English rugby union division
Counties 1 Yorkshire is an English rugby union division, the seventh tier of the domestic competition, and the top level for local rugby union in parts of Yorkshire . The champions are automatically promoted to Regional 2 North East (formerly North 1 East ), a division with a wider geographical area that also encompasses northeast England. The runners-up participate in a playoff against the 2nd place team from the equivalent regional league, Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland , for promotion to Regional 2 North East. The bottom two clubs are relegated to Counties 2 Yorkshire .
Each season a team from Counties 1 Yorkshire is picked to take part in the RFU Intermediate Cup - a national competition for clubs at level 7.
2024–25 season
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Beverley
Beaver Park
Beverley , East Riding of Yorkshire
8th
Bridlington
Dukes Park
Bridlington , East Riding of Yorkshire
Relegated from Regional 2NE (13th)
Harrogate Pythons
The Jim Saynor Ground
Harrogate, North Yorkshire ,
Promoted from Counties 2 Yorkshire 11th
Hullensians
Springhead Lane
Kingston upon Hull , East Riding of Yorkshire
10th
Keighley
Rose Cottage
Keighley , West Yorkshire
3rd
Leodiensian
Crag Lane
Alwoodley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
7th
North Ribblesdale
Grove Park
Settle , North Yorkshire
Promoted from Counties 2 Yorkshire (champions)
Old Rishworthians
Hollas Lane
Copley , Halifax , West Yorkshire
9th
Pocklington
Percy Road
Pocklington , East Riding of Yorkshire
4th
Wath-upon-Dearne
Moor Road
Wath-upon-Dearne , South Yorkshire
Promoted from Counties 2 Yorkshire (runners-up)
Wensleydale
Cawkill Park
Leyburn , North Yorkshire
6th
West Leeds
Bluehill Lane
Wortley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
5th
Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 1 Yorkshire teams
2023–24 season
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Beverley
Beaver Park
Beverley , East Riding of Yorkshire
3rd
Bradford & Bingley
Wagon Lane
4,000
Bingley , West Yorkshire
Relegated from Regional 2 NE (12th)
Bradford Salem
Shay Lane
Heaton , Bradford , West Yorkshire
6th
Harrogate Pythons
The Jim Saynor Ground
Harrogate, North Yorkshire ,
Promoted from Counties 2 Yorkshire (runners-up)
Hullensians
Springhead Lane
Kingston upon Hull , East Riding of Yorkshire
7th
Keighley
Rose Cottage
Keighley , West Yorkshire
2nd
Leodiensian
Crag Lane
Alwoodley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
9th
Old Rishworthians
Hollas Lane
Copley , Halifax , West Yorkshire
5th
Pocklington
Percy Road
Pocklington , East Riding of Yorkshire
Relegated from Regional 2 NE (11th)
Wensleydale
Cawkill Park
Leyburn , North Yorkshire
Promoted from Counties 2 Yorkshire (champions)
West Leeds
Bluehill Lane
Wortley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
8th
Wetherby
Grange Park
Wetherby , West Yorkshire
4th
Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 1 Yorkshire teams in Leeds & Bradford
Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 1 Yorkshire teams
2022-23 season
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Yorkshire 1 with the 9 lowest ranked teams returning (1st to 5th were 'promoted' to Regional 2 North East ) and supplemented by top 3 from Yorkshire 2 and so with five departing but only three arriving the league was reduced from 14 teams to 12.
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Beverley
Beaver Park
Beverley , East Riding of Yorkshire
10th Yorkshire 1
Bradford Salem
Shay Lane
Heaton , Bradford , West Yorkshire
13th Yorkshire 1
Dinnington
Lodge Lane
Dinnington , South Yorkshire
8th Yorkshire 1
Goole
Westfield Banks
Goole , East Riding of Yorkshire
7th Yorkshire 1
Huddersfield Laund Hill
Laund Hill Stadium
Nettleton_Hill , Huddersfield , West Yorkshire
14th Yorkshire 1
Hullensians
Springhead Lane
Kingston upon Hull , East Riding of Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 2 (3rd)
Keighley
Rose Cottage
Keighley , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 2 (champions)
Leodiensian
Crag Lane
Alwoodley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
12th Yorkshire 1
Old Rishworthians
Hollas Lane
Copley , Halifax , West Yorkshire
9th Yorkshire 1
Roundhegians
The Memorial Groun
Roundhay , Leeds , West Yorkshire
11th Yorkshire 1
West Leeds
Bluehill Lane
Wortley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
6th Yorkshire 1
Wetherby
Grange Park
Wetherby , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 2 (runners-up)
Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 1 Yorkshire teams in Leeds
Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 1 Yorkshire teams
2021-22 season
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.
