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

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

Sussex 3 honours

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Sussex 3 (1987–1992)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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

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Notes

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  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

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References

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  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.
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