Regional 2 South East

Regional 2 South East, previously known as London 1 South, is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from East Sussex, south Essex, south Greater London, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and West Sussex. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 2 South, changing to London 1 South ahead of the 2009–10 season. It used to be the feeder league for London & South East Premier into which the champion team each season was promoted whilst the second-placed team entered a play-off against the runner-up of London 1 North. Three teams were relegated into either London 2 South East and London 2 South West depending on their location. The league was renamed as Regional 2 South East for the 2022-23 season and moved from a 14 team, to a 12 team competition. The champion would be promoted to either Regional 1 South Central or Regional 1 South East depending on geographical location, whilst relegated sides would go to either Counties 1 Kent or Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex.

The winner of the league after the revamp was Horsham, whilst current champions are Old Alleynians who were promoted to Regional 1 South Central for the 2024-25 season.

Structure and format
The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to April, making a total of twenty-two matches each. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
 * 4 points are awarded for a win
 * 2 points are awarded for a draw
 * 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
 * 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
 * 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match

There is one automatic promotion place and two relegation places. The first-placed team at the end of season wins promotion to either Regional 1 South Central or Regional 1 South East

2024-25

 * Battersea Ironsides
 * Beckenham
 * Dartfordians RFC (promoted from Counties 1 Kent)
 * Gravesend
 * Medway
 * Old Colfeians
 * Old Reigatian
 * Old Tiffinians (promoted from Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex)
 * Reeds Weybridge
 * Sidcup
 * Sutton & Epsom
 * Thurrock RFC (transferred from Regional 2 Anglia)

Departing were Old Alleynians as champions, promoted to Regional 1 South Central. Relegated were Cobham RFC and London Cornish RFC both to Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex.

2023-24

 * Battersea Ironsides
 * Beckenham
 * Cobham (promoted from Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex)
 * Gravesend
 * London Cornish
 * Medway (relegated from Regional 1 South East)
 * Old Alleynians (promoted from Counties 1 Kent)
 * Old Colfeians
 * Old Reigatian
 * Reeds Weybridge
 * Sidcup (relegated from Regional 1 South East)
 * Sutton & Epsom (relegated from Regional 1 South Central)

Departing were Horsham Rugby Club as champions, promoted to Regional 1 South Central. Also leaving the league were Farnham RFC, Guildford RFC and Chichester RFC - all level transferred to Regional 2 Thames. Relegated were KCS Old Boys to Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex and Dartfordians RFC to Counties 1 Kent.

2022–23
Departing were London Welsh and Camberley who were promoted to Regional 1 South Central and Medway, promoted to Regional 1 South East. Also leaving the league were Hammersmith & Fulham, London Cornish, Cobham and London Irish Wild Geese - all level transferred to Regional 2 Thames.

2021–22
The teams competing in 2021–22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019–20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020–21. Ahead of the season Haywards Heath (promoted as London 2 SE champions in 2019–20) withdrew from the league leaving London 1 South with thirteen teams.

2020–21
On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020–21 season meaning London 1 South was not contested.

2016–17
Sutton & Epsom, the current champions were promoted to National 3 London & South East for the 2016–17 season, while the second-placed team, Guildford beat Tring, the runner-up from London 1 North, in a play-off for the second promotion place. Twickenham and Charlton Park are relegated. Medway were also relegated despite finishing third due to an RFU punishment for incorrect registration of, and illegal payments to, players thus granting a reprieve from relegation for Gosport and Fareham.

Medway were replaced by Gravesend who were relegated from National 3 London & SE. Promoted into the league were winners of London 2 South East, Tunbridge Wells as well as Cobham as champions of London 2 South West and play-off winners Sevenoaks. CS Rugby 1863 were transferred from London 1 North because they were the most southern team in London 1 North due to an imbalance in North and South teams in the leagues.

Promotion play-off
Each season, the runners-up in London 1 South and London 1 North participate in a play-off for promotion to National 3 London & SE. The team with the best playing record, in this case Tring, from London 1 North, was the home team and the away team Guildford, won the match 26 – 21, with a try in the 79th minute.

