Counties 2 Essex

Departing were Stanford-le-Hope and Billericay, both promoted to Counties 1 Essex. Dagenham re-entered the RFU league pyramid having withdrawn from Regional 2 Anglia before the start of the 2024-25 season citing ""...a combination of unforeseen circumstances within the club and a significant shortage of players...". Kelvedon & Feering (8th in 2024-25) started the season but withdrew in early 2026 leaving eleven clubs to contest the outstanding fixtures. ==Participating clubs 2024–25==

The experiment of dividing the league was abandoned and North and South divisions reunited. Departing were Burnham-on-Crouch and Basildon, both promoted to Counties 1 Essex. Meanwhile Barking (7th (South)) were relegated to the Essex RFU merit leagues. Joining were Stanford-le-Hope, relegated from Counties 1 Essex. South Woodham Ferrers (7th (North) in 2023-24) started the season but withdrew from the league in December 2024. ==Participating clubs 2023–24==

Ahead of the new season the decision was taken to split the league into parallel North and South divisions as had previously happened in 2016–17. Departing were Maldon and Stanford-le-Hope, promoted to Counties 1 Essex. Joining the North league were South Woodham Ferrers (relegated from Counties 1 Essex), Kelvedon & Feering, Witham and Burnham-on-Crouch. North South ==Participating clubs 2022–23==

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 2 Essex. Returning were nine teams took part in Essex 1 in 2021–22: Barking, Basildon, Billericay, Clacton, Harwich & Dovercourt, Maldon, Millwall, Old Brentwoods and Writtle Wanderers. Bancroft (8th) did not return. Joining were Canvey Island (12th) and Kings Cross Steelers (11th) relegated from London 3 Essex together with Pegasus Palmerians and Stanford le Hope who both re-joined the league. ==Participating clubs 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. Ilford Wanderers, who had been relegated from London 3 Essex in 11th place in season 2019–20, withdrew from the league in Autumn 2021 meaning it was completed with eleven teams. ==Season 2020–21==

On 30 October the RFU announced that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Essex 1 was not contested. ==Participating clubs 2019–20==

==Participating clubs 2018–19==

==Participating clubs 2017–18==

Essex Canterbury Jack League 1A Essex Canterbury Jack League 1B ==Participating clubs 2016–17==

Essex 1A • Bancroft • Billericay • Dagenham • Kings Cross Steelers • Millwall • Old Brentwoods (relegated from London 3 North East) • Pegasus Palmerians • Stanford Le Hope Essex 1B • Braintree • Burnham-on-Crouch • Canvey Island • Clacton • Harwich & Dovercourt • Maldon • Writtle Wanderers • Witham ==Participating clubs 2015–16==

• Bancroft • Billericay (relegated from London 3 North East) • Braintree • Canvey Island • Clacton (relegated from London 3 North East) • East London • Ilford Wanderers • Kings Cross Steelers • Maldon • Millwall • Pegasus Palmerians • Stanford Le Hope • Writtle Wanderers ==Participating clubs 2014–15==

• Bancroft • Burnham-on-Crouch • Canvey Island (relegated from London 3 North East) • Dagenham • East London • Epping Upper Clapton • Ilford Wanderers • Maldon • May & Baker • Millwall • Pegasus Palmerians • Writtle Wanderers ==Original teams==

When Essex 1 was introduced in 2003 it contained the following teams: • Billericay - transferred from Eastern Counties 1 (7th) • Canvey Island - transferred from Eastern Counties 1 (9th) • East London - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (runners up) • Epping Upper Clapton - transferred from Eastern Counties 1 (8th) • Ilford Wanderers II - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (3rd) • Maldon - transferred from Eastern Counties 1 (3rd) • Stanford Le Hope - transferred from Eastern Counties 1 (10th) • Upminster - relegated from London 4 North East (9th) • Wanstead - transferred from Eastern Counties 1 (4th) • Westcliff - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (champions) ==Essex 1 honours==

Essex 1 (2004–2009) The original Essex 1 was a tier 9 league with promotion up to London 4 North East and relegation down to Essex 2. Essex 1 (2009–2017) Essex 1 remained a tier 9 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to London 3 North East (formerly London 4 North East) and relegation was to Essex 2 until that division was disbanded at the end of the 2013–14 season. Essex 1 (2017–present) The cancellation of London 3 North East and subsequent introduction of London 3 Essex ahead of the 2017–18 meant that Essex 1 remained a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division, and as it was the lowest division for clubs in Essex, there was no relegation. ==Promotion play-offs==

From 2004 to 2016 there was a play-off between the runners-up of Eastern Counties 1 and Essex 1 for the third and final promotion place to London 3 North East. The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2015–16 season the Essex 1 teams had been the most successful with seven wins to the Eastern Counties 1 teams five; and the home team had won promotion on eight occasions compared to the away teams four. Since the introduction of London 3 Eastern Counties and London 3 Essex at the start of the 2017–18 season the playoff has been cancelled. ==Number of league titles==

• Billericay (2) • Campion (2) • East London (2) • Upminster (2) • Wanstead (2) • Braintree (1) • Dagenham (1) • Kings Cross Steelers (1) • Maldon (1) • May & Baker (1) • Old Brentwoods (1) • Westcliff (1) ==See also==