Counties 4 Yorkshire
English Rugby Union league
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.[ 1] 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 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 were added to the South league to make a total of seven, with eight competing in the North division.
North division
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous 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
Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 4 Yorkshire North teams
South division
Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 4 Yorkshire South teams
Participating clubs 2023-24
Departing were Mosborough (4th in 2022-23) who moved on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands East (North East) . 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.
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous 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
Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Yorkshire teams
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.
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous 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)
Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 4 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.
North West division
York RI and Nestle Rowntree were level transferred from Yorkshire 4 South East for the current season.
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous 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)
Locations of the 2021–22 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams
South East division
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Hessle
Livingstone Road
Hessle , East Riding of Yorkshire
6th (Yorks 4 SE) / 3rd (Shield)
Hornsea
Hollis Recreation Ground
Hornsea , East Riding of Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire RFU Eastern League 1 (runners-up)
Mosborough
Mosborough Miners Welfare Club
Mosborough , Sheffield , South Yorkshire
1st (Yorks 4 SE) / 4th (Premier)
Rotherham Phoenix
Herringthorpe Playing Fields
Clifton , Rotherham , South Yorkshire
Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (13th)
Sheffield Oaks
Parson Cross Park
Parson Cross , Sheffield , South Yorkshire
7th (Yorks 4 SE) / 5th (Shield)
Stanley Rodillians
Manley Park
Stanley , Wakefield , West Yorkshire
4th (Yorks 4 SE) / 5th (Premier)
Stocksbridge
Coal Pit Lane
Stocksbridge , South Yorkshire
3rd (Yorks 4 SE) / 7th (Premier)
Locations of the 2021–22 Yorkshire 4 (South East) teams
Season 2020–21
On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced [ 2] 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 4 was not contested.
Participating clubs 2019-20
North West division
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bramley Phoenix
Grosmont Terrace
Bramley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
6th (Premier)
Burley
Abbey
Hawksworth , Leeds , West Yorkshire
1st (Shield)
Leeds Medics & Dentists
Weetwood Playing Fields
Weetwood , Leeds , West Yorkshire
8th (Premier)
Leeds Modernians
Cookridge Lane
Cookridge , Leeds , West Yorkshire
Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (14th)
Halifax
Ovenden Park
Halifax , West Yorkshire
4th (Shield)
Knaresborough
Hay-A-Park Lane
Knaresborough , North Yorkshire
7th (Premier)
Thirsk
Thirsk Athletic Club
Thirsk , North Yorkshire
3rd (Shield)
Locations of the 2019-20 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams in Leeds
Locations of the 2019–20 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams
South East division
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Hessle
Livingstone Road
Hessle , East Riding of Yorkshire
4th (Premier)
Mosborough
Mosborough Miners Welfare Club
Mosborough , Sheffield , South Yorkshire
5th (Premier)
Nestle Rowntree
Mille Crux
York , North Yorkshire
6th (Shield)
Sheffield Oaks
Parson Cross Park
Parson Cross , Sheffield , South Yorkshire
7th (Shield)
Stanley Rodillians
Manley Park
Stanley , Wakefield , West Yorkshire
5th (Shield)
Stocksbridge
Coal Pit Lane
Stocksbridge , South Yorkshire
2nd (Shield)
York Railway Institute
New Lane
York , North Yorkshire
3rd (Premier)
Locations of the 2019–20 Yorkshire 4 (South East) teams
Premier and Shield divisions
Premier participants
Bramley Phoenix
Burley
Halifax
Leeds Modernians
Mosborough
Stanley Rodillians
Stocksbridge
