Counties 4 Kent

Counties 4 Kent (formerly known as Kent 2 or Shepherd Neame Kent 2 for sponsorship reasons) is an English level 10 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. 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 2025–26

Departing were Canterbury III and Old Williamsonians, promoted to Counties 3 Kent while Medway III were relegated to Counties 5 Kent.

Footscray (11th in 2024–25) did not return for the new season.

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.

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

Teams for 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review 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.

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.

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 2 was not contested.

Teams for 2019–20

Teams for 2018-19

Teams for 2017-18

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 2015–16

• 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 2014–15

• Askean
• Brockleians
• Dartford Valley
• Edenbridge
• Faversham
• Footscray (relegated from Kent 1)
• Greenwich
• New Ash Green
• Orpington
• Shooters Hill (relegated from Kent 1)

Teams for 2013–14

• Ash
• Askean
• Bexley
• Brockleians
• Dartford Valley (www.dvrfc.com)
• Edenbridge
• Faversham
• Guy's Hospital
• Lordswood
• New Ash Green
• Orpington
• Whitstable

Teams for 2009–10

• 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
• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

See also

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

External links