London 2 North East
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Current season or competition: 2025–26 Counties 1 Eastern Counties | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 1987 (as London 3 North East) |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Country |  England |
| Holders | Norwich (2024–25) |
| Most titles | Rochford Hundred (4 titles) |
| Website | englandrugby.com |
Counties 1 Eastern Counties (formerly London 2 North East) is an English level 7 Rugby Union League.[1][dead link] When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 3 North East, changing to its current name ahead of the 2009–10 season. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name Counties 1 Eastern Counties.
The current champions are Norwich.
The champions are promoted to Regional 2 Anglia. The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above, but is usually to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.
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.
2025–26
Participating clubs and locations
Departing were Norwich promoted to Regional 2 Anglia while Cantabrigian (12th) and Diss (11th) were relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.
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 Locations of the 2025–26 Counties 1 Eastern Counties teams
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2024–25
Participating clubs and locations
Departing were the champons Wymondham, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia while Ipswich Y.M. (10th), West Norfolk (11th) and Wisbech (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties. Joining were Saffron Walden (11th) and Norwich (12th) both relegated from Regional 2 Anglia, while the champions Colchester II and the runner-up Newmarket were both promoted from Counties 2 Eastern Counties.
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Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 1 Eastern Counties teams
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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 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norwich (P) | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 1038 | 351 | 687 | 21 | 0 | 109 | |||||
| 2 | Newmarket | 22 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 668 | 515 | 153 | 13 | 2 | 79 | |||||
| 3 | Southwold | 22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 742 | 491 | 251 | 13 | 2 | 77 | |||||
| 4 | Ipswich | 22 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 748 | 511 | 237 | 15 | 4 | 71 | |||||
| 5 | Saffron Walden | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 539 | 608 | −69 | 10 | 7 | 57 | |||||
| 6 | Shelford II | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 530 | 694 | −164 | 9 | 5 | 54 | |||||
| 7 | Ely | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 535 | 689 | −154 | 11 | 5 | 52 | |||||
| 8 | North Walsham II | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 461 | 632 | −171 | 11 | 2 | 51 | |||||
| 9 | Bury St Edmunds II | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 604 | 629 | −25 | 12 | 7 | 51 | |||||
| 10 | Colchester II | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 644 | 689 | −45 | 16 | 6 | 50 | |||||
| 11 | Diss (R) | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 418 | 617 | −199 | 6 | 7 | 37 | |||||
| 12 | Cantabrigian (R) | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 404 | 905 | −501 | 8 | 3 | 35 | |||||
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| Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places Updated: 5 January 2026 Source:[3] | ||||||||||||||||
2023–24
Participating clubs and location
Departing were Saffron Walden and Holt, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia as champions and runner-up respectively, while Thurston (12th) was relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.
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Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 1 Eastern Counties teams
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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 | Points deducted | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wymondham (P) | 22 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 797 | 338 | 459 | 13 | 2 | 91 | |||||
| 2 | Ipswich | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 625 | 392 | 233 | 15 | 4 | 85 | +2 | ||||
| 3 | Bury St Edmunds II | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 799 | 455 | 344 | 15 | 2 | 81 | |||||
| 4 | Shelford II | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 638 | 468 | 170 | 16 | 0 | 81 | +1 | ||||
| 5 | Southwold | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 585 | 410 | 175 | 12 | 4 | 73 | +1 | ||||
| 6 | Ely | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 705 | 369 | 336 | 12 | 2 | 65 | +5 | ||||
| 7 | Cantabrigian | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 688 | 724 | −36 | 12 | 0 | 56 | |||||
| 8 | Diss | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 349 | 683 | −344 | 3 | 3 | 40 | +2 | ||||
| 9 | North Walsham II | 22 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 387 | 780 | −393 | 6 | 1 | 27 | |||||
| 10 | Ipswich Y M (R) | 22 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 382 | 612 | −230 | 5 | 3 | 27 | +1 | ||||
| 11 | West Norfolk (R) | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 285 | 697 | −412 | 4 | 2 | 25 | −5 | ||||
| 12 | Wisbech (R) | 22 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 318 | 630 | −312 | 5 | 3 | 8 | −10 | ||||
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| Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places Updated: 4 January 2026 Source:[4] | ||||||||||||||||
2022–23
Participating clubs and location
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 1 Eastern Counties.[5] Six teams returned and the league was supplemented with the top four teams from London 3 Eastern Counties and two reserve sides. Essex and London teams transferred to Counties 1 Essex or were promoted to Regional 2 Anglia.
