Counties 2 Yorkshire , previously known as Yorkshire 2 is an English rugby union league at the eighth 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 Counties 1 Yorkshire and the bottom two teams are relegated to Counties 3 Yorkshire . Each season a team from Yorkshire 2 is picked to take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a national competition for clubs at level 8.
Participating clubs 2024-25
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Baildon
Jenny Lane
Baildon , West Yorkshire
5th
Bradford & Bingley
Wagon Lane
4,000
Bingley , West Yorkshire
Relegated from Counties 1 Yorkshire (12th)
Bramley Phoenix
The Warrels
Bramley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
9th
Dinnington
Lodge Lane
Dinnington, South_Yorkshire , Sheffield
8th
Halifax Vandals
Warley Town Lane
Halifax , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Counties 3 Yorkshire (runners-up)
Hemsworth
Moxon Fields
Hemsworth , Pontefract , West Yorkshire
11th
Huddersfield Laund Hill
Laund Hill Stadium
Nettleton_Hill , Huddersfield , West Yorkshire
7th
Northallerton
Brompton Lodge
Northallerton , North Yorkshire
Promoted from Counties 3 Yorkshire (champions)
Ossett
Queens Terrace
Ossett , Wakefield , West Yorkshire
10th
Ripon
Mallorie Park
Ripon , North Yorkshire
4th
Roundhegians
The Memorial Groun
Roundhay , Leeds , West Yorkshire
6th
Yarnbury
Brownberrie Lane
Horsforth , Leeds , West Yorkshire
3rd
Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 2 Yorkshire teams in Greater Leeds area
Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 2 Yorkshire teams
Participating clubs 2023–24
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Baildon
Jenny Lane
Baildon , West Yorkshire
3rd
Bramley Phoenix
The Warrels
Middleton , Leeds , West Yorkshire
8th
Dinnington
Lodge Lane
Dinnington, South_Yorkshire , Sheffield
Relegated from Counties 1 Yorkshire (11th)
Hemsworth
Moxon Fields
Hemsworth , Pontefract , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Counties 3 Yorkshire (champions)
Huddersfield Laund Hill
Laund Hill Stadium
Nettleton_Hill , Huddersfield , West Yorkshire
Relegated from Counties 1 Yorkshire (10th)
Leeds Corinthians
Nutty Slack
Middleton , Leeds , West Yorkshire
9th
North Ribblesdale
Grove Park
Settle , North Yorkshire
7th
Ossett
Queens Terrace
Ossett , Wakefield , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Counties 3 Yorkshire (runners-up)
Ripon
Mallorie Park
Ripon , North Yorkshire
5th
Roundhegians
The Memorial Groun
Roundhay , Leeds , West Yorkshire
Relegated from Counties 1 Yorkshire (12th)
Wath-upon-Dearne
Moor Road
Wath-upon-Dearne , South Yorkshire
4th
Yarnbury
Brownberrie Lane
Horsforth , Leeds , West Yorkshire
6th
Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 2 Yorkshire teams in Greater Leeds area
Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 2 Yorkshire teams
Participating clubs 2022–23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to Yorkshire 2 with teams ranked 4th to 12th returning (1st to 3rd were 'promoted' to Counties 1 Yorkshire and the bottom two 'relegated' to Counties 3 Yorkshire ) and supplemented by top 3 from Yorkshire 3 and so with five departing but only three arriving the league was reduced from 14 teams to 12.
