London 1 South

London 1 South
Current season or competition:
2015–16 London 1 South
Sport Rugby union
Number of teams 14
Country  England
Holders Sutton & Epsom (2nd title) (2015–16)
(promoted to National League 3 London & SE)
Most titles Canterbury, Haywards Heath, Sutton & Epsom, Gravesend (2 titles)
Website clubs.rfu.com

London 1 South is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in south London and the south-east of England.[1] It is the feeder league for National League 3 London & SE where the champions are promoted with the second placed team entering a play-off against the runners up of London 1 North. Three teams are relegated into either London 2 South East or London 2 South West. The current champions are Sutton & Epsom RFC.[2]

Structure and format

The fourteen teams play home and away matches from September through to April, making a total of twenty-six matches each. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:

There is one automatic promotion place, one play-off place for promotion and (usually) three relegation places. The first-placed team at the end of season wins promotion to National 3 London & South East while the runner-up plays the second-placed team from London 1 North, with the winner also being promoted. The last three placed clubs are usually relegated to either London 2 South East or London 2 South West depending on location.[3]

2016–17

Sutton & Epsom, the current champions were promoted to National 3 London & South East for the 2016–17 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[4] thus granting a reprieve from relegation for Gosport and Fareham.[5]

They were replaced by Gravesend who were relegated from National 3 London & SE. Promoted into the league were national RFU Intermediate Cup champions and unbeaten league winners of London 2 South East, Tunbridge Wells[6] as well as Cobham as champions of London 2 South West and play-off winners Sevenoaks.[7] CS Rugby 1863 were transferred from London 1 North because they were the most southern team in London 1 North due of an imbalace in North and South teams in the leagues.[7]

Participating teams and locations

Team Ground City/Area Previous season
Brighton Waterhall Brighton, East Sussex 5th
Chiswick Dukes Meadows Chiswick, London 10th
Chobham Fowlers Wells Chobham, Surrey 8th
Cobham Old Surbitonians Memorial Ground Cobham, Surrey promoted from London 2 South West as champions
CS Rugby 1863 King's House Sports Ground Chiswick, London level transferred from London 1 North
Dover Crabble Athletic Ground Dover, Kent 11th
Gosport & Fareham Gosport Park Gosport, Hampshire 12th
Gravesend Donald Biggs Drive Gravesend, Kent relegated from National League 3 London & SE
Havant Hook's Lane Havant, Hampshire 9th
Maidstone William Davey Memorial Ground Maidstone, Kent 6th
Sevenoaks Knole Paddock Sevenoaks, Kent promoted from London 2 South East via play-off
Sidcup Crescent Farm Sidcup, Kent 4th
Tottonians Water Lane Totton, Hampshire 7th
Tunbridge Wells St Marks Recreation Ground Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent promoted from London 2 South East as champions

2015–16

Participating teams and locations

Team Ground City/Area Previous season
Brighton Waterhall Brighton, East Sussex 6th
Charlton Park Broad Walk Kidbrooke, London 8th
Chiswick Dukes Meadows Chiswick, London promoted from London 2 North West via play-off
Chobham Fowlers Wells Chobham, Surrey 2nd
Dover Crabble Athletic Ground Dover, Kent 10th
Gosport & Fareham Gosport Park Gosport, Hampshire 9th
Guildford Broadwater Sports Club Farncombe, Surrey 5th
Havant Hook's Lane Havant, Hampshire 7th
Maidstone William Davey Memorial Ground Maidstone, Kent promoted from London 2 South East as champions
Medway Priestfields Recreation Ground Rochester, Kent promoted from London 2 South East via play-off
Sidcup Crescent Farm Sidcup, Kent 4th
Sutton & Epsom Rugby Lane Cheam, London 3rd
Tottonians Water Lane Totton, Hampshire promoted from London 2 South West as champions
Twickenham Parkfields Hampton, London 11th

