Counties 4 Surrey is a rugby union competition covering the English county of Surrey and parts of south-west London. It sits at the 10th tier of the English rugby union system. The teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Promoted teams move up to Surrey 3 and relegated teams move down to Counties 5 Surrey. At the end of the 1999–2000 season, Surrey 4 was cancelled with teams automatically going up to Surrey 3 or dropping out of the league. After a hiatus of four seasons the division was reinstated.
Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase – a level 9–11 national competition.
Teams for 2026–27
Departing were Old Emanuel, Cranleigh and London Media all promoted to Counties 3 Surrey whilst London French (9th) were relegated to Counties 5 Surrey.
During the off season Old Freemans rebranded as Ashstead Frees.
Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Surrey teams in Surrey
Teams for 2023–24
Departing the league were Bec Old Boys and Old Georgians, promoted to Counties 3 Surrey whilst Croydon were relegated to Counties 5 Surrey. Old Suttonians who finished bottom (9th) 23 but declined to return in Counties 5 Surrey instead withdrawing from league rugby to return to the merit leagues.
Joining were Cranleigh, relegated from Counties 3 Surrey, Haselmere and Old Hamptonians, both promoted from Counties 5 Surrey together with Southwark Lancers who came on a level transfer from the Kent Rugby leagues. Re-entering on a level transfer from the Middlesex leagues were Staines who had most recently competed in Herts/Middlesex 2 in 2021-22.
With four leaving and five joining the league was made up of 10 sides having had 9 in its inaugural year.
Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Surrey teams in Surrey
Teams for 2022–23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Surrey 3 but while that league had been at level 11 of the English rugby pyramid the new league was at level 10.
Six of the teams had previously competed in Surrey 3 and they were joined from the top two from Surrey 4 - Old Paulines and Streatham-Croydon. Also joining were Old Georgians who elected to drop two leagues from L3SW at level 8 for the new season.
Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Surrey teams in Surrey
Teams for 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.
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 Surrey 4 was not contested.
The original Surrey 4 was tier 11 league with promotion to Surrey 3 and relegation to Surrey 5, until that division was cancelled at the end of the 1991–92 season.
The creation of National 5 South meant that Surrey 4 dropped from a tier 11 league to a tier 12 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion was to Surrey 3 and there was no relegation as Surrey 4 was at the lowest level of the league structure.
The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Surrey 4 reverted to being a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Surrey 3 and there was no relegation. Surrey 4 was cancelled at the end of the 1999–00 season, with the majority of teams transferring to Surrey 3 or dropping out of the league system.
Surrey 4 was reintroduced as a tier 12 league for the 2005–06 season. Promotion was to Surrey 3 and, as the division was at the lowest level of the English league system, there was no relegation.
↑In June 2019 Reigate RFC senior section 'absorbed' Horley RFC seniors and stated an intention to compete as Reigate & Horley in season 2019-20.
↑Restructuring of the Surrey leagues due to the introduction of Surrey 5 for the following season meant that champions University of Surrey were not promoted.
↑Due to the low number of teams Surrey 4 would be cancelled until the 2005-06 season. Old Abingdonian and Economicals would be promoted to Surrey 3, Kings Cross Steelers would transfer to East Counties 3 South while the remaining teams would drop out of the league altogether.
↑Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Streatham Croydon RFC". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rded.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p.577.
↑Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Streatham Croydon RFC". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rded.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p.577.
↑Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Streatham Croydon RFC". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rded.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p.577.
England
