Counties 3 Yorkshire

English rugby union league

Counties 3 Yorkshire
Current season or competition:
2023–24 Counties 3 Yorkshire
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersHemsworth (2nd title) (2022–23)
(promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire)
Most titlesAireborough, Heath, Hemsworth, Leeds Corinthians, Roundhegians, Wetherby, Wath upon Dearne, Yarnbury, Barnsley (2 titles)
WebsiteEngland RFU

Counties 3 Yorkshire, previously known as Yorkshire 3, is an English rugby union league at the ninth tier of the domestic competition. Club rugby in Yorkshire operates without promotion play-offs meaning that the top two teams are automatically promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire and the bottom two teams are relegated to Counties 4 Yorkshire. Each season a team from Counties 3 Yorkshire or Counties 4 Yorkshire may be picked to take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a national competition for clubs at levels 9–12.

Participating clubs 2023–24

The teams competing in 2023–24.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Barnsley Shaw Lane Barnsley, South Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (12th)
Burley Abbey Hawksworth, Leeds, West Yorkshire 3rd
Castleford Methley Pitch Castleford, West Yorkshire 9th
Halifax RUFC Ovenden Park Halifax, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (runners up)
Halifax Vandals RUFC Warley Town Lane Halifax, West Yorkshire 6th
Northallerton Brompton Lodge Northallerton, North Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (10th)
Rotherham Phoenix Rotherham Rugby Club Rotherham, South Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (champions)
Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 8th
Skipton Sandylands Skipton, North Yorkshire 5th
Thirsk Newsham Road Thirsk, North Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (10th)
West Park Leeds The Sycamores Bramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire 7th
Wheatley Hills Brunel Road Doncaster, South Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (11th)


Counties 3 Yorkshire is located in West Yorkshire
Bramley
Bramley
Burley
Burley
West Park
West Park
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Locations of the 2021-22 Yorkshire 3 teams in Leeds
Counties 3 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Castleford
Castleford
Hemsworth
Hemsworth
Knottingley
Knottingley
Leeds
Leeds
Otliensians
Otliensians
Sheffield Medicals
Sheffield Medicals
Skipton
Skipton
Thornensians
Thornensians
Wibsey
Wibsey
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Locations of the 2021–22 Yorkshire 3 teams

Participating clubs 2022–23

The teams competing in 2022–23.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Bramley Phoenix Grosmont Terrace Bramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire 3rd
Burley Abbey Hawksworth, Leeds, West Yorkshire 8th
Castleford Methley Pitch Castleford, West Yorkshire 4th
Halifax Vandals RUFC Warley Town Lane Halifax, West Yorkshire 6th
Hemsworth Moxon Fields Hemsworth, West Yorkshire 12th
Knottingley Howard's Field Knottingley, West Yorkshire 10th
Ossett Queens Terrace, Ossett CC Ossett, West Yorkshire 5th
Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 9th
Skipton Sandylands Skipton, North Yorkshire 7th
Thornensians Coulman Road Thorne, South Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (14th)
West Park Leeds The Sycamores Bramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire 11th
Wibsey Northfield Road Wibsey, Bradford, West Yorkshire 13th


Counties 3 Yorkshire is located in West Yorkshire
Bramley
Bramley
Burley
Burley
West Park
West Park
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Locations of the 2021-22 Yorkshire 3 teams in Leeds
Counties 3 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Castleford
Castleford
Hemsworth
Hemsworth
Knottingley
Knottingley
Leeds
Leeds
Otliensians
Otliensians
Ossett
Ossett
Sheffield Medicals
Sheffield Medicals
Skipton
Skipton
Thornensians
Thornensians
Wibsey
Wibsey
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Locations of the 2021–22 Yorkshire 3 teams

Participating clubs 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.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Barnsley Shaw Lane Barnsley, South Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (13th)
Bramley Phoenix Grosmont Terrace Bramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (champions)
Burley Abbey Hawksworth, Leeds, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (runners-up)
Castleford Methley Pitch Castleford, West Yorkshire 8th
Harrogate Pythons Station View Harrogate, North Yorkshire 4th
Hemsworth Moxon Fields Hemsworth, West Yorkshire 11th
Knottingley Howard's Field Knottingley, West Yorkshire 3rd
Old Otliensians Chaffers Field Otley, West Yorkshire 5th
Ossett Ossett Cricket and Athletic Club Ossett, West Yorkshire 7th
Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 10th
Skipton Sandylands Skipton, North Yorkshire 12th
West Park Leeds The Sycamores Bramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (14th)
Wibsey Northfield Road Wibsey, Bradford, West Yorkshire 6th


