London 2 South West is an English level 7 Rugby Union League. When this division began in 1987 it was known as London 3 South West, changing to its current name ahead of the 2009–10 season. The division is made up of teams predominantly from south-west London, Surrey, and Hampshire. The 12 teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Each year all clubs in the division are also invited to take part in the RFU Intermediate Cup - a level 7 national competition.
Promoted teams move up to London 1 South with league champions going up automatically and the runners up playing a playoff against the runners up from London 2 South East while demoted teams usually drop down to London 3 South West.
Teams for 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.
Old Tonbridgians who finished 10th in 2019-20 were unable to fulfil their fixtures in and withdrew from the league in November 2021. Later the same month London Exiles, who finished 9th in 2019-20, also withdrew from the league having played only one match.
Season 2020–21
On 30 October the RFU announced that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning London 2 South West was not contested.
Teams for 2019–20
Teams for 2018–19
Teams for 2017–18
Teams for 2016-17
- Andover
- Camberley (promoted from London 3 South West)
- Effingham & Leatherhead
- KCS Old Boys
- London Cornish
- London Exiles
- Old Reigatian
- Old Tonbridgians (promoted from London 3 South West)
- Portsmouth
- Twickenham (relegated from London 1 South)
- Warlingham
- Winchester
Teams for 2015-16
- Andover (promoted from London 3 South West)
- Basingstoke (relegated from London 1 South)
- Cobham (relegated from London 1 South)
- Effingham & Leatherhead
- KCS Old Boys
- London Cornish
- London Exiles (promoted from London 3 South West)
- Old Reigatian
- Portsmouth
- Warlingham
- Weybridge Vandals
- Winchester
Teams for 2014-15
- Effingham & Leatherhead
- Farnham (promoted from London 3 South West)
- KCS Old Boys(promoted from London 3 South West)
- London Cornish
- Old Alleynian
- Old Reigatian
- Portsmouth
- Tadley
- Tottonians
- Warlingham
- Weybridge Vandals
- Winchester
Teams for 2013-14
- Effingham & Leatherhead
- Gosport & Fareham
- Guildford
- London Cornish
- Old Alleynian
- Old Reigatian
- Portsmouth
- Teddington
- Tottonians
- Trojans (relegated from London 1 South)
- Weybridge Vandals
- Winchester (promoted from London 3 South West)
Teams for 2012-13
1 Chobham 87
2 Sutton & Epsom 85
3 Guildford 80
4 Tottonians 71
5 Effingham & Leatherhead 59
6 Old Reigatian 50
7 Portsmouth 50
8 London Cornish 38
9 Teddington 37
10 Old Alleynian 35
11 KCS Old Boys 35
12 Camberley 15
Teams for 2011-12
1 Gosport & Fareham 97
2 Wimbledon 88
3 Guildford 67
4 London Cornish 59
5 Tottonians 55
6 Old Reigatian 54
7 Camberley 48
8 Effingham & Leatherhead 45
9 Chobham 43
10 Teddington 39
11 Twickenham 38
12 Bognor 15
Teams for 2010-11
- Bognor
- Effingham and Leatherhead
- Guernsey
- Guildford
- Gosport & Fareham
- KCS Old Boys
- London Cornish
- Old Reigatians
- Tottonians
- Trojans
- Twickenham
- Weybridge Vandals
Teams for 2009-10
- Bognor
- Effingham and Leatherhead
- Guernsey
- Guildford
- London Cornish
- London Irish Amateur
- London South Africa
- Tottonians
- Trojans
- Twickenham
- Weybridge Vandals
- Winchester
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as London 3 South West) contained the following teams:
- Alton
- Eastleigh
- Guy's Hospital
- Jersey
- Old Emanuel
- Old Whitgiftian
- Old Walcountians
- Purley
- Trojans
- Warlingham
- Winchester
London 2 South West Honours
London 3 South West (1987–1993)
Originally known as London 3 South West, this division was a tier 7 league with promotion up to London 2 South and relegation down to either Hampshire 1 or Surrey 1.
London 3 South West (1993–1996)
At the end of the 1992–93 season, the top six teams from London 1 and the top six from South West 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that London 3 South West dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to London 2 South, and relegation to either Hampshire 1 or Surrey 1.
London 3 South West (1996–2000)
The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that London 3 South West reverted to being a tier 7 league. Promotion continued to London 2 South and relegation to either Hampshire 1 or Surrey 1.
London 3 South West (2000–2009)
London 3 South West continued to be a tier 7 league with promotion up to London 2 South. However, the introduction of London 4 South West ahead of the 2000–01 season meant that clubs were relegated into this new division instead of into Hampshire 1 or Surrey 1.
London 2 South West (2009–present)
Nationwide league restructuring by the RFU ahead of the 2009–10 season saw London 3 South West renamed as London 2 South West. It remained at level 7 with promotion to London 1 South (formerly London 2 South) and relegation to London 3 South West (formerly London 4 South West).
Promotion play-offs
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of London 2 South East and London 2 South West for the third and final promotion place to London 1 South. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the London 2 South West teams have been the most successful with ten wins to the London 2 South East teams nine, and the home team has won promotion on eleven occasions compared to the away teams eight.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season ended in March with four game rounds remaining. On 4 April 2020 the RFU announced that a "best playing record formula" would be used to determine promotion and relegation and there would be no play-offs. Consequently, Farnham RFC (84.33 adjusted points tally) were promoted to London 1 South in favour of London 2 South East runners up Old Colfeians (83.11 adjusted points tally).
Number of league titles
Notes
See also
- London & SE Division RFU
- Hampshire RFU
- Surrey RFU
- English rugby union system
- Rugby union in England
References
External links
- London 2 South West results at the Rugby Football Union
