Sussex 1

Sussex 1 (known as Harvey's of Sussex 1 due to sponsorship reasons) is an English level 9 Rugby Union League.[1] It is made up of teams predominantly from Sussex. Teams play home and away matches from September through to April. The league champions are automatically promoted up to London 3 South East, while the second placed team plays a promotion playoff against the second placed team from Shepherd Neame Kent 1. Relegated teams drop to Sussex Canterbury Jack Division 2 although in recent season there has been no relegation. Only 1st XV sides can be promoted into London 3 South East.

Sussex 1
Current season or competition:
2019–20 Sussex 1
SportRugby union
Number of teams9
Country England
HoldersCrawley (3rd title) (2019–20)
(promoted to London 3 South East))
Most titlesUckfield (4 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

The system from 2017-18 sees the eight team league play home and away games against each team in the league (14 games each) up until February when the league splits into two mini leagues of 4 teams (Sussex 1A and Sussex 1B) based on league ranking. Each team then a further 6 games against teams in their group (home and away) with the teams in the promotion group (1A) playing off for the title, and the teams in the relegation group (1B) playing to avoid the drop. Note that points from the first stage are carried into the second.

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 2019-20

Teams for 2018-19

Teams for 2017-18

Teams for 2016-17

Teams for 2015-16

Teams for 2014-15

Teams for 2012-13

Sussex Spitfire 1 Honours
Sussex Spitfire 1 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams League Name
1998–99[2]9HoveCrowboroughBurgess Hill, Ditchling, Old BrightonianSussex 1
1999–00[3]8BognorCrowboroughNo relegation[a 1]Sussex 1
2000–01[4]10UckfieldHastings & BexhillHolbrook, Newick, SeafordSussex 1
2001–02[5]10ChichesterHeathfield & WaldronSt Francis, Sussex PoliceSussex 1
2002–03[6]9UckfieldHastings & BexhillChichester IHE, HellinglySussex 1
2003–04[7]10HoveHastings & BexhillRye, Norfolk ArmsSussex 1
2004–05[8]8HorshamHastings & BexhillNo relegation[a 2]Sussex 1
2005–06[9]9CrowboroughHastings & BexhillHellingly[a 3]Sussex 1
2006–07[10]10Hastings & BexhillHorshamPlumpton[a 4]Sussex 1
2007–08[11]9Heathfield & WaldronEast GrinsteadBurgess Hill, Hellingly[a 5]Sussex 1
2008–09[12]11BrightonUckfieldNo relegationSussex 1
2009–10[13]12CrawleyUckfieldLewes IISussex Spitfire 1
2010–11[14]12UckfieldBurgess HillSt Francis, Worthing IIISussex Spitfire 1
2011–12[15]10PulboroughEast Grinstead II, Burgess Hill (3rd)[a 6]Eastbourne II[a 7]Sussex Spitfire 1
2012–13[16]12Burgess HillEastbourneMidhurst, NewickSussex Spitfire 1
2013–14[17]12PulboroughCrawleyLewes II, Haywards Heath IISussex Spitfire 1
2014–15[18]12EastbourneBurgess HillHolbrook, RyeSussex Spitfire 1
2015–16[19]12LewesHaywards HeathCrowborough II, MidhurstSussex Spitfire 1
2016–17[20]10[a 8]CrawleyUckfieldHorsham II, Brighton IISussex Spitfire 1
2017–18[21][22]8HellinglyUckfieldBarns GreenHarvey's of Sussex 1
2018–19[23][24]8UckfieldCrawleyNo relegationHarvey's of Sussex 1
2019–209CrawleyEast GrinsteadNo relegationHarvey's of Sussex 1
2020–219Harvey's of Sussex 1
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Shepherd Neame Kent 1 and Sussex Spitfire 1 for the third and final promotion place to London 3 South East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the Shepherd Neame Kent 1 teams have been the most successful with fourteen wins to the Sussex Spitfire 1 teams five; and the home team has won promotion on eleven occasions compared to the away teams eight.

