Regional 1 South East (formerly known as London & South East Premier and National League 3 London & South East) is a level five league in the English rugby union system.[1] It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London Division 1. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following re-organisation by the Rugby Football Union while the name change from National League 3 to Premier was introduced for the 2017–18 season to make it more obvious that it is a regional league.[1] London & South East Premier was the highest regional rugby union league covering London and south east England. Following the RFU Adult Competition Review the league was decreased from 14 to 12 and the name changed to Regional 1 South East. Part of the area formerly covered by London & South East Premier is now covered by a new league Regional 1 South Central.
The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to March, 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, 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
Updated to match(es) played on 6 April 2024. Source: [2] Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
Number of matches won
Difference between points for and against
Total number of points for
Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled (C) Champion; (R) Relegated
Updated to match(es) played on 3 May 2023. Source: [3] Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
Number of matches won
Difference between points for and against
Total number of points for
Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled (C) Champion Notes:
Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2023. Source: Regional 1 South East Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
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.
Updated to match(es) played on 2 June 2022. Source: [4] Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
Number of matches won
Difference between points for and against
Total number of points for
Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled (C) Champion Notes:
On 30 October the RFU announced[5] 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 London & South East Premier was not contested.
Each season, the runners-up in the London & South East Premier (National League 3 London & South East) and South West Premier (formerly National League 3 South West) participate in a play-off for the third promotion place to National League 2 South. The team with the best playing record, in this case Westcliff, hosted the match and beat their opponents Barnstaple 44 – 5 to win promotion to National League 2 South for the first time. This was Westcliff's first appearance in the play-offs and Barnstaple's second; in 2016 Barnstaple beat Tonbridge Juddians 31 – 30 at Tonbridge. The home team have won fifteen out of nineteen play-off matches and the south-east team have won the play-off thirteen times.
Updated to match(es) played on 07 June 2018. Source: 2017-2018
Promotion play-off
Each season, the runners-up in the London & South East Premier, and South West Premier participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 South. The team with the best playing record, in this case Guernsey RFC, hosted the match and beat their opponents Bournemouth 38 – 23 to win promotion.
Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Dorking and Southend Saxons who were relegated from National 2 South while three promoted teams, Amersham & Chiltern, Guildford and Sutton & Epsom were promoted into the league. London Irish Wild Geese were promoted to National League 2 South as champions while Eton Manor and Gravesend were relegated to London 1 North and London 1 South respectively. Originally, Westcliff were supposed to go down as the 14th placed team, but they were granted a reprieve when East Grinstead (who had finished 3rd) decided to take voluntary relegation, due to the loss of a key sponsor and dropped five leagues to Sussex Spitfire 1.[21][22] Finally Bracknell were level transferred back to National League 3 South West after just one season to address an imbalance in teams after having finished 11th.[23]
Updated to match(es) played on 26 April 2017. Source: [2]
Promotion play-off
Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 London and SE, and National League 3 South West participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 South. The team with the best playing record, in this case Wimbledon RFC, hosted the match and beat their opponents Dings Crusaders RFC 55 – 5 to win promotion.
