# Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex

Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex (formerly Herts/Middlesex 1) is a tier 9 English Rugby Union league. It is organised by the London and South East Division Rugby Football Union for clubs in Hertfordshire and parts of north-west London that traditionally was encompassed by the historic county of Middlesex. Promotion is to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex relegation is to the Middlesex RFU merit leagues.
Historically the league was a level 8 league but following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it became a level 9 competition and adopted its current name Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex.

## Participating clubs 2024–25

Departing were UCS Old Boys and Verulamians promoted to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex. Three clubs did not return for the new campaign - Bank Lane (9th) disbanded in Summer 2024 and merged with London Cornish RFC, Berkhamsted (10th) joined Herts RFU Merit South 1 and Uxbridge (13th) dropped to Middlesex RFU Merit 2. Joining were Mill Hill who re-entered the RFU league system for the first time since 2021–22.
Hendon began their league campaign but withdrew in October to join the Middlesex RFU Merit leagues leaving only 9 teams to complete the season.

## Participating clubs 2023–24

Departing were Old Millhillians and Brunel University promoted to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.
Joining were Royston, relegated from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex, together with Berkhamsted, Stevenage and Finsbury Park.

## Participating clubs 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex.
Returning were five of the ten teams from the previous season. Bank of England RFC changed their name to Bank Lane RFC during Summer 2022.
Departing were the top five from the previous season - London Scottish Lions, Barnet Elizabethans, Ealing Trailfinders 1871, Wasps FC and Saracens Amateurs - all promoted to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.
Joining were Old Millhillians, Brunel University, Watford, Uxbridge, Chess Valley and UCS Old Boys, all promoted.

## Participating clubs 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.

## 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 Herts/Middlesex 1 was not contested.

## Participating clubs 2016–17

* Barnet Elizabethans
* Hendon (promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2)
* Hillingdon Abbots
* London French
* London Welsh Amateur
* Old Actonians (relegated from London 3 North West)
* Old Streetonians
* Royston
* Saracens Amateurs (promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2)
* U.C.S. Old Boys
* Old Verulamians
* Wasps (relegated from London 3 North West)

## Participating clubs 2015–16

* Bank of England
* Barnet Elizabethans
* Cheshunt
* Hillingdon Abbots (promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2)
* London French (promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2)
* London Welsh Amateurs
* Old Millhillnians
* Old Streetonians (relegated from London 3 North West)
* Royston
* U.C.S. Old Boys (relegated from London 3 North West)
* Verulamians

## Participating clubs 2014–15

* Bank of England
* Barnet Elizabethans
* Cheshunt
* Feltham (promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2)
* Haringey Rhinos
* Kilburn Cosmos
* London Nigerian (relegated from London 3 North West)
* London Welsh Amateurs (relegated from London 3 North West)
* Old Actonians
* Old Millhillians
* Royston
* Verulamians

## Participating clubs 2013–14

* Bank of England
* Barnet Elizabethans (relegated from London 3 North West)
* Belsize Park
* Cheshunt (relegated from London 3 North West)
* Hackney
* Haringey Rhinos (relegated from London 3 North West)
* Imperial Medicals (relegated from London 3 North West)
* Kilburn Cosmos
* Old Actonians
* Old Millhillians
* Royston
* Verulamians

## Participating clubs 2012–13

* Bank Of England
* Belsize Park
* Hackney
* Harlequin Amateurs
* Harrow
* Hendon
* London Welsh Amateurs
* Old Actonians
* Old Merchant Taylors'
* Old Millhillians
* Verulamians
* West London

## Participating clubs 2009–10

* Harlequin Amateurs
* Hackney
* Hendon
* Old Ashmoleians
* Verulamians
* Old Actonians
* Old Priorians
* Saracens Amateurs
* Wasps

## Original teams

When this division was created in 1992 (as Herts/Middlesex) it contained the following teams:
* Antlers - promoted from Middlesex 2 (runners up)
* Centaurs - promoted from Middlesex 1 (5th)
* Haringey Rhinos - promoted from Middlesex 1 (3rd)
* Harrow - promoted from Middlesex 1 (4th)
* Hitchin - promoted from Hertfordshire 1 (3rd)
* Hemel Hempstead - relegated from London 3 North West (10th)
* Hendon - promoted from Middlesex 1 (8th)
* London New Zealand - promoted from Middlesex 1 (6th)
* Old Meadonians - promoted from Middlesex 2 (champions)
* Stevenage Town - promoted from Hertfordshire 1 (3rd)
* St. Mary's Hospital - relegated from London 3 North West (11th)
* Twickenham - promoted from Middlesex 1 (9th)
* Uxbridge - promoted from Middlesex 1 (7th)

