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Counties 4 Kent
Current season or competition:
2024-25 Counties 4 Kent
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Number of teams10
Country England
Most titlesAshford, Aylesford Bulls, Betteshanger, Brockleians, Erith, New Ash Green, Old Gravesendians, Sittingbourne (2 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

Counties 4 Kent (formerly known as Kent 2 or Shepherd Neame Kent 2 for sponsorship reasons) is an English level 10 Rugby Union League[1] and is made up of teams predominantly from south-east London and Kent. The teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Currently promoted teams move up to Kent 1 and there is no relegation although until the 2007–08 season teams could drop down to Kent 3 (now folded). Now a single division, in the past Kent 2 was divided into regional divisions - Kent 2 East and Kent 2 West. Relegated teams drop down to Counties 5 Kent. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 4 Kent.

Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.

Teams for 2024-25

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Departing were Beckenham II, Brockleians and Old Gravesendians, all promoted to Counties 3 Kent. Sidcup III (9th) and Lordswood (12th) were relegated to Counties 5 Kent. Footscray had finished 11th and would ordinarily have been relegated but for Sidcup electing to drop down a division.

Joining were Faversham relegated from Counties 3 Kent. Bromley II, Canterbury III, Old Colfeians II, all promoted from Counties 5 Kent. Rye completed the line-up having re-joined the RFU leagues after an extended absence.

Teams for 2023-24

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Departing were Tonbridge Juddians III and Sittingbourne promoted to Counties 3 Kent. Four clubs Beccehamian II (11th), Greenwich (12th) and Askeans (14th) were relegated to Counties 5 Kent. Weavering Warriors (13th) elected to drop into the Kent RFU merit leagues.

Joining were King's College Hospital and Footscray, both relegated from Counties 3 Kent, together with Beckenham II and Medway III

Teams for 2022-23

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This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review[2] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 4 Kent.

Returning were 7 of the 9 teams who competed in the previous season's league.

Departing were Dartford Valley and Whitstable, promoted to Counties 3 Kent. There was no relegation.

Joining from Kent 1 were Brockleians, Cliffe Crusaders and Old Willamsonians. The league was supplemented by the addition of Tonbridge Juddians III, Beccehamian II, Dartfordians II and Sidcup III.

Teams for 2021-22

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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.

Bexley, who finished 8th in 2019-20, played several of the early fixtures but withdrew from the league in November 2021.

Swanley RFC, a new entry, competed until January 2022 before withdrawing from the league.

Season 2020–21

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On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced [4] that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Kent 2 was not contested.

Teams for 2019-20

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Teams for 2018-19

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Teams for 2017-18

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Teams for 2016-17

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  • Askean
  • Bexley
  • Dartford Valley
  • Edenbridge
  • Erith
  • Faversham
  • Footscray
  • Greenwich
  • Lordswood (relegated from Kent 1)
  • Old Gravsesendians (relegated from Kent 1)
  • Orpington
  • Royal Bank of Scotland
  • Shooters Hill
  • Whitstable

Teams for 2015-2016

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  • Askean
  • Bexley (relegated from Kent 1)
  • Dartford Valley
  • Edenbridge
  • Faversham
  • Footscray
  • Greenwich
  • Orpington
  • Shooters Hill
  • Sittingbourne (relegated from Kent 1)
  • Snowdown C.W.
  • Whitstable

Teams for 2014-2015

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  • Askean
  • Brockleians
  • Dartford Valley
  • Edenbridge
  • Faversham
  • Footscray (relegated from Kent 1)
  • Greenwich
  • New Ash Green
  • Orpington
  • Shooters Hill (relegated from Kent 1)

Teams for 2013-2014

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  • Ash
  • Askean
  • Bexley
  • Brockleians
  • Dartford Valley (www.dvrfc.com)
  • Edenbridge
  • Faversham
  • Guy's Hospital
  • Lordswood
  • New Ash Green
  • Orpington
  • Whitstable

Teams for 2009-2010

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Original teams

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

Kent 2 honours

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Kent 2 (1987–1993)

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he original Kent 2 was a tier 9 league with promotion up to Kent 1 and relegation down to Kent 3.

Kent 2
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1987–88 11 Betteshanger Snowdown C.W. Orpington, Met Police Hayes, Thames Polytechnic
1988–89 11 Sevenoaks Dover Lloyds Bank, Greenwich
1989–90 11 Sittingbourne Met Police Hayes Midland Bank
1990–91 11 Tonbridge Sheppey Linton, Cranbrook, NatWest Bank
1991–92 11 Canterbury Snowdown C.W.[b] No relegation[c]
1992–93 13 Thames Polytechnic NatWest Bank Old Gravesendians, Linton
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Kent 2 (1993–1996)

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The creation of National 5 South meant that Kent 2 dropped from a tier 9 league to a tier 10 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to Kent 1 and Kent 3 respectively.

Kent 2
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1993–94 13 Old Shootershillians Old Elthamians Lloyds Bank, Tonbridge, Bexley
1994–95 13 Ashford Dover Midland Bank, New Ash Green
1995–96 13 Betteshanger Cranbrook Vigo
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Kent 2 (1996–1998)

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The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Kent 2 reverted to being a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Kent 1 and Kent 3 respectively.

Kent 2
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1996–97 13 Folkestone Whitstable[d] No relegation[e]
1997–98 14 Midland Bank Tonbridge No relegation[f]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Kent 2 East / West (1998–2000)

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The cancellation of Kent 3 ahead of the 1997–98 season saw Kent 2 restructured into two regional division - Kent 2 East and Kent 2 West - both of which were tier 9 leagues. Promotion continued to Kent 1 and there was no relegation until Kent 3 was reintroduced.

