Counties 3 Hampshire (formerly Hampshire 1) is an English level 9 Rugby Union league for teams based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Up until the 2017–18 season it was known as Hampshire 2 but was changed to Hampshire 1 following the restructuring of the Hampshire leagues, which would see the re-introduction of a third division as well as 2nd and 3rd XV sides joining for the first time. Following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name Counties 3 Hampshire.
Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
Promoted teams move up to Counties 2 Hampshire. Relegated teams drop down to Counties 4 Hampshire.
The points system is as follows.
4 points awarded for a win. 2 points awarded for a draw. 0 points awarded for a loss. 1 "bonus" (+) point awarded for scoring 4 tries (or more). 1 "bonus" (+) point awarded for losing by 7 points (or fewer).
No team can get more than 5 points in a match. Points awarded are the same regardless of the outcome at home or away.
Teams for 2026-27
Departing were Ventnor and Tottonians II both promoted to Counties 2 Hampshire.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aldershot & Fleet Aldershot Park Aldershot, Hampshire 8th Alton Antsey Park Alton, Hampshire 6th Andover II Foxcotte Lane Andover, Hampshire Relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire (11th) Basingstoke II Down Grange Basingstoke, Hampshire Promoted from Counties 4 Hampshire (3rd) Ellingham & Ringwood II Parsonage Barn Lane Ringwood, Hampshire 9th Fawley Newlands Road Fawley, Hampshire Promoted from Counties 4 Hampshire (champions) Isle Of Wight Footways Wootton, Isle of Wight 4th Lymington Mariners Woodside Park Lymington, Hampshire Promoted from Counties 4 Hampshire (runners-up) Overton The Old Cricket Ground Laverstoke, Hampshire 5th Petersfield II Penn's Place Petersfield, Hampshire Relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire (12th) Portsmouth II The Rugby Camp Portsmouth, Hampshire 3rd Winchester III North Walls Park Winchester, Hampshire 7th
Teams for 2025–26
Departing were Andover II, Romsey and Southampton, all to Counties 2 Hampshire.
Farnham III were initially placed in the league with Overton (9th) having been relegated to Counties 4 Hampshire. However, shortly before the season began Overton were reinstated in the higher league with Farnham III taking their place in Counties 4 Hampshire.
Eastleigh II (7th in 2024-25) began the campaign but subsequently withdrew in November leaving nine clubs to contest the outstanding fixtures.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aldershot & Fleet Aldershot Park Aldershot, Hampshire 5th Alton Antsey Park Alton, Hampshire Promoted from Counties 4 Hampshire Ellingham & Ringwood II Parsonage Barn Lane Ringwood, Hampshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts South (3rd) Isle Of Wight Footways Wootton, Isle of Wight Relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire (9th) Overton The Old Cricket Ground Laverstoke, Hampshire 9th Portsmouth II The Rugby Camp Portsmouth, Hampshire 6th Tottonians II Water Lane Totton, Hampshire 4th Ventnor Watcombe Bottom Ventnor, Isle of Wight 8th Winchester III North Walls Park Winchester, Hampshire Promoted from Counties 4 Hampshire
Teams for 2024–25
Departing were Havant III, Isle Of Wight and Fareham Heathans, all promoted to Counties 2 Hampshire. Alresford were relegated to Counties 4 Hampshire.
Joining were Tottonians II, relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire and Southampton, promoted from Counties 4A Hampshire.
With four teams departing and two joining the league was reduced from twelve to ten sides.
Christchurch (9th in 2023–24) started but did not finish the season, leaving nine sides to complete the remaining fixtures.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aldershot & Fleet Aldershot Park Aldershot, Hampshire 5th Andover II Foxcotte Lane Andover, Hampshire 8th Eastleigh II The Hub Eastleigh, Hampshire 10th Overton The Old Cricket Ground Laverstoke, Hampshire 4th Portsmouth II The Rugby Camp Portsmouth, Hampshire 7th Romsey Romsey Sports Centre Romsey, Hampshire 6th Southampton Test Park Playing Fields Southampton, Hampshire Promoted from Counties 4A Hampshire Tottonians II Water Lane Totton, Hampshire Relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire Ventnor Watcombe Bottom Ventnor, Isle of Wight 11th
Teams for 2023–24
Departing were Guernsey Vikings, Locksheath Pumas and Winchester II, all promoted to Counties 2 Hampshire, whilst Gosport & Fareham II (12th) were relegated to Counties 4 Hampshire.
