Eastern Counties 5

Eastern Counties 5 was an English level 13 Rugby Union league with teams from Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk taking part. Promoted teams used to move up to Eastern Counties 4 and relegation was to Eastern Counties 6 until that division was cancelled at the end of the 1991–92 season. After ten seasons Eastern Counties 5 was cancelled at the end of the 1996–97 campaign.

Eastern Counties 5

Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	1987; 38 years ago (1987)
Ceased	1997; 28 years ago (1997)
Number of teams	9
Country	England
Holders	Millwall (1st title) (1996–97) (promoted to East Counties 4 South)
Website	ecrurugby.com

Original teams

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

• Bancroft
• Dereham
• Haverhill & District
• London Hospital^[a]
• Loughton
• March^[b]
• Norwich Union
• Old Brentwoods
• Orwell
• Sawston
• Swaffham
• Thurston

Eastern Counties 5 honours

Eastern Counties 5 (1987–1993)

The original Eastern Counties 5 was a tier 12 league with promotion up to Eastern Counties 4 and relegation down to Eastern Counties 6 until that division was cancelled at the end of the 1991–92 season.^[1]

Eastern Counties 5
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1987–88[2]	12	Bancroft	Old Brentwoods	Orwell
1988–89[3]	9	London Hospital	Loughton	Sawston
1989–90[4]	10	Haverhill & District	Thames Sports	Chigwell
1990–91[5]	9	Dereham	Old Cooperians	No relegation[c]
1991–92[6]	11	Ongar	Hadleigh[d]	No relegation[e]
1992–93[7]	11	May & Baker	Broadland	No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Eastern Counties 5 (1993–1996)

The creation of National 5 South meant that Eastern Counties 5 dropped from a tier 12 league to a tier 13 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to Eastern Counties 4 and there was no relegation.

Eastern Counties 5
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1993–94[8]	12	Mersea Island	Mayfield Old Boys	No relegation
1994–95[9]	7	Sawston	Rayleigh	No relegation
1995–96[10]	6	Norwich Union	Stanford Le Hope	No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Eastern Counties 5 (1996–1997)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Eastern Counties 5 once more became a tier 12 league. Promotion continued to Eastern Counties 4 and there was no relegation. At the end of the 1996–97 Eastern Counties 5 was discontinued and all teams transferred into Eastern Counties 4.

Eastern Counties 5
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1996–97[11]	9	Millwall	Swaffham[f]	No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Bancroft (1)
• Dereham (1)
• Haverhill & District (1)
• London Hospital (1)
• May & Baker (1)
• Mersea Island (1)
• Millwall (1)
• Norwich Union (1)
• Ongar (1)
• Sawston (1)

See also

• London & SE Division RFU
• Eastern Counties RU
• Essex RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

Notes

1. Since 1995 have been known as St Barts and The Royal London RFC.
2. Currently known as March Bears RUFC.
3. No relegation as league was to increase from 9 to 11 teams for the following season.
4. Restructuring of the Eastern Counties leagues due to the cancellation of Eastern Counties 6 at the end of the season, meant that all eleven teams were promoted from the division into Eastern Counties 4.
5. No relegation due to cancellation of Eastern Counties 6 at the end of the season.
6. The cancellation of Eastern Counties 5 at the end of the season meant that all clubs were promoted into Eastern Counties 4.