Kent 2: East / West
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams League Name
1998–99
[6][7]		 14 New Ash Green Old Elthamians No relegation Kent 2 East
4 Greenwich Dartford Valley No relegation Kent 2 West
1999–00
[8][9]		 8 Aylesford Bulls[g] Sittingbourne Multiple teams[h] Kent 2 East
9[i] Erith[j] Dartford Valley Multiple teams[k] Kent 2 West
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Kent 2 (2000–2009)

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Kent 2 was restructured back into a single division for the 2000–01 season, although the introduction of London 4 South East meant that it fell to become a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Kent 1, while the reintroduction of Kent 3 meant that there was relegation until this league was cancelled at the end of the 2007–08 season.

Kent 2
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–01[10] 9 Ashford Erith No relegation[l]
2001–02[11] 10 Aylesford Bulls Sheppey Dartford Valley, HSBC, Dover
2002–03[12] 10 Old Elthamians Sittingbourne Brockleians, Bexley
2003–04[13] 9 Park House Dover No relegation[m]
2004–05[14] 10 Brockleians New Ash Green Dartford Valley
2005–06[15] 9 Old Gravesendians Sheppey Medway, Bexley
2006–07[16] 8 Erith Old Olavians New Ash Green, Orpington, Shooters Hill
2007–08[17] 8 Medway Cranbrook[n] No relegation[o]
2008–09[18] 10[p] HSBC Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Kent 2 (2009–present)

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Kent 2 remained a tier 10 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion continued to Kent 1 and there was no relegation.

Kent 2
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2009–10[19] 10 Lordswood New Ash Green No relegation
2010–11[20] 11 Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital Shooters Hill No relegation
2011–12[21] 9 King's College Hospital Southwark Lancers No relegation
2012–13[22] 11 Old Williamsonians Footscray No relegation
2013–14[23] 10 Bexley Lordswood No relegation
2014–15[24] 10 New Ash Green Brockleians No relegation
2015–16[25] 12 Sittingbourne Snowdown C.W. No relegation
2016–17[26] 13 Old Gravesendians Royal Bank of Scotland No relegation
2017–18[27] 9 Whitstable Footscray No relegation
2018–19[28] 9 Cliffe Crusaders Faversham No relegation
2019–20[29] 10 Brockleians Footscray No relegation
2020–21 10 No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

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Notes

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  1. ^ Betteshanger merged with Deal Wanderers RFC in 2006 to become Deal & Betteshanger Rugby Club.[5]
  2. ^ 3rd place New Ash Green and 4th place Met Police Hayes were also promoted due to Kent league restructuring.
  3. ^ Kent league restructuring meant that there was no relegation.
  4. ^ Seven teams were promoted from the division due to Kent league restructuring, including Snowdown C.W., Deal Wanderers, NatWest Bank, Sittingbourne and Lordswood.
  5. ^ Kent league restructuring meant that there was no relegation.
  6. ^ Kent league restructuring meant that there was no relegation.
  7. ^ Aylesford Bulls were not promoted this season but instead remained in a new look single division along with runners up Sittingbourne and relegated teams from Kent 1.
  8. ^ Due to the creation of a single division for Kent 2 as well as two new lower divisions there were many relegations this season. Faversham, Vigo, Old Williamsonians joined Kent 4 while Deal & Betteshanger, Old Gravesendians, Edenbridge joined Kent 3.
  9. ^ Multiple teams were transferred from Kent 2 East for this season - previously only 4 teams in division.
  10. ^ Erith were not promoted this season but instead remained in a new look single division along with runners up Dartford Valley and relegated teams from Kent 1.
  11. ^ Due to the creation of a single division for Kent 2 as well as two new lower divisions there were many relegations this season. Footscray, Bexley and Greenwich joined Kent 3 while Orpington and Old Olavians joined Kent 4. Greenwich Academical and Met Police Hayes would drop out of the league for the following season.
  12. ^ No relegation as Kent 4 abolished at end of season and subsequent league restructuring led to division increasing to 10 teams.
  13. ^ No relegation as division would increase to 10 teams the following season.
  14. ^ Vigo and Sheppey were also promoted along with champions Medway and runners up Cranbrook.
  15. ^ No relegation as Kent 3 abolished at the end of the season.
  16. ^ Division increased to 10 teams due to Kent 3 being abolished the previous season.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "League Make up". Kent RFU. Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  2. ^ "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 13 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Rugby returns to the Rectory Field as Askeans move in". 2 November 2021.
  4. ^ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. ^ "CLUB HISTORY". Deal and Betteshanger Rugby Club. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  6. ^ "1998-1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  7. ^ "1998-1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  8. ^ "1999-2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  9. ^ "1999-2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  10. ^ "2000-2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  11. ^ "2001-2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  12. ^ "2002-2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  13. ^ "2003-2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  14. ^ "2004-2005 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  15. ^ "2005-2006 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  16. ^ "2006-2007 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  17. ^ "2007-2008 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  18. ^ "2008-2009 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  19. ^ "2009-2010 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  20. ^ "2010-2011 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  21. ^ "2011-2012 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  22. ^ "2012-2013 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  23. ^ "2013-2014 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  24. ^ "2014-2015 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  25. ^ "2015-2016 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  26. ^ "2016-2017 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  27. ^ "2017-2018 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  28. ^ "2018-2019 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Men's London & South East Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
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