North East Counties 1
English amateur rugby union competition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
North East Counties 1, formerly known as Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland and before that Durham/Northumberland 1 is an English amateur rugby union competition. The league consists of twelve clubs, and is in the seventh tier of the English rugby union system; it is one of the sixteen regional leagues in the country and the highest level of local rugby in North East England. The champions are promoted to Regional 2 North, a division with a wider geographical area that also encompasses the Yorkshire region. The last two clubs are relegated to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland.
Current season or competition: 2026–27 season | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Country | England |
| Holders | Novocastrians (2025–26) |
| Most titles | Horden (4 titles) |
| Website | Website |
| Related competition | Counties 1 Yorkshire |
| Promotion to | Regional 2 North |
| Relegation to | Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland |
Each season, two teams from the league are selected to take part in the RFU Intermediate Cup, a national competition for clubs in the seventh tier: one is affiliated with the Durham County RFU, and the other with the Northumberland RFU.
Clubs
Well-known clubs have competed in Durham/Northumberland 1 throughout the league's history. Many of these clubs enjoyed success, mainly during the amateur era of rugby. These include Gosforth RFC who in the '70s enjoyed success, winning the John Player Cup in 1975–76 and 76–77; West Hartlepool who played in the Premiership in the 1990s; Northern who produced many international players; and Medicals, who have the rare distinction of having been the home club of two RFU Presidents. Clubs such as Alnwick RFC, Stockton RFC and Horden RFC have traditionally played in higher leagues and tend to finish towards the top of Durham/Northumberland 1.
Format
The champions are promoted to Regional 2 North. Teams are relegated to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland; with the number of teams relegated depending on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above.
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 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.
2026-27
Ahead of the new season the league was rebranded North East Counties 1 with reserve teams entered into the competition for the first time.
Leaving the league were champions Novocastrians and runners-up Ryton both promoted to Regional 2 North while Acklam were relegated to North East Counties 2 (South).
|
  Barnard Castle Bishop Auckland Gateshead Hartlepool Houghton Ponteland Locations of the 2026-27 North East Counties 1 teams
|
2025–26
Participating teams and location
Leaving the league were Sunderland promoted to Regional 2 North while Whitley Bay Rockcliff were relegated to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland.
|
Acklam Bishop Auckland Gateshead Hartlepool Ponteland Ryton Locations of the 2025–26 Durham/Northumberland 1 teams
|
2024–25
Participating teams and location
Leaving the league were Guisborough promoted to Regional 2 North while South Shields Westoe and Hartlepool Rovers were relegated to DN2. Replacing them were Stockton (relegated), Darlington and Peterlee and Horden (both promoted). This season was the first when the Horden and Peterlee names were reversed with the latter appearing first to reflect its location.
|
Acklam Bishop Auckland Hartlepool Ponteland Ryton Sunderland Locations of the 2024–25 Durham/Northumberland 1 teams
|
League table
| |||||||||||||||
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Loss bonus | Points | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunderland (P) | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 918 | 382 | 536 | 19 | 0 | 107 | ||||
| 2 | Novocastrians | 22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 786 | 435 | 351 | 16 | 4 | 82 | ||||
| 3 | Peterlee & Horden | 22 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 734 | 536 | 198 | 14 | 1 | 81 | ||||
| 4 | Medicals | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 851 | 500 | 351 | 17 | 4 | 81 | ||||
| 5 | Stockton | 22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 635 | 615 | 20 | 11 | 3 | 64 | ||||
| 6 | Ponteland | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 581 | 692 | −111 | 12 | 3 | 57 | ||||
| 7 | Ryton | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 597 | 588 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 49 | ||||
| 8 | Darlington | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 500 | 751 | −251 | 8 | 4 | 48 | ||||
| 9 | Acklam | 22 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 537 | 653 | −116 | 9 | 6 | 45 | ||||
| 10 | Bishop Auckland | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 536 | 626 | −90 | 9 | 4 | 41 | ||||
| 11 | Hartlepool | 22 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 483 | 807 | −324 | 6 | 1 | 29 | ||||
| 12 | Whitley Bay Rockcliff | 22 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 397 | 970 | −573 | 6 | 4 | 18 | ||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place Pink background are the relegation places Updated: 22 November 2025 | |||||||||||||||
2023–24
Participating teams and location
Leaving the league were West Hartlepool promoted to Regional 2 North while Darlington and Horden and Peterlee were relegated to DN2. Replacing them were South Shields Westoe (relegated), Bishop Auckland and Ryton (both promoted).
