Somerset 1 Explained

Somerset 1
Current Season:	2020–21 Somerset 1
Sport:	Rugby union
Teams:	12
Champion:	Bristol Harlequins (1st title)
Season:	2019–20) (promoted to Somerset Premier
Most Champs:	Minehead Barbarians
Count:	3
Website:	englandrugby.com

Somerset 1 (known as Tribute Somerset 1 for sponsorship reasons) 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.

The league champions and runners up are promoted to Somerset Premier while relegated teams drop to either Somerset 2 North or Somerset 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.

Teams 2021-22

Team	Ground	Capacity	Town/Village	Previous season
	Bath Road	5,000		4th
Cheddar Valley	Sharpham Road			5th
Chew Valley II	Chew Lane			3rd
Keynsham II	Bristol Road			6th
Midsomer Norton II	Norton Down Playing Fields			9th
Morganians	Chedzoy Lane			Promoted from Somerset 2 South (champions)
Nailsea & Backwell II	West End Park			Promoted from Somerset 2 North (champions)
North Petherton II	Beggars Brook			8th
	Scotland Lane			Relegated from Somerset Premier (12th)
Old Sulians	Lansdown Road			7th
	Towergate Stadium	2,000 (198 seats)		11th
Wellington II	Athletic Ground			10th

2020–21

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

Teams 2019–20

Team	Ground	Capacity	Town/Village	Previous season
Bath Old Edwardians				10th
	Bath Road	5,000		5th
Bristol Harlequins	Valhalla			Relegated from Somerset Premier (13th)
Cheddar Valley	Sharpham Road			6th
Chew Valley II	Chew Lane			4th
Crewkerne	Henhayes Recreation Ground			11th
Keynsham II	Bristol Road			8th
Midsomer Norton II	Norton Down Playing Fields			Promoted from Somerset 2 North (champions)
North Petherton	Beggars Brook			3rd
Old Sulians	Lansdown Road			7th
	Towergate Stadium	2,000 (198 seats)		Promoted from Somerset 2 South (champions)
Wellington II	Athletic Ground			9th

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

• Burnham-on-Sea
• Crewkerne
• Frome
• Hornets
• North Petherton
• Old Culverhaysians
• Oldfield Old Boys
• Old Sulians
• Walcot Old Boys
• Wellington
• Yeovil

Somerset 1 honours

Somerset 1 (1987–1993)

The original Somerset 1 was a tier 9 league with promotion to Gloucestershire/Somerset and relegation to Somerset 2.

<											----> Somerset 1
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
1987–88	12	Old Culverhaysians			^[1]
1988–89	11	Frome			^[2]
1989–90	11	Oldfield Old Boys			^[3]
1990–91	11	Wiveliscombe			^[4]
1991–92	11	Old Sulians		No relegation	^[5]
1992–93	13	Hornets			^[6]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 1 (1993–1996)

The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Somerset 1 dropped to become a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Gloucestershire/Somerset 1 and relegation to Somerset 2.

<											----> Somerset 1
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
1993–94	13	Midsomer Norton			^[7]
1994–95	13	Wellington			^[8]
1995–96	13	Chard		No relegation	^[9]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 1 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Somerset 1 reverted to being a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Gloucestershire/Somerset and relegation to Somerset 2.

<											----> Somerset 1
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
1996–97	10	Wells			^[10]
1997–98	10	Chew Valley
1998–99	10	Avon			^[11]
1999–00	10	Frome		No relegation	^[12]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 1 (2000–2006)

The cancellation of Gloucestershire/Somerset at the end of the 1999–00 season, saw Somerset 1 remain at tier 9, with promotion now to the new Somerset Premier and relegation continuing to Somerset 2.

<											----> Somerset 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	Ref
2000–01	12	Minehead Barbarians			^[13]
2001–02	12	Nailsea & Backwell			^[14]
2002–03	12	Chard			^[15]
2003–04	12	Winscombe			^[16]
2004–05	11	Minehead Barbarians			^[17]
2005–06	11	Gordano		No relegation	^[18]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 1 (2006–2009)

Somerset 1 remained a tier 9 league with promotion to Somerset Premier but the splitting of Somerset 2 into two regional divisions, meant that relegation was now to either Somerset 2 North or Somerset 2 South. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.