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Beverley
Beaver Park
Beverley , East Riding of Yorkshire
3rd
Bradford Salem
Shay Lane
Heaton , Bradford , West Yorkshire
8th
Bridlington
Dukes Park
Bridlington , East Riding of Yorkshire
11th
Dinnington
Lodge Lane
Dinnington , South Yorkshire
9th
Goole
Westfield Banks
Goole , East Riding of Yorkshire
6th
Huddersfield Laund Hill
Laund Hill Stadium
Nettleton_Hill , Huddersfield , West Yorkshire
Relegated from North 1 East (14h)
Leodiensian
Crag Lane
Alwoodley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
10th
Middlesbrough
Acklam Park
5,000 (159 seats)
Acklam , Middlesbrough , North Yorkshire
Level Transfer from DN1 (2nd)
Old Crossleyans
Broomfield Avenue
Halifax , West Yorkshire
4th
Old Rishworthians
Hollas Lane
Copley , Halifax , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 2 (runners up)
Pontefract
Moor Lane
Pontefract , West Yorkshire
12th
Roundhegians
The Memorial Groun
Roundhay , Leeds , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 2 (champions)
Selby
Sandhill Lane
Selby , North Yorkshire
7th
West Leeds
Bluehill Lane
Wortley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
5th
Locations of the 2021–22 Yorkshire 1 teams in Leeds
Locations of the 2021-22 Yorkshire 1 teams
2020–21 season
On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced [ 1] that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Yorkshire 1 was not contested.
2019–20 season
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Beverley
Beaver Park
Beverley , East Riding of Yorkshire
5th
Bradford Salem
Shay Lane
Heaton , Bradford , West Yorkshire
9th
Bridlington
Dukes Park
Bridlington , East Riding of Yorkshire
Relegated from North 1 East (12th)
Dinnington
Lodge Lane
Dinnington , South Yorkshire
6th
Goole
Westfield Banks
Goole , East Riding of Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 2 (champions)
Heath
West Vale
West Vale , Halifax , West Yorkshire
Runners up (lost playoff)
Hullensians
Springhead Lane
Kingston upon Hull , East Riding of Yorkshire
12th
Keighley
Rose Cottage
Keighley , West Yorkshire
10th
Leodiensian
Crag Lane
Alwoodley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 2 (runners up)
Old Brodleians
Woodhead
Hipperholme , Halifax , West Yorkshire
7th
Old Crossleyans
Broomfield Avenue
Halifax , West Yorkshire
4th
Pontefract
Moor Lane
Pontefract , West Yorkshire
3rd
Selby
Sandhill Lane
Selby , North Yorkshire
11th
West Leeds
Bluehill Lane
Wortley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
Relegated from North 1 East (13th)
Locations of the 2019–20 Yorkshire 1 teams
2018–19 season
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Beverley
Beaver Park
Beverley , East Riding of Yorkshire
4th
Bradford Salem
Shay Lane
Heaton , Bradford , West Yorkshire
11th
Dinnington
Lodge Lane
Dinnington , South Yorkshire
Relegated from North 1 East (12th)
Guisborough
Belmangate
Guisborough , North Yorkshire
Level transfer from Durham/Northumberland 1 (10th)
Heath
West Vale
West Vale , Halifax , West Yorkshire
5th
Hullensians
Springhead Lane
Kingston upon Hull , East Riding of Yorkshire
10th
Keighley
Rose Cottage
Keighley , West Yorkshire
9th
Middlesbrough
Acklam Park
5,000 (159 seats)
Acklam , Middlesbrough , North Yorkshire
3rd
Moortown
Moss Valley
Alwoodley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
7th
Old Brodleians
Woodhead
Hipperholme , Halifax , West Yorkshire
8th
Old Crossleyans
Broomfield Avenue
Halifax , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 2 (runners up)
Old Rishworthians
Hollas Lane
Copley , Halifax , West Yorkshire
6th
Pontefract
Moor Lane
Pontefract , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 2 (champions)
Selby
Sandhill Lane
Selby , North Yorkshire
12th
Locations of the 2018–19 Yorkshire 1 teams
2017–18 season
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Beverley
Beaver Park
Beverley , East Riding of Yorkshire
5th
Bradford Salem
Shay Lane
Heaton , Bradford , West Yorkshire
8th
Heath
West Vale
West Vale , Halifax , West Yorkshire
9th
Hullensians
Springhead Lane
Kingston upon Hull , East Riding of Yorkshire
10th
Keighley
