Counties 4 Hampshire

Counties 4 Hampshire

Current season or competition: 2024–25 Counties 4 Hampshire
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	1994 (1994)
Number of teams	14
Country	England
Most titles	Aldershot & Fleet, Kingsclere, Overton, Ventnor (2 titles)
Website	englandrugby.com

Counties 4 Hampshire (formerly Hampshire 2) is an English level 10 rugby union league for teams based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. It was originally known as Hampshire 3 until the 2008–09 season when it was discontinued, but the division was reinstated as Hampshire 2 following restructuring of the Hampshire leagues for the 2018–19 season, which would once again see Hampshire rugby have three divisions as well as including second XV sides for the first time. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name.

Promoted teams move up to Counties 3 Hampshire. Relegated teams drop down to Counties 5 Hampshire which is operated as a Hampshire RFU domestic competition. Hampshire RFU publishes its own regulations, fixtures, promotion/relegation arrangements and competition administration for Counties 5.

Competition points will be awarded as follows: For a win: five points; For a draw: three points; others i.e. match abandoned = two points. For a loss: one point; For losing by less than 15 points; one point. Four try bonus: one point.^[1]

Season 2026-27

Departing were Fawley, Lymington Mariners and Basingstoke II, promoted to Counties 3 Hampshire as champions, runners-up and third place respectively.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Alresford Alresford Recreation Centre New Alresford, Hampshire 7th Bognor II Hampshire Avenue Bognor, West Sussex Promoted from Counties 5 Hampshire (3rd) Chineham Basingstoke Sports & Social Club Basingstoke, Hampshire 9th Farnham III Wilkinson Way Farnham, Surrey 6th Gosport & Fareham II Gosport Park Gosport, Hampshire 10th Havant IV Hook's Lane 1,500 Bedhampton, Havant, Hampshire Hook & Odiham Papermill Avenue Hook, Hampshire 4th Locksheath Pumas Wide Lane Sports Ground Eastleigh, Hampshire Promoted from Counties 5 Hampshire (runners-up) Millbrook II Lordshill Recreational Ground Southampton, Hampshire 5th New Milton & District II Ashley Recreation Ground Ashley, New Milton, Hampshire Promoted from Counties 5 Hampshire (4th) Sandown & Shanklin II The Fairway Ground Sandown, Isle of Wight Promoted from Counties 5 Hampshire (champions) Southsea Nomads Cockleshell Gardens Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire 8th

Alresford Bognor II Chineham Farnham III G & F II Havant IV Hook & Odiham Locksheath Millbrook II New Milton II Nomads Locations of the 2026-27 Counties 4 Hampshire teams in Hampshire & Surrey Sandown & Shanklin II Locations of the 2026-27 Counties 4 Hampshire teams on the Isle of Wight

Season 2025–26

Departing were Alton and Winchester III, promoted to Counties 3 Hampshire as champions and runners-up respectively. Bognor II (10th) did not return for the new season.

Overton were initially placed in the league having been relegated from Counties 3 Hampshire (9th). However, shortly before the season began they were reinstated in the higher league with Farnham III taking the place instead.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Alresford Alresford Recreation Centre New Alresford, Hampshire 7th Basingstoke II Down Grange Basingstoke, Hampshire Promoted from Hampshire Premiership North (1st) Chineham Basingstoke Sports & Social Club Basingstoke, Hampshire 4th Farnham III Wilkinson Way Farnham, Surrey New entry Fawley Newlands Road Fawley, Hampshire 3rd Gosport & Fareham II Gosport Park Gosport, Hampshire 6th Hook & Odiham Papermill Avenue Hook, Hampshire 8th Lymington Mariners Woodside Park Lymington, Hampshire 5th Millbrook II Lordshill Recreational Ground Southampton, Hampshire Promoted from Hampshire Premiership South (1st) Southsea Nomads Cockleshell Gardens Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire 9th

Alresford Basingstoke II Chineham Farnham III Fawley G & F II Hook & Odiham Lymington Millbrook II Nomads Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 4 Hampshire teams in Hampshire & Surrey

Season 2024–25

Ahead of the new season the experiment with parallel A and B divisions was abandoned and the league reinstated as a single competition. This season was the first when Counties 4 Hampshire was recognised and administered as a RFU league, rather than as part of the Hampshire RFU merit leagues.

Departing were Southampton, promoted to Counties 3 Hampshire.

