London 2 South East
Current season or competition:
2019–20 London 2 South East
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987) (as London 3 South East)
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersHaywards Heath (1st title) (2019–20)
(promoted to London 1 South)
Most titlesTunbridge Wells (4 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

London 2 South East is an English level 7 Rugby Union League.[1] When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 3 South East, changing to its current name ahead of the 2009–10 season. The division is made up of teams predominantly from south-east London, Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex. The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the RFU Intermediate Cup - a level 7 national competition.

Promoted teams move up to London 1 South with the league champions being promoted automatically and the runners up playing the runners up from London 2 South West, while demoted teams tend to move down to London 3 South East.

Teams for 2021–22

The teams competing in 2021-22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019-20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020-21.

Season 2020–21

On 30 October the RFU announced[2] that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning London 2 South East was not contested.

Teams for 2019–20

Teams for 2018–19

Teams for 2017–18

Teams for 2016-2017

Teams for 2015-2016

Teams for 2014-2015

Teams for 2013-2014

Teams for 2012-2013

Teams for 2011-2012

Teams for 2010-2011

Teams for 2009-2010

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as London 3 South East) contained the following teams:

London 2 South East Honours

London 3 South East (1987–1993)

Originally known as London 3 South East, this division was a tier 7 league with promotion up to London 2 South and relegation down to either Kent 1 or Sussex 1.

London 3 South East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1987–88 11 Tunbridge Wells Beckenham Canterbury, Gillingham Anchorians
1988–89 11 Old Colfeians Westcombe Park Old Dunstonians
1989–90 11 Westcombe Park Old Juddian East Grinstead
1990–91 11 Old Juddian Beckenham Bognor, Park House, Gillingham Anchorians
1991–92 11 Charlton Park Thanet Wanderers Hastings & Bexhill
1992–93 13 Horsham Brighton Crawley, Dartfordians
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 South East (1993–1996)

At the end of the 1992–93 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 South East 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 South, and relegation to either Kent 1 or Sussex 1.

London 3 South East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1993–94 13 Gravesend Beckenham Hove, Tunbridge Wells, Gillingham Anchorians
1994–95 13 Old Brockleians Beckenham Erith, East Grinstead
1995–96 13 Beckenham Brighton Heathfield & Waldron, Uckfield
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 South East (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that London 3 South East reverted to being a tier 7 league. Promotion continued to London 2 South and relegation to either Kent 1 or Sussex 1.

London 3 South East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1996–97 13 Lewes Sevenoaks[a] No relegation[b]
1997–98 17 Canterbury Worthing Bognor
1998–99[3] 16 Maidstone Brighton Uckfield
1999–00[4] 17 Brighton Worthing Multiple teams[c]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 3 South East (2000–2009)

London 3 South East continued to be a tier 7 league with promotion up to London 2 South. However, the introduction of London 4 South East ahead of the 2000–01 season meant that clubs were now relegated into this new division instead of into Kent 1 or Sussex 1.

London 3 South East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–01[5] 10 Tunbridge Wells Sidcup Askean, Cranbrook
2001–02[6] 10 Worthing Sidcup Crawley, Old Dunstonians
2002–03[7] 10 Sidcup Dartfordians Betteshanger, East Grinstead, Eastbourne
2003–04[8] 10 Dartfordians Lewes No relegation[d]
2004–05[9] 12 Maidstone Sevenoaks Cobham, Charlton Park
2005–06[10] 12 Tunbridge Wells Purley John Fisher Brighton, Dartfordians
2006–07[11] 12 Sidcup Purley John Fisher Folkestone, Bognor
2007–08[12] 12 Gravesend Dover Tonbridge Juddians, Old Mid-Whitgiftian[e]
2008–09[13] 12 Old Elthamians Aylesford Bulls[f] Lordswood
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

London 2 South East (2009–present)

Nationwide league restructuring by the RFU ahead of the 2009–10 season saw London 3 South East renamed as London 2 South East. It remained at level 7 with promotion to London 1 South (formerly London 2 South) and relegation to London 3 South East (formerly London 4 South East).