Shepherd Neame Kent 1 v Sussex Spitfire 1 promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[25]Hastings & Bexhill (S)12-29Betteshanger (K)William Parker Lower School, Hastings, East Sussex
2001–02[26]Heathfield & Waldron (S)25-12Whitstable (K)Hardy Roberts Recreational Ground, Cross In Hand, Heathfield, East Sussex
2002–03[27]Ashford (K)10-0Hastings & Bexhill (S)Canterbury Road, Ashford, Kent
2003–04[28]Hastings & Bexhill (S)13-21Old Elthamians (K)William Parker Lower School, Hastings, East Sussex
2004–05[29]Hastings & Bexhill (S)0-22Sittingbourne (K)William Parker Lower School, Hastings, East Sussex
2005–06[30]Hastings & Bexhill (S)17-18Ashford (K)William Parker Lower School, Hastings, East Sussex
2006–07[31]Horsham (S)33-7Park House (K)Coolhurst Ground, Horsham, West Sussex
2007–08[32]Old Gravesendians (K)8-14East Grinstead (S)Fleetway Sports Ground, Gravesend, Kent
2008–09[33]Old Gravesendians (K)10-5Uckfield (S)Fleetway Sports Ground, Gravesend, Kent300
2009–10[34]Uckfield (S)19-21Cranbrook (K)Hempstead Playing Fields, Uckfield, East Sussex
2010–11[35]Sheppey (K)42-10Burgess Hill (S)Stupple Field, Minster, Kent500
2011–12[36]Vigo (K)10-7Burgess Hill (S)[a 9]Swanswood Field, Meopham, Kent400
2012–13[37]Eastbourne (S)0-47Beccehamian (K)Park Avenue, Eastbourne, East Sussex
2013–14[38]Crawley (S)22-41Hastings & Bexhill (K)Willoughby Fields Pavilion, Crawley, West Sussex
2014–15[39]Burgess Hill (S)26-23Sheppey (K)Southway Recreation Ground, Burgess Hill, West Sussex
2015–16[40]Haywards Heath (S)13-8Old Williamsonians (K)Whitemans Green, Cuckfield, West Sussex
2016–17[41]Old Williamsonians (K)20-17Uckfield (S)Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Rochester, Kent
2017–18[42]Vigo (K)31-17Uckfield (S)Swanswood Field, Meopham, Kent
2018–19[43]Gillingham Anchorians (K)23-21Crawley (S)Darland Banks, Gillingham, Kent
2019–20Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Cranbrook (K) - promoted instead.
2020–21
Green background is the promoted team. K = Shepherd Neame Kent 1 and S = Sussex 1

Number of league titles
  • Uckfield (4)
  • Crawley (3)
  • Hove (2)
  • Pulborough (2)
  • Bognor (1)
  • Brighton (1)
  • Burgess Hill (1)
  • Chichester (1)
  • Crowborough (1)
  • Eastbourne (1)
  • Hastings & Bexhill (1)
  • Heathfield & Waldron (1)
  • Hellingly (1)
  • Horsham (1)
  • Lewes (1)

See also

Notes
  1. No relegation as Sussex 3 would be abolished at the end of the season leading to the Sussex league being restructured and Sussex 1 increasing from 8 to 10 teams.
  2. No relegation as Sussex 2 and Sussex 3 would be abolished at the end of the season. Sussex 2 and 3's equivalents would reappearing in 2010-11 as Sussex Canterbury Jack Intermediate and the Asahi 2 East/Oranjeboom 2 West respectively.
  3. Hellingly drop out of league by season's end.
  4. Plumpton drop out of league by season's end.
  5. Burgess Hill and Hellingly drop out of league by season's end.
  6. Despite finishing 2nd East Grinstead II were not able to take part in the 2011-12 promotion playoff due to the East Grinstead first team being in the division above. This meant that 3rd placed Burgess Hill went into the playoff game instead.
  7. Despite finishing 2nd Eastbourne II were relegated as Eastbourne first team would drop down to division.
  8. A number of teams (mostly 2nd teams) would withdraw prior to the 2016-17 season.
  9. Despite finishing 3rd in the league Burgess Hill took 2nd placed East Grinstead II place in the 2011-12 promotion playoff as East Grinstead's first team were in the division above.

References
  1. "League Make up". Sussex Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 12 January 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  2. "1998-1999 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  3. "1999-2000 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  4. "2000-2001 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  5. "1998-1999 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  6. "2002-2003 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  7. "2003-2004 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  8. "2004-2005 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  9. "2005-2006 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  10. "2006-2007 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  11. "2007-2008 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  12. "2008-2009 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  13. "2009-2010 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  14. "2010-2011 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  15. "2011-2012 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  16. "2012-2013 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  17. "2013-2014 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  18. "1998-1999 London South East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  19. "2015-2016 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  20. "2016-2017 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  21. "2017-2018 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  22. "2017-2018 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  23. "2018-2019 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  24. "2018-2019 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  25. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2000-01". England Rugby. 19 May 2001.
  26. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2001-02". England Rugby. 27 April 2002.
  27. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2002-03". England Rugby. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  28. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2003-04". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  29. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2004-05". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  30. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2005-06". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  31. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2006-07". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  32. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2007-08". England Rugby. 27 April 2008.
  33. "Old Gravesendians 10-5 Uckfield". News Shopper. 28 April 2009.
  34. "Cranes in stunning fightback". This is Kent. 23 April 2010.
  35. "Sheppey 42 - 10 Burgess Hill". Sheppey RFC (Pitchero). 16 April 2011.
  36. "Vigo 10 - 7 Burgess Hill". Burgess Hill RFC (Pitchero). 28 April 2012.
  37. "What a finish to the season..." Beccehamian RFC (Pitchero). 27 April 2013.
  38. "Crawley Miss Out On Successive Promotions". Crawley RFC (Pitchero). 26 April 2014.
  39. "BHRFC 1 v Sheppey". Burgess Hill RFC (Pitchero). 25 April 2015.
  40. "Haywards Heath 13, Old Williamsonians 8: Heath gain promotion with home win after tense play-off". Mid Sussex Times. 2 May 2016.
  41. "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2016-17". England Rugby. 22 April 2017.
  42. "LONDON & SOUTH EAST DIVISION PLAY OFFS: VIGO 31 UCKFIELD 17". Vigo RFC (Pitchero). 21 April 2018.
  43. "Gillingham Anchorians v Crawley London & SE Division – Level 9 Play-off, 15:00 13th April 2019". Gillingham Anchorians RFC. 15 April 2019.
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