## Herts/Middlesex 1 honours
### Herts/Middlesex (1992–93)

Originally known as Herts/Middlesex, this division was a tier 8 league with promotion to London 3 North West and relegation to either Hertfordshire 1 or Middlesex 1. The introduction of National 5 South ahead of the 1993–94 season meant that Herts/Middlesex dropped to become a tier 9 league.
Herts/Middlesex :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 1992–93 | 13 | Old Meadonians | London New Zealand | Stevenage Town, Twickenham |
| 1993–94 | 13 | Barnet | Old Millhillians | Antlers, Harrow |
| 1994–95 | 13 | Mill Hill | Fullerians | Harpenden, Hitchin |
| 1995–96 | 13 | Hampstead | Haringey Rhinos | London New Zealand, Upper Clapton |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Herts/Middlesex 1 (1996–2000)

Restructuring of the leagues by the RFU, which included the cancellation of National 5 South and the merging of the Hertfordshire and Middlesex regional divisions, meant that Herts/Middlesex was renamed as Herts/Middlesex 1 and was once again a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to London 3 North West, while relegation was now to the new Herts/Middlesex 2.
Herts/Middlesex 1 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 1996–97 | 13 | Harpenden | St Albans | No relegation |
| 1997–98 | 16 | Twickenham | London Nigerian | Centaurs, Hendon, Wembley |
| 1998–99 | 14 | Imperial Medicals | Hemel Hempstead | No relegation |
| 1999–00 | 15 | Bank Of England | London New Zealand | Multiple teams |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Herts/Middlesex 1 (2000–2009)

The introduction of London 4 North West ahead of the 2000–01 season meant Herts/Middlesex 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division. Relegation continued to Herts/Middlesex 2.
Herts/Middlesex 1 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2000–01 | 10 | Richmond | London Scottish | No relegation |
| 2001–02 | 10 | CS Rugby 1863 | Old Hamptonians | Mill Hill, Uxbridge |
| 2002–03 | 10 | Haringey Rhinos | Enfield Ignatians | Feltham |
| 2003–04 | 9 | Tring | Stevenage Town | Chiswick |
| 2004–05 | 10 | Hitchin | Hammersmith & Fulham | Chess Valley, Hemel Hempstead, Old Actonians |
| 2005–06 | 10 | Finchley | U.C.S. Old Boys | Old Grammarians, Old Millhillians |
| 2006–07 | 10 | Hemel Hempstead | Old Ashmoleans | Harlequin Amateurs, Mill Hill, Cheshunt |
| 2007–08 | 10 | Chiswick | Old Merchant Taylors' Lambs (2nd XV) | No relegation |
| 2008–09 | 10 | Cheshunt | Old Streetonians | Old Millhillians |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Herts/Middlesex 1 (2009–present)

Herts/Middlesex 1 remained a tier 9 league despite national league restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to London 3 North West (formerly London 4 North West) and relegation to Herts/Middlesex 2.
Herts/Middlesex 1 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2009–10 | 10 | Wasps Amateurs | Old Haberdashers | Hillingdon Abbots |
| 2010–11 | 12 | H.A.C. | London Welsh Amateurs | Kilburn Cosmos, Old Grammarians |
| 2011–12 | 10 | Wasps Amateurs | Old Priorians | Saracens Amateurs, Hendon, Harlequin Amateurs |
| 2012–13 | 11 | Harrow | Old Merchant Taylors' | West London, Hendon, London Welsh Amateurs |
| 2013–14 | 12 | Hackney | Belsize Park | Imperial Medicals |
| 2014–15 | 12 | Old Actonians | London Nigerian | Feltham, Haringey Rhinos |
| 2015–16 | 12 | Kilburn Cosmos | Cheshunt | Old Millhillians, Bank Of England |
| 2016–17 | 11 | Verulamians | Old Streetonians | Hillingdon Abbots RFC |
| 2017–18 | 12 | London Welsh | Royston | London French, Watford |
| 2018–19 | 12 | Hitchin | Finsbury Park | Staines, Old Actonians |
| 2019–20 | 10 | Hendon | St Albans | Mill Hill |
| 2020–21 | 10 | | | |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Number of league titles

* Chiswick (2)
* Hitchin (2)
* Wasps Amateurs (2)
* Bank Of England (1)
* Barnet (1)
* Cheshunt (1)
* CS Rugby 1863 (1)
* Finchley (1)
* H.A.C. (1)
* Hackney (1)
* Hampstead (1)
* Haringey Rhinos (1)
* Harpenden (1)
* Harrow (1)
* Hemel Hempstead (1)
* Hendon (1)
* Imperial Medicals (1)
* Kilburn Cosmos (1)
* London Welsh (1)
* Mill Hill (1)
* Old Actonians (1)
* Richmond (1)
* Tring (1)
* Twickenham (1)
* Verulamians (1)