Counties 1 Middlesex (formerly Middlesex 1) is a level 7 Rugby Union league with teams from north-west London taking part. Historically, the league was a level 10 completion, and the division was cancelled at the end of the 1995–96 campaign after nine seasons due to the merger of the Hertfordshire and Middlesex regional leagues. After nearly twenty years, ahead of the 2025–26 season, the league was re-formed following the decision to have mostly Hertfordshire teams in Counties 1 Hertfordshire. Promoted teams typically move up to Regional 2 Thames and relegated sides go down to Counties 2 Middlesex.
2026–27
Departing were champions Ealing Trailfinders 1871 promoted to Regional 2 Thames together with runners-up Finchley promoted to Regional 2 Anglia, while Saracens Amateurs (10th) were relegated to Counties 2 Middlesex.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Belsize Park 2XV Regent's Park Belsize Park, London New entry Chiswick Dukes Meadows Chiswick, London 5th CS Stags 2s King's House Sports Ground Chiswick, London New entry Hackney Spring Hill Recreation Ground Upper Clapton, London Promoted from Counties 2 Middlesex Hampstead Parliament Hill Fields Highgate, London 4th London Scottish Bs King's House Sports Ground Chiswick, London New entry London Welsh Druids Old Deer Park Richmond, London New entry Old Haberdashers Croxdale Road Borehamwood, Hertfordshire 3rd Old Streetonians Haggerston Park Shoreditch, London 6th Ruislip West End Road Ruislip, London 7th UCS Old Boys UCS Sports Ground Cricklewood, London 9th Wasps FC Twyford Avenue Sports Ground Acton, London 8th
2025–26 Participating clubs and locations This is the first season in which Hertfordshire RFU and Middlesex RFU clubs from Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex moved to their respective county leagues. Teams in this league were level transferred from Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex or were promoted from Counties 2 Hert/Middlesex.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Chiswick Dukes Meadows Chiswick, London Level transfer from Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex (9th) Ealing Trailfinders 1871 Trailfinders Sports Ground 4,000 West Ealing, London Level transfer from Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex (4th) Finchley Summers Lane 1,000 Finchley, London Level transfer from Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex (3rd) Hampstead Parliament Hill Fields Highgate, London Promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex (champions) Old Haberdashers Croxdale Road Borehamwood, Hertfordshire Relegated from Regional 2 Thames (12th) Old Streetonians Haggerston Park Shoreditch, London Level transfer from Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex (5th) Ruislip West End Road Ruislip, London Level transfer from Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex (6th) Saracens Amateurs Bramley Sports Ground Cockfosters, London Promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex (3rd) UCS Old Boys UCS Sports Ground Cricklewood, London Promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex (5th) Wasps FC Twyford Avenue Sports Ground Acton, London Promoted from Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex (2nd)
1996–2025 Not contested
Original teams When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
Finchley Hampstead Lensbury London New Zealand Old Haberdashers Old Meadonians Old Millhillians Orleans FP Staines Sudbury Court Uxbridge
Middlesex 1 honours
Middlesex 1 (1987–1992) The original Middlesex 1 was a tier 8 league with promotion to London 3 North West and relegation to Middlesex 2.
Middlesex 1SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teams 1987–88 11 Finchley Staines Old Millhillians, Orleans FP, Old Meadonians 1988–89 11 Twickenham London New Zealand Old Abbots, Old Paulines, Old Haberdashers 1989–90 11 Uxbridge London New Zealand Old Millhillians, Hampstead 1990–91 11 Lensbury Staines Old Abbots, Old Meadonians, Sudbury Court 1991–92 11 Staines Old Millhillians No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.
Middlesex 1 (1992–1996) The creation of Herts/Middlesex at the beginning of the 1992–93 season meant that Middlesex 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league. The introduction of National 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Middlesex 1 dropped another level to become a tier 10 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion was into the new Herts/Middlesex league while relegation continued to Middlesex 2. The merging of the Hertfordshire and Middlesex regional divisions at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Middlesex 1 was cancelled.
Middlesex 1SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teams 1992–93 13 Hampstead Mill Hill Orleans FP, Old Grammarians 1993–94 13 Mill Hill Roxeth Manor Old Boys Hammersmith & Fulham, Old Isleworthians 1994–95 13 Old Hamptonians Wembley Antlers 1995–96 13 Hackney London Nigerian No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.
Number of league titles
Finchley (1) Hackney (1) Hampstead (1) Lensbury (1) Mill Hill (1) Old Hamptonians (1) Staines (1) Twickenham (1) Uxbridge (1)
Notes
See also London & SE Division RFU Middlesex RFU English rugby union system Rugby union in England
References