2014–15

 * Basingstoke (relegated from National League 3 London & SE)
 * Brighton
 * Charlton Park (promoted from London 2 South East)
 * Chobham
 * Cobham
 * Dover
 * Gosport & Fareham (promoted from London 2 South West)
 * Guildford
 * Havant
 * Hove
 * Sidcup
 * Sutton & Epsom
 * Twickenham (promoted from London 2 North West (play-off winners))
 * Wimbledon

2013–14

 * Beckenham
 * Brighton (promoted from London 2 South East)
 * Chichester
 * Chobham (promoted from London 2 South West)
 * Cobham
 * Dover
 * Gravesend
 * Havant
 * Haywards Heath
 * Hove
 * Sidcup
 * Staines (relegated from National League 3 London & SE)
 * Sutton & Epsom RFC (promoted from London 2 South West)
 * Wimbledon RFC

2012–13

 * Basingstoke
 * Beckenham
 * Chichester
 * Cobham
 * Dover
 * East Grinstead
 * Gosport & Fareham
 * Havant (relegated from National League 3 London & SE)
 * Haywards Heath
 * Hove
 * Old Colfeians (transferred from London 1 North)
 * Trojans
 * Sidcup
 * Sutton & Epsom RFC
 * Wimbledon

2011–12

 * Basingstoke
 * Beckenham
 * Chichester
 * Cobham
 * Dover
 * Guernsey
 * Haywards Heath
 * Hove
 * Old Elthamians
 * Portsmouth RFC
 * Sidcup
 * Sutton & Epsom RFC
 * Thanet Wanderers
 * Trojans RFC

2010–11

 * Beckenham
 * Chichester
 * Cobham
 * Chobham
 * Dover
 * Haywards Heath
 * Hove
 * London Irish Wild Geese
 * Portsmouth RFC
 * Sutton & Epsom RFC
 * Thanet Wanderers
 * Tonbridge Juddians
 * Tunbridge Wells
 * Wimbledon

2009-10

 * Aylesford Bulls
 * Beckenham
 * Chichester
 * Cobham
 * Chobham
 * Dover
 * Gravesend
 * Maidstone
 * Old Colfeians
 * Old Elthamians
 * Sidcup
 * Thanet Wanderers
 * Tunbridge Wells
 * Wimbledon

Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as London 2 South) contained the following teams:


 * Basingstoke
 * Camberley
 * Gravesend
 * KCS Old Boys
 * Old Alleynians
 * Old Brockleians
 * Old Mid-Whitgiftian
 * Old Reigatian
 * Portsmouth
 * Old Juddian
 * Worthing

London 2 South (1987–1993)
In the first season of the English rugby union league pyramid, sponsored by Courage, there was six, tier six leagues. The initial name was London 2 South and was for teams based in London and the counties of Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. There was eleven teams in the league and each team played one match against each of the other teams, giving each team five home matches and five away matches. The winning team was awarded two points, and there was one point for each team in a drawn match.

The original London 2 South was a tier 6 league with promotion to London 1 and relegation to either London 3 South East or London 3 South West.

London 2 South (1993–1996)
At the end of the 1992–93 season the top six teams from London Division 1 and the top six from South West Division 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that London 2 South dropped from a tier 6 league to a tier 7 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to London 1 and relegation to either London 3 South East or London 3 South West.

London 2 South (1996–2009)
The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that London 2 South reverted to being a tier 6 league. Promotion continued to London 1 and relegation down to either London 3 South East or London 3 South West (renamed to London 2 South East and London 2 South West from the 2000–01 season onward).

London 1 South
London 2 South was renamed to London 1 South from the 2009–10 season. It continued as a tier 6 league with promotion to National League 3 London & South East (formerly London 1 and currently known as London & South East Premier) and relegation to London 2 South East and London 2 South West (formerly London 3 South East and London 3 South West).

Regional 2 South East
Following a reorganisation of the league structure by the RFU, this league is now one of twelve at tier 6. Promotion is to Regional 1 South Central or Regional 1 South East.

Promotion play-offs
From 2000–01 to 2018–19 there was a play-off between the runners-up of London 1 North and London 1 South for the third and final promotion place to London & South East Premier. The team with the superior league record had home advantage. At the end of the 2018–19 season the London 1 South teams have been the most successful with eleven wins to the London 1 North teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six. Promotion play-offs ended with the reorganisation of the leagues for season 2022–23

Number of league titles

 * Basingstoke (2)
 * Canterbury (2)
 * Gravesend (2)
 * Haywards Heath (2)
 * Sutton & Epsom (2)
 * Wimbledon (2)
 * Camberley (2)
 * Barnes (1)
 * Charlton Park (1)
 * CS Rugby 1863 (1)
 * Dorking (1)
 * East Grinstead (1)
 * Esher (1)
 * Guernsey (1)
 * Havant (1)
 * Horsham (1)
 * Old Alleynian (1)
 * Old Colfeians (1)
 * Old Mid-Whitgiftian (1)
 * Portsmouth (1)
 * Richmond (1)
 * Sevenoaks (1)
 * Sidcup (1)
 * Thanet Wanderers (1)
 * Tonbridge Juddians (1)
 * Westcombe Park (1)
 * Winchester (1)
 * Worthing (1)