Sussex 3 (known as Sussex Oranjeboom Division 3 for sponsorship reasons) is an English level 11 Rugby Union League. It is run by the Sussex Rugby Football Union and was originally for teams predominantly from West Sussex until a division reorganization for the 2016-17 meant that clubs from East Sussex would also take part. Promoted teams move up to Sussex 2 while relegated teams drop down to either Sussex Asahi Division 4 East or Sussex Late Red Division 4 West depending on geography. Sussex Oranjeboom 2 West was introduced in 2010–11 and is the equivalent to former division Sussex 3 which had its last season in 2003–04. It changed to its current name of Sussex Oranjeboom Division 3 in 2016–17.

Original teams When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

Arun Brighton Polytechnic Ditchling Sunallon Midhurst Newick Pulborough Robin Hood

Sussex 3 honours

Sussex 3 (1987–1992)

The original Sussex 3 was a tier 10 league with promotion up to Sussex 1 and there was no relegation down as it was the lowest level of the league system. The division was cancelled at the end of the 1991–92 season.

Sussex 3SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams1987–88 8 Old Brightonian RMP Chichester No relegation 1988–89 7 Pulborough Brighton Polytechnic No relegation 1989–90 6 Ditchling West Sussex Institute No relegation 1990–91 5 BA Wingspan Newick No relegation 1991–92 4 Sunallon Plumpton No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Sussex 3 (1994-1996)

After an absence of two years, Sussex 3 was reintroduced for the 1994–95 season as a tier 11 league. Promotion was to Sussex 2 and there was no relegation due to Sussex 3 being the lowest level in the league system.

Sussex 3SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams1994–95 5 Rye Shoreham No relegation 1995–96 6 Sussex Police Plumpton No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Sussex 3 (1996-2000)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Sussex 3 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Sussex 2 and there was no relegation. Sussex 3 was cancelled for the second time at the end of the 1999–00 season, with the majority of teams transferred into the new Sussex 2 East or Sussex 2 West (formerly a single Sussex 2 division).

Sussex 3SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams1996–97 6 Shoreham Rye No relegation 1997–98 6 Chichester IHE Robertsbridge No relegation 1998–99 6 Plumpton Sussex Police No relegation 1999–00 6 Rye St. Francis No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Sussex 3 (2002-2004)

After an absence of two years, Sussex 3 returned for the 2002–03 season, now as a tier 11 league. Promotion was to Sussex 2 and there was no relegation. After just two seasons, Sussex 3 was cancelled for the third time in its history.

Sussex 3SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams2002–03 6 Old Brightonian Ditchling No relegation 2003–04 6 Ditchling Plumpton No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Sussex 2 East / Sussex 2 West (2010–2016)

Sussex 3 was reintroduced for the 2010–11 season in the form of two regional divisions - Sussex "Asahi" 2 East and Sussex "Oranjeboom" 2 West - both sitting at tier 11 of the league system. Promotion was to Sussex Canterbury Jack Intermediate (renamed back to Sussex 2 for the 2015–16 season onward) and relegation to either Sussex 3 East or Sussex 3 West.

Sussex 2 East / Sussex 2 WestSeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated TeamsLeague Name 2010–11 8 Uckfield II Ditchling Heathfield & Waldron IV Sussex 2 East 11 Midhurst Littlehampton Brighton III, Worthing Senior I Sussex 2 West 2011–12 10 Hellingly Hastings & Bexhill II Haywards Heath III, Hove V, Eastbourne III Sussex 2 East 10 Horley Hove IV Bognor III, Holbrook II Sussex 2 West 2012–13 8 East Grinstead III Heathfield & Waldron III Newick II, Rye 2nd XV Sussex 2 East 10 Horsham II Worthing Senior I Shoreham II (Veterans) Sussex 2 West 2013–14 9 Eastbourne II Burgess Hill II Lewes III Sussex 2 East 9 Bognor II Sussex Police No relegation Sussex 2 West 2014–15 12 Uckfield II Plumpton Worthing Senior III Sussex 2 East 12 Pulborough II Norfolk Arms Shoreham II (Veterans) Sussex 2 West 2015–16 10 Newick Hastings & Bexhill II Lewes II Sussex 2 East 11 Barns Green Brighton III Burgess Hill III Sussex 2 West Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Sussex 3 (2016–onward)

For the 2016–17 season, Sussex 3 was remerged back into a single division at tier 11 of the league system. Promotion was to Sussex 2 and relegation to Sussex 4.

Sussex 3SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated Teams2016–17 12 Hastings & Bexhill II Plumpton Norfolk Arms 2017–18 12 Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

Ditchling (2) Old Brightonian (2) Rye (2) Uckfield II (2) BA Wingspan (1) Barns Green (1) Bognor II (1) Chichester IHE (1) East Grinstead III (1) Eastbourne II (1) Hellingly (1) Horley (1) Horsham II (1) Midhurst (1) Newick (1) Plumpton (1) Pulborough (1) Pulborough II (1) Shoreham (1) Sunallon (1) Sussex Police (1)

Notes

See also London & SE Division RFU Sussex RFU English rugby union system Rugby union in England

References

External links Sussex Rugby