<											----> Somerset 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	Ref
2006–07	12	Winscombe			^[19]
2007–08	12	Burnham-on-Sea			^[20]
2008–09	12	St. Bernadette's Old Boys			^[21]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 1 (2009–present)

Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Somerset 1 remained a tier 9 league, with promotion continuing to Somerset Premier, while relegation to either Somerset 2 North or Somerset 2 South. The league would continued to be sponsored by Tribute.

<											----> Somerset 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	Ref
2009–10	12	Gordano			^[22]
2010–11	14	Nailsea & Backwell			^[23]
2011–12	14	Old Redcliffians II		No relegation	^[24]
2012–13	14	St. Bernadette's Old Boys			^[25]
2013–14	14	Clevedon II			^[26]
2014–15	14	Hornets II			^[27]
2015–16	14	Bridgwater & Albion II			^[28]
2016–17	14	Minehead Barbarians			^[29]
2017–18	13	Bristol Barbarians			^[30]
2018–19	12	Tor			^[31]
2019–20	12	Bristol Harlequins			^[32]
2020–21	12
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Minehead Barbarians (3)
• Chard (2)
• Frome (2)
• Gordano (2)
• Nailsea & Backwell (2)
• St. Bernadette's Old Boys (2)
• Winscombe (2)
• Avon (1)
• Bridgwater & Albion II (1)
• Bristol Barbarians (1)
• Bristol Harlequins (1)
• Burnham-on-Sea (1)
• Chew Valley (1)
• Clevedon II (1)
• Hornets (1)
• Hornets II (1)
• Midsomer Norton (1)
• Old Culverhaysians (1)
• Old Redcliffians II (1)
• Old Sulians (1)
• Oldfield Old Boys (1)
• Tor (1)
• Wellington (1)
• Wells (1)
• Wiveliscombe (1)

See also

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

Notes and References

1. Book: Johns. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89. 1988. Rothmans Publications Ltd. London. 0-356-15884-5. 123–139. 17th.
2. Book: Johns. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989–90. 1989. Rothmans Publications Ltd. London. 0-356-17862-5. 133–136. 18th.
3. Book: Johns. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1990–91. 1990. Rothmans Publications Ltd. London. 0-356-19162-1. 143–146. 19th.
4. Book: Johns. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991–92. 1991. Rothmans Publications Ltd. London. 0-356-20249-6. 164–167. 20th.
5. Book: Johns. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992–93. 1992. Rothmans Publications Ltd. London. 0-7472-7907-1. 176–179. 21st.
6. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94. 1993. Headline Book Publishing Ltd. London. 0-7472-7891-1. 157–160. 22nd.
7. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. 1994. Headline Bookline Publishing. London. 0-7472-7850-4.
8. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. 1995. Headline Bookline Publishing. London. 0-7472-7816-4.
9. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. 1996. Headline Book Publishing. London. 0-7472-7771-0.
10. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98. 1997. Headline Book Publishing. London. 0-7472-7732-X.
11. Web site: 1998-99 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
12. Web site: 1999-00 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
13. Web site: 2000-01 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
14. Web site: 2001-02 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
15. Web site: 2002-03 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
16. Web site: 2003-04 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
17. Web site: 2004-05 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
18. Web site: 2005-06 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
19. Web site: 2006-07 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
20. Web site: 2007-08 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
21. Web site: 2008-09 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
22. Web site: 2009-10 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
23. Web site: 2010-11 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
24. Web site: 2011-12 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
25. Web site: 2012-13 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
26. Web site: 2013-14 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
27. Web site: 2014-15 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
28. Web site: 2015-16 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
29. Web site: 2016-17 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
30. Web site: 2017-18 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 21 April 2018.
31. Web site: 2018-19 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 13 April 2018.
32. Web site: Men's South West Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020.