Somerset Premier (known as Tribute Somerset Premier for sponsorship reasons) is an English rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England involving teams based in the county of Somerset as well as some teams based in 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 Somerset Premier | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 (as Gloucestershire/Somerset) |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Country | England |
| Holders | Burnham-on-Sea (2nd title) (2019–20 promoted to Western Counties North) |
| Most titles | Gordano (3 titles) |
| Website | englandrugby.com |
The league champions of Somerset Premier are automatically promoted to Western Counties North while the runners up play the runners up of Gloucester Premier for their place. Relegated teams drop into Somerset 1. Only 1st XV sides can be promoted into Western Counties North, although any side can fall to Somerset 1. Each season a 1st XV side from Somerset Premier is picked to take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a national competition for clubs at level 8.
Teams 2021-22
2020–21
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
Teams 2019–20
Teams 2018–19
Teams 2017–18
2016-17
Participating teams
- Bridgwater & Albion II
- Bristol Harlequins (relegated from Western Counties North)
- Crewkerne (promoted from Somerset 1)
- Gordano
- Keynsham II
- Hornets II
- Nailsea & Backwell
- Oldfield Old Boys
- Old Redcliffians II
- St Bernadettes Old Boys
- Stothert & Pitt RFC
- Tor
- Weston-super-Mare II
- Winscombe
- Wiveliscombe
1st XV teams participating in Somerset Regional Leagues
Somerset 1
- Bristol Barbarians
- Castle Cary
- Imperial
- Minehead Barbarians (relegated from Somerset Premier)
- Old Sulians
- Wyvern
Somerset 2 North
- Bath Old Edwardians (promoted from Somerset 3 North)
- Cheddar Valley (transferred from Somerset 2 South)
- Old Culverhaysians
Somerset 2 South
- Martock
- Morganians
- Somerton
Somerset 3 North
- Avon II
- Barton Hill II
- Bristol Telephone Area
- Imperial II
- Keynsham IV
- Nailsea & Backwell II
- Old Bristolians III
- Oldfield Old Boys III
Somerset 3 South
- Wincanton
2015–16
The 2015–16 Somerset Premier consists of fourteen teams from Somerset and south-west Bristol. The season began on the 5 September 2015 and ended on the 30 April 2016.
Participating teams and location
Eleven of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Gordano were promoted to Western Counties North while Bristol Imperial and Clevedon II were relegated to Somerset 1.
| Team | Ground | Capacity | Town/Village | Previous season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chew Valley II | Chew Lane | Chew Magna, Somerset | Promoted from Somerset 1 (runners up) | |
| Hornets II | Hutton Moor Park | Weston-super-Mare, Somerset | Promoted from Somerset 1 (champions) | |
| Minehead Barbarians | The Tom Stewart Field | Minehead, Somerset | 8th | |
| Nailsea & Backwell | West End Park | Nailsea, Somerset | 9th | |
| Oldfield Old Boys | Shaft Road | Bath, Somerset | 10th | |
| Old Redcliffians II | Scotland Lane | Brislington, Bristol | 6th | |
| St Bernadettes Old Boys | Whitchurch Sports Ground | Whitchurch, Bristol | 12th | |
| Stothert & Pitt | Adams Field | Bath, Somerset | Relegated from Western Counties North (14th) | |
| Taunton II | Hyde Park | 2,000 | Taunton, Somerset | 11th |
| Tor | Brian Harbinson Memorial Park | Glastonbury, Somerset | 4th | |
| Weston-super-Mare II | Recreation Ground | 2,000 | Weston-super-Mare, Somerset | 3rd |
| Winscombe | Winscombe Recreation Ground | 1,200 | Winscombe, Somerset | 2nd (lost promotion playoff) |
| Wiveliscombe | Recreational Ground | Wiveliscombe, Somerset | 7th | |
| Yatton | Off North End | Yatton, Somerset | 5th |
1st XV teams participating in Somerset Regional Leagues
Somerset 1
- Bristol Barbarians
- Castle Cray
- Crewkerne
- Imperial
- Old Sulians
- Wyvern
Somerset 2 North
- Old Culverhaysians
Somerset 2 South
- Cheddar Valley
- Martock
- Morganians
- Somerton
Somerset 3 North
- Bath Old Edwardians
Participating Clubs 2014/15
- Clevedon II (promoted from Somerset 1)
- Gordano
- Imperial
