Counties 4 Somerset North

Counties 4 Somerset North

Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 4 Somerset North
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	1987;38 years ago (1987)(as Somerset 2)
Number of teams	12
Country	England
Most titles	Avonvale, Bath Old Edwardians, Old Redcliffians III, Wells, Winscombe (2 titles)
Website	englandrugby.com

Counties 4 Somerset North (formerly known as Somerset 2 North or Tribute Somerset 2 North for sponsorship reasons) is an English rugby union league which sits at the tenth level of league rugby union in England alongside its counterpart Somerset 2 South. When the division was founded in 1987 it was a single league known as Somerset 2, but since 2006 it has been split into two regional divisions.

Counties 4 Somerset North currently involves teams from the northern part of Somerset as well as teams based in south and west Bristol. 1st, 2nd and even 3rd XV sides can participate in the division as long as they are not from the same club. The league champions are promoted to Counties 3 Somerset North while relegated teams used to drop to Somerset 3 North but since the RFU Adult Competition Review now drop to local merit leagues.

Teams 2024-25

Departing were Chew Valley III (champions) and Walcot II (3rd), promoted to Counties 3 Somerset North. Keynsham III were runners-up but could not be promoted as Keynsham II were already in the league above.

Joining were Yatton II and Wells II.

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Bristol Telephone Area BTRA Sports Ground Stockwood, Bristol 4th Frome III Gypsy Lane Frome, Somerset 8th Keynsham III Bristol Road Keynsham 2nd Midsomer Norton III Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton 5th Nailsea & Backwell III West End Park Nailsea, Somerset 6th St Bernadettes Old Boys II Whitchurch Sports Ground Whitchurch, Bristol 7th Yatton II The Park Yatton New entry Wells II Charter Way Wells, Somerset New entry

BTA Frome III Keynsham III Midsomer Norton III Nailsea III Bernadettes II Yatton II Wells II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Somerset North teams

Teams 2023-24

Departing were Old Redcliffians III and Imperial II, promoted to Counties 3 Somerset North.

Joining were Bristol Telephone Area, relegated from Counties 3 Somerset North.

With two leaving and only one joining the league was reduced in size from nine clubs to eight.

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Bristol Telephone Area BTRA Sports Ground Stockwood, Bristol Relegated from Counties 3 Somerset North (12th) Chew Valley III Chew Lane Chew Magna 6th Frome III Gypsy Lane Frome, Somerset 8th Keynsham III Bristol Road Keynsham 3rd Midsomer Norton III Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton 7th Nailsea & Backwell III West End Park Nailsea, Somerset 9th St Bernadettes Old Boys II Whitchurch Sports Ground Whitchurch, Bristol 5th Walcott II Albert Field Lansdown, Bath 4th

BTA Chew Valley III Frome III Keynsham III Midsomer Norton III Nailsea III Bernadettes II Walcot II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Somerset North teams

Teams 2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review.

Departing were Gordano II (champions), Clevedon II (3rd), Oldfield Old Boys (4th) and Bristol Telephone Area (7th) to Counties 3 Somerset North whilst Hornets III (runners-up) were promoted to Counties 3 Somerset South. Also leaving were Bristol Barbarians (5th), Weston-super-Mare III (6th) and Yatton (9th).

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Chew Valley III Chew Lane Chew Magna Promoted from Somerset 3 North (5th) Frome III Gypsy Lane Frome, Somerset Promoted from Somerset 3 South (runners-up) Imperial II South Bristol Sports Centre Hengrove, Bristol Promoted from Somerset 3 North (runners-up) Keynsham III Bristol Road Keynsham Promoted from Somerset 3 North (champions) Midsomer Norton III Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton Promoted from Somerset 3 South (4th) Nailsea & Backwell III West End Park Nailsea, Somerset Promoted from Somerset 3 North (3rd) Old Redcliffians III Scotland Lane 1,000 Brislington, Bristol 8th St Bernadettes Old Boys II Whitchurch Sports Ground Whitchurch, Bristol Promoted from Somerset 3 North (4th) Walcott II Albert Field Lansdown, Bath 10th

Chew Valley III Frome III Keynsham III Midsomer Norton III Nailsea III Walcot II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Somerset North teams Imperial II Old Reds III Bernadettes II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Somerset North teams in Bristol

Teams 2021–22

Winscombe II, who finished 6th in 2019–20, were level transferred to Somerset 2 South for the 2021–22 season.

