Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex

Counties 3 Hertfordshire (formerly Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex and before that 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 Hertfordshire relegation is to the Hertfordshire RFU merit leagues.

Counties 3 Hertfordshire

Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	1992; 33 years ago (1992) (as Herts/Middlesex)
Number of teams	12
Country	England
Website

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 the name Counties 3 Herts/Middlesex, however ahead of the 2025-26 season a decision was taken to split out Herfordshire RFU and Middlesex RFU clubs.

Participating clubs 2025-26

This was the first season with the league containing only Herfordshire RFU clubs.

Royston (champions) and Chess Valley (3rd) were promoted to Counties 2 Hertfordshire.

Also leaving as part of the division of Herts and Middlesex clubs were Actonians (4th), Finsbury Park (5th) and Kilburn Cosmos (6th) all promoted to Counties 2 Middlesex.

Thamesians (runners-up) moved on a level transfer to Counties 3 Surrey.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bishop's Stortford III Silver Leys 1,600 Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire New entry Cheshunt II Rosedale Sports Club Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire New entry Chess Valley II Croxley Guild of Sports Croxley, Hertfordshire New entry Cuffley Botany Bay Cricket Club Botany Bay, London Re-entry Fullerians II Coningsby Drive Watford, Hertfordshire New entry Harpenden II Redbourn Lane Harpenden, Hertfordshire New entry Hatfield Briars Lane Hatfield, Hertfordshire New entry Hitchin II King George V Playing Fields Hitchin, Hertfordshire New entry Old Grammarians Green Dragon Lane Winchmore Hill, London New entry Stevenage North Road Stevenage, Hertfordshire 8th Watford Radlett Road Watford, Hertfordshire 7th Welwyn II Hobbs Way Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire New entry

Bishop's Stortford III Cheshunt II Chess Valley II Cuffley Fullerians II Harpenden II Hatfield Hitchin II Grammarians Stevenage Watford Welwyn II Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 3 Hertfordshire teams

Participating clubs 2024–25

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. Mill Hill, a re-entry, also subsequently withdrew leaving only eight clubs to contest the remaining fixtures.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Actonians Old Actonians Sports Ground Acton, London 7th Chess Valley Croxley Guild of Sports Croxley, Hertfordshire 5th Finsbury Park Downhills Park West Green, London 3rd Kilburn Cosmos Gladstone Park Kilburn, London 11th Royston The Heath Sports Centre Royston, Hertfordshire 4th Stevenage North Road Stevenage, Hertfordshire 12th Thamesians Twickenham Green Twickenham, London 6th Watford Radlett Road Watford, Hertfordshire 8th

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

Participating clubs 2023–24

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.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Actonians Old Actonians Sports Ground Acton, London 8th Bank Lane Bank of England Sports Centre Roehampton, London 3rd Berkhamsted Lockhart Field Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire Joined from H&M Merit 2 (Runners-Up) Chess Valley Croxley Guild of Sports Croxley, Hertfordshire 11th Finsbury Park Downhills Park West Green, London Joined from Middlesex Merit 2 Kilburn Cosmos Gladstone Park Kilburn, London 9th Royston The Heath Sports Centre Royston, Hertfordshire Relegated from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex (11th) Stevenage Town North Road Stevenage, Hertfordshire Joined from H&M Merit 2 (4th) Thamesians Twickenham Green Twickenham, London 6th UCS Old Boys UCS Sports Ground Cricklewood, London 5th Uxbridge Uxbridge Sports Club Uxbridge, London 10th Verulamians Cotlandswick London Colney, Hertfordshire 4th Watford Radlett Road Watford, Hertfordshire 7th

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

Participating clubs 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review^[1] 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.^[2]

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.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Actonians Old Actonians Sports Ground Acton, London 10th Bank Lane Bank of England Sports Centre Roehampton, London 7th Brunel University Brunel University Sports Park Uxbridge, London Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (runners-up) Chess Valley Croxley Guild of Sports Croxley, Hertfordshire Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (5th) Kilburn Cosmos Gladstone Park Kilburn, London 6th Old Millhillians Mill Hill School Mill Hill, London Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (champions) Thamesians Twickenham Green Twickenham, London 8th UCS Old Boys UCS Sports Ground Cricklewood, London Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (7th) Uxbridge Uxbridge Sports Club Uxbridge, London Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (4th) Verulamians Cotlandswick London Colney, Hertfordshire 9th Watford Radlett Road Watford, Hertfordshire Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (3rd)

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

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.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Actonians Old Actonians Sports Ground Acton, London Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (runners-up) Bank Of England Bank of England Sports Centre Roehampton, London 7th Barnet Elizabethans Byng Road Chipping Barnet, London 3rd Ealing Trailfinders 1871 Trailfinders Sports Ground 4,000 West Ealing, London Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (champions) Kilburn Cosmos Gladstone Park Kilburn, London Relegated from London 3 NW (11th)[a] London Scottish Lions King's House Sports Ground Chiswick, London 5th Saracens Amateurs Bramley Sports Ground Cockfosters, London 6th Thamesians Twickenham Green Twickenham, London 8th Verulamians Cotlandswick London Colney, Hertfordshire 9th Wasps FC Twyford Avenue Sports Ground Acton, London 4th

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

Season 2020–21

On 30 October the RFU announced^[3] 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.

