Current season or competition: 2019–20 Sussex 1 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 |
| Number of teams | 9 |
| Country |  England |
| Holders | East Grinstead Rugby Football Club (2021–22) ()) |
| Most titles | Uckfield RFC (5 titles) |
| Website | englandrugby.com |
Sussex 1 (known as Harvey's of Sussex 1 due to sponsorship reasons) is an English level 9 Rugby Union League.[1] It is made up of teams predominantly from Sussex. Teams play home and away matches from September through to April. The league champions are automatically promoted up to London 3 South East, while the second placed team plays a promotion playoff against the second placed team from Kent 1. Relegated teams drop to Sussex 2 although in recent season there has been no relegation. Only 1st XV sides can be promoted into London 3 South East.
The system from 2017 to 2018 sees the eight team league play home and away games against each team in the league (14 games each) up until February when the league splits into two mini leagues of 4 teams (Sussex 1A and Sussex 1B) based on league ranking. Each team then a further 6 games against teams in their group (home and away) with the teams in the promotion group (1A) playing off for the title, and the teams in the relegation group (1B) playing to avoid the drop. Note that points from the first stage are carried into the second.
Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
- ^ "League Make up". Sussex Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 12 January 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.