Counties 3 Yorkshire is located in West Yorkshire
Bramley
Bramley
Burley
Burley
West Park
West Park
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2021-22 Yorkshire 3 teams in Leeds
Counties 3 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Barnsley
Barnsley
Castleford
Castleford
Harrogate Pythons
Harrogate Pythons
Hemsworth
Hemsworth
Knottingley
Knottingley
Leeds
Leeds
Otliensians
Otliensians
Ossett
Ossett
Sheffield Medicals
Sheffield Medicals
Skipton
Skipton
Wibsey
Wibsey
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Locations of the 2021–22 Yorkshire 3 teams

Season 2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced [1] 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 Yorkshire 3 was not contested.

Participating clubs 2019–20

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Aireborough Nunroyd Park Yeadon, West Yorkshire 13th (not relegated)
Baildon Jenny Lane Baildon, West Yorkshire 11th
Castleford Methley Pitch Castleford, West Yorkshire 5th
Halifax Vandals RUFC Warley Town Lane Halifax, West Yorkshire 9th
Harrogate Pythons Station View Harrogate, North Yorkshire 3rd
Hemsworth Moxon Fields Hemsworth, West Yorkshire 8th
Knottingley Howard's Field Knottingley, West Yorkshire 6th
Leeds Corinthians Nutty Slack Middleton, Leeds, West Yorkshire 4th
Old Otliensians Chaffers Field Otley, West Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (14th)
Ossett Ossett Cricket and Athletic Club Ossett, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (runners up)
Rotherham Phoenix Herringthorpe Playing Fields Clifton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire 7th
Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 12th
Skipton Sandylands Skipton, North Yorkshire 10th
Wibsey Northfield Road Wibsey, Bradford, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (champions)


Counties 3 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Aireborough
Aireborough
Baildon
Baildon
Castleford
Castleford
Halifax Vandals
Halifax Vandals
Harrogate Pythons
Harrogate Pythons
Hemsworth
Hemsworth
Knottingley
Knottingley
Leeds Cor
Leeds Cor
Otliensians
Otliensians
Ossett
Ossett
Rotherham Phoenix
Rotherham Phoenix
Sheffield Medicals
Sheffield Medicals
Skipton
Skipton
Wibsey
Wibsey
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Locations of the 2019–20 Yorkshire 3 teams

Participating clubs 2018-19

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Aireborough Nunroyd Park Yeadon, West Yorkshire 6th
Baildon Jenny Lane Baildon, West Yorkshire 12th
Castleford Methley Pitch Castleford, West Yorkshire 5th
Halifax Vandals RUFC Warley Town Lane Halifax, West Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (14th)
Harrogate Pythons Station View Harrogate, North Yorkshire 10th
Hemsworth Moxon Fields Hemsworth, West Yorkshire 7th
Knottingley Howard's Field Knottingley, West Yorkshire 8th
Leeds Corinthians Nutty Slack Middleton, Leeds, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (runners up)
Leeds Modernians Cookridge Lane Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire 4th
Rotherham Phoenix Herringthorpe Playing Fields Clifton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (champions)
Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 9th
Skipton Sandylands Skipton, North Yorkshire 11th
Thornensians Coulman Road Thorne, South Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (13th)
Wensleydale Cawkill Park Leyburn, North Yorkshire 3rd


Counties 3 Yorkshire is located in West Yorkshire
Leeds Corinthians
Leeds Corinthians
Leeds Modernians
Leeds Modernians
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2018–19 Yorkshire 3 teams in Leeds
Counties 3 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Aireborough
Aireborough
Baildon
Baildon
Castleford
Castleford
Halifax Vandals
Halifax Vandals
Harrogate Pythons
Harrogate Pythons
Hemsworth
Hemsworth
Knottingley
Knottingley
Leeds
Leeds
Rotherham Phoenix
Rotherham Phoenix
Sheffield Medicals
Sheffield Medicals
Skipton
Skipton
Thornensians
Thornensians
Wensleydale
Wensleydale
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Locations of the 2018–19 Yorkshire 3 teams

Participating clubs 2017-18

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Aireborough Nunroyd Park Yeadon, West Yorkshire 8th
Baildon Jenny Lane Baildon, West Yorkshire 7th
Castleford Methley Pitch Castleford, West Yorkshire 12th
Harrogate Pythons Station View Harrogate, North Yorkshire 11th
Hemsworth Moxon Fields Hemsworth, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (champions)
Knottingley Howard's Field Knottingley, West Yorkshire 3rd
Leeds Medics & Dentists Weetwood Playing Fields Weetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire 5th
Leeds Modernians Cookridge Lane Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire 6th
Northallerton Brompton Lodge Northallerton, North Yorkshire 4th
Old Otliensians Chaffers Field Otley, West Yorkshire 9th
Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (14th)
Skipton Sandylands Skipton, North Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (runners up)
Stocksbridge Coal Pit Lane Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire 13th
Wensleydale Cawkill Park Leyburn, North Yorkshire 10th


