# 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 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

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

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

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review 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

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

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced 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 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
* 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. | No relegation |
| 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 | No relegation |
| 1997–98 | 14 | Midland Bank | Tonbridge | No relegation |
| 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 | 14 | New Ash Green | Old Elthamians | No relegation | Kent 2 East |
| 1998–99 | 4 | Greenwich | Dartford Valley | No relegation | Kent 2 West |
| 1999–00 | 8 | Aylesford Bulls | Sittingbourne | Multiple teams | Kent 2 East |
| 1999–00 | 9 | Erith | Dartford Valley | Multiple teams | 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 | 9 | Ashford | Erith | No relegation |
| 2001–02 | 10 | Aylesford Bulls | Sheppey | Dartford Valley, HSBC, Dover |
| 2002–03 | 10 | Old Elthamians | Sittingbourne | Brockleians, Bexley |
| 2003–04 | 9 | Park House | Dover | No relegation |
| 2004–05 | 10 | Brockleians | New Ash Green | Dartford Valley |
| 2005–06 | 9 | Old Gravesendians | Sheppey | Medway, Bexley |
| 2006–07 | 8 | Erith | Old Olavians | New Ash Green, Orpington, Shooters Hill |
| 2007–08 | 8 | Medway | Cranbrook | No relegation |
| 2008–09 | 10 | 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 | 10 | Lordswood | New Ash Green | No relegation |
| 2010–11 | 11 | Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital | Shooters Hill | No relegation |
| 2011–12 | 9 | King's College Hospital | Southwark Lancers | No relegation |
| 2012–13 | 11 | Old Williamsonians | Footscray | No relegation |
| 2013–14 | 10 | Bexley | Lordswood | No relegation |
| 2014–15 | 10 | New Ash Green | Brockleians | No relegation |
| 2015–16 | 12 | Sittingbourne | Snowdown C.W. | No relegation |
| 2016–17 | 13 | Old Gravesendians | Royal Bank of Scotland | No relegation |
| 2017–18 | 9 | Whitstable | Footscray | No relegation |
| 2018–19 | 9 | Cliffe Crusaders | Faversham | No relegation |
| 2019–20 | 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)