# Counties 3 Hampshire

Counties 3 Hampshire (formerly Hampshire 1) is an English level 9 Rugby Union league for teams based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Up until the 2017–18 season it was known as Hampshire 2 but was changed to Hampshire 1 following the restructuring of the Hampshire leagues, which would see the re-introduction of a third division as well as 2nd and 3rd XV sides joining for the first time. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name Counties 3 Hampshire.
Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
Promoted teams move up to Counties 2 Hampshire. Relegated teams drop down to Counties 4 Hampshire.
The points system is as follows.
* 4 points awarded for a win.
* 2 points awarded for a draw.
* 0 points awarded for a loss.
* 1 "bonus" (+) point awarded for scoring 4 tries (or more).
* 1 "bonus" (+) point awarded for losing by 7 points (or fewer).
No team can get more than 5 points in a match. Points awarded are the same regardless of the outcome at home or away.

## Teams for 2024-25

Departing were Havant III, Isle Of Wight and Fareham Heathans, all promoted to Counties 2 Hampshire. Alresford were relegated to Counties 4 Hampshire.
Joining were Tottonians II, relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire and Southampton, promoted from Counties 4A Hampshire.
With four teams departing and two joining the league was reduced from twelve to ten sides.

## Teams for 2023-24

Departing were Guernsey Vikings, Locksheath Pumas and Winchester II, all promoted to Counties 2 Hampshire, whilst Gosport & Fareham II (12th) were relegated to Counties 4 Hampshire.
Joining were Alresford and Eastleigh II, relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire together with Christchurch and Aldershot & Fleet, promoted from Counties 4A Hampshire.

## Teams for 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 3 Hampshire.
Departing were Tottonians II and United Services Portsmouth, promoted to Counties 2 Hampshire. Fawley (3rd) did not return for the new season.
Joining were Havant III, Andover II and Winchester II, all promoted from Hampshire 2, together with Locksheath Pumas, relegated from Hampshire Premier, and Guernsey Vikings

## Teams for 2021-22

Lockheath Pumas RFC finished 4th in 2019-20, but were promoted to Hampshire Premier for the current season, their place was taken by US Portsmouth who had withdrawn from London 3 South West in season 2019-20.
Farnborough who, were relegated from Hampshire Premier (12th) in 2019-20, fulfilled their early fixtures but subsequently withdrew from the league in November 2021.
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.

## 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 Hampshire 1 was not contested.

## Participating Clubs 2016-17

* Aldershot & Fleet
* Alresford
* Alton
* Fawley
* Kingsclere
* Loxheath Pumas (relegated from Hampshire 1)
* Lymington Mariners
* Nomads
* Overton
* Southampton

## Participating Clubs 2015-2016

* Aldershot & Fleet
* Alresford
* Alton (relegated from Hampshire 1)
* Fawley
* Kingsclere
* Nomads
* Overton
* Romsey (relegated from Hampshire 1)
* Southampton
* Ventnor

## Participating Clubs 2014-2015

* Aldershot & Fleet
* Alresford
* Chineham
* Fawley
* Locksheath Pumas
* Kingsclere
* Overton (relegated from Hampshire 1)
* Southampton (relegated from Hampshire 1)
* Southsea Nomads
* Ventnor

## Participating Clubs 2013-14

| Position | Team | Games | Won | Drew | Lost | Points |
| 1 | Petersfield | 18 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 80 |
| 2 | Fareham Heathens | 18 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 70 |
| 3 | Locksheath Pumas | 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 64 |
| 4 | Ventnor | 18 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 60 |
| 5 | Fawley | 18 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 53 |
| 6 | Chineham | 18 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 49 |
| 7 | Southsea Nomads | 18 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 36 |
| 8 | Aldershot & Fleet | 18 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 11 |
| 9 | Stoneham | 18 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 5 |
| 10 | Alresford | 18 | 2 | 0 | 14 | -3 |
Petersfield and Fareham Heathens promoted into Hampshire 1 at the end of the season.

## Participating Clubs 2012-13

* Alresford
* Chineham
* Fareham Heathens
* Fawley
* Locksheath Pumas
* Lymington Mariners
* Nomads (relegated from Hampshire 1)
* Overton
* Solent University
* Stoneham
* Ventnor (relegated from Hampshire 1)

## Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Hampshire 2) contained the following teams:
* Andover
* Ellingham & Ringwood
* Fordingbridge
* Guernsey
* Nomads
* Overton
* Pegasus Palmerians
* Romsey
* Ventnor
* Waterlooville