Counties 3 Yorkshire is located in West Yorkshire
Leeds M&D
Leeds M&D
Leeds Mod
Leeds Mod
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2017–18 Yorkshire 3 teams in Leeds
Counties 3 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Aireborough
Aireborough
Baildon
Baildon
Castleford
Castleford
Harrogate Pythons
Harrogate Pythons
Hemsworth
Hemsworth
Knottingley
Knottingley
Leeds
Leeds
Northallerton
Northallerton
Otliensians
Otliensians
Sheffield Medicals
Sheffield Medicals
Skipton
Skipton
Stocksbridge
Stocksbridge
Wensleydale
Wensleydale
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Locations of the 2017–18 Yorkshire 3 teams

Participating clubs 2016-17

Participating clubs 2015-16

  • Aireborough
  • Baildon
  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Goole (relegated from Yorkshire 2)
  • Halifax (promoted from Yorkshire 4)
  • Harrogate Pythons
  • Leeds Medics and Dentists (relegated from Yorkshire 2)
  • Leeds Modernians
  • Northallerton
  • Old Otliensians
  • Rotherham Phoenix
  • Stocksbridge
  • Thornensians
  • Wetherby (promoted from Yorkshire 4)

Participating clubs 2014-15

  • Aireborough
  • Baildon (relegated from Yorkshire 2)
  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Burley
  • Castleford
  • Harrogate Pythons
  • Hemsworth
  • Northallerton
  • Old Grovians
  • Old Modernians
  • Old Otliensians (promoted from Yorkshire 4)
  • Rotherham Phoenix
  • Stocksbridge (promoted from Yorkshire 4)
  • Thornensians

Participating clubs 2013-14

  • Aireborough
  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Burley
  • Castleford
  • Goole
  • Harrogate Pythons (promoted from Yorkshire 4)
  • Hemsworth
  • Leeds Medics and Dentists
  • Northallerton
  • Old Grovians (promoted from Yorkshire 4)
  • Old Modernians
  • Rotherham Phoenix
  • Skipton (relegated from Yorkshire 2)
  • Thornensians

Participating clubs 2012–13

  • Aireborough
  • Baildon
  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Burley
  • Goole
  • Hemsworth
  • Hessle
  • Leeds Medics and Dentists
  • Northallerton
  • Old Modernians
  • Old Rishworthians
  • Rotherham Phoenix
  • Thornensians
  • York Railway Institute

Original teams

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

  • Airebronians
  • Baildon
  • Bradford Salem
  • Bridlington
  • Heath
  • Knottingley
  • Leeds CSSA
  • Marist
  • Northallerton
  • Rodillians
  • Yarnbury

Yorkshire 3 honours

Yorkshire 3 (1987–1993)

The original Yorkshire 3 was a tier 11 league with promotion up to Yorkshire 2 and relegation down to Yorkshire 4.

Yorkshire 3
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1987–88 11 Bridlington Marist Northallerton, Bradford Salem
1988–89 11 Yarnbury Old Otliensians Heath, Leeds CSSA
1989–90 11 Leodiensian Knottingley Baildon
1990–91 11 Bradford Salem Sheffield Oaks Aireborians
1991–92 11 Wath upon Dearne Old Modernians[a] No relegation[b]
1992–93 13 Hessle Halifax Vandals Baildon
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Yorkshire 3 (1993–2000)

The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 3 dropped to become a tier 12 league. A further restructure at the end of the 1995–96 season, which included the cancellation of National 5 North and the addition of North East 3 at tier 9, saw Yorkshire 3 remain at tier 12.

Yorkshire 3
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1993–94 13 Aireborough Wibsey Leeds YMCA
1994–95 13 Wetherby Skipton Burley
1995–96 13 Hullensians Phoenix Park Multiple teams[c]
1996–97 10 Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. West Leeds No relegation[d]
1997–98 10 Hemsworth Stanley Rodillians Hornsea
1998–99[2] 10 York Railway Institute Heath Wibsey, Old Modernians, Wetherby
1999–00[3] 10 Leeds Corinthians Moortown Stanley Rodillians, Baildon, Stocksbridge
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Yorkshire 3 (2000–present)

Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999–2000 season saw the cancellation of North East 1, North East 2 and North East 3 (tiers 7–9). This meant that Yorkshire 3 became a tier 9 league.

