# Lancs/Cheshire Division Two

Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire (formerly Lancs/Cheshire Division Two (usually referred to as Lancs/Cheshire 2)) is a regional English Rugby Union league for teams in Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and Greater Manchester at level 9 of the English rugby union system.
The division was initially known as North-West West 2 when it was created in 1987, and had a number of different names with South Lancs/Cheshire 2 being the longest running. The division switched to its name for the 2018–19 season due to the restructuring of the northern leagues by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) as a result of 19 Lancashire clubs withdrawing from RFU competitions to form their own competitions. Each season three teams from Lancs/Cheshire 2 were picked to take part in the RFU Junior Vase (a national competition for clubs at levels 9-12) - two clubs affiliated with the Cheshire RFU, the other with the Lancashire RFU.
The division had a break for the 2015-16 season as the RFU decided to restructure the South Lancs/Cheshire league into three zones - Merseyside (West), Cheshire (South) and Lancashire (North). This was short-lived and the division returned to its original format for the 2016-17 season with only Lancashire (North) remaining of the three zones.
After the introduction of North 2 West at tier 7 for the 2019–20 season, all Lancs/Cheshire leagues dropped one level, with Lancs/Cheshire Division Two ranked at level 9.
Following the cancellation of Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season due to the coronavirus pandemic, the league was mothballed with teams transferred into the Lancashire Merit Table competitions, ADM Lancashire leagues or level transferred into other regional leagues.
After a hiatus for season 2021-22 the league returned in its new guise following the restructuring of the English rugby union system ahead of the 2022–23 season, with the league renamed to Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire.
Promotion is to Counties 2 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire and relegation to Lancashire RFU merit leagues.

## Teams 2024-25

Departing were Wigan and Thornton-Cleveleys, promoted to Counties 2 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire.
Joining were Fleetwood and De La Salle (Salford) relegated from Counties 2 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire together with Vagabonds, Ashton-under-Lyne, Colne & Nelson and Blackpool promoted from the Lancashire RFU merit leagues.

## Teams 2023-24

Departing were Hoylake and New Brighton, promoted to Counties 2 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire. Vagabonds (9th) and Port Sunlight (10th) were relegated into the Lancashire RFU merit leagues. Ellesmere Port (6th) did not return for the new season.
Joining were Ormskirk, Orrell and Wigan relegated from Counties 2 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire together with Burnley and Clitheroe promoted from the Lancashire RFU merit leagues.

## Teams 2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire.

## Season 2021-22

Not contested as many of the Lancashire RFU affiliated clubs had joined the Lanacashire ADM splinter leagues.

## Season 2020–21

On 30 October the RFU announced that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning the leagues was not contested.

## Participating clubs 2016-17

* Dukinfield
* Eagle
* Heaton Moor
* Hoylake (relegated from South Lancs/Cheshire 1)
* Liverpool Collegiate
* Marple
* Moore
* Oldershaw
* Port Sunlight
* Ruskin Park (prompted from Merseyside (West))
* Tyldesley
* Vagabonds R.U.F.C.
* Winnington Park (relegated from South Lancs/Cheshire 1)

## 2015-16

For the 2015-16 season this league, and South Lancs/Cheshire 3, were replaced by three county-wide leagues - Cheshire (South), Merseyside (West) and Lancashire (North). However, with the exception of Lancashire North, the county leagues were axed after just one season and the South Lancs/Cheshire leagues were restored.

## Participating clubs 2014-15

* Ashton-on-Mersey (relegated from South Lancs/Cheshire 1)
* Dukinfield
* Liverpool Collegiate
* Marple
* Moore
* Ormskirk
* Orrell
* Oswestry
* Port Sunlight
* Prenton (promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 3)
* Southport
* Trentham (promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 3)
* Tyldesley (relegated from South Lancs/Cheshire 1)
* Vagabonds (I.O.M.)

## Participating clubs 2013-14

* Bowdon (relegated from South Lancs/Cheshire 1)
* Dukinfield
* Liverpool Collegiate
* Manchester Medics (promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 3)
* Marple
* Moore
* Ormskirk
* Orrell (relegated from South Lancs/Cheshire 1)
* Oswestry
* Port Sunlight (promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 3)
* Ramsey (IoM)
* Southport
* Vagabonds (I.O.M.)
* Wallasey

## Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
* Chester College
* Hightown
* Moore
* Old Instonians
* Port Sunlight
* Ruskin Park
* Sefton
* South Liverpool
* St. Mary's Old Boys
* Vulcan
* Wallasey

## Lancs/Cheshire 2 honours
### North-West West 2 (1987–1992)

The original incarnation of Lancs/Cheshire 2 was known as North-West West 2, and was a tier 10 league with promotion up to North-West West 1 and relegation down to North-West West 3.
North-West West 2 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 1987–88 | 11 | Old Instonians | Ruskin Park | Wallasey, Moore |
| 1988–89 | 10 | Oldershaw | South Liverpool | Halton |
| 1989–90 | 11 | Vulcan | Hoylake | Birchfield |
| 1990–91 | 11 | Vagabonds | Aspull | Wallasey |
| 1991–92 | 11 | St. Mary's Old Boys | Old Parkonians | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Cheshire / Lancashire South (1992–1996)

