Gloucester Premier
Current season or competition:
2019–20 Gloucester Premier
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987) (as Gloucestershire/Somerset)
Number of teams12
CountryEngland
HoldersChosen Hill Former Pupils (2nd title) (2019–20)
(promoted to Western Counties North)
Most titlesDrybrook, Spartans (3 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

Gloucester Premier is an English rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England with teams largely being based in the county of Gloucestershire and Bristol. Originally a single division called Gloucestershire/Somerset, in 2000 the division split into two county leagues called Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier.

The league champions are automatically promoted to Western Counties North while the runner-up play the runner-up from Somerset Premier for the third promotion place. Relegated teams drop down into Gloucester 1. Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a level 8 national competition.

Teams 2021–22

St Mary's Old Boys and Berry Hill who finished 9th and 10th respectively in 2019-20 but will play in Gloucester 1 in the current season. Their places were taken by Clifton II and Dings Crusaders II.

2020–21

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

Teams 2019–20

Teams 2018–19

Teams 2017–18

Teams 2016–17

Team Ground Town/Village Previous season
Barton Hill Duncombe Road Speedwell, Bristol relegated from Western Counties North
Berry Hill Lakers Road Coleford, Gloucestershire 3rd
Cheltenham North Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire level transfer from Midlands 3 West (South) (8th)
Cheltenham Saracens King George V Playing Field Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 4th
Chipping Sodbury Wickwar Road Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire 5th
Frampton Cotterell The Park Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire 8th
Gordon League Hempsted Lane Gloucester, Gloucestershire promoted from Gloucester 1 (2nd)
Hucclecote Charlies Way Hucclecote, Gloucestershire 9th
Longlevens Longford Lane Longlevens, Gloucestershire 10th
North Bristol Oaklands Almondsbury, Bristol 6th
Old Richians Sandyleaze Gloucester, Gloucestershire promoted from Gloucester 1 (1st)
St Mary's Old Boys Trench Lane Almondsbury, Bristol 7th

Teams 2015–16

The 2015–16 Gloucester Premier consisted of twelve teams from Gloucestershire and Bristol. The season started on 5 September 2015 and the last match was played on 23 April 2016. Eight of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition.

Gloucester Premier is located in Gloucestershire
Berry Hill
Bream
Bream
Bristol S
Bristol S
Cheltenham S
Chipping S
Chipping S
Cirencester
Frampton C
Frampton C
Hucclecote
Hucclecote
Longlevens
Longlevens
N Bristol
N Bristol
St Mary's OB
St Mary's OB
Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury
Locations of the 2015-16 Gloucester Premier teams
Team Ground Town/Village Previous season
Berry Hill Lakers Road Coleford, Gloucestershire 5th
Bream High Street Bream, Lydney, Gloucestershire 9th
Bristol Saracens Bakewell Memorial Ground Patchway, Bristol relegated from Western Counties North (12th)
Cheltenham Saracens King George V Playing Field Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 3rd
Chipping Sodbury Wickwar Road Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire promoted from Gloucester 1 (runner-up)
Cirencester The Whiteway Cirencester, Gloucestershire 6th
Frampton Cotterell The Park Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire 8th
Hucclecote Charlies Way Hucclecote, Gloucestershire 7th
Longlevens Longford Lane Longlevens, Gloucestershire promoted from Gloucester 1 (champions)
North Bristol Oaklands Almondsbury, Bristol relegated from Western Counties North (13th)
St Mary's Old Boys Trench Lane Almondsbury, Bristol 4th
Tewkesbury The Moats Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire 10th

League table

2015–16 Gloucester Premier League Table[1]
Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
1 Bristol Saracens (P) 22 22 0 0 1041 210 931 19 0 107
2 Cirencester (P) 22 17 0 5 669 304 365 14 2 84
3 Berry Hill 22 15 1 6 524 331 193 10 4 76
4 Cheltenham Saracens 22 14 0 8 586 373 213 11 5 72
5 Chipping Sodbury 22 14 0 8 559 369 190 11 2 69
6 North Bristol 22 12 1 9 499 388 111 9 4 63
7 St Mary's Old Boys 22 10 0 12 493 548 −55 8 3 51
8 Frampton Cotterell 22 8 0 14 388 660 −272 8 1 41
9 Hucclecote 22 8 0 14 416 479 −63 6 2 40
10 Longlevens 22 7 0 15 352 566 −214 4 5 37
11 Tewkesbury 22 4 0 18 295 801 −506 1 0 17
12 Bream 22 0 0 22 168 961 −793 1 1 2
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 27 August 2016

Teams 2014–15

Stroud are champions and along with the runner-up Whitehall (play-off winner) were promoted to Western Counties North. Painswick and Gordon League were relegated to Gloucester 1.

