Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon
English rugby union league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (formerly Berks, Bucks and Oxon Division 2) is an English rugby union league featuring teams from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2004 |
| Country |  England |
| Most titles | Amersham & Chiltern III (2 titles) |
| Website | englandrugby.com |
The division was created in 2004–05 as part of a complete overhaul of the Berks/Bucks & Oxon league, with a large number of 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams entering at various levels, and was divided into north and south regions, becoming the third division of the league structure with promoted teams going into Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 and there being no relegation.
Further league restructuring in 2011 saw Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 become one league instead of two regional divisions and newly created divisions below it meant that relegation was introduced. Changes above the division meant that 1st teams were split from 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams and Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 was the highest level that teams in Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 and below could reach in the system.
Following the RFU Adult Competition Review the structure changed once more with reserve teams and first teams competing in the same leagues, the competition administered centrally rather than by county constituent bodies and a North / South divisional split. A Central division was added ahead of season 2024–25. Promotion is to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) or Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) depending on location. Relegation is to the merit leagues.
2026-27
Chinnor IV (champions) and Reading III (5th) were promoted from the Central division to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) and Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) respectively. Aylesbury II (4th) and Littlemore (3rd) were level transferred into the North division while Reading Abbey III (runners-up) did not return for the new season.
After ten rounds the competition will split into a Cup, Plate and Shield with the teams ranked 1st and 2nd in the North and South leagues entering the Cup, 3rd and 4th contesting the Plate while 5th and 6th will meet in the Shield. Each club will therefore have an additional six fixtures.
North
Departing were Aylesbury II, Didcot II and Littlemore promoted to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) as the top three respectively.
Also departing were Swindon College Old Boys II (5th).
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Locations of the 2026-27 Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) team
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South
Departing were Tadley II and Crowthorne promoted to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South)
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Locations of the 2026-27 Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) teams in Berkshire
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2025–26
For the new season the league was consolidated back to two divisions with the Central division being dispensed with.
Chinnor IV (champions) and Reading III (5th) were promoted from the Central division to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) and Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) respectively. Aylesbury II (4th) and Littlemore (3rd) were level transferred into the North division while Reading Abbey III (runners-up) did not return for the new season.
After ten rounds the competition will split into a Cup, Plate and Shield with the teams ranked 1st and 2nd in the North and South leagues entering the Cup, 3rd and 4th contesting the Plate while 5th and 6th will meet in the Shield. Each club will therefore have an additional six fixtures.
North
Departing were Gosford All Blacks II, Banbury III and Chipping Norton II promoted to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) as the top three respectively.
Aylesbury III (4th in Central) withdrew and their place taken by Aylesbury II.
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  Abingdon II Aylesbury II Didcot III Grove II Littlemore Swindon College II Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) team
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South
There was no promotion from the South league.
Crowthorne re-joined the pyramid having withdrawn from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon in season 2024-25.
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Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) teams in Berkshire
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2024–25
For the new season the league was further sub-divided into three five-club competitions with the addition of a Central division.
North
Departing were Harwell and Bicester II, promoted to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North). Grove II (3rd) did not return for the new campaign. Chinnor IV (4th) and Littlemore (6th) were level transferred to the new Central division.
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Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) teams in Oxfordshire
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Central
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Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (Central) teams
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South
Departing were Reading Abbey II, Berkshire Shire Hall and High Wycombe II, all promoted to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South). Reading III (4th) were level transferred to the new Central division.
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Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) teams in Berkshire
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2023–24
North
Departing were Stow-on-the-Wold II, promoted to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) as runners-up behind champions Tring III who were not promoted but instead returned to merit league competition.
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Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) teams in Oxfordshire
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South
Departing were Farnham Royal, promoted to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) as runners-up behind Drifters as champions who were not promoted but instead returned to merit league competition as did Phoenix II (7th).
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Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) teams in Berkshire & Buckinghamshire
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2022–23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review.
North
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Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) teams in Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire & Gloucestershire
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South
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Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) teams in Berkshire & Buckinghamshire
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2017–22
Contested (2020-21 aside) but not as an RFU administered league.
Participating clubs 2016–17
- Beaconsfield II
- Buckingham II
- Henley III
- High Wycombe II
- Marlow II
- Newbury II
- Oxford Harlequins II
- Redingensians IV
- Windsor III
- Witney III
Participating clubs 2012–13
- Alchester II
- Aylesbury II
- Bicester II
- Bletchley II
- Buckingham II
- Oxford Harlequins II
- Reading Abbey II
- Tadley II
- Wallingford II
- Witney III
Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 North Honours
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| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05[2] | 10 | Witney III | Buckingham III | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 North | |||||||||
| 2005-06[3] | 11 | Buckingham III | Witney IV | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 North | |||||||||
| 2006-07[4] | 12 | Banbury II | Amersham & Chiltern III, Gosford All Blacks II | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 North | |||||||||
| 2007-08[5] | 9 | Bicester II | High Wycombe III | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 North | |||||||||
| 2008-09[6] | 9 | Amersham & Chiltern III | Chinnor IV | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 North | |||||||||
| 2009-10[7] | 10 | Risborough | Chipping Norton II | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 North | |||||||||
| 2010-11[8] | 11 | Bletchley II[n 1] | Maidenhead IV[n 2] | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 North[n 3] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
- Transferred to Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2.
- Transferred to Berks/Bucks & Oxon 3.
- The Berks/Bucks & Oxon league would be completely restructured the following season. 1st teams in this division would transfer to Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship while 2nd/3rd/4th teams would transfer to Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2, Berks/Bucks & Oxon 3 or Berks/Bucks & Oxon 4 depending on league position.
Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 South Honours
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| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05[9] | 10 | Oxford Harlequins IV | Didcot | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 South | |||||||||
| 2005-06[10] | 11 | Aldermaston | Slough II | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 South | |||||||||
| 2006-07[11] | 11 | Tadley II | Wallingford II | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 South | |||||||||
| 2007-08[12] | 9 | Hungerford | Littlemore | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 South | |||||||||
| 2008-09[13] | 9 | Reading II | Redingensians III, Farnham Royal (also promoted) | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 South | |||||||||
| 2009-10[14] | 10 | Thatcham II | Phoenix II | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 South | |||||||||
| 2010-11[15] | 12 | Berkshire Shire Hall[n 1] | Kingsclere II | No relegation | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 South[n 2] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
- Transferred to Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship.
- The Berks/Bucks & Oxon league would be completely restructured the following season. 1st teams in this division would transfer to Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship while 2nd/3rd/4th teams would transfer to Berks/Bucks & Oxon 3, Berks/Bucks & Oxon 4 or Berks/Bucks & Oxon 5 depending on league position.
Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 Honours
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| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-12[16] | 10 | High Wycombe II | Redingensians IV | Henley IV, Maidenhead III | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 | |||||||||
| 2012-13[17] | 10 | Buckingham II | Witney III | Tadley II, Alchester II, Aylesbury II | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 | |||||||||
| 2013-14[18] | 12 | Amersham & Chiltern III | Oxford Harlequins III | Wallingford II, Grove II, Bicester II | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 | |||||||||
| 2014-15[19] | 11 | Thatcham II | Aylesbury II | Windsor III, Drifters II | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 | |||||||||
| 2015-16[20] | 9 | Windsor II | Reading Abbey II | Tadley II, Beaconsfield II | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 | |||||||||
| 2016-17[21] | 10 | Henley III | Newbury II | Windsor III, Oxford Harlequins II | Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 | |||||||||
| 2017-18 | 10 | |||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||