| Sport | Rugby Union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987; 37 years ago (1987) |
| Most titles | Midland Bank (2 titles) |
Counties 5 Kent (formerly Kent 3) is an English Rugby Union league that is the lowest RFU league for clubs in south-east London and Kent. Promoted teams go up to Counties 4 Kent and relegation is to the Kent RFU merit leagues.
Dwindling numbers of teams meant that Kent 3 folded at the end of the 2007–08 season, with all sides automatically promoted to what was then Kent 2. However, following a 15 year hiatus, and after the RFU's Adult Competition Review in 2022 - and the decision by Kent Rugby to allow reserve teams to participate in county leagues - from season 2023-24 it was resurrected and adopted its current name Counties 5 Kent.
2024–25
Departing were Canterbury III, Bromley II and Old Colfeians II, all promoted to Counties 4 Kent.
Joining were Footscray and Lordswood, relegated from Counties 4 Kent. New entries to the league were Beckenham III, Park House II, Old Alleynians III and East Peckham & Paddock Wood.
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  AskeansBeccehamian IIBeckenham IIIGreenwichOld Alleynians IIIParkHouse II Sidcup IIIclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 5 Kent teams in Greater London
 Ashford IIEP & PWLordswoodSevenoaks IIIclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 5 Kent teams in Kent
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2023–24
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AskeansBeccehamian IIBromley IIGreenwichColfeians IIclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 5 Kent teams in Greater London
Ashford IICanterbury IIISevenoaks IIIclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 5 Kent teams in Kent
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2008–2023
League not contested
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
Kent 3 honours
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 9 | New Ash Green | Linton | Bexley | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Met Police Hayes | Sittingbourne | Orpington, Thames Polytechnic | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 1989–90 | 11 | Sheppey | Cranbrook | Darenth Valley | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | Midland Bank | Vigo | Footscray, Orpington | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 1991–92 | 12 | Thames Polytechnic | NatWest Bank | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 1992–93 | 10 | Cranbrook | Lloyds Bank | Greenwich, Old Olavians | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 1993–94 | 10 | Old Gravesendians | Whitstable | Orpington, Footscray | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 1994–95 | 10 | Lordswood | Old Williamsonians | Lloyds Bank, Greenwich | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 1995–96 | 10 | Tonbridge | New Ash Green | Darenth Valley | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 1996–97 | 10 | Midland Bank | New Ash Green | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 1997–98 | 6 | Erith | Faversham | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 1998–99 | No Competition | |||||||||||||
| 1999–00 | No Competition | |||||||||||||
| 2000–01 | 6 | Bexley | Old Gravesendians | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 11 | Shooters Hill | Old Olavians | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 2002–03 | 10 | Vigo | Dover | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | 11 | Brockleians | Bexley | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 2004–05 | 9 | Deal & Betteshanger | HSBC | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 8 | Orpington | Foots Cray | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | 6 | Medway | Bexley | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 5 | Old Williamsonians | Orpington | No relegation | Kent 3 | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Midland Bank (2)
- Bexley (1)
- Brockleians (1)
- Cranbrook (1)
- Deal & Betteshanger (1)
- Erith (1)
- Lordswood (1)
- Medway (1)
- Met Police Hayes (1)
- New Ash Green (1)
- Old Gravesendians (1)
- Old Williamsonians (1)
- Orpington (1)
- Sheppey (1)
- Shooters Hill (1)
- Thames Polytechnic (1)
- Tonbridge (1)
- Vigo (1)
See also
Notes
- Deal Wanderers RFC would later merge with Betteshanger RFC in 2006 to form Deal & Betteshanger Rugby Club.
- Now known as Aylesford Bulls RFC.
- Restructuring of the Kent leagues meant that the top six clubs were promoted from Kent 3 including Deal Wanderers, Bexley, Linton and Old Gravesendians.
- Restructuring of the Kent leagues meant there was no relegation.
- 8th place Kent Police would drop out of the league at the end of the season.
- Due to Kent league restructuring, the top nine teams were promoted from Kent 3.
- Kent league restructuring meant there was no relegation - with bottom side Canterbury Exiles the only team to remain in the division for the following season.
- The cancellation of Kent 3 and Kent 4 and restructuring of Kent 2 for the following season meant that champions Erith would be promoted to the new regional Kent 2 East division.
- The cancellation of Kent 3 and Kent 4 and restructuring of Kent 2 meant that runners up Faversham would also be promoted to the new Kent 2 East division while 3rd place Greenwich would go into Kent 2 South West. 4th place Darenth Valley would fold at the end of the season but would reform as Dartford Valley RFC in Kent 2 West.
- The cancellation of Kent 4 meant that there was no relegation - bottom two sides Meopham and Canterbury Exiles would drop out of the leagues.
- No relegation as Kent 4 abolished at the end of the season.
- 3rd place Dartford Valley were also promoted.
- As this was the final season of Kent 3 all teams in the division were automatically promoted to Kent 2.
References
- "CLUB HISTORY". Deal and Betteshanger Rugby Club. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- "2000-2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- "2001-2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- "2002-2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- "2003-2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- "2004-2005 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- "2005-2006 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- "2006-2007 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- "2007-2008 London South-East Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