Joining were Alresford, relegated from Counties 3 Hampshire, together with Alton who last competed in Counties 1 Hampshire in 2022-23 finishing 11th.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Alresford Alresford Recreation Centre New Alresford, Hampshire Relegated from Counties 3 Hampshire Alton Antsey Park Alton, Hampshire Re-entry Bognor II Hampshire Avenue Bognor, West Sussex 1st 4B Chineham Basingstoke Sports & Social Club Basingstoke, Hampshire 7th 4A Fawley Gang Warily Recreation Centre Fawley, Hampshire 3rd 4A Gosport & Fareham II Gosport Park Gosport, Hampshire 2nd 4A Hook & Odiham Papermill Avenue Hook, Hampshire 5th 4A Lymington Mariners Woodside Park Lymington, Hampshire 6th 4A Southsea Nomads University of Portsmouth Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire 4th 4A Winchester III North Walls Park Winchester, Hampshire 2nd 4B

Alresford Alton Bognor II Chineham Fawley G & F II Hook & Odiham Lymington Nomads Winchester III Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Hampshire teams in Hampshire

Season 2023–24

Departing were Christchurch and Aldershot & Fleet, promoted to Counties 3 Hampshire.

Ahead of the new season the decision was taken to split the league into parallel A and B divisions.

Counties 4A

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Andover III Foxcotte Lane Andover, Hampshire Promoted from Counties 5 Hampshire North (champions) Chineham Basingstoke Sports & Social Club Basingstoke, Hampshire 7th Fawley Gang Warily Recreation Centre Fawley, Hampshire Re-entry Gosport & Fareham II Gosport Park Gosport, Hampshire Relegated from Counties 3 Hampshire Hook & Odiham Papermill Avenue Hook, Hampshire 4th Lymington Mariners Woodside Park Lymington, Hampshire Promoted Counties 5 Hampshire South West (champions) Southsea Nomads University of Portsmouth Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire 3rd Trojans II Stoneham Lane Eastleigh, Hampshire Promoted Counties 5 Hampshire South East (champions)

Andover III Chineham Fawley G & F II Hook & Odiham Lymington Nomads Trojans II Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4A Hampshire teams in Hampshire

Counties 4B

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Basingstoke II Down Grange Basingstoke, Hampshire Promoted Counties 5 Hampshire North (4th) Bognor II Hampshire Avenue Bognor, West Sussex Re-entry Chichester III Oaklands Park Chichester, West Sussex Promoted Counties 5 Hampshire South East (runners-up) Farnborough Tilebarn Close Farnborough, Hampshire Promoted Counties 5 Hampshire North (runners-up) Locksheath Pumas II Brookfield Community School Locks Heath, Fareham, Hampshire Promoted Counties 5 Hampshire South East (3rd) Millbrook II 5 Acres Southampton, Hampshire Promoted Counties 5 Hampshire South West (3rd) Sandown & Shanklin II The Fairway Ground Sandown, Isle of Wight 6th Tottonians Badgers Water Lane Totton, Hampshire 8th Winchester III North Walls Park Winchester, Hampshire Promoted Counties 5 Hampshire South West (runners-up)

Basingstoke II Bognor II Chichester III Farnborough Locksheath II Millbrook II Tottonians Vets Winchester III Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4B Hampshire teams in Hampshire Sandown & Shanklin II Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4B Hampshire teams in Hampshire teams on the Isle of Wight

Season 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review^[2] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 4 Hampshire.

Departing were Havant III, Andover II and Winchester II, all promoted to Counties 3 Hampshire. Petersfield II (5th) dropped into Counties 5 Hampshire South East.

Joining were Christchurch and Hook & Odiham.

Bognor II (6th in 2021–22) started but did not complete the season withdrawing part way through.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aldershot & Fleet Aldershot Park Aldershot, Hampshire 8th Chineham Basingstoke Sports & Social Club Basingstoke, Hampshire 7th Christchurch East Sports and Social Club Christchurch, Dorset Dorset & Wilts 2 South (runners-up) Hook & Odiham Papermill Avenue Hook, Hampshire Promoted from Hampshire Merit Tables Sandown & Shanklin II The Fairway Ground Sandown, Isle of Wight 10th Southsea Nomads University of Portsmouth Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire 9th Southampton Test Park Playing Fields Southampton, Hampshire 4th Tottonians Badgers Water Lane Totton, Hampshire 11th

Aldershot & Fleet Chineham Christchurch Hook & Odiham Nomads Southampton Tottonians Vets Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Hampshire teams in Hampshire & West Sussex Sandown & Shanklin II Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Hampshire teams in Hampshire teams on the Isle of Wight

Season 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.

