Counties 4 Kent

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.

Counties 4 Kent

Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 4 Kent
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	1987; 38 years ago (1987)
Number of teams	10
Country	England
Most titles	Ashford, Aylesford Bulls, Betteshanger, Brockleians, Erith, New Ash Green, Old Gravesendians, Sittingbourne (2 titles)
Website	englandrugby.com

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

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.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bromley II Barnet Wood Road Hayes, London Promoted from Counties 5 Kent (runners-up) Canterbury III Marine Travel Ground 1,500 (75 seats) Canterbury, Kent Promoted from Counties 5 Kent (champions) Cliffe Crusaders Recreation Ground Cliffe, Kent 5th Dartfordians II Bourne Road Bexley, London 4th Faversham Recreation Ground Faversham, Kent Relegated from Counties 3 Kent (10th) Footscray Footscray Playing Fields New Eltham, London 11th King's College Hospital Dulwich Sports Ground Dulwich, London 8th Medway III Priestfields Rochester, Kent 10th Old Colfeians II Horn Park Lee, London Promoted from Counties 5 Kent (3rd) Old Williamsonians Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School Rochester, Kent 7th Rye New Road Rye, East Sussex Re-entry Sheppey Stupple Field Minster, Kent 6th

Bromley II Footscray KCH Colfeians II Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Kent teams in Greater London Canterbury III Cliffe Dartfordians II Faversham Medway III Williamsonians Rye Sheppey Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Kent teams in Kent & East Sussex

Teams for 2023-24

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

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Beckenham II Balmoral Avenue Beckenham, London Brockleians Civil Service Sports Ground Eltham, London 4th Cliffe Crusaders Recreation Ground Cliffe, Kent 3rd Dartfordians II Bourne Road Bexley, London 7th Footscray Footscray Playing Fields New Eltham, London Relegated from Counties 3 Kent King's College Hospital Dulwich Sports Ground Dulwich, London Relegated from Counties 3 Kent Lordswood Lordswood Sports & Social Club Chatham, Kent 9th Medway III Priestfields Rochester, Kent Old Gravesendians Fleetway Sports Ground Gravesend, Kent 8th Old Williamsonians Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School Rochester, Kent 6th Sheppey Stupple Field Minster, Kent 5th Sidcup III Crescent Farm Sidcup, Kent 10th

Beckenham II Brockleians Footscray KCH Sidcup III Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Kent teams in Greater London Cliffe Dartfordians II Lordswood Gravesendians Medway III Williamsonians Sheppey Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Kent teams in Kent

Teams for 2022-23

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.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Askeans Rectory Field 6,000 Blackheath, London 9th Beccehamian II Sparrow's Den West Wickham, London New entry Brockleians Civil Service Sports Ground Eltham, London Relegated from Kent 1 (9th) Cliffe Crusaders Recreation Ground Cliffe, Kent Joined from Kent 1 (7th) Dartfordians II Bourne Road Bexley, London New entry Greenwich Plumstead Common Plumstead, London 8th Lordswood Lordswood Sports & Social Club Chatham, Kent 7th Old Gravesendians Fleetway Sports Ground Gravesend, Kent 4th Old Williamsonians Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School Rochester, Kent Joined from Kent 1 (3rd) Sheppey Stupple Field Minster, Kent 5th Sidcup III Crescent Farm Sidcup, Kent New entry Sittingbourne Gore Court Cricket Club Sittingbourne, Kent 3rd Tonbridge Juddians III The Slade 1,500 Tonbridge, Kent New entry Weavering Warriors Bicknor Road Maidstone, Kent 6th

Askeans Beccehamian II Brockleians Dartfordians II Greenwich Sidcup III Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Kent teams in Greater London Cliffe Lordswood Gravesendians Williamsonians Sheppey Sittingbourne Tonbridge Juddians III Weavering Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Kent teams in Kent

Teams for 2021-22

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.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Askeans Rectory Field[3] 6,000 Blackheath, London 10th Dartford Valley Leigh Academy Dartford, Kent 3rd Greenwich Plumstead Common Plumstead, London 9th Lordswood Lordswood Sports & Social Club Chatham, Kent 5th Old Gravesendians Fleetway Sports Ground Gravesend, Kent Relegated from Kent 1 (9th) Sheppey Stupple Field Minster, Kent 7th Sittingbourne Gore Court Cricket Club Sittingbourne, Kent 4th Swanley Swanley Recreation Ground Swanley, Kent New entry Weavering Warriors Bicknor Road Maidstone, Kent 6th Whitstable Reeves Way Chestfield, Kent Relegated from Kent 1 (10th)

