Gloucester Premier is an English rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England with teams largely being based in the county of Gloucestershire and Bristol. Originally a single division called Gloucestershire/Somerset, in 2000 the division split into two county leagues called Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier.
Current season or competition: 2019–20 Gloucester Premier | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 (as Gloucestershire/Somerset) |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Country | England |
| Holders | Chosen Hill Former Pupils (2nd title) (2019–20) (promoted to Western Counties North) |
| Most titles | Drybrook, Spartans (3 titles) |
| Website | englandrugby.com |
The league champions are automatically promoted to Western Counties North while the runner-up play the runner-up from Somerset Premier for the third promotion place. Relegated teams drop down into Gloucester 1. Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a level 8 national competition.
Teams 2021–22
St Mary's Old Boys and Berry Hill who finished 9th and 10th respectively in 2019-20 but will play in Gloucester 1 in the current season. Their places were taken by Clifton II and Dings Crusaders II.
2020–21
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
Teams 2019–20
Teams 2018–19
Hucclecote
Teams 2017–18
Teams 2016–17
| Team | Ground | Town/Village | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barton Hill | Duncombe Road | Speedwell, Bristol | relegated from Western Counties North |
| Berry Hill | Lakers Road | Coleford, Gloucestershire | 3rd |
| Cheltenham North | Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire | level transfer from Midlands 3 West (South) (8th) | |
| Cheltenham Saracens | King George V Playing Field | Cheltenham, Gloucestershire | 4th |
| Chipping Sodbury | Wickwar Road | Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire | 5th |
| Frampton Cotterell | The Park | Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire | 8th |
| Gordon League | Hempsted Lane | Gloucester, Gloucestershire | promoted from Gloucester 1 (2nd) |
| Hucclecote | Charlies Way | Hucclecote, Gloucestershire | 9th |
| Longlevens | Longford Lane | Longlevens, Gloucestershire | 10th |
| North Bristol | Oaklands | Almondsbury, Bristol | 6th |
| Old Richians | Sandyleaze | Gloucester, Gloucestershire | promoted from Gloucester 1 (1st) |
| St Mary's Old Boys | Trench Lane | Almondsbury, Bristol | 7th |
Teams 2015–16
The 2015–16 Gloucester Premier consisted of twelve teams from Gloucestershire and Bristol. The season started on 5 September 2015 and the last match was played on 23 April 2016. Eight of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition.
| Team | Ground | Town/Village | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berry Hill | Lakers Road | Coleford, Gloucestershire | 5th |
| Bream | High Street | Bream, Lydney, Gloucestershire | 9th |
| Bristol Saracens | Bakewell Memorial Ground | Patchway, Bristol | relegated from Western Counties North (12th) |
| Cheltenham Saracens | King George V Playing Field | Cheltenham, Gloucestershire | 3rd |
| Chipping Sodbury | Wickwar Road | Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire | promoted from Gloucester 1 (runner-up) |
| Cirencester | The Whiteway | Cirencester, Gloucestershire | 6th |
| Frampton Cotterell | The Park | Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire | 8th |
| Hucclecote | Charlies Way | Hucclecote, Gloucestershire | 7th |
| Longlevens | Longford Lane | Longlevens, Gloucestershire | promoted from Gloucester 1 (champions) |
| North Bristol | Oaklands | Almondsbury, Bristol | relegated from Western Counties North (13th) |
| St Mary's Old Boys | Trench Lane | Almondsbury, Bristol | 4th |
| Tewkesbury | The Moats | Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire | 10th |
League table
| |||||||||||||||
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Loss bonus | Points | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol Saracens (P) | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 1041 | 210 | 931 | 19 | 0 | 107 | ||||
| 2 | Cirencester (P) | 22 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 669 | 304 | 365 | 14 | 2 | 84 | ||||
| 3 | Berry Hill | 22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 524 | 331 | 193 | 10 | 4 | 76 | ||||
| 4 | Cheltenham Saracens | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 586 | 373 | 213 | 11 | 5 | 72 | ||||
| 5 | Chipping Sodbury | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 559 | 369 | 190 | 11 | 2 | 69 | ||||
| 6 | North Bristol | 22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 499 | 388 | 111 | 9 | 4 | 63 | ||||
| 7 | St Mary's Old Boys | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 493 | 548 | −55 | 8 | 3 | 51 | ||||
| 8 | Frampton Cotterell | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 388 | 660 | −272 | 8 | 1 | 41 | ||||
| 9 | Hucclecote | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 416 | 479 | −63 | 6 | 2 | 40 | ||||
| 10 | Longlevens | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 352 | 566 | −214 | 4 | 5 | 37 | ||||
| 11 | Tewkesbury | 22 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 295 | 801 | −506 | 1 | 0 | 17 | ||||
| 12 | Bream | 22 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 168 | 961 | −793 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places. Updated: 27 August 2016 | |||||||||||||||
Teams 2014–15
Stroud are champions and along with the runner-up Whitehall (play-off winner) were promoted to Western Counties North. Painswick and Gordon League were relegated to Gloucester 1.
