Counties 4 Yorkshire is an English rugby union league at the tenth tier of the domestic competition for teams from Yorkshire. Club rugby in Yorkshire operates without promotion play-offs, meaning that the top two teams are automatically promoted to Yorkshire 3 and the bottom two teams were relegated to Yorkshire 5 until the RFU made changes to the Yorkshire league structure. Each season, a team from Counties 3 Yorkshire or Yorkshire 4 may be picked to take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a national competition for clubs at levels 9-12.
For the 2017-18 season, Yorkshire 4 was broken up into two regional leagues - Yorkshire 4 (North West) and Yorkshire 4 (South East) - while Yorkshire 5 ceased to exist. Teams from both Yorkshire 4 and 5 were transferred into the regional divisions depending on location. After the teams have played each other home and away, in February the clubs are reallocated into a Premier league and a Shield league for one further round of fixtures. The top four teams from each league play in the Premier and the other teams play in the Shield. The top two teams in the Premier league are promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire.
Participating clubs 2026-27
Ahead of the new season, a decision was made to introduce 2XVs into the league(s), to dispense with the North / South designation and to split the clubs out into A and B & C divisions.
A Division
Departing were champions Nestle Rowntree and runners-up York Railway Institute, both promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire A.
Wetherby II were initially placed in the league but were later reallocated to Counties 3 Yorkshire A.
Selby III were initially placed in the league but withdrew before the season began.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Harrogate Pythons II The Jim Saynor Ground Harrogate, North Yorkshire, New entry Hessle Livingstone Road Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire 4th (South) Hullensians II Springhead Lane Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire New entry Ilkley III Stacks Field 2,000 (40 seats) Ilkley, West Yorkshire New entry Knaresborough Hay-A-Park Lane Knaresborough, North Yorkshire 6th (North) Richmondshire Theakston Lane Richmond, North Yorkshire 8th (North) Ripon II Mallorie Park Ripon, North Yorkshire New entry Thirsk Newsham Road Thirsk, North Yorkshire Relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire (12th) Wensleydale II Cawkill Park Leyburn, North Yorkshire New entry Whitby Recreation Ground Whitby, North Yorkshire Moved from Counties 3 Durham & Northumberland (3rd)
B Division
North Ribblesdale II and Yarnbury II were initially placed in the league but instead will compete in Counties 3 Yorkshire A and Counties 3 Yorkshire B respectively.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aireborough Nunroyd Park Yeadon, West Yorkshire 7th (North) Baildon II Jenny Lane Baildon, West Yorkshire New entry Cleckheaton II Moorend Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire New entry Huddersfield Laund Hill II Laund Hill Stadium Nettleton_Hill, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire New entry Keighley II Rose Cottage Keighley, West Yorkshire New entry Leeds Medics & Dentists Weetwood Playing Fields Weetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire 5th (North) Leeds Modernians Cookridge Lane Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire 4th (North) Leodiensian II Crag Lane Alwoodley, Leeds, West Yorkshire New entry Old Rishworthians II Hollas Lane Copley, Halifax, West Yorkshire New entry Roundhegians II The Memorial Groun Roundhay, Leeds, West Yorkshire New entry
C Division
Departing were Maltby promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire B
Doncaster Phoenix II were initially placed in the league but withdrew before the season began.
Sheffield Medicals (5th (South)) did not return for the new season.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Barton and District Mill Lane Barrow-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire New entry Dinnington II Lodge Lane Dinnington, South Yorkshire, Sheffield New entry Goole II Westfield Banks Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire New entry Hallamshire Northfield Road Sheffield, South Yorkshire 3rd (South) Maltby II Muglet Lane Maltby, South Yorkshire Sheffield III Abbeydale Park 3,200 (100 seats) Sheffield, South Yorkshire New entry Sheffield Oaks Parson Cross Park Parson Cross, Sheffield, South Yorkshire Re-entry Stocksbridge Coal Pit Lane Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire 2nd (South) Thornensians Coulman Road Thorne, South Yorkshire Relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire Wath-upon-Dearne III Moor Road Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire New entry Wheatley Hills II Brunel Road Doncaster, South Yorkshire New entry Wortley Finkle Street Lane Wortley, South Yorkshire 6th (South)
Participating clubs 2025-26
North division
Departing were Hornsea, promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire as champions.
Thirsk RUFC joined the league after getting relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire last season.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aireborough Nunroyd Park Yeadon, West Yorkshire 8th Knaresborough Hay-A-Park Lane Knaresborough, North Yorkshire 4th Leeds Medics & Dentists Weetwood Playing Fields Weetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire 5th Leeds Modernians Cookridge Lane Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire 6th Nestle Rowntree Mille Crux York, North Yorkshire 2nd Richmondshire Theakston Lane Richmond, North Yorkshire 7th Thirsk Newsham Road Thirsk, North Yorkshire Relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire (12th) York Railway Institute New Lane York, North Yorkshire 3rd
South division
Departing were Dearne Valley (champions) promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire.
Knottingley (7th in 2024-25) and Withernsea (new entry) both started but subsequently withdrew from the league leaving six clubs to contest the outstanding fixtures.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Hallamshire Northfield Road Sheffield, South Yorkshire New entry Hessle Livingstone Road Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire 5th Knottingley Howard's Field Knottingley, West Yorkshire 7th Maltby Muglet Lane Maltby, South Yorkshire 3rd Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 2nd Stocksbridge Coal Pit Lane Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire 4th Withernsea Hollym Withernsea, East Riding of Yorkshire New entry Wortley Finkle Street Lane Wortley, South Yorkshire 6th
Participating clubs 2024-25
For the new season the league was once more split into North / South division as it had been most recently in season 2021-22. Three new teams, all from South Yorkshire, were added to the South league to make a total of seven, with eight competing in the North division.
