Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon North/South | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 (1987) (as Bucks/Oxon 1) |
| Country |  England |
| Most titles | Amersham & Chiltern, Bicester, Chipping Norton, Gosford All Blacks, Newbury Stags, Slough (2 titles) |
| Website | englandrugby.com |
Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (West) / (East) (formerly Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier) is a division at level 8 of the English rugby union system featuring teams principally from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Promoted teams usually move up to Counties 1 Southern North while relegated teams drop to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) or Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) depending on location.
When the league was introduced in 1987 it was known as Bucks/Oxon 1 and was set up originally for teams from Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. It was expanded to include teams from Berkshire (who had been playing teams from Dorset and Wiltshire) from the 2000–01 season onwards.
Teams 2026-27
West
Departing were champions Banbury II promoted to Counties 1 Southern North while Faringdon (9th) and Newbury II (10th) were relegated.
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East
Departing were Beaconsfield II , promoted to Counties 1 Southern North while Bracknell III were relegated to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South).
Also leaving on a level transfer to the West division were Reading II (7th).
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Teams 2025–26
For the new season the North and South divisions were rebranded West and East respectively.
West
Departing were Oxford and Gosford All Blacks both promoted to Counties 1 Southern North as champions and runners up respectively. Also departing were Milton Keynes (3rd) and Chesham (9th) on a level transfer to the East division.
Tring II (5th) moved on a level transfer to the newly titled Counties 2 Hertfordshire.
Wheatley (8th in 2024-25) started but did not complete the season leaving ten clubs to contest the outstanding fixtures.
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East
Departing were Henley II, promoted to Counties 1 Southern North while Thatcham were relegated to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South).
Also leaving on a level transfer to the West division were Hungerford (9th), Newbury II (10th) and Tadley Tigers (6th).
Rams III (runners-up) did not return for the new season.
Henley III ( Promoted from Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) (champions) in 2024-25) started but did not complete the season leaving ten clubs to contest the outstanding fixtures.
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Teams 2024–25
North
Departing were High Wycombe, promoted to Counties 1 Southern North. Banbury (11th) and Oxford Harlequins III (12th) were relegated.
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South
Departing were Reading Abbey, promoted to Counties 1 Southern North.
Crowthorne (9th in 2023-24) started but did not complete the season leaving eleven sides to contest the remaining fixtures.
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Teams 2023–24
North
Departing were Oxford Harlequins II, promoted to Counties 1 Southern North. Faringdon (10th) together with Amersham & Chiltern II (11th) were relegated.
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South
Departing were Rams III, promoted to Counties 1 Southern North. Abingdon (3rd) left on a level transfer to Counties 2 BBO (North).
Reading II (10th) and Aldermaston (11th) were relegated to Counties 3 Berks Bucks & Oxon South. Henley III (6th) also dropped to Counties 3 Berks Bucks & Oxon South to be replaced by Henley II who joined from Division 1 of the Halbro Raging Bull Shield league.
Maidenhead III (8th) did not return for the new season.
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Teams 2022–23
This was the first team following the RFU Adult Competition Review which saw the league split into North and South divisions.
Departing were Bletchley, were promoted to Counties 1 Southern North and Crowthorne who finished bottom and were relegated to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South.
North
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South
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Teams 2021–22
In February 2022 Drifters RFC withdrew from the league with their fixtures liquidated meaning it will be completed with eleven teams.
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2020–21
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
Teams 2019–20
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Teams 2018–19
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Teams 2017–18
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Teams 2016–17
- Abingdon
- Alcester
- Chesham
- Crowthorne
- Didcot (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship)
- Drifters (relegated from Southern Counties North)
- Hungerford
- Phoenix (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship)
- Risborough
- Slough
- Swindon College Old Boys (relegated from Southern Counties North)
- Tadley
2015–16
The 2015–16 Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier consisted of twelve teams; five from Oxfordshire, four from Berkshire and three from Buckinghamshire. The season started on 12 September 2015 and the last league matches were played on 23 April 2016.
Participating teams and location
Seven of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Reading Abbey were promoted to the Southern Counties North along with runner-up, Swindon College Old Boys, while Phoenix were relegated to the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship.
