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Counties 1 Kent

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Counties 1 Kent
Current season or competition:
2025–26 Counties 1 Kent
SportRugby union
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersCanterbury Pilgrims (2024–25)
Most titlesCanterbury Pilgrims (2 titles)
Website

Counties 1 Kent is an English level 7 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Kent, Greater London and East Sussex. Administration of the leagues is divided between Kent Rugby,[1] Sussex Rugby[2] and the London & SE RFU.[3] (The locations in Greater London are all in areas that were historically part of Kent.)

The current champions are Canterbury Pilgrims.

Structure and format

[edit]

The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to April, making a total of twenty-two matches each. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:

  • 4 points are awarded for a win.
  • 2 points are awarded for a draw.
  • 0 points are awarded for a loss.

In addition:

  • 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

Promotion is to Regional 2 South East and relegation is to either Counties 2 Kent or Counties 2 Sussex depending on location.

2026–27

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Departing were Old Elthamians promoted to Regional 2 South East whilst Cranbrook (11th) and Charlton Park (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Kent.

2025–26

[edit]

Departing were Canterbury II and Bromley, both promoted to Regional 2 South East.

2024–25

[edit]

Canterbury Pilgrims finished top but owing to league regulations were not permitted to be promoted to level 6.[4] Departing were Dartfordians promoted to Regional 2 South East as runner-up with Thanet being relegated to Counties 2 Kent.[5][6] With no team coming down from Regional 2 South East there was a reprieve for Charlton Park who finished 11th and would ordinarily have been relegated to Counties 2 Kent. Joining were Sevenoaks 2XV and Park House from Counties 2 Kent.[7]

League table

[edit]
Counties 1 Kent 2024–25
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Adjust
1Canterbury Pilgrims (P) 22200274030943115199+2
2Bromley (P) 22181374841932913390
3Sevenoaks II 22160669844825015485+2
4Crowborough 22120104864196713567+1
5Beccehamian 221201060745015712566+1
6Dover 221219510524−149464+1
7Heathfield & Waldron 221101157145711411560
8Park House 228014532605−739748
9Deal & Betteshanger 229013418726−3086244
10Ashford 227015364598−2346438
11Cranbrook 223019297715−418439−10
12Charlton Park 223019284585−301412−15
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Number of draws
  3. Difference between points for and against
  4. Total number of points for
  5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  6. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background are the promotion places. Pink background are the relegation places.
Updated: 12 January 2024
Source:[8]

2023–24

[edit]

Departing were Old Alleynians promoted to Regional 2 South East, while Folkestone and Aylesford Bulls were relegated to Counties 2 Kent.[9][10] In their place came Dover and Canterbury Pilgrims both promoted as 'joint champions' from Counties 2 Kent, whilst Dartfordians were relegated from Regional 2 South East.[11]

League table

[edit]
Counties 1 Kent 2023–24
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Adjust
CCanterbury Pilgrims22200284643940718098
2Dartfordians22171469244424819190
3Beccehamian22181383929954016186−5
4Bromley22151662141620513379
5Crowborough221426530463679170
6Dover229112466548−829350
7Heathfield & Waldron228212459469−107650
8Deal & Betteshanger228014403582−1796442
9Ashford226016345518−1733330
10Cranbrook224117388756−3684426
11Charlton Park225017371684−3135323−5
12Thanet Wanderers (R)223118378720−3424321
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Number of draws
  3. Difference between points for and against
  4. Total number of points for
  5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  6. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places.
Updated: 25 June 2024
Source:[12]

2022–23

[edit]

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 2 South East with the teams placed 5th to 12th returning. The teams finishing 1st to 4th were promoted to Regional 2 South East (level 6) with the top four teams promoted from London 3 South East (level 8).[13]

League table

[edit]
Counties 1 Kent 2022–23
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Adjust
1Old Alleynians (P)22200289025763316197
2Bromley22160657531625912177
3Beccehamian22140859638121511471
4Heathfield & Waldron221408468486−189368
5Charlton Park221408525537−1210167
6Cranbrook22120105385112710159
7Ashford2212010440399414456
8Deal & Betteshanger2211011448507−397355
9Crowborough228014443552−1097135−5
10Thanet Wanderers227015309593−2845033
11Folkestone (R)223019346797−4515421
12Aylesford Bulls (R)221021341603−2623613
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Number of draws
  3. Difference between points for and against
  4. Total number of points for
  5. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  6. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places.
Source:[16]

Counties 1 Kent honours (2022–present)

[edit]

Following the RFU Adult Competition Review, eight teams finishing 5th to 12th were transferred from London 2 South East and the top four from London 3 South East were promoted to this league. Promotion is to Regional 2 South East and relegation to Counties 2 Kent or Counties 2 Sussex.

Counties 1 Kent
Season No of teams Champions Runner-up Relegated team(s) Ref
2022–2312Old AlleynianBromleyFolkestone (11th) and Aylesford Bulls (12th)[16]
2023–2412Canterbury PilgrimsDartfordiansThanet Wanderers (12th)[12]
2024–2512Canterbury PilgrimsBromleyNo relegation[8]
Green background is the promotion place(s).

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "RFU Leagues". Surrey Rugby. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  2. ↑ "Mens [sic] Leagues". Sussex Rugby. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  3. ↑ "RFU League Statistics". L&SE RFU. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  4. ↑ "PILGRIMS ARE CHAMPIONS". Canterbury RFC. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  5. ↑ "Dartfordians RFC celebrating 100th anniversary season with promotion and a lunch in support of the IPF". RFU Injured Players Foundation. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  6. ↑ "Relegation looks certain for Wanderers". Isle of Thanet News. 25 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "Sevenoaks 2s are Kent Champions!". Local Sports News. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Counties 1 Kent 2024–25". Rugby England. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  9. ↑ "Old Alleynians 1XV win the League with a record win!". Old Alleynians. 19 March 2023.
  10. ↑ "RELEGATION LOOMS FOR FOLKESTONE AFTER ANOTHER LOSS". Folkestone RFC. 12 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "Player-coach Martyn Beaumont on Dover Rugby Club being named 'joint-champions' of Kent 2 with Canterbury 2nds". Kent Online. 9 April 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Counties 1 Kent 2023-24". England Rugby. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  13. ↑ "Rugby union competition structure gets overhaul ahead of the 2022/23 season". Kent Online. 28 May 2022.
  14. ↑ "Addition to the coaching team for next season". Bromley RFC. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  15. ↑ "Deal & Betteshanger coach Danny Vaughan reacts to news the club will be playing in new Counties 1 Kent Division following Rugby Football Union's restructure". Kent Online. 11 June 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Counties 1 Kent 2022–23". Rugby England. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
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