Teams 2013–14

Teams 2012–13

Teams 2011–12

Teams 2010–11

Teams 2009–10

Teams 2008–09

Teams 2007–08

Teams 2006–07

Teams 2005–06

Teams 2004–05

Teams 2003–04

Teams 2002–03

Teams 2001–02

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Gloucestershire/Somerset) contained the following teams from Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset:

Gloucester Premier honours

Gloucestershire/Somerset (1987–1993)

Originally Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier were combined in a single division known as Gloucestershire/Somerset, involving teams based in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Bristol. It was tier 8 league with promotion to Western Counties[a] and relegation to either Gloucestershire 1[b] or Somerset 1.

Gloucestershire/Somerset
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
1987–88 11 Avonmouth Old Boys Combe Down St Brendan's Old Boys, Tredworth [2]
1988–89 11 Old Culverhaysians Combe Down Minehead Barbarians [3]
1989–90 10[c] Combe Down Midsomer Norton Old Redcliffians [4]
1990–91 11 Spartans Whitehall Midsomer Norton [5]
1991–92 11 Gloucester Old Boys Drybrook[d] Cleve [6]
1992–93 13 Old Patesians Keynsham Old Sulians [7]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Gloucestershire/Somerset (1993–1996)

The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Gloucestershire/Somerset dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Western Counties and relegation to either Gloucester 1 or Somerset 1.

Gloucestershire/Somerset
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
1993–94 13 Dings Crusaders St. Mary's Old Boys Coney Hill, Frome [8]
1994–95 13 Keynsham Whitehall Midsomer Norton, Wiveliscombe [9]
1995–96 13 St. Mary's Old Boys Cleve[e] No relegation [10]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Gloucestershire/Somerset (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Gloucestershire/Somerset reverted to being a tier 8 league. Further restructuring meant that promotion was now to Western Counties North[f], while relegation continued to either Gloucester 1 or Somerset 1.

Gloucestershire/Somerset
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
1996–97 16 Coney Hill Old Richians Old Cryptians
1997–98 17 St. Bernadette's Old Boys Wiveliscombe Bristol Saracens
1998–99 17 Barton Hill Chew Valley Old Sulians
1999–00 17 Old Centralians[g] Yatton[h] Chard, Frampton Cotterell
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Gloucester Premier (2000–2009)

Gloucestershire/Somerset was reorganised into two county leagues at the end of the 1999–00 season, Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier, with both leagues remaining at level 8. Promotion from Gloucester Premier was to Western Counties North and relegation to Gloucester 1. Between 2007–2009 Gloucester Premier was sponsored by High Bridge Jewellers.

Gloucester Premier
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
2000–01 10 Thornbury Old Centralians Brockworth, Bream, Aretians [11]
2001–02 10 Spartans Drybrook Chipping Sodbury, Bristol Saracens [12]
2002-03 10 Drybrook Barton Hill Hucclecote [13]
2003–04 10 Cheltenham North Chosen Hill Former Pupils Cirencester, Old Bristolians, Chipping Sodbury [14]
2004–05 10 North Bristol Avonmouth Old Boys Southmead, Tewkesbury [15]
2005–06 10 Chosen Hill Former Pupils Barton Hill No relegation[i] [16]
2006–07 12 Avonmouth Old Boys Widden Old Boys Longlevens, Painswick [17]
2007–08 12 Hartpury College North Bristol Aretians [18]
2008–09 12 Drybrook Southmead No relegation [19]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Gloucester Premier (2009–present)

Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Gloucester Premier remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to Western Counties North and relegation to Gloucester 1. From the 2017–18 season onward Gloucester Premier has been sponsored by Wadworth 6x.

