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Counties 3 Yorkshire

Current season or competition: 2023–24 Counties 3 Yorkshire
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	1987; 38 years ago (1987)
Number of teams	12
Country	England
Holders	Hemsworth (2nd title) (2022–23) (promoted to Counties 2 Yorkshire)
Most titles	Aireborough, Heath, Hemsworth, Leeds Corinthians, Roundhegians, Wetherby, Wath upon Dearne, Yarnbury, Barnsley (2 titles)
Website	England RFU

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

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Barnsley Shaw Lane Barnsley, South Yorkshire 9th Burley Abbey Hawksworth, Leeds, West Yorkshire 11th Castleford Methley Pitch Castleford, West Yorkshire 6th Halifax RUFC Ovenden Park Halifax, West Yorkshire 3rd Leeds Corinthians Nutty Slack Middleton, Leeds, West Yorkshire Relegated from Counties 2 Yorkshire (12th) Old Otliensians Chaffers Field Otley, West Yorkshire Promoted from Counties 4 Yorkshire (champions) Rotherham Phoenix Rotherham Rugby Club Rotherham, South Yorkshire 5th Skipton Sandylands Skipton, North Yorkshire 10th Thirsk Newsham Road Thirsk, North Yorkshire 4th Thornensians Coulman Road Thorne, South Yorkshire Promoted from Counties 4 Yorkshire (runners up) West Park Leeds The Sycamores Bramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire 8th Wheatley Hills Brunel Road Doncaster, South Yorkshire 7th Relegated from Counties 2 Yorkshire (11th)

BarnsleyBurleyCastlefordHalifaxLeeds Cor.OtliensiansRotherham PhoenixSkiptonThirskThornensiansWest ParkWheatley Hillsclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Yorkshire teams

Participating clubs 2023–24

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Barnsley Shaw Lane Barnsley, South Yorkshire Relegated from Counties 2 Yorkshire (12th) Burley Abbey Hawksworth, Leeds, West Yorkshire 3rd Castleford Methley Pitch Castleford, West Yorkshire 9th Halifax RUFC Ovenden Park Halifax, West Yorkshire Promoted from Counties 4 Yorkshire (runners up) Halifax Vandals Warley Town Lane Halifax, West Yorkshire 6th Northallerton Brompton Lodge Northallerton, North Yorkshire Relegated from Counties 2 Yorkshire (10th) Rotherham Phoenix Rotherham Rugby Club Rotherham, South Yorkshire Promoted from Counties 4 Yorkshire (champions) Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 8th Skipton Sandylands Skipton, North Yorkshire 5th Thirsk Newsham Road Thirsk, North Yorkshire 4th West Park Leeds The Sycamores Bramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire 7th Wheatley Hills Brunel Road Doncaster, South Yorkshire Relegated from Counties 2 Yorkshire (11th)

BarnsleyBurleyCastlefordHalifaxHalifax VandalsNorthallertonRotherham PhoenixSheffield MedicalsSkiptonThirskWest ParkWheatley Hillsclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Yorkshire teams

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.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Burley Abbey Hawksworth, Leeds, West Yorkshire 8th Yorkshire 3 Castleford Methley Pitch Castleford, West Yorkshire 4th Yorkshire 3 Halifax Vandals RUFC Warley Town Lane Halifax, West Yorkshire 6th Yorkshire 3 Hemsworth Moxon Fields Hemsworth, West Yorkshire 12th Yorkshire 3 Knottingley Howard's Field Knottingley, West Yorkshire 10th Yorkshire 3 Leeds Medics & Dentists Weetwood Playing Fields Weetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 Ossett Queens Terrace, Ossett CC Ossett, West Yorkshire 5th Yorkshire 3 Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 9th Yorkshire 3 Skipton Sandylands Skipton, North Yorkshire 7th Yorkshire 3 Thirsk Thirsk Athletic Club Thirsk, North Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 Thornensians Coulman Road Thorne, South Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (14th) West Park Leeds The Sycamores Bramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire 11th Yorkshire 3

