Counties 1 Hampshire

English Rugby Union Regional League

Counties 1 HampshireCurrent season or competition:
2024–25 Counties 1 Hampshire

Sport| Rugby union
Number of teams| 12
Country|  England
Website| England Rugby

Counties 1 Hampshire is an English level 7 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in Hampshire and West Sussex and is administered by Hampshire Rugby[1] and the London & SE RFU.[2]

## Structure and format

[edit]

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

Promotion is to Regional 2 South Central which hosts teams from Dorset, Surrey, Berkshire, West Sussex & Hampshire; whilst relegation is to Counties 2 Hampshire.

## Teams for 2025–26

[edit]

Departing were Havant II and Ellingham & Ringwood, promoted to Regional 2 South Central while New Milton and Trojans (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Hampshire

| Team  | Ground  | Capacity  | City/Area  | Previous season

|
|
|
|

Andover | Foxcotte Lane |  | Andover, Hampshire | Relegated from Regional 2 South Central (12th)
Basingstoke | Down Grange |  | Basingstoke, Hampshire | 3rd
Bognor | Hampshire Avenue |  | Bognor Regis, West Sussex | 5th
Bournemouth II | Chapel Gate |  | Bournemouth, Dorset | 10th
Chichester | Oaklands Park |  | Chichester, West Sussex | Relegated from Regional 2 South Central (11th)
Eastleigh | The Hub |  | Eastleigh, Hampshire | 9th
Gosport & Fareham | Gosport Park |  | Gosport, Hampshire | 4th
Guernsey Vikings | Footes Lane | 5,000 (720 seats) | Saint Peter Port, Guernsey | 6th
Millbrook | Lordshill Recreational Ground |  | Southampton, Hampshire | Promoted from Counties 2 Hampshire (champions)
Portsmouth | The Rugby Camp |  | Portsmouth, Hampshire | 7th
Sandown & Shanklin | The Fairway Ground |  | Sandown, Isle of Wight | 8th
Winchester II | North Walls Park |  | Winchester, Hampshire | Promoted from Counties 2 Hampshire (runners-up)

Andover

Basingstoke

Bognor

Bournemouth II

Chichester

Eastleigh

G & F

Guernsey

Millbrook

Portsmouth

Winchester II

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 1 Hampshire teams in Hampshire, Dorset, West Sussex & the Channel Islands

Sandown & Shanklin

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 1 Hampshire teams on the Isle of Wight

## Teams for 2024-25

[edit]

Departing were Petersfield[3] and Andover[4] promoted to Regional 2 South Central; there was no relegation to Counties 2 Hampshire. Promoted from Counties 2 Hampshire were Sandown & Shanklin,[5] Basingstoke and Guernsey St Jacques Vikings \- an amateur club who are the 2XV to Guernsey Raiders.

With two leaving and three joining the league was restored to twelve teams.

| Team  | Ground  | Capacity  | City/Area  | Previous season

|
|
|
|

Basingstoke | Down Grange |  | Basingstoke, Hampshire | Promoted from Counties 2 Hampshire (runners-up) [6]
Bognor | Hampshire Avenue |  | Bognor Regis, West Sussex | 9th
Bournemouth II | Chapel Gate [7] |  | Bournemouth, Dorset | 11th
Eastleigh | The Hub |  | Eastleigh, Hampshire | 7th
Ellingham & Ringwood | Parsonage Barn Lane |  | Ringwood, Hampshire | 6th
Gosport & Fareham | Gosport Park |  | Gosport, Hampshire | 4th
Guernsey Vikings | Footes Lane | 5,000 (720 seats) | Saint Peter Port, Guernsey | Promoted from Counties 2 Hampshire (3rd) [8]
Havant II | Hook's Lane | 1,500 | Havant, Hampshire | 3rd
New Milton & District | Ashley Recreation Ground |  | Ashley, New Milton, Hampshire | 10th
Portsmouth | The Rugby Camp |  | Portsmouth, Hampshire | 5th
Sandown & Shanklin | The Fairway Ground |  | Sandown, Isle of Wight | Promoted from Counties 2 Hampshire (champions) [9]
Trojans | Stoneham Lane |  | Eastleigh, Hampshire | 8th

Basingstoke

Bognor

Bournemouth II

Eastleigh

Ellingham & Ringwood

G & F

Guernsey

Havant II

New Milton

Portsmouth

Trojans

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 1 Hampshire teams in Hampshire, Dorset, West Sussex & the Channel Islands

Sandown & Shanklin

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 1 Hampshire teams on the Isle of Wight

## Teams for 2023-24

[edit]

Departing were Jersey and Winchester promoted to Regional 2 South Central. Basingstoke finished 12th and were relegated to Counties 2 Hampshire. Alton finished 11th and would also have been relegated but declined to compete in the RFU leagues in 2023-24. With four teams leaving and only three joining the league ran with eleven sides.

