | ||||||||||
1988–89 | 11 | Sevenoaks | Dover | Lloyds Bank, Greenwich | ||||||||||
1989–90 | 11 | Sittingbourne | Met Police Hayes | Midland Bank | ||||||||||
1990–91 | 11 | Tonbridge | Sheppey | Linton, Cranbrook, NatWest Bank | ||||||||||
1991–92 | 11 | Canterbury | Snowdown C.W.[b] | No relegation[c] | ||||||||||
1992–93 | 13 | Thames Polytechnic | NatWest Bank | Old Gravesendians, Linton | ||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Kent 2 (1993–1996)
The creation of National 5 South meant that Kent 2 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 Kent 1 and Kent 3 respectively.
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Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
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1993–94 | 13 | Old Shootershillians | Old Elthamians | Lloyds Bank, Tonbridge, Bexley | ||||||||||
1994–95 | 13 | Ashford | Dover | Midland Bank, New Ash Green | ||||||||||
1995–96 | 13 | Betteshanger | Cranbrook | Vigo | ||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Kent 2 (1996–1998)
The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Kent 2 reverted to being a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Kent 1 and Kent 3 respectively.
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Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
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1996–97 | 13 | Folkestone | Whitstable[d] | No relegation[e] | ||||||||||
1997–98 | 14 | Midland Bank | Tonbridge | No relegation[f] | ||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Kent 2 East / West (1998–2000)
The cancellation of Kent 3 ahead of the 1997–98 season saw Kent 2 restructured into two regional division - Kent 2 East and Kent 2 West - both of which were tier 9 leagues. Promotion continued to Kent 1 and there was no relegation until Kent 3 was reintroduced.
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Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name | |||||||||
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1998–99 [6][7] |
14 | New Ash Green | Old Elthamians | No relegation | Kent 2 East | |||||||||
4 | Greenwich | Dartford Valley | No relegation | Kent 2 West | ||||||||||
1999–00 [8][9] |
8 | Aylesford Bulls[g] | Sittingbourne | Multiple teams[h] | Kent 2 East | |||||||||
9[i] | Erith[j] | Dartford Valley | Multiple teams[k] | Kent 2 West | ||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Kent 2 (2000–2009)
Kent 2 was restructured back into a single division for the 2000–01 season, although the introduction of London 4 South East meant that it fell to become a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Kent 1, while the reintroduction of Kent 3 meant that there was relegation until this league was cancelled at the end of the 2007–08 season.
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Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
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2000–01[10] | 9 | Ashford | Erith | No relegation[l] | ||||||||||
2001–02[11] | 10 | Aylesford Bulls | Sheppey | Dartford Valley, HSBC, Dover | ||||||||||
2002–03[12] | 10 | Old Elthamians | Sittingbourne | Brockleians, Bexley | ||||||||||
2003–04[13] | 9 | Park House | Dover | No relegation[m] | ||||||||||
2004–05[14] | 10 | Brockleians | New Ash Green | Dartford Valley | ||||||||||
2005–06[15] | 9 | Old Gravesendians | Sheppey | Medway, Bexley | ||||||||||
2006–07[16] | 8 | Erith | Old Olavians | New Ash Green, Orpington, Shooters Hill | ||||||||||
2007–08[17] | 8 | Medway | Cranbrook[n] | No relegation[o] | ||||||||||
2008–09[18] | 10[p] | HSBC | Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital | No relegation | ||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Kent 2 (2009–present)
Kent 2 remained a tier 10 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion continued to Kent 1 and there was no relegation.
