National League 2 East is a men’s rugby union league at level four in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in London, South East England, the East of England and the Channel Islands. The remainder of England is covered by two other regional leagues; National League 2 North and National League 2 West.
The champion club is promoted to National One. The last two teams are relegated to either Regional 1 South Central or Regional 1 South East. Prior to the 2022–23 season, National League 2 East and National League 2 West were part of a unified division known as National League 2 South. Bury St Edmunds are the current champions and are promoted to National League 1.
Structure The league consists of fourteen teams who play the others on a home and away basis, to make a total of 26 matches each. The champions are promoted to National League 1 while the runners up go into a four team National 2 playoffs with the runners up from National League 2 North and National League 2 West and the 11th placed side in National League 1.
The bottom two teams are relegated to Regional 1 South Central or Regional 1 South East while the 12th placed side go into the four team Regional 1 playoffs with the 12th placed sides from National 2 North and National 2 West, as well as the Regional 1 playoff winners.
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.
Current season
Participating teams and locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Barnes Barn Elms 1,000 Barnes, London 4th Canterbury Marine Travel Ground 1,500 (75 seats) Canterbury, Kent 5th Colchester Raven Park 1,200 Colchester, Essex Promoted from Regional 1 South East Dorking The Big Field 1,500 Dorking, Surrey 6th Esher Molesey Road 3,500 Hersham, Surrey 11th Guernsey Raiders Footes Lane 5,000 (720 seats) Saint Peter Port, Guernsey 10th Havant Hook's Lane 1,500 (500 seats) Havant, Hampshire 8th Henley Hawks Dry Leas 4,000 Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire 12th Jersey St Peter Saint Peter, Jersey Promoted from Regional 1 South Central Leicester Lions Westleigh Park 2,000 Blaby, Leicestershire Relegated from National League 1 (14th) London Welsh Old Deer Park 5,850 (1,000 seats) Richmond, London 9th Old Albanian Woollam's Playing Fields 1,000 St Albans, Hertfordshire 3rd Oundle Occupation Road 1,000 Oundle, Northamptonshire 2nd Westcombe Park Goddington Dene 3,200 (200 seats) Orpington, London 7th
League table
National Two East honours List of National Two East honoursSeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunner–upRelegated teamsRef 2022–23 14 Blackheath Barnes Westcliff, Rochford Hundred 2023–24 14 Esher Barnes North Walsham, Wimbledon 2024–25 14 Tonbridge Juddians Dorking Worthing Raiders, Colchester 2025–26 14 Bury St Edmunds Oundle Oxford Harlequins, Sevenoaks 2026–27 14 Green background is the promotion place.
Number of league titles
Blackheath (1) Bury St Edmunds (1) Esher (1) Tonbridge Juddians (1)
See also English rugby union system History of the English rugby union system National League 2 North National League 2 West
References
External links NCA Rugby