South West 1 East
Introduction '''South West 1 East''' is an English, level six, rugby union league in south and south-west England; mainly Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Gloucester, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Wiltshire. Originally a single division known as South West 2, since 1996 the division has been split into two regional leagues – South West 1 East and South West 1 West.The champions are promoted to South West Premier (formerly National League 3 South West) and the runner-up play the second team in South West 1 West, with the winning team gaining promotion. Relegated sides usually play in one of the two seventh-tier leagues (depending on location) – Southern Counties North or Southern Counties South.
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.Old Patesians finished 9th in season 2019–20 but were level transferred to South West 1 West.===Participating teams and locations===TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Banbury  Bodicote Park  2500 (250 seats) Banbury, Oxfordshire  3rd Beaconsfield  Oak Lodge Meadow   Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire  10th Bracknell  Lily Hill  1,250 (250 seats)  Bracknell, Berkshire  Relegated from SW Premier (13th) Buckingham  Floyd Field   Maids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire  7th Chippenham  Allington Fields   9500  Chippenham, Wiltshire  8th Frome  Gypsy Lane   Frome, Somerset  Promoted from Southern Counties South (runner-up) Grove  Cane Lane    Grove, Oxfordshire  Promoted from Southern Counties South (champions) Marlborough  The Common   Marlborough, Wiltshire  5th Newbury Blues  Monk's Lane  8,000  Newbury, Berkshire  Relegated from SW Premier (12th) Oxford Harlequins  Marston Ferry Road   Oxford, Oxfordshire  4th Sherborne  Gainsborough Park   Sherborne, Dorset  6th Trowbridge  Doric Park 9550  Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire  12th Windsor  Home Park   Windsor, Berkshire  11th Witney  Witney Road   Hailey, Witney, Oxfordshire  Promoted from Southern Counties North (champions)===League table===
2020–21 Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic the season was cancelled.
2019–20 The season ended before all the matches were completed because of the coronavirus pandemic and the RFU used a best playing record formula to decide the final table.===Participating teams and locations===TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Banbury  Bodicote Park   Banbury, Oxfordshire  3rd Beaconsfield  Oak Lodge Meadow   Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire  6th Buckingham  Floyd Field   Maids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire  Promoted from Southern Counties North (play-off) Chippenham  Allington Fields   500  Chippenham, Wiltshire  8th Marlborough  The Common   Marlborough, Wiltshire  4th Old Centralians  Saintbridge Sports Centre   Gloucester, Gloucestershire  Runner-up (lost play-off) Old Patesians  Everest Road    Cheltenham, Gloucestershire  Relegated from South West Premier (14th) Oxford Harlequins  Marston Ferry Road   Oxford, Oxfordshire  10th Royal Wootton Bassett  Ballard's Ash Sports Ground   Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire  5th Salisbury  Castle Road  1,500  Salisbury, Wiltshire  7th Sherborne  Gainsborough Park   Sherborne, Dorset  Promoted from Southern Counties South (champions) Trowbridge  Doric Park   Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire  11th Wimborne  Leigh Park   Wimborne, Dorset  9th Windsor  Home Park   Windsor, Berkshire  Promoted from Southern Counties North (champions)===League table===
2018–19 ===Participating teams and locations===TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Banbury  Bodicote Park   Banbury, Oxfordshire  Runners up (lost playoff) Beaconsfield  Oak Lodge Meadow   Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire  Promoted from Southern Counties North (champions) Chippenham  Allington Fields   500  Chippenham, Wiltshire  3rd Marlborough  The Common   Marlborough, Wiltshire  Promoted from Southern Counties South (playoff) Newbury Blues  Monk's Lane  8,000  Newbury, Berkshire  Relegated from South West Premier (12th) Old Centralians  Saintbridge Sports Centre   Gloucester, Gloucestershire  7th Oxford Harlequins  Marston Ferry Road   Oxford, Oxfordshire  4th Royal