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Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland

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Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland, formerly known as Durham/Northumberland 1 is an English amateur rugby union competition. The league consists of twelve clubs, and is the seventh tier of the English rugby union system, as one of the 16 regional leagues, though is the highest level of local rugby in the North East of England. The champions are automatically promoted to Regional 2 North, a division with a wider geographical area that also encompasses the Yorkshire region. The runners-up participate in a play-off against the runners-up from the equivalent regional league, Counties 1 Yorkshire, for promotion. The bottom two are relegated to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland.

Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland
Current season or competition:
2022–23
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Number of teams12
CountryEngland
HoldersPercy Park (3rd title) (2021-22)
Most titlesHorden (4 titles)
WebsiteWebsite
Related competitionCounties 1 Yorkshire
Promotion toRegional 2 North
Relegation toCounties 2 Durham & Northumberland

Each season, two teams from the league are selected to take part in the RFU Intermediate Cup, a national competition for clubs in the seventh tier: one is affiliated with the Durham County RFU, the other is affiliated with the Northumberland RFU.

Clubs

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Well known clubs have competed in Durham/Northumberland 1 throughout the league's history. Many of these clubs enjoyed successful histories, mainly during the amateur era of rugby. These include Gosforth RFC who in the '70s enjoyed great success, winning the John Player Cup in 1975/76 and 76/77; West Hartlepool who played in the Premiership in the 1990s; Northern who produced many international players; and Medicals, who have the rare distinction of having been the home club of two RFU Presidents. Clubs such as Alnwick RFC, Stockton RFC and Horden RFC have traditionally played in higher leagues and tend to finish towards the top of Durham/Northumberland 1.

2024–25

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Leaving the league were Guisborough promoted to Regional 2 North while South Shields Westoe and Hartlepool Rovers were relegated to DN2. Joining in their place were Stockton (relegated), Darlington and Horden and Peterlee (both promoted).

2023–24

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Leaving the league were West Hartlepool promoted to Regional 2 North while Darlington and Horden and Peterlee were relegated to DN2. Joining in their place were South Shields Westoe (relegated), Bishop Auckland and Ryton (both promoted).

2022–23

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Leaving the league were Percy Park, Northern, South Shields Westoe, Stockton and Aspatria who were all promoted to Regional 2 North. There was no relegation from the league.

2021–22

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Middlesbrough RUFC finished runners-up in DN1 in 2019-20 but were level transferred to Yorkshire 1 for the current season, the space was taken by Aspatria RUFC who were level transferred from North 2 West.

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.

2020–21

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On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced [1] that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning DN1 was not contested.

2019-20

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Original teams

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When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

Durham/Northumberland 1 honours

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Durham/Northumberland 1 (1987–1993)

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The original Durham/Northumberland 1 was a tier 9 league with promotion up to North East 2 and relegation down to Durham/Northumberland 2.

Durham/Northumberland 1
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1987–88 11 Blyth Rockcliff Percy Park
1988–89 11 Rockcliff Mowden Park Winlanton Vulcans
1989–90 11 Ashington Horden Ponteland, Hartlepool
1990–91 11 Redcar Horden Whitby
1991–92 11 Horden Acklam[a] No relegation[b]
1992–93 13 Whitby Darlington Seghill, Hartlepool
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Durham/Northumberland 1 (1993–2000)

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The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Durham/Northumberland 1 dropped to being a tier 10 league. A further restructure at the end of the 1995–96 season, which included the cancellation of National 5 North and the addition of North East 3 at tier 9, saw Durham/Northumberland 1 remain at tier 10 with promotion to the new North 3 East league.

