Counties 1 Kent
English Rugby Union Regional League
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.)
Current season or competition: 2025–26 Counties 1 Kent | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Country |  England |
| Holders | Canterbury Pilgrims (2024–25) |
| Most titles | Canterbury Pilgrims (2 titles) |
| Website | |
The current champions are Canterbury Pilgrims.
Structure and format
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.
2025–26
Departing were Canterbury II and Bromley, both promoted to Regional 2 South East.
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Locations of the 2025–26 Counties 1 Kent teams in London Locations of the 2025–26 Counties 1 Kent teams in Kent and East Sussex
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2024–25
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]
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Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 1 Kent teams in London Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 1 Kent teams in Kent and East Sussex
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League table
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| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Loss bonus | Points | Adjust | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canterbury Pilgrims (P) | 22 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 740 | 309 | 431 | 15 | 1 | 99 | +2 | ||||
| 2 | Bromley (P) | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 748 | 419 | 329 | 13 | 3 | 90 | |||||
| 3 | Sevenoaks II | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 698 | 448 | 250 | 15 | 4 | 85 | +2 | ||||
| 4 | Crowborough | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 486 | 419 | 67 | 13 | 5 | 67 | +1 | ||||
| 5 | Beccehamian | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 607 | 450 | 157 | 12 | 5 | 66 | +1 | ||||
| 6 | Dover | 22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 510 | 524 | −14 | 9 | 4 | 64 | +1 | ||||
| 7 | Heathfield & Waldron | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 571 | 457 | 114 | 11 | 5 | 60 | |||||
| 8 | Park House | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 532 | 605 | −73 | 9 | 7 | 48 | |||||
| 9 | Deal & Betteshanger | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 418 | 726 | −308 | 6 | 2 | 44 | |||||
| 10 | Ashford | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 364 | 598 | −234 | 6 | 4 | 38 | |||||
| 11 | Cranbrook | 22 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 297 | 715 | −418 | 4 | 3 | 9 | −10 | ||||
| 12 | Charlton Park | 22 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 284 | 585 | −301 | 4 | 1 | 2 | −15 | ||||
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| Green background are the promotion places. Pink background are the relegation places. Updated: 12 January 2024 Source:[8] | ||||||||||||||||
2023–24
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]
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Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 1 Kent teams in London Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 1 Kent teams in Kent and East Sussex
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League table
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| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Loss bonus | Points | Adjust | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Canterbury Pilgrims | 22 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 846 | 439 | 407 | 18 | 0 | 98 | |||||
| 2 | Dartfordians | 22 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 692 | 444 | 248 | 19 | 1 | 90 | |||||
| 3 | Beccehamian | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 839 | 299 | 540 | 16 | 1 | 86 | −5 | ||||
| 4 | Bromley | 22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 621 | 416 | 205 | 13 | 3 | 79 | |||||
| 5 | Crowborough | 22 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 530 | 463 | 67 | 9 | 1 | 70 | |||||
| 6 | Dover | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 466 | 548 | −82 | 9 | 3 | 50 | |||||
| 7 | Heathfield & Waldron | 22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 459 | 469 | −10 | 7 | 6 | 50 | |||||
| 8 | Deal & Betteshanger | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 403 | 582 | −179 | 6 | 4 | 42 | |||||
| 9 | Ashford | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 345 | 518 | −173 | 3 | 3 | 30 | |||||
| 10 | Cranbrook | 22 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 388 | 756 | −368 | 4 | 4 | 26 | |||||
| 11 | Charlton Park | 22 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 371 | 684 | −313 | 5 | 3 | 23 | −5 | ||||
| 12 | Thanet Wanderers (R) | 22 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 378 | 720 | −342 | 4 | 3 | 21 | |||||
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| Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places. Updated: 25 June 2024 Source:[12] | ||||||||||||||||
2022–23
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]
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Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 1 Kent teams in London
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League table
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| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Loss bonus | Points | Adjust | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Alleynians (P) | 22 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 890 | 257 | 633 | 16 | 1 | 97 | |||||
| 2 | Bromley | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 575 | 316 | 259 | 12 | 1 | 77 | |||||
| 3 | Beccehamian | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 596 | 381 | 215 | 11 | 4 | 71 | |||||
| 4 | Heathfield & Waldron | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 468 | 486 | −18 | 9 | 3 | 68 | |||||
| 5 | Charlton Park | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 525 | 537 | −12 | 10 | 1 | 67 | |||||
| 6 | Cranbrook | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 538 | 511 | 27 | 10 | 1 | 59 | |||||
| 7 | Ashford | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 440 | 399 | 41 | 4 | 4 | 56 | |||||
| 8 | Deal & Betteshanger | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 448 | 507 | −39 | 7 | 3 | 55 | |||||
| 9 | Crowborough | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 443 | 552 | −109 | 7 | 1 | 35 | −5 | ||||
| 10 | Thanet Wanderers | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 309 | 593 | −284 | 5 | 0 | 33 | |||||
| 11 | Folkestone (R) | 22 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 346 | 797 | −451 | 5 | 4 | 21 | |||||
| 12 | Aylesford Bulls (R) | 22 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 341 | 603 | −262 | 3 | 6 | 13 | |||||
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| Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places. Source:[16] | ||||||||||||||||
Counties 1 Kent honours (2022–present)
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.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runner-up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 12 | Old Alleynian | Bromley | Folkestone (11th) and Aylesford Bulls (12th) | [16] | |||||||||
| 2023–24 | 12 | Canterbury Pilgrims | Dartfordians | Thanet Wanderers (12th) | [12] | |||||||||
| 2024–25 | 12 | Canterbury Pilgrims | Bromley | No relegation | [8] | |||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place(s). | ||||||||||||||