2014–15
Participating teams
- Abingdon (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship)
- Aylesbury Athletic
- Chesham
- Chipping Norton
- Gosford All Blacks
- Littlemore
- Phoenix
- Reading Abbey (relegated from Southern Counties North)
- Slough
- Swindon College Old Boys (relegated from Southern Counties North)
- Wheatley (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship)
2013–14
Participating teams
- Aylesbury Athletic
- Bicester
- Chesham (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship)
- Chipping Norton
- Farnham Royal (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship)
- Gosford All Blacks
- Hungerford
- Littlemore
- Phoenix
- Slough (relegated from Southern Counties North)
- Tadley (relegated from Southern Counties North)
2012–13
Participating teams
- Aylesbury Athletic
- Bicester
- Chipping Norton
- Gosford All Blacks
- Harwell
- Hungerford
- Littlemore
- Phoenix
- Risborough
- Stow-on-the-Wold
- Swindon College Old Boys
2011–12
Participating teams
- Bicester
- Chipping Norton
- Drifters[2]
- Gosford All Blacks[3]
- Hungerford
- Littlemore
- Phoenix
- Stow-on-the-Wold and District[4]
- Swindon College Old Boys
- Thatcham
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Bucks/Oxon 1) contained the following teams from Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire:
Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier honours
Bucks/Oxon 1 (1987–1993)
Originally known as Bucks/Oxon 1, it was a level 8 league for clubs based in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.[d] Promotion was to Southern Counties and relegation to Bucks/Oxon 2.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 12 | Slough | Bicester | Didcot, Abingdon | [7] | |||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Chiltern | Littlemore | Buckingham, Witney | [8] | |||||||||
| 1989–90 | 11 | Grove | Littlemore | Cholsey, Bicester | [9] | |||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | Olney | Oxford Marathon | Didcot, Drifters, Littlemore | [10] | |||||||||
| 1991–92 | 11 | Bicester | Slough | No relegation[e] | [11] | |||||||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | Oxford Marathon[f] | Chiltern | Wheatley, Buckingham | [12] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Bucks/Oxon 1 (1993–1996)
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Bucks/Oxon 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Southern Counties and relegation to Bucks/Oxon 2.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 13 | Amersham & Chiltern | Chinnor | Chipping Norton | [13] | |||||||||
| 1994–95 | 13 | Chinnor | Oxford Old Boys | Abingdon, Littlemore, Drifters | [14] | |||||||||
| 1995–96 | 13 | Oxford Old Boys[g] | Witney[h] | No relegation[i] | [15] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Bucks/Oxon (1996–1997)
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Bucks/Oxon 1 renamed as Bucks/Oxon and once more was a tier 8 league. Further restructuring meant that promotion was now to Southern Counties North[j] and relegation was to Bucks/Oxon 2.[k]
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 13 | Chipping Norton | Beaconsfield | Didcot, Harwell, Gosford All Blacks, Abingdon | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Bucks/Oxon 1 (1997–1999)
Bucks/Oxon would revert to its former name of Bucks/Oxon 1 for the 1997–98 season, remaining a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to Southern Counties North and relegation to Bucks/Oxon 2
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 7 | Cholsey | Pennanians | Grove, Wheatley | ||||||||||
| 1998–99 | 7 | Witney | Drifters | No relegation[l] | [16] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Bucks/Oxon (1999–2000)
Once again Bucks/Oxon 1 became a single league known as Bucks/Oxon, remaining at tier 8. Promotion continued to Southern Counties North, while relegation would be to the new Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2.[m]
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–00 | 11 | Phoenix | Grove | Multiple teams[n] | [17] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 (2000–2004)
Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season would see Berkshire based clubs join the Bucks & Oxon leagues.[o] This meant that Bucks/Oxon 1 would be renamed Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1, remaining a tier 8 league. Promotion would continue to Southern Counties North, while relegation was to Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 8 | Oxford | Milton Keynes | Berkshire Shire Hall, Littlemore | [18] | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 10 | Bicester | Wallingford | Wheatley, Chesham, Bletchley | [19] | |||||||||
| 2002–03 | 10 | Henley Wanderers | Phoenix | Pennanians, Littlemore, Drifters | [20] | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | 9 | Bletchley | Beaconsfield | No relegation[p] | [21] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Berks/Bucks & Oxon (2004–2009)
Ahead of the 2004–05 season Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 was renamed to Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier, remaining a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to Southern Counties North and relegation was now to Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 (formerly Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2).
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | 12 | Swindon | Chipping Norton | Thatcham, Harwell | [22] | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 12 | Newbury Stags | Milton Keynes | Farnham Royal, Chesham, Littlemore | [23] | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | 11 | Wallingford | Slough | Swindon College Old Boys | [24] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 12 | Chipping Norton | Bicester | Wheatley, Farnham Royal, Crowthorne | [25] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 11 | Newbury Stags | Amersham & Chiltern | No relegation | [26] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (2009–present)
Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to Southern Counties South and relegation to the newly introduced Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship (last known as Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2[q]).