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Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 1 Eastern Counties teams
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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 | Points deducted | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saffron Walden (P) | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 831 | 239 | 592 | 17 | 0 | 106 | +1 | ||||
| 2 | Holt (P) | 22 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 771 | 508 | 263 | 17 | 0 | 90 | +1 | ||||
| 3 | Wymondham | 22 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 554 | 413 | 141 | 11 | 5 | 70 | |||||
| 4 | Shelford II | 22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 657 | 581 | 76 | 10 | 1 | 61 | |||||
| 5 | Ely | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 574 | 504 | 70 | 9 | 2 | 59 | |||||
| 6 | Southwold | 22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 487 | 505 | −18 | 7 | 4 | 54 | +1 | ||||
| 7 | Cantabrigian | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 493 | 719 | −226 | 11 | 0 | 49 | |||||
| 8 | Bury St Edmunds II | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 545 | 485 | 60 | 9 | 3 | 45 | −5 | ||||
| 9 | Ipswich Y M | 22 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 400 | 597 | −197 | 7 | 7 | 42 | |||||
| 10 | West Norfold | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 448 | 730 | −282 | 10 | 2 | 41 | −1 | ||||
| 11 | Diss | 22 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 505 | 755 | −250 | 10 | 4 | 34 | |||||
| 12 | Thurston (R) | 22 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 370 | 599 | −229 | 3 | 4 | 29 | |||||
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| Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places Updated: 3 January 2026 Source:[6] | ||||||||||||||||
Teams for 2021–22
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.
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Locations of the 2021–22 London 2 North East teams
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Season 2020–21
On 30 October the RFU announced [8] that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning London 2 North East was not contested.
Teams for 2019–20
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Locations of the 2019–20 London 2 North East teams
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Teams for 2018–19
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 London Locations of the 2018–19 London 2 North East teams Location of 2018–19 London 2 North East clubs in London
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Teams for 2017–18
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London Locations of the 2017–18 London 2 North East teams Location of 2017–18 London 2 North East clubs in London
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Teams for 2016–17
- Campion
- Cantabrigian
- Diss
- Epping Upper Clapton (promoted from London 3 North East)
- Holt
- Ipswich
- Norwich
- Old Cooperians (promoted from London 3 North East)
- Rochford Hundred
- Romford & Gidea Park
- South Woodham Ferrers
- Woodford (transferred from London 2 North West)
Teams for 2015–16
- Basildon
- Campion
- Cantabrigian (promoted from London 3 North East)
- Diss
- Holt
- Ipswich (relegated from London 1 North)
- Norwich
- Rochford Hundred
- Romford & Gidea Park (relegated from London 1 North)
- Saffron Walden
- South Woodham Ferrers
- Sudbury (promoted from London 3 North East)
Teams for 2014–15
- Basildon
- Braintree
- Campion (promoted from London 3 North East)
- Chelmsford
- Diss (relegated from London 1 North)
- Enfield Ignatians
- Holt
- Norwich
- Old Cooperians (promoted from London 3 North East)
- Rochford Hundred
- Saffron Walden
- South Woodham Ferrers
Teams for 2013–14
- Basildon (relegated from London 1 North)
- Braintree
- Chelmsford
- Enfield Ignatians
- Holt
- Ipswich
- Lowestoft & Yarmouth
- Norwich (promoted from London 3 North East)
- Rochford Hundred
- Saffron Walden
- South Woodham Ferrers
- Stowmarket
Teams for 2012–13
- Braintree
- Chelmsford
- Enfield Ignatians
- Holt
- Ipswich
- Lowestoft & Yarmouth
- North Walsham
- Old Streetonians
- Saffron Walden
- Stevenage Town
- Stowmarket
- Woodford
Teams for 2009–10
- Beccles
- Braintree
- Canvey Island
- Chelmsford
- Enfield Ignatians
- Harlow
- Ipswich
- Old Streetonians
- Rochford Hundred
- Romford & Gidea Park
- Saffron Walden
- Sudbury
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as London 3 North East) contained the following teams:
- Barking
- Brentwood
- Bury St Edmunds
- Chingford
- Colchester
- Eton Manor
- Ipswich YMCA
- Old Cantabrigian [a]
- Old Westcliffians [b]
- Saffron Walden
London 2 North East honours
London 3 North East (1987–1993)
Originally known as London 3 North East, this division was a tier 7 league with promotion to London 2 North and relegation to Eastern Counties 1.[10]
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 11 | Barking | Eton Manor | Bury St Edmunds | ||||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Eton Manor | Chingford | Ipswich YMCA | ||||||||||
| 1989–90 | 11 | Chingford | Harlow | Metropolitan Police (Chigwell) | ||||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | Harlow | Romford & Gidea Park | West Norfolk | ||||||||||
| 1991–92 | 11 | Cambridge | Old Edwardians | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | Brentwood | Rochford Hundred | Old Cantabrigian, Canvey Island | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
London 3 North East (1993–1996)
At the end of the 1992–93 season, the top six teams from London 1 and the top six from South West 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that London 3 North East dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to London 2 North and Eastern Counties 1 respectively.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 13 | Romford & Gidea Park | Ipswich | Saffron Walden, Westcliff | ||||||||||