Durham/Northumberland 1
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1993–94 13 Mowden Park Darlington Consett, Seaham
1994–95 13 Percy Park Sunderland Wallsend, Guisborough
1995–96 12 Darlington Sunderland North Durham, Ponteland
1996–97 10 West Hartlepool TDSOB Ryton Hartlepool, Guisborough, Novocastrians
1997–98 10 Ryton Acklam North Durham[c], Bishop Auckland
1998–99[2] 10 Medicals Acklam Blyth, North Shields
1999–00[3] 10 Consett Winlaton Vulcans Seghill, Novocastrians, Whitley Bay Rockcliff
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Durham/Northumberland 1 (2000–2022)

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Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999–2000 season saw the cancellation of North East 1, North East 2 and North East 3 (tiers 7–9). This meant that Durham/Northumberland 1 became a tier 7 league, with promotion to North 2 East (currently North 1 East).

Durham/Northumberland 1
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–01[4] 12 Westoe Durham City Medicals
2001–02[5] 12 Horden Ashington Winlaton Vulcans, Consett
2002–03[6] 12 Northern Hartlepool Rovers Ryton, Gosforth
2003–04[7] 12 Hartlepool Rovers Alnwick Houghton, Gateshead
2004–05[8] 12 Percy Park Durham City Ashington, Hartlepool
2005–06[9] 12 Horden Malton and Norton Acklam, West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B.
2006–07[10] 12 Gateshead Sunderland North Shields, Consett, Gosforth
2007–08[11] 12 Billingham Northern West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B., Ponteland
2008–09[12] 12 Hartlepool Rovers Percy Park No relegation[d]
2009–10[13] 14 Northern Team Northumbria Consett, Hartlepool
2010–11[14] 14 Gateshead Darlington Redcar, Wallsend
2011–12[15] 14 Darlington Alnwick Novocastrians, Ashington
2012–13[16] 14 Alnwick Guisborough Sunderland, Ryton
2013–14[17] 14 Horden Guisborough Bishop Auckland, Ponteland
2014–15[18] 14 Guisborough Morpeth Sunderland, Blyth
2015–16[19] 14 Durham City Middlesbrough Darlington, Ponteland
2016–17[20] 14 Northern South Shields Westoe Ryton, Hartlepool
2017–18[21] 14 Consett Durham City Redcar, Gosforth
2018–19[22] 14 Durham City West Hartlepool Whitby, Ponteland
2019–20[23] 14 Consett Middlesbrough Barnard Castle, North Shields, Gateshead
2020–21 14 N/A N/A Uncontested due to the coronavirus pandemic
2021–22[24] 14 Percy Park Northern No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

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Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland (2022-)

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Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2022-23[25] 12 West Hartlepool Sunderland Darlington, Horden
2023-24[26] 12 Guisborough Sunderland Hartlepool Rovers, South Shields Westoe

Promotion play-offs

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Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Durham/Northumberland 1 and Yorkshire 1 for the third and final promotion place to North 1 East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Yorkshire 1 teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Durham/Northumberland 1 teams six; and the home side have won ten times to the away sides nine.

