The Kent Shield is currently open to the first teams of club sides based in Kent that play in tier 7 (London 2 South East) and tier 8 (London 3 South East) of the English rugby union league system. The format is a knockout cup with a first round, semi-finals and a final, typically to be held at a pre-determined ground at the end of April on the same date and venue as the Cup, Vase, Plate and Salver finals.[1] Teams that are knocked out of the first round join the teams knocked out of the first round of the Kent Cup to compete for the Kent Plate.