Counties 5 Kent (formerly Kent 3) is an English Rugby Union league that is the lowest RFU league for clubs in south-east London and Kent. Promoted teams go up to Counties 4 Kent and relegation is to the Kent RFU merit leagues.

Dwindling numbers of teams meant that Kent 3 folded at the end of the 2007–08 season, with all sides automatically promoted to what was then Kent 2. However, following a 15 year hiatus, and after the RFU's Adult Competition Review in 2022 - and the decision by Kent Rugby to allow reserve teams to participate in county leagues - from season 2023–24 it was resurrected and adopted its current name Counties 5 Kent.

2026-27

Departing were Blackheath III, Sidcup III and Old Elthamians II, all promoted to Counties 4 Kent. Bromley III (10th) and Medway III (11th) were relegated to the Kent reserve leagues.

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Askeans Rectory Field 6,000 Blackheath, London 5th Beccehamian II Sparrow's Den West Wickham, London 8th East Peckham & Paddock Wood Putlands Sports & Leisure Centre Paddock Wood, Kent Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (10th) Edenbridge Coomb Field Edenbridge, Kent 4th King's College Hospital Dulwich Sports Ground Dulwich, London Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (11th) Lordswood Lordswood Sports & Social Club Chatham, Kent 7th Old Alleynians III The Common Dulwich, London 6th Park House II Barnet Wood Road Hayes, London 9th Weavering Warriors Bicknor Road Maidstone, Kent Re-entry Westcombe Park III Goddington Dene 3,200 (200 seats) Orpington, London New entry

2025–26

Departing were East Peckham & Paddock Wood, Sevenoaks III and Beckenham III, all promoted to Counties 4 Kent.

Ashford II (11th) did not return for the new season.

Greenwich (10th in 2024-25) withdrew from the league in early 2026 leaving 11 clubs to contest the outstanding fixtures.

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Askeans Rectory Field 6,000 Blackheath, London 6th Beccehamian II Sparrow's Den West Wickham, London 8th Blackheath III Well Hall Eltham, London New entry Bromley III Barnet Wood Road Hayes, London New entry Edenbridge Coomb Field Edenbridge, Kent Re-entry Lordswood Lordswood Sports & Social Club Chatham, Kent 5th Medway III Priestfields Rochester, Kent Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (12th) Old Alleynians III The Common Dulwich, London 4th Old Elthamians II Hospital Ground Chislehurst, London New entry Park House II Barnet Wood Road Hayes, London 9th Sidcup III Crescent Farm Sidcup, London 7th

2024–25

Departing were Canterbury III, Bromley II and Old Colfeians II, all promoted to Counties 4 Kent.

Joining were Lordswood, relegated from Counties 4 Kent and Sidcup III who finished 9th in Counties 4 Kent but elected to be relegated and in doing so gave Footscray (11th) a reprieve in the league above. New entries to the league were Beckenham III, Park House II, Old Alleynians III and East Peckham & Paddock Wood.

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Ashford II Kinney's Field Ashford, Kent 6th Askeans Rectory Field 6,000 Blackheath, London 5th Beccehamian II Sparrow's Den West Wickham, London 7th Beckenham III Balmoral Avenue Beckenham, London New entry East Peckham & Paddock Wood Putlands Sports & Leisure Centre Paddock Wood, Kent New entry Greenwich Plumstead Common Plumstead, London 8th Lordswood Lordswood Sports & Social Club Chatham, Kent Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (12th) Old Alleynians III The Common Dulwich, London New entry Park House II Barnet Wood Road Hayes, London New entry Sevenoaks III Knole Paddock 1,000 Sevenoaks, Kent 4th Sidcup III Crescent Farm Sidcup, London Requested drop Counties 4 Kent (9th)

2023–24

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Ashford II Kinney's Field Ashford, Kent New entry Askeans Rectory Field 6,000 Blackheath, London Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (13th) Beccehamian II Sparrow's Den West Wickham, London Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (11th) Bromley II Barnet Wood Road Hayes, London New entry Canterbury III Marine Travel Ground 1,500 (75 seats) Canterbury, Kent New entry Greenwich Plumstead Common Plumstead, London Relegated from Counties 4 Kent (12th) Old Colfeians II Horn Park Lee, London New entry Sevenoaks III Knole Paddock 1,000 Sevenoaks, Kent New entry

2008–2023

League not contested

Original teams

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

Bexley Cranbrook Deal Wanderers Linton New Ash Green Old Gravesendians Sheppey Sittingbourne Vigo

Kent 3 honours Kent 3 HonoursSeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated TeamsLeague Name1987–88 9 New Ash Green Linton Bexley Kent 31988–89 11 Met Police Hayes Sittingbourne Orpington, Thames Polytechnic Kent 31989–90 11 Sheppey Cranbrook Darenth Valley Kent 31990–91 11 Midland Bank Vigo Footscray, Orpington Kent 31991–92 12 Thames Polytechnic NatWest Bank No relegation Kent 31992–93 10 Cranbrook Lloyds Bank Greenwich, Old Olavians Kent 31993–94 10 Old Gravesendians Whitstable Orpington, Footscray Kent 31994–95 10 Lordswood Old Williamsonians Lloyds Bank, Greenwich Kent 31995–96 10 Tonbridge New Ash Green Darenth Valley Kent 31996–97 10 Midland Bank New Ash Green No relegation Kent 31997–98 6 Erith Faversham No relegation Kent 31998–99 No Competition1999–00 No Competition2000–01 6 Bexley Old Gravesendians No relegation Kent 32001–02 11 Shooters Hill Old Olavians No relegation Kent 32002–03 10 Vigo Dover No relegation Kent 3 2003–04 11 Brockleians Bexley No relegation Kent 32004–05 9 Deal & Betteshanger HSBC No relegation Kent 32005–06 8 Orpington Foots Cray No relegation Kent 32006–07 6 Medway Bexley No relegation Kent 32007–08 5 Old Williamsonians Orpington No relegation Kent 3 Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

Midland Bank (2) Bexley (1) Brockleians (1) Cranbrook (1) Deal & Betteshanger (1) Erith (1) Lordswood (1) Medway (1) Met Police Hayes (1) New Ash Green (1) Old Gravesendians (1) Old Williamsonians (1) Orpington (1) Sheppey (1) Shooters Hill (1) Thames Polytechnic (1) Tonbridge (1) Vigo (1)

See also London & SE Division RFU Kent RFU English rugby union system Rugby union in England

Notes

References