- Berry Hill (relegated from Western Counties North)
- Bream (promoted from Gloucester 1)
- Cheltenham Saracens (promoted from Gloucester 1)
- Cirencester (relegated from Western Counties North)
- Frampton Cotterell
- Gordon League
- Hucclecote
- Painswick
- St. Mary's Old Boys
- Stroud
- Tewkesbury
- Whitehall
Teams 2013–14
- Bristol Saracens
- Dursley
- Frampton Cotterill
- Gordon League
- Hucclecote (promoted from Gloucester 1)
- Newent (promoted from Gloucester 1)
- Painswick
- Southmead
- Stroud
- St Mary's Old Boys
- Tewkesbury
- Whitehall
Teams 2012–13
- Bristol Saracens
- Drybrook
- Dursley
- Frampton Cotterell
- Gordon League
- Painswick
- Southmead
- Stroud
- St Mary's Old Boys (SW)
- Tewkesbury
- Whitehall
- Widden Old Boys
Teams 2011–12
- Bishopston
- Bristol Saracens
- Drybrook
- Frampton Cotterell
- Longlevens
- Old Bristolians
- Old Colstonians
- Old Richians
- Southmead
- St. Mary's Old Boys
- Tewkesbury
- Widden Old Boys
Teams 2010–11
- Bristol Saracens
- Brockworth
- Frampton Cotterell
- Gloucester Old Boys
- Old Bristolians
- Old Colstonians
- Old Richians
- Ross-on-Wye RFC
- Southmead
- Tewkesbury
- Whitehall RFC
- Widden Old Boys
Teams 2009–10
- Bristol Saracens
- Cirencester
- Frampton Cotterell
- Gloucester Old Boys
- Hucclecote
- Matson
- Old Colstonians
- Old Richians
- Ross-on-Wye RFC
- Spartans
- Tewkesbury
- Whitehall
Teams 2008–09
- Bristol Saraces
- Cirencester
- Drybrook
- Frampton Cotterell
- Gloucester Old Boys
- Hucclecote
- Matson
- Old Bristolians
- Old Colstonians
- Old Richians
- Spartans
- Whitehall
Teams 2007–08
- Aretians
- Cirencester
- Drybrook
- Frampton Cotterell
- Gloucester Old Boys
- Hartpury College
- Hucclecote
- Matson
- North Bristol
- Old Colstonians
- Old Richians
- Whitehall
Teams 2006–07
- Aretians
- Avonmouth Old Boys
- Cirencester
- Drybrook
- Frampton Cotterell
- Longlevens
- Matson
- Old Colstonians
- Old Richians
- Painswick
- Widden Old Boys
- Whitehall
Teams 2005–06
- Aretians
- Barton Hill
- Chosen Hill Former Pupils
- Drybrook
- Longlevens
- Matson
- Old Colstonians
- Old Richians
- Painswick
- Widden Old Boys
Teams 2004–05
- Aretians
- Avonmouth Old Boys
- Barton Hill
- Chosen Hill Former Pupils
- Longlevens
- North Bristol
- Old Richians
- Painswick
- Southmead
- Tewkesbury
Teams 2003–04
- Aretians
- Avonmouth Old Boys
- Cheltenham North
- Chipping Sodbury
- Cirencester
- Chosen Hill Former Pupils
- Longlevens
- North Bristol
- Old Bristolians
- Painswick
Teams 2002–03
- Aretians
- Avonmouth Old Boys
- Barton Hill
- Cirencester
- Chosen Hill Former Pupils
- Drybrook
- Hucclecote
- Longlevens
- North Bristol
- Painswick
Teams 2001–02
- Avonmouth Old Boys
- Barton Hill
- Bristol Saracens
- Cirencester
- Chipping Sodbury
- Chosen Hill Former Pupils
- Drybrook
- Hucclecote
- Longlevens
- Spartans
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Gloucestershire/Somerset) contained the following teams from Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset:
- Avonmouth Old Boys
- Cleve
- Combe Down
- Coney Hill
- Gordano
- Keynsham
- Midsomer Norton
- Minehead Barbarians
- St. Brendan's Old Boys
- Tredworth
- Whitehall
Gloucester Premier honours
Gloucestershire/Somerset (1987–1993)
Originally Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier were combined in a single division known as Gloucestershire/Somerset, involving teams based in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Bristol. It was tier 8 league with promotion to Western Counties[a] and relegation to either Gloucestershire 1[b] or Somerset 1.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 11 | Avonmouth Old Boys | Combe Down | St Brendan's Old Boys, Tredworth | [2] | |||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Old Culverhaysians | Combe Down | Minehead Barbarians | [3] | |||||||||
| 1989–90 | 10[c] | Combe Down | Midsomer Norton | Old Redcliffians | [4] | |||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | Spartans | Whitehall | Midsomer Norton | [5] | |||||||||
| 1991–92 | 11 | Gloucester Old Boys | Drybrook[d] | Cleve | [6] | |||||||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | Old Patesians | Keynsham | Old Sulians | [7] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Gloucestershire/Somerset (1993–1996)
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Gloucestershire/Somerset dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Western Counties and relegation to either Gloucester 1 or Somerset 1.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 13 | Dings Crusaders | St. Mary's Old Boys | Coney Hill, Frome | [8] | |||||||||
