Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North
English rugby union league
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Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North (formerly Dorset & Wilts 1 North) is an English rugby union league, forming part of the South West Division, for clubs primarily based in Wiltshire, sitting at tier 8 of the English rugby union system. Originally consisting of one league, Dorset & Wilts 1 split into North and South regional divisions in 2004. Teams based in Berkshire participated until 2001, when they left to join the Buckinghamshire & Oxon leagues. At the start of the 2022–23 campaign a Central Division was introduced, before being disbanded ahead of the 2025–26 season.
Current season or competition: 2025-26 Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 (as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1) |
| Number of teams | 9 |
| Country |  England |
| Most titles | Bradford-on-Avon, Corsham (3 titles) |
| Website | englandrugby.com |
Promoted teams move up into Counties 1 Southern South while relegated teams tend to drop down into Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts North or Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts Central depending on location.
2026-27
Combe Down departed, promoted to Counties 1 Southern South, while Melksham II (11th) and Amesbury (12th) were relegated to Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts Central.
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  Bradford- on-Avon Calne Fairford Minety Pewsey Vale Supermarine Sutton Benger Swindon Swindon College OB Westbury Locations of the 2026-27 Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North teams
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2025–26
Ahead of the new season the Central division was disbanded with the teams reallocated to the North and South leagues. Trowbridge II were the last champions of the Central league, promoted to Counties 1 Southern South. Amesbury, Bradford-on-Avon and Westbury all moved on a level transfer to the North division while Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew and Yeovil level transferred to South. Frome II, Salisbury II and Avondale were relegated to Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts Central.
Departing from the North league were Alfred's Nomads (Marlborough 2nd XV) who defeated Oakmedians, champions of the South division 55–31 to be promoted to Counties 1 Southern South whilst Swindon College Old Boys (8th), Colerne (9th) and Devizes II (10th) were relegated to Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts North.
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Amesbury Bradford- on-Avon Calne Fairford Melksham II Minety Pewsey Vale Supermarine Sutton Benger Westbury Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North teams
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2024–25
North
Departing were Chippenham II promoted to Counties 1 Southern South whilst Supermarine (9th), were relegated to Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts North.
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Calne Colerne' Devizes II Fairford Minety Pewsey Vale Sutton Benger Swindon College OB Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North teams
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Central
Departing were Melksham, promoted to Southern Counties South, whilst Devizes II (7th) left on a level transfer to Counties 2 D&W North. Warminister (3rd) suffered a voluntary relegation to Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts Central.
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Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts Central teams
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2023–24
North
Departing were Devizes II (8th) who were level transferred to the Central division together with Swindon II (9th), relegated to Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts North.
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Calne Minety Pewsey Vale Supermarine Sutton Benger Swindon College OB Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North teams
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Central
Departing were Corsham, promoted to Southern Counties South, Bradford-on-Avon (9th) were relegated to Counties 3 Tribute Dorset & Wilts Central, whilst North Dorset II (5th) and Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew (6th) left on a level transfer to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts South.
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Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts Central teams
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2022–23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review which saw the introduction of a new Central division.
North
Departing were Frome II, Trowbridge II and Royal Wootton Bassett II all promoted to Counties 1 Southern South. Melksham (4th), Westbury (10th) and Warminster (7th) moved to the new Central division.
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Calne Devizes II Minety Pewsey Vale Sutton Benger Swindon II Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North teams
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Central
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Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts Central teams
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2021–22
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Calne Frome II Melksham Minety Sutton Benger Swindon II Trowbridge II Warminster Westbury Locations of the 2021-22 Dorset & Wilts 1 North 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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Avonvale Bradford-on-Avon Calne Frome II Melksham Minety Sutton Benger Trowbridge II Warminster Locations of the 2019-20 Dorset & Wilts 1 North teams
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2018–19
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Avonvale Calne Melksham Minety Pewsey Vale Supermarine Sutton Benger Trowbridge II Warminster Locations of the 2018-19 Dorset & Wilts 1 North teams
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2017–18
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Avonvale Bradford Melksham Minety Pewsey Vale Supermarine Swindon II Trowbridge II Warminster Locations of the 2017-18 Dorset & Wilts 1 North teams
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2016–17
Participating clubs
- Bradford-on-Avon (relegated from Southern Counties South)
- Chippenham II
- Corsham
- Devizes II
- Frome II
- Melksham
- Minety
- Pewsey Vale (promoted from Dorset & Wilts 2 North)
- Royal Wootton Bassett II
- Supermarine
- Swindon II
- Warminster
2015–16
The 2015–16 Dorset & Wilts 1 North consists of twelve teams—most of which are based in the northern part of Wiltshire but also two teams that are based just across the county border in Gloucestershire and Somerset. The season starts on 12 September 2015 and is due to end on 23 April 2016.