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Bristol Barbarians Norton Lane Whitchurch, Bristol 9th Bristol Telephone Area BTRA Sports Ground Stockwood, Bristol 3rd Clevedon II Coleridge Vale Playing Fields Clevedon 12th Gordano II Caswell Lane Portbury 2nd Hornets III Hutton Moor Park 1,100 (100 stand) Weston-super-Mare 5th Old Redcliffians III Scotland Lane 1,000 Brislington, Bristol 8th Oldfield Old Boys II Shaft Road Monkton Combe, Bath 4th Walcott II Albert Field Lansdown, Bath 10th Weston-super-Mare III Recreation Ground 3,000 Weston-super-Mare 11th Yatton II The Park Yatton 7th

Barbarians BTA Clevedon II Gordano II Hornets III Oldfield II Redcliffians III Walcot II Weston III Yatton II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2021-22 Somerset 2 North teams

2020–21

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.

Teams 2019–20

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Bristol Barbarians Norton Lane Whitchurch, Bristol 8th Bristol Telephone Area BTRA Sports Ground Stockwood, Bristol 4th Clevedon II Coleridge Vale Playing Fields Clevedon Promoted from Somerset 3 North (champions) Gordano II Caswell Lane Portbury Runners up Hornets III Hutton Moor Park 1,100 (100 stand) Weston-super-Mare 10th Nailsea & Backwell II West End Park Nailsea Promoted from Somerset 3 North (runners up) Old Redcliffians III Scotland Lane 1,000 Brislington, Bristol 6th Oldfield Old Boys II Shaft Road Monkton Combe, Bath 7th Walcott II Albert Field Lansdown, Bath 5th Weston-super-Mare III Recreation Ground 3,000 Weston-super-Mare 3rd Winscombe II Recreation Ground 1,200 Winscombe Transfer from Somerset 2 South (runners up) Yatton II The Park Yatton 9th

Barbarians BTA Clevedon II Gordano II Hornets III N&B II Oldfield II Redcliffians III Walcot II Weston III Winscombe II Yatton II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2019-20 Somerset 2 North teams

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this league (known as Somerset 2) was a single division containing the following teams from Somerset and parts of Bristol:

• Avon
• Bath Old Edwardians ^[a]
• Blagdon
• Bristol Harlequins
• Chard
• Cheddar Valley
• Imperial
• St. Bernadette's Old Boys ^[b]
• Stothert & Pitt
• Wells
• Winscombe

Somerset 2 honours

Somerset 2 (1987–1993)

The original Somerset 2 was a tier 10 league with promotion to Somerset 1 and relegation to Somerset 3 ^[c] .

Somerset 2
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
1987–88	11	St. Bernadette's Old Boys	Bristol Harlequins	Cheddar Valley, Chard	[1]
1988–89	12	Avonvale	Yeovil	Westland, Wellington	[2]
1989–90	11	Wiveliscombe	Imperial	St. Brendan's Old Boys	[3]
1990–91	13	Stothert & Pitt	Wellington	Bath Old Edwardians, Avon	[4]
1991–92	13	Wells	Imperial [d]	No relegation [e]	[5]
1992–93	13	North Petherton	Chard	Burnham-on-Sea, Castle Cary	[6]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 2 (1993–1996)

The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Somerset 2 dropped to become a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 and relegation to Somerset 3.