BurleyCastlefordHalifax VandalsHemsworthKnottingleyLeeds M & DOssettSheffield MedicalsSkiptonThirskThornensiansWest Parkclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Yorkshire teams

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.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Barnsley Shaw Lane Barnsley, South Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (13th) Bramley Phoenix Grosmont Terrace Bramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (champions) Burley Abbey Hawksworth, Leeds, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (runners-up) Castleford Methley Pitch Castleford, West Yorkshire 8th Harrogate Pythons Station View Harrogate, North Yorkshire 4th Hemsworth Moxon Fields Hemsworth, West Yorkshire 11th Knottingley Howard's Field Knottingley, West Yorkshire 3rd Old Otliensians Chaffers Field Otley, West Yorkshire 5th Ossett Ossett Cricket and Athletic Club Ossett, West Yorkshire 7th Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 10th Skipton Sandylands Skipton, North Yorkshire 12th West Park Leeds The Sycamores Bramhope, Leeds, West Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (14th) Wibsey Northfield Road Wibsey, Bradford, West Yorkshire 6th

BramleyBurleyWest Parkclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2021-22 Yorkshire 3 teams in Leeds BarnsleyCastlefordHalifax VandalsHarrogate PythonsHemsworthKnottingleyLeedsOtliensiansOssettSheffield MedicalsSkiptonWibseyclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2021–22 Yorkshire 3 teams

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

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aireborough Nunroyd Park Yeadon, West Yorkshire 13th (not relegated) Baildon Jenny Lane Baildon, West Yorkshire 11th Castleford Methley Pitch Castleford, West Yorkshire 5th Halifax Vandals RUFC Warley Town Lane Halifax, West Yorkshire 9th Harrogate Pythons Station View Harrogate, North Yorkshire 3rd Hemsworth Moxon Fields Hemsworth, West Yorkshire 8th Knottingley Howard's Field Knottingley, West Yorkshire 6th Leeds Corinthians Nutty Slack Middleton, Leeds, West Yorkshire 4th Old Otliensians Chaffers Field Otley, West Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (14th) Ossett Ossett Cricket and Athletic Club Ossett, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (runners up) Rotherham Phoenix Herringthorpe Playing Fields Clifton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire 7th Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 12th Skipton Sandylands Skipton, North Yorkshire 10th Wibsey Northfield Road Wibsey, Bradford, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (champions)

AireboroughBaildonCastlefordHalifax VandalsHarrogate PythonsHemsworthKnottingleyLeeds CorOtliensiansOssettRotherham PhoenixSheffield MedicalsSkiptonWibseyclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2019–20 Yorkshire 3 teams

Participating clubs 2018-19

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aireborough Nunroyd Park Yeadon, West Yorkshire 6th Baildon Jenny Lane Baildon, West Yorkshire 12th Castleford Methley Pitch Castleford, West Yorkshire 5th Halifax Vandals RUFC Warley Town Lane Halifax, West Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (14th) Harrogate Pythons Station View Harrogate, North Yorkshire 10th Hemsworth Moxon Fields Hemsworth, West Yorkshire 7th Knottingley Howard's Field Knottingley, West Yorkshire 8th Leeds Corinthians Nutty Slack Middleton, Leeds, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (runners up) Leeds Modernians Cookridge Lane Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire 4th Rotherham Phoenix Herringthorpe Playing Fields Clifton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (champions) Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 9th Skipton Sandylands Skipton, North Yorkshire 11th Thornensians Coulman Road Thorne, South Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (13th) Wensleydale Cawkill Park Leyburn, North Yorkshire 3rd

Leeds CorinthiansLeeds Moderniansclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2018–19 Yorkshire 3 teams in Leeds AireboroughBaildonCastlefordHalifax VandalsHarrogate PythonsHemsworthKnottingleyLeedsRotherham PhoenixSheffield MedicalsSkiptonThornensiansWensleydaleclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2018–19 Yorkshire 3 teams

