Eastern Counties 5
English rugby union league
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Eastern Counties 5 was an English level 13 Rugby Union league with teams from Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk taking part. Promoted teams used to move up to Eastern Counties 4 and relegation was to Eastern Counties 6 until that division was cancelled at the end of the 1991–92 season. After ten seasons Eastern Counties 5 was cancelled at the end of the 1996–97 campaign.
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 |
| Ceased | 1997 |
| Number of teams | 9 |
| Country |  England |
| Holders | Millwall (1st title) (1996–97) (promoted to East Counties 4 South) |
| Website | ecrurugby.com |
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
- Bancroft
- Dereham
- Haverhill & District
- London Hospital[a]
- Loughton
- March[b]
- Norwich Union
- Old Brentwoods
- Orwell
- Sawston
- Swaffham
- Thurston
Eastern Counties 5 honours
Eastern Counties 5 (1987–1993)
The original Eastern Counties 5 was a tier 12 league with promotion up to Eastern Counties 4 and relegation down to Eastern Counties 6 until that division was cancelled at the end of the 1991–92 season.[1]
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88[2] | 12 | Bancroft | Old Brentwoods | Orwell | ||||||||||
| 1988–89[3] | 9 | London Hospital | Loughton | Sawston | ||||||||||
| 1989–90[4] | 10 | Haverhill & District | Thames Sports | Chigwell | ||||||||||
| 1990–91[5] | 9 | Dereham | Old Cooperians | No relegation[c] | ||||||||||
| 1991–92[6] | 11 | Ongar | Hadleigh[d] | No relegation[e] | ||||||||||
| 1992–93[7] | 11 | May & Baker | Broadland | No relegation | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Eastern Counties 5 (1993–1996)
The creation of National 5 South meant that Eastern Counties 5 dropped from a tier 12 league to a tier 13 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to Eastern Counties 4 and there was no relegation.
Eastern Counties 5 (1996–1997)
The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Eastern Counties 5 once more became a tier 12 league. Promotion continued to Eastern Counties 4 and there was no relegation. At the end of the 1996–97 Eastern Counties 5 was discontinued and all teams transferred into Eastern Counties 4.
Number of league titles
- Bancroft (1)
- Dereham (1)
- Haverhill & District (1)
- London Hospital (1)
- May & Baker (1)
- Mersea Island (1)
- Millwall (1)
- Norwich Union (1)
- Ongar (1)
- Sawston (1)
See also
Notes
- Since 1995 have been known as St Barts and The Royal London RFC.
- Currently known as March Bears RUFC.
- No relegation as league was to increase from 9 to 11 teams for the following season.
- Restructuring of the Eastern Counties leagues due to the cancellation of Eastern Counties 6 at the end of the season, meant that all eleven teams were promoted from the division into Eastern Counties 4.
- No relegation due to cancellation of Eastern Counties 6 at the end of the season.
- The cancellation of Eastern Counties 5 at the end of the season meant that all clubs were promoted into Eastern Counties 4.