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Baildon
Jenny Lane
Baildon , West Yorkshire
7th Yorkshire 2
Barnsley
Shaw Lane
Barnsley , South Yorkshire
Champions Yorkshire 3
Bramley Phoenix
The Warrels
Middleton , Leeds , West Yorkshire
3rd Yorkshire 3
Harrogate Pythons
The Jim Saynor Ground
Harrogate, North Yorkshire ,
Runners-Up Yorkshire 3
Leeds Corinthians
Nutty Slack
Middleton , Leeds , West Yorkshire
12th Yorkshire 2
Northallerton
Brompton Lodge
Northallerton , North Yorkshire
8th Yorkshire 2
North Ribblesdale
Grove Park
Settle , North Yorkshire
10th Yorkshire 2
Ripon
Mallorie Park
Ripon , North Yorkshire
11th Yorkshire 2
Wath-upon-Dearne
Moor Road
Wath-upon-Dearne , South Yorkshire
5th Yorkshire 2
Yarnbury
Brownberrie Lane
Horsforth , Leeds , West Yorkshire
9th Yorkshire 2
Wensleydale
Cawkill Park
Leyburn , North Yorkshire
6th Yorkshire 2
Wheatley Hills
Brunnel Road
Doncaster , South Yorkshire
4th Yorkshire 2
Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 2 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
Baildon
Jenny Lane
Baildon , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 3 (runners-up)
Hullensians
Springhead Lane
Kingston upon Hull , East Riding of Yorkshire
Relegated from Yorkshire 1 (12th)
Keighley
Rose Cottage
800 (84 seated)
Keighley , West Yorkshire
Relegated from Yorkshire 1 (11th)
Leeds Corinthians
Nutty Slack
Middleton , Leeds , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 3 (champions)
North Ribblesdale
Grove Park
Settle , North Yorkshire
7th
Northallerton
Brompton Lodge
Northallerton , North Yorkshire
8th
Old Grovians
Woodhouse Grove School
Apperley Bridge , West Yorkshire
9th
Ripon
Mallorie Park
Ripon , North Yorkshire
5th
Thornensians
Coulman Road
Thorne , South Yorkshire
10th
Wath-upon-Dearne
Moor Road
Wath-upon-Dearne , South Yorkshire
4th
Wensleydale
Cawkill Park
Leyburn , North Yorkshire
3rd
Wetherby
Grange Park
Wetherby , West Yorkshire
12th
Wheatley Hills
Brunnel Road
Doncaster , South Yorkshire
6th
Yarnbury
Brownberrie Lane
Horsforth , Leeds , West Yorkshire
11th
Locations of the 2021–22 Yorkshire 2 teams in Greater Leeds area
Locations of the 2021–22 Yorkshire 2 teams
Season 2020–21
On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced[ 1] 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 2 was not contested.
Participating clubs 2019–20
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Barnsley
Shaw Lane
Barnsley , South Yorkshire
13th (not relegated)
North Ribblesdale
Grove Park
Settle , North Yorkshire
8th
Northallerton
Brompton Lodge
Northallerton , North Yorkshire
4th
Old Grovians
Woodhouse Grove School
Apperley Bridge , West Yorkshire
9th
Old Rishworthians
Hollas Lane
Copley , Halifax , West Yorkshire
Relegated from Yorkshire 1 (13th)
Ripon
Mallorie Park
Ripon , North Yorkshire
11th
Roundhegians
The Memorial Ground
Moortown, Leeds , West Yorkshire
7th
Thornensians
Coulman Road
Thorne , South Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 3 (runners up)
Wath-upon-Dearne
Moor Road
Wath-upon-Dearne , South Yorkshire
3rd
Wensleydale
Cawkill Park
Leyburn , North Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 3 (champions)
West Park Leeds
The Sycamores
Bramhope , Leeds , West Yorkshire
12th
Wetherby
Grange Park
Wetherby , West Yorkshire
10th
Wheatley Hills
Brunnel Road
Doncaster , South Yorkshire
5th
Yarnbury
Brownberrie Lane
Horsforth , Leeds , West Yorkshire
6th
Locations of the 2019–20 Yorkshire 2 teams in Leeds
Locations of the 2019–20 Yorkshire 2 teams
Participating clubs 2018–19
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Barnsley
Shaw Lane
Barnsley , South Yorkshire
4th
Goole
Westfield Banks
Goole , East Riding of Yorkshire
5th
Leodiensian
Crag Lane
