Counties 3 Yorkshire, previously known as Yorkshire 3, is an English rugby union league at the ninth tier of the domestic competition. Club rugby in Yorkshire operates without promotion play-offs meaning that the top two teams are automatically promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire and the bottom two teams are relegated to Counties 4 Yorkshire. Each season a team from Counties 3 Yorkshire or Counties 4 Yorkshire may be picked to take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a national competition for clubs at levels 9–12.
Participating clubs 2024–25
Departing were Northallerton and Halifax Vandals, both promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire while Sheffield Medicals were relegated to Counties 4 Yorkshire.
Participating clubs 2023–24
Departing were Hemsworth and Ossett, both promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire. Thornensians (10th), Knottingley (11th) and Leeds Medics & Dentists (12th) were relegated to Counties 4 Yorkshire.
Participating clubs 2022–23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Yorkshire 3 with teams ranked 4th to 12th returning (1st to 3rd were 'promoted' to Counties 2 Yorkshire and the bottom two 'relegated' to Counties 4 Yorkshire) and supplemented by top 2 from Yorkshire 4 and one coming down from Yorkshire 2 so with five departing but only three arriving the league was reduced from 14 teams to 12.
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.
Season 2020–21
On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced 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 3 was not contested.
Participating clubs 2019–20
Participating clubs 2018-19
Participating clubs 2017-18
Participating clubs 2016-17
- Aireborough
- Baildon
- Castleford (relegated from Yorkshire 2)
- Goole
- Halifax
- Halifax Vandals RUFC (promoted from Yorkshire 4)
- Harrogate Pythons
- Knottingley (relegated from Yorkshire 2)
- Leeds Medics and Dentists
- Leeds Modernians
- Northallerton
- Old Otliensians
- Stocksbridge
- Wensleydale (promoted from Yorkshire 4)
Participating clubs 2015-16
- Aireborough
- Baildon
- Bramley Phoenix
- Goole (relegated from Yorkshire 2)
- Halifax (promoted from Yorkshire 4)
- Harrogate Pythons
- Leeds Medics and Dentists (relegated from Yorkshire 2)
- Leeds Modernians
- Northallerton
- Old Otliensians
- Rotherham Phoenix
- Stocksbridge
- Thornensians
- Wetherby (promoted from Yorkshire 4)
Participating clubs 2014-15
- Aireborough
- Baildon (relegated from Yorkshire 2)
- Bramley Phoenix
- Burley
- Castleford
- Harrogate Pythons
- Hemsworth
- Northallerton
- Old Grovians
- Old Modernians
- Old Otliensians (promoted from Yorkshire 4)
- Rotherham Phoenix
- Stocksbridge (promoted from Yorkshire 4)
- Thornensians
Participating clubs 2013-14
- Aireborough
- Bramley Phoenix
- Burley
- Castleford
- Goole
- Harrogate Pythons (promoted from Yorkshire 4)
- Hemsworth
- Leeds Medics and Dentists
- Northallerton
- Old Grovians (promoted from Yorkshire 4)
- Old Modernians
- Rotherham Phoenix
- Skipton (relegated from Yorkshire 2)
- Thornensians
Participating clubs 2012–13
- Aireborough
- Baildon
- Bramley Phoenix
- Burley
- Goole
- Hemsworth
- Hessle
- Leeds Medics and Dentists
- Northallerton
- Old Modernians
- Old Rishworthians
- Rotherham Phoenix
- Thornensians
- York Railway Institute
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
- Airebronians
- Baildon
- Bradford Salem
- Bridlington
- Heath
- Knottingley
- Leeds CSSA
- Marist
- Northallerton
- Rodillians
- Yarnbury
Yorkshire 3 honours
Yorkshire 3 (1987–1993)
The original Yorkshire 3 was a tier 11 league with promotion up to Yorkshire 2 and relegation down to Yorkshire 4.
Yorkshire 3 (1993–2000)
The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 3 dropped to become a tier 12 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 3 remain at tier 12.
Yorkshire 3 (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 3 became a tier 9 league.
Number of league titles
See also
- Yorkshire RFU
- English rugby union system
- Rugby union in England
Notes
References