Stoneham started but did not complete the season withdrawing part way through.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aldershot & Fleet Aldershot Park Aldershot, Hampshire Promoted from Hampshire 3 (runners-up) Andover II Foxcotte Lane Andover, Hampshire 5th Bognor II Hampshire Avenue Bognor, Sussex 9th Chineham Fortress Chineham Basingstoke, Hampshire 8th Havant III Hook's Lane 1,500 Havant, Hampshire 1st Petersfield II Penn's Place Petersfield, Hampshire 3rd Sandown & Shanklin II The Fairway Ground Sandown, Isle of Wight Promoted from Hampshire 3 Southsea Nomads University of Portsmouth Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire 4th Southampton Test Park Playing Fields Southampton, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire 1 (12th) Tottonians Badgers Water Lane Totton, Hampshire 7th Winchester II North Walls Park Winchester, Hampshire 2nd

Aldershot & Fleet Andover II Bognor II Chineham Havant III Petersfield II Nomads Southampton Tottonians Vets Winchester II Locations of the 2021–22 Hampshire 2 teams in Hampshire & West Sussex Sandown & Shanklin II Locations of the 2021–22 Hampshire 2 teams on the Isle of Wight

Season 2020–21

On 30 October the RFU announced ^[3] that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Hampshire 2 was not contested.

Season 2019–20

For the 2019–20 season, the league was run as a 'Pro14' system, split into two pools. Teams played six home and six away games against the other teams in their pool, and another seven games against the teams in the other pool, giving clubs 19 games in the season.^[4]

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Andover II Foxcotte Lane Andover, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire 1 (12th) Basingstoke II Down Grange 2,500 (250 seats) Basingstoke, Hampshire 10th Bognor II Bognor, Sussex Sussex 2 Reserves Chineham Fortress Chineham Basingstoke, Hampshire 4th Hook & Odiham Hook, Hampshire Promoted from Hampshire 3 (2nd) Havant III Hook's Lane 1,500 Havant, Hampshire Hampshire 2 (champions) Isle Of Wight 2nd XV Footways Wootton, Isle of Wight Promoted from Hampshire 3 (champions) New Milton II Ashley Recreation Ground Ashley, New Milton, Hampshire Transferred from Dorset & Wilts 2 South (8th) Overton II The Old Cricket Ground Laverstoke, Hampshire 9th Petersfield II Penn's Place Petersfield, Hampshire 7th Southsea Nomads University of Portsmouth Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire 3rd Stoneham University of Southampton Southampton, Hampshire 5th Tottonians Badgers Water Lane Totton, Hampshire 8th Winchester II North Walls Park Winchester, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire 1 (No position as did not fulfil all fixtures)

ADV II BSK II Bognor II Chineham Havant III Hook & Odiham Isle of Wight II New Milton II OVR II Petersfield II Nomads Stoneham Tottonians Vets Winchester II Locations of the 2019–20 Hampshire 2 teams in Hampshire, Isle of Wight & West Sussex

Season 2018–19

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aldershot & Fleet Aldershot Park Aldershot, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire 2 (7th) Basingstoke II Down Grange 2,500 (250 seats) Basingstoke, Hampshire N/A Chineham Fortress Chineham Basingstoke, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire 2 (9th) Fareham Heathens II Cams Alders Recreation Centre Fareham, Hampshire N/A Fawley Gang Warily Recreation Centre Fawley, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire 2 (5th) Havant III Hook's Lane 1,500 Havant, Hampshire N/A Overton II The Old Cricket Ground Laverstoke, Hampshire N/A Petersfield II Penn's Place Petersfield, Hampshire N/A Southsea Nomads University of Portsmouth Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire 2 (8th) Stoneham University of Southampton Southampton, Hampshire N/A Tottonians Vets Water Lane Totton, Hampshire N/A Winchester Knights North Walls Park Winchester, Hampshire N/A

Aldershot Basingstoke II Chineham Fareham II Fawley Havant III Overton II Petersfield II Nomads Stoneham Tottonians Vets Winchester III Locations of the 2018–19 Hampshire 2 teams in Hampshire & West Sussex

Original teams

When this division was introduced in 1994 (as Hampshire 3) it contained the following teams:

• Alresford - relegated from Hampshire 2 (8th)
• Basingstoke Wombats - relegated from Hampshire 2 (12th)
• Ellingham & Ringwood - relegated from Hampshire 2 (11th)
• Fleet - relegated from Hampshire 2 (9th)
• Nomads - relegated from Hampshire 2 (10th)
• Waterlooville - relegated from Hampshire 2 (7th)

Hampshire 2 honours

Number of league titles

See also

• Hampshire RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

Notes

References