Participating clubs 2019–20

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bank Of England Bank of England Sports Centre Roehampton, London 7th Barnet Elizabethans Byng Road Chipping Barnet, London 9th Hendon Copthall Playing Fields Hendon, London 3rd London Scottish Lions King's House Sports Ground Chiswick, London Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (champions) Mill Hill Champions Way Mill Hill, London Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (runners up) Saracens Amateurs Bramley Sports Ground Cockfosters, London 8th St Albans Boggymead Springs St Albans, Hertfordshire 4th Thamesians Twickenham Green Twickenham, London 10th Verulamians Cotlandswick London Colney, Hertfordshire Relegated from London 3 NW (12th) Wasps FC Twyford Avenue Sports Ground Acton, London 6th

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

Participating clubs 2018–19

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bank Of England Bank of England Sports Centre Roehampton, London 3rd Barnet Elizabethans Galley Lane Chipping Barnet, London 6th Finsbury Park Downhills Park West Green, London Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (champions) Hendon Copthall Playing Fields Hendon, London 9th Hitchin King George V Playing Fields Hitchin, Hertfordshire Relegated from London 3 NW (12th) Old Actonians Old Actonians Sports Ground Acton, London 7th Saracens Amateurs Bramley Sports Ground Cockfosters, London 5th St Albans Boggymead Springs St Albans, Hertfordshire Relegated from London 3 NW (11th) Staines The Reeves Feltham, London 4th Thamesians Twickenham Green Twickenham, London Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (runners up) UCS Old Boys UCS Sports Ground Cricklewood, London 10th Wasps FC Twyford Avenue Sports Ground Acton, London 8th

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

Participating clubs 2017–18

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bank Of England Bank of England Sports Centre Roehampton, London Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (champions) Barnet Elizabethans Galley Lane Chipping Barnet, London 7th Hendon Copthall Playing Fields Hendon, London 8th London French Barn Elms Barnes, London 3rd London Welsh Old Deer Park 5,850 Richmond, London 5th Old Actonians Old Actonians Sports Ground Acton, London 9th Royston The Heath Sports Centre Royston, Hertfordshire 4th Saracens Amateurs Bramley Sports Ground Cockfosters, London 6th Staines The Reeves Feltham, London Relegated from London 3 North West (12th) UCS Old Boys UCS Sports Ground Cricklewood, London 11th (not relegated) Wasps FC Twyford Avenue Sports Ground Acton, London 10th Watford Radlett Road Watford, Hertfordshire Promoted from Herts/Middlesex 2 (runners up)

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

Participating clubs 2016–17

• 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)

Participating clubs 2015–16

• 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

Participating clubs 2014–15

• 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

Participating clubs 2013–14

• 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

Participating clubs 2012–13

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

Participating clubs 2009–10

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

Original teams

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

• Antlers^[b] - 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^[c] - promoted from Middlesex 2 (champions)
• Stevenage Town - promoted from Hertfordshire 1 (3rd)
• St. Mary's Hospital^[d] - relegated from London 3 North West (11th)
• Twickenham - promoted from Middlesex 1 (9th)
• Uxbridge - promoted from Middlesex 1 (7th)

Herts/Middlesex 1 honours

Herts/Middlesex (1992–93)

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.

Herts/Middlesex
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1992–93	13	Old Meadonians	London New Zealand	Stevenage Town,[e] Twickenham[f]
1993–94	13	Barnet	Old Millhillians	Antlers, Harrow[g]
1994–95	13	Mill Hill	Fullerians	Harpenden, Hitchin[h]
1995–96	13	Hampstead	Haringey Rhinos	London New Zealand, Upper Clapton[i]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Herts/Middlesex 1 (1996–2000)

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.

