Regional 2 South East, previously known as London 1 South, is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from East Sussex, south Essex, south Greater London, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and West Sussex. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 2 South, changing to London 1 South ahead of the 2009âÂÂ10 season. It used to be the feeder league for London & South East Premier into which the champions were promoted, while the second-placed team entered a play-off against the runner-up of London 1 North. Three teams were relegated into either London 2 South East and London 2 South West depending on their location. The league was renamed as Regional 2 South East for the 2022âÂÂ23 season and moved from a 14 team, to a 12 team competition. The champions are promoted to either Regional 1 South Central or Regional 1 South East depending on geographical location, whiles relegated sides go to either Counties 1 Kent or Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex.
The winner of the league after the revamp was Horsham, whilst current champions are Medway.
The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to April, making a total of twenty-two matches each. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
There is one automatic promotion place and two relegation places. The first-placed team at the end of season wins promotion to either Regional 1 South Central or Regional 1 South East
Departing were Medway, promoted to Regional 1 South East while Thurrock were relegated to Counties 1 Essex. Also leaving were Reeds Weybridge (6th) and Old Tiffinians (7th) on a level transfer to Regional 2 South Central.
Departing were Old Alleynians as champions, promoted to Regional 1 South Central while Cobham and London Cornish were relegated to Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex. Joining were Dartfordians, runners-up in Counties 1 Kent (Canterbury 2XV won the league but owing to league regulations were not permitted to be promoted to Level 6), Old Tiffinians runners up in Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex and Thurrock who were level transferred from Regional 2 Anglia.
Departing were Horsham as champions, promoted to Regional 1 South Central. Also leaving the league were Farnham, Guildford and Chichester - all level transferred to Regional 2 South Central. Relegated were KCS Old Boys to Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex and Dartfordians to Counties 1 Kent respectively. Joining were Cobham and London Cornish on a level transfer from Regional 2 Thames, Old Alleynian came up from Counties 1 Kent while Medway and Sidcup and were relegated from Regional 1 South East as were Sutton & Epsom from Regional 1 South Central.
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 1 South but was smaller as seven teams left but only six joined (14 teams reduced to 12) with Regional 2 Thames and Regional 2 South Central taking teams that historically would have played in London 1 South.
Departing were London Welsh and Camberley who were promoted to Regional 1 South Central and Medway, promoted to Regional 1 South East. Also leaving the league were Hammersmith & Fulham, London Cornish, Cobham and London Irish Wild Geese - all level transferred to Regional 2 Thames.
In their place came Old Colfeians, Beckenham, Gravesend and Dartfordians - the top four from London 2 South East alongside Old Reigatian and Reeds Weybridge from London 2 South West.
The teams competing in 2021âÂÂ22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019âÂÂ20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020âÂÂ21. Ahead of the season Haywards Heath (promoted as London 2 SE champions in 2019âÂÂ20) withdrew from the league leaving London 1 South with thirteen teams.
Departing were Havant and Westcombe Park, promoted to L&SE Premier whilst H.A.C were relegated to London 2 North West as were Dartfordians and Beckenham to London 2 South East. Thurrock and Belsize Park were level transferred to London 1 North.
In their place came Battersea Ironsides and Farnham from London 2 South West, London Welsh and Hammersmith & Fulham from L2NW whilst Guildford and London Irish Wild Geese were relegated from L&SE Premier.
On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020âÂÂ21 season meaning London 1 South was not contested.
Departing were Sevenoaks and Brighton, promoted to L&SE Premier whilst Chobham and Tottonians were relegated to London 2 South West and Hove to London 2 South East. In their place came Beckenham and Horsham from London 2 SE, Belsize Park from London 2 NW, KCS Old Boys from London 2 SW and H.A.C. on a level transfer from London 1 North
Sutton & Epsom, they were promoted to National 3 London & South East for the 2016âÂÂ17 season, while the second-placed team, Guildford beat Tring, the runner-up from London 1 North, in a play-off for the second promotion place. Twickenham and Charlton Park are relegated. Medway were also relegated despite finishing third due to an RFU punishment for incorrect registration of, and illegal payments to, players thus granting a reprieve from relegation for Gosport and Fareham.
Medway were replaced by Gravesend who were relegated from National 3 London & South East. Promoted into the league were winners of London 2 South East, Tunbridge Wells as well as Cobham as champions of London 2 South West and play-off winners Sevenoaks. CS Rugby 1863 were transferred from London 1 North as the most southerly team in that league due to an imbalance in North and South teams in the leagues.
Each season, the runners-up in London 1 South and London 1 North participate in a play-off for promotion to National 3 London & SE. The team with the best playing record, in this case Tring, from London 1 North, was the home team and the away team Guildford, won the match 26 â 21, with a try in the 79th minute.
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as London 2 South) contained the following teams:
In the first season of the English rugby union league pyramid, sponsored by Courage, there was six, tier six leagues. The initial name was London 2 South and was for teams based in London and the counties of Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. There was eleven teams in the league and each team played one match against each of the other teams, giving each team five home matches and five away matches. The winning team was awarded two points, and there was one point for each team in a drawn match.
The original London 2 South was a tier 6 league with promotion to London 1 and relegation to either London 3 South East or London 3 South West.
At the end of the 1992âÂÂ93 season the top six teams from London Division 1 and the top six from South West Division 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that London 2 South dropped from a tier 6 league to a tier 7 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to London 1 and relegation to either London 3 South East or London 3 South West.
The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995âÂÂ96 season meant that London 2 South reverted to being a tier 6 league. Promotion continued to London 1 and relegation down to either London 3 South East or London 3 South West (renamed to London 2 South East and London 2 South West from the 2000âÂÂ01 season onward).
London 2 South was renamed to London 1 South from the 2009âÂÂ10 season. It continued as a tier 6 league with promotion to National League 3 London & South East (formerly London 1 and currently known as London & South East Premier) and relegation to London 2 South East and London 2 South West (formerly London 3 South East and London 3 South West).
Following a reorganisation of the league structure by the RFU, this league is now one of twelve at tier 6. Promotion is to Regional 1 South Central or Regional 1 South East, while relegation is to Counties 1 Essex, Counties 1 Kent or Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex.
From 2000âÂÂ01 to 2018âÂÂ19 there was a play-off between the runners-up of London 1 North and London 1 South for the third and final promotion place to London & South East Premier. The team with the superior league record had home advantage. At the end of the 2018âÂÂ19 season the London 1 South teams have been the most successful with eleven wins to the London 1 North teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six. Promotion play-offs ended with the reorganisation of the leagues for season 2022âÂÂ23