Counties 1 Southern North

Counties 1 Southern North (formerly known as Southern Counties North) is a division at level 7 of the English rugby union system. When league rugby first began in 1987 it was known as Southern Counties but since 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues – Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern North currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and features teams based in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The league champions at the end of each season are promoted to Regional 2 South Central or Regional 2 Thames. Relegated teams usually drop to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South).

Format

The twelve teams in this league are drawn from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, with the league champions (if eligible) promoted to Regional 2 South Central. The league's bottom two teams are relegated to either Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South), depending on their geographic location.[citation needed] The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league table as follows:

• 4 points are awarded for a win
• 2 points are awarded for a draw
• 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
• 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
• 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match

2025–26

Participating teams and locations

Departing were Oxford Harlequins II and Windsor , promoted to Regional 2 Thames as champions and runners-up respectively. Grove (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (West).

2024–25

Participating teams and locations

Departing were Beaconsfield, promoted to Regional 2 Thames whilst Milton Keynes (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) and Rams III (11th) relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South).

League table

2023–24

Participating teams and locations

Departing was the second-placed team Marlow, promoted to Regional 2 Thames. Champions Chinnor III) were not promoted owing to league rules regarding third teams. Five teams were relegated; Gosford All Blacks (8th) and High Wycombe (10th) were relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North), Reading Abbey (9th) and Thatcham (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South), while Swindon College Old Boys (11th) were relegated to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North.

League table

2022–23

Participating teams and locations

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Southern Counties North with eight teams returning from season 2021–22.

League table

2021–22

Participating teams and locations

2020–21

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the season was cancelled.

2019–20

Participating teams and locations

2018–19

Participating teams and locations

2017–18

Participating teams and locations

2016–17

Participating teams and locations

2015–16

Participating teams and locations

The 2015–16 Southern Counties North consisted of twelve teams; six from Buckinghamshire, two each from Berkshire and Oxfordshire, and one each from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The season started on 12 September 2015 and the last league matches were played on 23 April 2016.

Seven of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions High Wycombe were promoted to the South West 1 East while Milton Keynes and Alchester were relegated to the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier. Royal Wootton Bassett, who finished 4th, were level transferred to Southern Counties South.

2014–15

• Alchester
• Aylesbury
• Beaconsfield
• Bicester (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier)
• Drifters
• High Wycombe
• Marlow (relegated from South West 1 East)
• Milton Keynes
• Royal Wootton Bassett
• Stow-on-the-Wold
• Thatcham
• Wallingford

2013–14

• Alchester
• Aylesbury
• Bletchley
• Drifters
• High Wycombe
• Milton Keynes
• Reading Abbey
• Royal Wootton Bassett
• Stow-on-the-Wold
• Swindon College Old Boys
• Thatcham
• Wallingford

2012–13

• Alchester
• Aylesbury
• Buckingham
• Drifters
• Grove
• Milton Keynes
• Olney
• Reading Abbey
• Slough
• Tadley
• Thatcham
• Wallingford

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Southern Counties) contained the following teams:

• Aylesbury
• Banbury
• Bletchley
• Bracknell
• Marlow
• Oxford Marathon
• Oxford Old Boys
• Redingensians
• Swindon
• Wimborne
• Windsor

Counties 1 Southern North honours

Southern Counties (1987–1993)

Originally the Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South leagues were combined in a single division called Southern Counties. It was a tier 7 league with promotion to South West 2 and relegation to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 or Bucks/Oxon 1.

Southern Counties (1993–1996)

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 Southern Counties dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to South West 2 and relegation to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 or Bucks/Oxon 1.

Southern Counties North (1996–2000)

Restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Southern Counties split into two separate leagues, Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. They reverted to tier 7 leagues due to the cancellation of National 5 South. Promotion from Southern Counties North was now to the new South West 2 East while relegation was now only to Bucks/Oxon 1.

Southern Counties North (2000–2009)

Southern Counties North remained a tier 7 league, with promotion continuing to South West 2 East. However, the transfer of Berkshire clubs from the Dorset/Wilts leagues to the Bucks/Oxon leagues, meant that relegation was now to new Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 (formerly Bucks/Oxon 1).

Southern Counties North (2009–2022)

Despite widespread league restructuring by the RFU, Southern Counties North continued as a tier 7 league, with promotion to South West 1 East (formerly South West 2 East) and relegation to Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier.

Counties 1 Southern North (2022– )

Following the reorganisation of the leagues, Southern Counties North was renamed Counties 1 Southern North and remained a level seven league. The champions are promoted to Regional 2 South Central or Regional 2 Thames and one or two teams (on one occasion five) are relegated, depending on location, to one of the level eight leagues; Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon.

Promotion play-offs

Between 2000–01 and 2018–19 seasons, there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South for the third and final promotion place to South West 1 East. The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Southern Counties North teams have been the most successful with twelve wins to the Southern Counties South teams seven; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.

Number of league titles

• Beaconsfield (3)
• High Wycombe (3)
• Witney (3)
• Banbury (2)
• Bletchley (2)
• Buckingham (2)
• Marlow (2)
• Olney (2)
• Oxford Harlequins (2)
• Redingensians (2)
• Windsor (2)
• Amersham & Chiltern (1)
• Aylesbury (1)
• Bournemouth (1)
• Chinnor III (1)
• Dorchester (1)
• Reading Abbey (1)
• Sherborne (1)
• Slough (1)
• Stow-on-the-Wold (2)
• Swanage & Wareham (1)
• Swindon (1)

• (Updated to 2024–25)

See also

• South West Division RFU
• Berkshire RFU
• Buckinghamshire RFU
• Oxfordshire RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

Notes