Somerset 2 South Explained

Somerset 2 South
Current Season:	2020–21 Somerset 2 South
Sport:	Rugby union
Founded:	(as Somerset 2)
Teams:	10
Champion:	Morganians (2nd title)
Season:	2019–20) (promoted to Somerset 1
Most Champs:	Avonvale, Castle Cary, Morganians, Wells, Winscombe
Count:	2
Website:	englandrugby.com

Somerset 2 South (known as 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.

Somerset 2 North currently involves teams from the southern part of Somerset. 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 South.

Teams 2021-22

Team	Ground	Capacity	Town/Village	Previous season
Burnham-on-Sea II	BASC Ground			9th
Castle Cary	Brook House Field			7th
	The Park, Essex Close			4th
Cheddar Valley II	Sharpham Road			Promoted from Somerset 3 South (champions)
Martock	The Recreation Ground			Promoted from Somerset 3 South (runners-up)
Minehead Barbarians II	The Tom Stewart Field			8th
Somerton	Gasson's Lane			2nd
Wells II	Charter Way			5th
	Recreation Ground	1,200		Transfer from Somerset 2 North (6th)
Wiveliscombe II	Recreational Ground			3rd
Wyvern	Mountfields road			6th
Yeovil II	Yeovil Showground			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
Burnham-on-Sea II	BASC Ground			9th
Castle Cary	Brook House Field			Relegated from Somerset 1 (12th)
	The Park, Essex Close			5th
Minehead Barbarians II	The Tom Stewart Field			7th
Morganians	Chedzoy Lane			3rd
Somerton	Gasson's Lane			6th
Wells II	Charter Way			Transfer from Somerset 2 North (11th)
Wiveliscombe II	Recreational Ground			10th
Wyvern	Mountfields road			Promoted from Somerset 3 South (runners up)
Yeovil II	Yeovil Showground			4th

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 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. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 while relegation was now to Somerset 3 South. 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		No relegation	^[19]
2007–08	11	Taunton II			^[20]
2008–09	11	Weston-super-Mare II		No relegation	^[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		No relegation	^[22]
2010–11	13	Castle Cary		No relegation	^[23]
2011–12	13	Chard II		No relegation	^[24]
2012–13	13	Crewkerne			^[25]
2013–14	12	Cheddar Valley		No relegation	^[26]
2014–15	13	Wyvern			^[27]
2015–16	14	Wells II			^[28]
2016–17	13	Morganians			^[29]
2017–18	13	Castle Cary			^[30]
2018–19	12	Taunton III			^[31]
2019–20	10	Morganians		No relegation	^[32]
2020–21
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Avonvale (2)
• Castle Cary (2)
• Crewkerne (2)
• Morganians (2)
• Wells (2)
• Winscombe (2)
• Avon (1)
• Bath Old Edwardians (1)
• Blagdon (1)
• Bridgwater & Albion II (1)
• Bristol Barbarians (1)
• Broadplain (1)
• Chard II (1)
• Cheddar Valley (1)
• Imperial (1)
• North Petherton (1)
• Old Sulians (1)
• St. Bernadette's Old Boys (1)
• Stothert & Pitt
• Taunton II (1)
• Taunton III (1)
• Tor (1)
• Wellington II (1)
• Wells II (1)
• Weston-super-Mare II (1)
• Wiveliscombe (1)
• Wyvern (1)

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

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.