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 11 | Crowthorne | Oxford | Abingdon, Harwell | [27] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 10 | Alchester | Slough | No relegation | [28] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 11 | Drifters | Thatcham | Phoenix | [29] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 11 | Stow-on-the-Wold | Swindon College Old Boys | Risborough, Harwell | [30] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 11 | Tadley | Bicester | Farnham Royal, Aylesbury Athletic | [31] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 10 | Reading Abbey | Swindon College Old Boys | Phoenix | [32] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 12 | Gosford All Blacks | Milton Keynes | Chipping Norton, Wheatley | [33] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 11 | Swindon College Old Boys | Drifters | Phoenix, Risborough | [34] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 10 | Slough | Littlemore | Abingdon | [35] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 11 | Chesham | Didcot | Risborough | [36] | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | 11[r] | Gosford All Blacks | Milton Keynes | Oxford | [37] | |||||||||
| 2020–21 | 11 | |||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Amersham & Chiltern (2)[s]
- Bicester (2)[t]
- Chipping Norton (2)[u]
- Gosford All Blacks (2)
- Newbury Stags (2)
- Slough (2)[v]
- Alchester (1)
- Bletchley (1)
- Chesham (1)
- Chinnor (1)[w]
- Cholsey (1)[x]
- Crowthorne (1)
- Drifters (1)
- Grove (1)[y]
- Henley Wanderers (1)
- Olney (1)[z]
- Oxford (1)[aa]
- Oxford Marathon (1)[ab]
- Oxford Old Boys (1)[ac]
- Phoenix (1)[ad]
- Reading Abbey (1)
- Stow-on-the-Wold (1)
- Swindon (1)
- Swindon College Old Boys (1)
- Tadley (1)
- Wallingford (1)
- Witney (1)[ae]
Notes
- Littlemore dropped out of the league in December 2019.[1]
- Chiltern were renamed as Amersham & Chiltern in 1992.[5]
- Pennanians were renamed as Farnham Royal RFC in 2005.[6]
- Berkshire based clubs would not join the division until 2000, having originally been involved in the Berks/Dorset/Wilts leagues.
- Due to restructuring of the majority of south west leagues increasing from 11 to 13 teams for the following season, there was no relegation.
- Despite winning the league, champions Oxford Marathon would not be promoted.
- Oxford Old Boys would merge with Oxford Marathon the following season to form Oxford Harlequins.
- The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that seven clubs were promoted including Slough, Buckingham, Oxford Marathon, Grove and Milton Keynes.
- Restructuring caused by the cancellation of National League 5 South meant that there was no relegation.
- Southern Counties was split into Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South as part of RFU restructuring at the end of the 1995–96 season.
- Although Bucks/Oxon 2 was cancelled for the 1996–97 season it would return the following year, meaning that was still relegation from Bucks/Oxon.
- No relegation as Bucks & Oxon would merge with Bucks & Oxon 2 to reform as a single division – Bucks & Oxon – for the following season.
- Berkshire based clubs would leave the Dorset & Wilts leagues at the end of the 1999–00 season to join the Bucks/Oxon leagues.
- The reintroduction of Bucks/Oxon 2 for the following season, meant that fives clubs were relegated, including Gosford All Blacks, Harwell, Abingdon, Didcot and Wheatley.
- Previously Berkshire clubs played in the Berks/Dorset/Wilts leagues.
- No relegation as league would expand to 12 teams for the next season.
- Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 was cancelled at the end of the 2003–04 season.
- League reduced from 12 to 11 teams by December 2019 when Littlemore dropped out of the league.[1]
- Both of Amersham & Chiltern's titles were won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1, and one of the titles when the club was Chiltern RFC.
- One of Bicester's titles was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
- One of Chipping Norton's titles was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon.
- One of Slough's titles was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
- Chinnor's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
- Cholsey's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
- Grove's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
- Olney's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
- Oxford's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
- Oxford Marathon merged with Oxford Old Boys in 1996 to form Oxford Harlequins.
- Oxford Old Boys merged with Oxford Marathon in 1996 to form Oxford Harlequins.
- Phoenix's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon.
- Witney's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
See also
References
- "NEW LEAGUE STRUCTURES ANNOUNCED". Littlemore RFC. 1 June 2020.
- Drifters RFC
- Gosford All Blacks RFC
- Stow-on-the-Wold and District RFC
- "80 seasons at Amersham & Chiltern RFC" (PDF). Roger Cook. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- "HISTORY". Farnham Royal RFC. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89 (17th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 123–139. ISBN 0 356 15884 5.
- Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1989). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989–90 (18th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 133–136. ISBN 0 356 17862 5.
- Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1990). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1990–91 (19th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 143–146. ISBN 0 356 19162 1.
- Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1991). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991–92 (20th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 164–167. ISBN 0 356 20249 6.
- Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1992). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992–93 (21st ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 176–179. ISBN 0 7472 7907 1.
- Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94 (22nd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing Ltd. pp. 157–160. ISBN 0 7472 7891 1.
- Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7850 4.
- Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7816 4.
- Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7771 0.
- "1998–99 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "1999-00 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2000–01 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2001–02 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2002–03 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2003–04 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2004–05 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2005–06 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2006–07 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2007–08 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2008–09 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2009–10 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2010–11 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2011–12 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2012–13 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2013–14 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2014–15 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2015–16 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2016–17 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- "2017–18 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- "2018–19 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- "Men's South West Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.