Counties 2 Sussex is a level 8 English Rugby Union League. It is made up of teams from Sussex with teams playing home and away matches from September through to April. Promoted teams move up to Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex relegated teams move down to HarveyâÂÂs brewery Counties 3 Sussex. It was previously known as Sussex 1 prior to the RFU Adult Competition Review. It is administered by Sussex Rugby. and the London & SE RFU.
Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
The ten teams play home and away matches making a total of eighteen games each. The results contribute points to the league as follows:
Departing the league were Uckfield promoted to Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex. Also leaving were Worthing III (9th) and Hove II (10th) who did not return for the new season.
Departing the league were Haywards Heath, promoted to Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex whilst Burgess Hill (9th in 2023âÂÂ24) dropped out the competition. Coming in were Lewes (re-entry after a year away having won Counties 3 Sussex ), Hove 2XV (re-entry having last competed in 2021âÂÂ22) and Ditchling (re-entry after having last competed in season 2019âÂÂ20).
The London & SE RFU published fixtures for the league in June 2024.
Departing the league were East Grinstead and Eastbourne, both promoted to Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex. Lewes did not return having finished 10th the previous season. In their place came Brighton 2XV and Worthing 3XV meaning the league ran with 9 sides.
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Sussex 1 but was supplemented by two teams from London 3 South East - Crawley and Pulborough - and the addition of Shoreham and Haywards Heath.
Haywards Heath had won London 2 South East in 2019âÂÂ20 and were scheduled to join London 1 South but with the leagues being abandoned for 2020âÂÂ21 this did not happen and ahead of the 2021âÂÂ22 season they withdrew from the league
Despite winning Sussex 1 in 2021-22 East Grinstead were not promoted since the league they would have been promoted to, London 3 South East, was disbanded and Counties 2 Sussex was itself a level 8 league as London 3SE had been. For East Grinstead the achievement was nevertheless significant as they continued their recovery having elected to take voluntary relegation to the Sussex Intermediate League in 2016 due to being left insolvent after their director (and financial backer) pulled out of the club.
Hellingly and Hove 2XV who had finished 7th and 8th respectively in Sussex 1 the previous season did not return.