Somerset 2 North Explained

Somerset 2 North
Current Season:	2020–21 Somerset 2 North
Sport:	Rugby union
Founded:	(as Somerset 2)
Teams:	12
Champion:	Nailsea & Backwell II (1st title)
Season:	2019–20) (promoted to Somerset 1
Most Champs:	Avonvale, Bath Old Edwardians, Old Redcliffians III, Wells, Winscombe
Count:	2
Website:	englandrugby.com

Somerset 2 North (known as 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.

Somerset 2 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 Somerset 1 while relegated teams drop to Somerset 3 North.

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			9th
Bristol Telephone Area	BTRA Sports Ground			3rd
Clevedon II	Coleridge Vale Playing Fields			12th
Gordano II	Caswell Lane			2nd
	Hutton Moor Park	1,100 (100 stand)		5th
	Scotland Lane			8th
Oldfield Old Boys II	Shaft Road			4th
Walcott II	Albert Field			10th
	Recreation Ground	3,000		11th
Yatton II	The Park			7th

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			8th
Bristol Telephone Area	BTRA Sports Ground			4th
Clevedon II	Coleridge Vale Playing Fields			Promoted from Somerset 3 North (champions)
Gordano II	Caswell Lane			Runners up
	Hutton Moor Park	1,100 (100 stand)		10th
Nailsea & Backwell II	West End Park			Promoted from Somerset 3 North (runners up)
	Scotland Lane			6th
Oldfield Old Boys II	Shaft Road			7th
Walcott II	Albert Field			5th
	Recreation Ground	3,000		3rd
	Recreation Ground	1,200		Transfer from Somerset 2 South (runners up)
Yatton II	The Park			9th

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
• Blagdon
• Bristol Harlequins
• Chard
• Cheddar Valley
• Imperial
• St. Bernadette's Old Boys
• 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.

<											----> Somerset 2
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated team(s)	Ref
1987–88	11	St. Bernadette's Old Boys			^[1]
1988–89	12	Avonvale			^[2]
1989–90	11	Wiveliscombe			^[3]
1990–91	13	Stothert & Pitt			^[4]
1991–92	13	Wells		No relegation	^[5]
1992–93	13	North Petherton			^[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			^[7]
1994–95	13	Imperial			^[8]
1995–96	13	Wells		No relegation	^[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			^[10]
1997–98	10	Avon
1998–99	10	Broadplain			^[11]
1999–00	10	Avonvale		No relegation	^[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		No relegation	^[13]
2001–02	8	Bristol Barbarians		No relegation	^[14]
2002–03	8	Winscombe		No relegation	^[15]
2003–04	7	Blagdon		No relegation	^[16]
2004–05	7	Old Sulians		No relegation	^[17]
2005–06	6	Bath Old Edwardians		Multiple teams	^[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. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 while relegation was now to Somerset 3 North. 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			^[19]
2007–08	10	Old Redcliffians II		No relegation	^[20]
2008–09	12	St. Mary's Old Boys 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		No relegation	^[22]
2010–11	13	Clevedon II			^[23]
2011–12	13	Old Redcliffians III		No relegation	^[24]
2012–13	12	Hornets II			^[25]
2013–14	12	Chew Valley II			^[26]
2014–15	14	Bristol Harlequins II		No relegation	^[27]
2015–16	14	Old Redcliffians III			^[28]
2016–17	14	Bath Old Edwardians			^[29]
2017–18	14	Cheddar Valley			^[30]
2018–19	12	Midsomer Norton II			^[31]
2019–20	12	Nailsea & Backwell II		No relegation	^[32]
2020–21
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Avonvale (2)
• Bath Old Edwardians (2)
• Old Redcliffians III (2)
• Wells (2)
• Winscombe (2)
• Avon (1)
• Blagdon (1)
• Bristol Barbarians (1)
• Bristol Harlequins II (1)
• Broadplain (1)
• Cheddar Valley (1)
• Chew Valley II (1)
• Clevedon II (1)
• Crewkerne (1)
• Hornets II (1)
• Imperial (1)
• Keynsham II (1)
• Midsomer Norton II (1)
• Nailsea & Backwell II (1)
• North Petherton (1)
• Old Redcliffians II (1)
• Old Sulians (1)
• St. Bernadette's Old Boys (1)
• St. Mary's Old Boys II (1)
• Stothert & Pitt
• Tor (1)
• Walcot II (1)
• Wiveliscombe (1)

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

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.