Wootton Bassett  Ballard's Ash Sports Ground   Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire  6th Salisbury  Castle Road  1,500  Salisbury, Wiltshire  5th Stratford-upon-Avon  Pearcecorft   Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire  9th Swindon  Greenbridge Road   Swindon, Wiltshire  11th Trowbridge  Doric Park   Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire  Promoted from Southern Counties South (champions) Wimborne  Leigh Park   Wimborne, Dorset  10th Witney  Witney Road   Hailey, Witney, Oxfordshire  8th===Promotion play-off===This seasons play-off for promotion to the South West Premier was between Launceston and Old Centralians. Launceston had the better playing record and hosted the match at Polson Bridge, winning 33 – 22.This was the 19th play-off match, the first for Launceston and the second for Old Centralians who won promotion in 2013 beating Camborne by 25 – 15.It was the 13th win for the home team and south-west teams have also won the match on 13 occasions.----
2017–18 ===Participating teams and location===The 2017–18 South West 1 East consisted of fourteen teams; five from Oxfordshire, four from Wiltshire, two from Gloucestershire and one each from Buckinghamshire, Dorset and Warwickshire. Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Banbury  Bodicote Park   Banbury, Oxfordshire  6th Bicester  Oxford Road   Bicester, Oxfordshire  Promoted from Southern Counties North (play-off) Chippenham  Allington Fields   500  Chippenham, Wiltshire  9th Grove  Cane Lane    Grove, Oxfordshire  11th Marlow  Riverwoods Drive   Marlow, Buckinghamshire  Promoted from Southern Counties North (champions) Old Centralians  Saintbridge Sports Centre   Gloucester, Gloucestershire  4th Old Patesians  Everest Road    Cheltenham, Gloucestershire  3rd Oxford Harlequins  Marston Ferry Road   Oxford, Oxfordshire  10th Royal Wootton Bassett  Ballard's Ash Sports Ground   Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire  8th Salisbury  Castle Road  1,500  Salisbury, Wiltshire  Relegated from National League 3 South West (13th) Stratford-upon-Avon  Pearcecorft   Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire  Level transfer from Midlands 1 West (5th) Swindon  Greenbridge Road   Swindon, Wiltshire  7th Wimborne  Leigh Park   Wimborne, Dorset  Promoted from Southern Counties South (champions) Witney  Witney Road   Hailey, Witney, Oxfordshire  5th}
2016–17 ===Participating teams and location===The 2016–17 South West 1 East consisted of fourteen teams; five from Berkshire, four from Oxfordshire, three from Wiltshire and two from Gloucestershire. Eight of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The season started on 3 September 2016 and the last league matches were played on 22 April 2017.The play-off match was played a week later on 29 April 2017.TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Banbury  Bodicote Park   Banbury, Oxfordshire  promoted from Midlands 2 West (South) (champions) Chippenham  Allington Fields   500  Chippenham, Wiltshire  relegated from National League 3 South West (14th) Grove  Cane Lane    Grove, Oxfordshire  10th Maidenhead  Braywick Park  1,750  Maidenhead, Berkshire  5th Newbury Blues  Monk's Lane  8,000  Newbury, Berkshire  3rd Old Centralians  Saintbridge Sports Centre   Gloucester, Gloucestershire  relegated from National League 3 South West (12th) Old Patesians  Everest Road    Cheltenham, Gloucestershire  relegated from National League 3 South West (13th) Oxford Harlequins  Marston Ferry Road   Oxford, Oxfordshire  6th Reading  Holme Park   Sonning, Reading, Berkshire  11th Reading Abbey  Rosehill   Emmer Green, Reading, Berkshire  promoted from Southern Counties North (champions) Royal Wootton Bassett  Ballard's Ash Sports Ground   Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire  promoted from Southern Counties South (champions) Swindon  Greenbridge Road   Swindon, Wiltshire  7th Windsor  Home Park   Windsor, Berkshire  8th Witney  Witney Road   Hailey, Witney, Oxfordshire  4th===League table======Promotion play-off===Each season, the runners-up in South West 1 East and Tribute South West 1 West, participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 3 South West. The team with the best playing record, in this case Newbury, hosted the match and they beat their opponents Clevedon 25 – 22.