Participating clubs 2017-18

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aireborough Nunroyd Park Yeadon, West Yorkshire 8th Baildon Jenny Lane Baildon, West Yorkshire 7th Castleford Methley Pitch Castleford, West Yorkshire 12th Harrogate Pythons Station View Harrogate, North Yorkshire 11th Hemsworth Moxon Fields Hemsworth, West Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (champions) Knottingley Howard's Field Knottingley, West Yorkshire 3rd Leeds Medics & Dentists Weetwood Playing Fields Weetwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire 5th Leeds Modernians Cookridge Lane Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire 6th Northallerton Brompton Lodge Northallerton, North Yorkshire 4th Old Otliensians Chaffers Field Otley, West Yorkshire 9th Sheffield Medicals Norton Playing Fields Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire Relegated from Yorkshire 2 (14th) Skipton Sandylands Skipton, North Yorkshire Promoted from Yorkshire 4 (runners up) Stocksbridge Coal Pit Lane Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire 13th Wensleydale Cawkill Park Leyburn, North Yorkshire 10th

Leeds M&DLeeds Modclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2017–18 Yorkshire 3 teams in Leeds AireboroughBaildonCastlefordHarrogate PythonsHemsworthKnottingleyLeedsNorthallertonOtliensiansSheffield MedicalsSkiptonStocksbridgeWensleydaleclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2017–18 Yorkshire 3 teams

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

• Aireborough (2)
• Heath (2)
• Hemsworth (2)
• Leeds Corinthians (2)
• Roundhegians (2)
• Wetherby (2)
• Wath upon Dearne (2)
• Yarnbury (2)
• Barnsley (2)
• Bradford Salem (1)
• Bridlington (1)
• Goole (1)
• Halifax Vandals (1)
• Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. (1)
• Hullensians (1)
• Knottingley (1)
• Leodiensian (1)
• Moortown (1)
• Northallerton (1)
• Pocklington (1)
• Old Grovians (1)
• Old Rishworthians (1)
• Skipton (1)
• Wensleydale (1)
• West Park Leeds (1)
• York Railway Institute (1)

See also

• Yorkshire RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

Notes

1. League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant seven clubs were promoted into Yorkshire 2 including Dinnington, West Leeds, Northallerton, Leeds CSSA and Sheffield Tigers.
2. League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant no clubs were relegated and nine clubs would be promoted from Yorkshire 4.
3. Yorkshire league restructuring due to reintroduction of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1996–97 season saw nine clubs, including Marist, Ossett, Stanley Rodillians, York Railway Institute, Knottingley, Old Rishworthians, Mosborough, Heath, Leeds Corinthians, Baildon relegated from Yorkshire 3; Marist and Ossett, were relegated to Yorkshire 4, while the other seven relegated sides dropped into Yorkshire 5.
4. No relegation due to cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1997–98 season.
5. Barnsley, Hessle, Goole, West Leeds and Doncaster Phoenix were also promoted. This was due to the restructure of the Yorkshire League increasing the number of teams in the divisions above, meaning that there were a lot of promotions at the end of this season.
6. Only 1 team relegated at end of season meaning 13th placed Stocksbridge were safe.

References

1. "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
2. "1998–1999 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
3. "1999–2000 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
4. "2000-2001 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
5. "2001-2002 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
6. "2002-2003 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
7. "2003-2004 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
8. "2004-2005 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
9. "2005-2006 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
10. "2006-2007 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
11. "2007-2008 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
12. "2008-2009 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
13. "2009-2010 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
14. "2010-2011 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
15. "2011-2012 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
16. "2012-2013 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
17. "2013-2014 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
18. "2014-2015 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
19. "2015-2016 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
20. "2016-2017 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
21. "2017-18 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
22. "2018-19 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
23. "Men's North Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.

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