Counties 4 Yorkshire

English Rugby Union league

Counties 4 Yorkshire
Current season or competition:
2022–23 Counties 4 Yorkshire
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Number of teams15
7 (North-West Division)
7 (South-East Division)
Country England
HoldersBramley Phoenix (1st title) (2019–20)
(promoted to Yorkshire 3)
Most titlesHessle, Hullensians, Old Rishworthians, Rotherham Phoenix, Stocksbridge, Wibsey (2 titles)
WebsiteEngland RFU

Counties 4 Yorkshire is an English rugby union league at the tenth tier of the domestic competition for teams from Yorkshire. Club rugby in Yorkshire operates without promotion play-offs meaning that the top two teams are automatically promoted to Yorkshire 3 and the bottom two teams were relegated to Yorkshire 5 until the RFU made changes to the Yorkshire league structure. Each season a team from Counties 3 Yorkshire or Yorkshire 4 may be picked to take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a national competition for clubs at levels 9-12.

For the 2017-18 season, Yorkshire 4 was broken up into two regional leagues - Yorkshire 4 (North West) and Yorkshire 4 (South East) - while Yorkshire 5 ceased to exist. Teams from both Yorkshire 4 and 5 were transferred into the regional divisions depending on location.[1] After the teams have played each other home and away, in February the clubs are reallocated into a Premier league and a Shield league for one further round of fixtures. The top four teams from each league play in the Premier and the other teams play in the Shield. The top two teams in the Premier league are promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire.

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.

North West division

York RI and Nestle Rowntree were level transferred from Yorkshire 4 South East for the current season.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Aireborough Nunroyd Park Yeadon, West Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (14th)
Leeds Medics & Dentists Weetwood Playing Fields Weetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire 5th (Yorks 4 NW) / 1st (Shield)
Leeds Modernians Cookridge Lane Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire 3rd (Yorks 4 NW) / 6th (Premier)
Halifax Ovenden Park Halifax, West Yorkshire 4th (Yorks 4 NW) / 8th (Premier)
Knaresborough Hay-A-Park Lane Knaresborough, North Yorkshire 7th (Yorks 4 NW) / 6th (Shield)
Nestle Rowntree Mille Crux York, North Yorkshire 5th (Yorks 4 SE) / 2nd (Shield)
Thirsk Thirsk Athletic Club Thirsk, North Yorkshire 6th (Yorks 4 NW) / 4th (Shield)
York Railway Institute New Lane York, North Yorkshire 2nd (Yorks 4 SE) / 3rd (Premier)


Counties 4 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Aireborough
Aireborough
Knaresborough
Knaresborough
Leeds M&D
Leeds
M&D
Leeds Mods
Leeds Mods
Nestle Rowntree
Nestle Rowntree
Thirsk
Thirsk
York RI
York RI
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Locations of the 2021–22 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams

South East division

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Hessle Livingstone Road Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire 6th (Yorks 4 SE) / 3rd (Shield)
Hornsea Hollis Recreation Ground Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire RFU Eastern League 1 (runners-up)
Mosborough Mosborough Miners Welfare Club Mosborough, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 1st (Yorks 4 SE) / 4th (Premier)
Rotherham Phoenix Herringthorpe Playing Fields Clifton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (13th)
Sheffield Oaks Parson Cross Park Parson Cross, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 7th (Yorks 4 SE) / 5th (Shield)
Stanley Rodillians Manley Park Stanley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire 4th (Yorks 4 SE) / 5th (Premier)
Stocksbridge Coal Pit Lane Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire 3rd (Yorks 4 SE) / 7th (Premier)


Counties 4 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Hornsea
Hornsea
Mosborough
Mosborough
Rotherham Phoenix
Rotherham
Phoenix
Sheffield Oaks
Sheffield
Oaks
Stanley Rodillians
Stanley Rodillians
Stocksbridge
Stocksbridge
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Locations of the 2021–22 Yorkshire 4 (South East) teams

Season 2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced [2] 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 4 was not contested.