Joining were Alresford and Eastleigh II, relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire together with Christchurch and Aldershot & Fleet, promoted from Counties 4A Hampshire.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aldershot & Fleet Aldershot Park Aldershot, Hampshire Promoted from Counties 4 Hampshire (runners-up) Alresford Alresford Recreation Centre New Alresford, Hampshire Relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire Andover II Foxcotte Lane Andover, Hampshire 4th Christchurch East Sports and Social Club Christchurch, Dorset Promoted from Counties 4 Hampshire (champions) Eastleigh II The Hub Eastleigh, Hampshire Relegated from Counties 2 Hampshire Fareham Heathens Cams Alders Recreation Centre Fareham, Hampshire 11th Havant III Hook's Lane Bedhampton, Havant, Hampshire 7th Isle Of Wight Footways Wootton, Isle of Wight 6th Overton The Old Cricket Ground Laverstoke, Hampshire 5th Portsmouth II The Rugby Camp Portsmouth, Hampshire 10th Romsey Romsey Sports Centre Romsey, Hampshire 8th Ventnor Watcombe Bottom Ventnor, Isle of Wight 9th
Teams for 2022–23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 3 Hampshire.
Departing were Tottonians II and United Services Portsmouth, promoted to Counties 2 Hampshire. Fawley (3rd) did not return for the new season.
Joining were Havant III, Andover II and Winchester II, all promoted from Hampshire 2, together with Locksheath Pumas, relegated from Hampshire Premier, and Guernsey Vikings
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Andover II Foxcotte Lane Andover, Hampshire Promoted from Hampshire 2 (runners-up) Fareham Heathens Cams Alders Recreation Centre Fareham, Hampshire 5th Gosport & Fareham II Gosport Park Gosport, Hampshire 7th Guernsey Vikings Footes Lane Saint Peter Port, Guernsey New entry Havant III Hook's Lane Bedhampton, Havant, Hampshire Promoted from Hampshire 2 (champions) Isle Of Wight Footways Wootton, Isle of Wight 6th Locksheath Pumas Wide Lane Sports Ground Eastleigh, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire Premier Overton The Old Cricket Ground Laverstoke, Hampshire 4th Portsmouth II The Rugby Camp Portsmouth, Hampshire 8th Romsey Romsey Sports Centre Romsey, Hampshire 10th Ventnor Watcombe Bottom Ventnor, Isle of Wight 9th Winchester II North Walls Park Winchester, Hampshire Promoted from Hampshire 2 (3rd)
Teams for 2021–22
Lockheath Pumas RFC finished 4th in 2019-20, but were promoted to Hampshire Premier for the current season, their place was taken by US Portsmouth who had withdrawn from London 3 South West in season 2019-20.
Farnborough who, were relegated from Hampshire Premier (12th) in 2019-20, fulfilled their early fixtures but subsequently withdrew from the league in November 2021.
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.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Fareham Heathens Cams Alders Recreation Centre Fareham, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire Premier (11th) Fawley Gang Warily Recreation Centre Fawley, Hampshire 5th Gosport & Fareham II Gosport Park Gosport, Hampshire 10th Isle Of Wight Footways Wootton, Isle of Wight 6th Overton The Old Cricket Ground Laverstoke, Hampshire 5th Portsmouth II The Rugby Camp Portsmouth, Hampshire 7th Romsey Romsey Sports Centre Romsey, Hampshire 11th Southampton University Hospitals Southampton University Sports Ground Eastleigh, Hampshire 3rd Tottonians II Water Lane Totton, Hampshire 8th United Services Portsmouth Burnaby Road 8,000 Portsmouth, Hampshire N/A (joined league) Ventnor Watcombe Bottom Ventnor, Isle of Wight 9th
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 Hampshire 1 was not contested.
