Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex

Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex (formerly Herts/Middlesex 1) is a tier 9 English Rugby Union league. It is organised by the London and South East Division Rugby Football Union for clubs in Hertfordshire and parts of north-west London that traditionally was encompassed by the historic county of Middlesex. Promotion is to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex relegation is to the Middlesex RFU merit leagues.

Historically the league was a level 8 league but following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it became a level 9 competition and adopted its current name Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex.

Departing were UCS Old Boys and Verulamians promoted to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex. Three clubs did not return for the new campaign - Bank Lane (9th) disbanded in Summer 2024 and merged with London Cornish RFC, Berkhamsted (10th) joined Herts RFU Merit South 1 and Uxbridge (13th) dropped to Middlesex RFU Merit 2. Joining were Mill Hill who re-entered the RFU league system for the first time since 2021–22.

Hendon began their league campaign but withdrew in October to join the Middlesex RFU Merit leagues leaving only 9 teams to complete the season.

Chess Valley Royston Stevenage Watford Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex teams in Hertfordshire Actonians Finsbury Park Kilburn Mill Hill Thamesians Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex teams in Greater London

Departing were Old Millhillians and Brunel University promoted to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.

Joining were Royston, relegated from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex, together with Berkhamsted, Stevenage and Finsbury Park.

Berkhamsted Chess Valley Royston Stevenage Verulamians Watford Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex teams in Hertfordshire Actonians Bank Lane Finsbury Park Kilburn Thamesians UCS Uxbridge Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex teams in Greater London

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex.

Returning were five of the ten teams from the previous season. Bank of England RFC changed their name to Bank Lane RFC during Summer 2022.

Departing were the top five from the previous season - London Scottish Lions, Barnet Elizabethans, Ealing Trailfinders 1871, Wasps FC and Saracens Amateurs - all promoted to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.

Joining were Old Millhillians, Brunel University, Watford, Uxbridge, Chess Valley and UCS Old Boys, all promoted.

Chess Valley Verulamians Watford Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex teams in Hertfordshire Actonians Bank Lane Brunel Kilburn Millhillians Thamesians UCS Uxbridge Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex teams in Greater London

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.

Verulamians Locations of the 2021-22 Herts/Middlesex 1 teams in Hertfordshire Actonians Bank of England Barnet Ealing 1871 Kilburn LS Lions Saracens Amateur Thamesians Wasps FC Locations of the 2021-22 Herts/Middlesex 1 teams in Greater London

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 Herts/Middlesex 1 was not contested.

St Albans Verulamians Locations of the 2019-20 Herts/Middlesex 1 teams in Hertfordshire Bank of England Barnet Hendon LS Lions Mill Hill Saracens Amateur Thamesians Wasps FC Locations of the 2019-20 Herts/Middlesex 1 teams in Greater London

Hitchin St Albans Locations of the 2018-19 Herts/Middlesex 1 teams in Hertfordshire BOE Barnet Finsbury P Hendon Actonians Saracens Am Staines Thamesians UCS Wasps FC Locations of the 2018-19 Herts/Middlesex 1 teams in Greater London

Royston Watford Locations of the 2017-18 Herts/Middlesex 1 teams in Hertfordshire B of E Barnet Hendon L French L Welsh Actonians Saracens A Staines UCS Wasps FC Locations of the 2017-18 Herts/Middlesex 1 teams in Greater London

• Barnet Elizabethans
• Hendon (promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2)
• Hillingdon Abbots
• London French
• London Welsh Amateur
• Old Actonians (relegated from London 3 North West)
• Old Streetonians
• Royston
• Saracens Amateurs (promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2)
• U.C.S. Old Boys
• Old Verulamians
• Wasps (relegated from London 3 North West)

• Bank of England
• Barnet Elizabethans
• Cheshunt
• Hillingdon Abbots (promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2)
• London French (promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2)
• London Welsh Amateurs
• Old Millhillnians
• Old Streetonians (relegated from London 3 North West)
• Royston
• U.C.S. Old Boys (relegated from London 3 North West)
• Verulamians

• Bank of England
• Barnet Elizabethans
• Cheshunt
• Feltham (promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2)
• Haringey Rhinos
• Kilburn Cosmos
• London Nigerian (relegated from London 3 North West)
• London Welsh Amateurs (relegated from London 3 North West)
• Old Actonians
• Old Millhillians
• Royston
• Verulamians

• Bank of England
• Barnet Elizabethans (relegated from London 3 North West)
• Belsize Park
• Cheshunt (relegated from London 3 North West)
• Hackney
• Haringey Rhinos (relegated from London 3 North West)
• Imperial Medicals (relegated from London 3 North West)
• Kilburn Cosmos
• Old Actonians
• Old Millhillians
• Royston
• Verulamians

• Bank Of England
• Belsize Park
• Hackney
• Harlequin Amateurs
• Harrow
• Hendon
• London Welsh Amateurs
• Old Actonians
• Old Merchant Taylors'
• Old Millhillians
• Verulamians
• West London

• Harlequin Amateurs
• Hackney
• Hendon
• Old Ashmoleians
• Verulamians
• Old Actonians
• Old Priorians
• Saracens Amateurs
• Wasps

When this division was created in 1992 (as Herts/Middlesex) it contained the following teams:

• Antlers - promoted from Middlesex 2 (runners up)
• Centaurs - promoted from Middlesex 1 (5th)
• Haringey Rhinos - promoted from Middlesex 1 (3rd)
• Harrow - promoted from Middlesex 1 (4th)
• Hitchin - promoted from Hertfordshire 1 (3rd)
• Hemel Hempstead - relegated from London 3 North West (10th)
• Hendon - promoted from Middlesex 1 (8th)
• London New Zealand - promoted from Middlesex 1 (6th)
• Old Meadonians - promoted from Middlesex 2 (champions)
• Stevenage Town - promoted from Hertfordshire 1 (3rd)
• St. Mary's Hospital - relegated from London 3 North West (11th)
• Twickenham - promoted from Middlesex 1 (9th)
• Uxbridge - promoted from Middlesex 1 (7th)

Originally known as Herts/Middlesex, this division was a tier 8 league with promotion to London 3 North West and relegation to either Hertfordshire 1 or Middlesex 1. The introduction of National 5 South ahead of the 1993–94 season meant that Herts/Middlesex dropped to become a tier 9 league.

Restructuring of the leagues by the RFU, which included the cancellation of National 5 South and the merging of the Hertfordshire and Middlesex regional divisions, meant that Herts/Middlesex was renamed as Herts/Middlesex 1 and was once again a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to London 3 North West, while relegation was now to the new Herts/Middlesex 2.

The introduction of London 4 North West ahead of the 2000–01 season meant Herts/Middlesex 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division. Relegation continued to Herts/Middlesex 2.

Herts/Middlesex 1 remained a tier 9 league despite national league restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to London 3 North West (formerly London 4 North West) and relegation to Herts/Middlesex 2.

• London & SE Division RFU
• Hertfordshire RFU
• Middlesex RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England