Departing were Old Otliensians and Thornensians, promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire as champions and runners-up respectively
Hornsea won the league on the final day of the season and doing so got promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire for the 25/26 season.
North division
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aireborough Nunroyd Park Yeadon, West Yorkshire 5th Hornsea Hollis Recreation Ground Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire 3rd Knaresborough Hay-A-Park Lane Knaresborough, North Yorkshire 13th Leeds Medics & Dentists Weetwood Playing Fields Weetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire 7th Leeds Modernians Cookridge Lane Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire 9th Nestle Rowntree Mille Crux York, North Yorkshire 4th Richmondshire Theakston Lane Richmond, North Yorkshire 11th York Railway Institute New Lane York, North Yorkshire 10th
South division
Dearne Valley won the south division and join the Northern division winners Hornsea in Counties 3 Yorkshire for the 25/26 season
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Dearne Valley Vancouver Drive Bolton upon Dearne, South Yorkshire New entry Hessle Livingstone Road Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire 6th Knottingley Howard's Field Knottingley, West Yorkshire 8th Maltby Muglet Lane Maltby, South Yorkshire New entry Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire Relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire (12th) Stocksbridge Coal Pit Lane Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire 12th Wortley Finkle Street Lane Wortley, South Yorkshire New entry
Participating clubs 2023-24
Departing were Mosborough (4th in 2022-23) who moved on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands East (North). Joining were three sides relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire together with Richmondshire who re-entered the Yorkshire Rugby leagues having most recently competed in Durham/Northumberland 3 for season 2021-22 during which they withdrew in January 2022.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aireborough Nunroyd Park Yeadon, West Yorkshire 6th Hessle Livingstone Road Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire 10th Hornsea Hollis Recreation Ground Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire 5th Knaresborough Hay-A-Park Lane Knaresborough, North Yorkshire 12th Knottingley Howard's Field Knottingley, West Yorkshire Relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire (11th) Leeds Medics & Dentists Weetwood Playing Fields Weetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire Relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire (12th) Leeds Modernians Cookridge Lane Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire 11th Nestle Rowntree Mille Crux York, North Yorkshire 8th Old Otliensians Chaffers Field Otley, West Yorkshire 3rd Richmondshire Theakston Lane Richmond, North Yorkshire Re-entry Stocksbridge Coal Pit Lane Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire 7th Thornensians Coulman Road Thorne, South Yorkshire Relegated from Counties 3 Yorkshire (10th) York Railway Institute New Lane York, North Yorkshire 9th
Participating clubs 2022-23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Yorkshire 4 albeit consolidated back into one having previously been split NW and SE. Eleven of the teams from season 2021-22 returned with two promoted to Counties 3 Yorkshire and two (Sheffield Oaks and Stanley Rodillians) withdrawing from the leagues. So with four departing but only one arriving the league was reduced from 15 teams to 12.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aireborough Nunroyd Park Yeadon, West Yorkshire 7th (Yorks 4NW) Hessle Livingstone Road Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire 5th (Yorks 4SE) Hornsea Hollis Recreation Ground Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire 2nd (Yorks 4SE) / 7th (Premier) Halifax Ovenden Park Halifax, West Yorkshire 6th (Yorks 4NW) Knaresborough Hay-A-Park Lane Knaresborough, North Yorkshire 8th (Yorks 4NW) Leeds Modernians Cookridge Lane Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire 5th (Yorks 4NW) Mosborough Mosborough Miners Welfare Club Mosborough, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 3rd (Yorks 4SE) / 6th (Premier) Nestle Rowntree Mille Crux York, North Yorkshire 3rd Yorks 4 NW / 3rd (Premier) Old Otliensians Chaffers Field Otley, West Yorkshire 14th Yorkshire 3 Rotherham Phoenix Herringthorpe Playing Fields Clifton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire 1st (Yorks 4SE) / 4th Premier) Stocksbridge Coal Pit Lane Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire 4th (Yorks 4SE) / 8th (Premier) York Railway Institute New Lane York, North Yorkshire 4th (Yorks 4NW) / 5th (Premier)
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.
North West division
York RI and Nestle Rowntree were level transferred from Yorkshire 4 South East for the current season.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aireborough Nunroyd Park Yeadon, West Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (14th) Leeds Medics & Dentists Weetwood Playing Fields Weetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire 5th (Yorks 4 NW) / 1st (Shield) Leeds Modernians Cookridge Lane Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire 3rd (Yorks 4 NW) / 6th (Premier) Halifax Ovenden Park Halifax, West Yorkshire 4th (Yorks 4 NW) / 8th (Premier) Knaresborough Hay-A-Park Lane Knaresborough, North Yorkshire 7th (Yorks 4 NW) / 6th (Shield) Nestle Rowntree Mille Crux York, North Yorkshire 5th (Yorks 4 SE) / 2nd (Shield) Thirsk Thirsk Athletic Club Thirsk, North Yorkshire 6th (Yorks 4 NW) / 4th (Shield) York Railway Institute New Lane York, North Yorkshire 2nd (Yorks 4 SE) / 3rd (Premier)
South East division