Yorkshire 3
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–01[4] 12 Skipton Malton and Norton Hullensians, Sheffield Oaks, Moortown
2001–02[5] 12 Heath Malton and Norton Hessle, Roundhegians, Barnsley
2002–03[6] 12 Knottingley Stocksbridge Halifax Vandals
2003–04[7] 12 Pocklington Castleford Leeds Corinthians, Wath upon Dearne
2004–05[8] 12 Barnsley West Leeds Hemsworth, Bramley Phoenix
2005–06[9] 12 Heath York Railway Institute Old Modernians, Castleford
2006–07[10] 12 Yarnbury Skipton Stocksbridge, Northallerton
2007–08[11] 12 Moortown Castleford York Railway Institute, Thornensians
2008–09[12] 12 West Park Leeds Hullensians[e] Wath upon Dearne
2009–10[13] 12 Roundhegians Old Rishworthians Garforth
2010–11[14] 12 Wath upon Dearne Goole Old Otliensians
2011–12[15] 12 Roundhegians Sheffield Medicals Halifax Vandals
2012–13[16] 14 Old Rishworthians Baildon York Railway Institute, Hessle
2013–14[17] 14 Goole Leeds Medics and Dentists Skipton
2014–15[18] 14 Old Grovians Castleford Hemsworth, Burley
2015–16[19] 14 Wetherby Thornensians Rotherham Phoenix, Bramley Phoenix
2016–17[20] 14 Halifax Vandals Goole Halifax[f]
2017–18[21] 14 Northallerton Otliensians Leeds Medics & Dentists, Stocksbridge
2018–19[22] 14 Wensleydale Thornensians Leeds Modernians
2019–20[23] 14 Leeds Corinthians Baildon Aireborough, Rotherham Phoenix
2020–21 14 Barnsley Harrogate Pythons Old Otliesians
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

  • Aireborough (2)
  • Heath (2)
  • Hemsworth (2)
  • Leeds Corinthians (2)
  • Roundhegians (2)
  • Wetherby (2)
  • Wath upon Dearne (2)
  • Yarnbury (2)
  • Barnsley (2)
  • Bradford Salem (1)
  • Bridlington (1)
  • Goole (1)
  • Halifax Vandals (1)
  • Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. (1)
  • Hullensians (1)
  • Knottingley (1)
  • Leodiensian (1)
  • Moortown (1)
  • Northallerton (1)
  • Pocklington (1)
  • Old Grovians (1)
  • Old Rishworthians (1)
  • Skipton (1)
  • Wensleydale (1)
  • West Park Leeds (1)
  • York Railway Institute (1)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant seven clubs were promoted into Yorkshire 2 including Dinnington, West Leeds, Northallerton, Leeds CSSA and Sheffield Tigers.
  2. ^ League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant no clubs were relegated and nine clubs would be promoted from Yorkshire 4.
  3. ^ Yorkshire league restructuring due to reintroduction of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1996–97 season saw nine clubs, including Marist, Ossett, Stanley Rodillians, York Railway Institute, Knottingley, Old Rishworthians, Mosborough, Heath, Leeds Corinthians, Baildon relegated from Yorkshire 3; Marist and Ossett, were relegated to Yorkshire 4, while the other seven relegated sides dropped into Yorkshire 5.
  4. ^ No relegation due to cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1997–98 season.
  5. ^ Barnsley, Hessle, Goole, West Leeds and Doncaster Phoenix were also promoted. This was due to the restructure of the Yorkshire League increasing the number of teams in the divisions above, meaning that there were a lot of promotions at the end of this season.
  6. ^ Only 1 team relegated at end of season meaning 13th placed Stocksbridge were safe.

References

  1. ^ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  2. ^ "1998–1999 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  3. ^ "1999–2000 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  4. ^ "2000-2001 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  5. ^ "2001-2002 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  6. ^ "2002-2003 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  7. ^ "2003-2004 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  8. ^ "2004-2005 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  9. ^ "2005-2006 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  10. ^ "2006-2007 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  11. ^ "2007-2008 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  12. ^ "2008-2009 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  13. ^ "2009-2010 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  14. ^ "2010-2011 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  15. ^ "2011-2012 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  16. ^ "2012-2013 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  17. ^ "2013-2014 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  18. ^ "2014-2015 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  19. ^ "2015-2016 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  20. ^ "2016-2017 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  21. ^ "2017-18 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  22. ^ "2018-19 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  23. ^ "Men's North Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
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