Counties 1 Hertfordshire (formerly Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex and before that London 2 North West) is a tier 7 English Rugby Union league. It is organised by the London and South East Division Rugby Football Union and is the top-tier competition for clubs primarily in Hertfordshire together with others from parts of north-west London (that traditionally was encompassed by the historic county of Middlesex) and Essex. It was previously known as London 2 North West. After the restructuring of the English rugby union system ahead of the 2022âÂÂ23 season, the league was renamed to Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex. Ahead of the 2025âÂÂ26 season a decision was taken to split Hertfordshire RFU and Middlesex RFU clubs, with Middlesex teams moving on a level transfer to Counties 1 Middlesex while club 2XVs were introduced to the league. Brunel University are the current champions.
Each year the two Hertfordshire clubs in this division with the best record against other Hertfordshire clubs also take part in the Hertfordshire Presidents' Cup, the highest level county cup competition in Hertfordshire. Promoted teams typically go up to Regional 2 Thames while relegated teams drop to Counties 2 Hertfordshire.
The champions are promoted to Regional 2 Thames while one or two teams are relegated to Counties 2 Hertsfordshire. Since 2025âÂÂ26 the league includes Essex clubs precluded from competing in Essex Rugby leagues which don't permit reserve sides in first XV leagues. The season runs from September to April and comprises eighteen 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:
This was the first season with the league containing mainly Hertfordshire RFU clubs. Leaving on a level transfer to the newly re-formed Counties 1 Middlesex league were Chiswick (9th), Ealing Trailfinders 1871 (4th), Finchley (3rd), Ruislip (6th) and Old Streetonians (5th). Also departing were Brunel University promoted to Regional 2 Thames while Hackney (11th) and Datchworth (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Middlesex and Counties 2 Hertfordshire respectively.
Departing were London Scottish Lions promoted to Regional 2 Thames, and Enfield Ignatians and Hampstead relegated to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex. Joining were Brunel University and Ealing Trailfinders 1871, promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex, together with Fullerians, relegated from Regional 2 Thames.
Departing were Hemel Hempstead and Grasshoppers, promoted to Regional 2 Thames. There was no relegation. Joining were Cheshunt and London Scottish Lions, both promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 2 North West with eight of the teams competing in the previous season, while the top four moved to Regional 2 Thames or Regional 2 Anglia. They were replaced with the top three from London 3 North West and Chiswick on a level transfer from London 2 South West.
The teams competing in 2021âÂÂ-22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019âÂÂ20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season and not 2020âÂÂ21.
On 30 October, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, the RFU announced that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020âÂÂ21 season meaning London 2 North West was not contested.
When league rugby began in 1987 this division, known as London 3 North West, contained the following teams:
Originally known as London 3 North West, this division was a tier 7 league with promotion to London 2 North and relegation to either Hertfordshire 1 or Middlesex 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. As a consequent, London 3 North West dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to London 2 North, while relegation was to the newly introduced Herts/Middlesex.
With the cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995âÂÂ96 season London 3 North West reverted to being a tier 7 league. Promotion continued to London 2 North, while relegation was to Herts/Middlesex 1 (formerly Herts/Middlesex).
London 3 North West continued to be a tier 7 league with promotion to London 2 North. With the introduction of London 4 North West ahead of the 2000âÂÂ01 season clubs were now relegated to this division instead of Herts/Middlesex 1.
Nationwide league restructuring by the RFU ahead of the 2009âÂÂ10 season saw London 3 North West renamed as London 2 North West. It remained at level 7 with promotion to London 1 North (formerly London 2 North) and relegation to London 3 North West (formerly London 4 North West).
Following league reorganisation, London 2 North West is renamed Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex and continues to be a tier 7 league. Promotion is to Regional 2 Thames and relegation to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.
The league was renamed and now only contains clubs from Hertfordshire. It continues to be a tier 7 league.The Middlesex clubs were level transferred to the newly re-formed Counties 1 Middlesex. Promotion is to Regional 2 Thames and relegation to Counties 2 Hertfordshire
From 2000âÂÂ01 season to 2018âÂÂ19 there was 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 had home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2018âÂÂ19 season the London 2 North East had ten wins and the and London 2 North West teams had nine and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.