Participating teams and location
Eight of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014-15 champions, Marlborough were promoted to Southern Counties South while Calne, Cricklade and Pewsey Vale were all relegated to Dorset & Wilts 2 North.
| Team | Ground | Capacity | Town/Village | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chippenham II | Allington Fields | Chippenham, Wiltshire | 6th | |
| Colerne | Higgins Field | Colerne, Wiltshire | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 2 North (runners up) | |
| Combe Down | Holly's Corner | Combe Down, Bath, Somerset | 2nd | |
| Corsham | Lacock Road | Corsham, Wiltshire | Relegated from Southern Counties South (11th) | |
| Devizes II | The Sports Club | Devizes, Wiltshire | 4th | |
| Fairford | Coln House School Playing Fields | Fairford, Gloucestershire | 9th | |
| Melksham | The Conigre | 1,000 | Melksham, Wiltshire | 3rd |
| Minety | Minety Playing Fields | Minety, Wiltshire | 8th | |
| Royal Wootton Bassett II | Ballard's Ash Sports Ground | 5,000 | Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 2 North (champions) |
| Supermarine | Supermarine Sports and Social Club | South Marston, Swindon, Wiltshire | Relegated from Southern Counties South (12th) | |
| Swindon II | Greenbridge Road | Swindon, Wiltshire | 5th | |
| Trowbridge II | Doric Park | Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire | 7th | |
Participating clubs 2014–15
- Calne
- Chippenham II
- Combe Down
- Crickdale
- Devizes II
- Fairford
- Marlborough
- Melksham
- Minety
- Pewsey Vale
- Trowbridge II
- Swindon II
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1) contained the following teams from Berkshire, Dorset and Wiltshire:
- Aldermaston
- Dorchester
- Devizes
- Hungerford
- Marlborough
- Royal Wootton Bassett
- R.E.M.E. Arborfield
- Sherborne
- Swanage & Wareham
- Weymouth[a]
Dorset & Wilts 1 North honours
Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 (1987–1993)
Originally Dorset & Wilts 1 North and Dorset & Wilts 1 South were combined in a single division known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1, involving clubs based in Berkshire,[b] Dorset and Wiltshire. It was a tier 8 league with promotion to Southern Counties and relegation to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 10 | Swanage & Wareham | Devizes | Hungerford | [2] | |||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Bracknell | Dorchester | Marlborough | [3] | |||||||||
| 1989–90 | 11 | Sherborne | Corsham | R.E.M.E. Arborfield | [4] | |||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | Dorchester | Devizes | Lytchett Minster, Puddletown, Aldermaston | [5] | |||||||||
| 1991–92 | 11 | Bracknell | Chippenham | No relegation[c] | [6] | |||||||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | Royal Wootton Bassett | Swindon | Bournemouth University | [7] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 (1993–1996)
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Southern Counties and relegation to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 13 | Devizes | Swindon | Puddletown, Bradford-on-Avon, North Dorset | [8] | |||||||||
| 1994–95 | 13 | Swindon | Melksham | Swindon College | [9] | |||||||||
| 1995–96 | 13 | Blandford | Royal Wootton Bassett[d] | No relegation[e] | [10] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 (1996–2000)
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 reverted to being a tier 8 league. Further restructuring meant that promotion was now to Southern Counties South,[f] while relegation continued to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 10 | Weymouth | Westbury | Supermarine, Lytchett Minster | ||||||||||
| 1997–98 | 10 | Tadley | Redingensians | Marlborough, Aldermaston | ||||||||||
| 1998–99 | 10 | Ivel Barbarians | Swindon College Old Boys | Weymouth, East Dorset, Thatcham | [11] | |||||||||
| 1999–2000 | 10 | Swindon | Corsham | Calne, Blandford | [12] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Dorset & Wilts 1 (2000–2004)
At the end of the 1999–2000 season the division became known as Dorset & Wilts 1 following the departure of Berkshire clubs to join the Bucks & Oxon leagues. It remained a tier 8 league with promotion to Southern Counties South and relegation to either Dorset & Wilts 2 North or Dorset & Wilts 2 South (both formerly part of Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2).