York Railway Institute
Shield participants
Hessle
Knaresborough
Leeds Medics & Dentists
Nestle Rowntree
Sheffield Oaks
Thirsk
Participating clubs 2018-19
North West division
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bramley Phoenix
Grosmont Terrace
Bramley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
1st (Shield)
Burley
Abbey
Leeds , West Yorkshire
5th (Premier)
Leeds Medics & Dentists
Weetwood Playing Fields
Weetwood , Leeds , West Yorkshire
Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (14th)
Halifax
Ovenden Park
Halifax , West Yorkshire
4th (Shield)
Knaresborough
Hay-A-Park Lane
Knaresborough , North Yorkshire
4th (Premier)
Thirsk
Thirsk Athletic Club
Thirsk , North Yorkshire
Runners up (Shield)
Wibsey
Northfield Road
Wibsey , Bradford , West Yorkshire
7th (Premier)
Locations of the 2018-19 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams in Leeds
Locations of the 2018–19 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams
South East division
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Hessle
Livingstone Road
Hessle , East Riding of Yorkshire
3rd (Shield)
Mosborough
Mosborough Miners Welfare Club
Mosborough , Sheffield , South Yorkshire
3rd (Premier)
Nestle Rowntree
Mille Crux
York , North Yorkshire
Joined from Yorkshire Merit Leagues
Ossett
Ossett Cricket and Athletic Club
Ossett , West Yorkshire
6th (Premier)
Sheffield Oaks
Parson Cross Park
Parson Cross , Sheffield , South Yorkshire
6th (Shield)
Stanley Rodillians
Manley Park
Stanley , Wakefield , West Yorkshire
8th (Premier)
Stocksbridge
Coal Pit Lane
Stocksbridge , South Yorkshire
Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (13th)
York Railway Institute
New Lane
York , North Yorkshire
5th (Shield)
Locations of the 2018–19 Yorkshire 4 (South East) teams
Premier and Shield divisions
Premier participants
Bramley Phoenix
Hessle
Knaresborough
Leeds Medics & Dentisists
Mosborough
Ossett
Wibsey
York Railway Institute
Shield participants
Burley
Halifax
Nestle Rowntree
Sheffield Oaks
Stanley Rodilians
Stocksbridge
Thirsk
Participating clubs 2017-18
North West division
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bramley Phoenix
Grosmont Terrace
Bramley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (9th)
Burley
Abbey
Leeds , West Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (4th)
Halifax
Ovenden Park
Halifax , West Yorkshire
Relegated from Yorkshire 3 (14th)
Knaresborough
Hay-A-Park Lane
Knaresborough , North Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (3rd)
Leeds Corinthians
Nutty Slack
Middleton , Leeds , West Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (5th)
Thirsk
Thirsk Athletic Club
Thirsk , North Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (5th)
Wibsey
Northfield Road
Wibsey , Bradford , West Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (champions)
Locations of the 2017–18 Yorkshire 4 (North West) teams
South East division
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Hessle
Livingstone Road
Hessle , East Riding of Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (6th)
Mosborough
Mosborough Miners Welfare Club
Mosborough , Sheffield , South Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (2nd)
Ossett
Ossett Cricket and Athletic Club
Ossett , West Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (8th)
Sheffield Oaks
Parson Cross Park
Parson Cross , Sheffield , South Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (4th)
Stanley Rodillians
Manley Park
Stanley , Wakefield , West Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (10th)
Rossington Hornets
Rossington Miners Welfare Club
Rossington , South Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 5 (8th)
Rotherham Phoenix
Herringthorpe Playing Fields
Clifton , Rotherham , South Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (3rd)
York Railway Institute
New Lane
York , North Yorkshire
Transferred from Yorkshire 4 (7th)
Locations of the 2017–18 Yorkshire 4 (South East) teams
Premier and Shield divisions
In February, after the teams have played each other home and away, the clubs in both Yorkshire 4 leagues 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.
Premier participants
Burley
Knaresborough
Leeds Corinthians
Mosborough
Ossett
Rotherham Phoenix
Stanley Rodillians
Wibsey
Shield participants
Rossington Hornets did not participate in the Shield competition.