- Minehead Barbarians
- Oldfield Old Boys (relegated from Western Counties North)
- Old Redcliffians II
- Nailsea & Backwell
- St Bernadettes Old Boys
- Taunton II
- Tor
- Weston-super-Mare II
- Winscombe
- Wiveliscombe
- Yatton
Participating Clubs 2013/14
- Bristol Barbarians
- Gordano
- Keynsham II
- Minehead Barbarians
- Nailsea & Backwell
- Old Redcliffians II
- St Bernadettes Old Boys (promoted from Somerset 1)
- Stothert & Pitt
- Taunton II
- Tor
- Weston-super-Mare II
- Winscombe
- Wiveliscombe
- Yatton (relegated from Western Counties North)
Participating Clubs 2012/13
- Chew Valley
- Gordano
- Imperial
- Keynsham
- Midsomer Norton
- Minehead Barbarians
- Nailsea & Backwell
- Old Redcliffians II
- Stothert & Pitt
- Taunton II
- Tor
- Weston-super-Mare II
- Winscombe
- Wiveliscombe
Participating teams 2010/11
- Avon
- Chard
- Chew Valley
- Gordano
- Imperial
- Midsomer Norton
- Minehead Barbarians
- St Bernadettes
- Stothert & Pitt
- Taunton II
- Tor
- Wells
- Weston Hornets
- Winscombe
Standings 2009/10
- 1Bristol Harlequins 40
- 2Chard 34
- 3Taunton II 33
- 4 Avon 33
- 5Wells 32
- 6Stothert & Pitt 18
- 7Tor 18
- 8Midsomer Norton 18
- 9Chew Valley 16
- 10 St Bernadettes 9
- 11 Winscombe 8
- 12 Old Sulians 3
Standings 2008/09
Standings 2007/08
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Gloucestershire/Somerset) contained the following teams:
- Avonmouth Old Boys
- Cleve
- Combe Down
- Coney Hill
- Gordano
- Keynsham
- Midsomer Norton
- Minehead Barbarians
- St. Brendan's Old Boys
- Tredworth
- Whitehall
Somerset 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[b] and relegation to either Gloucestershire 1[c] 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 | [1] | |||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Old Culverhaysians | Combe Down | Minehead Barbarians | [2] | |||||||||
| 1989–90 | 10[d] | Combe Down | Midsomer Norton | Old Redcliffians | [3] | |||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | Spartans | Whitehall | Midsomer Norton | [4] | |||||||||
| 1991–92 | 11 | Gloucester Old Boys | Drybrook[e] | Cleve | [5] | |||||||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | Old Patesians | Keynsham | Old Sulians | [6] | |||||||||
| 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 | [7] | |||||||||
| 1994–95 | 13 | Keynsham | Whitehall | Midsomer Norton, Wiveliscombe | [8] | |||||||||
| 1995–96 | 13 | St. Mary's Old Boys | Cleve[f] | No relegation | [9] | |||||||||
| 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[g], 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[h] | Yatton[i] | Chard, Frampton Cotterell | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Somerset 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 Somerset Premier was to Western Counties North and relegation to Somerset 1. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 12 | Walcot | Gordano | Combe Down | [10] | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 12 | Bristol Harlequins | Yatton | Wells | [11] | |||||||||
| 2002–03 | 12 | Gordano | Midsomer Norton | Old Culverhaysians, Minehead Barbarians | [12] | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | 12 | Oldfield Old Boys | Nailsea & Backwell | North Petherton | [13] | |||||||||
| 2004–05 | 12 | Old Redcliffians | Tor | Wiveliscombe, Gordano | [14] | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 12 | Minehead Barbarians | Tor | Old Culverhaysians, Winscombe | [15] | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | 12 | Old Redcliffians | Midsomer Norton | Combe Down, Nailsea & Backwell | [16] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 12 | Keynsham | Chew Valley | St Bernadettes Old Boys, Gordano | [17] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 12 | Burnham-on-Sea | North Petherton | Old Sulians, Avon, Wells | [18] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Somerset Premier (2009–present)
