Counties 1 Hertfordshire (formerly Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex and before that London 2 North West) is a tier 7 English Rugby Union league. It is organised by the London and South East Division Rugby Football Union and is the top-tier competition for clubs primarily in Hertfordshire together with others from parts of north-west London (that traditionally was encompassed by the historic county of Middlesex) and Essex. It was previously known as London 2 North West. After the restructuring of the English rugby union system ahead of the 2022–23 season, the league was renamed to Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex. Ahead of the 2025–26 season a decision was taken to split Hertfordshire RFU and Middlesex RFU clubs, with Middlesex teams moving on a level transfer to Counties 1 Middlesex while club 2XVs were introduced to the league. Brunel University are the current champions.
Each year the two Hertfordshire clubs in this division with the best record against other Hertfordshire clubs also take part in the Hertfordshire Presidents' Cup, the highest level county cup competition in Hertfordshire. Promoted teams typically go up to Regional 2 Thames while relegated teams drop to Counties 2 Hertfordshire.
Format The champions are promoted to Regional 2 Thames while one or two teams are relegated to Counties 2 Hertsfordshire. Since 2025–26 the league includes Essex clubs precluded from competing in Essex Rugby leagues which don't permit reserve sides in first XV leagues. The season runs from September to April and comprises eighteen rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals, home and away. 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.
2026–27
Departing were Cheshunt promoted to Regional 2 Anglia. Also leaving on a level transfer to Counties 1 Essex were Eton Manor II (5th) and Southend Priors (9th). There was no relegation.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Biggleswade Langford Road Biggleswade, Bedfordshire Level transfer from Counties 1 Midlands East (South) (11th) Bishop's Stortford II Silver Leys 1,600 Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire 7th Datchworth Datchworth Sports Club Datchworth, Hertfordshire Promoted from Counties 2 Hertfordshire (champions) Fullerians Coningsby Drive Watford, Hertfordshire 8th Hemel Hempstead Chaulden Lane Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire 6th Hertford II Highfields Ware, Hertfordshire 4th Hitchin King George V Playing Fields Hitchin, Hertfordshire 3rd Old Albanian II Woollam's Playing Fields 1,000 St Albans, Hertfordshire 2nd Royston The Heath Sports Centre Royston, Hertfordshire Promoted from Counties 2 Hertfordshire (runners-up) Welwyn Hobbs Way Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire 10th
2025–26 This was the first season with the league containing mainly Hertfordshire RFU clubs. Leaving on a level transfer to the newly re-formed Counties 1 Middlesex league were Chiswick (9th), Ealing Trailfinders 1871 (4th), Finchley (3rd), Ruislip (6th) and Old Streetonians (5th). Also departing were Brunel University promoted to Regional 2 Thames while Hackney (11th) and Datchworth (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Middlesex and Counties 2 Hertfordshire respectively.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Bishop's Stortford II Silver Leys 1,600 Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire New entry Cheshunt Rosedale Sports Club Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire 2nd Eton Manor II The New Wilderness Wanstead, London New entry Fullerians Coningsby Drive Watford, Hertfordshire 10th Hemel Hempstead Chaulden Lane Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire Relegated from Regional 2 Thames (11th) Hertford II Highfields Ware, Hertfordshire New entry Hitchin King George V Playing Fields Hitchin, Hertfordshire 8th Old Albanian II Woollam's Playing Fields 1,000 St Albans, Hertfordshire New entry Southend Priors Warners Bridge Park Southend, Essex New entry Welwyn Hobbs Way Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire 7th
2024–25 Departing were London Scottish Lions promoted to Regional 2 Thames, and Enfield Ignatians and Hampstead relegated to Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex. Joining were Brunel University and Ealing Trailfinders 1871, promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex, together with Fullerians, relegated from Regional 2 Thames.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Brunel University Brunel University Sports Park Uxbridge, London Promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex (champions) Cheshunt Rosedale Sports Club Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire 4th Chiswick Dukes Meadows Chiswick, London 5th Datchworth Datchworth Sports Club Datchworth, Hertfordshire 10th Ealing Trailfinders 1871 Trailfinders Sports Ground 4,000 West Ealing, London Promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex (2nd) Finchley Summers Lane 1,000 Finchley, London 3rd Fullerians Coningsby Drive Watford, Hertfordshire Relegated from Regional 2 Thames (11th) Hackney Spring Hill Recreation Ground Upper Clapton, London 9th Hitchin King George V Playing Fields Hitchin, Hertfordshire 7th Old Streetonians Haggerston Park Shoreditch, London 2nd Ruislip West End Road Ruislip, London 8th Welwyn Hobbs Way Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire 6th
