Somerset 3 South

Somerset 3 South (known as Tribute Somerset 3 South for sponsorship reasons) 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.

Somerset 2 South
Current season or competition:
2020–21 Somerset 3 South
SportRugby union
Instituted1987 (1987) (as Somerset 3)
Number of teams5
Country England
HoldersCheddar Valley II (1st title) (2019–20)
(promoted to Somerset 2 South)
Most titlesAvonvale, Hornets III, St. Brendan's Old Boys, Taunton III (2 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

Somerset 3 South currently involves teams from the southern part of Somerset - although this means anywhere in the county outside Bristol. 1st, 2nd, 3rd and even 4th XV sides can participate in the division as long as they are not from the same club. The league champions, and occasionally runners up, are promoted to Somerset 2 South and there is no relegation as this is the lowest level of league rugby in Somerset.

Teams 2021-22

2020–21

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

Teams 2019–20

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this league (known as Somerset 3) was a single division containing the following teams from Somerset and parts of Bristol:

Somerset 3 honours

Somerset 3 (1987–1989)

The original Somerset 3 was a tier 10 league with promotion to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.

Somerset 3
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Ref
1987–8810AvonvaleWestlandNo relegation[4]
1988–8912WiveliscombeTorNo relegation[5]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3A / 3B (1989–1990)

For the 1989–90 season Somerset 3 split into two regional leagues - Somerset 3A and Somerset 3B - both at tier 10 of the league system. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.

Somerset 3
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams League name Ref
1989–907BlagdonBackwellNo relegationSomerset 3A[6]
7WellingtonChardNo relegationSomerset 3B[6]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3 (1990–1993)

After a single season Somerset 3 reverted to being a single division at tier 10 of the league system. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.

Somerset 3
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Ref
1990–9112BackwellWestlandNo relegation[7]
1991–9211ChardBath Civil Services[lower-alpha 3]No relegation[8]
1992–937Chew ValleyOld AshtoniansNo relegation[9]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3 (1993–1996)

The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Somerset 3 dropped to become a tier 12 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.

Somerset 3
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Ref
1993–949St. Brendan's Old BoysCheddar ValleyNo relegation[10]
1994–959AvonvaleBath SaracensNo relegation[11]
1995–969St. Brendan's Old Boys Cheddar Valley[lower-alpha 4]No relegation[12]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Somerset 3 reverted to being a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation. Somerset 3 was cancelled at the end of the 1999–2000 season and all teams transferred into Somerset 2.

Somerset 3
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Ref
1996–976British GasBurnham-on-SeaNo relegation[13]
1997–985Bath Old EdwardiansBath SaracensNo relegation
1998–995Castle CaryCrewkerneNo relegation[14]
1999–20005Martock[lower-alpha 5]Bath Old Edwardians[lower-alpha 6]No relegation[15]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3 South

After an absence of six years, Somerset 3 returned - now split into two regional tier 10 divisions - Somerset 3 North and Somerset 3 South. This restructuring was to enable 2nd XV and 3rd XV sides to play in the Somerset leagues for the first time. Promotion was now to Somerset 2 South[lower-alpha 7] and there was no relegation. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.

Somerset 3 South
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Ref
2006–0712Bridgwater & Albion IIIWells II[lower-alpha 8]No relegation[16]
2007–0813Taunton IIIWiveliscombe IINo relegation[17]
2008–0913Weston-super-Mare IIICastle CaryNo relegation[18]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3 South (2009–present)
Somerset 3 South
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Ref
2009–1013Chew Valley IIMorganiansNo relegation[19]
2010–1112Hornets IIIBridgwater & Albion IIINo relegation[20]
2011–128Burnham-on-Sea IIWyvernNo relegation[21]
2012–139Hornets IIIWells IIINo relegation[22]
2013–1410Wellington IIIMartockNo relegation[23]
2014–1510Frome IIIMartockNo relegation[24]
2015–1611Yeovil IIWells IIINo relegation[25]
2016–1710Weston-super-Mare IVWincantonNo relegation[26]
2017–1811Taunton IIIWyvern II[lower-alpha 9]No relegation[27]
2018–198Tor IIWyvernNo relegation[28]
2019–205Cheddar Valley IIMartockNo relegation[29]
2020–21
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

See also

Notes
  1. Backwell are now known as Nailsea & Backwell RFC.[1]
  2. Westland would later merge with Yeovil to form Ivel Barbarians in 1995.[2] Ivel Barbarians would in turn be renamed as Yeovil Rugby Club in 2014.[3]
  3. Restructuring of the majority of the south west leagues from 11 to 13 teams meant that five clubs were promoted including Avon, Bath Old Edwardians and Castle Cary.
  4. 3rd place Castle Cary also promoted.
  5. Champions Martock would be promoted into Dorset & Wilts 2 North instead of Somerset 2.
  6. Due to the cancellation of Somerset 3 at the end of the 1999–2000 season all clubs were promoted into different divisions. Bath Old Edwardians, Cheddar Valley and Morganians would join Somerset 2, while Wincanton would join champions Martock in Dorset & Wilts 2 North.
  7. Somerset 2 had also split into two regional divisions - Somerset 2 North and Somerset 2 South - at the start of the 2006–07 season.
  8. Mistakenly listed as Wells 1st XV on RFU website - the 1st team were actually in Somerset Premier.
  9. Despite finishing as runners up Wyvern II would drop out of the league for following season, due to the 1st XV being relegated two divisions down from Somerset 1.
  10. Both of Avonvale's titles were for Somerset 3.
  11. Both of St. Brendan's Old Boys titles were for Somerset 3.
  12. Backwell's title was for Somerset 3.
  13. Bath Old Edwardians title was for Somerset 3.
  14. Blagdon's title was for Somerset 3.
  15. British Gas's title was for Somerset 3.
  16. Castle Cary's title was for Somerset 3.
  17. Chard's title was for Somerset 3.
  18. As a club Chew Valley have won Somerset 3 twice. The 1st XV won Somerset 3 when it was a single division, while the 2nd XV have won Somerset 3 South.
  19. Martock's title was for Somerset 3.
  20. As a club Wellington have won Somerset 3 twice. The 1st XV won Somerset 3 when it was a single division, while the 3rd XV have won Somerset 3 South.
  21. As a club Weston-super-Mare have won Somerset 3 South twice - once by the 3rd XV, once by the 4th XV.
  22. Wiveliscombe's title was for Somerset 3.

References
  1. "Extension plans for popular rugby club". North Somerset Times. 28 January 2016.
  2. "Yeovil Rugby Club History". Yeovil Rugby Club. 3 May 2017.
  3. "RUGBY: Ivel Barbarians are becoming Yeovil Rugby Club". Yeovil Press. 15 August 2014.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1991). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991–92 (20th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 164–167. ISBN 0-356-20249-6.
  8. Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1992). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992–93 (21st ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 176–179. ISBN 0-7472-7907-1.
  9. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94 (22nd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing Ltd. pp. 157–160. ISBN 0-7472-7891-1.
  10. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7850-4.
  11. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7816-4.
  12. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7771-0.
  13. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7732-X.
  14. "1998-99 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  15. "1999-00 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  16. "2006-07 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  17. "2007-08 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  18. "2008-09 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  19. "2009-10 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  20. "2010-11 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  21. "2011-12 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  22. "2012-13 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  23. "2013-14 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  24. "2014-15 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  25. "2015-16 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  26. "2016-17 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  27. "2017-18 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  28. "2018-19 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  29. "Men's South West Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.

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