Teams for 2019–20
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Chichester II Oaklands Park Chichester, West Sussex Transferred from Sussex 3 (7th) Fawley Gang Warily Recreation Centre Fawley, Hampshire Promoted from Hampshire 2 (runners up) Gosport & Fareham II Gosport Park Gosport, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire Premier (12th) Isle Of Wight Footways Wootton, Isle of Wight 6th Locksheath Pumas Brookfield Community School Locks Heath, Fareham, Hampshire 4th Overton The Old Cricket Ground Laverstoke, Hampshire 5th Portsmouth II The Rugby Camp Portsmouth, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire Premier (10th) Romsey Romsey Sports Centre Romsey, Hampshire 7th Southampton Test Park Playing Fields Southampton, Hampshire 9th Southampton University Hospitals Southampton University Sports Ground Eastleigh, Hampshire N/A (joined league) Tottonians II Water Lane Totton, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire Premier (11th) Ventnor Watcombe Bottom Ventnor, Isle of Wight 8th
Teams for 2018–19
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Alton Antsey Park Alton, Hampshire 6th Andover II Foxcotte Lane Andover, Hampshire N/A Ellingham & Ringwood Parsonage Barn Lane Ringwood, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire 1 (8th) Farnborough Oak Farm Playing Fields Farnborough, Hampshire Champions (not promoted) Isle Of Wight Footways Wootton, Isle of Wight Relegated from Hampshire 1 (9th) Locks Heath Pumas Brookfield Community School Locks Heath, Fareham, Hampshire 3rd Overton The Old Cricket Ground Laverstoke, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire 1 (10th) Romsey Romsey Sports Centre Romsey, Hampshire Runners up (not promoted) Southampton Test Park Playing Fields Southampton, Hampshire 4th Ventnor Watcombe Bottom Ventnor, Isle of Wight Relegated from Hampshire 1 (11th)
Participating clubs 2017–18
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aldershot & Fleet Aldershot Park Aldershot, Hampshire 9th Alton Antsey Park Alton, Hampshire 3rd Chineham Fortress Chineham Basingstoke, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire 1 (11th) Farnborough Oak Farm Playing Fields Farnborough, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire 1 (10th) Fawley Gang Warily Recreation Centre Fawley, Hampshire 4th Locks Heath Pumas Brookfield Community School Locks Heath, Fareham, Hampshire 6th Romsey Romsey Sports Centre Romsey, Hampshire Relegated from Hampshire 1 (9th) Southsea Nomads University of Portsmouth Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire 7th Southampton Test Park Playing Fields Southampton, Hampshire 5th
Participating clubs 2016–17 Aldershot & Fleet Alresford Alton Fawley Kingsclere Loxheath Pumas (relegated from Hampshire 1) Lymington Mariners Nomads Overton Southampton
Participating clubs 2015–16 Aldershot & Fleet Alresford Alton (relegated from Hampshire 1) Fawley Kingsclere Nomads Overton Romsey (relegated from Hampshire 1) Southampton Ventnor
Participating clubs 2014–15 Aldershot & Fleet Alresford Chineham Fawley Locksheath Pumas Kingsclere Overton (relegated from Hampshire 1) Southampton (relegated from Hampshire 1) Southsea Nomads Ventnor
Participating clubs 2013–14
Position Team Games Won Drew Lost Points1Petersfield181701802Fareham Heathens181404703Locksheath Pumas181314644Ventnor181206605Fawley181206536Chineham18918497Southsea Nomads187011368Aldershot & Fleet184012119Stoneham181017510Alresford182014-3
Petersfield and Fareham Heathens promoted into Hampshire 1 at the end of the season.
Participating clubs 2012–13 Alresford Chineham Fareham Heathens Fawley Locksheath Pumas Lymington Mariners