Eastern Counties 3

Rugby Union league

Eastern Counties 3Current season or competition:
2019–20 Eastern Counties 3

Sport| Rugby union
Instituted| 1987; 38 years ago (1987)
Number of teams| 20
Holders| Southwold II (North – 1st title)
Aldeburgh & Thorpeness (South – 1st title)  (2018–19)
(promoted to Eastern Counties 2)
Most titles| Multiple teams (1 title)
Website| ecrurugby.com

Eastern Counties 3 is an English level 11 Rugby Union league, currently divided into 3 regional leagues (north, south, west). Promoted teams moved up to the relevant regional divisions in Eastern Counties 2 while since the abolition of Eastern Counties 4 at the end of the 2016–17 season there has been no relegation. For most of its history, Eastern Counties 3 was divided into two regional divisions – north and south – with teams from Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex taking part. A breakaway of Essex teams at the end of the 2002–03 to form a new league would lead to Eastern Counties 3 being abolished by the end of 2003–04 only to return due to a league restructure to cater for more 2nd and 3rd teams.

## Original teams

[edit]

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

* Beccles
* Harwich & Dovercourt
* Holt
* Lakenham Hewett
* Maldon
* Newmarket
* Old Edwardians
* South Woodham Ferrers
* Southwold
* Wisbech
* Wymondham

## Eastern Counties 3 honours

[edit]

### Eastern Counties 3 (1987–1993)

[edit]

The original Eastern Counties 3 was a tier 10 league with promotion up to Eastern Counties 2 and relegation down to Eastern Counties 4.[1]

|  | Eastern Counties 3 |

|
|

Season  | No of Teams  | Champions  | Runners–up  | Relegated Teams
1987–88 | 11 | Old Edwardians | South Woodham Ferrers | Southwold
1988–89 | 11 | Campion | Maldon | Wisbech
1989–90 | 11 | Bancroft | Holt | Thetford
1990–91 | 11 | Newmarket | Wanstead | Ilford Wanderers
1991–92 | 11 | Wymondham | Thames Sports[a] | No relegation[b]
1992–93 | 13 | Loughton | Clacton | Dereham, Wisbech
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

### Eastern Counties 3 (1993–96)

[edit]

The creation of National 5 South meant that Eastern Counties 3 dropped from a tier 10 league to a tier 11 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to Eastern Counties 2 and Eastern Counties 4 respectively.

|  | Eastern Counties 3 |

|
|

Season  | No of Teams  | Champions  | Runners–up  | Relegated Teams
1993–94 | 13 | Old Cooperians | Ilford Wanderers | London Hospital, Old Brentwoods
1994–95 | 13 | Fakenham | Southwold | Redbridge, Beccles
1995–96 | 13 | Hadleigh | Felixstowe | Clacton, Haverhill & District
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

### Eastern Counties 3 (1996–1997)

[edit]

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Eastern Counties 3 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Eastern Counties 2, while relegation was to Eastern Counties 4.

|  | Eastern Counties 3 |

|
|

Season  | No of Teams  | Champions  | Runners–up  | Relegated Teams
1996–97 | 12 | South Woodham Ferrers | Mersea Island | Wisbech
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

### Eastern Counties 3: North / South (1997–2000)

[edit]

Ahead of the 1997–98 season Eastern Counties 3 was split into two regional divisions - north and south - with both divisions remaining as tier 10 leagues. Promotion and relegation continued to Eastern Counties 2, while relegation was to Eastern Counties 4 \- now split into two regional divisions (north and south).

|  | Eastern Counties 3: North / South |

|
|

Season  | No of Teams  | Champions  | Runners–up  | Relegated Teams  | League Name
1997–98 | 9 | Beccles | Crusaders | Brightlingsea | East Counties 3 North
8 | Billericay | East London | Haverhill & District | East Counties 3 South
1998–99
[2][3] | 9 | Wisbech | Crusaders | March Bears, Stowmarket | East Counties 3 North
8 | East London | Stanford Le Hope | Witham | East Counties 3 South
1999–00
[4][5] | 9 | Ipswich Y.M. | Lakenham Hewett | No relegation[c] | East Counties 3 North
9 | Stanford Le Hope | Old Brentwoods | No relegation[d] | East Counties 3 South
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