Alwoodley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
12th
North Ribblesdale
Grove Park
Settle , North Yorkshire
Relegated from Yorkshire 1 (13th)
Northallerton
Brompton Lodge
Northallerton , North Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 3 (champions)
Old Grovians
Woodhouse Grove School
Apperley Bridge , West Yorkshire
11th
Old Otliensians
Chaffers Field
Otley , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 3 (runners up)
Ripon
Mallorie Park
Ripon , North Yorkshire
7th
Roundhegians
The Memorial Ground
Moortown, Leeds , West Yorkshire
9th
Wath-upon-Dearne
Moor Road
Wath-upon-Dearne , South Yorkshire
6th
West Park Leeds
The Sycamores
Bramhope , Leeds , West Yorkshire
10th
Wetherby
Grange Park
Wetherby , West Yorkshire
8th
Wheatley Hills
Brunnel Road
Doncaster , South Yorkshire
Relegated from Yorkshire 1 (14th)
Yarnbury
Brownberrie Lane
Horsforth , Leeds , West Yorkshire
3rd
Locations of the 2018–19 Yorkshire 2 teams in Leeds
Locations of the 2018–19 Yorkshire 2 teams
Participating clubs 2017–18
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Barnsley
Shaw Lane
Barnsley , South Yorkshire
7th
Goole
Westfield Banks
Goole , East Riding of Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 3 (runners up)
Halifax Vandals
Warley Town Lane
Halifax , West Yorkshire
Promoted from Yorkshire 3 (champions)
Leodiensian
Crag Lane
Alwoodley , Leeds , West Yorkshire
12th
Old Crossleyans
Broomfield Avenue
Halifax , West Yorkshire
13th
Old Grovians
Woodhouse Grove School
Apperley Bridge , West Yorkshire
10th
Pontefract
Moor Lane
Pontefract , West Yorkshire
3rd
Ripon
Mallorie Park
Ripon , North Yorkshire
6th
Roundhegians
The Memorial Ground
Moortown, Leeds , West Yorkshire
5th
Thornensians
Coulman Road
Thorne , South Yorkshire
9th
Wath-upon-Dearne
Moor Road
Wath-upon-Dearne , South Yorkshire
11th
West Park Leeds
The Sycamores
Bramhope , Leeds , West Yorkshire
8th
Wetherby
Grange Park
Wetherby , West Yorkshire
4th
Yarnbury
Brownberrie Lane
Horsforth , Leeds , West Yorkshire
Relegated from Yorkshire 1 (13th)
Locations of the 2017–18 Yorkshire 2 teams in Leeds
Locations of the 2017–18 Yorkshire 2 teams
Participating clubs 2016–17
Barnsley
Leodiensian
Moortown
Old Crossleyans (relegated from Yorkshire 1 )
Old Grovians
Old Rishworthians
Pontefract
Ripon
Roundhegians
Sheffield Medicals
Thornensians (promoted from Yorkshire 3 )
Wath-upon-Dearne
West Park Leeds (relegated from Yorkshire 1 )
Wetherby (promoted from Yorkshire 3 )
Participating clubs 2015–16
Barnsley
Castleford (promoted from Yorkshire 3 )
Keighley
Knottingley
Leodiensian
Moortown
Old Grovians (promoted from Yorkshire 3 )
Old Rishworthians
Pontefract (relegated from Yorkshire 1 )
Ripon
Roundhegians
Sheffield Medicals
Wath-upon-Dearne (relegated from Yorkshire 1 )
West Leeds
Participating clubs 2014–15
Barnsley
Bradford Salem
Goole (promoted from Yorkshire 3 )
Keighley (relegated from Yorkshire 1 )
Knottingley
Leeds Medics and Dentists (promoted from Yorkshire 3 )
Leodiensian
Moortown
Old Rishworthians
Ripon
Roundhegians
Sheffield Medicals
West Leeds
West Park Leeds
Participating clubs 2013–14
Baildon (promoted from Yorkshire 3 )
Barnsley (relegated from Yorkshire 1 )
Bradford Salem
Hullensians
Knottingley
Leodiensian
Moortown
Old Rishworthians (promoted from Yorkshire 3 )
Ripon
Roundhegians
Sheffield Medicals
West Leeds
West Park Leeds
Yarnbury
Participating clubs 2012–13
Bradford Salem
Castleford
Doncaster Phoenix
Hullensians
Leodiensian
Moortown
Ripon
Roundhegians
Selby
Sheffield Medicals
Skipton
West Leeds
West Park Leeds
Yarnbury
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
Yorkshire 2 honours
Yorkshire 2 (1987–1993)
The original Yorkshire 2 was a tier 10 league with promotion up to Yorkshire 1 and relegation down to Yorkshire 3 .
