Somerset 3 South Explained

Somerset 2 South
Current Season:	2020–21 Somerset 3 South
Sport:	Rugby union
Founded:	(as Somerset 3)
Teams:	5
Champion:	Cheddar Valley II (1st title)
Season:	2019–20) (promoted to Somerset 2 South
Most Champs:	Avonvale, Hornets III, St. Brendan's Old Boys, Taunton III
Count:	2
Website:	englandrugby.com

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 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

Team	Ground	Capacity	Town/Village	Previous season
Crewkerne II	Henhayes Recreation Ground			New entry
Frome III	Gypsy Lane			4th
Huish Tigers	Richard Huish College			New entry
Midsomer Norton III	Norton Down Playing Fields			3rd
Tor II	Brian Harbinson Memorial Park			New entry
Wincanton	Wincanton Sports Ground			New entry

2020–21

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

Teams 2019–20

Team	Ground	Capacity	Town/Village	Previous season
	The Park, Essex Close			6th
Cheddar Valley II	Sharpham Road			5th
Frome III	Gypsy Lane			N/A
Martock	The Recreation Ground			Relegated from Somerset 2 South (11th)
Midsomer Norton III	Norton Down Playing Fields			4th

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:

• Avonvale
• Backwell
• Bath Civil Service
• Castle Cary
• Chew Valley
• Morganians
• Old Ashtonians
• Tor
• Wincanton
• Westland

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
1987–88	10	Avonvale		No relegation	^[1]
1988–89	12	Wiveliscombe		No relegation	^[2]
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
1989–90	7	Blagdon		No relegation	Somerset 3A	^[3]
	7	Wellington		No relegation	Somerset 3B
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
1990–91	12	Backwell		No relegation	^[4]
1991–92	11	Chard		No relegation	^[5]
1992–93	7	Chew Valley		No relegation	^[6]
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
1993–94	9	St. Brendan's Old Boys		No relegation	^[7]
1994–95	9	Avonvale		No relegation		^[8]
1995–96	9	St. Brendan's Old Boys		No relegation	^[9]
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
1996–97	6	British Gas		No relegation	^[10]
1997–98	5	Bath Old Edwardians		No relegation
1998–99	5	Castle Cary		No relegation	^[11]
1999–2000	5	Martock		No relegation	^[12]
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 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
2006–07	12	Bridgwater & Albion III		No relegation	^[13]
2007–08	13	Taunton III		No relegation	^[14]
2008–09	13	Weston-super-Mare III		No relegation	^[15]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3 South (2009–present)

<											----> Somerset 3 South
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Ref
2009–10	13	Chew Valley II		No relegation	^[16]
2010–11	12	Hornets III		No relegation	^[17]
2011–12	8	Burnham-on-Sea II		No relegation	^[18]
2012–13	9	Hornets III		No relegation	^[19]
2013–14	10	Wellington III		No relegation	^[20]
2014–15	10	Frome III		No relegation	^[21]
2015–16	11	Yeovil II		No relegation	^[22]
2016–17	10	Weston-super-Mare IV		No relegation	^[23]
2017–18	11	Taunton III		No relegation	^[24]
2018–19	8	Tor II		No relegation	^[25]
2019–20	5	Cheddar Valley II		No relegation	^[26]
2020–21
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Avonvale (2)
• Hornets III (2)
• St. Brendan's Old Boys(2)
• Taunton III (2)
• Backwell (1)
• Bath Old Edwardians (1)
• Blagdon (1)
• Bridgwater & Albion III (1)
• British Gas (1)
• Burnham-on-Sea II (1)
• Castle Cary (1)
• Chard (1)
• Cheddar Valley II (1)
• Chew Valley (1)
• Chew Valley II (1)
• Frome III (1)
• Martock (1)
• Tor II (1)
• Wellington (1)
• Wellington III (1)
• Weston-super-Mare III (1)
• Weston-super-Mare IV (1)
• Wiveliscombe (1)
• Yeovil II (1)

See also

• South West Division RFU
• Somerset RFU
• Somerset Premier
• Somerset 1
• Somerset 2 North
• Somerset 2 South
• Somerset 3 North
• 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: 2006-07 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
14. Web site: 2007-08 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
15. Web site: 2008-09 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
16. Web site: 2009-10 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
17. Web site: 2010-11 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
18. Web site: 2011-12 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
19. Web site: 2012-13 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
20. Web site: 2013-14 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
21. Web site: 2014-15 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
22. Web site: 2015-16 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
23. Web site: 2016-17 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
24. Web site: 2017-18 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 21 April 2018.
25. Web site: 2018-19 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 13 April 2018.
26. Web site: Men's South West Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020.