| 1994–95 | 13 | Keynsham | Whitehall | Midsomer Norton, Wiveliscombe | [9] | |||||||||
| 1995–96 | 13 | St. Mary's Old Boys | Cleve[e] | No relegation | [10] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Gloucestershire/Somerset (1996–2000)
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Gloucestershire/Somerset reverted to being a tier 8 league. Further restructuring meant that promotion was now to Western Counties North[f], while relegation continued to either Gloucester 1 or Somerset 1.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 16 | Coney Hill | Old Richians | Old Cryptians | ||||||||||
| 1997–98 | 17 | St. Bernadette's Old Boys | Wiveliscombe | Bristol Saracens | ||||||||||
| 1998–99 | 17 | Barton Hill | Chew Valley | Old Sulians | ||||||||||
| 1999–00 | 17 | Old Centralians[g] | Yatton[h] | Chard, Frampton Cotterell | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Gloucester Premier (2000–2009)
Gloucestershire/Somerset was reorganised into two county leagues at the end of the 1999–00 season, Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier, with both leagues remaining at level 8. Promotion from Gloucester Premier was to Western Counties North and relegation to Gloucester 1. Between 2007–2009 Gloucester Premier was sponsored by High Bridge Jewellers.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 10 | Thornbury | Old Centralians | Brockworth, Bream, Aretians | [11] | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 10 | Spartans | Drybrook | Chipping Sodbury, Bristol Saracens | [12] | |||||||||
| 2002-03 | 10 | Drybrook | Barton Hill | Hucclecote | [13] | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | 10 | Cheltenham North | Chosen Hill Former Pupils | Cirencester, Old Bristolians, Chipping Sodbury | [14] | |||||||||
| 2004–05 | 10 | North Bristol | Avonmouth Old Boys | Southmead, Tewkesbury | [15] | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 10 | Chosen Hill Former Pupils | Barton Hill | No relegation[i] | [16] | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | 12 | Avonmouth Old Boys | Widden Old Boys | Longlevens, Painswick | [17] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 12 | Hartpury College | North Bristol | Aretians | [18] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 12 | Drybrook | Southmead | No relegation | [19] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Gloucester Premier (2009–present)
Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Gloucester Premier remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to Western Counties North and relegation to Gloucester 1. From the 2017–18 season onward Gloucester Premier has been sponsored by Wadworth 6x.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 12 | Matson | Cirencester | Hucclecote, Spartans | [20] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 12 | Whitehall | Old Richians | Gloucester Old Boys, Brockworth, Ross-on-Wye | [21] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 12 | Old Bristolians | Drybrook | Longlevens, Bishopston, Old Colstonians | [22] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 12 | Drybrook | Frampton Cotterell | Widden Old Boys | [23] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 12 | Newent | Bristol Saracens | Southmead, Dursley | [24] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 12 | Stroud | Whitehall | Painswick, Gordon League | [25] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 12 | Bristol Saracens | Cirencester | Bream, Tewkesbury | [26] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 12 | Old Richians | St Mary's Old Boys | North Bristol, Berry Hill, Cheltenham North | [27] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 12 | Chipping Sodbury | Barton Hill | Cirencester | [28] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 12 | Spartans | Bristol Saracens | Gloucester Old Boys, Gordon League | [29] | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | 12 | Chosen Hill Former Pupils | Cheltenham North | Widden Old Boys, Whitehall | [30] | |||||||||
| 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 the Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier for the third and final promotion place to Western Counties North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Gloucester Premier teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Somerset Premier teams six; and the home team has won promotion on twelve occasions compared to the away teams seven.