Yorkshire 2 (1993–2000)
The creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Yorkshire 2 dropped to become a tier 11 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 2 remain at tier 11.
Yorkshire 2 (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 2 became a tier 8 league.
Season
No of Teams
Champions
Runners–up
Relegated Teams
2000–01[ 5]
12
Scarborough
Sheffield Tigers
Wath Upon Dearne , Bradford Salem , Roundhegians
2001–02[ 6]
12
Huddersfield Y.M.C.A.
Dinnington
Hemsworth , Castleford , York Railway Institute
2002–03[ 7]
12
Keighley
Malton and Norton
Pocklington , Northallerton
2003–04[ 8]
12
Beverley
Ilkley
Skipton , West Leeds
2004–05[ 9]
12
Sheffield Tigers
Bradford Salem
Castleford , Heath
2005–06[ 10]
12
Scarborough
Old Brodleians
West Leeds , Yarnbury
2006–07[ 11]
12
Selby
Heath
York Railway Institute, Barnsley
2007–08[ 12]
12
Old Brodleians
Skipton
West Park Leeds , Goole
2008–09[ 13]
11
Wheatley Hills
Castleford [ lower-alpha 5]
No relegation[ lower-alpha 6]
2009–10[ 14]
14
North Ribblesdale
Knottingley
Hessle , Goole
2010–11[ 15]
14
Pocklington
Huddersfield Y.M.C.A.
Old Rishworthians , Roundhegians
2011–12[ 16]
14
Barnsley
Wath Upon Dearne
Goole
2012–13[ 17]
14
Selby
Doncaster Phoenix
Castleford , Skipton
2013–14[ 18]
14
Yarnbury
Hullensians
Baildon
2014–15[ 19]
14
Bradford Salem
West Park Leeds
Leeds Medics and Dentists , Goole
2015–16[ 20]
14
West Leeds
Keighley
Castleford , Knottingley
2016–17[ 21]
14
Moortown
Old Rishworthians
Sheffield Medicals [ lower-alpha 7]
2017–18[ 22]
14
Pontefract
Old Crossleyans
Halifax Vandals , Thornensians
2018–19[ 23]
14
Goole
Leodiensian
Old Otliensians
2019–20[ 24]
14
Roundhegians
Old Rishworthians
West Park Leeds , Barnsley
2020–21
14
Green backgrounds are promotion places.
Number of league titles
See also
Notes
↑ Ionians would later merge with Hull & East Riding to form Hull Ionians for the 1989–90 season.[ 2]
↑ League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant five clubs were promoted into Yorkshire 1 including Wheatley Hills , Yarnbury and Sheffield Oaks .
↑ League restructuring due to the cancellation of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1992–93 season, meant no clubs were relegated and seven clubs would be promoted from Yorkshire 3 .
↑ Yorkshire league restructuring due to reintroduction of Yorkshire 6 ahead of the 1996–97 season meant that seven clubs, including Skipton , West Leeds , Aireborough , Hemsworth , Hessle , Wetherby, Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. , were relegated into Yorkshire 3 .
↑ Dinnington and Yarnbury were also promoted.
↑ No relegation as division due to increase from 11 to 14 teams for the following season.
↑ Only 1 team relegated this season meaning 13th placed Old Crossleyans were safe.
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