Askeans Greenwich Locations of the 2021-22 Shepherd Neame Kent 2 teams in Greater London Dartford Valley Lordswood Gravesendians Sheppey Sittingbourne Swanley Weavering Whitstable Locations of the 2021-22 Shepherd Neame Kent 2 teams in Kent

Season 2020–21

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

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Askeans Well Hall 1,650 (550 seats) Eltham, London 9th Bexley Bexley Park Dartford, Kent 6th Brockleians Civil Service Sports Ground Eltham, London 5th Dartford Valley Leigh Academy Dartford, Kent 7th Footscray Footscray Playing Fields New Eltham, London Relegated from Kent 1 (10th) Greenwich Plumstead Common Plumstead, London 8th Lordswood Lordswood Sports & Social Club Chatham, Kent 3rd Hastings & Bexhill William Parker Lower School Hastings, East Sussex - Sheppey Stupple Field Minster, Kent Relegated from Kent 1 (11th) Sittingbourne Gore Court Cricket Club Sittingbourne, Kent 4th Weavering Warriors Bicknor Road Maidstone, Kent N/A

Askeans Brockleians Footscray Greenwich Locations of the 2019-20 Shepherd Neame Kent 2 teams in Greater London Bexley Dartford Valley Lordswood Sheppey Sittingbourne Weavering Locations of the 2019-20 Shepherd Neame Kent 2 teams in Kent

Teams for 2018-19

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Askeans Well Hall 1,650 (550 seats) Eltham, London 8th Bexley Bexley Park Dartford, Kent 5th Brockleians Civil Service Sports Ground Eltham, London 3rd Cliffe Crusaders Recreation Ground Cliffe, Kent Kent Merit Leagues (runners up) Dartford Valley Leigh Academy Dartford, Kent 7th Faversham Recreation Ground Faversham, Kent 6th Greenwich Plumstead Common Plumstead, London 9th Lordswood Lordswood Sports & Social Club Chatham, Kent 4th Sittingbourne Gore Court Cricket Club Sittingbourne, Kent Relegated from Kent 1 (12th)

Askeans Brockleians Greenwich Locations of the 2018-19 Shepherd Neame Kent 2 teams in Greater London Bexley Cliffe D Valley Faversham Lordswood Sittingbourne Locations of the 2018-19 Shepherd Neame Kent 2 teams in Kent

Teams for 2017-18

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Askeans Well Hall 1,650 (550 seats) Eltham, London 8th Bexley Bexley Park Dartford, Kent 10th Brockleians Civil Service Sports Ground Eltham, London Relegated from Kent 1 (11th) Dartford Valley Leigh Academy Dartford, Kent 9th Faversham Recreation Ground Faversham, Kent 7th Footscray Footscray Playing Fields New Eltham, London 4th Greenwich Plumstead Common Plumstead, London 11th Lordswood Lordswood Sports & Social Club Chatham, Kent 5th Whitstable Reeves Way Chestfield, Kent 3rd

Askeans Footscray Brockleians Greenwich Locations of the 2017-18 Shepherd Neame Kent 2 teams in Greater London Bexley Dartford Valley Faversham Lordswood Whitstable Locations of the 2017-18 Shepherd Neame Kent 2 teams in Kent

Teams for 2016-17

• 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

• 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

• 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

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

Teams for 2009-2010

• Askean
• Bexley
• Brockleians
• Footscray
• Kings Coll. Hospital
• Lordswood
• New Ash Green
• Old Williamsonians
• Orpington
• Shooters Hill

Original teams

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

• Ashford
• Betteshanger^[a]
• Dover
• Folkestone
• Greenwich
• Lloyds Bank
• Met Police Hayes
• Midland Bank
• Orpington
• Snowdown C.W.
• Thames Polytechnic

Kent 2 honours

Kent 2 (1987–1993)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

• Ashford (2)
• Aylesford Bulls (2)
• Betteshanger (2)
• Brockleians (2)
• Erith (2)
• New Ash Green (2)
• Old Gravesendians (2)
• Sittingbourne (2)
• Bexley (1)
• Canterbury (1)
• Cliffe Crusaders (1)
• Folkestone (1)
• Greenwich (1)
• Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital (1)
• HSBC (1)
• King's College Hospital (1)
• Lordswood (1)
• Medway (1)
• Midland Bank (1)
• New Ash Green (1)
• Old Elthamians (1)
• Old Shootershillians (1)
• Old Williamsonians (1)
• Park House (1)
• Sevenoaks (1)
• Thames Polytechnic (1)
• Tonbridge (1)
• Whitstable (1)

Notes

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

• London & SE Division RFU
• Kent RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

References

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.

External links

• Kent Rugby Football Union