|
Acklam Bishop Auckland Guisborough Hartlepool Ponteland Ryton Sunderland Locations of the 2023–24 Durham/Northumberland 1 teams
|
League table
| |||||||||||||||
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Loss bonus | Points | Pts adj | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guisborough (P) | 22 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 723 | 390 | 333 | 15 | 0 | 87 | 0 | |||
| 2 | Sunderland | 22 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 759 | 359 | 400 | 15 | 4 | 87 | 0 | |||
| 3 | Novocastrians | 22 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 767 | 467 | 300 | 16 | 2 | 85 | −5 | |||
| 4 | Medicals | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 586 | 480 | 106 | 11 | 3 | 70 | 0 | |||
| 5 | Ryton | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 708 | 459 | 249 | 10 | 6 | 64 | 0 | |||
| 6 | Acklam | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 605 | 785 | −180 | 15 | 1 | 53 | +1 | |||
| 7 | Bishop Auckland | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 551 | 553 | −2 | 11 | 4 | 51 | 0 | |||
| 8 | Ponteland | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 599 | 545 | 54 | 12 | 3 | 50 | −5 | |||
| 9 | Hartlepool | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 450 | 673 | −223 | 9 | 1 | 50 | 0 | |||
| 10 | Whitley Bay Rockcliff | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 527 | 817 | −290 | 10 | 3 | 41 | 0 | |||
| 11 | Hartlepool Rovers (R) | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 494 | 556 | −62 | 5 | 3 | 40 | 0 | |||
| 12 | South Shields Westoe (R) | 22 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 260 | 945 | −685 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | |||
| |||||||||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place Pink background are the relegation places Updated: 20 November 2025 | |||||||||||||||
2022–23
Participating teams and location
Leaving the league were Percy Park, Northern, South Shields Westoe, Stockton and Aspatria who were all promoted to Regional 2 North. There was no relegation.
|
Acklam Guisborough Hartlepool Ponteland Sunderland Locations of the 2022–23 Durham/Northumberland 1 teams
|
League table
| |||||||||||||||
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Loss bonus | Points | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Hartlepool (P) | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 781 | 302 | 479 | 16 | 0 | 105 | ||||
| 2 | Sunderland | 22 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 797 | 396 | 401 | 15 | 2 | 85 | ||||
| 3 | Medicals | 22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 673 | 339 | 334 | 15 | 3 | 80 | ||||
| 4 | Ponteland | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 532 | 506 | 26 | 12 | 2 | 62 | ||||
| 5 | Guisborough | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 531 | 473 | 58 | 9 | 6 | 55 | ||||
| 6 | Whitley Bay Rockcliff | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 467 | 454 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 53 | ||||
| 7 | Hartlepool | 22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 445 | 486 | −41 | 7 | 3 | 52 | ||||
| 8 | Acklam | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 544 | 596 | −52 | 10 | 2 | 52 | ||||
| 9 | Hartlepool Rovers | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 463 | 625 | −162 | 8 | 2 | 50 | ||||
| 10 | Novocastrians | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 379 | 574 | −195 | 6 | 1 | 35 | ||||
| 11 | Darlington (R) | 22 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 362 | 611 | −249 | 4 | 4 | 24 | ||||
| 12 | Horden & Peterlee (R) | 22 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 278 | 890 | −612 | 3 | 1 | 16 | ||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place Pink background are the relegation places Updated: 17 November 2025 | |||||||||||||||
2021–22
Participating teams and location
Middlesbrough finished runners-up in DN1 in 2019–20 but were level transferred to Yorkshire 1 for the current season, the space was taken by Aspatria RUFC who were level transferred from North 2 West.
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.
