Counties 5 Kent

{{Short description|English rugby union league}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}} {{Use British English|date=May 2015}} {{ Infobox rugby league cup |title = Counties 3 Kent | logo = |sport = Rugby Union |teams = |founded = {{Start date and age|1987}}

|champion = |season = |most_champs = Midland Bank |count = 2 |website = }}

'''Counties 5 Kent''' (formerly Kent 3) is an English Rugby Union league that is the lowest RFU league for clubs in south-east London and Kent. Promoted teams go up to Counties 4 Kent and relegation is to the Kent RFU merit leagues.

Dwindling numbers of teams meant that Kent 3 folded at the end of the 2007–08 season, with all sides automatically promoted to what was then Kent 2. However, following a 15 year hiatus, and after the RFU's Adult Competition Review in 2022 - and the decision by Kent Rugby to allow reserve teams to participate in county leagues - from season 2023–24 it was resurrected and adopted its current name '''Counties 5 Kent'''.

==2025–26==

Departing were East Peckham & Paddock Wood, Sevenoaks III and Beckenham III, all promoted to Counties 4 Kent.

Ashford II (11th) did not return for the new season.

Greenwich (10th in 2024-25) withdrew from the league in early 2026 leaving 11 clubs to contest the outstanding fixtures.

{| class="wikitable sortable" width=100% |- !Team !Ground !Capacity !City/Area !Previous season |- | Askeans || Rectory Field || 6,000 || Blackheath, London || 6th |- | Beccehamian II || Sparrow's Den || || West Wickham, London || 8th |- | Blackheath III || Well Hall || || Eltham, London || New entry |- | Bromley III || Barnet Wood Road || || Hayes, London || New entry |- | Edenbridge || Coomb Field || || Edenbridge, Kent || Re-entry |- | Lordswood || Lordswood Sports & Social Club || || Chatham, Kent || 5th |- | Medway III || Priestfields || || Rochester, Kent || Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (12th) |- | Old Alleynians III || The Common || || Dulwich, London || 4th |- | Old Elthamians II || Hospital Ground || || Chislehurst, London || New entry |- | Park House II || Barnet Wood Road || || Hayes, London || 9th |- | Sidcup III || Crescent Farm || || Sidcup, London || 7th |- |}

{{Location map+|Greater London|width=400|float=right|caption=Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 5 Kent teams in Greater London|places= {{location map~ |Greater London|lat=51.4581184|long=0.0479000|label={{background color|white|Askeans}}|position=left|label_size=80}} {{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.3690605|long=-0.0104287 |label={{no break|{{background color|white|Beccehamian II}}}}|position=left|label_size=80}} {{location map~ |Greater London |lat=51.45782 |long=0.04584 |label={{no break|{{background color|white|Blackheath III}}}}|position=right|label_size=80}} {{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.3715286|long=0.0244600 |label={{background color|white|Bromley III}}|position=right|label_size=80}}

{{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.440682|long=-0.074955|label={{no break|{{background color|white|Alleynians III}}}}|position=left|label_size=80}} {{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.41792 |long=0.08476 |label={{lower|{{background color|white|Elthamians II}}}}|position=left|label_size=80}} {{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.3711281|long=0.0261221 |label={{background color|white|Park<br>House II}}|position=bottom|label_size=80}} {{location map~ |Greater London|lat=51.4264297|long=0.0913500 |label={{background color|white|Sidcup III}}|position=right|label_size=80}} }}

{{Location map+|Kent|width=400|float=right|caption=Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 5 Kent teams in Kent|places= {{location map~ |Kent|lat=51.194724|long=0.0608780|label={{background color|white|Edenbridge}}|position=right|label_size=80}} {{location map~ |Kent|lat=51.340572|long=0.5432983|label={{lower|{{background color|white|Lordswood}}}}|position=right|label_size=80}} {{location map~|Kent|lat=51.3746569|long=0.4939288|label={{background color|white|Medway III}}|position=right|label_size=80}} }}

==2024–25==

Departing were Canterbury III, Bromley II and Old Colfeians II, all promoted to Counties 4 Kent.

