Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon

Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon

Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	2004; 21 years ago (2004)
Country	England
Most titles	Bracknell III (3 titles)
Website	englandrugby.com

Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (formerly Berks, Bucks and Oxon Division 1) is an English rugby union league featuring teams from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

The division was created in 2004-05 as part of a complete overhaul of the Berks/Bucks & Oxon league, with a large number of 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams entering at various levels, and was divided into north and south regions, with the original Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 division becoming the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier and Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 becoming, in effect, division 2 of the system. Rather confusingly promoted 1st teams would go up into the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier while 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams would move into Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier A.

The league would be restructured further in 2011-12 with the re-introduction of a new tier 2 competition - the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship and the cancellation of Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier A. This meant that Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 (now merged into one league instead of two regional ones) would be for lower teams and below only with no chance of promotion to a higher league (although relegation was still possible).

Following the RFU Adult Competition Review the structure changed once more with reserve teams and first teams competing in the same leagues, the competition administered centrally rather than by county constituent bodies and a North / South divisional split. Promotion is to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) or Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) depending on location. Relegation is to Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) or Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) again depending on location.

Departing were Banbury II (champions) and Risborough (runners-up) promoted to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) and Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) respectively. Also leaving were Wallingford II on a level transfer to the South division.

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Banbury III Bodicote Park Banbury, Oxfordshire Promoted from Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) (champions) Bicester II Oxford Road Bicester, Oxfordshire 10th Buckingham II Floyd Field Maids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire 4th Chinnor IV Kingsey Road 2,000 Thame, Oxfordshire Promoted from Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (Central) Chipping Norton II Greystones Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire Promoted from Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) Gosford All Blacks II Stratfield Brake Kidlington, Oxfordshire Promoted from Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) Harwell Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot, Oxfordshire 8th Oxford II North Hinksey Park North Hinksey, Oxford, Oxfordshire 9th Oxford Harlequins III Horspath Sports Ground Horspath, Oxfordshire 3rd Stow-on-the-Wold II Oddington Road Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire 7th Witney III Hailey Road Witney, Oxfordshire 6th

Banbury III Bicester II Buckingham Chinnor IV Chipping Norton II Gosford II Harwell Oxford II Quins III Stow II Witney III class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) teams in Oxfordshire & Gloucestershire

Departing were Henley III (champions), Bracknell III (runners-up) and Reading II (4th) all promoted to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South).

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Aldermaston Recreational Society Aldermaston, Berkshire 7th Berkshire Shire Hall Berkshire County Sports Club Sonning, Reading, Berkshire 6th Farnham Royal Farnham Royal Playing Fields Slough, Berkshire 11th High Wycombe II Kingsmead Road High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire 5th Phoenix The Sports Ground Taplow, Buckinghamshire 10th Reading III Holme Park Sonning, Reading, Berkshire Promoted from Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (Central) (5th) Reading Abbey II Rosehill Reading, Berkshire 9th Thatcham Henwicky Worthy Sports Field Thatcham, Berkshire Relegated from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) Wallingford II Wallingford Sports Park Wallingford, Oxfordshire Level transfer from North divisiton (5th) Windsor II Home Park Windsor, Berkshire 3rd

High Wycombe II Phoenix Wallingford II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) teams in Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Shire Hall Aldermaston Farnham Royal Reading III Reading Abbey II Thatcham Windsor II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) teams in Berkshire

Departing were Faringdon, promoted to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North). Abingdon II (8th) and Banbury III (10th) were relegated to Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North).

Aylesbury II (2nd in 2023-24) were initially placed in the league but withdrew, their place taken by Oxford II.

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Banbury II Bodicote Park Banbury, Oxfordshire Relegated from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) Bicester II Oxford Road Bicester, Oxfordshire Promoted from Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) (runners-up) Buckingham II Floyd Field Maids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire 7th Harwell Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot, Oxfordshire Promoted from Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) (champions) Oxford II North Hinksey Park North Hinksey, Oxford, Oxfordshire New entry Oxford Harlequins III Horspath Sports Ground Horspath, Oxfordshire Relegated from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) Risborough Princes Risborough School Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire 3rd Stow-on-the-Wold II Oddington Road Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire 6th Wallingford II Wallingford Sports Park Wallingford, Oxfordshire 4th Witney III Hailey Road Witney, Oxfordshire 5th

Banbury II Bicester II Harwell Oxford II Quins III Stow II Wallingford II Witney III class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) teams in Oxfordshire & Gloucestershire Buckingham II Risborough class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon teams (North) in Buckinghamshire

Departing were Amersham & Chiltern II (champions) and Marlow II (3rd) promoted to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South). Henley III finished as runners-up but could not be promoted into a league already featuring Henley II. Tadley II (10th) were relegated to Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South).

