# Sussex 3

Sussex 3 (known as Sussex Oranjeboom Division 3 for sponsorship reasons) is an English level 11 Rugby Union League. It is run by the Sussex Rugby Football Union and was originally for teams predominantly from West Sussex until a division reorganization for the 2016-17 meant that clubs from East Sussex would also take part. Promoted teams move up to Sussex 2 while relegated teams drop down to either Sussex Asahi Division 4 East or Sussex Late Red Division 4 West depending on geography. Sussex Oranjeboom 2 West was introduced in 2010–11 and is the equivalent to former division Sussex 3 which had its last season in 2003–04. It changed to its current name of Sussex Oranjeboom Division 3 in 2016–17.

## Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
* Arun
* Brighton Polytechnic
* Ditchling
* Sunallon
* Midhurst
* Newick
* Pulborough
* Robin Hood

## Sussex 3 honours
### Sussex 3 (1987–1992)

The original Sussex 3 was a tier 10 league with promotion up to Sussex 1 and there was no relegation down as it was the lowest level of the league system. The division was cancelled at the end of the 1991–92 season.
Sussex 3 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 1987–88 | 8 | Old Brightonian | RMP Chichester | No relegation |
| 1988–89 | 7 | Pulborough | Brighton Polytechnic | No relegation |
| 1989–90 | 6 | Ditchling | West Sussex Institute | No relegation |
| 1990–91 | 5 | BA Wingspan | Newick | No relegation |
| 1991–92 | 4 | Sunallon | Plumpton | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Sussex 3 (1994-1996)

After an absence of two years, Sussex 3 was reintroduced for the 1994–95 season as a tier 11 league. Promotion was to Sussex 2 and there was no relegation due to Sussex 3 being the lowest level in the league system.
Sussex 3 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 1994–95 | 5 | Rye | Shoreham | No relegation |
| 1995–96 | 6 | Sussex Police | Plumpton | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Sussex 3 (1996-2000)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Sussex 3 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Sussex 2 and there was no relegation. Sussex 3 was cancelled for the second time at the end of the 1999–00 season, with the majority of teams transferred into the new Sussex 2 East or Sussex 2 West (formerly a single Sussex 2 division).
Sussex 3 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 1996–97 | 6 | Shoreham | Rye | No relegation |
| 1997–98 | 6 | Chichester IHE | Robertsbridge | No relegation |
| 1998–99 | 6 | Plumpton | Sussex Police | No relegation |
| 1999–00 | 6 | Rye | St. Francis | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Sussex 3 (2002-2004)

After an absence of two years, Sussex 3 returned for the 2002–03 season, now as a tier 11 league. Promotion was to Sussex 2 and there was no relegation. After just two seasons, Sussex 3 was cancelled for the third time in its history.
Sussex 3 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2002–03 | 6 | Old Brightonian | Ditchling | No relegation |
| 2003–04 | 6 | Ditchling | Plumpton | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Sussex 2 East / Sussex 2 West (2010–2016)

Sussex 3 was reintroduced for the 2010–11 season in the form of two regional divisions - Sussex "Asahi" 2 East and Sussex "Oranjeboom" 2 West - both sitting at tier 11 of the league system. Promotion was to Sussex Canterbury Jack Intermediate (renamed back to Sussex 2 for the 2015–16 season onward) and relegation to either Sussex 3 East or Sussex 3 West.
Sussex 2 East / Sussex 2 West :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name |
| 2010–11 | 8 | Uckfield II | Ditchling | Heathfield & Waldron IV | Sussex 2 East |
| 2010–11 | 11 | Midhurst | Littlehampton | Brighton III, Worthing Senior I | Sussex 2 West |
| 2011–12 | 10 | Hellingly | Hastings & Bexhill II | Haywards Heath III, Hove V, Eastbourne III | Sussex 2 East |
| 2011–12 | 10 | Horley | Hove IV | Bognor III, Holbrook II | Sussex 2 West |
| 2012–13 | 8 | East Grinstead III | Heathfield & Waldron III | Newick II, Rye 2nd XV | Sussex 2 East |
| 2012–13 | 10 | Horsham II | Worthing Senior I | Shoreham II (Veterans) | Sussex 2 West |
| 2013–14 | 9 | Eastbourne II | Burgess Hill II | Lewes III | Sussex 2 East |
| 2013–14 | 9 | Bognor II | Sussex Police | No relegation | Sussex 2 West |
| 2014–15 | 12 | Uckfield II | Plumpton | Worthing Senior III | Sussex 2 East |
| 2014–15 | 12 | Pulborough II | Norfolk Arms | Shoreham II (Veterans) | Sussex 2 West |
| 2015–16 | 10 | Newick | Hastings & Bexhill II | Lewes II | Sussex 2 East |
| 2015–16 | 11 | Barns Green | Brighton III | Burgess Hill III | Sussex 2 West |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Sussex 3 (2016–onward)

For the 2016–17 season, Sussex 3 was remerged back into a single division at tier 11 of the league system. Promotion was to Sussex 2 and relegation to Sussex 4.
Sussex 3 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2016–17 | 12 | Hastings & Bexhill II | Plumpton | Norfolk Arms |
| 2017–18 | 12 | |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Number of league titles

* Ditchling (2)
* Old Brightonian (2)
* Rye (2)
* Uckfield II (2)
* BA Wingspan (1)
* Barns Green (1)
* Bognor II (1)
* Chichester IHE (1)
* East Grinstead III (1)
* Eastbourne II (1)
* Hellingly (1)
* Horley (1)
* Horsham II (1)
* Midhurst (1)
* Newick (1)
* Plumpton (1)
* Pulborough (1)
* Pulborough II (1)
* Shoreham (1)
* Sunallon (1)
* Sussex Police (1)