Counties 1 Eastern Counties (formerly London 2 North East) is an English level 7 Rugby Union League. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 3 North East, changing to its current name ahead of the 2009âÂÂ10 season. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022âÂÂ23 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:
Departing were Norwich promoted to Regional 2 Anglia while Cantabrigian (12th) and Diss (11th) were relegated to Counties 2 Eastern Counties.
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.
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.
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 1 Eastern Counties. 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.
The teams competing in 2021-22 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.
On 30 October the RFU announced 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.
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as London 3 North East) contained the following teams:
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.
At the end of the 1992âÂÂ93 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.
The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995âÂÂ96 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.
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 2000âÂÂ01 season meant that clubs were now relegated into this new division instead of into Eastern Counties 1.
Nationwide league restructuring by the RFU ahead of the 2009âÂÂ10 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).
Further restructuring ahead of the 2017âÂÂ18 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.
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
Since the 2000âÂÂ01 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 2018âÂÂ19 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.