Joining were Lordswood, relegated from Counties 4 Kent and Sidcup III who finished 9th in Counties 4 Kent but elected to be relegated and in doing so gave Footscray (11th) a reprieve in the league above. New entries to the league were Beckenham III, Park House II, Old Alleynians III and East Peckham & Paddock Wood.

{| class="wikitable sortable" width=100% |- !Team !Ground !Capacity !City/Area !Previous season |- | Ashford II || Kinney's Field || || Ashford, Kent || 6th |- | Askeans || Rectory Field || 6,000 || Blackheath, London || 5th |- | Beccehamian II || Sparrow's Den || || West Wickham, London || 7th |- | Beckenham III || Balmoral Avenue || || Beckenham, London || New entry |- | East Peckham & Paddock Wood || Putlands Sports & Leisure Centre || || Paddock Wood, Kent || New entry |- | Greenwich || Plumstead Common || || Plumstead, London || 8th |- | Lordswood || Lordswood Sports & Social Club || || Chatham, Kent || Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (12th) |- | Old Alleynians III || The Common || || Dulwich, London || New entry |- | Park House II || Barnet Wood Road || || Hayes, London || New entry |- | Sevenoaks III || Knole Paddock || 1,000 || Sevenoaks, Kent || 4th |- | Sidcup III || Crescent Farm || || Sidcup, London || Requested drop Counties 4 Kent (9th) |- |}

{{Location map+|Greater London|width=400|float=right|caption=Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 5 Kent teams in Greater London|places= {{location map~ |Greater London|lat=51.4581184|long=0.0479000|label={{raise|{{background color|white|Askeans}}}}|position=left|label_size=80}} {{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.3690605|long=-0.0104287 |label={{lower|{{no break|{{background color|white|Beccehamian II}}}}}}|position=left|label_size=80}} {{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.3965988|long=-0.0391510|label={{no break|{{background color|white|Beckenham III}}}}|position=left|label_size=80}} {{location map~ |Greater London|lat=51.4815984|long=0.0841222|label={{background color|white|Greenwich}}|position=right|label_size=80}} {{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.440682|long=-0.074955|label={{no break|{{background color|white|Alleynians III}}}}|position=left|label_size=80}} {{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.3711281|long=0.0261221 |label={{background color|white|Park<br>House II}}|position=right|label_size=80}} {{location map~ |Greater London|lat=51.4264297|long=0.0913500 |label={{background color|white|Sidcup III}}|position=right|label_size=80}} }}

{{Location map+|Kent|width=400|float=right|caption=Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 5 Kent teams in Kent|places= {{location map~|Kent|lat=51.156788|long=0.8817633|label={{background color|white|Ashford II}}|position=right|label_size=80}} {{location map~ |Kent|lat=51.172251|long=0.3884572|label={{background color|white|EP & PW}}|position=right|label_size=80}} {{location map~ |Kent|lat=51.340572|long=0.5432983|label={{raise|{{background color|white|Lordswood}}}}|position=right|label_size=80}} {{location map~ |Kent|lat=51.2738095|long=0.1953513|label={{lower|{{no break|{{background color|white|Sevenoaks III}}}}}}|position=right|label_size=80}} }}

==2023–24==

{| class="wikitable sortable" width=100% |- !Team !Ground !Capacity !City/Area !Previous season |- | Ashford II || Kinney's Field || || Ashford, Kent || New entry |- | Askeans || Rectory Field || 6,000 || Blackheath, London || Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (13th) |- | Beccehamian II || Sparrow's Den || || West Wickham, London || Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (11th) |- | Bromley II || Barnet Wood Road || || Hayes, London || New entry |- | Canterbury III || Marine Travel Ground || 1,500 (75 seats) || Canterbury, Kent || New entry |- | Greenwich || Plumstead Common || || Plumstead, London || Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (12th) |- | Old Colfeians II || Horn Park || || Lee, London || New entry |- | Sevenoaks III || Knole Paddock || 1,000 || Sevenoaks, Kent || New entry |- |}

