Counties 1 Southern North
division at level 7 of the English rugby union system
Counties 1 Southern North (formerly known as Southern Counties North) is a division at level 7 of the English rugby union system. When league rugby first began in 1987 it was known as Southern Counties but since 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues – Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern North currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and features teams based in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The league champions at the end of each season are promoted to Regional 2 South Central or Regional 2 Thames. Relegated teams usually drop to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South).
Format
The twelve teams in this league are drawn from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, with the league champions (if eligible) promoted to Regional 2 South Central. The league's bottom two teams are relegated to either Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South), depending on their geographic location. 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 table as follows:
4 points are awarded for a win
2 points are awarded for a draw
0 points are awarded for a loss, however
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
2026–27
Departing were Chinnor III promoted to Regional 2 Severn as champions and runners-up respectively while Bletchley (10th) were relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (East) together with Wallingford (11th) and Gosford All Blacks (12th) both relegated to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (West).
2025–26
Participating teams and locations
Departing were Oxford Harlequins II and Windsor, promoted to Regional 2 Thames as champions and runners-up respectively.
“Counties 1 Southern North” enters the record as division at level 7 of the English rugby union system. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Counties, Southern and North can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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