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Aldermaston Recreational Society Aldermaston, Berkshire 9th Berkshire Shire Hall Berkshire County Sports Club Sonning, Reading, Berkshire Promoted from Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) (runners-up) Bracknell III Lily Hill Park Bracknell, Berkshire 5th Farnham Royal Farnham Royal Playing Fields Slough, Berkshire 8th Henley III Dry Leas Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire Runners-up High Wycombe II Kingsmead Road High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire Promoted from Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) (3rd) Phoenix The Sports Ground Taplow, Buckinghamshire 6th Reading II Holme Park Sonning, Reading, Berkshire 4th Reading Abbey II Rosehill Reading, Berkshire Promoted from Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) (champions) Windsor II Home Park Windsor, Berkshire 7th

Henley III High Wycombe II Phoenix class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) teams in Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Shire Hall Aldermaston Bracknell III Farnham Royal Reading II Reading Abbey II Windsor II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) teams in Berkshire

Departing were Oxford Harlequins III, promoted to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North). Grove II (9th) and Didcot II (10th) were relegated.

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Abingdon II Southern Sports Park Abingdon, Oxfordshire 8th Aylesbury II Ostler's Field Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire 3rd Banbury III Bodicote Park Banbury, Oxfordshire 7th Buckingham II Floyd Field Maids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire 2nd Faringdon Folly Sports Park Faringdon, Oxfordshire Relegated from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) Risborough Princes Risborough School Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire 4th Stow-on-the-Wold II Oddington Road Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire Promoted from Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) (runners-up) Wallingford II Wallingford Sports Park Wallingford, Oxfordshire 5th Witney III Hailey Road Witney, Oxfordshire 6th

Abingdon II Banbury III Faringdon Stow II Wallingford II Witney III class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) teams in Oxfordshire & Gloucestershire Aylesbury II Buckingham II Risborough class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon teams (North) in Buckinghamshire

Departing were Crowthorne promoted to Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) having finished as runners-up to champions Rams IV who did not return for the campaign and returned to their local merit league. Also leaving were Reading Abbey II (8th) and High Wycombe II (9th), both relegated.

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Aldermaston Recreational Society Aldermaston, Berkshire Relegated from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) Amersham & Chiltern II Weedon Lane Amersham, Buckinghamshire Relegated from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) Bracknell III Lily Hill Park Bracknell, Berkshire 3rd Farnham Royal Farnham Royal Playing Fields Slough, Berkshire Promoted from Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) (runners-up) Henley III Dry Leas Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire Dropped from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) (6th) Marlow II Riverwoods Drive Marlow, Buckinghamshire 6th Phoenix The Sports Ground Taplow, Buckinghamshire 5th Reading II Holme Park Sonning, Reading, Berkshire Relegated from Counties 2 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) Tadley II Red Lane Aldermaston, Berkshire 4th Windsor II Home Park Windsor, Berkshire 7th

A & C II Henley III Marlow II Phoenix class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) teams in Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Aldermaston Bracknell III Farnham Royal Reading II Tadley II Windsor II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) teams in Berkshire

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review.

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Abingdon II Southern Sports Park Abingdon, Oxfordshire Aylesbury II Ostler's Field Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire Banbury III Bodicote Park Banbury, Oxfordshire Buckingham II Floyd Field Maids Moreton, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire Didcot II Boundary Park Didcot, Oxfordshire Grove II Cane Lane Grove, Oxfordshire Oxford Harlequins III Horspath Sports Ground Horspath, Oxfordshire Risborough Princes Risborough School Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire Wallingford II Wallingford Sports Park Wallingford, Oxfordshire Witney III Hailey Road Witney, Oxfordshire

Abingdon II Banbury III Didcot III Grove II Quins III Wallingford II Witney III class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (North) teams in Oxfordshire Aylesbury II Buckingham II Risborough class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon teams (North) in Buckinghamshire

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Bracknell III Lily Hill Park Bracknell, Berkshire Crowthorne The Crows New Nest Crowthorne, Berkshire High Wycombe II Kingsmead Road High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire Marlow II Riverwoods Drive Marlow, Buckinghamshire Phoenix The Sports Ground Taplow, Buckinghamshire Rams IV Old Bath Road Sonning, Reading, Berkshire Reading Abbey II Rosehill Reading, Berkshire Tadley II Red Lane Aldermaston, Berkshire Windsor II Home Park Windsor, Berkshire

High Wycombe II Marlow II Phoenix class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) teams in Buckinghamshire Bracknell III Crowthorne Rams IV Reading Abbey II Tadley II Windsor II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Berks/Bucks & Oxon (South) teams in Berkshire

Contested (2020-21 aside) but not as an RFU administered league.

• Amersham & Chiltern II
• Aylesbury II
• Bracknell II
• Chinnor III
• Maidenhead IV
• Reading II
• Reading Abbey II
• Redingensians III
• Thatcham II
• Windsor II
• Witney II

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• Beaconsfield II
• Bracknell III
• Chinnor III
• Henley III
• High Wycombe II
• Maidenhead II
• Marlow II
• Reading II
• Redingensians III
• Windsor II
• Witney II

• Berkshire RFU
• Buckinghamshire RFU
• Oxfordshire RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England