|
|
Locations of the 2021–22 Durham/Northumberland 1 teams in Tyne & Wear Locations of the 2021–22 Durham/Northumberland 1 teams in County Durham, North Yorkshire & Cumbria
|
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 DN1 was not contested.[6]
2019–20
Participating teams and location
|
|
Locations of the 2019–20 Durham/Northumberland 1 teams in Tyne & Wear Locations of the 2019–20 Durham/Northumberland 1 teams in County Durham & Yorkshire
|
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
- Acklam
- Ashington
- Blyth
- Darlington
- Horden
- Percy Park
- Ponteland
- Redcar
- Rockcliff
- Seghill
- Winlanton Vulcans
Durham/Northumberland 1 honours
Durham/Northumberland 1 (1987–1993)
The original Durham/Northumberland 1 was a tier 9 league with promotion to North East 2 and relegation to Durham/Northumberland 2.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 11 | Blyth | Rockcliff | Percy Park | ||||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Rockcliff | Mowden Park | Winlanton Vulcans | ||||||||||
| 1989–90 | 11 | Ashington | Horden | Ponteland, Hartlepool | ||||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | Redcar | Horden | Whitby | ||||||||||
| 1991–92 | 11 | Horden | Acklam[a] | No relegation[b] | ||||||||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | Whitby | Darlington | Seghill, Hartlepool | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Durham/Northumberland 1 (1993–2000)
The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Durham/Northumberland 1 dropped to tier 10. A further restructure at the end of the 1995–96 season, which included the cancellation of National 5 North and the addition of North East 3 at tier 9, saw Durham/Northumberland 1 remain at tier 10 with promotion to the new North 3 East league.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 13 | Mowden Park | Darlington | Consett, Seaham | ||||||||||
| 1994–95 | 13 | Percy Park | Sunderland | Wallsend, Guisborough | ||||||||||
| 1995–96 | 12 | Darlington | Sunderland | North Durham, Ponteland | ||||||||||
| 1996–97 | 10 | West Hartlepool TDSOB | Ryton | Hartlepool, Guisborough, Novocastrians | ||||||||||
| 1997–98 | 10 | Ryton | Acklam | North Durham[c], Bishop Auckland | ||||||||||
| 1998–99[7] | 10 | Medicals | Acklam | Blyth, North Shields | ||||||||||
| 1999–00[8] | 10 | Consett | Winlaton Vulcans | Seghill, Novocastrians, Whitley Bay Rockcliff | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Durham/Northumberland 1 (2000–2022)
Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999–2000 season saw the cancellation of North East 1, North East 2 and North East 3 (tiers 7–9). This meant that Durham/Northumberland 1 became a tier 7 league, with promotion to North 2 East (also known as North 1 East).
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 12 | Westoe | Durham City | Medicals | [9] | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 12 | Horden | Ashington | Winlaton Vulcans, Consett | [10] | |||||||||
| 2002–03 | 12 | Northern | Hartlepool Rovers | Ryton, Gosforth | [11] | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | 12 | Hartlepool Rovers | Alnwick | Houghton, Gateshead | [12] | |||||||||
| 2004–05 | 12 | Percy Park | Durham City | Ashington, Hartlepool | [13] | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 12 | Horden | Malton and Norton | Acklam, West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B. | [14] | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | 12 | Gateshead | Sunderland | North Shields, Consett, Gosforth | [15] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 12 | Billingham | Northern | West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B., Ponteland | [16] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 12 | Hartlepool Rovers | Percy Park | No relegation[d] | [17] | |||||||||
| 2009–10 | 14 | Northern | Team Northumbria | Consett, Hartlepool | [18] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 14 | Gateshead | Darlington | Redcar, Wallsend | [19] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 14 | Darlington | Alnwick | Novocastrians, Ashington | [20] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 14 | Alnwick | Guisborough | Sunderland, Ryton | [21] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 14 | Horden | Guisborough | Bishop Auckland, Ponteland | [22] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 14 | Guisborough | Morpeth | Sunderland, Blyth | [23] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 14 | Durham City | Middlesbrough | Darlington, Ponteland | [24] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 14 | Northern | South Shields Westoe | Ryton, Hartlepool | [25] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 14 | Consett | Durham City | Redcar, Gosforth | [26] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 14 | Durham City | West Hartlepool | Whitby, Ponteland | [27] | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | 14 | Consett | Middlesbrough | Barnard Castle, North Shields, Gateshead | [28] | |||||||||
| 2020–21 | 14 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. | ||||||||||||
| 2021–22 | 14 | Percy Park | Northern | No relegation | [29] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland (2022–present)
| |||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Ref | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 12 | West Hartlepool | Sunderland | Darlington (11th) and Horden (12th) | [4] | ||||||||
| 2023–24 | 12 | Guisborough | Sunderland | Hartlepool Rovers (11th) and South Shields Westoe (12th) | [3] | ||||||||
| 2024–25 | 12 | Sunderland | Novocastrians | Rockcliff (12th) | [2] | ||||||||
Promotion play-offs
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Durham/Northumberland 1 and Yorkshire 1 for the third and final promotion place to North 1 East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Yorkshire 1 teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Durham/Northumberland 1 teams six; and the home side have won ten times to the away sides nine.
