Rugby Union league
Eastern Counties 3
is an English level 11
Rugby Union
league, currently divided into 3 regional leagues (north, south, west). Promoted teams moved up to the relevant regional divisions in
Eastern Counties 2
while since the abolition of
Eastern Counties 4
at the end of the 2016?17 season there has been no relegation. For most of its history, Eastern Counties 3 was divided into two regional divisions ? north and south ? with teams from
Cambridgeshire
,
Norfolk
,
Suffolk
and
Essex
taking part. A breakaway of Essex teams at the end of the 2002?03 to form a new league would lead to Eastern Counties 3 being abolished by the end of 2003?04 only to return due to a league restructure to cater for more 2nd and 3rd teams.
Original teams
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When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
Eastern Counties 3 honours
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Eastern Counties 3 (1987?1993)
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The original Eastern Counties 3 was a tier 10 league with promotion up to
Eastern Counties 2
and relegation down to
Eastern Counties 4
.
[1]
Eastern Counties 3 (1993?96)
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The creation of
National 5 South
meant that Eastern Counties 3 dropped from a tier 10 league to a tier 11 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to
Eastern Counties 2
and
Eastern Counties 4
respectively.
Eastern Counties 3 (1996?1997)
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The cancellation of
National 5 South
at the end of the 1995?96 season meant that Eastern Counties 3 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to
Eastern Counties 2
, while relegation was to
Eastern Counties 4
.
Eastern Counties 3: North / South (1997?2000)
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Ahead of the 1997?98 season Eastern Counties 3 was split into two regional divisions - north and south - with both divisions remaining as tier 10 leagues. Promotion and relegation continued to
Eastern Counties 2
, while relegation was to
Eastern Counties 4
- now split into two regional divisions (north and south).
Eastern Counties 3: North / South (2000?2004)
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the introduction of
London 4 North East
ahead of the 2000?01 season meant that Eastern Counties North and South dropped to once again become tier 11 leagues. The regionalisation of
Eastern Counties 2
meant that promotion was now to either Eastern Counties 2 North or Eastern Counties 2 South, while the cancellation of
Eastern Counties 4
at the end of the 1999?00 season meant there was no longer relegation. The creation of
Essex 1
,
Essex 2
and
Essex 3
ahead of the 2003?04 season, meant that Essex based sides left the Eastern Counties leagues. This in turn would lead to the cancellation of Eastern Counties 3 North and South at the end of the 2003?04 season, with all teams transferred to relevant divisions in Eastern Counties 2.
Eastern Counties 3: North / South / West (2014?present)
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After an absence of nine years, Eastern Counties 3 was re-introduced as a tier 11 league ahead of the 2014?15 season, this time split into three regional divisions - north, south and west. Promotion was to the respective regional division in
Eastern Counties 2
, and relegation was to
Eastern Counties 4
- north or south - until that league was cancelled at the end of the 2016?17 season
Number of league titles
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See also
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Notes
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- ^
League restructuring in the Eastern Counties meant that eight teams would be promoted including
Old Bealonians
,
Thetford
,
Lakenham Hewett
,
Ipswich YMCA
,
Old Palmerians
and
Harwich & Dovercourt
.
- ^
No relegation as league was to increase from 11 to 13 teams for the following season.
- ^
No relegation as
Eastern Counties 4
was abolished for the next season.
- ^
No relegation as East Counties tier 4 was abolished for the next season.
- ^
This was the last season for East Counties 3 North due to the restructuring of the Eastern Counties league. A new
Essex
league would be introduced leading to teams from East Counties 3 South breaking away to join it. Teams from the East Counties 3 North division would move into either
Eastern Counties 2
or Eastern Counties 3 for the next year depending on league position, asides from
Witham
who joined
Essex 3
.
- ^
Transferred to
Essex 1
.
- ^
This was the last season for East Counties 3 South as a new
Essex
league was introduced. The teams in this division would split away and move into either
Essex 2
or
Essex 3
depending on league position.
- ^
East Counties 3 was only operational as a single division for one season. When the season finished most teams were promoted to
Eastern Counties 2
asides from
Clacton
who transferred to
Essex 3
.
- ^
Despite being champions
Diss III
were not promoted as Diss II were in division above.
- ^
Champions
Shelford V
not promoted as Shelford IV in division above.
- ^
As a club Beccles has won 2 titles - 1 by the 1st XV, 1 by the 2nd XV.
- ^
As a club Southwold has won 2 titles - 1 by the 1st XV, 1 by the 2nd XV.
References
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Governing body
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National teams
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International competitions
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Competition divisions
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European competitions
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National competitions
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London and South East
competitions
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Midland competitions
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Northern competitions
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South West competitions
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County competitions
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Discontinued competitions
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Related articles
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Other
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