Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland

Well known clubs have competed in Durham/Northumberland 1 throughout the league's history. Many of these clubs enjoyed success, mainly during the amateur era of rugby. These include Gosforth RFC who in the '70s enjoyed 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. ==Format==

The champions are promoted to Regional 2 North. Teams are relegated to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland; with the number of teams relegated depending on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above. The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals, home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows: • 4 points are awarded for a win • 2 points are awarded for a draw • 0 points are awarded for a loss, however • 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer • 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match. ==2025–26==

Participating teams and location Leaving the league were Sunderland promoted to Regional 2 North while Whitley Bay Rockcliff were relegated to Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland. ==2024–25==

Participating teams and location Leaving the league were Guisborough promoted to Regional 2 North while South Shields Westoe and Hartlepool Rovers were relegated to DN2. Replacing them were Stockton (relegated), Darlington and Horden and Peterlee (both promoted). League table • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: • Number of matches won • Difference between points for and against • Total number of points for • Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams • Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled ==2023–24==

Participating teams and location Leaving the league were West Hartlepool promoted to Regional 2 North while Darlington and Horden and Peterlee were relegated to DN2. Replacing them were South Shields Westoe (relegated), Bishop Auckland and Ryton (both promoted). League table • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: • Number of matches won • Difference between points for and against • Total number of points for • Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams • Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled ==2022–23==

Participating teams and location 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. League table • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: • Number of matches won • Difference between points for and against • Total number of points for • Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams • Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled ==2021–22==

Participating teams and location Middlesbrough 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==

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced 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==

Participating teams and location ==Original teams==

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams: • Acklam • Ashington • Blyth • Darlington • Horden • Percy Park • Ponteland • Redcar • Rockcliff • Seghill • Winlanton Vulcans ==Durham/Northumberland 1 honours==

Durham/Northumberland 1 (1987–1993) The original Durham/Northumberland 1 was a tier 9 league with promotion to North East 2 and relegation to Durham/Northumberland 2. Durham/Northumberland 1 (1993–2000) The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Durham/Northumberland 1 dropped to tier 10. 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 (2000–2022) 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 (also known as North 1 East). Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland (2022–present) ==Promotion play-offs==

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. ==Number of league titles==

• Horden (4) • Consett (3) • Northern (3) • Percy Park (3) • Darlington (2) • Durham City (2) • Gateshead (2) • Guisborough (2) • Hartlepool Rovers (2) • Alnwick (1) • Ashington (1) • Billingham (1) • Blyth (1) • Medicals (1) • Mowden Park (1) • Redcar (1) • Ryton (1) • Sunderland (1) • Whitby (1) • Rockcliff (1) • West Hartlepool (1) • West Hartlepool TDSOB (1) • Westoe (1) ==Notes==