{{Location map+|Greater London|width=400|float=right|caption=Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 5 Kent teams in Greater London|places= {{location map~ |Greater London|lat=51.4581184|long=0.0479000|label={{lower|{{background color|white|Askeans}}}}|position=right|label_size=80}} {{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.3690605|long=-0.0104287 |label={{no break|{{background color|white|Beccehamian II}}}}|position=left|label_size=80}} {{Location map~|Greater London|lat=51.3715286|long=0.0244600 |label={{background color|white|Bromley II}}|position=right|label_size=80}} {{location map~ |Greater London|lat=51.4815984|long=0.0841222|label={{background color|white|Greenwich}}|position=top|label_size=80}} {{location map~|Greater London|lat=51.449445|long=0.0134430|label={{background color|white|Colfeians II}}|position=left|label_size=80}} }}

{{Location map+|Kent|width=400|float=right|caption=Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 5 Kent teams in Kent|places= {{location map~|Kent|lat=51.156788|long=0.8817633|label={{background color|white|Ashford II}}|position=right|label_size=80}} {{location map~ |Kent|lat=51.280233|long=1.0789088 |label={{no break|{{lower|{{background color|white|Canterbury III}}}}}}|position=right|label_size=80}} {{location map~ |Kent|lat=51.2738095|long=0.1953513|label={{no break|{{background color|white|Sevenoaks III}}}}|position=right|label_size=80}} }}

==2008–2023==

League not contested

==Original teams==

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

*Bexley *Cranbrook *Deal Wanderers{{efn|Deal Wanderers RFC would later merge with Betteshanger RFC in 2006 to form Deal & Betteshanger Rugby Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dealandbettesrfc.org.uk/a/club-history-21545.html|title=CLUB HISTORY|publisher=Deal and Betteshanger Rugby Club|access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref>}} *Linton{{efn|Now known as Aylesford Bulls RFC.}} *New Ash Green *Old Gravesendians *Sheppey *Sittingbourne *Vigo

