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
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Ceased1997; 27 years ago (1997)
Number of teams9
Country England
HoldersMillwall (1st title) (1996–97)
(promoted to East Counties 4 South)
Websiteecrurugby.com

Original teams

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

Eastern Counties 5 honours

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Eastern Counties 5 (1987–1993)

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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)

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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)

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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

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See also

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Notes

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  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.

References

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  1. ^ "EASTERN COUNTIES RUGBY UNION HANDBOOK 2015/16" (PDF). Eastern Counties RU. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  2. ^ Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988-89. 1989.
  3. ^ Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989-90. 1990.
  4. ^ Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1990-91. 1991.
  5. ^ Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991-92. 1992.
  6. ^ Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992-93. 1993.
  7. ^ Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993-94. 1994.
  8. ^ Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994-95. 1995.
  9. ^ Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995-96. 1996.
  10. ^ Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. 1997.
  11. ^ Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98. 1998.