Despite widespread restructing by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Somerset Premier remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to Western Counties North and relegation to Somerset 1. The league would continued to be sponsored by Tribute.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | Ref | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 12 | Bristol Harlequins | Chard | Old Sulians | [19] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 14 | Hornets | Chard | St Bernadettes Old Boys | [20] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 13 | Avon | Wells | No relegation | [21] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 14 | Chew Valley | Midsomer Norton | Imperial | [22] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 14 | Stothert & Pitt | Tor | Bristol Barbarians, Keynsham II | [23] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 14 | Gordano | Winscombe | Imperial, Clevedon II | [24] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 14 | Yatton | Winscombe | Minehead Barbarians, Chew Valley II | [25] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 14 | Winscombe | Oldfield Old Boys | Bristol Harlequins, Crewkerne | [26] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 13 | Gordano | Wiveliscombe | Bridgwater & Albion II, Tor, Stothert & Pitt | [27] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 13 | Wiveliscombe | Burnham-on-Sea | Bristol Harlequins | [28] | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | 14 | Burnham-on-Sea | Nailsea & Backwell | Old Redcliffians II | [29] | |||||||||
| 2020–21 | 14 | |||||||||||||
| 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[30] | Gordano (S) | 19-21 | Old Centralians (G) | Caswell Lane, Portbury, Somerset | ||||
| 2001–02[31] | Yatton (S) | 32-0 | Drybrook (G) | The Park, Yatton, Somerset | ||||
| 2002–03[32] | Barton Hill (G) | 36-0 | Midsomer Norton (S) | Duncombe Lane, Speedwell, Bristol | ||||
| 2003–04[33] | Nailsea & Backwell (S)[j] | Chosen Hill Former Pupils (G) | West End Park, Nailsea, Somerset | |||||
| 2004–05[34] | Tor (S) | 25-26 | Avonmouth Old Boys (G) | Brian Harbinson Memorial Park, Glastonbury, Somerset | ||||
| 2005–06[35] | Barton Hill (G) | 20-0 | Tor (S) | Duncombe Lane, Speedwell, Bristol | ||||
| 2006–07[36] | Midsomer Norton (S) | 10-31 | Widden Old Boys (G) | Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset | ||||
| 2007–08[37] | North Bristol (G) | 29-17 | Chew Valley (S) | Oaklands, Almondsbury, Gloucestershire | ||||
| 2008–09[38] | Southmead (G) | 20-14 | North Petherton (S) | Greenway Centre, Southmead, Bristol | ||||
| 2009–10[39] | Cirencester (G) | 35-17 | Chard (S) | The Whiteway, Cirencester, Gloucestershire | ||||
| 2010–11[40] | Chard (S) | 32-12 | Old Richians (G) | Essex Close, Chard, Somerset | ||||
| 2011–12[41] | Wells (S) | 18-10 | Drybrook (G) | Charter Way, Wells, Somerset | ||||
| 2012–13[42] | Midsomer Norton (S) | 28-12 | Frampton Cotterell (G) | Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset | ||||
| 2013–14[43] | Bristol Saracens (G) | 19-8 | Tor (S) | Bakewell Memorial Ground, Henbury, Bristol | ||||
| 2014–15[44] | Winscombe (S) | 13-21 | Whitehall (G) | Winscombe Recreation Ground, Winscombe, Somerset | ||||
| 2015–16[45] | Winscombe (S) | 21-22 | Cirencester (G) | Winscombe Recreation Ground, Winscombe, Somerset | ||||
| 2016–17[46] | Oldfield Old Boys (S) | 9-6 | St Mary's Old Boys (G) | Shaft Road, Monkton Combe, Somerset | 1,000 | |||
| 2017–18[47] | Wiveliscombe (S) | 12-15 | Barton Hill (G) | Recreational Ground, Wiveliscombe, Somerset | ||||
| 2018–19[48] | 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
- Gordano (3)
- Bristol Harlequins (2)
- Burnham-on-Sea (2)
- Keynsham (2)[k]
- Old Redcliffians (2)
- Avon (1)
- Avonmouth Old Boys (1)[l]
- Barton Hill (1)[m]
- Chew Valley (1)
- Combe Down (1)[n]
- Coney Hill (1)[o]
- Dings Crusaders (1)[p]
- Gloucester Old Boys (1)[q]
- Hornets (1)
- Minehead Barbarians (1)
- Old Centralians (1)[r]
- Old Culverhaysians (1)[s]
- Old Patesians (1)[t]
- Oldfield Old Boys (1)
- Spartans (1)[u]
- St. Bernadette's Old Boys (1)[v]
- St. Mary's Old Boys (1)[w]
- Stothert & Pitt (1)
- Walcot (1)
- Winscombe (1)
- Wiveliscombe (1)
- Yatton (1)
Notes
See also
References
- RFU(2008) "Rugby First" Available at: http://clubs.rfu.com/Fixtures/ Accessed:8 August 2009