==Kent 3 honours== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;" |- |colspan="11" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"| {| border="0" style="width:100%;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" |- | style="width:20%; border:0;"| | style="border:0;"|'''Kent 3 Honours''' | style="width:20%; border:0;"| |} |- ! style="width:70px;"|Season ! style="width:50px;"|No of Teams ! style="width:175px;"|Champions ! style="width:175px;"|Runners–up ! style="width:200px;"|Relegated Teams ! style="width:100px;"|League Name |- align=left |1987–88 || style="text-align: center;"| 9 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''New Ash Green''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Linton || Bexley || Kent 3 |- |1988–89 || style="text-align: center;"| 11 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Met Police Hayes''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Sittingbourne || Orpington, Thames Polytechnic || Kent 3 |- |1989–90 || style="text-align: center;"| 11 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Sheppey''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Cranbrook || Darenth Valley || Kent 3 |- |1990–91 || style="text-align: center;"| 11 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Midland Bank''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Vigo || Footscray, Orpington || Kent 3 |- |1991–92 || style="text-align: center;"| 12 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Thames Polytechnic''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| NatWest Bank{{efn|Restructuring of the Kent leagues meant that the top six clubs were promoted from Kent 3 including Deal Wanderers, Bexley, Linton and Old Gravesendians.}} || No relegation{{efn|Restructuring of the Kent leagues meant there was no relegation.}} || Kent 3 |- |1992–93 || style="text-align: center;"| 10 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Cranbrook''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Lloyds Bank || Greenwich, Old Olavians || Kent 3 |- |1993–94 || style="text-align: center;"| 10 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Old Gravesendians''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Whitstable || Orpington, Footscray{{efn|8th place Kent Police would drop out of the league at the end of the season.}} || Kent 3 |- |1994–95 || style="text-align: center;"| 10 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Lordswood''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Old Williamsonians || Lloyds Bank, Greenwich || Kent 3 |- |1995–96 || style="text-align: center;"| 10 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Tonbridge''' || New Ash Green || Darenth Valley || Kent 3 |- |1996–97 || style="text-align: center;"| 10 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Midland Bank''' || New Ash Green{{efn|Due to Kent league restructuring, the top nine teams were promoted from Kent 3.}} || No relegation{{efn|Kent league restructuring meant there was no relegation - with bottom side Canterbury Exiles the only team to remain in the division for the following season.}} || Kent 3 |- |1997–98 || style="text-align: center;"| 6 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Erith'''{{efn|The cancellation of Kent 3 and Kent 4 and restructuring of Kent 2 for the following season meant that champions Erith would be promoted to the new regional Kent 2 East division.}} || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Faversham{{efn|The cancellation of Kent 3 and Kent 4 and restructuring of Kent 2 meant that runners up Faversham would also be promoted to the new Kent 2 East division while 3rd place Greenwich would go into Kent 2 South West. 4th place Darenth Valley would fold at the end of the season but would reform as Dartford Valley RFC in Kent 2 West.}} || No relegation{{efn|The cancellation of Kent 4 meant that there was no relegation - bottom two sides Meopham and Canterbury Exiles would drop out of the leagues.}} || Kent 3 |- |1998–99 || colspan=5| ''No Competition'' |- |1999–00 || colspan=5| ''No Competition'' |- |2000–01<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2000-2001/group/9665|title=2000-2001 London South-East Division|publisher=England Rugby|access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> || style="text-align: center;"| 6 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Bexley''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Old Gravesendians || No relegation{{efn|No relegation as Kent 4 abolished at the end of the season.}} || Kent 3 |- |2001–02<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2001-2002/group/9999|title=2001-2002 London South-East Division|publisher=England Rugby|access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> || style="text-align: center;"| 11 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Shooters Hill''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Old Olavians || No relegation || Kent 3 |- |2002–03<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2002-2003/group/10334|title=2002-2003 London South-East Division|publisher=England Rugby|access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> || style="text-align: center;"| 10 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Vigo''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Dover || No relegation || Kent 3 |- |2003–04<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2003-2004/group/10719|title=2003-2004 London South-East Division|publisher=England Rugby|access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> || style="text-align: center;"| 11 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Brockleians''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Bexley{{efn|3rd place Dartford Valley were also promoted.}} || No relegation || Kent 3 |- |2004–05<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2004-2005/group/11119|title=2004-2005 London South-East Division|publisher=England Rugby|access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> || style="text-align: center;"| 9 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Deal & Betteshanger''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| HSBC || No relegation || Kent 3 |- |2005–06<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2005-2006/group/11475|title=2005-2006 London South-East Division|publisher=England Rugby|access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> || style="text-align: center;"| 8 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Orpington''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Foots Cray || No relegation || Kent 3 |- |2006–07<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2006-2007/group/11818|title=2006-2007 London South-East Division|publisher=England Rugby|access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> || style="text-align: center;"| 6 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Medway''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Bexley || No relegation || Kent 3 |- |2007–08<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/london-se-division/2007-2008/group/12224|title=2007-2008 London South-East Division|publisher=England Rugby|access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> || style="text-align: center;"| 5 || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| '''Old Williamsonians''' || style="background:#d8ffeb;"| Orpington{{efn|As this was the final season of Kent 3 all teams in the division were automatically promoted to Kent 2.}} || No relegation || Kent 3 |- | colspan="15" style="border:0; font-size:smaller; text-align:center;"| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |}

==Number of league titles==

*Midland Bank (2) *Bexley (1) *Brockleians (1) *Cranbrook (1) *Deal & Betteshanger (1) *Erith (1) *Lordswood (1) *Medway (1) *Met Police Hayes (1) *New Ash Green (1) *Old Gravesendians (1) *Old Williamsonians (1) *Orpington (1) *Sheppey (1) *Shooters Hill (1) *Thames Polytechnic (1) *Tonbridge (1) *Vigo (1)

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist|3}}

11 Category:Rugby union in Kent Category:2008 disestablishments in England Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 2008 Category:Sports leagues established in 2023 Category:2023 establishments in England