Somerset 3 South (known as Tribute Somerset 3 South for sponsorship reasons) is an English rugby union league which sits at the eleven level of league rugby union in England alongside its counterpart Somerset 3 North. When the division was founded in 1987 it was a single league known as Somerset 3, but since 2006 it has been split into two regional divisions.

Somerset 3 South currently involves teams from the southern part of Somerset - although this means anywhere in the county outside Bristol. 1st, 2nd, 3rd and even 4th XV sides can participate in the division as long as they are not from the same club. The league champions, and occasionally runners up, are promoted to Somerset 2 South and there is no relegation as this is the lowest level of league rugby in Somerset.

Teams 2021-22

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Crewkerne II Henhayes Recreation Ground Crewkerne New entry Frome III Gypsy Lane Frome 4th Huish Tigers Richard Huish College Taunton, Somerset New entry Midsomer Norton III Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton 3rd Tor II Brian Harbinson Memorial Park Glastonbury, Somerset New entry Wincanton Wincanton Sports Ground Wincanton, Somerset New entry

2020–21 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.

Teams 2019–20

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Chard III The Park, Essex Close Chard 6th Cheddar Valley II Sharpham Road Cheddar 5th Frome III Gypsy Lane Frome N/A Martock The Recreation Ground Martock Relegated from Somerset 2 South (11th) Midsomer Norton III Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton 4th

Original teams When league rugby began in 1987 this league (known as Somerset 3) was a single division containing the following teams from Somerset and parts of Bristol:

Avonvale Backwell Bath Civil Service Castle Cary Chew Valley Morganians Old Ashtonians Tor Wincanton Westland

Somerset 3 honours Somerset 3 (1987–1989) The original Somerset 3 was a tier 10 league with promotion to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.

Somerset 3SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsRef 1987–88 10 Avonvale Westland No relegation 1988–89 12 Wiveliscombe Tor No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3A / 3B (1989–1990) For the 1989–90 season Somerset 3 split into two regional leagues - Somerset 3A and Somerset 3B - both at tier 10 of the league system. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.

Somerset 3SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsLeague nameRef 1989–90 7 Blagdon Backwell No relegation Somerset 3A 7 Wellington Chard No relegation Somerset 3B Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3 (1990–1993) After a single season Somerset 3 reverted to being a single division at tier 10 of the league system. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.

Somerset 3SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsRef 1990–91 12 Backwell Westland No relegation 1991–92 11 Chard Bath Civil Services No relegation 1992–93 7 Chew Valley Old Ashtonians No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3 (1993–1996) The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Somerset 3 dropped to become a tier 12 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.

Somerset 3SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsRef 1993–94 9 St. Brendan's Old Boys Cheddar Valley No relegation 1994–95 9 Avonvale Bath Saracens No relegation 1995–96 9 St. Brendan's Old Boys Cheddar Valley No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3 (1996–2000) The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Somerset 3 reverted to being a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation. Somerset 3 was cancelled at the end of the 1999–2000 season and all teams transferred into Somerset 2.

Somerset 3SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsRef 1996–97 6 British Gas Burnham-on-Sea No relegation 1997–98 5 Bath Old Edwardians Bath Saracens No relegation 1998–99 5 Castle Cary Crewkerne No relegation 1999–2000 5 Martock Bath Old Edwardians No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3 South After an absence of six years, Somerset 3 returned - now split into two regional tier 10 divisions - Somerset 3 North and Somerset 3 South. This restructuring was to enable 2nd XV and 3rd XV sides to play in the Somerset leagues for the first time. Promotion was now to Somerset 2 South and there was no relegation. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.

Somerset 3 SouthSeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsRef 2006–07 12 Bridgwater & Albion III Wells II No relegation 2007–08 13 Taunton III Wiveliscombe II No relegation 2008–09 13 Weston-super-Mare III Castle Cary No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3 South (2009–present) Somerset 3 SouthSeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsRef 2009–10 13 Chew Valley II Morganians No relegation 2010–11 12 Hornets III Bridgwater & Albion III No relegation 2011–12 8 Burnham-on-Sea II Wyvern No relegation 2012–13 9 Hornets III Wells III No relegation 2013–14 10 Wellington III Martock No relegation 2014–15 10 Frome III Martock No relegation 2015–16 11 Yeovil II Wells III No relegation 2016–17 10 Weston-super-Mare IV Wincanton No relegation 2017–18 11 Taunton III Wyvern II No relegation 2018–19 8 Tor II Wyvern No relegation 2019–20 5 Cheddar Valley II Martock No relegation 2020–21 Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

Avonvale (2) Hornets III (2) St. Brendan's Old Boys(2) Taunton III (2) Backwell (1) Bath Old Edwardians (1) Blagdon (1) Bridgwater & Albion III (1) British Gas (1) Burnham-on-Sea II (1) Castle Cary (1) Chard (1) Cheddar Valley II (1) Chew Valley (1) Chew Valley II (1) Frome III (1) Martock (1) Tor II (1) Wellington (1) Wellington III (1) Weston-super-Mare III (1) Weston-super-Mare IV (1) Wiveliscombe (1) Yeovil II (1)

See also South West Division RFU Somerset RFU Somerset Premier Somerset 1 Somerset 2 North Somerset 2 South Somerset 3 North English rugby union system Rugby union in England

Notes

References