Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 2 Somerset | |
Sport | Rugby union |
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Instituted | 1987 | (as Gloucestershire/Somerset)
Number of teams | 12 |
Country | England |
Most titles | Gordano (3 titles) |
Website | englandrugby.com |
Counties 2 Somerset (formerly Somerset Premier (which was known as Tribute Somerset Premier for sponsorship reasons) is an English rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England involving teams based in the county of Somerset as well as some teams based in Bristol. Originally a single division called Gloucestershire/Somerset, in 2000 the division split into two county leagues called Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier and subsequently adopted its new name following the RFU Adult Competition Review at the end of season 2021-22.
The league champions of Somerset Premier are promoted to Counties 1 Western North while the runners up play the runners up of Gloucester Premier for their place. Relegated teams drop into Counties 3 Somerset North or Counties 3 Somerset South depending on location.
Departing were Taunton II, promoted to Counties 1 Western North. Yatton (12th) and Weston-super-Mare II (11th) were relegated.
Joining were Clevedon and Midsomer Norton, both relegated from Counties 1 Western North. Nailsea & Backwell II were promoted from Counties 3 Somerset South.
In the offseason Huish Tigers rebranded as Rebels Rugby. [1]
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Departing were Old Redcliffians II, promoted to Counties 1 Western North. Tor were relegated.
Joining were Chew Valley II and Huish Tigers.
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This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review.
Departing were Nailsea & Backwell, promoted to Counties 1 Western North. Bristol Harlequins, Stothert & Pitt and Crewkerne were relegated.
Joining were Taunton II and Old Redcliffians II.
With four departing and two joining the league was reduced from 14 clubs to 12.
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
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The 2015–16 Somerset Premier consists of fourteen teams from Somerset and south-west Bristol. The season began on the 5 September 2015 and ended on the 30 April 2016.
Eleven of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Gordano were promoted to Western Counties North while Bristol Imperial and Clevedon II were relegated to Somerset 1.
Team | Ground | Capacity | Town/Village | Previous season |
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Chew Valley II | Chew Lane | Chew Magna, Somerset | Promoted from Somerset 1 (runners up) | |
Hornets II | Hutton Moor Park | 1,100 (100 stand) | Weston-super-Mare, Somerset | Promoted from Somerset 1 (champions) |
Minehead Barbarians | The Tom Stewart Field | Minehead, Somerset | 8th | |
Nailsea & Backwell | West End Park | Nailsea, Somerset | 9th | |
Oldfield Old Boys | Shaft Road | Bath, Somerset | 10th | |
Old Redcliffians II | Scotland Lane | Brislington, Bristol | 6th | |
St Bernadettes Old Boys | Whitchurch Sports Ground | Whitchurch, Bristol | 12th | |
Stothert & Pitt | Adams Field | Bath, Somerset | Relegated from Western Counties North (14th) | |
Taunton II | Hyde Park | 2,000 | Taunton, Somerset | 11th |
Tor | Brian Harbinson Memorial Park | Glastonbury, Somerset | 4th | |
Weston-super-Mare II | Recreation Ground | 3,000 | Weston-super-Mare, Somerset | 3rd |
Winscombe | Winscombe Recreation Ground | 1,200 | Winscombe, Somerset | 2nd (lost promotion playoff) |
Wiveliscombe | Recreational Ground | Wiveliscombe, Somerset | 7th | |
Yatton | Off North End | Yatton, Somerset | 5th | |
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Gloucestershire/Somerset) contained the following teams:
Originally Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier were combined in a single division known as Gloucestershire/Somerset, involving teams based in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Bristol. It was tier 8 league with promotion to Western Counties [b] and relegation to either Gloucestershire 1 [c] or Somerset 1.
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Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
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1987–88 | 11 | Avonmouth Old Boys | Combe Down | St Brendan's Old Boys, Tredworth | [2] | |||||||||
1988–89 | 11 | Old Culverhaysians | Combe Down | Minehead Barbarians | [3] | |||||||||
1989–90 | 10 [d] | Combe Down | Midsomer Norton | Old Redcliffians | [4] | |||||||||
1990–91 | 11 | Spartans | Whitehall | Midsomer Norton | [5] | |||||||||
1991–92 | 11 | Gloucester Old Boys | Drybrook [e] | Cleve | [6] | |||||||||
1992–93 | 13 | Old Patesians | Keynsham | Old Sulians | [7] | |||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Gloucestershire/Somerset dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Western Counties and relegation to either Gloucester 1 or Somerset 1.