| ||||||||
| Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01[30] | Wheatley Hills (Y) | 21-19 | Percy Park (DN)[e] | Brunel Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire | ||||
| 2001–02[31] | Ashington (DN) | 17-23 | Scarborough (Y) | Recreation Ground, Ashington, Northumberland | ||||
| 2002–03[32] | York (Y) | 29-15 | Hartlepool Rovers (DN) | Clifton Park, York, North Yorkshire | ||||
| 2003–04[33] | Alnwick (DN) | 25-18 | Pontefract (Y) | Greensfield, Alnwick, Northumberland | ||||
| 2004–05[34] | Durham City (DN) | 26-13 | Wheatley Hills (Y) | Hollow Drift, Durham, County Durham | ||||
| 2005–06[35] | Malton and Norton (DN) | 19-39 | Old Crossleyans (Y) | The Gannock, Malton, North Yorkshire | ||||
| 2006–07[36] | Sunderland (DN) | 16-18 | York (Y) | Ashbrooke Sports Club, Ashbrooke, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear | ||||
| 2007–08[37] | Northern (DN) | 24-28 | Ilkley (Y) | McCracken Park, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear | ||||
| 2008–09[38] | Percy Park (DN) | 36-3 | Bridlington (Y) | Preston Avenue, North Shields, Tyne and Wear | ||||
| 2009–10[39] | Team Northumbria (DN) | 34-13 | Sheffield (Y) | Coach Lane Sports Ground, Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear | ||||
| 2010–11[40] | Darlington (DN) | 17-18 | Sheffield (Y) | Blackwell Meadows, Darlington, County Durham | ||||
| 2011–12[41] | Alnwick (DN) | 16-18 | Keighley (Y) | Greensfield, Alnwick, Northumberland | ||||
| 2012–13[42] | Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. (Y) | 33-12 | Guisborough (DN) | Laund Hill, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire | ||||
| 2013–14[43] | Dinnington (Y) | 34-20 (aet) | Guisborough (DN) | Lodge Lane, Dinnington, South Yorkshire | ||||
| 2014–15[44] | Morpeth (DN) | 14-11 | Malton and Norton (Y) | Grange House Field, Morpeth, Northumberland | ||||
| 2015–16[45] | Middlesbrough (DN) | 17-25 | Malton and Norton (Y) | Acklam Park, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire | ||||
| 2016–17[46] | South Shields Westoe (DN) | 14-19 | West Leeds (Y) | Wood Terrace, South Shields, Tyne and Wear | ||||
| 2017–18[47] | Durham City (DN) | AWO[f] | Scarborough (Y) | Hollow Drift, Durham, County Durham | ||||
| 2018–19[48] | West Hartlepool (DN) | 24-23 | Heath (Y) | Brinkburn, Hartlepool, County Durham | ||||
| 2019–20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Heath (Y) - promoted instead. | |||||||
| 2020–21 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Uncontested due to the coronavirus pandemic | ||||
| 2021–22 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Uncontested due the RFU Adult Competition Review | ||||
| Green background is the promoted team. DN = Durham/Northumberland 1 and Y = Yorkshire 1 | ||||||||
Number of league titles
- Horden (4)
- Consett (3)
- Northern (3)
- Percy Park (3)
- Darlington (2)
- Durham City (2)
- Gateshead (2)
- Guisborough (2)
- Hartlepool Rovers (2)
- Alnwick (1)
- Ashington (1)
- Billingham (1)
- Blyth (1)
- Medicals (1)
- Mowden Park (1)
- Novocastrians (1)
- Redcar (1)
- Ryton (1)
- Sunderland (1)
- Whitby (1)
- Rockcliff (1)
- West Hartlepool (1)
- West Hartlepool TDSOB (1)
- Westoe (1)[g]
Notes
- Runners up Acklam along with Bishop Auckland were promoted to North East 2.
- League restructuring meant no clubs were relegated and five clubs would be promoted from Durham/Northumberland 2
- North Durham merged with Gateshead Fell at the end of this season and therefore ceased to exist as a club. As such they did not take up their position in Durham/Northumberland 2 the following season.
- No relegation as division set to expand from 12 to 14 teams for the following season.
- Despite finishing third in the 2000-01 Durham/Northumberland league, Percy Park went into the promotion playoff instead of runners up Durham City.[9]
- Currently known as South Shields Westoe.