Counties 1 Essex

English Rugby Union Regional League

Counties 1 Essex
Current season or competition: 2024–25 Counties 1 Essex
Sport	Rugby union
Number of teams	12
Country	England
Website	[1]

Counties 1 Essex is an English level 7 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Essex and Greater London. Administration of the leagues is divided between Essex Rugby and the London & SE RFU.^[1]

Structure and format

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:

4 points are awarded for a win.
2 points are awarded for a draw.
0 points are awarded for a loss.

In addition:

1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match

There is one automatic promotion place and two relegation places. The first-placed team at the end of season wins promotion to Regional 2 South East. The last two placed clubs are typically relegated to Counties 2 Essex.

Teams for 2024-25

Departing were Wanstead, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia,^[2] and Stanford-le-Hope relegated to Counties 2 Essex.^[3] In their place came Burnham-on-Crouch (promoted from Counties 2 Essex (North) and Basildon (promoted from Counties 2 Essex (South).^[4]

Team	Ground	City/Area	Previous season
Basildon	Gardiners Close	Basildon, Essex	Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (South) (champions)
Braintree	Robbswood	Braintree, Essex	2nd
Burnham-on-Crouch	Dengie Hundred Sports Centre	Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex	Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (North) (champions)
Campion	Cottons Park	Romford, London	9th
Chingford	Lea Valley Playing Fields	Chingford, London	11th
East London^[5]	Memorial Park	West Ham, London	4th
Epping Upper Clapton	Upland Road	Thornwood, Epping, Essex	3rd
Maldon	Drapers Farm Playing Fields	Heybridge, Essex	7th^[6]
Mavericks	Warley Playing Field	Warley, Brentwood, Essex	5th
Old Cooperians	Coopers' Company & Corborn School	Upminster, London	10th
Romford & Gidea Park	Crowlands	Romford, London	6th
Upminster	Hall Lane	Upminster, London	8th

Basildon

Braintree

Burnham

Epping

Maldon

Mavericks

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Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 1 Essex teams in Essex

Campion

Chingford

East London

R&GP

Cooperians

Upminster

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Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 1 Essex teams in Greater London

Teams for 2023-24

Departing were Dagenham^[7] and Harlow,^[8] promoted to Regional 2 Anglia, and South Woodham Ferrers relegated to Counties 2 Essex (North). In their place came Chingford (relegated from Regional 2 Anglia, Stanford-le-Hope and Maldon promoted from Counties 2 Essex.

Team	Ground	City/Area	Previous season
Braintree	Robbswood	Braintree, Essex	4th
Campion	Cottons Park	Romford, London	6th
Chingford	Lea Valley Playing Fields	Chingford, London	relegated from Regional 2 Anglia (12th)
East London	Memorial Park	West Ham, London	5th
Epping Upper Clapton	Upland Road	Thornwood, Epping, Essex	7th
Maldon	Drapers Farm Playing Fields	Heybridge, Essex	Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (champions)
Mavericks	Warley Playing Field	Warley, Brentwood, Essex	9th
Old Cooperians	Coopers' Company & Corborn School	Upminster, London	10th
Romford & Gidea Park	Crowlands	Romford, London	8th
Stanford-le-Hope	Stanford Recreation Ground	Stanford-le-Hope, Essex	Promoted from Counties 2 Essex (runners-up)
Upminster	Hall Lane	Upminster, London	11th
Wanstead	Centenary Fields	Wanstead, London	3rd

Braintree

Epping

Maldon

Mavericks

Stanford-le-Hope

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Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 1 Essex teams in Essex

Campion

Chingford

East London

Cooperians

R&GP

Upminster

Wanstead

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Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 1 Essex teams in Greater London

Teams for 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 3 Essex with the teams finishing 1st-10th returning. Kings Cross Steelers and Canvey Island, who finished 11th and 12th respectively, were placed in Counties 2 Essex. The line-up was supplemented by the addition of Wanstead and South Woodham Ferrers^[9] (who finished 12th in London 2 North East).

Team	Ground	City/Area	Previous season
Braintree	Robbswood	Braintree, Essex	8th London 3 Essex
Campion	Cottons Park	Romford, London	5th London 3 Essex
Dagenham	Central Park	Dagenham, London	1st London 3 Essex
East London	Memorial Park	West Ham, London	7th London 3 Essex
Epping Upper Clapton	Upland Road	Thornwood, Epping, Essex	9th London 3 Essex
Harlow	Latton Park	Harlow, Essex	2nd London 3 Essex
Mavericks	Warley Playing Field	Warley, Brentwood, Essex	8th London 3 Essex
Old Cooperians	Coopers' Company & Corborn School	Upminster, London	4th London 3 Essex
Romford & Gidea Park	Crowlands	Romford, London	3rd London 3 Essex
South Woodham Ferrers	Saltcoats Playing Field	South Woodham Ferrers, Essex	12th London 2 North East
Upminster	Hall Lane	Upminster, London	10th London 3 Essex
Wanstead	Centenary Fields^[10]	Wanstead, London	10th London 2 North East

Braintree

Epping

Harlow

Mavericks

SW Ferrers

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Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 1 Essex teams in Essex

Campion

Dagenham

East London

Cooperians

R&GP

Upminster

Wanstead

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Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 1 Essex teams in Greater London

References

^ "RFU League Statistics". L&SE RFU. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
^ "Regional 2 Anglia 2024/25". Stowmarket RFC. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
^ "2024/25 Counties 2 Essex fixtures confirmed". South Woodham Ferrers RFC. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
^ "First and Second teams both with their leagues!". Basildon RFC. 24 February 2024.
^ "SEASON 24/25 FIXTURES FOR ALL TEAMS". East London RFC. 11 June 2024.
^ "Malldon RFC Info". Maldon RFC. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
^ "Dagenham Rugby Club celebrate historic weekend". Barking & Dagenham Post. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
^ "Harlow Rugby Club seal glorious promotion with emphatic win". Your Harlow. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
^ "Dagenham RFC deliver big win at South Woodham Ferrers". Barking & Dagenham Post. 24 October 2022.
^ "Wanstead Rugby Club - Contacts".

Rugby union in England

Governing body

Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union for Women (merged into the RFU)

National teams

Men's	England England A 7's U-21 U-20 U-18 British & Irish Lions England Counties XV
Women's	Women's 7's

International competitions

Men's	World Cup Six Nations Rugby World Cup Sevens Sevens World Series Sevens Grand Prix Series Commonwealth Games
Women's	World Cup Six Nations World Series Sevens

Competition divisions

Men's	Premiership Championship National Leagues London and SE Division Northern Division Midland Division South West Division United Hospitals Cup
Women's	Premiership Women's Rugby