London 2 South East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2009–10[14] 12 Tonbridge Juddians Hove Eastbourne, Bromley
2010–11[15] 12 Old Elthamians Aylesford Bulls Maidstone, Purley John Fisher
2011–12[16] 12 East Grinstead Charlton Park Old Mid-Whitgiftian, Tunbridge Wells
2012–13[17] 12 Brighton Charlton Park Thanet Wanderers, Old Dunstonians
2013–14[18] 12 Charlton Park Maidstone Heathfield & Waldron, Lewes, Warlington
2014–15[19] 11 Maidstone Medway Aylesford Bulls[g]
2015–16[20] 12 Tunbridge Wells Sevenoaks Ashford, Thanet Wanderers
2016–17[21] 12 Medway Old Colfeians Crowborough, Bromley
2017–18[22] 12 Dartfordians Hove Barking, Pulborough
2018–19[23] 12 Beckenham Horsham Heathfield & Waldron, Aylesford Bulls
2019–20[24] 12 Haywards Heath Old Colfeians Maidstone, Dover
2020–21 12
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of London 2 South East and London 2 South West for the third and final promotion place to London 1 South. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the London 2 South West teams have been the most successful with ten wins to the London 2 South East teams nine, and the home team has won promotion on eleven occasions compared to the away teams eight.

London 2 (south-east v south-west) promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[25] Gosport & Fareham (SW) 27-14 Sidcup (SE) Gosport Park, Gosport, Hampshire
2001–02[26] Sidcup (SE) 21-23 Cobham (SW) Crescent Farm, Sidcup, Kent
2002–03[27] Barnes (SW) 41-3 Dartfordians (SE) Barn Elms, Barnes, London
2003–04[28] Old Wimbledonians (SW) 3-24 Lewes (SE) Somerset Avenue, Wimbledon, London
2004–05[29] Sevenoaks (SE) 33-12 Effingham & Leatherhead (SW) Knole Paddock, Sevenoaks, Kent
2005–06[30] Purley John Fisher (SE) 15-23 London Irish Wild Geese (SW) Parsons Pightle, Old Coulsdon, Greater London
2006–07[31] Dorking (SW) 21-6 Purley John Fisher (SE) The Big Field, Brockham, Surrey
2007–08[32] Purley John Fisher (SW) 19-25 Dover (SE) Parsons Pightle, Old Coulsdon, Greater London 400
2008–09[33] Aylesford Bulls (SE)[h] 20-36 Wimbledon (SW) Hall Road, Aylesford, Kent
2009–10[35] Hove (SE) 17-14 Guernsey (SW) Hove Recreation Ground, Hove, East Sussex
2010–11[36] Aylesford Bulls (SE) 14-28 Trojans (SW) Hall Road, Aylesford, Kent
2011–12[37] Wimbledon (SW) 18-6 Charlton Park (SE) Somerset Avenue, Wimbledon, London
2012–13[38] Charlton Park (SE) 12-15 Sutton & Epsom (SW) Broad Walk, Kidbrooke, Greater London
2013–14[39] Gosport & Fareham (SW) 14-10 Maidstone (SE) Gosport Park, Gosport, Hampshire
2014–15[40] Medway (SE) 29-12 London Cornish (SW) Priestfields, Rochester, Kent 600
2015–16[41] Sevenoaks (SE) 37-31 London Cornish (SW) Knole Paddock, Sevenoaks, Kent 234
2016–17[42] Camberley (SW) 17-20 Old Colfeians (SE) Watchetts Recreation Ground, Camberley, Surrey
2017–18[43] Hove (SE) 17-16 Old Reigatian (SW) Hove Recreation Ground, Hove, East Sussex
2018–19[44] Horsham (SE) 44-17 Farnham (SW) Coolhurst Ground, Horsham, West Sussex 600
2019–20 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Farnham (SW) - promoted instead.
2020–21
Green background is the promoted team. SE = London 2 South East (formerly London 3 South East) and SW = London 2 South West (formerly London 3 South West)

