Counties 4 Somerset South

Counties 4 Somerset South

Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 4 Somerset South
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	1987;38 years ago (1987)(as Somerset 2)
Number of teams	10
Country	England
Most titles	Avonvale, Castle Cary, Morganians, Wells, Winscombe (2 titles)
Website	englandrugby.com

Counties 4 Somerset South (formerly known as Somerset 2 South or Tribute Somerset 2 South 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 North. 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.

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 South while relegated teams used to drop to Somerset 3 South but since the RFU Adult Competition Review they instead now join county merit leagues.

Teams 2024–25

Departing were Wyvern (champions), promoted to Counties 3 Somerset South. Wells II (5th) and Yatton II (7th) did not return for the new season.

Joining were Bridgwater & Albion III, Burnham-on-Sea II and Wiveliscombe II.

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Bridgwater & Albion III Bath Road 5,000 Bridgwater, Somerset Burnham-on-Sea II BASC Ground Burnham-on-Sea Hornets IV Hutton Moor Park Weston-super-Mare 4th Martock The Recreation Ground Martock 3rd Minehead Barbarians II The Tom Stewart Field Minehead 6th Morganians Chedzoy Lane Bridgwater 2nd Tor II Brian Harbinson Memorial Park Glastonbury, Somerset 10th Weston-super-Mare III Recreation Ground Weston-super-Mare, Somerset 8th Wiveliscombe II Recreational Ground Wiveliscombe Yeovil II Yeovil Showground Yeovil 9th

Bridgwater III Burnham II Hornets IV Martock Minehead II Morganians Tor II Weston III Wiveliscombe II Yeovil II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 4 Somerset South teams

Teams 2023–24

Departing were Burnham-on-Sea II, Cheddar Valley and Crewkerne, promoted to Counties 3 Somerset South. Wincanton (9th) were relegated.

Joining were Hornets IV, Morganians, Wells II, Wyvern and Yeovil II.

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Hornets IV Hutton Moor Park Weston-super-Mare Promoted from Merit Leagues Martock The Recreation Ground Martock 7th Minehead Barbarians II The Tom Stewart Field Minehead 8th Morganians Chedzoy Lane Bridgwater Promoted from Merit Leagues Tor II Brian Harbinson Memorial Park Glastonbury, Somerset 6th Wells II Charter Way Wells Relegated from Counties 3 Somerset South Weston-super-Mare III Recreation Ground Weston-super-Mare, Somerset 4th Wyvern Mountfields road Taunton Promoted from Merit Leagues Yatton II The Park Yatton, Somerset 5th Yeovil II Yeovil Showground Yeovil Promoted from Merit Leagues

Hornets IV Martock Minehead II Morganians Tor II Wells II Weston III Wyvern Yatton II Yeovil II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 4 Somerset South teams

Teams 2022–23

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

Departing were Chard, Wiveliscombe II, Somerton, Wells II and Castle Cary (1st - 5th in that order) all promoted to Counties 3 Somerset South. Yeovil II (6th), Winscombe II (7th) and Wyvern (10th) did not return for the new season.

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Burnham-on-Sea II BASC Ground Burnham-on-Sea 8th Cheddar Valley II Sharpham Road Cheddar 11th Crewkerne Henhayes Recreation Ground Crewkerne Martock The Recreation Ground Martock 12th Minehead Barbarians II The Tom Stewart Field Minehead 9th Tor II Brian Harbinson Memorial Park Glastonbury, Somerset Promoted from Somerset 3 South Weston-super-Mare III Recreation Ground Weston-super-Mare, Somerset Wincanton Wincanton Sports Ground Wincanton, Somerset Promoted from Somerset 3 South Yatton II The Park Yatton, Somerset

Burnham II Cheddar Valley II Crewkerne Martock Minehead II Tor II Weston III Wincanton Yatton II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 4 Somerset South teams

Teams 2021–22

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Burnham-on-Sea II BASC Ground Burnham-on-Sea 9th Castle Cary Brook House Field Castle Cary 7th Chard II The Park, Essex Close Chard 4th Cheddar Valley II Sharpham Road Cheddar Promoted from Somerset 3 South (Champions) Martock The Recreation Ground Martock Promoted from Somerset 3 South (runners-up) Minehead Barbarians II The Tom Stewart Field Minehead 8th Somerton Gasson's Lane Somerton 2nd Wells II Charter Way Wells 5th Winscombe II Recreation Ground 1,200 Winscombe Transfer from Somerset 2 North (6th) Wiveliscombe II Recreational Ground Wiveliscombe 3rd Wyvern Mountfields road Taunton 6th Yeovil II Yeovil Showground Yeovil 10th

