Hampshire Crowned Bill Beaumont Division 3 County Champions
Hampshire RFU Senior Men have been crowned Bill Beaumont Division 3 County Champions after an outstanding 40-26 victory over Leicestershire in a fast-paced and entertaining final.
The triumph marks the culmination of a remarkable 2026 campaign that has ushered in a new era for Hampshire representative rugby. Built around an open nomination process, a fresh culture and a commitment to representing the breadth of the Hampshire rugby community, the squad brought together players from more clubs than ever before. The result was a team united by opportunity, connection and immense pride in the county jersey.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Rudi Kochanowski and his coaching team of Liam Perkins, Matt Wake, Rich Neill and Team Manager Jordan Cracknell, supported by our physios Suzi le Voi and Carly Jolley, Hampshire produced a performance worthy of champions.
Tries came from Rory Penfold, Tom Fieldsend, Ben Turner and Struan Robertson, while Leo Tongue crossed twice. Tongue’s second was the standout moment of the afternoon – a highlight-reel score that saw him gather the ball directly from a restart and race away to score, restoring Hampshire’s advantage immediately after a Leicestershire try.
Throughout the campaign, Hampshire’s defining strength has been its collective spirit. Players, coaches and clubs embraced a shared county identity, creating a resilient and connected squad that captured the imagination of supporters across the county.
The 40-26 victory not only secures the Bill Beaumont Division 3 title but also provides a fitting reward for a group that has helped reignite pride in county rugby across Hampshire.
The Owton’s Player of the Match was incredibly difficult to award after so many standout performances……..from the hard carrying and defensive of work of Karter Whittock, to the clinical finishing of Leo Tongue and the tactical play & kicking of Tom Meyer, every player deserves recognition, but the award went to Sam Olie who’s outstanding performance in attack and defence was a cornerstone of the day.
A huge thank you to the traveling supporters who created a great atmosphere and also to our programme sponsor Owton’s Family Butchers and to the match day polo sponsor Solent Commercial Management Ltd. The amazing match day images were provided by WindandSurf Images and are available here.
Supporters can relive the full match on the RFU YouTube channel: RFU YouTube channel match replay.
