Sussex 3 (known as Sussex Oranjeboom Division 3 for sponsorship reasons) is an English level 11 Rugby Union League. It is run by the Sussex Rugby Football Union and was originally for teams predominantly from West Sussex until a division reorganization for the 2016-17 meant that clubs from East Sussex would also take part. Promoted teams move up to Sussex 2 while relegated teams drop down to either Sussex Asahi Division 4 East or Sussex Late Red Division 4 West depending on geography. Sussex Oranjeboom 2 West was introduced in 2010–11 and is the equivalent to former division Sussex 3 which had its last season in 2003–04. It changed to its current name of Sussex Oranjeboom Division 3 in 2016–17.

Sussex 3
Current season or competition:
2016–17 Sussex Oranjeboom Division 3
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersHastings & Bexhill II (1st title) (2016–17)
(promoted to Sussex Canterbury Jack Intermediate)
Most titlesDitchling, Old Brightonian, Rye, Uckfield II (2 titles)
Websitewww.sussexrugby.co.uk

Original teams edit

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

Sussex 3 honours edit

Sussex 3 (1987–1992) edit

The original Sussex 3 was a tier 10 league with promotion up to Sussex 1 and there was no relegation down as it was the lowest level of the league system. The division was cancelled at the end of the 1991–92 season.

Sussex 3
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1987–88 8 Old Brightonian RMP Chichester[b] No relegation
1988–89 7 Pulborough Brighton Polytechnic[c] No relegation
1989–90 6 Ditchling West Sussex Institute No relegation
1990–91 5 BA Wingspan Newick No relegation
1991–92 4 Sunallon Plumpton[d] No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Sussex 3 (1994-1996) edit

After an absence of two years, Sussex 3 was reintroduced for the 1994–95 season as a tier 11 league. Promotion was to Sussex 2 and there was no relegation due to Sussex 3 being the lowest level in the league system.

Sussex 3
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1994–95 5 Rye Shoreham No relegation
1995–96 6 Sussex Police Plumpton No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Sussex 3 (1996-2000) edit

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Sussex 3 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Sussex 2 and there was no relegation. Sussex 3 was cancelled for the second time at the end of the 1999–00 season, with the majority of teams transferred into the new Sussex 2 East or Sussex 2 West (formerly a single Sussex 2 division).

Sussex 3
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1996–97 6 Shoreham Rye No relegation
1997–98 6 Chichester IHE Robertsbridge No relegation
1998–99[2] 6 Plumpton Sussex Police No relegation
1999–00[3] 6 Rye St. Francis[e] No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Sussex 3 (2002-2004) edit

After an absence of two years, Sussex 3 returned for the 2002–03 season, now as a tier 11 league. Promotion was to Sussex 2 and there was no relegation. After just two seasons, Sussex 3 was cancelled for the third time in its history.

Sussex 3
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2002–03[4] 6 Old Brightonian Ditchling No relegation
2003–04[5] 6 Ditchling[f] Plumpton No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Sussex 2 East / Sussex 2 West (2010–2016) edit

Sussex 3 was reintroduced for the 2010–11 season in the form of two regional divisions - Sussex "Asahi" 2 East and Sussex "Oranjeboom" 2 West - both sitting at tier 11 of the league system. Promotion was to Sussex Canterbury Jack Intermediate (renamed back to Sussex 2 for the 2015–16 season onward) and relegation to either Sussex 3 East or Sussex 3 West.

