Surrey 1 is a level 9 English Rugby Union League. It is made up of teams predominantly from Surrey and south-west London. Teams play home and away matches from September through to April. Promoted teams move up to London 3 South West with the league winners going straight up and the runners up playing against the runners up from Hampshire Premier. Relegated teams drop to Surrey 2.
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.
Locations of the 2021-22 Surrey 1 teams in Greater London
Season 2020–21
On 30 October the RFU announced [1] that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Surrey 1 was not contested.
The creation of National 5 South meant that Surrey 1 dropped from a tier 8 league to a tier 9 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to London 3 South West and Surrey 2 respectively.
The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Surrey 1 reverted to being a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to London 3 South West and Surrey 2 respectively.
The introduction of London 4 South West ahead of the 2000–01 season meant Surrey 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division. Relegation continued to Surrey 2.
Surrey 1 remained a tier 9 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to London 3 South West (formerly London 4 South West) and relegation to Surrey 2.
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Hampshire Premier and Surrey 1 for the third and final promotion place to London 3 South West. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the Surrey 1 teams have been the most successful with twelve wins to the Hampshire Premier teams seven; and the home team has won promotion on eleven occasions compared to the away teams eight.
Hampshire Premier v Surrey 1 promotion play-off results
^Although there was no relegation, John Fisher Old Boys would drop out of the Surrey leagues to merge with Purley RFC to form Purley John Fisher RFC, playing in London 3 South West.
^No relegation due to league restructuring for the following season as Surrey 4 abolished and extra teams added to Surrey 1 (and other divisions) as a result.