2015–16 The 2015–16 South West 1 East consisted of fourteen teams; four from Berkshire, three from Oxfordshire, three from Wiltshire and one each from Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset and Northamptonshire. The season started on 5 September 2015 and ended on 23 April 2016.Towcestrians finished in first place and were promoted to National League 3 South West for next season, along with the runner-up and play-off winner Salisbury.===Participating teams and location===Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Chippenham were promoted to National League 3 South West while Bletchley and Buckingham were relegated to Southern Counties North and Devizes to Southern Counties South.TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Grove  Cane Lane    Grove, Oxfordshire  10th High Wycombe  Kingsmead Road   High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire  promoted from Southern Counties North (champions) Leighton Buzzard  Wright's Meadow   Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire  7th Maidenhead  Braywick Park  1,750  Maidenhead, Berkshire  11th Newbury Blues  Monk's Lane  8,000  Newbury, Berkshire  6th Oxford Harlequins  Marston Ferry Road   Oxford, Oxfordshire  relegated from National League 3 South West (13th) Reading  Holme Park   Sonning, Reading, Berkshire  9th Salisbury  Castle Road  1,500  Salisbury, Wiltshire  promoted from Southern Counties South (play-off) Swanage & Wareham  Bestwall Road   Wareham, Dorset  promoted from Southern Counties South (champions) Swindon  Greenbridge Road   Swindon, Wiltshire  4th Towcestrians  Greens Norton Road   Towchester, Northamptonshire  2nd (lost promotion play-off) Trowbridge  Doric Park   Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire  8th Windsor  Home Park   Windsor, Berkshire  3rd Witney  Witney Road   Hailey, Witney, Oxfordshire  5th===League table======Promotion play-off===Each season, the runners-up in South West 1 East and Tribute South West 1 West, participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 3 South West. The team with the best playing record, in this case Salisbury, hosted the match and they beat their opponents Thornbury 26 – 24.
Teams 2014–15 *Bletchley – promoted from Southern Counties North*Buckingham*Chippenham – relegated from National League 3 South West*Devizes*Grove*Leighton Buzzard*Maidenhead*Newbury Blues*Reading*Swindon*Towcestrians*Trowbridge – promoted from Southern Counties South*Windsor*Witney
Teams 2013–14 *Buckingham*Cheltenham*Devizes – promoted from Southern Counties South*Grove – promoted from Southern Counties North*Maidenhead – relegated from National League 3 South West*Marlow*Newbury Blues*Oxford Harlequins – relegated from National League 3 South West*Reading*Salisbury*Swindon*Towcestrians - transferred from Midlands 1 East*Windsor*Witney
Teams 2012–13 *Bletchley*Bracknell*Cheltenham*Coney Hill*High Wycombe*Marlow*Newbury Blues – relegated from National League 3 South West*Old Centralians*Reading*Salisbury*Swanage & Wareham*Swindon*Windsor*Witney
Original teams When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as South West 2) contained the following teams:*Barnstaple*Berry Hill*Brixham*Cinderford*Devon & Cornwall Police*Devonport Services*Henley*Launceston*Newbury*Reading*Reading Abbey
