Counties 1 Southern South
Current season or competition:
2022–23 Counties 1 Southern South
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987) (as Southern Counties)
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersDevizes (2nd title) (2021–22)
(promoted to Regional 2 South Central)
Most titlesWimborne (4 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

Counties 1 Southern South (formerly known as Southern Counties South) is a level 7 league in the Rugby Football Union South West Division, the rugby union governing body for South West England, part of the Rugby Football Union. When league rugby first began in 1987 it was a single league known as Southern Counties but since 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues: Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern South currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and primarily features teams based in Dorset and Wiltshire.

The league champions at the end of the season are promoted to Regional 2 South Central while the runners up face the runners up from Southern Counties North for their place. Relegated teams tend to drop to either Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North, Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts South or Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts Central depending on geographic placement. As of the 2022–23 season, with the RFU league restructuring, lower XVs are able to play in Counties 1 Southern South.

2021–22

Thatcham finished 11th in 2019–20 but were level transferred to Southern Counties North for the current season.

2020–21

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the season was cancelled.

2019–20

2018–19

2017–18

2016–17

Season 2015–16

The 2015–16 Southern Counties South consists of twelve teams; four each from Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. The season started on 12 September 2015 and ended on 23 April 2016.

Participating teams

Eight of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Swanage & Wareham and runners up Salisbury (who won their playoff game) were promoted to the South West 1 East while Supermarine and Corsham were both relegated to Dorset & Wilts 1 North. Royal Wootton Bassett were level transferred from Southern Counties North.

League Table 2015–16

Team P W D L Points For Points Against +/− Try Bonus Points Losing Bonus Points League Points
1 Royal Wootton Bassett 22 19 0 3 640 223 417 13 3 92
2 Midsomer Norton 22 16 1 5 643 297 346 14 3 83
3 North Dorset 22 15 1 6 712 365 347 13 5 80
4 Devizes 22 14 0 8 462 322 140 10 4 71
5 Sherborne 22 14 1 7 619 392 227 9 3 70
6 Marlborough 22 14 0 8 491 391 100 7 5 68
7 Dorset Dockers 22 10 1 11 506 555 −49 9 2 54
8 Walcot 22 7 1 14 467 561 −94 6 2 38
9 Wimborne 22 6 2 14 406 577 −171 7 3 38
10 Frome 22 7 0 15 324 664 −340 4 4 31
11 Bradford-on-Avon 22 3 1 18 255 691 −436 3 3 20
12 Dorchester 22 3 0 19 284 771 −487 4 0 11

Teams 2014–15

Teams 2013–14

Teams 2012–13

Teams 2009–10

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Southern Counties) contained the following teams:

Southern Counties South Honours

Southern Counties (1987–1993)

Originally Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South were combined in a single division called Southern Counties. It was a tier 7 league with promotion up to South West 2[d] and relegation down to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1[e] or Bucks/Oxon 1.[f]

Southern Counties
Season No of teams Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Ref
1987–88 11 Redingensians Swindon Bracknell
1988–89 11 Banbury Aylesbury Oxford Marathon
1989–90 11 Marlow Swanage & Wareham Oxford Old Boys
1990–91 11 Sherborne Windsor Swindon, Chiltern, Slough, Bracknell
1991–92 11 Banbury Aylesbury[g] No relegation[h]
1992–93 13 Swanage & Wareham Dorchester Grove
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Southern Counties (1993–1996)

At the end of the 1992–93 season the top six teams from London Division 1 and the top six from South West Division 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that Southern Counties dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to South West 2 and relegation down to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 or Bucks/Oxon 1.

Southern Counties
Season No of teams Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Ref
1993–94 13 Bournemouth Bracknell Royal Wootton Bassett, Redingensians [2]
1994–95 13 Dorchester Bracknell Slough, Oxford Marathon [3]
1995–96 13 Amersham & Chiltern Bracknell[i] No relegation[j] [4]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Southern Counties South (1996–2000)

Restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Southern Counties split into two separate leagues, Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South, which reverted to tier 7 leagues due to the cancellation of National 5 South. Promotion from Southern Counties South was now to the new South West 2 East[k] while relegation was now only to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 (currently split into Dorset & Wilts 1 North and Dorset & Wilts 2 South).[l]

Southern Counties South
Season No of teams Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Ref
1996–97 10 Reading Abbey Wimborne Redingensians, Corsham
1997–98 10 Wimborne Chippenham Westbury, Weymouth
1998–99 10 Chippenham Royal Wootton Bassett Blandford, North Dorset, Swindon [5]
1999–00 10 Tadley Windsor Sherborne [6]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Southern Counties South (2000–2004)