Number of league titles

Notes

  1. ^ 3rd place Haywards Heath also promoted.
  2. ^ No relegation as league was set to expand from 13 to 17 teams for the following season.
  3. ^ The introduction of London 4 South East for the following season meant that ten clubs were relegated. Horsham and Medway dropped two levels to Sussex 1 and Kent 1 respectively, while Beccehamian, Hove, Park House, Folkestone, Heathfield & Waldron, Dartfordians, Chichester and Eastbourne all went into the new London 4 South East division.
  4. ^ Due to restructure of league from 10 teams to 12 for the following season meant there was no relegation.
  5. ^ The division would be renamed London Division 2 South East for the next season and along with the whole national restructure of the league system by the RFU lead to mass changes at all levels.
  6. ^ Both Aylesford Bulls and the runners up from London 2 West, Wimbledon, were promoted to London 2 South this year.
  7. ^ Only 1 team relegated this season as the league would go back to 12 teams the following season.
  8. ^ Despite losing the playoff, Aylesford Bulls would join Wimbledon in London 1 South the following season.[34]
  9. ^ One of Tonbridge Juddians titles was won by founder club Old Juddian.

See also

References

  1. ^ "League Make up". Sussex Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 12 January 2010.
  2. ^ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  3. ^ "1998–99 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  4. ^ "1999–00 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  5. ^ "2000–01 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  6. ^ "2001–02 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  7. ^ "2002–03 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  8. ^ "2003–04 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  9. ^ "2004–05 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  10. ^ "2005–06 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  11. ^ "2006–07 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  12. ^ "2007–08 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  13. ^ "2008–09 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  14. ^ "2009–10 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  15. ^ "2010–11 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  16. ^ "2011–12 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  17. ^ "2012–13 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  18. ^ "2013–14 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  19. ^ "2014–15 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  20. ^ "2015–16 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  21. ^ "2016–17 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  22. ^ "2017–18 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  23. ^ "2018-2019 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  24. ^ "Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  25. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2000-01". England Rugby. 12 May 2001.
  26. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2001-02". England Rugby. 19 May 2001.
  27. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2002-03". England Rugby. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  28. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2003-04". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  29. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2004-05". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  30. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2005-06". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  31. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2005-06". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  32. ^ "PJF falter at Playoff stage". Purley John Fisher RFC (Pitchero). 26 April 2008.
  33. ^ "Aylesford Bulls 20 Wimbledon 36". Richmond and Twickenham Times. 27 April 2009.
  34. ^ "2009–2010 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  35. ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2009-10". England Rugby. 24 April 2010.
  36. ^ "Trojans end season on a high". Eastleigh News. 31 May 2011.
  37. ^ "Wimbledon 18 - Charlton Park 6". Everything Rugby. 23 April 2012.
  38. ^ ""It's time to set the wrongs right," says Sutton & Epsom skipper Matt Whitaker". Wimbledon Guardian. 24 April 2013.
  39. ^ "Gosport & Fareham 14-10 Maidstone". Kent Sports News. 26 April 2014.
  40. ^ "Medway End Cornish Dreams...For Now!". London Cornish RFC (Pitchero). 25 April 2015.
  41. ^ "Cornish Go Down All Guns Blazing!". London Cornish RFC (Pitchero). 30 April 2016.
  42. ^ "Cam unable to escape OCs Stranglehold". Camberley RFC (Pitchero). 22 April 2017.
  43. ^ "POINTS MAKE PRIZES; CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR AS OR 1ST XV GO DOWN VALIANTLY AT HOVE IN PROMOTION PLAY-OFF". OLD REIGATIAN RFC. 24 April 2018.
  44. ^ "Horsham put in a commanding performance to secure play-off promotion". Horsham Rugby Club (Pitchero). 13 April 2019.

External links

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