Final league table

2015–16 London 1 South Table
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
1 Sutton & Epsom (C) 26 23 1 2 853 415 438 17 1 112
2 Guildford (P) 26 20 0 6 802 481 321 15 3 98
3 Medway (R)[8] 26 19 0 7 710 494 216 12 3 91
4 Sidcup 26 18 1 7 735 477 258 13 4 91
5 Brighton 26 16 0 10 661 480 181 13 7 84
6 Maidstone 26 16 2 8 733 541 192 11 1 80
7 Tottonans 26 16 0 10 741 464 277 12 3 79
8 Chobham 26 13 0 13 720 598 122 13 8 73
9 Havant 26 12 0 14 724 688 36 13 7 68
10 Chiswick 26 10 1 15 496 707 −211 5 2 49
11 Dover 26 6 0 20 425 748 −323 6 7 37
12 Gosport & Fareham 26 5 0 21 458 959 −501 8 1 29
13 Twickenham (R) 26 2 0 24 424 859 −435 7 6 21
14 Charlton Park (R) 26 3 1 22 413 984 −571 2 4 20
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
    Green background is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places.
    Updated: 12 June 2016
    Source: 2014–15

    Promotion play-off

    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  21, with a try in the 79th minute.[9][10]

    Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
    Tring 26 23 0 3 987 360 627 17 0 109
    Guildford (P) 26 20 0 6 802 481 321 15 3 98

    30 April 2016
    15:00
    Tring 21 – 26 Guildford
    Tring Rangers
    Guildford
    Pendley Sports Centre
    Attendance: 700

    2014–15

    Participating teams and locations

    2013–14

    Participating teams and locations

    2012–13

    Participating teams and locations

    2011–12

    Participating teams and locations

    London 1 South honours

    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, Sussex and Surrey. 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.[11]

    London 2 South
    Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Reference
    1987–88 11 10 Basingstoke Old Mid-Whitgiftian Portsmouth, Old Juddian [11]
    1988–89 11 10 Old Alleynian Worthing Purley, KCS Old Boys, Old Reigatian [11]
    1989–90 11 10 Old Mid-Whitgiftian Camberley Alton [11]
    1990–91 11 10 Dorking Westcombe Park Dartfordians, Old Brockdelans [12]
    1991–92 11 10 Old Colfeians Guildford & Godalming Tunbridge Wells [13]
    1992–93 13 12 Camberley Westcombe Park US Portsmouth in last place (no relegation) [14]

    The top six teams from London Division One and the top six from South West Division One were combined to create National 5 South. A new level six league was created by combining the top six from London 1 North and London 1 South which became one of two feeder leagues for National 5 South; the other being South West 1.

    London 1
    Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Reference
    1993–94 13 12 Barking Ealing Thurrock, Dorking, Old Alleynian [15]
    1994–95 13 12 Camberley Esher Streatham-Croydon, Eton Manor, Maidstone [16]
    1995–96 13 12 Charlton Park Southend Ealing

    After only three seasons the level five National 5 South was split and renamed London Division One and South West Division One. The top four divisions increased in size and London 2 South and London 2 North were once more level six leagues.[17]