Participating clubs 2019-20

North West division

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Bramley Phoenix Grosmont Terrace Bramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire 6th (Premier)
Burley Abbey Hawksworth, Leeds, West Yorkshire 1st (Shield)
Leeds Medics & Dentists Weetwood Playing Fields Weetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire 8th (Premier)
Leeds Modernians Cookridge Lane Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (14th)
Halifax Ovenden Park Halifax, West Yorkshire 4th (Shield)
Knaresborough Hay-A-Park Lane Knaresborough, North Yorkshire 7th (Premier)
Thirsk Thirsk Athletic Club Thirsk, North Yorkshire 3rd (Shield)


Counties 4 Yorkshire is located in West Yorkshire
Bramley
Bramley
Burley
Burley
Leeds Medics & Dentists
Leeds Medics & Dentists
Leeds Modernians
Leeds Modernians
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Locations of the 2019-20 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams in Leeds
Counties 4 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Knaresborough
Knaresborough
Leeds
Leeds
Thirsk
Thirsk
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Locations of the 2019–20 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams

South East division

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Hessle Livingstone Road Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire 4th (Premier)
Mosborough Mosborough Miners Welfare Club Mosborough, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 5th (Premier)
Nestle Rowntree Mille Crux York, North Yorkshire 6th (Shield)
Sheffield Oaks Parson Cross Park Parson Cross, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 7th (Shield)
Stanley Rodillians Manley Park Stanley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire 5th (Shield)
Stocksbridge Coal Pit Lane Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire 2nd (Shield)
York Railway Institute New Lane York, North Yorkshire 3rd (Premier)


Counties 4 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Mosborough
Mosborough
Nestle Rowntree
Nestle Rowntree
Sheffield Oaks
Sheffield Oaks
Stanley Rodillians
Stanley Rodillians
Stocksbridge
Stocksbridge
York RI
York RI
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Locations of the 2019–20 Yorkshire 4 (South East) teams

Premier and Shield divisions

Premier participants

  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Burley
  • Halifax
  • Leeds Modernians
  • Mosborough
  • Stanley Rodillians
  • Stocksbridge
  • York Railway Institute

Shield participants

  • Hessle
  • Knaresborough
  • Leeds Medics & Dentists
  • Nestle Rowntree
  • Sheffield Oaks
  • Thirsk

Participating clubs 2018-19

North West division

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Bramley Phoenix Grosmont Terrace Bramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire 1st (Shield)
Burley Abbey Leeds, West Yorkshire 5th (Premier)
Leeds Medics & Dentists Weetwood Playing Fields Weetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (14th)
Halifax Ovenden Park Halifax, West Yorkshire 4th (Shield)
Knaresborough Hay-A-Park Lane Knaresborough, North Yorkshire 4th (Premier)
Thirsk Thirsk Athletic Club Thirsk, North Yorkshire Runners up (Shield)
Wibsey Northfield Road Wibsey, Bradford, West Yorkshire 7th (Premier)


Counties 4 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Bramley
Bramley
Burley
Burley
Knaresborough
Knaresborough
Leeds M & D
Leeds M & D
Thirsk
Thirsk
Wibsey
Wibsey
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Locations of the 2018–19 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams

South East division

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Hessle Livingstone Road Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire 3rd (Shield)
Mosborough Mosborough Miners Welfare Club Mosborough, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 3rd (Premier)
Nestle Rowntree Mille Crux York, North Yorkshire Joined from Yorkshire Merit Leagues
Ossett Ossett Cricket and Athletic Club Ossett, West Yorkshire 6th (Premier)
Sheffield Oaks Parson Cross Park Parson Cross, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 6th (Shield)
Stanley Rodillians Manley Park Stanley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire 8th (Premier)
Stocksbridge Coal Pit Lane Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (13th)
York Railway Institute New Lane York, North Yorkshire 5th (Shield)


Counties 4 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Mosborough
Mosborough
Nestle Rowntree
Nestle Rowntree
Ossett
Ossett
Sheffield Oaks
Sheffield Oaks
Stanley Rodillians
Stanley Rodillians
Stocksbridge
Stocksbridge
York RI
York RI
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Locations of the 2018–19 Yorkshire 4 (South East) teams

Premier and Shield divisions

Premier participants

  • Bramley Phoenix
  • Hessle
  • Knaresborough
  • Leeds Medics & Dentisists
  • Mosborough
  • Ossett
  • Wibsey
  • York Railway Institute

Shield participants

  • Burley
  • Halifax
  • Nestle Rowntree
  • Sheffield Oaks
  • Stanley Rodilians
  • Stocksbridge
  • Thirsk