Southern Counties South remained a tier 7 league, with promotion continuing to South West 2 East. However, the transfer of Berkshire clubs from the Dorset/Wilts leagues to the Bucks/Oxon leagues, meant that relegation was now to Dorset & Wilts 1 (formerly Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1).[m]

Southern Counties South
Season No of teams Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Ref
2000–01 9 Redingensians Salisbury No relegation [7]
2001–02 10 Wimborne Oakmeadians Melksham, Corsham, Swindon College Old Boys [8]
2002–03 10 Frome Oakmeadians Calne [9]
2003–04 9 Ivel Barbarians Tadley Westbury [10]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Southern Counties South (2005–2009)

Southern Counties South remained a tier 7 league, with promotion continuing to South West 2 East, while a further restructuring of the Dorset/Wilts leagues meant that relegation was now to either Dorset & Wilts 1 North or Dorset & Wilts 1 South.

Southern Counties South
Season No of teams Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Ref
2004–05 12 Bournemouth Frome Minety, Bradford-on-Avon [11]
2005–06 12 Frome Oldfield Old Boys Blandford, Corsham [12]
2006–07 12 Walcot Royal Wootton Bassett Melksham, Bridport [13]
2007–08 12 Trowbridge Royal Wootton Bassett Devizes, Dorchester [14]
2008–09 12 Oakmeadians Royal Wootton Bassett No relegation [15]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Southern Counties North (2009–present)

Despite widespread league restructuring by the RFU, Southern Counties South continued as a tier 7 league, with promotion to South West 1 East (formerly South West 2 East) and relegation to either Dorset & Wilts 1 North or Dorset & Wilts 1 South.

Southern Counties South
Season No of teams Champions Runners-up Relegated teams Ref
2009–10 12 Wimborne Frome Ivel Barbarians, Minety [16]
2010–11 12 Salisbury Oldfield Old Boys Bradford-on-Avon, Bridport, Marlborough [17]
2011–12 12 North Dorset Dorchester Melksham, Blandford [18]
2012–13 12 Devizes Trowbridge Supermarine, Oakmeadians [19]
2013–14 12 Wells Trowbridge Ivel Barbarians [20]
2014–15 12 Swanage & Wareham Salisbury Supermarine, Corsham [21]
2015–16 12 Royal Wootton Bassett Midsomer Norton Dorchester, Bradford-on-Avon [22]
2016–17 12 Wimborne Trowbridge Dorset Dockers, Combe Down [23]
2017–18 12 Trowbridge Marlborough Blandford, Swanage & Wareham [24]
2018–19 12 Sherborne Frome Bradford-on-Avon, Dorchester [25]
2019–20 12 Grove Frome North Dorset [26]
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 Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South for the third and final promotion place to South West 1 East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Southern Counties North teams have been the most successful with twelve wins to the Southern Counties South teams seven; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.

Southern Counties North v Southern Counties South promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[27] Salisbury (S) 49–20 Grove (N) Castle Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire
2001–02[28] Grove (N) 30–13 Oakmeadians (S) Recreation Lane, Grove, Oxfordshire
2002–03[29] Oakmeadians (S) 24–17 Aylesbury (N) Meryick Park, Bournemouth, Dorset
2003–04[30] Amersham & Chiltern (N)[n] Tadley (S) Ash Grove, Amersham, Buckinghamshire
2004–05[31] Frome (S) 12–38 Henley Wanderers (N) Gypsy Lane, Frome, Somerset
2005–06[32] Oldfield Old Boys (S) 32–33 Swindon (N) Shaft Road, Monkton Combe, Somerset
2006–07[33] Wootton Bassett (S) 17–20 Tadley (N) Ballards Ash Sports Ground, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire
2007–08[34] Wallingford (N) 22–3 Wootton Bassett (S) Wallingford Sports Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire
2008–09[35] Marlow (N) 18–15 Wootton Bassett (S) Riverwoods Drive, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
2009–10[36] Amersham & Chiltern (N) 45–12 Frome (S) Ash Grove, Amersham, Buckinghamshire
2010–11[37] Aylesbury (N) 10–39 Oldfield Old Boys (S) Ostler's Field, Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
2011–12[38] Windsor (N) 22–15 Dorcester (S) Home Park, Windsor, Berkshire
2012–13[39] Grove (N) 39–20 Trowbridge (S) Recreation Lane, Grove, Oxfordshire
2013–14[40] Trowbridge (S) 27–19 Aylesbury (N) Doric Park, Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire
2014–15[41] Salisbury (S) 34–16 Aylesbury (N) Castle Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire
2015–16[42] Midsomer Norton (S) 29–22 Aylesbury (N) Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset
2016–17[43] Bicester (N) 53–20 Trowbridge (S) Oxford Road, Bicester, Oxfordshire
2017–18[44] Windsor (N) 29–31 Marlborough (S) Home Park, Windsor, Berkshire
2018–19[45] Frome (S) 10–23 Buckingham (N) Gypsy Lane, Frome, Somerset 400
2019–20 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up – Frome (S) – promoted instead.
2020–21
Green background is the promoted team. N = Southern Counties North and S = Southern Counties South

