Counties 4 Somerset South
English rugby union league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Counties 4 Somerset South (formerly known as Somerset 2 South or 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 Counties 4 Somerset 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.
Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 4 Somerset South | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 (as Somerset 2) |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Country |  England |
| Most titles | Avonvale, Castle Cary, Morganians, Wells, Winscombe (2 titles) |
| Website | englandrugby.com |
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 Counties 3 Somerset South while relegated teams used to drop to Somerset 3 South but since the RFU Adult Competition Review they instead now join county merit leagues.
Teams 2025–26
Departing were Wiveliscombe II (champions) and Martock (runners-up), both promoted to Counties 3 Somerset South.
North Petherton III were originally placed in the league but subsequently withdrew leaving eleven clubs to contest the remaining fixtures.
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  Burnham II Minehead II Morganians Somerton Tor II Wells II Wincanton Yeovil II Locations of the 2025–26 Counties 4 Somerset South teams
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Teams 2024–25
Departing were Wyvern (champions), promoted to Counties 3 Somerset South. Wells II (5th) and Yatton II (7th) moved on a level transfer to Counties 4 Somerset North.
Joining were Bridgwater & Albion III, Burnham-on-Sea II and Wiveliscombe II.
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Burnham II Martock Minehead II Morganians Tor II Wiveliscombe II Yeovil II Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 4 Somerset South teams
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Teams 2023–24
Departing were Burnham-on-Sea II, Cheddar Valley and Crewkerne, promoted to Counties 3 Somerset South. Wincanton (9th) were relegated.
Joining were Hornets IV, Morganians, Wells II, Wyvern and Yeovil II.
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Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 4 Somerset South teams
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Teams 2022–23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review.
Departing were Chard, Wiveliscombe II, Somerton, Wells II and Castle Cary (1st - 5th in that order) all promoted to Counties 3 Somerset South. Yeovil II (6th), Winscombe II (7th) and Wyvern (10th) did not return for the new season.
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Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 4 Somerset South teams
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Teams 2021–22
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Burnham II Castle Cary Cheddar Valley II Martock Minehead II Somerton Wells II Wiveliscombe II Wyvern Yeovil II Locations of the 2021–22 Somerset 2 South teams
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2020–21
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
Teams 2019–20
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Locations of the 2019-20 Somerset 2 South teams
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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:
- Avon
- Bath Old Edwardians[a]
- Blagdon
- Bristol Harlequins
- Chard
- Cheddar Valley
- Imperial
- St. Bernadette's Old Boys[b]
- Stothert & Pitt
- Wells
- Winscombe
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].
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| 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 (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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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
- Avonvale (2)[p]
- Castle Cary (2)
- Crewkerne (2)[q]
- Morganians (2)
- Wells (2)[r]
- Winscombe (2)[s]
- Avon (1)[t]
- Bath Old Edwardians (1)[u]
- Blagdon (1)[v]
- Bridgwater & Albion II (1)
- Bristol Barbarians (1)[w]
- Broadplain (1)[x]
- Chard II (1)
- Cheddar Valley (1)
- Imperial (1)[y]
- North Petherton (1)[z]
- Old Sulians (1)[aa]
- St. Bernadette's Old Boys (1)[ab]
- Stothert & Pitt[ac]
- Taunton II (1)[ad]
- Taunton III (1)
- Tor (1)[ae]
- Wellington II (1)
- Wells II (1)
- Weston-super-Mare II (1)
- Wiveliscombe (1)[af]
- Wyvern (1)
Notes
- Old Boys side for King Edward's School, Bath.
- Old Boys side for St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School.
- Somerset 3 would briefly split into two divisions - Somerset 3A and 3B - during the 1989–90 season before remerging into a single division.
- Restructuring of the leagues above Somerset 2 from 11 to 13 teams meant that five clubs were promoted including Yeovil, Westland and Gordano.
- Due to the restructuring of the Somerset leagues there was no relegation.
- 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.
- Widespread league restructuring meant that there was no relegation.
- The cancellation of Somerset 3 at the end of the 1999–00 season meant that there was no relegation.
- 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.
- Runners up Somerton were promoted to Somerset 1 instead of champions Bath Old Edwardians.
- 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.
- In the first season of Somerset 2 North, Bath Old Edwardians were the only 1st XV side - the rest being 2nd XV teams.
- 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.
- No relegation as league due to increase from 5 to 11 teams for the following season.
- No relegation as league due to increase from 11 to 13 teams for the following season.
- Both of Avonvale's titles were for Somerset 2.
- One of Crewkerne's titles was for Somerset 2.
- 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).
- Both of Winscombe's titles were for Somerset 2.
- Avon's title was for Somerset 2.
- Bath Old Edwardians title was for Somerset 2.
- Blagdon's title was for Somerset 2.
- Bristol Barbarians title was for Somerset 2.
- Broadplain's title was for Somerset 2.
- Imperial's title was for Somerset 2.
- North Petherton's title was for Somerset 2.
- Old Sulians title was for Somerset 2.
- St. Bernadette's Old Boys title was for Somerset 2.
- Stothert & Pitt's title was for Somerset 2.
- Tor's title was for Somerset 2.
- Wiveliscombe's title was for Somerset 2.