| ||||||||
| Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01[31] | Gordano (S) | 19-21 | Old Centralians (G) | Caswell Lane, Portbury, Somerset | ||||
| 2001–02[32] | Yatton (S) | 32-0 | Drybrook (G) | The Park, Yatton, Somerset | ||||
| 2002–03[33] | Barton Hill (G) | 36-0 | Midsomer Norton (S) | Duncombe Lane, Speedwell, Bristol | ||||
| 2003–04[34] | Nailsea & Backwell (S)[j] | Chosen Hill Former Pupils (G) | West End Park, Nailsea, Somerset | |||||
| 2004–05[35] | Tor (S) | 25-26 | Avonmouth Old Boys (G) | Brian Harbinson Memorial Park, Glastonbury, Somerset | ||||
| 2005–06[36] | Barton Hill (G) | 20-0 | Tor (S) | Duncombe Lane, Speedwell, Bristol | ||||
| 2006–07[37] | Midsomer Norton (S) | 10-31 | Widden Old Boys (G) | Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset | ||||
| 2007–08[38] | North Bristol (G) | 29-17 | Chew Valley (S) | Oaklands, Almondsbury, Gloucestershire | ||||
| 2008–09[39] | Southmead (G) | 20-14 | North Petherton (S) | Greenway Centre, Southmead, Bristol | ||||
| 2009–10[40] | Cirencester (G) | 35-17 | Chard (S) | The Whiteway, Cirencester, Gloucestershire | ||||
| 2010–11[41] | Chard (S) | 32-12 | Old Richians (G) | Essex Close, Chard, Somerset | ||||
| 2011–12[42] | Wells (S) | 18-10 | Drybrook (G) | Charter Way, Wells, Somerset | ||||
| 2012–13[43] | Midsomer Norton (S) | 28-12 | Frampton Cotterell (G) | Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset | ||||
| 2013–14[44] | Bristol Saracens (G) | 19-8 | Tor (S) | Bakewell Memorial Ground, Henbury, Bristol | ||||
| 2014–15[45] | Winscombe (S) | 13-21 | Whitehall (G) | Winscombe Recreation Ground, Winscombe, Somerset | ||||
| 2015–16[46] | Winscombe (S) | 21-22 | Cirencester (G) | Winscombe Recreation Ground, Winscombe, Somerset | ||||
| 2016–17[47] | Oldfield Old Boys (S) | 9-6 | St Mary's Old Boys (G) | Shaft Road, Monkton Combe, Somerset | 1,000 | |||
| 2017–18[48] | Wiveliscombe (S) | 12-15 | Barton Hill (G) | Recreational Ground, Wiveliscombe, Somerset | ||||
| 2018–19[49] | Burnham-on-Sea (S) | 24-25 | Bristol Saracens (G) | BASC Ground, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset | ||||
| 2019–20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Cheltenham North (G) - promoted instead. | |||||||
| 2020–21 | ||||||||
| Green background is the promoted team. G = Gloucester Premier and S = Somerset Premier | ||||||||
Number of league titles
- Drybrook (3)
- Spartans (3)[k]
- Avonmouth Old Boys (2)[l]
- Chosen Hill Former Pupils (2)
- Barton Hill (1)[m]
- Bristol Saracens (1)
- Cheltenham North (1)
- Chipping Sodbury (1)
- Combe Down (1)[n]
- Coney Hill (1)[o]
- Dings Crusaders (1)[p]
- Gloucester Old Boys (1)[q]
- Hartpury College (1)
- Keynsham (1)[r]
- Matson (1)
- Newent (1)
- North Bristol (1)
- Old Bristolians (1)
- Old Centralians (1)[s]
- Old Culverhaysians (1)[t]
- Old Patesians (1)[u]
- Old Richians (1)
- St. Bernadette's Old Boys (1)[v]
- St. Mary's Old Boys (1)[w]
- Stroud (1)
- Thornbury (1)
- Whitehall (1)