See also

Number of league titles

Notes

  1. ^ Oxford Marathon would merge with Oxford Old Boys in 1996 to form Oxford Harlequins.[1]
  2. ^ Oxford Old Boys would merge with Oxford Marathon in 1996 to form Oxford Harlequins.[1]
  3. ^ Redingensians are currently known as Rams.
  4. ^ South West 2 is currently two regional divisions: South West 1 East and South West 1 West.
  5. ^ Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 no longer contains Berkshire clubs and is currently split into Dorset & Wilts 1 North and Dorset & Wilts 1 South.
  6. ^ Bucks/Oxon 1 has since involved Berkshire clubs and is currently known as Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
  7. ^ 3rd place Windsor also promoted.
  8. ^ No relegation due to league expansion from 11 to 13 teams for the 1992–93 season.
  9. ^ Due to the cancellation of Courage League Division 5 and subsequent restructuring of the leagues at the end of the 1995–96 season, six clubs were promoted from Southern Counties including Chinnor, Chippenham, Marlow and Swindon.
  10. ^ The cancellation of Courage League Division 5 and splitting of Southern Counties into Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South at the end of the 1995–96 season, meant that there was no relegation.
  11. ^ Another change at the end of the 1995–96 saw South West 2 also split into two regional divisions: South West 2 East and South West 2 West.
  12. ^ Relegated Southern Counties North clubs dropped to Bucks/Oxon 1.
  13. ^ Dorset & Wilts 1 is now split into two regional divisions: Dorset & Wilts 1 North and Dorset & Wilts South.
  14. ^ The result of the 2003–04 playoff between Amersham & Chiltern and Tadley is unknown due to all the south-west promotion playoff games from this season missing from the RFU website. However, as Amersham & Chiltern were in the higher division the next season (and Tadley were not) it is assumed they won the playoff game. Amersham & Chiltern would also have hosted the game as they had a better points record in their league than Tadley did in theirs.
  15. ^ Both of Banbury's titles were won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
  16. ^ One of Bournemouth's titles was won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
  17. ^ One of Redingensians titles was won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
  18. ^ One of Sherborne's titles was won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
  19. ^ One of Swanage & Wareham's titles was won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
  20. ^ Amersham & Chiltern's title was won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
  21. ^ Dorchester's title was won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
  22. ^ Ivel Barbarians are now known as Yeovil Rugby Club.
  23. ^ Marlow's title was won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.

References

  1. ^ a b "Rugby Union in Oxford". Oxford Mail.
  2. ^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7850 4.
  3. ^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7816 4.
  4. ^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7771 0.
  5. ^ "1998–99 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  6. ^ "1999–00 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  7. ^ "2000–01 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  8. ^ "2001–02 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  9. ^ "2002–03 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  10. ^ "2003–04 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  11. ^ "2004–05 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  12. ^ "2005–06 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  13. ^ "2006–07 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  14. ^ "2007–08 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  15. ^ "2008–09 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  16. ^ "2009–10 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  17. ^ "2010–11 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  18. ^ "2011–12 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  19. ^ "2012–13 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  20. ^ "2013–14 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  21. ^ "2014–15 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  22. ^ "2015–16 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  23. ^ "2016–17 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  24. ^ "2017–18 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  25. ^ "2018–19 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  27. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2000–01". England Rugby. 19 May 2001.
  28. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2001–02". England Rugby. 27 April 2002.
  29. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2002–03". England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
  30. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2003–04". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  31. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2004–05". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  32. ^ "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  33. ^ "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  34. ^ "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  35. ^ "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  36. ^ "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 7 May 2010.
  37. ^ "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 23 April 2011.
  38. ^ "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 28 April 2012.
  39. ^ "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 27 April 2013.
  40. ^ "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 26 April 2014.
  41. ^ "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 25 April 2015.
  42. ^ "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 30 April 2016.
  43. ^ "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 29 April 2017.
  44. ^ "Marlborough win promotion after play-off win at Windsor". Gazette & Herald. 30 April 2017.
  45. ^ "Frome RFC 10–23 Buckingham RFC". Frome RFC. 27 April 2019.
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