Participating clubs 2016-17
Participating clubs 2015-16
Participating clubs 2014-15
Participating clubs 2013-14
Participating clubs 2012–13
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
Yorkshire 4
Yorkshire 4 (1987–1993)
The original Yorkshire 4 was a tier 12 league with promotion up to Yorkshire 3 and relegation down to Yorkshire 5 .
Yorkshire 4 (1993–2000)
The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 4 dropped to become a tier 13 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 4 remain at tier 13.
Yorkshire 4 (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 4 became a tier 10 league.
Season
No of Teams
Champions
Runners–up
Relegated Teams
2000–01[ 5]
11
Stocksbridge
Old Rishworthians
Edlington Granby , Thornensians
2001–02[ 6]
12
Knottingley
Moortown
Mosborough , Stanley Rodillians , Old Rishworthians
2002–03[ 7]
12
Roundhegians
Thornensians
Sheffield Medicals , Sheffield Oaks
2003–04[ 8]
12
Barnsley
Baildon
Halifax Vandals, Hornsea , Wakefield Cougars
2004–05[ 9]
11
Wath Upon Dearne
Old Modernians
Wetherby, Burley
2005–06[ 10]
12
Aireborough
Doncaster Phoenix
Halifax Vandals, Stanley Rodillians , Hemsworth
2006–07[ 11]
12
Hullensians
Castleford
Sheffield Oaks , Mosborough , Wetherby
2007–08[ 12]
12
Hessle
Old Otliensians
Stocksbridge , Knaresborough , Hemsworth
2008–09[ 13]
12
Old Rishworthians
Bramley Phoenix
Burley
2009–10[ 14]
12
Rotherham Phoenix
York Railway Institute
Hornsea , Adwick Le Street
2010–11[ 15]
12
Sheffield Medicals
Burley
Marist
2011–12[ 16]
12
Leeds Medics & Dentists
Hemsworth
Stanley Rodillians
2012–13[ 17]
12
Old Grovians
Harrogate Pythons
Knaresborough , Marist
2013–14[ 18]
12
Old Otliensians
Stocksbridge
Hessle
2014–15[ 19]
12
Wetherby
Halifax
Knaresborough , Hornsea
2015–16[ 20]
12
Halifax Vandals
Wensleydale
Sheffield Oaks , Mosborough
2016–17[ 21]
11
Hemsworth
Skipton
No relegation[ h]
2017–18[ 22]
15
Rotherham Phoenix
Leeds Corinthians
No relegation
2018–19[ 23]
15
Wibsey
Ossett
No relegation
2019–20[ 24]
14
Bramley Phoenix
Burley
No relegation
2020–21
14
Green backgrounds are promotion places.
Number of league titles
Notes
^ League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant nine clubs were promoted into Yorkshire 3 including Airebronians , Wetherby, Baildon , Old Rishworthians , Leeds Corinthians , Burley and Heath .
^ League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant no clubs were relegated and eight clubs (originally nine) would be promoted from Yorkshire 5 .
^ 3rd place Hornsea were promoted instead of runners up Burley who were instead demoted to Yorkshire 5 .
^ Yorkshire league restructuring due to reintroduction of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1996–97 season saw ten clubs relegated from Yorkshire 4; New Earswick , Rawmarsh , Withernsea , Adwick le Street and De La Salle (Sheffield) were relegated into Yorkshire 6 , while BP Chemicals , Garforth , Danum Phoenix , Rowntrees and Burley were relegated into Yorkshire 5 .
^ Stanley Rodillians were also promoted.
^ No relegation due to cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1997–98 season.
^ No promotion this season as division to increase from 9 to 11 teams for the following season.
^ No relegation as Yorkshire 5 was abolished at the end of the 2016-17 season.
See also
References
Governing body National teams
International competitions
Competition divisions
European competitions National competitions London and South East competitions Midland competitions Northern competitions South West competitions County competitions Discontinued competitions Related articles Other