Participating clubs 2017-18

North West division

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Bramley Phoenix Grosmont Terrace Bramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (9th)
Burley Abbey Leeds, West Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (4th)
Halifax Ovenden Park Halifax, West Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (14th)
Knaresborough Hay-A-Park Lane Knaresborough, North Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (3rd)
Leeds Corinthians Nutty Slack Middleton, Leeds, West Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (5th)
Thirsk Thirsk Athletic Club Thirsk, North Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (5th)
Wibsey Northfield Road Wibsey, Bradford, West Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (champions)


Counties 4 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Bramley
Bramley
Burley
Burley
Knaresborough
Knaresborough
Corinthians
Corinthians
Thirsk
Thirsk
Wibsey
Wibsey
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Locations of the 2017–18 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams

South East division

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
Hessle Livingstone Road Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (6th)
Mosborough Mosborough Miners Welfare Club Mosborough, Sheffield, South Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (2nd)
Ossett Ossett Cricket and Athletic Club Ossett, West Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (8th)
Sheffield Oaks Parson Cross Park Parson Cross, Sheffield, South Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (4th)
Stanley Rodillians Manley Park Stanley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (10th)
Rossington Hornets Rossington Miners Welfare Club Rossington, South Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (8th)
Rotherham Phoenix Herringthorpe Playing Fields Clifton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (3rd)
York Railway Institute New Lane York, North Yorkshire Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (7th)


Counties 4 Yorkshire is located in Yorkshire and the Humber
Mosborough
Mosborough
Ossett
Ossett
Sheffield Oaks
Sheffield Oaks
Stanley Rodillians
Stanley Rodillians
Rossington
Rossington
Rotherham Phoenix
Rotherham Phoenix
York RI
York RI
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Locations of the 2017–18 Yorkshire 4 (South East) teams

Premier and Shield divisions

In February, after the teams have played each other home and away, the clubs in both Yorkshire 4 leagues are reallocated into a Premier league and a Shield league for one further round of fixtures. The top four teams from each league play in the Premier and the other teams play in the Shield.

Premier participants

  • Burley
  • Knaresborough
  • Leeds Corinthians
  • Mosborough
  • Ossett
  • Rotherham Phoenix
  • Stanley Rodillians
  • Wibsey

Shield participants

Rossington Hornets did not participate in the Shield competition.

Participating clubs 2016-17

  • Bramley Phoenix (relegated from Yorkshire 3)
  • Burley
  • Hemsworth
  • Hessle
  • Hornsea (promoted from Yorkshire 5)
  • Leeds Corinthians
  • Ossett
  • Rotherham Clifton
  • Rotherham Phoenix (relegated from Yorkshire 3)
  • Skipton
  • Stanley Rodillians (promoted from Yorkshire 5)
  • York Railway Institute

Participating clubs 2015-16

Participating clubs 2014-15

Participating clubs 2013-14

Participating clubs 2012–13

  • Halifax
  • Halifax Vandals
  • Harrogate Pythons
  • Hornsea
  • Knaresborough
  • Leeds Corinthians
  • Marist
  • Mosborough
  • Old Grovians
  • Old Otliensians
  • Ossett
  • Wetherby

Original teams

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

  • Burley
  • Dinnington
  • Hessle
  • Hullensians
  • Leeds YMCA
  • Old Modernians
  • Skipton
  • West Leeds
  • Wetherby
  • Wibsey
  • Yorkshire CW

Yorkshire 4

Yorkshire 4 (1987–1993)

The original Yorkshire 4 was a tier 12 league with promotion up to Yorkshire 3 and relegation down to Yorkshire 5.

Yorkshire 4
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1987–88 11 Wibsey Old Modernians Skipton, Burley
1988–89 11 Hessle West Leeds Wetherby, Yorkshire CW
1989–90 11 Bradford Salem Sheffield Oaks Phoenix Park
1990–91 11 Northallerton Dinnington Yorkshire CW
1991–92 11 Hullensians Halifax Vandals[a] No relegation[b]
1992–93 13 Ossett Leeds YMCA Yorkshire CW
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Yorkshire 4 (1993–2000)

The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 4 dropped to become a tier 13 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 4 remain at tier 13.

