Eastern Counties 5 was an English level 13 Rugby Union league with teams from Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk taking part. Promoted teams used to move up to Eastern Counties 4 and relegation was to Eastern Counties 6 until that division was cancelled at the end of the 1991–92 season. After ten seasons Eastern Counties 5 was cancelled at the end of the 1996–97 campaign.
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
The original Eastern Counties 5 was a tier 12 league with promotion up to Eastern Counties 4 and relegation down to Eastern Counties 6 until that division was cancelled at the end of the 1991–92 season.[1]
The creation of National 5 South meant that Eastern Counties 5 dropped from a tier 12 league to a tier 13 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to Eastern Counties 4 and there was no relegation.
The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Eastern Counties 5 once more became a tier 12 league. Promotion continued to Eastern Counties 4 and there was no relegation. At the end of the 1996–97 Eastern Counties 5 was discontinued and all teams transferred into Eastern Counties 4.
^No relegation as league was to increase from 9 to 11 teams for the following season.
^Restructuring of the Eastern Counties leagues due to the cancellation of Eastern Counties 6 at the end of the season, meant that all eleven teams were promoted from the division into Eastern Counties 4.
^No relegation due to cancellation of Eastern Counties 6 at the end of the season.
^The cancellation of Eastern Counties 5 at the end of the season meant that all clubs were promoted into Eastern Counties 4.
England