Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (formerly Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier) is a division at level 8 of the English rugby union system featuring teams principally from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Promoted teams usually move up to Counties 1 Southern North while relegated teams drop to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) or Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) depending on location.
When the league was introduced in 1987 it was known as Bucks/Oxon 1 and was set up originally for teams from Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. It was expanded to include teams from Berkshire (who had been playing teams from Dorset and Wiltshire) from the 2000–01 season onwards.
Teams 2024–25
North
Departing were High Wycombe, promoted to Counties 1 Southern North. Banbury (11th) and Oxford Harlequins III (12th) were relegated.
South
Departing were Reading Abbey, promoted to Counties 1 Southern North.
Teams 2023–24
North
Departing were Oxford Harlequins II, promoted to Counties 1 Southern North. Faringdon (10th) together with Amersham & Chiltern II (11th) were relegated.
South
Departing were Rams III, promoted to Counties 1 Southern North. Abingdon (3rd) left on a level transfer to Counties 2 BBO (North).
Reading II (10th) and Aldermaston (11th) were relegated to Counties 3 Berks Bucks & Oxon South. Henley III (6th) also dropped to Counties 3 Berks Bucks & Oxon South to be replaced by Henley II who joined from Division 1 of the Halbro Raging Bull Shield league.
Maidenhead III (8th) did not return for the new season.
Teams 2022–23
This was the first team following the RFU Adult Competition Review which saw the league split into North and South divisions.
Departing were Bletchley, were promoted to Counties 1 Southern North and Crowthorne who finished bottom and were relegated to Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon South.
North
South
Teams 2021–22
In February 2022 Drifters RFC withdrew from the league with their fixtures liquidated meaning it will be completed with eleven teams.
2020–21
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
Teams 2019–20
Teams 2018–19
Teams 2017–18
Teams 2016–17
- Abingdon
- Alcester
- Chesham
- Crowthorne
- Didcot (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship)
- Drifters (relegated from Southern Counties North)
- Hungerford
- Phoenix (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship)
- Risborough
- Slough
- Swindon College Old Boys (relegated from Southern Counties North)
- Tadley
2015–16
The 2015–16 Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier consisted of twelve teams; five from Oxfordshire, four from Berkshire and three from Buckinghamshire. The season started on 12 September 2015 and the last league matches were played on 23 April 2016.
Participating teams and location
Seven of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Reading Abbey were promoted to the Southern Counties North along with runner-up, Swindon College Old Boys, while Phoenix were relegated to the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship.
2014–15
Participating teams
- Abingdon (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship)
- Aylesbury Athletic
- Chesham
- Chipping Norton
- Gosford All Blacks
- Littlemore
- Phoenix
- Reading Abbey (relegated from Southern Counties North)
- Slough
- Swindon College Old Boys (relegated from Southern Counties North)
- Wheatley (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship)
2013–14
Participating teams
- Aylesbury Athletic
- Bicester
- Chesham (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship)
- Chipping Norton
- Farnham Royal (promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship)
- Gosford All Blacks
- Hungerford
- Littlemore
- Phoenix
- Slough (relegated from Southern Counties North)
- Tadley (relegated from Southern Counties North)
2012–13
Participating teams
- Aylesbury Athletic
- Bicester
- Chipping Norton
- Gosford All Blacks
- Harwell
- Hungerford
- Littlemore
- Phoenix
- Risborough
- Stow-on-the-Wold
- Swindon College Old Boys
2011–12
Participating teams
- Bicester
- Chipping Norton
- Drifters
- Gosford All Blacks
- Hungerford
- Littlemore
- Phoenix
- Stow-on-the-Wold and District
- Swindon College Old Boys
- Thatcham
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Bucks/Oxon 1) contained the following teams from Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire:
- Abingdon
- Beaconsfield
- Bicester
- Buckingham
- Chiltern
- Chinnor
- Didcot
- Grove
- Littlemore
- Pennanians
- Slough
- Witney
Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier honours
Bucks/Oxon 1 (1987–1993)
Originally known as Bucks/Oxon 1, it was a level 8 league for clubs based in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Promotion was to Southern Counties and relegation to Bucks/Oxon 2.
Bucks/Oxon 1 (1993–1996)
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Bucks/Oxon 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Southern Counties and relegation to Bucks/Oxon 2.
Bucks/Oxon (1996–1997)
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Bucks/Oxon 1 renamed as Bucks/Oxon and once more was a tier 8 league. Further restructuring meant that promotion was now to Southern Counties North and relegation was to Bucks/Oxon 2.
Bucks/Oxon 1 (1997–1999)
Bucks/Oxon would revert to its former name of Bucks/Oxon 1 for the 1997–98 season, remaining a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to Southern Counties North and relegation to Bucks/Oxon 2
Bucks/Oxon (1999–2000)
Once again Bucks/Oxon 1 became a single league known as Bucks/Oxon, remaining at tier 8. Promotion continued to Southern Counties North, while relegation would be to the new Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2.
Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 (2000–2004)
Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season would see Berkshire based clubs join the Bucks & Oxon leagues. This meant that Bucks/Oxon 1 would be renamed Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1, remaining a tier 8 league. Promotion would continue to Southern Counties North, while relegation was to Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2.
Berks/Bucks & Oxon (2004–2009)
Ahead of the 2004–05 season Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 was renamed to Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier, remaining a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to Southern Counties North and relegation was now to Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 (formerly Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2).
Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (2009–present)
Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to Southern Counties South and relegation to the newly introduced Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship (last known as Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2).
Number of league titles
Notes
See also
- South West Division RFU
- Berkshire RFU
- Buckinghamshire RFU
- Oxfordshire RFU
- English rugby union system
- Rugby union in England
References
External links
- South West Divisions on the RFU website
- Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier 1 North on the RFU website
- Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier 2 North on the RFU website