Updated to match(es) played on 23 April 2016. Source: 2015-16 Notes:
^Despite finishing 3rd in the league, East Grinstead decided to take voluntary relegation due to being left insolvent after their director (and financial backer) pulled out of the club. They will be relegated all the way down to level 10 (Sussex Intermediate League) giving a reprieve to Westcliff who would have been relegated in 12th position had it not been for East Grinstead's demotion.[22]
^Following East Grinsteads voluntary relegation, 12th placed Westcliff were granted a reprieve and would not be relegated this season.[21]
Promotion play-off
The runners-up in the National League 3 London and SE, and National League 3 South West participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 South. The team with the best playing record, in this case Tonbridge Juddian, host the match and their opponents are Barnstaple. Juddians lost the match 31 – 30 to a penalty in the last minute of the match and will stay in National 3 London and SE for next season.[24]
Updated to match(es) played on 7 October 2015. Source: 2014-15
Promotion play-off
The runners-up in the National League 3 London and SE, and National League 3 South West participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 South. The team with the best playing record, in this case Exmouth, hosts the match; their opponents were Barnes and the match was played on 25 April 2015. At the end of full-time the match score was 22 – 22, and Barnes scored the only points in extra-time, to win the match 27– 22.[25]
In the first season of the English rugby union league pyramid, sponsored by Courage, there was four, tier five leagues. These were London Division 1, Midland Division 1, North Division 1 and South West Division 1. In 1987 the geographical area for teams in the south-east of England was known as the London and South East Division and covered the counties of Essex, Hampshire, Kent, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey and Sussex. The league was also known as London League 1 and London 1. There were eleven teams in the league and they played each team once, giving each team ten matches.[30] This system prevailed for five seasons, and in 1992–93 the number of teams increased from eleven to thirteen. The following season (1993–94) the league was reorganised and the four tier five leagues became two; National 5 North and National 5 South.[31] After three seasons, in 1996–97, a further reorganisation occurred, and there was a return to four, tier five leagues; with London Division One covering the same area as before.[32] This system prevailed until 2009–10 when the number of teams was increased from twelve to fourteen and renamed National League Three London & South East. The league name changed once more for the 2017–18, when it was renamed to London & South East Premier.[1]
The top six teams from London Division One and the top six from South West Division One were combined to create National 5 South. London Division 1 was now the name of a tier six league and was one of two feeder leagues for National 5 South.
For the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 South was discontinued and London Division One returned to being a tier five league. Promotion was to National 4 South (renamed to National 3 South in 2000–01), while relegation continued to London 2 North and London 2 South.
The division was renamed National League 3 London & SE following a restructuring of the national leagues which led to changes at all levels. It continued as a tier 5 league with promotion to National League 2 South (formerly National 3 South) and relegation to either London 1 North or London 1 South (formerly London 2 North and London 2 South).
The division was renamed London & South East Premier in order to make it more obvious that it was a regional league and the pinnacle of the London & South East region. It continued to be a tier 5 league with promotion to National League 2 South and relegation to London 1 North or London 1 South.
Between seasons 2000–01 and 2018–19 there has been a play-off between the runners-up of London & South East Premier and South West Premier for the third and final promotion place to National League 2 South. The team with the superior league record has home advantage. At the end of the 2019–20 season the London and south-east teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the south-west teams six; and the home team has won promotion on fifteen occasions compared to the away teams four.
London & South East Premier v South West Premier promotion play-off results
^The reduction of this division from 17 teams to 12 resulted in more relegation places than is usual.
^Metropolitan Police withdrew and their fixtures and results expunged.
^Despite finishing 3rd in the league, East Grinstead decided to take voluntary relegation due to being left insolvent after their director (and financial backer) pulled out of the club. The will be relegated all the way down to level 10 (Sussex Intermediate League) giving a reprieve to Westcliff who would have been relegated in 12th position had it not been for East Grinstead's demotion.[22]
^Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom the RFU cancelled all rugby below the Premiership with most clubs in London & South East Premier having played 22 games, and a best playing record formula was used to decide the final table.[61][62]
^London Welsh's league title was won during the period when tier 5 was divided into 2 regional divisions - National 5 North and National 5 South (1993-96).
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ abcdWilliams, Tony; Mitchell, Bill, eds. (1992). Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1991–92 (4th ed.). Taunton: Football Directories. ISBN1-869833-15-5.
^Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95 (23rd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 163–179. ISBN0-7472-7850-4.
^Mick Cleary, ed. (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98 (26th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishers. ISBN0-7472-7732-X.
^Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89 (17th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 123–139. ISBN0-356-15884-5.
^Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1992). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992–93. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 170–185. ISBN0-7472-7907-1.
^Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94 (22nd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing Ltd. pp. 151–167. ISBN0-7472-7891-1.
^Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95 (23rd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 163–179. ISBN0-7472-7850-4.
^Cleary, Mick (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96 (24th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 179–195. ISBN0-7472-7816-4.
^Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 87–100. ISBN0-7472-7732-X.
^Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1998). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998–99. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 84–98. ISBN0-7472-7653-6.