Herts/Middlesex 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1996–97	13	Harpenden	St Albans[j]	No relegation[k]
1997–98	16	Twickenham	London Nigerian	Centaurs, Hendon, Wembley[l]
1998–99[6]	14	Imperial Medicals	Hemel Hempstead	No relegation[m]
1999–00[7]	15	Bank Of England	London New Zealand	Multiple teams[n]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Herts/Middlesex 1 (2000–2009)

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
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2000–01[8]	10	Richmond	London Scottish	No relegation
2001–02[9]	10	CS Rugby 1863	Old Hamptonians	Mill Hill, Uxbridge
2002–03[10]	10	Haringey Rhinos	Enfield Ignatians	Feltham
2003–04[11]	9	Tring	Stevenage Town	Chiswick
2004–05[12]	10	Hitchin	Hammersmith & Fulham	Chess Valley, Hemel Hempstead, Old Actonians
2005–06[13]	10	Finchley	U.C.S. Old Boys	Old Grammarians, Old Millhillians
2006–07[14]	10	Hemel Hempstead	Old Ashmoleans	Harlequin Amateurs, Mill Hill, Cheshunt
2007–08[15]	10	Chiswick	Old Merchant Taylors' Lambs (2nd XV)	No relegation[16]
2008–09[17]	10	Cheshunt	Old Streetonians	Old Millhillians
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Herts/Middlesex 1 (2009–present)

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.

Herts/Middlesex 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2009–10[18]	10	Wasps Amateurs	Old Haberdashers	Hillingdon Abbots
2010–11[19]	12	H.A.C.	London Welsh Amateurs	Kilburn Cosmos, Old Grammarians
2011–12[20]	10	Wasps Amateurs	Old Priorians	Saracens Amateurs, Hendon, Harlequin Amateurs
2012–13[21]	11	Harrow	Old Merchant Taylors'	West London, Hendon, London Welsh Amateurs
2013–14[22]	12	Hackney	Belsize Park	Imperial Medicals
2014–15[23]	12	Old Actonians	London Nigerian	Feltham, Haringey Rhinos
2015–16[24]	12	Kilburn Cosmos	Cheshunt	Old Millhillians, Bank Of England
2016–17[25]	11	Verulamians	Old Streetonians	Hillingdon Abbots RFC
2017–18[26]	12	London Welsh	Royston	London French, Watford
2018–19[27]	12	Hitchin	Finsbury Park	Staines, Old Actonians
2019–20[28]	10[o]	Hendon	St Albans	Mill Hill
2020–21	10
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Chiswick (2)^[p]
• Hitchin (2)
• Wasps Amateurs (2)
• Bank Of England (1)
• Barnet (1)
• Cheshunt (1)
• CS Rugby 1863 (1)
• Finchley (1)
• H.A.C. (1)
• Hackney (1)
• Hampstead (1)
• Haringey Rhinos (1)
• Harpenden (1)
• Harrow (1)
• Hemel Hempstead (1)
• Hendon (1)
• Imperial Medicals (1)
• Kilburn Cosmos (1)
• London Welsh (1)
• Mill Hill (1)
• Old Actonians (1)
• Richmond (1)
• Tring (1)
• Twickenham (1)
• Verulamians (1)

See also

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

Notes

1. Despite finishing 12th in L3NW in season 2019-20 Harrow RFC were not relegated, instead Kilburn Cosmos dropped to Herts/Middlesex 1 for season 2021-22.
2. Currently known as Teddington RFC.^[4]
3. Old Meadonians would be renamed as Chiswick RFC in 1996.^[5]
4. In 1997 St. Mary's Hospital become part of Imperial Medicals Rugby Club.
5. Stevenage Town were relegated to Hertfordshire 1.
6. Twickenham were relegated to Middlesex 1.
7. Antlers and Harrow were both relegated to Middlesex 1.
8. Harpenden and Hitchin were both relegated to Hertfordshire 1.
9. London New Zealand and Upper Clapton were relegated to the newly introduced Herts/Middlesex 2.
10. League restructuring meant that the top eight clubs including Old Meadonians, Tring, Hackney, Uxbridge and Mill Hill were promoted to London 3 North West. 5th place Old Elizabethans were also due to be promoted but would instead merge with Barnet to form Barnet Elizabethans playing in London 2 North.
11. League restructuring meant there was no relegation.
12. Relegated sides Centaurs and Wembley would drop out of the leagues.
13. No relegation as division would increase from 14 to 15 teams the next season.
14. Relegated teams included Epping Upper Clapton, Hitchin, Old Haberdashers, H.A.C., Haringey Rhinos, U.C.S. Old Boys and CS Rugby 1863. The reason for so many relegated teams was due to league restructuring for the following season meaning that the division would decrease from 15 to 10 teams.
15. League reduced from 12 to 10 teams after UCS Old Boys drop out.
16. Chiswick's titles include one won when known as Old Meadowians RFC.