Rose Cottage
Keighley , West Yorkshire
7th
Middlesbrough
Acklam Park
5,000 (159 seats)
Acklam , Middlesbrough , North Yorkshire
Level transfer from Durham/Northumberland 1
Moortown
Moss Valley
Alwoodley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 2 (champions)
North Ribblesdale
Grove Park
Settle , North Yorkshire
12th
Old Brodleians
Woodhead
Hipperholme , Halifax , West Yorkshire
6th
Old Rishworthians
Hollas Lane
Copley , Halifax , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 2 (runners up)
Scarborough
Silver Royd
1,950 (322 seats)
Scalby , Scarborough , North Yorkshire
4th
Selby
Sandhill Lane
Selby , North Yorkshire
11th
Wheatley Hills
Brunnel Road
Doncaster , South Yorkshire
Relegated from North 1 East (14th)
York
Clifton Park
York , North Yorkshire
3rd
Locations of the 2017–18 Yorkshire 1 teams
2016–17 season
Locations of the 2016–17 Yorkshire 1 teams
2015–16 season
Locations of the 2015–16 Yorkshire 1 teams
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bradford & Bingley
Wagon Lane
4,000
Bingley , West Yorkshire
Bradford Salem
Shay Lane
Heaton , Bradford , West Yorkshire
Bridlington
Dukes Park
Bridlington , East Riding of Yorkshire
Heath
West Vale
Greetland , Halifax , West Yorkshire
Hullensians
Springhead Lane
Kingston upon Hull , East Riding of Yorkshire
Malton & Norton
The Gannock
Malton, North Yorkshire
North Ribblesdale
Grove Park
Settle , North Yorkshire
Old Brodleians
Woodhead
Hipperholme , West Yorkshire
Old Crossleyans
Broomfield Avenue
Halifax , West Yorkshire
Scarborough
Silver Royd
4500 (322 seats)
Scalby , Scarborough , North Yorkshire
Selby
Sandhill Lane
Selby , North Yorkshire
West Park Leeds
The Sycamores
Leeds , West Yorkshire
Yarnbury
Brownberrie Lane
Horsforth , West Yorkshire
York
Clifton Park
York , North Yorkshire
2014–15 season
2013–14 season
2012–13 season
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
Yorkshire 1 honours
Yorkshire 1 (1987–1993)
The original Yorkshire 1 was a tier 9 league with promotion up to North East 2 and relegation down to Yorkshire 2 .
Yorkshire 1 (1993–2000)
The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 1 dropped to become a tier 10 league. A further restructure at the end of the 1995–96 season, which included the cancellation of National 5 North and the addition of North East 3 at tier 9, saw Yorkshire 1 remain at tier 10 with promotion to the new North 3 East league.
Yorkshire 1 (2000–present)
Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999-2000 season saw the cancellation of North East 1 , North East 2 and North East 3 (tiers 7-9). This meant that Yorkshire 1 became a tier 7 league, with promotion to North 2 East (currently North 1 East).
Season
No of Teams
Champions
Runners–up
Relegated Teams
2000–01[ 5]
12
Cleckheaton
Wheatley Hills
Ripon, Keighley , Huddersfield Y.M.C.A.
2001–02[ 6]
12
Hull
Scarborough
Pocklington , West Park Leeds , Beverley
2002–03[ 7]
12
Bridlington Mariners [ f]
York
Sheffield Tigers , North Ribblesdale , Wheatley Hills
2003–04[ 8]
12
Malton & Norton
Pontefract
Scarborough , Old Brodleians
2004–05[ 9]
12
Beverley
Wheatley Hills
Yarnbury , Dinnington
2005–06[ 10]
12
Sheffield Tigers
Old Crossleyans
Goole , Selby
2006–07[ 11]
12
Pontefract
York
Wheatley Hills , Old Brodleians
2007–08[ 12]
12
Sandal
Ilkley
Redcar , Huddersfield Y.M.C.A.
2008–09[ 13]
12
Old Brodleians
Bridlington
Glossop
2009–10[ 14]
14
Wheatley Hills
Sheffield
Skipton , Yarnbury
2010–11[ 15]
14
Malton & Norton
Sheffield
Bradford Salem , Selby
2011–12[ 16]
14
Pocklington
Keighley
Castleford
2012–13[ 17]
14
Driffield
Huddersfield Y.M.C.A.
Knottingley , Barnsley
2013–14[ 18]
14
Ilkley
Dinnington
Acklam , Keighley
2014–15[ 19]
14
Doncaster Phoenix
Malton & Norton
Wath Upon Dearne , Pontefract
2015–16[ 20]
14
Bradford & Bingley
Malton & Norton
West Park Leeds , Old Crossleyans
2016–17[ 21]
14
Bridlington
West Leeds
Acklam , Yarnbury
2017–18[ 22]
14
York
Scarborough
Wheatley Hills , North Ribblesdale
2018–19[ 23]
14
Moortown
Heath
Guisborough , Old Rishworthians
2019–20[ 24]
14
Brodleians
Heath
Hullensians , Keighley
2020–21
14
Green backgrounds are promotion places.
