Kent 2 (known as Shepherd Neame Kent 2 for sponsorship reasons) is an English level 10 Rugby Union League[1] and is made up of teams predominantly from south-east London and Kent. The teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Currently promoted teams move up to Kent 1 and there is no relegation although until the 2007–08 season teams could drop down to Kent 3 (now folded). Now a single division, in the past Kent 2 was divided into regional divisions - Kent 2 East and Kent 2 West.
Current season or competition: 2019–20 Shepherd Neame Kent 2 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Country |  England |
| Holders | Brockleians (2nd title) (2019–20) (promoted to Kent 1) |
| Most titles | Ashford, Aylesford Bulls, Betteshanger, Brockleians, Erith, New Ash Green, Old Gravesendians, Sittingbourne (2 titles) |
| Website | englandrugby.com |
Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
Teams for 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.
Bexley, who finished 8th in 2019-20, played several of the early fixtures but withdrew from the league in November 2021.
Swanley RFC, a new entry, competed until January 2022 before withdrawing from the league.
Valley
Season 2020–21
On 30th October 2020 the RFU announced [3] 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 Kent 2 was not contested.
Teams for 2019-20
Teams for 2018-19
Teams for 2017-18
Teams for 2016-17
Teams for 2015-2016
Teams for 2014-2015
Teams for 2013-2014
- Ash
- Askean
- Bexley
- Brockleians
- Dartford Valley (www.dvrfc.com)
- Edenbridge
- Faversham
- Guy's Hospital
- Lordswood
- New Ash Green
- Orpington
- Whitstable
Teams for 2009-2010
- Askean
- Bexley
- Brockleians
- Footscray
- Kings Coll. Hospital
- Lordswood
- New Ash Green
- Old Williamsonians
- Orpington
- Shooters Hill
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
- Ashford
- Betteshanger[a]
- Dover
- Folkestone
- Greenwich
- Lloyds Bank
- Met Police Hayes
- Midland Bank
- Orpington
- Snowdown C.W.
- Thames Polytechnic
Kent 2 honours
Kent 2 (1987–1993)
he original Kent 2 was a tier 9 league with promotion up to Kent 1 and relegation down to Kent 3.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 11 | Betteshanger | Snowdown C.W. | Orpington, Met Police Hayes, Thames Polytechnic | ||||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Sevenoaks | Dover | Lloyds Bank, Greenwich | ||||||||||
| 1989–90 | 11 | Sittingbourne | Met Police Hayes | Midland Bank | ||||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | Tonbridge | Sheppey | Linton, Cranbrook, NatWest Bank | ||||||||||
| 1991–92 | 11 | Canterbury | Snowdown C.W.[b] | No relegation[c] | ||||||||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | Thames Polytechnic | NatWest Bank | Old Gravesendians, Linton | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Kent 2 (1993–1996)
The creation of National 5 South meant that Kent 2 dropped from a tier 9 league to a tier 10 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to Kent 1 and Kent 3 respectively.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 13 | Old Shootershillians | Old Elthamians | Lloyds Bank, Tonbridge, Bexley | ||||||||||
| 1994–95 | 13 | Ashford | Dover | Midland Bank, New Ash Green | ||||||||||
| 1995–96 | 13 | Betteshanger | Cranbrook | Vigo | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Kent 2 (1996–1998)
The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Kent 2 reverted to being a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Kent 1 and Kent 3 respectively.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 13 | Folkestone | Whitstable[d] | No relegation[e] | ||||||||||
| 1997–98 | 14 | Midland Bank | Tonbridge | No relegation[f] | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Kent 2 East / West (1998–2000)
The cancellation of Kent 3 ahead of the 1997–98 season saw Kent 2 restructured into two regional division - Kent 2 East and Kent 2 West - both of which were tier 9 leagues. Promotion continued to Kent 1 and there was no relegation until Kent 3 was reintroduced.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 [5][6] | 14 | New Ash Green | Old Elthamians | No relegation | Kent 2 East | |||||||||
| 4 | Greenwich | Dartford Valley | No relegation | Kent 2 West | ||||||||||
| 1999–00 [7][8] | 8 | Aylesford Bulls[g] | Sittingbourne | Multiple teams[h] | Kent 2 East | |||||||||
| 9[i] | Erith[j] | Dartford Valley | Multiple teams[k] | Kent 2 West | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Kent 2 (2000–2009)
Kent 2 was restructured back into a single division for the 2000–01 season, although the introduction of London 4 South East meant that it fell to become a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Kent 1, while the reintroduction of Kent 3 meant that there was relegation until this league was cancelled at the end of the 2007–08 season.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01[9] | 9 | Ashford | Erith | No relegation[l] | ||||||||||
| 2001–02[10] | 10 | Aylesford Bulls | Sheppey | Dartford Valley, HSBC, Dover | ||||||||||
| 2002–03[11] | 10 | Old Elthamians | Sittingbourne | Brockleians, Bexley | ||||||||||
| 2003–04[12] | 9 | Park House | Dover | No relegation[m] | ||||||||||
| 2004–05[13] | 10 | Brockleians | New Ash Green | Dartford Valley | ||||||||||
| 2005–06[14] | 9 | Old Gravesendians | Sheppey | Medway, Bexley | ||||||||||
| 2006–07[15] | 8 | Erith | Old Olavians | New Ash Green, Orpington, Shooters Hill | ||||||||||
| 2007–08[16] | 8 | Medway | Cranbrook[n] | No relegation[o] | ||||||||||
| 2008–09[17] | 10[p] | HSBC | Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital | No relegation | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Kent 2 (2009–present)
Kent 2 remained a tier 10 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion continued to Kent 1 and there was no relegation.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10[18] | 10 | Lordswood | New Ash Green | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2010–11[19] | 11 | Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital | Shooters Hill | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2011–12[20] | 9 | King's College Hospital | Southwark Lancers | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2012–13[21] | 11 | Old Williamsonians | Footscray | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2013–14[22] | 10 | Bexley | Lordswood | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2014–15[23] | 10 | New Ash Green | Brockleians | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2015–16[24] | 12 | Sittingbourne | Snowdown C.W. | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2016–17[25] | 13 | Old Gravesendians | Royal Bank of Scotland | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2017–18[26] | 9 | Whitstable | Footscray | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2018–19[27] | 9 | Cliffe Crusaders | Faversham | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2019–20[28] | 10 | Brockleians | Footscray | No relegation | ||||||||||
| 2020–21 | 10 | No relegation | ||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Ashford (2)
- Aylesford Bulls (2)
- Betteshanger (2)
- Brockleians (2)
- Erith (2)
- New Ash Green (2)
- Old Gravesendians (2)
- Sittingbourne (2)
- Bexley (1)
- Canterbury (1)
- Cliffe Crusaders (1)
- Folkestone (1)
- Greenwich (1)
- Guys' Kings' & St Thomas' Hospital (1)
- HSBC (1)
- King's College Hospital (1)
- Lordswood (1)
- Medway (1)
- Midland Bank (1)
- New Ash Green (1)
- Old Elthamians (1)
- Old Shootershillians (1)
- Old Williamsonians (1)
- Park House (1)
- Sevenoaks (1)
- Thames Polytechnic (1)
- Tonbridge (1)
- Whitstable (1)