South West 1 East honours ===South West 2 (1987–1993)===Originally South West 1 East and South West 1 West were combined in a single division called South West 2.It was a tier 6 league with promotion up to South West 1 and relegation down to either Western Counties or Southern Counties.+ South West 2SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsRef 1987–88  11 10  '''Berry Hill'''  Reading  Newbury, Devonport Services   1988–89  11 10  '''Matson'''  Brixham  Launceston, Devon & Cornwall Police   1989–90  11 10  '''Gordon League'''  Torquay Athletic  Bridgwater & Albion   1990–91  11 10  '''Cinderford'''  Newbury  Redingensians, Bournemouth   1991–92  11 10  '''Henley'''   Sherborne  Reading Abbey   1992–93  13 12  '''Stroud'''  Barnstaple  Old Culverhaysians  ===South West 2 (1993–1996)===The top six teams from South West 1 and the top six from London 1 were combined to create National 5 South, meaning that South West 2 dropped to become a tier 7 league. Promotion continued to South West 1 and relegation to either Western Counties or Southern Counties.+ South West 2SeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsRef 1993–94 13 12 '''Gloucester Old Boys   Taunton   Windsor   1994–95 13  12 '''Matson  Bridgwater & Albion   Marlow  1995–96 13  12 '''Launceston''' Stroud  No relegation  ===South West 2 East (1996–2009)===League restructuring by the RFU for the 1996–97 season saw South West 2 split into two regional divisions known as South West 2 East and South West 2 West, and the cancellation of National 5 South meant that both divisions became tier 6 leagues. Promotion continued to South West 1, while relegation was now to either Southern Counties North or Southern Counties South.+ South West 2 EastSeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsRef1996–97  12  22  '''Bracknell'''  Swanage & Wareham  Swindon, Chippenham  1997–98  12  22  '''Salisbury'''  Marlow  Oxford  1998–99  12  22  '''Dorchester'''  Swanage & Wareham  Bournemouth  1999–00  12  22  '''Swanage & Wareham'''  Chippenham  Salisbury  2000–01  12  22  '''Chinnor'''  Slough  High Wycombe, Witney  2001–02  12  22  '''Marlow'''  Chippenham  Olney, Redingensians, Slough  2002–03  12  22  '''Oxford Harlequins'''  Swanage & Wareham Grove, Amersham & Chiltern, Dorchester  2003–04  12  22  '''Maidenhead'''  Swanage & Wareham  High Wycombe, Frome, Stow-on-the-Wold  2004–05  14  26  '''Reading Abbey'''  Chippenham  Ivel Barbarians, Amersham & Chiltern, Windsor  2005–06  12  26  '''Cleve'''  Swanage & Wareham  Oakmeadians, Wimborne, Keynsham  2006–07  12  22  '''Redingensians'''  Bournemouth  Aylesbury, Swindon, Frome  2007–08  12  22  '''Chippenham'''  Salisbury  Tadley, Windsor, Marlow  2008–09  12  22  '''Maidenhead'''  Reading  Henley Wanderers   Green background are the promotion places.===South West 1 East (2009–present)===League restructuring by the RFU meant that South West 2 East and South West 2 West were renamed as South West 1 East and South West 1 West, with both leagues remaining at tier 6.Promotion was to National League 3 South West, while relegation continued to either Southern Counties North or Southern Counties South.+ South West 1 EastSeasonNo of teamsNo of matchesChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsRef2009–10  14  26  '''Cheltenham'''  High Wycombe  Royal Wootton Bassett, Trowbridge, Salisbury  2010–11  14  26  '''Amersham & Chiltern'''  Maidenhead  Wimborne, Oakmeadians, Wallingford  2011–12  14  26  '''Maidenhead'''  Salisbury  Olney, Buckingham, Reading Abbey  2012–13  14  26  '''Bracknell'''  Old Centralians  High Wycombe, Swanage & Wareham, Bletchley  2013–14  14  26  '''Oxford Harlequins'''  Towcestrians  Salisbury, Marlow, Cheltenham  2014–15  14  26  '''Chippenham'''  Towcestrians  Bletchley, Buckingham, Devizes  2015–16  14  26  '''Towcestrians'''  Salisbury  Swanage & Wareham, Trowbridge, High Wycombe  2016–17  14  26  '''Maidenhead'''  Newbury Blues  Reading, Reading Abbey, Windsor  2017–18  14  26  '''Old Patesians'''  Banbury  Bicester, Grove, Marlow  2018–19  14  26  '''Newbury Blues'''  Old Centralians  Stratford Upon Avon, Swindon, Witney   2019–20  14  26  '''Old Centralians'''  Royal Wootton Bassett  Salisbury, Wimborne   2020–21  14  Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. 2021–22  14  26  '''Oxford Harlequins'''  Banbury  Awaiting decision from the RFU Green background are the promotion places.