Burnham II Castle Cary Chard II Cheddar Valley II Martock Minehead II Somerton Wells II Winscombe II Wiveliscombe II Wyvern Yeovil II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2021–22 Somerset 2 South 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 Burnham-on-Sea II BASC Ground Burnham-on-Sea 9th Castle Cary Brook House Field Castle Cary Relegated from Somerset 1 (12th) Chard II The Park, Essex Close Chard 5th Minehead Barbarians II The Tom Stewart Field Minehead 7th Morganians Chedzoy Lane Bridgwater 3rd Somerton Gasson's Lane Somerton 6th Wells II Charter Way Wells Transfer from Somerset 2 North (11th) Wiveliscombe II Recreational Ground Wiveliscombe 10th Wyvern Mountfields road Taunton Promoted from Somerset 3 South (runners up) Yeovil II Yeovil Showground Yeovil 4th

Burnham II Castle Cary Chard II Minehead II Morganians Somerton Wells II Wiveliscombe II Wyvern Yeovil II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2019-20 Somerset 2 South 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 South (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 South ^[m] . From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.

Somerset 2 South
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	Ref
2006–07	5	Bridgwater & Albion II	Taunton II	No relegation [n]	[19]
2007–08	11	Taunton II	Weston-super-Mare II	Morganians	[20]
2008–09	11	Weston-super-Mare II	Bridgwater & Albion III	No relegation [o]	[21]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 2 South (2009–present)

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

Somerset 2 South
Season	No. of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Ref
2009–10	13	Wellington II	Bridgwater & Albion III	No relegation	[22]
2010–11	13	Castle Cary	Wells II	No relegation	[23]
2011–12	13	Chard II	North Petherton II	No relegation	[24]
2012–13	13	Crewkerne	Cheddar Valley	Martock	[25]
2013–14	12	Cheddar Valley	Tor II	No relegation	[26]
2014–15	13	Wyvern	Hornets III	Yeovil II, Wellington	[27]
2015–16	14	Wells II	Hornets III	Frome III	[28]
2016–17	13	Morganians	North Petherton II	Midsomer Norton III	[29]
2017–18	13	Castle Cary	Winscombe II	Tor II	[30]
2018–19	12	Taunton III	Winscombe II	Bridgwater & Albion III, Martock	[31]
2019–20	10	Morganians	Somerton	No relegation	[32]
2020–21
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Avonvale (2) ^[p]
• Castle Cary (2)
• Crewkerne (2) ^[q]
• Morganians (2)
• Wells (2) ^[r]
• Winscombe (2) ^[s]
• Avon (1) ^[t]
• Bath Old Edwardians (1) ^[u]
• Blagdon (1) ^[v]
• Bridgwater & Albion II (1)
• Bristol Barbarians (1) ^[w]
• Broadplain (1) ^[x]
• Chard II (1)
• Cheddar Valley (1)
• Imperial (1) ^[y]
• North Petherton (1) ^[z]
• Old Sulians (1) ^[aa]
• St. Bernadette's Old Boys (1) ^[ab]
• Stothert & Pitt ^[ac]
• Taunton II (1) ^[ad]
• Taunton III (1)
• Tor (1) ^[ae]
• Wellington II (1)
• Wells II (1)
• Weston-super-Mare II (1)
• Wiveliscombe (1) ^[af]
• Wyvern (1)

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 5 to 11 teams for the following season.
15. No relegation as league due to increase from 11 to 13 teams for the following season.
16. Both of Avonvale's titles were for Somerset 2.
17. One of Crewkerne's titles was for Somerset 2.
18. Both of Wells' titles were for Somerset 2. As a club Wells have actually won three titles - two by the 1st XV, one by the 2nd XV (Somerset 2 South).
19. Both of Winscombe's titles were for Somerset 2.
20. Avon's title was for Somerset 2.
21. Bath Old Edwardians title was for Somerset 2.
22. Blagdon's title was for Somerset 2.
23. Bristol Barbarians title was for Somerset 2.
24. Broadplain's title was for Somerset 2.
25. Imperial's title was for Somerset 2.
26. North Petherton's title was for Somerset 2.
27. Old Sulians title was for Somerset 2.
28. St. Bernadette's Old Boys title was for Somerset 2.
29. Stothert & Pitt's title was for Somerset 2.
30. As a club Taunton have won Somerset 2 South twice - once by the 2nd XV and once by the 3rd XV.
31. Tor's title was for Somerset 2.
32. Wiveliscombe's title was for Somerset 2.

See also

• South West Division RFU
• Somerset RFU
• Somerset Premier
• Somerset 1
• Somerset 2 North
• 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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