| 1994–95 | 13 | Colchester | Rochford Hundred | Woodbridge, Basildon | ||||||||||
| 1995–96 | 13 | Ipswich | Lowestoft & Yarmouth | Shelford, Campion | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
London 3 North East (1996–2000)
The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that London 3 North East reverted to being a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to London 2 North and Eastern Counties 1 respectively.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 13 | Diss | Chingford [c] | No relegation [d] | ||||||||||
| 1997–98 | 17 | Lowestoft & Yarmouth | Bury St Edmunds | Upminster | ||||||||||
| 1998–99 | 17 | Chelmsford | Shelford | Bancroft, Old Edwardians and Woodbridge | [11] | |||||||||
| 1999–00 | 17 | Rochford Hundred | Basildon | Multiple teams [e] | [12] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
London 3 North East (2000–2009)
London 3 North East continued to be a tier 7 league with promotion to London 2 North. However, the introduction of London 4 North East ahead of the 2000–01 season meant that clubs were now relegated into this new division instead of into Eastern Counties 1.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 10 | Southend | Rochford Hundred | Lowestoft & Yarmouth, Braintree and Campion | [13] | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 10 | Shelford | Basildon | Chelmsford | [14] | |||||||||
| 2002–03 | 10 | Romford & Gidea Park | Saffron Walden | Basildon, Wymondham, West Norfolk and Rochford Hundred | [15] | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | 10 | Shelford | Hadleigh | No relegation [f] | [16] | |||||||||
| 2004–05 | 12 | Chingford | Romford & Gidea Park | Braintree, Chelmsford | [17] | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 12 | Eton Manor | Diss | Sudbury, Saffron Walden | [18] | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | 12 | Bury St Edmunds | Harlow | Campion | [19] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 12 | Westcliff | Diss | Colchester, Ipswich | [20] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 12 | Rochford Hundred | Brentwood | No relegation [g] | [21] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
London 2 North East (2009–2017)
Nationwide league restructuring by the RFU ahead of the 2009–10 season saw London 3 North East renamed as London 2 North East. It remained at level 7 with promotion to London 1 North (formerly London 2 North) and relegation to London 3 North East (formerly London 4 North East).
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 12 | Thurrock | Colchester | Mersea Island and Norwich | [22] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 12 | Rochford Hundred | Braintree | Harlow and Sudbury | [23] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 12 | Romford & Gidea Park | Basildon | Canvey Island and Beccles | [24] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 12 | North Walsham | Woodford | Stevenage Town and Old Streetonians | [25] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 12 | Ipswich | Saffron Walden | Lowestoft & Yarmouth and Stowmarket | [26] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 11 | Chelmsford | Diss | Old Cooperians [h] | [27] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 12 | Saffron Walden | Sudbury | Basildon [i] | [29] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 12 | Diss | South Woodham Ferrers | Campion and Holt | [30] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
London 2 North East (2017–present)
Further restructuring ahead of the 2017–18 season, which included the cancellation of London 3 North East and introduction of London 3 Eastern Counties or London 3 Essex, meant that relegation was now to either of these new leagues. Overwise, London 2 North East was unchanged, remaining as a tier 7 division with promotion continuing to London 1 North. Following league restructuring in 2022, four teams were promoted to Regional 2 Anglia.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | 12 | Rochford Hundred | Sudbury | Old Cooperians, Epping Upper Clapton, Chelmsford | [31] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 12 | Woodford | Romford & Gidea Park | Basildon, Harlow, Cantabrigian | [32] | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | 12 | Norwich | Southwold | Epping, Holt, Romford & Gidea Park | [33] | |||||||||
| 2020–21 | 12 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. | ||||||||||||
| 2021–22 | 12 | Woodford | Ipswich | Stowmarket (3rd) and Chelmsford (4th), (also promoted). South Woodham (12th) relegated to Counties 1 Essex. | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Counties 1 Eastern Counties (2022– )
Following league reorganisation, London 2 North East is renamed Counties 1 Eastern Counties and continues to be a tier 7 league. Promotion is to Regional 2 Anglia and relegation to Counties 2 Eastern Counties
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| Season | No of teams | No of matches | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 12 | 22 | Saffron Walden | Holt | Thurston (12th) | [6] | ||||||||
| 2023–24 | 12 | 22 | Wymondham | Ipswich | Ipswich Y M (10th), West Norfolk (11th) and Wisbech (12th) | [4] | ||||||||
| 2024–25 | 12 | 22 | Norwich | Newmarket | Diss (11th) and Cantabrigian (12th) | [3] | ||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place. | ||||||||||||||
Promotion play-offs
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of London 2 North East and London 2 North West for the third and final promotion place to London 1 North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2018–19 season, the London 2 North East teams had ten wins to London 2 North West nine, and the home team won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.