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 8 | Frome | Oakmeadians | North Dorset | [13] | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 8 | Westbury | Calne | Bridport | [14] | |||||||||
| 2002–03 | 8 | Trowbridge | Swindon College Old Boys | No relegation[g] | [15] | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | 10 | Sherborne | Bradford-on-Avon | No relegation[h] | [16] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Dorset & Wilts 1 North (2004–2009)
Ahead of the 2004–05 season, local league restructuring saw Dorset & Wilts 1 split into two tier 8 regional divisions - Dorset & Wilts 1 North and Dorset & Wilts 1 South. Promotion continued to Southern Counties South, while relegation was now to Dorset & Wilts 2 North.
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| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | 10 | Corsham | Melksham | Marlborough, Hungerford | [17] | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 11 | Supermarine | Calne | Malmesbury, Pewsey Vale | [18] | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | 11 | Corsham | Calne | Colerne | [19] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 12 | Bradford-on-Avon | Minety | Trowbridge II | [20] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 12 | Devizes | Chippenham II | Fairford | [21] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Dorset & Wilts 1 North (2009–present)
Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Dorset & Wilts 1 North remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to Southern Counties South and relegation to Dorset & Wilts 2 North.
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| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 12 | Marlborough | Chippenham II | Corsham II, Swindon II | [22] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 12 | Melksham | Chippenham II | Cricklade, Royal Wootton Bassett II | [23] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 12 | Chippenham II[i] | Supermarine | Bath Saracens, Fairford, Sutton Benger | [24] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 12 | Chippenham II[j] | Pewsey Vale | Avonvale, Marlborough | [25] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 12 | Bradford-on-Avon | Minety | No relegation | [26] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 12 | Marlborough | Combe Down | Calne, Cricklade | [27] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 12 | Combe Down | Corsham | Colerne, Fairford | [28] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 12 | Corsham | Bradford-on-Avon | Devizes II, Frome II | [29] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 12 | Bradford-on-Avon | Combe Down | Swindon II | [30] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 12 | Combe Down | Avonvale | Supermarine, Pewsey Vale | [31] | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | 12 | Avonvale | Melksham | Bradford-on-Avon, Chippenham II | [32] | |||||||||
| 2020–21 | 12 | |||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Bradford-on-Avon (3)
- Corsham (3)
- Bracknell (2)[k]
- Chippenham II (2)
- Combe Down (2)
- Devizes (2)[l]
- Marlborough (2)
- Sherborne (2)[m]
- Swindon (2)[n]
- Avonvale (1)
- Blandford (1)[o]
- Dorchester (1)[p]
- Frome (1)[q]
- Ivel Barbarians (1)[r]
- Melksham (1)
- Royal Wootton Bassett (1)[s]
- Supermarine (1)
- Swanage & Wareham (1)[t]
- Tadley (1)[u]
- Trowbridge (1)[v]
- Westbury[w]
- Weymouth (1)[x]
See also
Notes
- Weymouth RFC would later be known as Weymouth & Portland RFC.
- Since 2000, Berkshire clubs have played in the Berks/Bucks & Oxon leagues.
- There was no relegation as league due to increase from 11 to 13 teams for the following season.
- The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that six clubs were promoted including Marlborough, Corsham, North Dorset and Redingensians.
- Restructuring caused by the cancellation of National League 5 South meant that there was no relegation.
- Southern Counties was split into Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South as part of RFU restructuring at the end of the 1995–96 season.
- No relegation due to league expansion from 8 teams to 10.
- No relegation due to league restructure the following season as the league would split into 2 regional leagues - Dorset & Wilts 1 North and Dorset & Wilts 1 South.
- Not promoted as Chippenham 1st team in the league above.
- Not promoted as Chippenham 1st team in the league above.
- Both of Bracknell's titles were won when league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1.
- One of Devizes titles was when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1.
- One of Sherborne's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1, the other when the league was known as Dorset & Wilts 1.
- Both of Swindon's titles was won when league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1.
- Blandford's title was won when league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1.
- Dorchester's title was won when league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1.
- Frome's title was won when league was known as Dorset & Wilts 1.
- Ivel Barbarians title was won when league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1. Ivel Barbarians are now known as Yeovil Rugby Club.
- Royal Wootton Bassett's title was won when league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1.
- Swanage & Wareham's title was won when league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1.
- Tadley's title was won when league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1.
- Trowbridge's title was won when league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1.
- Westbury's title was won when league was known as Dorset & Wilts 1.
- Weymouth's title was won when league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1.