Durham/Northumberland 1 v Yorkshire 1 promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[27] Wheatley Hills (Y) 21-19 Percy Park (DN)[e] Brunel Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
2001–02[28] Ashington (DN) 17-23 Scarborough (Y) Recreation Ground, Ashington, Northumberland
2002–03[29] York (Y) 29-15 Hartlepool Rovers (DN) Clifton Park, York, North Yorkshire
2003–04[30] Alnwick (DN) 25-18 Pontefract (Y) Greensfield, Alnwick, Northumberland
2004–05[31] Durham City (DN) 26-13 Wheatley Hills (Y) Hollow Drift, Durham, County Durham
2005–06[32] Malton and Norton (DN) 19-39 Old Crossleyans (Y) The Gannock, Malton, North Yorkshire
2006–07[33] Sunderland (DN) 16-18 York (Y) Ashbrooke Sports Club, Ashbrooke, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
2007–08[34] Northern (DN) 24-28 Ilkley (Y) McCracken Park, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
2008–09[35] Percy Park (DN) 36-3 Bridlington (Y) Preston Avenue, North Shields, Tyne and Wear
2009–10[36] Team Northumbria (DN) 34-13 Sheffield (Y) Coach Lane Sports Ground, Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
2010–11[37] Darlington (DN) 17-18 Sheffield (Y) Blackwell Meadows, Darlington, County Durham
2011–12[38] Alnwick (DN) 16-18 Keighley (Y) Greensfield, Alnwick, Northumberland
2012–13[39] Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. (Y) 33-12 Guisborough (DN) Laund Hill, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
2013–14[40] Dinnington (Y) 34-20 (aet) Guisborough (DN) Lodge Lane, Dinnington, South Yorkshire
2014–15[41] Morpeth (DN) 14-11 Malton and Norton (Y) Grange House Field, Morpeth, Northumberland
2015–16[42] Middlesbrough (DN) 17-25 Malton and Norton (Y) Acklam Park, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
2016–17[43] South Shields Westoe (DN) 14-19 West Leeds (Y) Wood Terrace, South Shields, Tyne and Wear
2017–18[44] Durham City (DN) AWO[f] Scarborough (Y) Hollow Drift, Durham, County Durham
2018–19[45] West Hartlepool (DN) 24-23 Heath (Y) Brinkburn, Hartlepool, County Durham
2019–20 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Heath (Y) - promoted instead.
2020–21 N/A N/A N/A Uncontested due to the coronavirus pandemic
2021–22 N/A N/A N/A Uncontested due the RFU Adult Competition Review
Green background is the promoted team. DN = Durham/Northumberland 1 and Y = Yorkshire 1

Number of league titles

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Notes

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  1. ^ Runners up Acklam along with Bishop Auckland were promoted to North East 2.
  2. ^ League restructuring meant no clubs were relegated and five clubs would be promoted from Durham/Northumberland 2
  3. ^ North Durham merged with Gateshead Fell at the end of this season and therefore ceased to exist as a club. As such they did not take up their position in Durham/Northumberland 2 the following season.
  4. ^ No relegation as division set to expand from 12 to 14 teams for the following season.
  5. ^ Despite finishing third in the 2000-01 Durham/Northumberland league, Percy Park went into the promotion playoff instead of runners up Durham City.[4]
  6. ^ Scarborough won by default as Durham City were unable to raise a team.[44]
  7. ^ Currently known as South Shields Westoe.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  2. ^ "1998-99 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  3. ^ "1999-00 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b "2000-01 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  5. ^ "2001-02 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  6. ^ "2002-03 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  7. ^ "2003-04 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  8. ^ "2004-05 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  9. ^ "2005-06 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  10. ^ "2006-07 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  11. ^ "2007-08 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  12. ^ "2008-09 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  13. ^ "2009-10 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  14. ^ "2010-11 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  15. ^ "2011-12 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  16. ^ "2012-13 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  17. ^ "2013-14 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  18. ^ "2014-15 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  19. ^ "2015-16 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  20. ^ "2016-17 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  21. ^ "2017-18 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  22. ^ "2018-19 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  23. ^ "Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Durham/Northumberland One table 2021-2022". England Rugby. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  25. ^ "2022-23 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  26. ^ "2023-24 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  27. ^ "2000-01 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 5 May 2001.
  28. ^ "2001-02 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 18 May 2002.
  29. ^ "2002-03 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
  30. ^ "2003-04 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  31. ^ "2004-05 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 30 April 2006.
  32. ^ "2005-06 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  33. ^ "2006-07 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  34. ^ "2007-08 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  35. ^ "2008-09 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  36. ^ "2009-10 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 1 May 2010.
  37. ^ "2010-11 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 7 May 2011.
  38. ^ "2011-12 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 28 April 2012.
  39. ^ "2012-13 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 27 April 2013.
  40. ^ "2013-14 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2014.
  41. ^ "2014-15 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 25 April 2015.
  42. ^ "2015-16 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 30 April 2016.
  43. ^ "2016-17 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 29 April 2017.
  44. ^ a b "Skipper Jones' delight at promotion success". The Scarborough News. 4 May 2018.
  45. ^ "Play-offs: Heath sunk by West Hartlepool's late penalty". Halifax Courier. 28 April 2019.
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