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Durham/Northumberland 1 and Yorkshire 1 for the third and final promotion place to North 1 East . The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Yorkshire 1 teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Durham/Northumberland 1 teams six; and the home side have won ten times to the away sides nine.
Durham/Northumberland 1 v Yorkshire 1 promotion play-off results
Season
Home team
Score
Away team
Venue
Attendance
2000–01[ 25]
Wheatley Hills (Y)
21-19
Percy Park (DN)[ 27]
Brunel Road, Doncaster , South Yorkshire
2001–02[ 28]
Ashington (DN)
17-23
Scarborough (Y)
Recreation Ground, Ashington , Northumberland
2002–03[ 29]
York (Y)
29-15
Hartlepool Rovers (DN)
Clifton Park, York , North Yorkshire
2003–04[ 30]
Alnwick (DN)
25-18
Pontefract (Y)
Greensfield, Alnwick , Northumberland
2004–05[ 31]
Durham City (DN)
26-13
Wheatley Hills (Y)
Hollow Drift, Durham, County Durham
2005–06[ 32]
Malton & Norton (DN)
19-39
Old Crossleyans (Y)
The Gannock, Malton, North Yorkshire
2006–07[ 33]
Sunderland (DN)
16-18
York (Y)
Ashbrooke Sports Club, Ashbrooke , Sunderland , Tyne and Wear
2007–08[ 34]
Northern (DN)
24-28
Ilkley (Y)
McCracken Park , Gosforth , Newcastle upon Tyne , Tyne and Wear
2008–09[ 35]
Percy Park (DN)
36-3
Bridlington (Y)
Preston Avenue, North Shields , Tyne and Wear
2009–10[ 36]
Team Northumbria (DN)
34-13
Sheffield (Y)
Coach Lane Sports Ground, Benton , Newcastle upon Tyne , Tyne and Wear
2010–11[ 37]
Darlington (DN)
17-18
Sheffield (Y)
Blackwell Meadows, Darlington , County Durham
2011–12[ 38]
Alnwick (DN)
16-18
Keighley (Y)
Greensfield, Alnwick , Northumberland
2012–13[ 39]
Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. (Y)
33-12
Guisborough (DN)
Laund Hill, Huddersfield , West Yorkshire
2013–14[ 40]
Dinnington (Y)
34-20 (aet)
Guisborough (DN)
Lodge Lane, Dinnington, South Yorkshire
2014–15[ 41]
Morpeth (DN)
14-11
Malton & Norton (Y)
Mitford Road, Morpeth, Northumberland
2015–16[ 42]
Middlesbrough (DN)
17-25
Malton & Norton (Y)
Acklam Park , Middlesbrough , North Yorkshire
2016–17[ 43]
South Shields Westoe (DN)
14-19
West Leeds (Y)
Wood Terrace, South Shields , Tyne and Wear
2017–18[ 44]
Durham City (DN)
AWO[ g]
Scarborough (Y)
Hollow Drift, Durham, County Durham
2018–19[ 45]
West Hartlepool (DN)
24-23
Heath (Y)
Brinkburn, Hartlepool , County Durham
2019–20
Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom . Best ranked runner up - Heath (Y) - promoted instead.
2020–21
Green background is the promoted team. DN = Durham/Northumberland 1 and Y = Yorkshire 1
Number of league titles
Notes
^ West Park Bramhope are currently known as West Park Leeds.[ 2]
^ 3rd place Cleckheaton were also promoted.
^ League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant no clubs were relegated and five clubs would be promoted from Yorkshire 2 .
^ Yorkshire league restructuring due to reintroduction of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1996–97 season meant that four clubs were relegated into Yorkshire 2 .
^ Relegated side Wibsey would drop out of the Yorkshire leagues at the end of the season.
^ The Bridlington Mariners are the 2nd XV of Bridlington RUFC .
^ Scarborough won by default as Durham City were unable to raise a team.[ 44]
^ Bridlington have actually won Yorkshire 1 three times - twice by their 1st XV, the other by the 2nd XV (Bridlington Mariners).
^ Bridlington Mariners are the 2nd XV of Bridlington RUFC .
^ Not to be confused with West Park Leeds.
^ West Park Bramhope are currently known as West Park Leeds.
See also
References
Governing body National teams
International competitions
Competition divisions
European competitions National competitions London and South East competitions Midland competitions Northern competitions South West competitions County competitions Discontinued competitions Related articles Other