Gloucester Premier
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
2009–10 12 Matson Cirencester Hucclecote, Spartans [20]
2010–11 12 Whitehall Old Richians Gloucester Old Boys, Brockworth, Ross-on-Wye [21]
2011–12 12 Old Bristolians Drybrook Longlevens, Bishopston, Old Colstonians [22]
2012–13 12 Drybrook Frampton Cotterell Widden Old Boys [23]
2013–14 12 Newent Bristol Saracens Southmead, Dursley [24]
2014–15 12 Stroud Whitehall Painswick, Gordon League [25]
2015–16 12 Bristol Saracens Cirencester Bream, Tewkesbury [26]
2016–17 12 Old Richians St Mary's Old Boys North Bristol, Berry Hill, Cheltenham North [27]
2017–18 12 Chipping Sodbury Barton Hill Cirencester [28]
2018–19 12 Spartans Bristol Saracens Gloucester Old Boys, Gordon League [29]
2019–20 12 Chosen Hill Former Pupils Cheltenham North Widden Old Boys, Whitehall [30]
2020–21 12
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of the Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier for the third and final promotion place to Western Counties North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Gloucester Premier teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Somerset Premier teams six; and the home team has won promotion on twelve occasions compared to the away teams seven.

Gloucester Premier v Somerset Premier promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[31] Gordano (S) 19-21 Old Centralians (G) Caswell Lane, Portbury, Somerset
2001–02[32] Yatton (S) 32-0 Drybrook (G) The Park, Yatton, Somerset
2002–03[33] Barton Hill (G) 36-0 Midsomer Norton (S) Duncombe Lane, Speedwell, Bristol
2003–04[34] Nailsea & Backwell (S)[j] Chosen Hill Former Pupils (G) West End Park, Nailsea, Somerset
2004–05[35] Tor (S) 25-26 Avonmouth Old Boys (G) Brian Harbinson Memorial Park, Glastonbury, Somerset
2005–06[36] Barton Hill (G) 20-0 Tor (S) Duncombe Lane, Speedwell, Bristol
2006–07[37] Midsomer Norton (S) 10-31 Widden Old Boys (G) Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset
2007–08[38] North Bristol (G) 29-17 Chew Valley (S) Oaklands, Almondsbury, Gloucestershire
2008–09[39] Southmead (G) 20-14 North Petherton (S) Greenway Centre, Southmead, Bristol
2009–10[40] Cirencester (G) 35-17 Chard (S) The Whiteway, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
2010–11[41] Chard (S) 32-12 Old Richians (G) Essex Close, Chard, Somerset
2011–12[42] Wells (S) 18-10 Drybrook (G) Charter Way, Wells, Somerset
2012–13[43] Midsomer Norton (S) 28-12 Frampton Cotterell (G) Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset
2013–14[44] Bristol Saracens (G) 19-8 Tor (S) Bakewell Memorial Ground, Henbury, Bristol
2014–15[45] Winscombe (S) 13-21 Whitehall (G) Winscombe Recreation Ground, Winscombe, Somerset
2015–16[46] Winscombe (S) 21-22 Cirencester (G) Winscombe Recreation Ground, Winscombe, Somerset
2016–17[47] Oldfield Old Boys (S) 9-6 St Mary's Old Boys (G) Shaft Road, Monkton Combe, Somerset 1,000
2017–18[48] Wiveliscombe (S) 12-15 Barton Hill (G) Recreational Ground, Wiveliscombe, Somerset
2018–19[49] Burnham-on-Sea (S) 24-25 Bristol Saracens (G) BASC Ground, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset
2019–20 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Cheltenham North (G) - promoted instead.
2020–21
Green background is the promoted team. G = Gloucester Premier and S = Somerset Premier