Somerset 2
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
1993–94	13	Tor	Gordano	Avonvale, Bath Saracens	[7]
1994–95	13	Imperial	Stothert & Pitt	Cheddar Valley, Westland	[8]
1995–96	13	Wells	North Petherton [f]	No relegation [g]	[9]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 2 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Somerset 2 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 and relegation to Somerset 3.

Somerset 2
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
1996–97	10	Winscombe	Blagdon	Bath Old Edwardians, Bath Old Saracens	[10]
1997–98	10	Avon	Old Ashtonian	Crewkerne, Castle Cary
1998–99	10	Broadplain	Bristol Barbarians	Cheddar Valley, Bath Old Edwardians	[11]
1999–00	10	Avonvale	Minehead Barbarians	No relegation [h]	[12]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 2 (2000–2006)

Somerset 2 remained as a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1, while the cancellation of Somerset 3 at the end of the 1999–00 season meant there was no longer relegation.

Somerset 2
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	Ref
2000–01	9	Crewkerne	Burnham-on-Sea	No relegation	[13]
2001–02	8	Bristol Barbarians	Bath Old Edwardians	No relegation	[14]
2002–03	8	Winscombe	Burnham-on-Sea	No relegation	[15]
2003–04	7	Blagdon	Avonvale	No relegation	[16]
2004–05	7	Old Sulians	Martock	No relegation	[17]
2005–06	6	Bath Old Edwardians [i]	Somerton [j]	Multiple teams [k]	[18]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 2 North (2006–2009)

At the start of the 2006–07 Somerset 2 was split into two regional divisions - Somerset 2 North and Somerset 2 South - both remaining at tier 10 of the league system. This restructuring was to enable 2nd XV and 3rd XV sides to play in the Somerset leagues for the first time and would make up most of the teams ^[l] . Promotion continued to Somerset 1 while relegation was now to Somerset 3 North ^[m] . From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.

Somerset 2 North
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	Ref
2006–07	11	Keynsham II	Walcot II	Nailsea & Backwell II, Chew Valley II	[19]
2007–08	10	Old Redcliffians II	Clevedon II	No relegation [n]	[20]
2008–09	12	St. Mary's Old Boys II	Midsomer Norton II	Stothert & Pitt II, Gordano II	[21]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 2 North (2009–present)

Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Somerset 2 North and its counterpart Somerset 2 South, remained as tier 10 leagues. Promotion continued to Somerset 1, while relegation was to Somerset 3 North. The league would continued to be sponsored by Tribute.

Somerset 2 North
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	Ref
2009–10	13	Walcot II	Midsomer Norton II	No relegation	[22]
2010–11	13	Clevedon II	Old Redcliffians III	Walcot III, Bath Old Edwardians	[23]
2011–12	13	Old Redcliffians III	Oldfield Old Boys II	No relegation	[24]
2012–13	12	Hornets II	Oldfield Old Boys II	Avon	[25]
2013–14	12	Chew Valley II	Gordano II	Midsomer Norton II	[26]
2014–15	14	Bristol Harlequins II	Old Bristolians II	No relegation	[27]
2015–16	14	Old Redcliffians III [o]	Old Bristolians II [p]	Nailsea & Backwell II, Keynsham III, Imperial II	[28]
2016–17	14	Bath Old Edwardians	Old Redcliffians III	Old Culverhaysians	[29]
2017–18	14	Cheddar Valley	Weston-super-Mare III	Stothert & Pitt II	[30]
2018–19	12	Midsomer Norton II	Gordano II	Chew Valley III, Wells II	[31]
2019–20	12	Nailsea & Backwell II	Gordano II	No relegation	[32]
2020–21
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Avonvale (2) ^[q]
• Bath Old Edwardians (2) ^[r]
• Old Redcliffians III (2) ^[s]
• Wells (2) ^[t]
• Winscombe (2) ^[u]
• Avon (1) ^[v]
• Blagdon (1) ^[w]
• Bristol Barbarians (1) ^[x]
• Bristol Harlequins II (1)
• Broadplain (1) ^[y]
• Cheddar Valley (1)
• Chew Valley II (1)
• Clevedon II (1)
• Crewkerne (1) ^[z]
• Hornets II (1)
• Imperial (1) ^[aa]
• Keynsham II (1)
• Midsomer Norton II (1)
• Nailsea & Backwell II (1)
• North Petherton (1) ^[ab]
• Old Redcliffians II (1)
• Old Sulians (1) ^[ac]
• St. Bernadette's Old Boys (1) ^[ad]
• St. Mary's Old Boys II (1)
• Stothert & Pitt ^[ae]
• Tor (1) ^[af]
• Walcot II (1)
• Wiveliscombe (1) ^[ag]

