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Counties 4 Yorkshire is an English rugby union league at the tenth tier of the domestic competition for teams from Yorkshire. Club rugby in Yorkshire operates without promotion play-offs meaning that the top two teams are automatically promoted to Yorkshire 3 and the bottom two teams were relegated to Yorkshire 5 until the RFU made changes to the Yorkshire league structure. Each season a team from Counties 3 Yorkshire or Yorkshire 4 may be picked to take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a national competition for clubs at levels 9-12.
Current season or competition: 2022–23 Counties 4 Yorkshire | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 |
| Number of teams | 15 7 (North-West Division) 7 (South-East Division) |
| Country |  England |
| Holders | Bramley Phoenix (1st title) (2019–20) (promoted to Yorkshire 3) |
| Most titles | Hessle, Hullensians, Old Rishworthians, Rotherham Phoenix, Stocksbridge, Wibsey (2 titles) |
| Website | England RFU |
For the 2017-18 season, Yorkshire 4 was broken up into two regional leagues - Yorkshire 4 (North West) and Yorkshire 4 (South East) - while Yorkshire 5 ceased to exist. Teams from both Yorkshire 4 and 5 were transferred into the regional divisions depending on location.[1] After the teams have played each other home and away, in February the clubs are reallocated into a Premier league and a Shield league for one further round of fixtures. The top four teams from each league play in the Premier and the other teams play in the Shield. The top two teams in the Premier league are promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire.
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For the new season the league was once more split into North / South division as it had been most recently in season 2021-22. Three new teams, all from South Yorkshire, were added to the South league to make a total of seven, with eight competing in the North division.
North division
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  Aireborough Hornsea Knaresborough Leeds M & D Leeds Mods Nestle Rowntree Richmondshire York RI Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 4 Yorkshire North teams
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South division
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Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 4 Yorkshire South teams
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Departing were Mosborough (4th in 2022-23) who moved on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands East (North). Joining were three sides relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire together with Richmondshire who re-entered the Yorkshire Rugby leagues having most recently competed in Durham/Northumberland 3 for season 2021-22 during which they withdrew in January 2022.
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Aireborough Hornsea Knaresborough Knottingley Leeds M & D Leeds Mods Nestle Rowntree Otliensians Richmondshire Stocksbridge Thornensians York RI Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Yorkshire teams
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This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Yorkshire 4 albeit consolidated back into one having previously been split NW and SE. Eleven of the teams from season 2021-22 returned with two promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire and two (Sheffield Oaks and Stanley Rodillians) withdrawing from the leagues. So with four departing but only one arriving the league was reduced from 15 teams to 12.
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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.
North West division
York RI and Nestle Rowntree were level transferred from Yorkshire 4 South East for the current season.
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Locations of the 2021–22 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams
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South East division
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Locations of the 2021–22 Yorkshire 4 (South East) teams
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On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced [2] 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 Yorkshire 4 was not contested.
North West division
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 Bramley Burley Leeds Medics & Dentists Leeds Modernians Locations of the 2019-20 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams in Leeds Locations of the 2019–20 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams
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South East division
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Locations of the 2019–20 Yorkshire 4 (South East) teams
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Premier and Shield divisions
Premier participants
- Bramley Phoenix
- Burley
- Halifax
- Leeds Modernians
- Mosborough
- Stanley Rodillians
- Stocksbridge
- York Railway Institute
Shield participants
- Hessle
- Knaresborough
- Leeds Medics & Dentists
- Nestle Rowntree
- Sheffield Oaks
- Thirsk
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North West division
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Bramley Burley Leeds Medics & Dentists Locations of the 2018-19 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams in Leeds Locations of the 2018–19 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams
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South East division
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Locations of the 2018–19 Yorkshire 4 (South East) teams
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Premier and Shield divisions
Premier participants
- Bramley Phoenix
- Hessle
- Knaresborough
- Leeds Medics & Dentisists
- Mosborough
- Ossett
- Wibsey
- York Railway Institute
Shield participants
- Burley
- Halifax
- Nestle Rowntree
- Sheffield Oaks
- Stanley Rodilians
- Stocksbridge
- Thirsk
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North West division
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Locations of the 2017–18 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams
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South East division
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Locations of the 2017–18 Yorkshire 4 (South East) teams
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Premier and Shield divisions
In February, after the teams have played each other home and away, the clubs in both Yorkshire 4 leagues are reallocated into a Premier league and a Shield league for one further round of fixtures. The top four teams from each league play in the Premier and the other teams play in the Shield.