### Eastern Counties 3: North / South (2000–2004)

[edit]

the introduction of London 4 North East ahead of the 2000–01 season meant that Eastern Counties North and South dropped to once again become tier 11 leagues. The regionalisation of Eastern Counties 2 meant that promotion was now to either Eastern Counties 2 North or Eastern Counties 2 South, while the cancellation of Eastern Counties 4 at the end of the 1999–00 season meant there was no longer relegation. The creation of Essex 1, Essex 2 and Essex 3 ahead of the 2003–04 season, meant that Essex based sides left the Eastern Counties leagues. This in turn would lead to the cancellation of Eastern Counties 3 North and South at the end of the 2003–04 season, with all teams transferred to relevant divisions in Eastern Counties 2.

|  | Eastern Counties 3: North / South |

|
|

Season  | No of Teams  | Champions  | Runners–up  | Relegated Teams  | League Name
2000–01
[6][7] | 9 | Stowmarket | Haverhill & District | No relegation | East Counties 3 North
11 | May & Baker | Millwall | No relegation | East Counties 3 South
2001–02
[8][9] | 9 | Southwold | Norwich Union | No relegation | East Counties 3 North
10 | Burnham-On-Crouch | Dagenham | No relegation | East Counties 3 South
2002–03
[10][11] | 8 | Broadland – Great Yarmouth | Harwich & Dovercourt | No relegation | East Counties 3 North[e]
9 | Ravens[f] | Runwell Wyverns | No relegation | East Counties 3 South[g]
2003–04[12] | 6 | Swaffham | Clacton | No relegation | East Counties 3[h]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

### Eastern Counties 3: North / South / West (2014—present)

[edit]

After an absence of nine years, Eastern Counties 3 was re-introduced as a tier 11 league ahead of the 2014–15 season, this time split into three regional divisions - north, south and west. Promotion was to the respective regional division in Eastern Counties 2, and relegation was to Eastern Counties 4 \- north or south - until that league was cancelled at the end of the 2016–17 season

|  | Eastern Counties 3: North / South / West |

|
|

Season  | No of Teams  | Champions  | Runners–up  | Relegated Teams  | League Name
2014–15
[13][14][15] | 10 | Beccles II | Wymondham II | Wisbech II | Eastern Counties 3 North
9 | Colchester III | Sudbury II | Woodbridge II | Eastern Counties 3 South
8 | Ely II | Cantabrigian III | No relegation | Eastern Counties 3 West
2015–16
[16][17][18] | 11 | North Walsham II | Norwich Union | Lakenham Hewett | Eastern Counties 3 North
9 | Brightlingsea | Colchester IV | Mersea Island II | Eastern Counties 3 South
10 | Sawston | Shelford IV | No relegation | Eastern Counties 3 West
2016–17
[19][20][21] | 11 | Diss III[i] | Holt II | Crusaders II | Eastern Counties 3 North
9 | Thurston II | Harwich II | University of Essex | Eastern Counties 3 South
11 | March Bears | St Ives II | No relegation | Eastern Counties 3 West
2017–18
[22][23][24] | 12 | Dereham | Norwich III | No relegation | Eastern Counties 3 North
9 | Woodbridge II | Mersea Island II | No relegation | Eastern Counties 3 South
4 | Shelford V[j] | Cantabrigian III | No relegation | Eastern Counties 3 South
2018–19
[25][26] | 12 | Southwold II | Crusaders II | No relegation | Eastern Counties 3 North
8 | Aldeburgh & Thorpeness | Maldon II | No relegation | Eastern Counties 3 South
2019–20 | 12 |  |  | No relegation | Eastern Counties 3 South
8 |  |  | No relegation | Eastern Counties 3 South
2020–21 | 12 |  |  | No relegation | Eastern Counties 3 South
8 |  |  | No relegation | Eastern Counties 3 South
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

## Number of league titles

[edit]

