Counties 4 Yorkshire

Counties 4 Yorkshire
Current season or competition:
2022–23 Counties 4 Yorkshire
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 39 years ago (1987)
Number of teams15
7 (North-West Division)
7 (South-East Division)
Country England
HoldersBramley Phoenix (1st title) (2019–20)
(promoted to Yorkshire 3)
Most titlesHessle, Hullensians, Old Rishworthians, Rotherham Phoenix, Stocksbridge, Wibsey (2 titles)
WebsiteEngland RFU

Counties 4 Yorkshire is an English rugby union league at the tenth tier of the domestic competition for teams from Yorkshire. Club rugby in Yorkshire operates without promotion play-offs, meaning that the top two teams are automatically promoted to Yorkshire 3 and the bottom two teams were relegated to Yorkshire 5 until the RFU made changes to the Yorkshire league structure. Each season, a team from Counties 3 Yorkshire or Yorkshire 4 may be picked to take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a national competition for clubs at levels 9-12.

For the 2017-18 season, Yorkshire 4 was broken up into two regional leagues - Yorkshire 4 (North West) and Yorkshire 4 (South East) - while Yorkshire 5 ceased to exist. Teams from both Yorkshire 4 and 5 were transferred into the regional divisions depending on location. After the teams have played each other home and away, in February the clubs are reallocated into a Premier league and a Shield league for one further round of fixtures. The top four teams from each league play in the Premier and the other teams play in the Shield. The top two teams in the Premier league are promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire.

Participating clubs 2026-27

Ahead of the new season, a decision was made to introduce 2XVs into the league(s), to dispense with the North / South designation and to split the clubs out into A and B & C divisions.

A Division

Departing were champions Nestle Rowntree and runners-up York Railway Institute, both promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire A.

Wetherby II were initially placed in the league but were later reallocated to Counties 3 Yorkshire A.

Selby III were initially placed in the league but withdrew before the season began.

B Division

North Ribblesdale II and Yarnbury II were initially placed in the league but instead will compete in Counties 3 Yorkshire A and Counties 3 Yorkshire B respectively.

C Division

Departing were Maltby promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire B

Doncaster Phoenix II were initially placed in the league but withdrew before the season began.

Sheffield Medicals (5th (South)) did not return for the new season.

Participating clubs 2025-26

North division

Departing were Hornsea, promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire as champions.

Thirsk RUFC joined the league after getting relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire last season.

South division

Departing were Dearne Valley (champions) promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire.

Knottingley (7th in 2024-25) and Withernsea (new entry) both started but subsequently withdrew from the league leaving six clubs to contest the outstanding fixtures.

Participating clubs 2024-25

For the new season the league was once more split into North / South division as it had been most recently in season 2021-22. Three new teams, all from South Yorkshire, were added to the South league to make a total of seven, with eight competing in the North division.

Departing were Old Otliensians and Thornensians, promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire as champions and runners-up respectively

Hornsea won the league on the final day of the season and doing so got promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire for the 25/26 season.

North division

South division

Dearne Valley won the south division and join the Northern division winners Hornsea in Counties 3 Yorkshire for the 25/26 season

Participating clubs 2023-24

Departing were Mosborough (4th in 2022-23) who moved on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands East (North). Joining were three sides relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire together with Richmondshire who re-entered the Yorkshire Rugby leagues having most recently competed in Durham/Northumberland 3 for season 2021-22 during which they withdrew in January 2022.

Participating clubs 2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Yorkshire 4 albeit consolidated back into one having previously been split NW and SE. Eleven of the teams from season 2021-22 returned with two promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire and two (Sheffield Oaks and Stanley Rodillians) withdrawing from the leagues. So with four departing but only one arriving the league was reduced from 15 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.

North West division

York RI and Nestle Rowntree were level transferred from Yorkshire 4 South East for the current season.

South East division

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. This resulted in Yorkshire 4 not being contested.

Participating clubs 2019-20

North West division

South East division

Premier and Shield divisions

Premier participants

  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Burley
  • Halifax
  • Leeds Modernians
  • Mosborough
  • Stanley Rodillians
  • Stocksbridge
  • York Railway Institute

Shield participants

  • Hessle
  • Knaresborough
  • Leeds Medics & Dentists
  • Nestle Rowntree
  • Sheffield Oaks
  • Thirsk

Participating clubs 2018-19

North West division

South East division

Premier and Shield divisions

Premier participants

  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Hessle
  • Knaresborough
  • Leeds Medics & Dentisists
  • Mosborough
  • Ossett
  • Wibsey
  • York Railway Institute

Shield participants

  • Burley
  • Halifax
  • Nestle Rowntree
  • Sheffield Oaks
  • Stanley Rodilians
  • Stocksbridge
  • Thirsk

Participating clubs 2017-18

North West division

South East division

Premier and Shield divisions

In February, after the teams have played each other home and away, the clubs in both Yorkshire 4 leagues are reallocated into a Premier league and a Shield league for one further round of fixtures. The top four teams from each league play in the Premier and the other teams play in the Shield.