Restructuring of north-west leagues saw North-West West 2 split into two new regional divisions named Cheshire and Lancashire South. Both regional divisions were initially at tier 10 but the creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that they both dropped to become tier 11 leagues. Promotion was to the newly named Cheshire/Lancs South (formerly North-West West 1), while the cancellation of North-West West 3 meant that there was no relegation until further league restructuring at the end of the 1995–96 season.
Cheshire / Lancashire South :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name |
| 1992–93 | 11 | Old Anselmians | Wallasley | No relegation | Cheshire |
| 1992–93 | 10 | Sefton | Eccles | No relegation | Lancashire South |
| 1993–94 | 10 | Port Sunlight | Congleton | No relegation | Cheshire |
| 1993–94 | 9 | Didsbury Toc H | Vulcan | No relegation | Lancashire South |
| 1994–95 | 10 | Congleton | Eagle | No relegation | Cheshire |
| 1994–95 | 10 | Newton-le-Willows | Wallasley | No relegation | Lancashire South |
| 1995–96 | 10 | Old Anselmians | Wallasley | Multiple teams | Cheshire |
| 1995–96 | 10 | Birchfield | Southport | Multiple teams | Lancashire South |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### South Lancs/Cheshire 2 (1996–2000)

The league system was restructured from top to bottom by the Rugby Football Union for the start of the 1996–97 season. Firstly, as part of the reorganisation of the Cheshire and Lancashire leagues, the two regional divisions Cheshire and Lancashire were merged back into a single division called South/Lancs Cheshire 2. The cancellation of National 5 North and creation of North West 3 meant that South Lancs/Cheshire 2 was a tier 11 league, with promotion to South/Lancs Cheshire 1 (formerly Cheshire/Lancs South) and relegation to the newly formed South Lancs/Cheshire 3 (previously North-West West 3).
South Lancs/Cheshire 2 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 1996–97 | 10 | Southport | Crewe & Nantwich | Port Sunlight, Hotlake |
| 1997–98 | 10 | Wallasley | Birchfield | Didsbury TOC, Old Parkonians |
| 1998–99 | 9 | Dukinfield | Crosby St. Mary's | Oxton Parkonians |
| 1999–00 | 10 | Ellesmere Port | Moore | Prenton, Bowdon, Ruskin Park |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### South Lancs/Cheshire 2 (2000–2015)

Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999-2000 season saw the cancellation of North West 1, North West 2 and North West 3 (tiers 7-9). This meant that South/Lancs Cheshire 2 became a tier 8 league. At the end of 2014–15 season South Lancs/Cheshire 2 and South Lancs/Cheshire 3 were discontinued and all teams were transferred into Cheshire (South), Lancashire (North) or Merseyside (West).
South Lancs/Cheshire 2 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2000–01 | 12 | Dukinfield | Ormskirk | Newton-le-Willows |
| 2001–02 | 12 | Wirral | Southport | Crosby St Mary's, Wallasey |
| 2002–03 | 12 | Anselmians | Bowdon | Runcorn, Trentham |
| 2003–04 | 12 | Hoylake | Sandbach | Moore, St Edward's Old Boys |
| 2004–05 | 11 | Anselmians | Oldershaw | Ellesmere Port, Ashton-on-Mersey |
| 2005–06 | 12 | Sale FC | Dukinfield | Southport, Manchester Wanderers |
| 2006–07 | 11 | Ruskin Park | Wigan | St Edward's Old Boys |
| 2007–08 | 12 | Dukinfield | Ormskirk | Oldershaw, Liverpool Collegiate |
| 2008–09 | 12 | Anselmians | Warrington | No relegation |
| 2009–10 | 13 | Liverpool Collegiate | Ashton-on-Mersey | Crewe and Nantwich |
| 2010–11 | 14 | Orrell | Warrington | Holmes Chapel, Wallasey |
| 2011–12 | 14 | Ruskin Park | Crewe and Nantwich | Ellesmere Port, Trentham |
| 2012–13 | 14 | Sefton | Douglas | Buxton, Oldershaw |
| 2013–14 | 14 | Manchester Medics | Bowdon | Wallasey, Ramsey |
| 2014–15 | 14 | Liverpool Collegiate | Tyldesley | Ashton-on-Mersey, Trentham |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### South Lancs/Cheshire 2 (2016–2018)

After just one season Cheshire (South) and Merseyside (West) were discontinued and South Lancs/Cheshire 2 and South Lancs/Cheshire 3 reinstated for the 2016–17 seasons with all clubs transferred back into these divisions.
South Lancs/Cheshire 2 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2016–17 | 12 | Tyldesley | Hoylake | No relegation |
| 2017–18 | 12 | Winnington Park | Liverpool Collegiate | Oldershaw, Vagabonds |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Lancs/Cheshire 2 (2018–present)

A further restructure for the 2018–19 season saw South Lancs/Cheshire 2 renamed to Lancs/Cheshire 2. The cancellation of South Lancs/Cheshire 3 at the end of the 2019–20 season meant that there was no longer relegation, although promotion still continued to Lancs/Cheshire 1. The introduction of North 2 West for the 2019–20 season saw Lancs/Cheshire drop to become a tier 9 league.
South Lancs/Cheshire 2 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2018–19 | 11 | Aspull | Eccles | Oswestry, Port Sunlight |
| 2019–20 | 9 | Port Sunlight | Vagabonds | No relegation |
| 2020–21 | 9 | |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Number of league titles

* Anselmians (5)
* Dukinfield (3)
* Liverpool Collegiate (2)
* Port Sunlight (2)
* Ruskin Park (2)
* Sefton (2)
* Aspull (1)
* Birchfield (1)
* Congleton (1)
* Didsbury Toc H (1)
* Ellesmere Port (1)
* Hoylake (1)
* Manchester Medics (1)
* Newton-le-Willows (1)
* Old Instonians (1)
* Oldershaw (1)
* Orrell (1)
* Sale FC (1)
* Southport (1)
* St. Mary's Old Boys (1)
* Tyldesley (1)
* Vagabonds (1)
* Vulcan (1)
* Wallasley (1)
* Winnington Park (1)
* Wirral (1)