* Aldeburgh & Thorpeness (1)
* Bancroft (1)
* Beccles (1)[k]
* Beccles II (1)
* Billericay (1)
* Brightlingsea (1)
* Broadland – Great Yarmouth (1)
* Burnham-On-Crouch (1)
* Campion (1)
* Colchester III (1)
* Dereham (1)
* Diss III (1)
* East London (1)
* Ely II
* Fakenham (1)
* Hadleigh (1)
* Ipswich Y.M. (1)
* Loughton (1)
* March Bears (1)
* May & Baker (1)
* Newmarket (1)
* North Walsham (1)
* Old Cooperians (1)
* Old Edwardians (1)
* Ravens (1)
* Sawston (1)
* Shelford V (1)
* South Woodham Ferrers (1)
* Southwold (1)[l]
* Southwold II (1)
* Stanford Le Hope (1)
* Stowmarket (1)
* Swaffham (1)
* Thurston II (1)
* Wisbech (1)
* Woodbridge II (1)
* Wymondham (1)

## See also

[edit]

* London & SE Division RFU
* Eastern Counties RU
* Essex RFU
* English rugby union system
* Rugby union in England

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ League restructuring in the Eastern Counties meant that eight teams would be promoted including Old Bealonians, Thetford, Lakenham Hewett, Ipswich YMCA, Old Palmerians and Harwich & Dovercourt.
2. ^ No relegation as league was to increase from 11 to 13 teams for the following season.
3. ^ No relegation as Eastern Counties 4 was abolished for the next season.
4. ^ No relegation as East Counties tier 4 was abolished for the next season.
5. ^ This was the last season for East Counties 3 North due to the restructuring of the Eastern Counties league. A new Essex league would be introduced leading to teams from East Counties 3 South breaking away to join it. Teams from the East Counties 3 North division would move into either Eastern Counties 2 or Eastern Counties 3 for the next year depending on league position, asides from Witham who joined Essex 3.
6. ^ Transferred to Essex 1.
7. ^ This was the last season for East Counties 3 South as a new Essex league was introduced. The teams in this division would split away and move into either Essex 2 or Essex 3 depending on league position.
8. ^ East Counties 3 was only operational as a single division for one season. When the season finished most teams were promoted to Eastern Counties 2 asides from Clacton who transferred to Essex 3.
9. ^ Despite being champions Diss III were not promoted as Diss II were in division above.
10. ^ Champions Shelford V not promoted as Shelford IV in division above.
11. ^ As a club Beccles has won 2 titles - 1 by the 1st XV, 1 by the 2nd XV.
12. ^ As a club Southwold has won 2 titles - 1 by the 1st XV, 1 by the 2nd XV.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "EASTERN COUNTIES RUGBY UNION HANDBOOK 2015/16" (PDF). Eastern Counties RU. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
2. ^ "1998–1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
3. ^ "1998–1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
4. ^ "1999–2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
5. ^ "1999–2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
6. ^ "2000–2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
7. ^ "2000–2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
8. ^ "2001–2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
9. ^ "2001–2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
10. ^ "2002–2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
11. ^ "2002–2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
12. ^ "2003–2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
13. ^ "Eastern Counties Greene King Leagues – 2014-15 Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three North". Pitchero. Eastern Counties Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
14. ^ "Eastern Counties Greene King Leagues – 2014-15 Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three North". Pitchero. Eastern Counties Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
15. ^ "Eastern Counties Greene King Leagues – 2014-15 Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three North". Pitchero. Eastern Counties Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
16. ^ "London & SE Division – 2015-16 Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three North". Pitchero. Eastern Counties Rugby Union. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
17. ^ "London & SE Division – 2015-16 Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three South". Pitchero. Eastern Counties Rugby Union. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
18. ^ "London & SE Division – 2015-16 Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three West". Pitchero. Eastern Counties Rugby Union. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
19. ^ "London & SE Division – 2016-17 Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three North". Pitchero. Eastern Counties Rugby Union. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
20. ^ "London & SE Division – 2016-17 Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three South". Pitchero. Eastern Counties Rugby Union. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
21. ^ "London & SE Division – 2016-17 Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three West". Pitchero. Eastern Counties Rugby Union. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
22. ^ "Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three North 2017-18". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
23. ^ "Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three South 2017-18". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
24. ^ "Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three West 2017-18". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
25. ^ "Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three North 2018-19". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
26. ^ "Eastern Counties Greene King Division Three South 2018-19". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 June 2019.

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