League table Counties 1 Herts/Middx 2024–25 TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPointsAdjust 1 Brunel University (P) 22 20 1 1 1085 326 759 20 1 104 +1 2 Cheshunt 22 18 1 3 1028 356 672 18 2 94 3 Finchley 22 18 0 4 798 274 524 17 4 93 4 Ealing Trailfinders 1871 22 18 0 4 768 307 461 13 2 89 +2 5 Old Streetonians 22 11 1 10 519 603 −84 9 2 57 6 Ruislip 22 9 1 12 546 747 −201 13 3 54 7 Welwyn 22 9 0 13 423 773 −350 10 2 48 8 Hitchin 22 8 1 13 442 748 −306 8 1 44 +1 9 Chiswick 22 8 0 14 442 674 −232 9 3 44 10 Fullerians 22 5 1 16 367 605 −238 6 5 33 11 Hackney (R) 22 3 0 19 262 802 −540 3 1 16 12 Datchworth (R) 22 2 0 20 326 791 −465 2 2 12 If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Number of draws Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places.Source:
2023–24 Departing were Hemel Hempstead and Grasshoppers, promoted to Regional 2 Thames. There was no relegation. Joining were Cheshunt and London Scottish Lions, both promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Cheshunt Rosedale Sports Club Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire Promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex (champions) Chiswick Dukes Meadows Chiswick, London 3rd Datchworth Datchworth Sports Club Datchworth, Hertfordshire 10th Enfield Ignatians Donkey Lane Enfield, London, London 12th Finchley Summers Lane 1,000 Finchley, London 7th Hackney Spring Hill Recreation Ground Upper Clapton, London 11th Hampstead Parliament Hill Fields Highgate, London 9th Hitchin King George V Playing Fields Hitchin, Hertfordshire 5th London Scottish Lions King's House Sports Ground Chiswick, London Promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex (2nd) Old Streetonians Haggerston Park Shoreditch, London 4th Ruislip West End Road Ruislip, London 6th Welwyn Hobbs Way Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire 8th
League table Counties 1 Herts/Middx 2023–24 TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPointsAdjust 1 London Scottish Lions (P) 22 18 0 4 832 346 486 17 1 91 +1 2 Old Streetonians 22 18 0 4 728 447 281 13 0 85 3 Finchley 22 16 1 5 755 325 430 15 3 84 4 Cheshunt 22 15 1 6 798 392 406 17 2 81 5 Chiswick 22 15 2 5 662 400 262 12 1 78 −1 6 Welwyn 22 12 0 10 457 447 10 11 2 62 −1 7 Hitchin 22 10 0 12 523 593 −70 10 2 52 8 Ruislip 22 8 0 14 539 642 −103 10 3 45 9 Hackney 22 6 0 16 368 585 −217 6 4 34 10 Datchworth 22 6 0 16 330 792 −462 5 3 32 11 Hampstead (R) 22 4 0 18 438 732 −294 9 3 23 −5 12 Enfield Ignatians (R) 22 2 0 20 246 975 −729 2 2 2 −10If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Number of draws Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places.Source:
2022–23 This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 2 North West with eight of the teams competing in the previous season, while the top four moved to Regional 2 Thames or Regional 2 Anglia. They were replaced with the top three from London 3 North West and Chiswick on a level transfer from London 2 South West.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Chiswick Dukes Meadows Chiswick, London Level transfer from L2SW (8th) Datchworth Datchworth Sports Club Datchworth, Hertfordshire 12th Enfield Ignatians Donkey Lane Enfield, London, London 9th Finchley Summers Lane 1,000 Finchley, London Promoted from L3NW (1st) Grasshoppers MacFarlane Lane Isleworth, London 6th Hackney Spring Hill Recreation Ground Upper Clapton, London 11th Hampstead Parliament Hill Fields Highgate, London 10th Hemel Hempstead Chaulden Lane Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire 7th Hitchin King George V Playing Fields Hitchin, Hertfordshire Promoted from L3NW (3rd) Old Streetonians Haggerston Park Shoreditch, London 5th Ruislip West End Road Ruislip, London 8th Welwyn Hobbs Way Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire Promoted from L3NW (2nd)
League table Counties 1 Herts/Middx 2022–23 TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPointsAdjust 1 Hemel Hempstead (P) 22 20 0 2 735 347 388 17 0 97 2 Grasshoppers (P) 22 18 0 4 719 414 305 18 3 94 +1 3 Chiswick 22 17 0 5 610 418 192 14 3 85 4 Old Streetonians 22 14 0 8 659 448 211 13 5 74 5 Hitchin 22 12 1 9 658 480 178 15 4 70 −1 6 Ruislip 22 10 0 12 451 591 −140 10 4 55 −1 7 Finchley 22 9 0 13 511 518 −7 11 5 52 8 Welwyn 22 9 0 13 545 673 −128 11 4 51 9 Hampstead 22 8 0 14 506 629 −123 9 2 43 10 Datchworth 22 6 1 15 404 645 −241 8 3 37 11 Hackney 22 4 0 18 355 557 −202 4 5 25 12 Enfield Ignatians 22 4 0 18 298 731 −433 4 2 22 If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Number of draws Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled Green background are the promotion places. Source:
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 and not 2020–21.