    London 2 South
    Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Reference
    1996–97 13 12 Thanet Wanderers Gravesend Brockleians in last place (no relegation) [18]
    1997–98 16 15 Westcombe Park Winchester Old Reigatian, Streatham-Croydon, (Brockleians fixtures expunged) [19]
    1998–99 15 14 Winchester Sevenoaks Askean in last place (no relegation due to expansion of league from 15 to 17 teams) [20]
    1999–00 17 16 Canterbury Haywards Heath Askean, Warlington, Dorking, Charlton Park, Lewes, Old Blues, Old Wimbledonians[n 1] [21]
    2000–01 12 22 Haywards Heath Canterbury Tonbridge Juddian, Alton, Old Guildfordians [22]
    2001–02 12 22 Canterbury Portsmouth Gravesend, Guildford & Godalming [23]
    2002–03 12 22 Worthing Portsmouth Sevenoaks, Effingham & Leatherhead, Maidstone [24]
    2003–04 12 22 Richmond Barnes Cobham, Andover, Winchester [25]
    2004–05 12 22 Barnes Portsmouth Camberley, Tunbridge Wells, Dartfordians [26]
    2005–06 12 22 Portsmouth Guildford Old Mid-Whitgiftian, Sidcup, Gosport & Fareham [27]
    2006–07 12 22 Sutton & Epsom Thanet Wanderers London Irish Amateur, Lewes, Andover [28]
    2007–08 12 22 Haywards Heath Jersey Sevenoaks, Wimbledon, Guildford [29]
    2008–09 12 22 Basingstoke Dorking Maidstone in last place (no relegation due to league restructuring)[n 2] [30]
    London 1 South
    Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Reference
    2009–10 14 26 Gravesend Dover Aylesford Bulls, Maidstone, Old Elthamians [31]
    2010–11 14 26 Tonbridge Juddian London Irish Amateur Tunbridge Wells, Wimbledon [32]
    2011–12 14 26 Guernsey Old Elthamians Sutton & Epsom, Thanet Wanderers, Portsmouth [33]
    2012–13 14 26 East Grinstead Basingstoke Old Colfeians, Trojans, Gosport & Fareham [34]
    2013–14 14 26 Gravesend Chichester Haywards Heath, Staines, Beckenham [35]
    2014–15 14 26 Wimbledon Chobham Basingstoke, Hove, Cobham [36]
    2015–16 14 26 Sutton & Epsom Guildford Charlton Park, Twickenham, Medway [37]
    Green background are the promotion places.
    1. A restructuring of the league system including a reduction of this division from 17 teams to 12 resulting in more teams relegated than usual.
    2. There was a national restructuring of the league system leading to changes at all levels.

    See also

    References

    1. "League Make up". Sussex Rugby Union.
    2. Tim Ashton. "Sutton & Epsom crowned London Division One South champions". Sutton Guardian. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
    3. "Competition Details". RFU. 2016-04-23. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
    4. 1 2 Cawdell, Luke (2016-04-07). "Medway rugby club receive a reduction in their punishment from the RFU". Kent Online. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
    5. "Long-serving 'Sumo' bids farewell to Gosport & Fareham". Portsmouth News. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
    6. Garrett, Glenn (2016-05-07). "RECAP! Tunbridge Wells v St Benedict's – Wells put on a masterclass at Twickenham". Kent and Sussex Courier. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
    7. 1 2 "London 1 South fixtures 2016–17" (PDF). RFU. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
    8. Despite finishing third in the league, Medway were forcibly relegated by the RFU to London 2 South East and banned from playing in the Kent County Cup after being found guilty of illegal payments to players and incorrect registration of players.[4]
    9. "Fixtures & Results". English Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
    10. Ellson, Simon. "Belated report on the 1st XV's final battle against Guildford last season". Tring Rugby. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
    11. 1 2 3 4 Williams, Tony; Mitchell, Bill (eds.). Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Taunton: Football Directories. ISBN 1 873057 01 6.
    12. Williams, Tony; Mitchell, Bill (eds.). Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1991–92 (4th ed.). Taunton: Football Directories. ISBN 1 869833 15 5.
    13. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1992). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992–93. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 170–185. ISBN 0 7472 7907 1.
    14. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94 (22nd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing Ltd. pp. 151–167. ISBN 0 7472 7891 1.
    15. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95 (23rd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 163–179. ISBN 0 7472 7850 4.
    16. Cleary, Mick (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96 (24th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 179–195. ISBN 0 7472 7816 4.
    17. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97 (25th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 150–163. ISBN 0 7472 7771 0.
    18. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 87–100. ISBN 0 7472 7732 X.
    19. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1998). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998–99. London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 84–98. ISBN 0 7472 7653 6.
    20. "1998–1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    21. "1999–2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    22. "2000–2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    23. "2001–2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    24. "2002–2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    25. "2003–2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    26. "2004–2005 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    27. "2005–2006 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    28. "2006–2007 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    29. "2007–2008 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    30. "2008–2009 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    31. "2009–2010 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    32. "2010–2011 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    33. "2011–2012 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    34. "2012–2013 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    35. "2013–2014 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
    36. "2014–2015 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
    37. "2015–2016 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
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