Yorkshire 4
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1993–94 13 Phoenix Park Skipton No relegation
1994–95 13 Mosborough Baildon Knaresborough
1995–96 13 Stocksbridge Hornsea[c] Multiple teams[d]
1996–97 9 York Railway Institute Leeds Corinthians[e] No relegation[f]
1997–98 9 Heath Baildon Knaresborough
1998–99[3] 10 Old Rishworthians Knottingley Nestle Rowntree, Ossett, Garforth
1999–00[4] 9 Old Modernians[g] Mosborough Marist, Hornsea, Rotherham Clifton
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Yorkshire 4 (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 4 became a tier 10 league.

Yorkshire 4
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–01[5] 11 Stocksbridge Old Rishworthians Edlington Granby, Thornensians
2001–02[6] 12 Knottingley Moortown Mosborough, Stanley Rodillians, Old Rishworthians
2002–03[7] 12 Roundhegians Thornensians Sheffield Medicals, Sheffield Oaks
2003–04[8] 12 Barnsley Baildon Halifax Vandals, Hornsea, Wakefield Cougars
2004–05[9] 11 Wath Upon Dearne Old Modernians Wetherby, Burley
2005–06[10] 12 Aireborough Doncaster Phoenix Halifax Vandals, Stanley Rodillians, Hemsworth
2006–07[11] 12 Hullensians Castleford Sheffield Oaks, Mosborough, Wetherby
2007–08[12] 12 Hessle Old Otliensians Stocksbridge, Knaresborough, Hemsworth
2008–09[13] 12 Old Rishworthians Bramley Phoenix Burley
2009–10[14] 12 Rotherham Phoenix York Railway Institute Hornsea, Adwick Le Street
2010–11[15] 12 Sheffield Medicals Burley Marist
2011–12[16] 12 Leeds Medics & Dentists Hemsworth Stanley Rodillians
2012–13[17] 12 Old Grovians Harrogate Pythons Knaresborough, Marist
2013–14[18] 12 Old Otliensians Stocksbridge Hessle
2014–15[19] 12 Wetherby Halifax Knaresborough, Hornsea
2015–16[20] 12 Halifax Vandals Wensleydale Sheffield Oaks, Mosborough
2016–17[21] 11 Hemsworth Skipton No relegation[h]
2017–18[22] 15 Rotherham Phoenix Leeds Corinthians No relegation
2018–19[23] 15 Wibsey Ossett No relegation
2019–20[24] 14 Bramley Phoenix Burley No relegation
2020–21 14
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

  • Hessle (2)
  • Hullensians (2)
  • Old Rishworthians (2)
  • Rotherham Phoenix (2)
  • Stocksbridge (2)
  • Wibsey (2)
  • Aireborough (1)
  • Barnsley (1)
  • Bradford Salem (1)
  • Bramley Phoenix (1)
  • Halifax Vandals (1)
  • Heath (1)
  • Hemsworth (1)
  • Knottingley (1)
  • Leeds Medics & Dentists (1)
  • Mosborough (1)
  • Northallerton (1)
  • Old Grovians (1)
  • Old Modernians (1)
  • Old Otliensians (1)
  • Ossett (1)
  • Phoenix Park (1)
  • Roundhegians (1)
  • Sheffield Medicals (1)
  • Wath Upon Dearne (1)
  • Wetherby (1)
  • York Railway Institute (1)

Notes

  1. ^ League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant nine clubs were promoted into Yorkshire 3 including Airebronians, Wetherby, Baildon, Old Rishworthians, Leeds Corinthians, Burley and Heath.
  2. ^ League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant no clubs were relegated and eight clubs (originally nine) would be promoted from Yorkshire 5.
  3. ^ 3rd place Hornsea were promoted instead of runners up Burley who were instead demoted to Yorkshire 5.
  4. ^ Yorkshire league restructuring due to reintroduction of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1996–97 season saw ten clubs relegated from Yorkshire 4; New Earswick, Rawmarsh, Withernsea, Adwick le Street and De La Salle (Sheffield) were relegated into Yorkshire 6, while BP Chemicals, Garforth, Danum Phoenix, Rowntrees and Burley were relegated into Yorkshire 5.
  5. ^ Stanley Rodillians were also promoted.
  6. ^ No relegation due to cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1997–98 season.
  7. ^ No promotion this season as division to increase from 9 to 11 teams for the following season.
  8. ^ No relegation as Yorkshire 5 was abolished at the end of the 2016-17 season.

See also

References

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