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| Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Att/Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | Twickenham (NW) | 44–8 | Rochford Hundred (NE) | Parkfields, Hampton, Greater London | [34] | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | Letchworth Garden City (NW) | 31–22 | Basildon (NE) | Baldock Road, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire | [35] | |||||||||
| 2002–03 | Ealing Trailfinders (NW) | 36–12 | Saffron Walden (NE) | Trailfinders Sports Ground, Ealing, London | [36] | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | St Albans (2nd XV) (NW) | 5–22 | Hadleigh (NE) | Oaklands Land, St Albans, Hertfordshire | [37] | |||||||||
| 2004–05 | Bank of England (NW) | 39–0 | Romford and Gidea Park (NE) | Bank Lane, Roehampton, Greater London | ||||||||||
| 2005–06 | Tring (NW) | 19–5 | Diss (NE) | Cow Lane, Tring, Hertfordshire | [39] | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | Welwyn (NW) | 19–6 | Harlow (NE) | Hobbs Way, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire | [40] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | Diss (NE) | 50–15 | Imperial Medicals (NW) | Mackenders, Roydon, Norfolk | [41] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | Brentwood (NE) | 23–15 | Hampstead (NW) | King George's Playing Fields, Brentwood, Essex | [42] | |||||||||
| 2009–10 | Hammersmith & Fulham (NW) | 22–29 | Colchester (NE) | Hurlingham Park, Fulham, London | [43] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | Braintree (NE) | 24–14 | Harpenden (NW) | Robbs Wood, Braintree, Essex | 300 [44] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | Basildon (NE) | 38–13 | Stevenage (NW) | Gardiners Close, Basildon, Essex | [45] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | Hemel Hempstead (NW) | 13–16 (aet) | Woodford (NE) | Chaulden Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire | 500 [46] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | Twickenham (NW) | 44–43 | Saffron Walden (NE) | Parkfields, Hampton, Greater London | [47] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | Diss (NE) | 13–16 | Chiswick (NW) | Mackenders, Roydon, Norfolk | [48] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | Sudbury (NE) | 22–18 | Hammersmith & Fulham (NW) | Whittham Field, Sudbury, Suffolk | [49] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | H.A.C. (NW) | 48–7 [j] | South Woodham Ferrers (NE) | Artillery Ground, Finsbury, London | [51] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | Hampstead (NW) | 7–37 | Sudbury (NE) | Parliament Hill Fields, Highgate, Camden, London | [52] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | Harpenden (NW) | 60–6 | Romford and Gidea Park (NE) | Redbourn Lane, Harpenden, Hertfordshire | [53] | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner-up – Hammersmith & Fulham (NW) – promoted. | |||||||||||||
| 2020–21 | No play-off due to league reorganisation | |||||||||||||
| Green background is the promoted team.(NE) = London 2 North East (formerly London 3 North East) and (NW) = London 2 North West (formerly London 3 North West) | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Rochford Hundred (4)
- Romford & Gidea Park (3)
- Chingford (2)
- Chelmsford (2)
- Diss (2)
- Eton Manor (2)
- Ipswich (2)
- Norwich (2)
- Saffron Walden (2)
- Shelford (2)
- Woodford (2)
- Barking (1)
- Brentwood (1)
- Bury St Edmunds (1)
- Cambridge (1)
- Colchester (1)
- Harlow (1)
- Lowestoft & Yarmouth (1)
- North Walsham (1)
- Southend (1)
- Thurrock (1)
- Westcliff (1)
- Wymondham (1)
- (Updated to 2025)