| Team  | Ground  | Capacity  | City/Area  | Previous season

|
|
|
|

Andover | Foxcotte Lane |  | Andover, Hampshire | 4th
Bognor | Hampshire Avenue |  | Bognor Regis, West Sussex | Promoted from Counties 2 Hampshire (runners-up) [10]
Bournemouth II | Chapel Gate [7] |  | Bournemouth, Dorset | 9th
Eastleigh | The Hub |  | Eastleigh, Hampshire | 5th
Ellingham & Ringwood | Parsonage Barn Lane |  | Ringwood, Hampshire | Promoted from Counties 2 Hampshire (champions) [11]
Gosport & Fareham | Gosport Park |  | Gosport, Hampshire | 6th
Havant II | Hook's Lane | 1,500 | Havant, Hampshire | 3rd
New Milton & District | Ashley Recreation Ground |  | Ashley, New Milton, Hampshire | Promoted from Counties 2 Hampshire (3rd) [12]
Petersfield | Penn's Place |  | Petersfield, Hampshire | 10th
Portsmouth | The Rugby Camp |  | Portsmouth, Hampshire | 7th
Trojans | Stoneham Lane |  | Eastleigh, Hampshire | 8th

Andover

Bognor

Bournemouth II

Eastleigh

Ellingham & Ringwood

G & F

Havant II

New Milton

Petersfield

Portsmouth

Trojans

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 1 Hampshire teams in Hampshire, Dorset and West Sussex

## Teams for 2022-23

[edit]

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 3 South West with six of the same sides whilst two teams - Gosport & Fareham[13] and Havant II \- from Hampshire Premier (level 8) were drawn up to fill the league and two - Eastleigh and Winchester \- were drawn in from London 2 South West (level 7). London 3SW teams from Surrey, Sussex and SW London were absorbed into Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex. The league was supplemented by the addition of Bournemouth 2XV and Jersey.

| Team  | Ground  | Capacity  | City/Area  | Previous season

|
|
|
|

Alton | Antsey Park |  | Alton, Hampshire | 9th L3SW
Andover | Foxcotte Lane |  | Andover, Hampshire | 5th L3SW
Basingstoke | Down Grange |  | Basingstoke, Hampshire | 11th L3SW
Bournemouth II | Chapel Gate [7] |  | Bournemouth, Dorset | New entry
Eastleigh | The Hub |  | Eastleigh, Hampshire | 4th L2SW[14]
Gosport & Fareham | Gosport Park |  | Gosport, Hampshire | 2nd Hampshire Premier
Havant II | Hook's Lane | 1,500 | Havant, Hampshire | 1st Hampshire Premier
Jersey | St Peter |  | Saint Peter, Jersey | New entry
Petersfield | Penn's Place |  | Petersfield, Hampshire | 2nd L3SW
Portsmouth | The Rugby Camp |  | Portsmouth, Hampshire | 10th L3SW
Trojans | Stoneham Lane |  | Eastleigh, Hampshire | 7th L3SW
Winchester | North Walls Park |  | Winchester, Hampshire | 7th L2SW

Alton

Andover

Basingstoke

Bournemouth II

Eastleigh

G & F

Havant II

Jersey

Petersfield

Portsmouth

Trojans

Winchester

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 1 Hampshire teams in Hampshire Dorset & the Channel Islands

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "ADULT COMPETITIONS – HAMPSHIRE DOMESTIC LEAGUES" (PDF). Retrieved 23 August 2024.
2. ^ "RFU League Statistics". L&SE RFU. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
3. ^ "Hampshire Counties Division 1 rugby: Petersfield beat Ellingham & Ringwood". New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times Photography. 27 March 2024.
4. ^ "Andover crush Bournemouth to secure long-awaited promotion". Andover Advertiser. 10 April 2024.
5. ^ "Sandown and Shanklin RFC 1XV gain promotion to Counties 1 Hampshire League". Andrew Cooper Photography. 8 April 2024.
6. ^ "Rugby: Basingstoke crush Tadley in Papa John's Cup". Basingstoke Gazette. 15 April 2024.
7. ^ a b c "Bournemouth Rugby". Bournemouth Rugby. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
8. ^ "Raiders run riot and Vikings promoted on try-filled afternoon". Guernsey Press. 8 April 2024.
9. ^ "PROMOTED AS CHAMPIONS – SANDOWN & SHANKLIN RFC EARN HISTORIC WIN AWAY AT WINCHESTER RFC". Island Echo. 9 April 2024.
10. ^ "Chichester and Bognor rugby players raring to go again". Sussex Express. 1 September 2023.
11. ^ "Ellingham and Ringwood Rugby Club gearing up for new season". Salisbury Journal. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
12. ^ "Hampshire Counties One rugby: New Milton falls just short on league debut". New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times Photography. 21 September 2023.
13. ^ "Newly-promoted Gosport & Fareham RFC maintain 100 per cent Counties 1 Hampshire run by beating Portsmouth". The Portsmouth News. 26 September 2022.
14. ^ "History Of Rugby In Eastleigh". Eastleigh Pirates. Retrieved 23 August 2024.