Counties 3 Yorkshire

Counties 3 Yorkshire
Current season or competition:
2023–24 Counties 3 Yorkshire
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 39 years ago (1987)
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersHemsworth (2nd title) (2022–23)
(promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire)
Most titlesAireborough, Heath, Hemsworth, Leeds Corinthians, Roundhegians, Wetherby, Wath upon Dearne, Yarnbury, Barnsley (2 titles)
WebsiteEngland RFU

Counties 3 Yorkshire, previously known as Yorkshire 3, is an English rugby union league at the ninth tier of the domestic competition. Club rugby in Yorkshire operates without promotion play-offs meaning that the top two teams are automatically promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire and the bottom two teams are relegated to Counties 4 Yorkshire. Each season a team from Counties 3 Yorkshire or Counties 4 Yorkshire may be picked to take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a national competition for clubs at levels 9–12.

Participating clubs 2026-27

Ahead of the new season a decision was taken to introduce 2XVs into the league(s) and to split the clubs out into A (North & East) and B (South & West) divisions.

A Division

Departing were Leeds Corinthians and Wheatley Hills, both promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire B, while Thornensians were relegated to Counties 4 Yorkshire C.

Wensleydale II were initially placed in the league but were reallocated to Counties 4 Yorkshire A before the season started.

B Division

Cleckheaton II were initially placed in the league but before the season began were reallocated to Counties 4 Yorkshire B.

Participating clubs 2025–26

Departing were Old Otliensians and Halifax, both promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire while Thirsk were relegated to Counties 4 Yorkshire (North).

In February 2026 Dearne Valley, promoted from Counties 4 Yorkshire (South) as champions, withdrew from the league, leaving eleven sides to contest the remaining fixtures.

Participating clubs 2024–25

Departing were Northallerton and Halifax Vandals, both promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire while Sheffield Medicals were relegated to Counties 4 Yorkshire.

Participating clubs 2023–24

Departing were Hemsworth and Ossett, both promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire. Thornensians (10th), Knottingley (11th) and Leeds Medics & Dentists (12th) were relegated to Counties 4 Yorkshire.

Participating clubs 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Yorkshire 3 with teams ranked 4th to 12th returning (1st to 3rd were 'promoted' to Counties 2 Yorkshire and the bottom two 'relegated' to Counties 4 Yorkshire) and supplemented by top 2 from Yorkshire 4 and one coming down from Yorkshire 2 so with five departing but only three arriving the league was reduced from 14 teams to 12.

Participating clubs 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.

Season 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 Yorkshire 3 was not contested.

Participating clubs 2019–20

Participating clubs 2018–19

Participating clubs 2017–18

Participating clubs 2016–17

Participating clubs 2015–16

Participating clubs 2014–15

Participating clubs 2013–14

Participating clubs 2012–13

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

Yorkshire 3 honours

Yorkshire 3 (1987–1993)

The original Yorkshire 3 was a tier 11 league with promotion up to Yorkshire 2 and relegation down to Yorkshire 4.

Yorkshire 3
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1987–8811BridlingtonMaristNorthallerton, Bradford Salem
1988–8911YarnburyOld OtliensiansHeath, Leeds CSSA
1989–9011LeodiensianKnottingleyBaildon
1990–9111Bradford SalemSheffield OaksAireborians
1991–9211Wath upon DearneOld ModerniansNo relegation
1992–9313HessleHalifax VandalsBaildon
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Yorkshire 3 (1993–2000)

The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 3 dropped to become a tier 12 league. 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 Yorkshire 3 remain at tier 12.

Yorkshire 3
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1993–9413AireboroughWibseyLeeds YMCA
1994–9513WetherbySkiptonBurley
1995–9613HullensiansPhoenix ParkMultiple teams
1996–9710Huddersfield Y.M.C.A.West LeedsNo relegation
1997–9810HemsworthStanley RodilliansHornsea
1998–9910York Railway InstituteHeathWibsey, Old Modernians, Wetherby
1999–0010Leeds CorinthiansMoortownStanley Rodillians, Baildon, Stocksbridge
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Yorkshire 3 (2000–present)

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 Yorkshire 3 became a tier 9 league.

Yorkshire 3
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–0112SkiptonMalton and NortonHullensians, Sheffield Oaks, Moortown
2001–0212HeathMalton and NortonHessle, Roundhegians, Barnsley
2002–0312KnottingleyStocksbridgeHalifax Vandals
2003–0412PocklingtonCastlefordLeeds Corinthians, Wath upon Dearne
2004–0512BarnsleyWest LeedsHemsworth, Bramley Phoenix
2005–0612HeathYork Railway InstituteOld Modernians, Castleford
2006–0712YarnburySkiptonStocksbridge, Northallerton
2007–0812MoortownCastlefordYork Railway Institute, Thornensians
2008–0912West Park LeedsHullensiansWath upon Dearne
2009–1012RoundhegiansOld RishworthiansGarforth
2010–1112Wath upon DearneGooleOld Otliensians
2011–1212RoundhegiansSheffield MedicalsHalifax Vandals
2012–1314Old RishworthiansBaildonYork Railway Institute, Hessle
2013–1414GooleLeeds Medics and DentistsSkipton
2014–1514Old GroviansCastlefordHemsworth, Burley
2015–1614WetherbyThornensiansRotherham Phoenix, Bramley Phoenix
2016–1714Halifax VandalsGooleHalifax
2017–1814NorthallertonOtliensiansLeeds Medics & Dentists, Stocksbridge
2018–1914WensleydaleThornensiansLeeds Modernians
2019–2014Leeds CorinthiansBaildonAireborough, Rotherham Phoenix
2020–2114BarnsleyHarrogate Pythons Old Otliensians
2024-25 Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant seven clubs were promoted into Yorkshire 2 including Dinnington, West Leeds, Northallerton, Withernsea and Sheffield Tigers.
  2. ↑ League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant no clubs were relegated and nine clubs would be promoted from Yorkshire 4.
  3. ↑ Yorkshire league restructuring due to reintroduction of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1996–97 season saw nine clubs, including Marist, Ossett, Stanley Rodillians, York Railway Institute, Knottingley, Old Rishworthians, Mosborough, Heath, Leeds Corinthians, Baildon relegated from Yorkshire 3; Marist and Ossett, were relegated to Yorkshire 4, while the other seven relegated sides dropped into Yorkshire 5.
  4. ↑ No relegation due to cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1997–98 season.
  5. ↑ Barnsley, Hessle, Goole, West Leeds and Doncaster Phoenix were also promoted. This was due to the restructure of the Yorkshire League increasing the number of teams in the divisions above, meaning that there were a lot of promotions at the end of this season.
  6. ↑ Only 1 team relegated at end of season meaning 13th placed Stocksbridge were safe.

References

  1. ↑ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "1998–1999 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "1999–2000 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "2000-2001 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "2001-2002 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "2002-2003 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "2003-2004 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "2004-2005 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "2005-2006 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "2006-2007 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "2007-2008 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "2008-2009 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "2009-2010 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "2010-2011 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "2011-2012 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "2012-2013 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "2013-2014 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  18. ↑ "2014-2015 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  19. ↑ "2015-2016 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  20. ↑ "2016-2017 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  21. ↑ "2017-18 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  22. ↑ "2018-19 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  23. ↑ "Men's North Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.