Counties 1 Essex

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

There is one automatic promotion place and two relegation places. The first-placed team at the end of season wins promotion to Regional 2 Anglia. The last two placed clubs are typically relegated to Counties 2 Essex.

Departing were Braintree, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia while Burnham-on-Crouch (11th) and Basildon (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Essex.

In October 2025 Old Cooperians (8th in '24–25) withdrew from the league with Mavericks (10th in '24–25) doing likewise in December leaving ten clubs to contest the outstanding fixtures ^[2][3].

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Billericay Willowbrook 1,000 Billericay, Essex Promoted from Counties 2 Essex Campion Cottons Park Romford, London 4th Chingford Lea Valley Playing Fields Chingford, London 9th East London[4] Memorial Park West Ham, London 6th Epping Upper Clapton Upland Road Thornwood, Epping, Essex 7th Maldon Drapers Farm Playing Fields Heybridge, Essex 4th Romford & Gidea Park Crowlands Romford, London 3rd Stanford-le-Hope Stanford Recreation Ground Stanford-le-Hope, Essex Promoted from Counties 2 Essex Thurrock Oakfield Grays, Essex Relegated from Regional 2SE Upminster Hall Lane Upminster, London 5th

Billericay Epping Maldon Stanford -le-Hope Thurrock Locations of the 2025–26 Counties 1 Essex teams in Essex Campion Chingford East London R&GP Upminster Locations of the 2025–26 Counties 1 Essex teams in Greater London

Departing were Wanstead, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia and Stanford-le-Hope relegated to Counties 2 Essex.^[5][6] In their place came Burnham-on-Crouch (promoted from Counties 2 Essex (North)) and Basildon (promoted from Counties 2 Essex (South)).^[7]

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Basildon Gardiners Close Basildon, Essex Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (South) (champions) Braintree Robbswood Braintree, Essex 2nd Burnham-on-Crouch Dengie Hundred Sports Centre Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (North) (champions) Campion Cottons Park Romford, London 9th Chingford Lea Valley Playing Fields Chingford, London 11th East London[8] Memorial Park West Ham, London 4th Epping Upper Clapton Upland Road Thornwood, Epping, Essex 3rd Maldon Drapers Farm Playing Fields Heybridge, Essex 7th[9] Mavericks Warley Playing Field Warley, Brentwood, Essex 5th Old Cooperians Coopers' Company & Corborn School Upminster, London 10th Romford & Gidea Park Crowlands Romford, London 6th Upminster Hall Lane Upminster, London 8th

Basildon Braintree Burnham Epping Maldon Mavericks Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 1 Essex teams in Essex Campion Chingford East London R&GP Cooperians Upminster Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 1 Essex teams in Greater London

Departing were Dagenham and Harlow, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia, and South Woodham Ferrers relegated to Counties 2 Essex (North).^[11][12] In their place came Chingford (relegated from Regional 2 Anglia, Stanford-le-Hope and Maldon promoted from Counties 2 Essex.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Braintree Robbswood Braintree, Essex 4th Campion Cottons Park Romford, London 6th Chingford Lea Valley Playing Fields Chingford, London relegated from Regional 2 Anglia (12th) East London Memorial Park West Ham, London 5th Epping Upper Clapton Upland Road Thornwood, Epping, Essex 7th Maldon Drapers Farm Playing Fields Heybridge, Essex Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (champions) Mavericks Warley Playing Field Warley, Brentwood, Essex 9th Old Cooperians Coopers' Company & Corborn School Upminster, London 10th Romford & Gidea Park Crowlands Romford, London 8th Stanford-le-Hope Stanford Recreation Ground Stanford-le-Hope, Essex Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (runners-up) Upminster Hall Lane Upminster, London 11th Wanstead Centenary Fields Wanstead, London 3rd

Braintree Epping Maldon Mavericks Stanford-le-Hope Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 1 Essex teams in Essex Campion Chingford East London Cooperians R&GP Upminster Wanstead Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 1 Essex teams in Greater London

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 3 Essex with the teams finishing 1st–10th returning. Kings Cross Steelers and Canvey Island, who finished 11th and 12th respectively, were placed in Counties 2 Essex. The line-up was supplemented by the addition of Wanstead and South Woodham Ferrers (who finished 10th and 12th in London 2 North East respectively).^[14]

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Braintree Robbswood Braintree, Essex 8th London 3 Essex Campion Cottons Park Romford, London 5th London 3 Essex Dagenham Central Park Dagenham, London 1st London 3 Essex East London Memorial Park West Ham, London 7th London 3 Essex Epping Upper Clapton Upland Road Thornwood, Epping, Essex 9th London 3 Essex Harlow Latton Park Harlow, Essex 2nd London 3 Essex Mavericks Warley Playing Field Warley, Brentwood, Essex 8th London 3 Essex Old Cooperians Coopers' Company & Corborn School Upminster, London 4th London 3 Essex Romford & Gidea Park Crowlands Romford, London 3rd London 3 Essex South Woodham Ferrers Saltcoats Playing Field South Woodham Ferrers, Essex 12th London 2 North East Upminster Hall Lane Upminster, London 10th London 3 Essex Wanstead Centenary Fields[15] Wanstead, London 10th London 2 North East

Braintree Epping Harlow Mavericks SW Ferrers Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 1 Essex teams in Essex Campion Dagenham East London Cooperians R&GP Upminster Wanstead Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 1 Essex teams in Greater London