## Hampshire 1 honours
### Hampshire 2 (1987–1993)

Originally known as Hampshire 2, it was tier 9 league with promotion up to Hampshire 1 and as it was the lowest league level in the region, there was no relegation.
Hampshire 2 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 1987–88 | 10 | Fordingbridge | Guernsey | No relegation |
| 1988–89 | 10 | Petersfield | Andover | No relegation |
| 1989–90 | 13 | Isle Of Wight | Farnborough | No relegation |
| 1990–91 | 12 | Tottonians | Fareham Heathens | No relegation |
| 1991–92 | 11 | New Milton & District | Farnborough | No relegation |
| 1992–93 | 12 | Trojans | Romsey | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Hampshire 2 (1993–1996)

The creation of National 5 South meant that Hampshire 2 dropped from a tier 9 league to a tier 10 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to Hampshire 1, while the introduction of Hampshire 3 ahead of the 1994–95 season meant that there was now relegation.
Hampshire 2 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 1993–94 | 12 | Esso | Guernsey | Multiple teams |
| 1994–95 | 7 | Andover | Fordingbridge | Overton, AC Delco |
| 1995–96 | 7 | Ventnor | Isle Of Wight | Fleet |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Hampshire 2 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Hampshire 2 reverted to being a tier 9 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Hampshire 1 and Hampshire 3 respectively.
Hampshire 2 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 1996–97 | 12 | Overton | New Milton & District | Alresford |
| 1997–98 | 9 | Ventnor | Trojans | No relegation |
| 1998–99 | 8 | Romsey | New Milton & District | Fordingbridge |
| 1999–00 | 9 | Sandown & Shanklin | Hamble | Stoneham, Chineham |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Hampshire 2 (2000–2009)

The introduction of London 4 South West ahead of the 2000–01 season meant Hampshire 2 dropped to become a tier 10 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Hampshire 1 and Hampshire 3 respectively.
Hampshire 2 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2000–01 | 9 | Fareham Heathens | Nomads | Team Solent |
| 2001–02 | 10 | New Milton & District | Eastleigh | Overton, Kingsclere |
| 2002–03 | 9 | Isle Of Wight | Fawley | East Dorset, Ventnor |
| 2003–04 | 8 | Alresford | Nomads | Kingsclere, Overton |
| 2004–05 | 8 | Aldershot & Fleet | Ellingham & Ringwood | Lytchett Minster, Fawley |
| 2005–06 | 9 | Farnborough | Eastleigh | Locksheath Pumas, Kingsclere, Ventnor |
| 2006–07 | 9 | East Dorset | Fordingbridge | Alresford, Fawley |
| 2007–08 | 9 | Eastleigh | Romsey | Chineham, Ventnor |
| 2008–09 | 8 | Aldershot & Fleet | Fareham Heathens | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Hampshire 2 (2009–2018)

Hampshire 2 remained a tier 10 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to Hampshire 1 and there was no relegation due to the cancellation of Hampshire 3 at the end of the 2008–09 season.
Hampshire 2 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2009–10 | 12 | Isle Of Wight | Ventnor | No relegation |
| 2010–11 | 9 | Nomads | Lytchett Minster | No relegation |
| 2011–12 | 10 | Southampton | Aldershot & Fleet | No relegation |
| 2012–13 | 11 | Team Solent | Overton | No relegation |
| 2013–14 | 10 | Petersfield | Fareham Heathens | No relegation |
| 2014–15 | 10 | Locksheath Pumas | Chineham | No relegation |
| 2015–16 | 10 | Romsey | Ventnor | No relegation |
| 2016–17 | 10 | Alresford | Overton | No relegation |
| 2017–18 | 9 | Farnborough | Romsey | Multiple teams |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Hampshire 1 (2018–present)

Restructuring of the Hampshire leagues saw Hampshire 2 renamed as Hampshire 1. It remained a tier 10 league with promotion to Hampshire Premier (formerly Hampshire 1) and relegation returned to the newly introduced Hampshire 2 (formerly Hampshire 3).
Hampshire 1 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2018–19 | 10 | Alton | Ellingham & Ringwood | Andover II |
| 2019–20 | 12 | Chichester II | Overton | Southampton |
| 2020–21 | 12 | | | |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Number of league titles

* Isle Of Wight (3)
* Aldershot & Fleet (2)
* Alresford (2)
* Farnborough (2)
* New Milton & District (2)
* Petersfield (2)
* Romsey (2)
* Ventnor (2)
* Alton (1)
* Andover (1)
* Chichester II (1)
* East Dorset (1)
* Eastleigh (1)
* Esso (1)
* Fareham Heathens (1)
* Fordingbridge (1)
* Locksheath Pumas (1)
* Nomads (1)
* Overton (1)
* Sandown & Shanklin (1)
* Southampton (1)
* Team Solent (1)
* Tottonians (1)
* Trojans (1)