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Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
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1993–94 | 13 | Dings Crusaders | St. Mary's Old Boys | Coney Hill, Frome | [8] | |||||||||
1994–95 | 13 | Keynsham | Whitehall | Midsomer Norton, Wiveliscombe | [9] | |||||||||
1995–96 | 13 | St. Mary's Old Boys | Cleve [f] | No relegation | [10] | |||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Gloucestershire/Somerset reverted to being a tier 8 league. Further restructuring meant that promotion was now to Western Counties North [g] , while relegation continued to either Gloucester 1 or Somerset 1.
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Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
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1996–97 | 16 | Coney Hill | Old Richians | Old Cryptians | ||||||||||
1997–98 | 17 | St. Bernadette's Old Boys | Wiveliscombe | Bristol Saracens | ||||||||||
1998–99 | 17 | Barton Hill | Chew Valley | Old Sulians | ||||||||||
1999–00 | 17 | Old Centralians [h] | Yatton [i] | Chard, Frampton Cotterell | ||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Gloucestershire/Somerset was reorganised into two county leagues at the end of the 1999–00 season, Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier, with both leagues remaining at level 8. Promotion from Somerset Premier was to Western Counties North and relegation to Somerset 1. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.
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Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | Ref | |||||||||
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2000–01 | 12 | Walcot | Gordano | Combe Down | [11] | |||||||||
2001–02 | 12 | Bristol Harlequins | Yatton | Wells | [12] | |||||||||
2002–03 | 12 | Gordano | Midsomer Norton | Old Culverhaysians, Minehead Barbarians | [13] | |||||||||
2003–04 | 12 | Oldfield Old Boys | Nailsea & Backwell | North Petherton | [14] | |||||||||
2004–05 | 12 | Old Redcliffians | Tor | Wiveliscombe, Gordano | [15] | |||||||||
2005–06 | 12 | Minehead Barbarians | Tor | Old Culverhaysians, Winscombe | [16] | |||||||||
2006–07 | 12 | Old Redcliffians | Midsomer Norton | Combe Down, Nailsea & Backwell | [17] | |||||||||
2007–08 | 12 | Keynsham | Chew Valley | St Bernadettes Old Boys, Gordano | [18] | |||||||||
2008–09 | 12 | Burnham-on-Sea | North Petherton | Old Sulians, Avon, Wells | [19] | |||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Somerset Premier remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to Western Counties North and relegation to Somerset 1. The league would continued to be sponsored by Tribute.
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Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | Ref | |||||||||
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2009–10 | 12 | Bristol Harlequins | Chard | Old Sulians | [20] | |||||||||
2010–11 | 14 | Hornets | Chard | St Bernadettes Old Boys | [21] | |||||||||
2011–12 | 13 | Avon | Wells | No relegation | [22] | |||||||||
2012–13 | 14 | Chew Valley | Midsomer Norton | Imperial | [23] | |||||||||
2013–14 | 14 | Stothert & Pitt | Tor | Bristol Barbarians, Keynsham II | [24] | |||||||||
2014–15 | 14 | Gordano | Winscombe | Imperial, Clevedon II | [25] | |||||||||
2015–16 | 14 | Yatton | Winscombe | Minehead Barbarians, Chew Valley II | [26] | |||||||||
2016–17 | 14 | Winscombe | Oldfield Old Boys | Bristol Harlequins, Crewkerne | [27] | |||||||||
2017–18 | 13 | Gordano | Wiveliscombe | Bridgwater & Albion II, Tor, Stothert & Pitt | [28] | |||||||||
2018–19 | 13 | Wiveliscombe | Burnham-on-Sea | Bristol Harlequins | [29] | |||||||||
2019–20 | 14 | Burnham-on-Sea | Nailsea & Backwell | Old Redcliffians II | [30] | |||||||||
2020–21 | 14 | |||||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of the Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier for the third and final promotion place to Western Counties North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Gloucester Premier teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Somerset Premier teams six; and the home team has won promotion on twelve occasions compared to the away teams seven.