Sussex 2 East / Sussex 2 West
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams League Name
2010–11
[6][7]
8 Uckfield II Ditchling Heathfield & Waldron IV Sussex 2 East
11 Midhurst Littlehampton Brighton III, Worthing Senior I Sussex 2 West
2011–12
[8][9]
10 Hellingly Hastings & Bexhill II Haywards Heath III, Hove V, Eastbourne III Sussex 2 East
10 Horley Hove IV Bognor III, Holbrook II Sussex 2 West
2012–13
[10][11]
8 East Grinstead III Heathfield & Waldron III Newick II, Rye 2nd XV Sussex 2 East
10 Horsham II Worthing Senior I Shoreham II (Veterans) Sussex 2 West
2013–14
[12][13]
9 Eastbourne II Burgess Hill II Lewes III[g] Sussex 2 East
9 Bognor II Sussex Police No relegation[h] Sussex 2 West
2014–15
[14][15]
12 Uckfield II Plumpton Worthing Senior III Sussex 2 East
12 Pulborough II Norfolk Arms Shoreham II (Veterans) Sussex 2 West
2015–16
[16][17]
10 Newick Hastings & Bexhill II Lewes II Sussex 2 East
11 Barns Green Brighton III Burgess Hill III Sussex 2 West
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Sussex 3 (2016–onward) edit

For the 2016–17 season, Sussex 3 was remerged back into a single division at tier 11 of the league system. Promotion was to Sussex 2 and relegation to Sussex 4.

Sussex 3
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2016–17[18] 12 Hastings & Bexhill II Plumpton Norfolk Arms
2017–18 12
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Sunallon would first rename to Sun Alliance in 1994 and then its current name of Holbrook RFC.[1]
  2. ^ Despite winning promotion, runners up RMP Chichester would drop out of the Sussex leagues the following season, only to reappear in Sussex 2 for the 1989–90 season.
  3. ^ 3rd place Midhurst also promoted.
  4. ^ The cancellation of Sussex 3 meant that all four teams in the division were to be promoted to Sussex 2 at the end of the season - however, 3rd and 4th place University of Sussex and Arun decided to drop out of the Sussex leagues at the end of the season.
  5. ^ Six teams in this division would be promoted to Sussex 2 for the next season as Sussex 3 was to be abolished and would not return until 2002–03.
  6. ^ As Sussex 3 was to be abolished for the following season no teams were promoted. An equivalent division would return in 2010-11 in the form of Asahi 2 East and Oranjeboom 2 West.
  7. ^ Lewes III would withdraw from the league for the following season.
  8. ^ There was no relegation as Bishop's Finger 3 East was abolished the following season.
  9. ^ Both of Uckfield II's titles were for Sussex Asahi 2 East.
  10. ^ Barns Green's title was for Sussex Oranjeboom 2 West.
  11. ^ Bognor II's title was for Sussex Oranjeboom 2 West.
  12. ^ East Grinstead III's title was for Sussex Asahi 2 East.
  13. ^ Eastbourne II's title was for Sussex Asahi 2 East.
  14. ^ Hellingly's title was for Sussex Asahi 2 East.
  15. ^ Horley's title was for Sussex Oranjeboom 2 West.
  16. ^ Horsham II's title was for Sussex Oranjeboom 2 West.
  17. ^ Midhurst's title was for Sussex Oranjeboom 2 West.
  18. ^ Newick's title was for Sussex Asahi 2 East.
  19. ^ As a club Pulborough have won Sussex 3 twice - once with the 1st XV, once with the 2nd XV.
  20. ^ Pulborough II's title was for Sussex Oranjeboom 2 West.
  21. ^ Sunallon are currently known as Holbrook RFC.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "HISTORY". Holbrook RFC. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  2. ^ "1998-1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  3. ^ "1999-2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  4. ^ "2002-2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  5. ^ "2003-2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  6. ^ "2010-2011 London & SE Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  7. ^ "2010-2011 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  8. ^ "2011-2012 London & SE Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  9. ^ "2011-2012 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  10. ^ "2012-2013 London & SE Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  11. ^ "2012-2013 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  12. ^ "2013-2014 London & SE Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  13. ^ "2013-2014 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  14. ^ "2014-2015 London & SE Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  15. ^ "2014-2015 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  16. ^ "2015-2016 Sussex Spitfire Merit Leagues". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  17. ^ "2015-2016 Sussex Spitfire Merit Leagues". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  18. ^ "2016-2017 Sussex Spitfire Merit Leagues". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.

External links edit