Counties 3 Essex (formerly known as Essex 2 or Essex Spitfire 2 for sponsorship reasons) is an English Rugby Union league at the ninth tier of the domestic competition.
It was the basement division of club rugby in Essex with promoted teams moving up to Essex 1 and no relegation (up until 2008-09 relegated teams dropped to Essex 3 but this division has since been abolished). Essex 2 was created in 2003 by Essex-based teams who left East Counties 3 South. At the end of the 2013–14 season the division was abolished with teams either moving up into Essex 1 or into various Essex Merit leagues.
However, ahead of season 2026-27 the league was reinstated under the new name Counties 3 Essex with promotion to Counties 2 Essex.
Participating clubs 2026-27
This was the first season of the newly reinstated league with four clubs joining from Counties 2 Essex and the remainder joining the RFU leagues for the first time or rejoining after a period of absence.
Initially Thames RFC were due to join the league but they withdrew before the season began to be replaced by Runwell Wyverns.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Brentwood II King George's Playing Fields 3,000 Brentwood, Essex New entry Clacton Valley Road Clacton-on-Sea, Essex Demoted from Counties 2 Essex (9th) Eton Manor III The New Wilderness Wanstead, London New entry Kelvedon & Feering Rye Mill Lane Feering, Essex Re-entry Millwall Millwall Park Isle of Dogs, London Demoted from Counties 2 Essex (8th) Old Cooperians Coopers' Company & Corborn School Upminster, London Re-entry Rochford Hundred II The Rugby Park 1,000 Hawkwell, Rochford, Essex New entry Runwell Wyverns Runwell Sports and Social Club Wickford, Essex New entry Witham Witham Town Football & Social Club Witham, Essex Demoted from Counties 2 Essex (7th) Writtle Wanderers Paradise Road, Writtle Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex Demoted from Counties 2 Essex (10th)
2014-26
Not contested
Original teams
When Essex 2 was introduced in 2003 it contained the following teams:
Bancroft - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (4th) Burnham-On-Crouch - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (7th) Dagenham - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (8th) Loughton - transferred from Eastern Counties 3 South (3rd) Old Brentwoods - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (5th) Old Edwardians - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (10th) Ravens - transferred from Eastern Counties 3 South (champions) Runwell Wyverns - transferred from Eastern Counties 3 South (runners up) South Woodham Ferrers - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (6th) Thames - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South - transferred from Eastern Counties 2 South (9th)
Essex 2 honours
Essex 2 (2003–2009)
The original Essex 2 was a tier 9 league with promotion up to Essex 1 and relegation down to Essex 3.
Essex 2SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams2003–04 10 Thames South Woodham Ferrers Old Edwardians, Runwell Wyverns 2004–05 9 Canvey Island Bancroft Ravens 2005–06 9 Writtle Wanderers Dagenham Stanford Le Hope 2006–07 9 Millwall Old Brentwoods May & Baker 2007–08 8 Clacton Thames Witham, Pegasus Palmerians 2008–09 8 Millwall Old Cooperians No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.
Essex 2 (2009–2014)
Essex 2 remained a tier 10 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to Essex 1 and there was no relegation since the cancellation of Essex 3 at the end of the 2008–09 season. Essex 2 was itself disbanded at the end of the 2013–14 season with all teams either promoted to Essex 1 or transferred to the Essex Merit Leagues.
Essex 2SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams2009–10 11 Pegasus Palmerians Brightlingsea No relegation2010–11 9 Epping Upper Clapton Writtle Wanderers No relegation 2011–12 9 Dagenham Burnham-On-Crouch No relegation 2012–13 9 Writtle Wanderers Ilford Wanderers No relegation 2013–14 9 May & Baker Millwall No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.
Number of league titles
Millwall (2) Writtle Wanderers (2) Canvey Island (1) Clacton (1) Dagenham (1) Epping Upper Clapton (1) May & Baker (1) Pegasus Palmerians (1) Thames (1)
Notes
See also London & SE Division RFU Essex RFU English rugby union system Rugby union in England
References