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Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | |||
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2000–01 [31] | Gordano (S) | 19-21 | Old Centralians (G) | Caswell Lane, Portbury, Somerset | ||||
2001–02 [32] | Yatton (S) | 32-0 | Drybrook (G) | The Park, Yatton, Somerset | ||||
2002–03 [33] | Barton Hill (G) | 36-0 | Midsomer Norton (S) | Duncombe Lane, Speedwell, Bristol | ||||
2003–04 [34] | Nailsea & Backwell (S) [j] | Chosen Hill Former Pupils (G) | West End Park, Nailsea, Somerset | |||||
2004–05 [35] | Tor (S) | 25-26 | Avonmouth Old Boys (G) | Brian Harbinson Memorial Park, Glastonbury, Somerset | ||||
2005–06 [36] | Barton Hill (G) | 20-0 | Tor (S) | Duncombe Lane, Speedwell, Bristol | ||||
2006–07 [37] | Midsomer Norton (S) | 10-31 | Widden Old Boys (G) | Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset | ||||
2007–08 [38] | North Bristol (G) | 29-17 | Chew Valley (S) | Oaklands, Almondsbury, Gloucestershire | ||||
2008–09 [39] | Southmead (G) | 20-14 | North Petherton (S) | Greenway Centre, Southmead, Bristol | ||||
2009–10 [40] | Cirencester (G) | 35-17 | Chard (S) | The Whiteway, Cirencester, Gloucestershire | ||||
2010–11 [41] | Chard (S) | 32-12 | Old Richians (G) | Essex Close, Chard, Somerset | ||||
2011–12 [42] | Wells (S) | 18-10 | Drybrook (G) | Charter Way, Wells, Somerset | ||||
2012–13 [43] | Midsomer Norton (S) | 28-12 | Frampton Cotterell (G) | Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset | ||||
2013–14 [44] | Bristol Saracens (G) | 19-8 | Tor (S) | Bakewell Memorial Ground, Henbury, Bristol | ||||
2014–15 [45] | Winscombe (S) | 13-21 | Whitehall (G) | Winscombe Recreation Ground, Winscombe, Somerset | ||||
2015–16 [46] | Winscombe (S) | 21-22 | Cirencester (G) | Winscombe Recreation Ground, Winscombe, Somerset | ||||
2016–17 [47] | Oldfield Old Boys (S) | 9-6 | St Mary's Old Boys (G) | Shaft Road, Monkton Combe, Somerset | 1,000 | |||
2017–18 [48] | Wiveliscombe (S) | 12-15 | Barton Hill (G) | Recreational Ground, Wiveliscombe, Somerset | ||||
2018–19 [49] | Burnham-on-Sea (S) | 24-25 | Bristol Saracens (G) | BASC Ground, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset | ||||
2019–20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Cheltenham North (G) - promoted instead. | |||||||
2020–21 | ||||||||
Green background is the promoted team. G = Gloucester Premier and S = Somerset Premier | ||||||||
The Bristol and District Rugby Football Combination is an organisation for the promotion of junior rugby union in the city of Bristol, England.
Regional 1 South West is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 it was known as South West Division 1. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following reorganisation by the Rugby Football Union, and the name change from National League 3 to South West Premier was introduced for the 2017–18 season by the RFU in order to lessen confusion for what is a series of regional leagues. Regional 1 South West, is the highest regional rugby union league covering South West England. The club finishing in first place is promoted to National League 2 West. Relegated teams drop down to either Regional 2 South West or Regional 2 Severn, depending on their location.
Counties 1 Western West is an English rugby union league. Originally a single division called Western Counties, in 1996 the division split into two regional leagues called Western Counties North and Western Counties West. Western Counties West was renamed Counties 1 Western West prior to the 2022–23 season and is currently a seventh tier league for clubs based in the south-west of England; mainly Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. The champions are promoted to Regional 2 South West. The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above, but can be one, two or three, to either Counties 2 Cornwall, Counties 2 Devon or Counties 2 Somerset, depending on location.
Regional 2 South West, is an English, level six, rugby union league for clubs based in the south-west of England; i.e. Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. It is one of twelve leagues at this level in England. When league rugby started in 1986 it was known as South West 2, but in 1996 the division was split into two leagues — South West 1 West and South West 1 East. South West 1 West was renamed Regional 2 South West prior to the 2022–23 season. The champions are promoted to Regional 1 South West and the bottom two sides are relegated, depending on location, to either Counties 1 Western West, Counties 1 Western North or Counties 1 Southern South.