Premier participants

  • Burley
  • Knaresborough
  • Leeds Corinthians
  • Mosborough
  • Ossett
  • Rotherham Phoenix
  • Stanley Rodillians
  • Wibsey

Shield participants

Rossington Hornets did not participate in the Shield competition.

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 4

Yorkshire 4 (1987–1993)

The original Yorkshire 4 was a tier 12 league with promotion up to Yorkshire 3 and relegation down to Yorkshire 5.

Yorkshire 4
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1987–8811WibseyOld ModerniansSkipton, Burley
1988–8911HessleWest LeedsWetherby, Yorkshire CW
1989–9011Bradford SalemSheffield OaksPhoenix Park
1990–9111NorthallertonDinningtonYorkshire CW
1991–9211HullensiansHalifax VandalsNo relegation
1992–9313OssettLeeds YMCAYorkshire CW
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Yorkshire 4 (1993–2000)

The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 4 dropped to become a tier 13 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 4 remain at tier 13.

Yorkshire 4
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1993–9413Phoenix ParkSkiptonNo relegation
1994–9513MosboroughBaildonKnaresborough
1995–9613StocksbridgeHornseaMultiple teams
1996–979York Railway InstituteLeeds CorinthiansNo relegation
1997–989HeathBaildonKnaresborough
1998–9910Old RishworthiansKnottingleyNestle Rowntree, Ossett, Garforth
1999–009Old ModerniansMosboroughMarist, Hornsea, Rotherham Clifton
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Yorkshire 4 (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 4 became a tier 10 league.

Yorkshire 4
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–0111StocksbridgeOld RishworthiansEdlington Granby, Thornensians
2001–0212KnottingleyMoortownMosborough, Stanley Rodillians, Old Rishworthians
2002–0312RoundhegiansThornensiansSheffield Medicals, Sheffield Oaks
2003–0412BarnsleyBaildonHalifax Vandals, Hornsea, Wakefield Cougars
2004–0511Wath Upon DearneOld ModerniansWetherby, Burley
2005–0612AireboroughDoncaster PhoenixHalifax Vandals, Stanley Rodillians, Hemsworth
2006–0712HullensiansCastlefordSheffield Oaks, Mosborough, Wetherby
2007–0812HessleOld OtliensiansStocksbridge, Knaresborough, Hemsworth
2008–0912Old RishworthiansBramley PhoenixBurley
2009–1012Rotherham PhoenixYork Railway InstituteHornsea, Adwick Le Street
2010–1112Sheffield MedicalsBurleyMarist
2011–1212Leeds Medics & DentistsHemsworthStanley Rodillians
2012–1312Old GroviansHarrogate PythonsKnaresborough, Marist
2013–1412Old OtliensiansStocksbridgeHessle
2014–1512WetherbyHalifaxKnaresborough, Hornsea
2015–1612Halifax VandalsWensleydaleSheffield Oaks, Mosborough
2016–1711HemsworthSkiptonNo relegation
2017–1815Rotherham PhoenixLeeds CorinthiansNo relegation
2018–1915WibseyOssettNo relegation
2019–2014Bramley PhoenixBurleyNo relegation
2020–2114
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

Notes

  1. ↑ League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant nine clubs were promoted into Yorkshire 3 including Airebronians, Wetherby, Baildon, Old Rishworthians, Leeds Corinthians, Burley and Heath.
  2. ↑ League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant no clubs were relegated and eight clubs (originally nine) would be promoted from Yorkshire 5.
  3. ↑ 3rd place Hornsea were promoted instead of runners up Burley who were instead demoted to Yorkshire 5.
  4. ↑ Yorkshire league restructuring due to reintroduction of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1996–97 season saw ten clubs relegated from Yorkshire 4; New Earswick, Rawmarsh, Withernsea, Adwick le Street and De La Salle (Sheffield) were relegated into Yorkshire 6, while BP Chemicals, Garforth, Danum Phoenix, Rowntrees and Burley were relegated into Yorkshire 5.
  5. ↑ Stanley Rodillians were also promoted.
  6. ↑ No relegation due to cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1997–98 season.
  7. ↑ No promotion this season as division to increase from 9 to 11 teams for the following season.
  8. ↑ No relegation as Yorkshire 5 was abolished at the end of the 2016-17 season.

See also

References

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