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Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
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2009–10[19] | 10 | Lordswood | New Ash Green | No relegation | ||||||||||
2010–11[20] | 11 | Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital | Shooters Hill | No relegation | ||||||||||
2011–12[21] | 9 | King's College Hospital | Southwark Lancers | No relegation | ||||||||||
2012–13[22] | 11 | Old Williamsonians | Footscray | No relegation | ||||||||||
2013–14[23] | 10 | Bexley | Lordswood | No relegation | ||||||||||
2014–15[24] | 10 | New Ash Green | Brockleians | No relegation | ||||||||||
2015–16[25] | 12 | Sittingbourne | Snowdown C.W. | No relegation | ||||||||||
2016–17[26] | 13 | Old Gravesendians | Royal Bank of Scotland | No relegation | ||||||||||
2017–18[27] | 9 | Whitstable | Footscray | No relegation | ||||||||||
2018–19[28] | 9 | Cliffe Crusaders | Faversham | No relegation | ||||||||||
2019–20[29] | 10 | Brockleians | Footscray | No relegation | ||||||||||
2020–21 | 10 | No relegation | ||||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Number of league titles
- Ashford (2)
- Aylesford Bulls (2)
- Betteshanger (2)
- Brockleians (2)
- Erith (2)
- New Ash Green (2)
- Old Gravesendians (2)
- Sittingbourne (2)
- Bexley (1)
- Canterbury (1)
- Cliffe Crusaders (1)
- Folkestone (1)
- Greenwich (1)
- Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital (1)
- HSBC (1)
- King's College Hospital (1)
- Lordswood (1)
- Medway (1)
- Midland Bank (1)
- New Ash Green (1)
- Old Elthamians (1)
- Old Shootershillians (1)
- Old Williamsonians (1)
- Park House (1)
- Sevenoaks (1)
- Thames Polytechnic (1)
- Tonbridge (1)
- Whitstable (1)
Notes
- ^ Betteshanger merged with Deal Wanderers RFC in 2006 to become Deal & Betteshanger Rugby Club.[5]
- ^ 3rd place New Ash Green and 4th place Met Police Hayes were also promoted due to Kent league restructuring.
- ^ Kent league restructuring meant that there was no relegation.
- ^ Seven teams were promoted from the division due to Kent league restructuring, including Snowdown C.W., Deal Wanderers, NatWest Bank, Sittingbourne and Lordswood.
- ^ Kent league restructuring meant that there was no relegation.
- ^ Kent league restructuring meant that there was no relegation.
- ^ Aylesford Bulls were not promoted this season but instead remained in a new look single division along with runners up Sittingbourne and relegated teams from Kent 1.
- ^ Due to the creation of a single division for Kent 2 as well as two new lower divisions there were many relegations this season. Faversham, Vigo, Old Williamsonians joined Kent 4 while Deal & Betteshanger, Old Gravesendians, Edenbridge joined Kent 3.
- ^ Multiple teams were transferred from Kent 2 East for this season - previously only 4 teams in division.
- ^ Erith were not promoted this season but instead remained in a new look single division along with runners up Dartford Valley and relegated teams from Kent 1.
- ^ Due to the creation of a single division for Kent 2 as well as two new lower divisions there were many relegations this season. Footscray, Bexley and Greenwich joined Kent 3 while Orpington and Old Olavians joined Kent 4. Greenwich Academical and Met Police Hayes would drop out of the league for the following season.
- ^ No relegation as Kent 4 abolished at end of season and subsequent league restructuring led to division increasing to 10 teams.
- ^ No relegation as division would increase to 10 teams the following season.
- ^ Vigo and Sheppey were also promoted along with champions Medway and runners up Cranbrook.
- ^ No relegation as Kent 3 abolished at the end of the season.
- ^ Division increased to 10 teams due to Kent 3 being abolished the previous season.
See also
References
- ^ "League Make up". Kent RFU. Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
- ^ "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Rugby returns to the Rectory Field as Askeans move in". 2 November 2021.
- ^ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "CLUB HISTORY". Deal and Betteshanger Rugby Club. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ "1998-1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "1998-1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "1999-2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "1999-2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2000-2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2001-2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2002-2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2003-2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2004-2005 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2005-2006 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2006-2007 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2007-2008 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2008-2009 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2009-2010 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2010-2011 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2011-2012 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2012-2013 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2013-2014 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "2014-2015 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
- ^ "2015-2016 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ^ "2016-2017 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "2017-2018 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "2018-2019 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
- ^ "Men's London & South East Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.