Premier participants
- Burley
- Knaresborough
- Leeds Corinthians
- Mosborough
- Ossett
- Rotherham Phoenix
- Stanley Rodillians
- Wibsey
Shield participants
Rossington Hornets did not participate in the Shield competition.
- Bramley Phoenix (relegated from Yorkshire 3)
- Burley
- Hemsworth
- Hessle
- Hornsea (promoted from Yorkshire 5)
- Leeds Corinthians
- Ossett
- Rotherham Clifton
- Rotherham Phoenix (relegated from Yorkshire 3)
- Skipton
- Stanley Rodillians (promoted from Yorkshire 5)
- York Railway Institute
- Burley (relegated from Yorkshire 3)
- Halifax Vandals
- Hemsworth (relegated from Yorkshire 3)
- Hessle (promoted from Yorkshire 5)
- Leeds Corinthians
- Mosborough
- Ossett
- Rotherham Clifton (promoted from Yorkshire 5)
- Sheffield Oaks
- Skipton
- Wensleydale
- York Railway Institute
- Halifax
- Halifax Vandals
- Hornsea
- Knaresborough (promoted from Yorkshire 5)
- Leeds Corinthians
- Mosborough
- Ossett
- Sheffield Oaks
- Skipton (relegated from Yorkshire 3)
- Wensleydale (promoted from Yorkshire 5)
- Wetherby
- York Railway Institute
- Halifax
- Halifax Vandals
- Hessle (relegated from Yorkshire 3)
- Hornsea
- Leeds Corinthians
- Mosborough
- Old Otliensians
- Ossett
- Sheffield Oaks (promoted from Yorkshire 5)
- Stocksbridge (promoted from Yorkshire 5)
- Wetherby
- York Railway Institute (relegated from Yorkshire 3)
- Halifax
- Halifax Vandals
- Harrogate Pythons
- Hornsea
- Knaresborough
- Leeds Corinthians
- Marist
- Mosborough
- Old Grovians
- Old Otliensians
- Ossett
- Wetherby
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
- Burley
- Dinnington
- Hessle
- Hullensians
- Leeds YMCA
- Old Modernians
- Skipton
- West Leeds
- Wetherby
- Wibsey
- Yorkshire CW
Yorkshire 4 (1987–1993)
The original Yorkshire 4 was a tier 12 league with promotion up to Yorkshire 3 and relegation down to Yorkshire 5.
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| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 11 | Wibsey | Old Modernians | Skipton, Burley | ||||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Hessle | West Leeds | Wetherby, Yorkshire CW | ||||||||||
| 1989–90 | 11 | Bradford Salem | Sheffield Oaks | Phoenix Park | ||||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | Northallerton | Dinnington | Yorkshire CW | ||||||||||
| 1991–92 | 11 | Hullensians | Halifax Vandals[a] | No relegation[b] | ||||||||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | Ossett | Leeds YMCA | Yorkshire CW | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Yorkshire 4 (1993–2000)
The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 4 dropped to become a tier 13 league. A further restructure at the end of the 1995–96 season, which included the cancellation of National 5 North and the addition of North East 3 at tier 9, saw Yorkshire 4 remain at tier 13.
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| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 13 | Phoenix Park | Skipton | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 1994–95 | 13 | Mosborough | Baildon | Knaresborough | ||||||||||
| 1995–96 | 13 | Stocksbridge | Hornsea[c] | Multiple teams[d] | ||||||||||
| 1996–97 | 9 | York Railway Institute | Leeds Corinthians[e] | No relegation[f] | ||||||||||
| 1997–98 | 9 | Heath | Baildon | Knaresborough | ||||||||||
| 1998–99[3] | 10 | Old Rishworthians | Knottingley | Nestle Rowntree, Ossett, Garforth | ||||||||||
| 1999–00[4] | 9 | Old Modernians[g] | Mosborough | Marist, Hornsea, Rotherham Clifton | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Yorkshire 4 (2000–present)
Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999-2000 season saw the cancellation of North East 1, North East 2 and North East 3 (tiers 7-9). This meant that Yorkshire 4 became a tier 10 league.
