Somerset 2 South
Current season or competition:
2020–21 Somerset 2 South
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987) (as Somerset 2)
Number of teams10
Country England
HoldersMorganians (2nd title) (2019–20)
(promoted to Somerset 1)
Most titlesAvonvale, Castle Cary, Morganians, Wells, Winscombe (2 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.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

2020–21

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

Teams 2019–20

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:

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[c].

Somerset 2
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated team(s) Ref
1987–88 11 St. Bernadette's Old Boys Bristol Harlequins Cheddar Valley, Chard [1]
1988–89 12 Avonvale Yeovil Westland, Wellington [2]
1989–90 11 Wiveliscombe Imperial St. Brendan's Old Boys [3]
1990–91 13 Stothert & Pitt Wellington Bath Old Edwardians, Avon [4]
1991–92 13 Wells Imperial[d] No relegation[e] [5]
1992–93 13 North Petherton Chard Burnham-on-Sea, Castle Cary [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 Gordano Avonvale, Bath Saracens [7]
1994–95 13 Imperial Stothert & Pitt Cheddar Valley, Westland [8]
1995–96 13 Wells North Petherton[f] No relegation[g] [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 Blagdon Bath Old Edwardians, Bath Old Saracens [10]
1997–98 10 Avon Old Ashtonian Crewkerne, Castle Cary
1998–99 10 Broadplain Bristol Barbarians Cheddar Valley, Bath Old Edwardians [11]
1999–00 10 Avonvale Minehead Barbarians No relegation[h] [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 Burnham-on-Sea No relegation [13]
2001–02 8 Bristol Barbarians Bath Old Edwardians No relegation [14]
2002–03 8 Winscombe Burnham-on-Sea No relegation [15]
2003–04 7 Blagdon Avonvale No relegation [16]
2004–05 7 Old Sulians Martock No relegation [17]
2005–06 6 Bath Old Edwardians[i] Somerton[j] Multiple teams[k] [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[l]. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 while relegation was now to Somerset 3 South[m]. 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 Taunton II No relegation[n] [19]
2007–08 11 Taunton II Weston-super-Mare II Morganians [20]
2008–09 11 Weston-super-Mare II Bridgwater & Albion III No relegation[o] [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 Bridgwater & Albion III No relegation [22]
2010–11 13 Castle Cary Wells II No relegation [23]
2011–12 13 Chard II North Petherton II No relegation [24]
2012–13 13 Crewkerne Cheddar Valley Martock [25]
2013–14 12 Cheddar Valley Tor II No relegation [26]
2014–15 13 Wyvern Hornets III Yeovil II, Wellington [27]
2015–16 14 Wells II Hornets III Frome III [28]
2016–17 13 Morganians North Petherton II Midsomer Norton III [29]
2017–18 13 Castle Cary Winscombe II Tor II [30]
2018–19 12 Taunton III Winscombe II Bridgwater & Albion III, Martock [31]
2019–20 10 Morganians Somerton No relegation [32]
2020–21
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

Notes

  1. ^ Old Boys side for King Edward's School, Bath.
  2. ^ Old Boys side for St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School.
  3. ^ Somerset 3 would briefly split into two divisions - Somerset 3A and 3B - during the 1989–90 season before remerging into a single division.
  4. ^ Restructuring of the leagues above Somerset 2 from 11 to 13 teams meant that five clubs were promoted including Yeovil, Westland and Gordano.
  5. ^ Due to the restructuring of the Somerset leagues there was no relegation.
  6. ^ Due to widespread restructuring at the end of the 1995–96 due to the cancellation of National League 5 South, six clubs were promoted including Nailsea & Backwell, Avonvale, Chew Valley and Crewkerne.
  7. ^ Widespread league restructuring meant that there was no relegation.
  8. ^ The cancellation of Somerset 3 at the end of the 1999–00 season meant that there was no relegation.
  9. ^ Despite finishing as champions Bath Old Edwardians would not be promoted, instead transferring to the new Somerset 2 North division that was introduced for the following season.
  10. ^ Runners up Somerton were promoted to Somerset 1 instead of champions Bath Old Edwardians.
  11. ^ The reintroduction of Somerset 3 in the form of Somerset 3 North and Somerset 3 South for the 2006–07 season would see relegation return. Morganians and Castle Cary would drop to Somerset 3 South while Avonvale and Bath Saracens would transfer to Dorset & Wilts 3 West.
  12. ^ In the first season of Somerset 2 North, Bath Old Edwardians were the only 1st XV side - the rest being 2nd XV teams.
  13. ^ Somerset 3 returned for the first time since the 1999–00 season; now split into two regional divisions - Somerset 3 North and Somerset 3 South.
  14. ^ No relegation as league due to increase from 5 to 11 teams for the following season.
  15. ^ No relegation as league due to increase from 11 to 13 teams for the following season.
  16. ^ Both of Avonvale's titles were for Somerset 2.
  17. ^ One of Crewkerne's titles was for Somerset 2.
  18. ^ Both of Wells' titles were for Somerset 2. As a club Wells have actually won three titles - two by the 1st XV, one by the 2nd XV (Somerset 2 South).
  19. ^ Both of Winscombe's titles were for Somerset 2.
  20. ^ Avon's title was for Somerset 2.
  21. ^ Bath Old Edwardians title was for Somerset 2.
  22. ^ Blagdon's title was for Somerset 2.
  23. ^ Bristol Barbarians title was for Somerset 2.
  24. ^ Broadplain's title was for Somerset 2.
  25. ^ Imperial's title was for Somerset 2.
  26. ^ North Petherton's title was for Somerset 2.
  27. ^ Old Sulians title was for Somerset 2.
  28. ^ St. Bernadette's Old Boys title was for Somerset 2.
  29. ^ Stothert & Pitt's title was for Somerset 2.
  30. ^ As a club Taunton have won Somerset 2 South twice - once by the 2nd XV and once by the 3rd XV.
  31. ^ Tor's title was for Somerset 2.
  32. ^ Wiveliscombe's title was for Somerset 2.

See also

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7850 4.
  8. ^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7816 4.
  9. ^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7771 0.
  10. ^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7732 X.
  11. ^ "1998-99 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  12. ^ "1999-00 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  13. ^ "2000-01 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  14. ^ "2001-02 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  15. ^ "2002-03 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  16. ^ "2003-04 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  17. ^ "2004-05 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  18. ^ "2005-06 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  19. ^ "2006-07 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  20. ^ "2007-08 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  21. ^ "2008-09 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  22. ^ "2009-10 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  23. ^ "2010-11 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  24. ^ "2011-12 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  25. ^ "2012-13 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  26. ^ "2013-14 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  27. ^ "2014-15 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  28. ^ "2015-16 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  29. ^ "2016-17 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  30. ^ "2017-18 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  31. ^ "2018-19 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  32. ^ "Men's South West Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
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