Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts North
English rugby union league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts North (formerly Dorset & Wilts 2 North) and Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts Central are English Rugby Union leagues, forming part of the South West Division, for clubs based primarily in Wiltshire, sitting at tier 9 of the English rugby union system. From these leagues teams are promoted to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North or occasionally Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts Central. Historically relegation had been to Dorset & Wilts 3 North but following the RFU Adult Competition Review this ceased with teams demoted to their county merit leagues.
EnglandCurrent season or competition: 2024–25 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts North | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 (as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2) |
| Country | England |
| Most titles | Bournemouth University, Frome II, Minety, Marlborough, Pewsey Vale, Sutton Benger (2 titles) |
| Website | englandrugby.com |
2026-27
North
Departing were Swindon College Old Boys, promoted to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North.
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Locations of the 2026-27 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts North teams
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Central
Departing were champions Frome II and runners-up North Dorset II promoted to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts South. Also leaving were Melksham III (8th) who were displaced by Melksham II being relegated into the league.
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Locations of the 2026-27 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts Central teams
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2025–26
North
Departing were Supermarine, promoted to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North. Also leaving were Swindon College Old Boys II (6th), relegated to Counties 4 Berks/Bucks & Oxon.
Swindon 2XV (4th in 2024-25) started but did not complete the season leaving seven clubs to contest the outstanding fixtures.
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Locations of the 2025–26 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts North teams
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Central
Departing were Melksham II promoted to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North. Also leaving were Corsham II (4th) on a level transfer to the North division. Melksham III joined the league for the first time[1]
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Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts Central teams
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2024–25
North
Departing were Fairford, promoted to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North.
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Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts North teams
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Central
Departing were Bradford-on-Avon (champions) and Colerne (runners-up), promoted to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts Central and Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North respectively. Joining were Warminster who suffered a voluntary relegation after losing a significant number of players at the end of the 2023–24 season[2]
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Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts Central teams
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2023–24
North
Departing were Supermarine, promoted to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North. Colerne (3rd) went on a level transfer to Counties 3 D&W Central. Minety II (6th) did not return for the new season.
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Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts North teams
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Central
Departing were Corsham II (champions)[3] and Warminster II (5th) who did not return for the new season. Sherborne II (3rd) left on a level transfer to Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts South.
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Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts Central teams
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2022–23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review.
North
Departing were Pewsey Vale, Devizes II and Royal Wootton Bassett III, all promoted to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North. Corsham II (9th) were relegated.
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Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts North teams
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Central
Departing were Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew, Amesbury, Bradford-on-Avon and North Dorset II (who finished 1st-4th respectively) all promoted to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts Central. Salisbury III (9th) left on a level transfer to Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts South.
Sherborne II re-joined the league pyramid having withdrawn from Dorset & Wilts 1 South part way through the 2021–22 season.
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Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts Central teams
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2021–22
Ahead of the new season a Central division was introduced.
North
Amesbury, Combe Down II, Melksham II and Trowbridge II did not return as all were level transferred to the newly formed Central division.
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  Colerne Corsham II Cricklade Devizes II Pewsey Vale Supermarine Swindon College OB II Locations of the 2021–22 Dorset & Wilts 2 North teams
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Central
For its inaugural year the league was formed of seven clubs moving on level transfers, whilst two - Warminster II and Bath Saracens[4] - were promoted from Dorset & Wilts 3 North, and one (Bradford-on-Avon) dropped down from Dorset & Wilts 1 North[5]
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Amesbury Bath Saracens BoA Melksham II Trowbridge III Warminster II Wheatsheaf Locations of the 2021–22 Dorset & Wilts 2 Central teams
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2020–21
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
2019–20
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Amesbury Colerne Corsham II Devizes II Melksham II Pewsey Vale Supermarine Swindon II Swindon College II Trowbridge III Westbury Locations of the 2019–20 Dorset & Wilts 2 North teams
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2018–19
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Colerne Corsham II Cricklade Devizes II Frome II Melksham II Swindon II Swindon College II Trowbridge III Westbury Locations of the 2018–19 Dorset & Wilts 2 North teams
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2017–18
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Calne Colerne Cricklade Devizes II Frome II Melksham II Sutton Benger Swindon College II Westbury Locations of the 2017–18 Dorset & Wilts 2 North teams
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2016–17
- Avonvale
- Bath Saracens
- Calne
- Chippenham III (promoted from Dorset & Wilts 3 North)
- Colerne (relegated from Dorset & Wilts 1 North)
- Combe Down II
- Cricklade
- Melksham II
- Royal Wootton Bassett III (promoted from Dorset & Wilts 3 North)
- Sutton Begner
- Trowbridge II
- Westbury
2015–16
The 2015–16 Dorset & Wilts 2 North consisted of twelve teams; most of them based in the northern part of Wiltshire but also three teams based just across the county border in Somerset. The season started on 12 September 2015 and was due to end on 23 April 2016.