Counties 1 Western North is an English rugby union league. Originally a single division called Western Counties, in 1996 the division split into two regional leagues called Western Counties North and Western Counties West. Western Counties North was renamed Counties 1 Western North prior to the 2022–23 season and is currently a seventh tier league for clubs based in the south-west of England; mainly Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset. The champions are promoted to South West 1 West and the runner-up plays the second team in Western Counties West, with the winning team gaining promotion. The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above, but is usually two or three to Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier. Although 2nd XV rugby is part of the Somerset regional league system, only 1st XV teams are allowed in Tribute Western Counties North. Since 2021/22 2nd xv teams have been allowed in Counties 1 Tribute Western North but under current RFU Rules they are unable to be promoted beyond here.
South West 1 East is an English, level six, rugby union league in south and south-west England; mainly Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Gloucester, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Wiltshire. Originally a single division known as South West 2, since 1996 the division has been split into two regional leagues – South West 1 East and South West 1 West.
The Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union is the union responsible for rugby union in the county of Gloucestershire, England and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union. Formed in 1878, it has won the county championship on numerous occasions.
Gloucester Premier is an English rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England with teams largely being based in the county of Gloucestershire and Bristol. Originally a single division called Gloucestershire/Somerset, in 2000 the division split into two county leagues called Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier.
Gloucester 1 is an English rugby union league which sits at the ninth level of league rugby union in England for teams based primarily in the county of Gloucestershire but also on occasion teams from Bristol. Promoted clubs move into Gloucester Premier and relegated clubs drop into either Gloucester 2 North or Gloucester 2 South depending on location. Each year clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
Gloucester 2 North and Gloucester 2 South are English rugby union leagues which sits at the tenth level of league rugby union in England for teams primarily based in Gloucestershire as well as some teams from Bristol. Promoted clubs move into Gloucester 1 and since the discontinuation of Gloucester 3 at the end of the 2017–18 season there is currently no relegation. Up until 2017-18 Gloucester 2 was a single division but has since been split into two regional divisions.
Gloucester 3 was an English rugby union league which sat at the eleventh level of league rugby union in England for teams based in Gloucestershire as well as some in Bristol. Promoted clubs moved into Gloucester 2, and since the cancellation of Gloucester 4 at the end of the 1995–96 season there had been no relegation. The division was discontinued at the end of the 2017–18 season and Gloucester 2 was divided into north and south regional divisions.
The Somerset County Rugby Football Union (SCRFU) is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in the county of Somerset in England. The union is the constituent body of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for Somerset. The SCRFU administers and organises rugby union clubs and competitions in the Somerset including the county rugby representative teams.
The Bristol Combination Cup is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organised by the Bristol and District Rugby Football Combination – one of the five bodies that make up the Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union. It was first introduced during the 1970–71 season, with the inaugural winners being Bristol Harlequins. A plate competition was introduced during the 1985–86 season for teams knocked out of the early rounds of the Bristol Combination Cup, with St Brendans Old Boys being the inaugural winners. The plate was discontinued at the end of the 2002–03 season and has since been replaced by the Bristol Combination Vase, which is for lower ranked clubs in the region.
The Bristol Combination Cyril Parsons Bowl is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organised by the Bristol and District Rugby Football Combination – one of the five bodies that make up the Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union. It was first introduced during the 2012–13 season, with the inaugural winners being Winscombe, and is the third most important competition organised by the Bristol Combination, behind the Bristol Combination Cup and Bristol Combination Vase.
Somerset 1 is an English rugby union league which sits at the ninth level of league rugby union in England involving teams based in the county of Somerset as well as some teams based in Bristol. 1st, 2nd and even 3rd XV sides can participate in the division as long as they are not from the same club.
Somerset 2 North 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.
Somerset 2 South 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.
Somerset 3 North is an English rugby union league which sits at the eleven level of league rugby union in England alongside its counterpart Somerset 3 South. When the division was founded in 1987 it was a single league known as Somerset 3, but since 2006 it has been split into two regional divisions.
Somerset 3 South is an English rugby union league which sits at the eleven level of league rugby union in England alongside its counterpart Somerset 3 North. When the division was founded in 1987 it was a single league known as Somerset 3, but since 2006 it has been split into two regional divisions.