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| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01[5] | 11 | Stocksbridge | Old Rishworthians | Edlington Granby, Thornensians | ||||||||||
| 2001–02[6] | 12 | Knottingley | Moortown | Mosborough, Stanley Rodillians, Old Rishworthians | ||||||||||
| 2002–03[7] | 12 | Roundhegians | Thornensians | Sheffield Medicals, Sheffield Oaks | ||||||||||
| 2003–04[8] | 12 | Barnsley | Baildon | Halifax Vandals, Hornsea, Wakefield Cougars | ||||||||||
| 2004–05[9] | 11 | Wath Upon Dearne | Old Modernians | Wetherby, Burley | ||||||||||
| 2005–06[10] | 12 | Aireborough | Doncaster Phoenix | Halifax Vandals, Stanley Rodillians, Hemsworth | ||||||||||
| 2006–07[11] | 12 | Hullensians | Castleford | Sheffield Oaks, Mosborough, Wetherby | ||||||||||
| 2007–08[12] | 12 | Hessle | Old Otliensians | Stocksbridge, Knaresborough, Hemsworth | ||||||||||
| 2008–09[13] | 12 | Old Rishworthians | Bramley Phoenix | Burley | ||||||||||
| 2009–10[14] | 12 | Rotherham Phoenix | York Railway Institute | Hornsea, Adwick Le Street | ||||||||||
| 2010–11[15] | 12 | Sheffield Medicals | Burley | Marist | ||||||||||
| 2011–12[16] | 12 | Leeds Medics & Dentists | Hemsworth | Stanley Rodillians | ||||||||||
| 2012–13[17] | 12 | Old Grovians | Harrogate Pythons | Knaresborough, Marist | ||||||||||
| 2013–14[18] | 12 | Old Otliensians | Stocksbridge | Hessle | ||||||||||
| 2014–15[19] | 12 | Wetherby | Halifax | Knaresborough, Hornsea | ||||||||||
| 2015–16[20] | 12 | Halifax Vandals | Wensleydale | Sheffield Oaks, Mosborough | ||||||||||
| 2016–17[21] | 11 | Hemsworth | Skipton | No relegation[h] | ||||||||||
| 2017–18[22] | 15 | Rotherham Phoenix | Leeds Corinthians | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2018–19[23] | 15 | Wibsey | Ossett | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2019–20[24] | 14 | Bramley Phoenix | Burley | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2020–21 | 14 | |||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
- Hessle (2)
- Hullensians (2)
- Old Rishworthians (2)
- Rotherham Phoenix (2)
- Stocksbridge (2)
- Wibsey (2)
- Aireborough (1)
- Barnsley (1)
- Bradford Salem (1)
- Bramley Phoenix (1)
- Halifax Vandals (1)
- Heath (1)
- Hemsworth (1)
- Knottingley (1)
- Leeds Medics & Dentists (1)
- Mosborough (1)
- Northallerton (1)
- Old Grovians (1)
- Old Modernians (1)
- Old Otliensians (1)
- Ossett (1)
- Phoenix Park (1)
- Roundhegians (1)
- Sheffield Medicals (1)
- Wath Upon Dearne (1)
- Wetherby (1)
- York Railway Institute (1)
- League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant nine clubs were promoted into Yorkshire 3 including Airebronians, Wetherby, Baildon, Old Rishworthians, Leeds Corinthians, Burley and Heath.
- League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant no clubs were relegated and eight clubs (originally nine) would be promoted from Yorkshire 5.
- 3rd place Hornsea were promoted instead of runners up Burley who were instead demoted to Yorkshire 5.
- Yorkshire league restructuring due to reintroduction of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1996–97 season saw ten clubs relegated from Yorkshire 4; New Earswick, Rawmarsh, Withernsea, Adwick le Street and De La Salle (Sheffield) were relegated into Yorkshire 6, while BP Chemicals, Garforth, Danum Phoenix, Rowntrees and Burley were relegated into Yorkshire 5.
- No relegation due to cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1997–98 season.
- No relegation as Yorkshire 5 was abolished at the end of the 2016-17 season.
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