Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier

Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier is a division at level 8 of the English rugby union system featuring teams from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Promoted teams usually move up to Southern Counties North while relegated teams used to drop to the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship, although this division has been discontinued as of the end of the 2018–19 season. Each year three teams (one each from the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire unions) are picked to take part in the RFU Senior Vase (a level 8 national cup competition).

Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
Current season or competition:
2019–20 Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
SportRugby union
Instituted1987 (1987) (as Bucks/Oxon 1)
Number of teams11
Country England
HoldersGosford All Blacks (2nd title) (2019–20)
(promoted to Southern Counties North)
Most titlesAmersham & Chiltern, Bicester, Chipping Norton, Gosford All Blacks, Newbury Stags, Slough (2 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

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 2019–20

Teams 2018–19

Teams 2017–18

Teams 2016–17

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.

Abingdon
Alchester
Chipping Norton
Gosford AB
Wheatley
Locations of the 2015–16 Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier teams in Oxfordshire
Crowthorne
Hungerford
Slough
Tadley
Locations of the 2015–16 Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier teams in Berkshire
Chesham
Risborough
Locations of the 2015–16 Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier teams in Buckinghamshire
Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season
AbingdonSouthern Sports ParkAbingdon, Oxfordshire4th
AlchesterFritwell Playing FieldsFritwell, Oxfordshirerelegated from Southern Counties North (11th)
CheshamChiltern Hills Academy Playing FieldsChesham, Buckinghamshire8th
Chipping NortonGreystonesChipping Norton, Oxfordshire6th
CrowthorneThe Crows New NestReading, Berkshirepromoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship (runner-up)
DrifteraOne Pin LaneAs many as you like.Farnham Common, Buckinghamshirerelegated from Southern Counties North
Gosford All BlacksStratfield BrakeKidlington, Oxfordshire3rd
HungerfordTriangle FieldHungerford, Berkshire5th
Milton KeynesEmerson ValleyMilton Keynes, BuckinghamshireRelegated from Southern Counties North (12th)
RisboroughPrinces Risborough School Playing FieldsPrinces Risborough, Buckinghamshirepromoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship (champions)
SloughTamblyn FieldsSlough, Berkshire9th
Tadley TigersRed LaneAldermaston, Berkshirerelegated from London 2 South West (12th) & level transferred to league
WheatleyHolton Playing FieldsHolton, Wheatley, Oxfordshire7th

2014–15

Participating teams

2013–14

Participating teams

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[2]
  • Gosford All Blacks[3]
  • Hungerford
  • Littlemore
  • Phoenix
  • Stow-on-the-Wold and District[4]
  • 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:

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.[lower-alpha 4] Promotion was to Southern Counties and relegation to Bucks/Oxon 2.

Bucks/Oxon 1
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
1987–8812SloughBicesterDidcot, Abingdon[7]
1988–8911ChilternLittlemoreBuckingham, Witney[8]
1989–9011GroveLittlemoreCholsey, Bicester[9]
1990–9111OlneyOxford MarathonDidcot, Drifters, Littlemore[10]
1991–9211BicesterSloughNo relegation[lower-alpha 5][11]
1992–9313Oxford Marathon[lower-alpha 6] ChilternWheatley, Buckingham[12]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

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 1
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
1993–9413Amersham & ChilternChinnorChipping Norton[13]
1994–9513ChinnorOxford Old BoysAbingdon, Littlemore, Drifters[14]
1995–9613Oxford Old Boys[lower-alpha 7]Witney[lower-alpha 8]No relegation[lower-alpha 9][15]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

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 restructing meant that promotion was now to Southern Counties North[lower-alpha 10] and relegation was to Bucks/Oxon 2.[lower-alpha 11]

Bucks/Oxon
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
1996–9713Chipping NortonBeaconsfieldDidcot, Harwell, Gosford All Blacks, Abingdon
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

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 1
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
1997–987CholseyPennaniansGrove, Wheatley
1998–997WitneyDriftersNo relegation[lower-alpha 12][16]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

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.[lower-alpha 13]

Bucks/Oxon
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
1999–0011PhoenixGroveMultiple teams[lower-alpha 14][17]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 (2000–2004)

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season would see Berkshire based clubs join the Bucks & Oxon leagues.[lower-alpha 15] 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 1
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
2000–018OxfordMilton KeynesBerkshire Shire Hall, Littlemore[18]
2001–0210BicesterWallingfordWheatley, Chesham, Bletchley[19]
2002–0310Henley WanderersPhoenixPennanians, Littlemore, Drifters[20]
2003–049BletchleyBeaconsfieldNo relegation[lower-alpha 16][21]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

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
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
2004–0512SwindonChipping NortonThatcham, Harwell[22]
2005–0612Newbury StagsMilton KeynesFarnham Royal, Chesham, Littlemore[23]
2006–0711WallingfordSloughSwindon College Old Boys[24]
2007–0812Chipping NortonBicesterWheatley, Farnham Royal, Crowthorne[25]
2008–0911Newbury StagsAmersham & ChilternNo relegation[26]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

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[lower-alpha 17]).

Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
2009–1011CrowthorneOxfordAbingdon, Harwell[27]
2010–1110AlchesterSloughNo relegation[28]
2011–1211DriftersThatchamPhoenix[29]
2012–1311Stow-on-the-WoldSwindon College Old BoysRisborough, Harwell[30]
2013–1411TadleyBicesterFarnham Royal, Aylesbury Athletic[31]
2014–1510Reading AbbeySwindon College Old BoysPhoenix[32]
2015–1612Gosford All BlacksMilton KeynesChipping Norton, Wheatley[33]
2016–1711Swindon College Old BoysDriftersPhoenix, Risborough[34]
2017–1810SloughLittlemoreAbingdon[35]
2018–1911CheshamDidcotRisborough[36]
2019–2011[lower-alpha 18]Gosford All BlacksMilton KeynesOxford[37]
2020–2111
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

Notes
  1. Littlemore dropped out of the league in December 2019.[1]
  2. Chiltern were renamed as Amersham & Chiltern in 1992.[5]
  3. Pennanians were renamed as Farnham Royal RFC in 2005.[6]
  4. Berkshire based clubs would not join the division until 2000, having originally been involved in the Berks/Dorset/Wilts leagues.
  5. Due to restructuring of the majority of south west leagues increasing from 11 to 13 teams for the following season, there was no relegation.
  6. Despite winning the league, champions Oxford Marathon would not be promoted.
  7. Oxford Old Boys would merge with Oxford Marathon the following season to form Oxford Harlequins.
  8. The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that seven clubs were promoted including Slough, Buckingham, Oxford Marathon, Grove and Milton Keynes.
  9. Restructuring caused by the cancellation of National League 5 South meant that there was no relegation.
  10. Southern Counties was split into Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South as part of RFU restructuring at the end of the 1995–96 season.
  11. Although Bucks/Oxon 2 was cancelled for the 1996–97 season it would return the following year, meaning that was still relegation from Bucks/Oxon.
  12. No relegation as Bucks & Oxon would merge with Bucks & Oxon 2 to reform as a single division – Bucks & Oxon – for the following season.
  13. Berkshire based clubs would leave the Dorset & Wilts leagues at the end of the 1999–00 season to join the Bucks/Oxon leagues.
  14. The reintroduction of Bucks/Oxon 2 for the following season, meant that fives clubs were relegated, including Gosford All Blacks, Harwell, Abingdon, Didcot and Wheatley.
  15. Previously Berkshire clubs played in the Berks/Dorset/Wilts leagues.
  16. No relegation as league would expand to 12 teams for the next season.
  17. Berks/Bucks & Oxon 2 was cancelled at the end of the 2003–04 season.
  18. League reduced from 12 to 11 teams by December 2019 when Littlemore dropped out of the league.[1]
  19. Both of Amersham & Chiltern's titles were won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1, and one of the titles when the club was Chiltern RFC.
  20. One of Bicester's titles was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
  21. One of Chipping Norton's titles was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon.
  22. One of Slough's titles was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
  23. Chinnor's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
  24. Cholsey's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
  25. Grove's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
  26. Olney's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
  27. Oxford's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.
  28. Oxford Marathon merged with Oxford Old Boys in 1996 to form Oxford Harlequins.
  29. Oxford Old Boys merged with Oxford Marathon in 1996 to form Oxford Harlequins.
  30. Phoenix's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon.
  31. Witney's title was won back when the league was known as Bucks/Oxon 1.

See also

References
  1. "NEW LEAGUE STRUCTURES ANNOUNCED". Littlemore RFC. 1 June 2020.
  2. Drifters RFC
  3. Gosford All Blacks RFC
  4. Stow-on-the-Wold and District RFC
  5. "80 seasons at Amersham & Chiltern RFC" (PDF). Roger Cook. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  6. "HISTORY". Farnham Royal RFC. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  7. Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89 (17th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 123–139. ISBN 0 356 15884 5.
  8. Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1989). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989–90 (18th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 133–136. ISBN 0 356 17862 5.
  9. Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1990). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1990–91 (19th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 143–146. ISBN 0 356 19162 1.
  10. Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1991). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991–92 (20th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 164–167. ISBN 0 356 20249 6.
  11. Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1992). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992–93 (21st ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 176–179. ISBN 0 7472 7907 1.
  12. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94 (22nd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing Ltd. pp. 157–160. ISBN 0 7472 7891 1.
  13. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7850 4.
  14. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7816 4.
  15. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7771 0.
  16. "1998–99 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  17. "1999-00 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  18. "2000–01 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  19. "2001–02 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  20. "2002–03 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  21. "2003–04 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  22. "2004–05 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  23. "2005–06 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  24. "2006–07 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  25. "2007–08 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  26. "2008–09 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  27. "2009–10 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  28. "2010–11 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  29. "2011–12 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  30. "2012–13 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  31. "2013–14 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  32. "2014–15 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  33. "2015–16 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  34. "2016–17 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  35. "2017–18 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  36. "2018–19 South-West Division". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  37. "Men's South West Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
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