Seven of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions, Royal Wootton Bassett II were promoted to Dorset & Wilts 1 North along with runners up Colerne while Supermarine II and Chippenham III were relegated to Dorset & Wilts 3 North.
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BoA II Calne Cricklade Melksham II Pewsey Vale Sutton Benger Swindon College II Trowbridge III Westbury Locations of the 2015–16 Dorset & Wilts 2 North teams in Wiltshire Locations of the 2015–16 Dorset & Wilts 2 North teams in Somerset
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Participating clubs 2012–13
- Bath Saracens
- Chippenham III
- Combe Down II
- Corsham II
- Cricklade
- Fairford
- Melksham II
- Supermarine II
- Sutton Benger
- Swindon College Old Boys II
- Westbury II
- Wootton Bassett II
Participating clubs 2009–10
- Bath Saracens
- Bradford-on-Avon II
- Chippenham III
- Colerne
- Combe Down
- Devizes II
- Fairford
- Melksham II
- Minety II
- Pewsey Vale
- Swindon College Old Boys II
- Wooton Bassett III
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2) contained the following teams from Berkshire, Dorset and Wiltshire:
- Bradford-on-Avon
- Chippenham
- Corsham
- Lytchett Minster
- Minety
- North Dorset
- Oakmedians
- Poole
- Puddletown
- Swindon College Old Boys
- Supermarine
- Trowbridge
Dorset & Wilts 2 North honours
Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 (1987–1993)
Originally Dorset & Wilts 2 North and Dorset & Wilts 2 South were combined in a single division known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2, involving clubs based in Berkshire,[a] Dorset and Wiltshire. It was a tier 9 league with promotion to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 and, from the 1988–89 season onward, relegation was to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 East or Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 12 | Chippenham | Corsham | No relegation | [6] | |||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | North Dorset | Puddletown | Minety | [7] | |||||||||
| 1989–90 | 11 | Melksham | Lytchett Minster | Poole | [8] | |||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | D.I.H.E. | Swindon College Old Boys | R.E.M.E. Arborfield, Trowbridge, Westbury | [9] | |||||||||
| 1991–92 | 11 | Aldermaston | Lytchett Minster[b] | No relegation[c] | [10] | |||||||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | Supermarine | Marlborough | Berkshire Shire Hall | [11] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 (1993–1996)
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 dropped to become a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1, while relegation was now to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.[d]
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 13 | Blandford | Thatcham | Minety, Hungerford | [12] | |||||||||
| 1994–95 | 13 | Bournemouth University[e] | North Dorset | Poole | [13] | |||||||||
| 1995–96 | 13 | Trowbridge | Calne[f] | Bournemouth University, Puddletown, Warminster[g] | [14] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 (1996–2000)
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 reverted to being a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 and relegation to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 8 | Tadley | Ivel Barbarians | Pewsey Vale | ||||||||||
| 1997–98 | 10 | Swindon College Old Boys | Portcastrians | Supermarine, Berkshire Shire Hall | ||||||||||
| 1998–99 | 9 | Minety | Bridport | Hungerford, Puddletown, Marlborough | [15] | |||||||||
| 1999–2000 | 8 | Thatcham | Oakmeadians | No relegation[h] | [16] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Dorset & Wilts 2 North (2000–2004)
At the end of the 1999–2000 season Berks/Wilts/Dorset 2 was restructured following the departure of Berkshire clubs to join the Bucks & Oxon leagues. It was now split into two tier 9 regional leagues – Dorset & Wilts 2 North and Dorset & Wilts 2 South. Promotion from Dorset & Wilts 2 North was now to Dorset & Wilts 2 and there was no relegation due to the cancellation of Berks/Wilts/Dorset 3.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 7 | Calne | Supermarine | No relegation | [17] | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 7 | Bradford-on-Avon | Supermarine | No relegation | [18] | |||||||||
| 2002–03 | 7 | Minety | Supermarine | No relegation | [19] | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | 10 | Cricklade | Marlborough | No relegation | [20] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Dorset & Wilts 2 North (2004–2009)
Ahead of the 2004–05 season, local league restructuring meant that promotion from Dorset & Wilts 2 North was now to Dorset & Wilts 1 North (formerly Dorset & Wilts 1) and relegation to the newly introduced Dorset & Wilts 3 North (last known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3). It remained a tier 9 league.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | 12 | Colerne | Malmesbury | Multiple teams[i] | [21] | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 10 | Frome II | Chippenham III | Royal Wootton Bassett III | [22] | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | 10 | Marlborough | Warminster | Swindon III, Hungerford | [23] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 9 | Sutton Benger | Corsham II | Malmesbury | [24] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 10 | Trowbridge II | Avonvale | Calne II, Royal Wootton Bassett III | [25] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Dorset & Wilts 2 North (2009–present)
Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Dorset & Wilts 2 North remained a tier 9 league, with promotion continuing to Dorset & Wilts 1 North and relegation to Dorset & Wilts 3 North.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 11 | Pewsey Vale | Fairford | Minety II | [26] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 12 | Swindon II | Bath Saracens | Multiple teams[j] | [27] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 10 | Combe Down | Devizes II | Swindon III, Westbury II, Melksham II | [28] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 12 | Fairford | Chippenham III[k] | Westbury II, Combe Down II | [29] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 12 | Marlborough | Cricklade | Corsham II, Swindon College Old Boys II | [30] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 11 | Royal Wootton Bassett II | Colerne | Supermarine II, Chippenham III | [31] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 11 | Pewsey Vale | Calne | Bradford-on-Avon II, Swindon College Old Boys II | [32] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 12 | Avonvale | Trowbridge II | Chippenham III, Bath Saracens | [33] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 12 | Sutton Benger | Calne | Combe Down II | [34] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 12 | Frome II | Marlborough II | Royal Wootton Bassett III, Cricklade | [35] | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | 12 | Westbury | Swindon College II | No relegation[l] | [36] | |||||||||
| 2020–21 | 12 | |||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Bournemouth University (2)[m]
- Frome II (2)
- Marlborough (2)
- Minety (2)[n]
- Pewsey Vale (2)
- Sutton Benger (2)
- Aldermaston (1)[o]
- Avonvale (1)
- Blandford (1)[p]
- Bradford-on-Avon (1)
- Calne (1)
- Chippenham (1)[q]
- Colerne (1)
- Combe Down (1)
- Cricklade (1)
- Fairford (1)
- Melksham (1)[r]
- North Dorset (1)[s]
- Royal Wootton Bassett II (1)
- Supermarine (1)[t]
- Swindon II (1)
- Swindon College Old Boys (1)[u]
- Tadley (1)[v]
- Thatcham (1)[w]
- Trowbridge (1)[x]
- Trowbridge II (1)
- Westbury (1)
See also
Notes
- Since 2000, Berkshire clubs have played in the Berks/Bucks & Oxon leagues.
- Restructuring of the south-west leagues from 11 to 13 teams for the following season, meant that four teams were promoted, including Bradford-on-Avon and Puddleton.
- The restructuring of Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 East and Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West into a single season called Berks/Dorsets/Wilts 3, meant that there was no relegation.
- Prior to the 1992–93 season Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 was divided into two regional divisions – Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 East and Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West.
- Champions Bournemouth University were not promoted.
- 3rd place Westbury also promoted.
- Restructuring of the Berks, Dorset & Wilts leagues, including a reduction of teams in each division, meant that more teams were relegated than usual.
- There would be no relegation due to the cancellation of Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 at the end of the season.
- Minety II, Supermarine II, Sutton Benger, Devizes III, Trowbridge III and Bradford-on-Avon II were the relegated sides this year. The reason for such a lot of teams being relegated were due to the creation of a new division (Dorset & Wilts 3 North & South) for the following season.
- Trowbridge III, Colerne, Combe Down II, Bradford-on-Avon II and Marlborough II were the relegated sides this year. The reason lot of teams were relegated were due to the creation of a new Dorset & Wilts 4 division for the following season.
- Not promoted as Chippenham 2nd team in division above.
- No relegation due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
- Bournemouth University were formerly known as Dorset Institute of Higher Education (D.I.H.E.). Both titles were won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
- One of Minety's titles was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
- Aldermaston's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
- Blandford's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
- Chippenham's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
- Melksham's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
- North Dorset's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
- Supermarine's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
- Swindon College Old Boys title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
- Tadley's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
- Thatcham's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
- Trowbridge's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2. As a club Trowbridge have won the title twice – once by the first team (Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2) and once by the 2nd XV (Dorset & Wilts 2 North).