Notes

1. Old Boys side for King Edward's School, Bath.
2. Old Boys side for St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School.
3. Somerset 3 would briefly split into two divisions - Somerset 3A and 3B - during the 1989–90 season before remerging into a single division.
4. Restructuring of the leagues above Somerset 2 from 11 to 13 teams meant that five clubs were promoted including Yeovil, Westland and Gordano.
5. Due to the restructuring of the Somerset leagues there was no relegation.
6. Due to widespread restructuring at the end of the 1995–96 due to the cancellation of National League 5 South, six clubs were promoted including Nailsea & Backwell, Avonvale, Chew Valley and Crewkerne.
7. Widespread league restructuring meant that there was no relegation.
8. The cancellation of Somerset 3 at the end of the 1999–00 season meant that there was no relegation.
9. Despite finishing as champions Bath Old Edwardians would not be promoted, instead transferring to the new Somerset 2 North division that was introduced for the following season.
10. Runners up Somerton were promoted to Somerset 1 instead of champions Bath Old Edwardians.
11. The reintroduction of Somerset 3 in the form of Somerset 3 North and Somerset 3 South for the 2006–07 season would see relegation return. Morganians and Castle Cary would drop to Somerset 3 South while Avonvale and Bath Saracens would transfer to Dorset & Wilts 3 West.
12. In the first season of Somerset 2 North, Bath Old Edwardians were the only 1st XV side - the rest being 2nd XV teams.
13. Somerset 3 returned for the first time since the 1999–00 season; now split into two regional divisions - Somerset 3 North and Somerset 3 South.
14. No relegation as league due to increase from 10 to 12 teams for the following season.
15. Champions Old Redcliffians III were not promoted.
16. Runners up Old Bristolians II promoted instead of champions Old Redcliffians III.
17. Both of Avonvale's titles were for Somerset 2.
18. One of Bath Old Edwardians title was for Somerset 2.
19. As a club Old Redcliffians have won Somerset 2 North three times - once by the 2nd XV, twice by the 3rd XV.
20. Both of Wells' titles were for Somerset 2.
21. Both of Winscombe's titles were for Somerset 2.
22. Avon's title was for Somerset 2.
23. Blagdon's title was for Somerset 2.
24. Bristol Barbarians title was for Somerset 2.
25. Broadplain's title was for Somerset 2.
26. Crewkerne's title was for Somerset 2.
27. Imperial's title was for Somerset 2.
28. North Petherton's title was for Somerset 2.
29. Old Sulians title was for Somerset 2.
30. St. Bernadette's Old Boys title was for Somerset 2.
31. Stothert & Pitt's title was for Somerset 2.
32. Tor's title was for Somerset 2.
33. Wiveliscombe's title was for Somerset 2.

See also

• South West Division RFU
• Somerset RFU
• Somerset Premier
• Somerset 1
• Somerset 2 South
• Somerset 3 North
• Somerset 3 South
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

References

1. Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89 (17th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 123–139. ISBN   0 356 15884 5.
2. Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1989). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989–90 (18th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 133–136. ISBN   0 356 17862 5.
3. Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1990). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1990–91 (19th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 143–146. ISBN   0 356 19162 1.
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