Promotion play-offs Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of South West 1 East and South West 1 West for the third and final promotion place to South West Premier. The team with the superior league record has home advantage. As of the end of the 2019–20 season the South West 1 West teams' have been the stronger with thirteen wins to the South West 1 East teams' six, while the home team has won promotion thirteen times to the away teams six.+ South West 1 (east v west) promotion play-off resultsSeasonHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttendance 2000–01  '''Stroud''' (W)  37–8  Slough (E)  Fromehall Park, Stroud, Gloucestershire  2001–02  Chippenham (E)  5–20  '''Berry Hill''' (W)  Allington Fields, Chippenham, Wiltshire  2002–03  '''Clevedon''' (W)  22–8  Swanage & Wareham (E)  Coleridge Vale Playing Fields, Clevedon, Somerset  2003–04  Swanage & Wareham (E)  19–23  '''Penryn''' (W)  Bestwall Road, Dorset   2004–05  '''Chippenham''' (E)  24–18  Coney Hill (W)  Allington Fields, Chippenham, Wiltshire  2005–06  Swanage & Wareham (E)  10–26  '''St Ives''' (W)  Bestwall Road, Dorset   2006–07  '''Bournemouth''' (E)  43–12  Brixham (W)  Chapel Gate, Bournemouth, Dorset  2007–08  '''Barnstaple''' (W)  17–6  Salisbury (E)  Pottington Road, Barnstaple, Devon  2008–09  '''Reading''' (E)  16–10  Newton Abbot (W)  Holme Park, Sonning, Reading, Berkshire  2009–10  '''Newton Abbot''' (W)  23–14  High Wycombe (E)  Rackerhayes, Newton Abbot, Devon  2010–11  '''Old Redcliffians''' (W)  52–8  Maidenhead (E)  Scotland Lane, Brislington, Bristol  2011–12  Salisbury (E)  13–13 (aet)  '''Avonmouth Old Boys''' (W)  Castle Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire  2012–13  '''Old Centralians''' (E)  25–15  Camborne (W)  Saintbridge Sports Centre, Gloucester, Gloucestershire  500 2013–14  Towcestrians (E)  18–22  '''Chard''' (W)  Greens Norton Road, Towcester, Northamptonshire  2014–15  Towcestrians (E)  20–25  '''Ivybridge''' (W)  Greens Norton Road, Towcester, Northamptonshire  2015–16  '''Salisbury''' (E)  26–24  Thornbury (W)  Castle Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire  500 2016–17  '''Newbury Blues''' (E)  25−22  Clevedon (W)  Monk's Lane, Newbury, Berkshire  2017–18  '''Exeter University''' (W)  42−31  Banbury (E)  Topsham Sports Ground, Exeter, Devon  2018–19  '''Launceston''' (W)  33–22  Old Centralians (E)  Polson Bridge, Launceston, Cornwall  1,200 2019–20  Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Royal Wootton Bassett (E) - promoted instead. 2020–21  Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. 2021–22  Cancelled due to the reorganisation of the league structure Green backgrounds represent promoted teams. E stands for South West 1 East while W stands for South West 1 West (or SW2E/SW2W for versions prior to 2009).
Number of league titles *Maidenhead (4)*Oxford Harlequins (3)*Bracknell (2)*Chippenham (2)*Matson (2)*Amersham & Chiltern (1)*Berry Hill (1)*Cheltenham (1)*Chinnor (1)*Cinderford (1)*Cleve (1)*Dorchester (1)*Gloucester Old Boys (1)*Gordon League (1)*Henley (1)*Launceston*Marlow (1)*Newbury Blues (1)*Old Centralians (1)*Old Patesians (1)*Reading Abbey (1)*Redingensians (1)*Salisbury (1)*Stroud (1)*Swanage & Wareham (1)*Towcestrians (1)
See also *South West Division RFU*Berkshire RFU*Buckinghamshire RFU*Dorset & Wilts RFU*Eastern Counties RFU*Oxfordshire RFU*English rugby union system*Rugby union in England
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