Number of league titles

Notes

  1. ^ Since 1996 Western Counties has been split into two regional divisions; Western Counties North and Western Counties West.
  2. ^ Gloucestershire 1 was shortened to Gloucester 1 from the 1991–92 season onward.
  3. ^ Avon & Somerset Constabulary withdrew from league.
  4. ^ 3rd place Wiveliscombe also promoted. The reason for so many promotions was due to the majority of south-west league increasing from 11 to 13 teams for the following season.
  5. ^ The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 would lead to widespread restructuring of the leagues. As a result all 13 clubs in Gloucestershire/Somerset would be promoted; St. Mary's Old Boys, Cleve, Hornets, Oldfield Old Boys, Thornbury, Avonmouth Old Boys, North Bristol, Whitehall, Bristol Harlequins, Cirencester and Old Redcliffians would go up into Western Counties North; Wellington would go up into Western Counties West; Stow-on-the-Wold would go up into Southern Counties North.
  6. ^ Western Counties was split into Western Counties North and Western Counties West as part of RFU restructuring at the end of the 1995–96 season.
  7. ^ Despite finishing as champions, the cancellation of Gloucestershire/Somerset meant that Old Centralians were instead transferred into the new look Gloucester Premier.
  8. ^ The cancellation of Gloucestershire/Somerset and creation meant that almost all teams were transferred into new leagues; Old Centralians, Bream, Chipping Sodbury, Avonmouth Old Boys, Bristol Saracens, Brockworth and Longlevens went into Gloucester Premier, while Yatton, Tor, Old Culverhaysians, Midsomer Norton, Walcot, Avon, Combe Down and Gordano went into Somerset Premier.
  9. ^ There was no relegation as the division would be expanded from 10 to 12 teams for the next season.
  10. ^ The result of the 2003-04 playoff between Nailsea & Backwell and Chosen Hill Former Pupils is unknown due to all the south-west promotion playoff games from this season missing from the RFU website. However, as Nailsea & Backwell were in the higher division the next season (and Chosen Hill Former Pupils were not) it is assumed they won the playoff game. Nailsea & Backwell would also have hosted the game as they had a better points record in their league than Chosen Hill Former Pupils did in theirs.
  11. ^ One of Spartans titles was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
  12. ^ One of Avonmouth Old Boys titles was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
  13. ^ Barton Hill's title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
  14. ^ Combe Down's title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
  15. ^ Coney Hill's title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
  16. ^ Dings Crusaders title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
  17. ^ Gloucester Old Boys title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
  18. ^ Keynsham's title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
  19. ^ Old Centralians title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
  20. ^ Old Culverhaysians title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
  21. ^ Old Patesians title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
  22. ^ St. Bernadette's Old Boys title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
  23. ^ St. Mary's Old Boys title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gloucester Premier 2015–2016". England Rugby. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7850 4.
  9. ^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7816 4.
  10. ^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7771 0.
  11. ^ "2000-01 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  12. ^ "2001-02 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  13. ^ "2002-03 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  14. ^ "2003-04 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  15. ^ "2004-05 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  16. ^ "2005-06 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  17. ^ "2006-07 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  18. ^ "2007-08 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  19. ^ "2008-09 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  20. ^ "2009-10 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  21. ^ "2010-11 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  22. ^ "2011-12 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  23. ^ "2012-13 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  24. ^ "2013-14 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  25. ^ "2014-15 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  26. ^ "2015-16 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  27. ^ "2016-17 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  28. ^ "2017-18 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  29. ^ "2018-19 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  30. ^ "Men's South West Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  31. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2000-01". England Rugby. 19 May 2001.
  32. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2001-02". England Rugby. 27 April 2002.
  33. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2002-03". England Rugby. 19 April 2003.
  34. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2003-04". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  35. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2004-05". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  36. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2005-06". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  37. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2006-07". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  38. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2007-08". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  39. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2008-09". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  40. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2009-10". England Rugby. 24 April 2010.
  41. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2010-11". England Rugby. 23 April 2011.
  42. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2011-12". England Rugby. 28 April 2012.
  43. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2012-13". England Rugby. 27 April 2013.
  44. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2013-14". England Rugby. 26 April 2014.
  45. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2014-15". England Rugby. 25 April 2015.
  46. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2015-16". England Rugby. 30 April 2016.
  47. ^ "Oldfield Complete the Vase & Promotion Double". Oldfield Old Boys RFC (Pitchero). 29 April 2017.
  48. ^ "Rugby round-up: Wellington secure Cornwall/Devon title while Wiveliscombe beaten in Western Counties play-off". County Gazette. 1 May 2018.
  49. ^ "Burnham-on-Sea RFC beaten by Bristol Saracens in promotion play-off". Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News. 30 April 2019.
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