Regional 1 South West (formerly South West Premier and National League 3 South West) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 it was known as South West Division 1. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following reorganisation by the Rugby Football Union, and the name change from National League 3 to South West Premier was introduced for the 2017–18 season by the RFU in order to lessen confusion for what is a series of regional leagues. Regional 1 South West, is the highest regional rugby union league covering South West England. The club finishing in first place is promoted to National League 2 West. Relegated teams drop down to either Regional 2 South West or Regional 2 Severn, depending on their location.
Devonport Services are the 2025-26 champions and will be promoted to National League 2 West.
Format The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals, home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows: 4 points are awarded for a win 2 points are awarded for a draw 0 points are awarded for a loss, however 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match
2026–27
Departing were Devonport Services, promoted to National League 2 West while Marlborough (11th) and Matson (12th) were relegated to Regional 2 Severn.
Participating teams and locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Brixham Astley Park 1,800 (300 stand) Brixham, Devon 3rd Chew Valley Lobbingtons Chew Magna, Somerset 10th Exmouth Imperial Recreation Ground 1,250 (250 stand) Exmouth, Devon 4th Launceston Polson Bridge 3,000 (194 seats) Launceston, Cornwall 8th Lydney Regentsholme 3,000 (340 seats) Lydney, Gloucestershire 7th Newent Recreation Ground Newent, Gloucestershire Level transfer from Regional 1 Midlands (4th) Royal Wootton Bassett Ballards Ash Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire 6th Sidmouth Blackmore Field Sidmouth, Devon 9th St Austell Tregorrick Park 4,000 (300 seats) St Austell, Cornwall 5th Topsham Bonfire Field Topsham, Exeter Runners-up Trowbridge Doric Park Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire Promoted from Regional 2 Severn (Champions) Weston-super-Mare Recreation Ground 6,000 Weston-super-Mare, Somerset Promoted from Regional 2 South West (Champions)
2025–26 Ten of last years teams participated in this season's competition, with the league made up of five teams from Devon, two each from Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, and one from Somerset. Departing were Barnstaple, promoted to National League 2 West with Devonport Services (12th) replacing them. Ivybridge (12th) were relegated to Regional 2 South West and Topsham, as champions, were promoted from that league.
Participating teams and locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Brixham Astley Park 1,800 (300 stand) Brixham, Devon 2nd Chew Valley Lobbingtons Chew Magna, Somerset 11th Devonport Services The Rectory Field 2,000 Devonport, Plymouth, Devon Relegated from National League 2 West (12th) Exmouth Imperial Recreation Ground 1,250 (250 stand) Exmouth, Devon 3rd Launceston Polson Bridge 3,000 (194 seats) Launceston, Cornwall 5th Lydney Regentsholme 3,000 (340 seats) Lydney, Gloucestershire 9th Marlborough The Common Marlborough, Wiltshire 10th Matson Redwell Road Matson, Gloucester 7th Royal Wootton Bassett Ballards Ash Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire 8th Sidmouth Blackmore Field Sidmouth, Devon 6th St Austell Tregorrick Park 4,000 (300 seats) St Austell, Cornwall 4th Topsham Bonfire Field Topsham, Exeter Promoted from Regional 2 South West (champions)
League table
Play-offs The champions, Devonport Services, are automatically promoted to next seasons National 2 West. Second-placed Topsham won the Regional 1 South West play-off against third-placed Brixham, while Stourbridge beat Newport in the Regional 1 Midlands play-off. Stourbridge beat Topsham in Round 2 and played Exeter University for the right to play in next seasons National 2 West. Exeter University remain in National League 2 West. In each match the highest placed team play at home.
Promotion play-offs
Round 2
NLR Accession Final
Relegation play-off The 9th and 10th placed teams held a play-off, with the losing team playing in the Regional 1 Accession Final, against the winner of the Regional 2 Severn promotion play-off. Both Sidmouth and Chew Valley remain in Regional 1 South West.
Regional 1 Accession Final
2024–25 Nine of last years teams participate in this season's competition. Five of the teams are from Devon, while Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire have two clubs each and Somerset one club. Devonport Services, as champions, are promoted to National League 2 West. Okehampton (11th) and Weston-super-Mare (12th) are relegated to Regional 2 South West and Regional 2 Severn respectively, while Marlborough (9th) is transferred from Regional 1 South Central.
Participating teams and locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Barnstaple Pottingham Road 2,000 (575 seats) Barnstaple, Devon 2nd Brixham Astley Park 1,800 (300 stand) Brixham, Devon 4th Chew Valley Lobbingtons Chew Magna, Somerset 3rd Exmouth Imperial Recreation Ground 1,250 (250 stand) Exmouth, Devon 6th Ivybridge Cross-in-Hand Ivybridge, Devon 9th Launceston Polson Bridge 3,000 (194 seats) Launceston, Cornwall 5th Lydney Regentsholme 3,000 (340 seats) Lydney, Gloucestershire 7th Marlborough The Common Marlborough, Wiltshire Transferred from Regional 1 SC (9th) Matson Redwell Road Matson, Gloucester 10th Royal Wootton Bassett Ballards Ash Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire Promoted from Regional 2 Severn (1st) Sidmouth Blackmore Field Sidmouth, Devon Promoted from Regional 2 SW (1st) St Austell Tregorrick Park 4,000 (300 seats) St Austell, Cornwall 8th
League table
2023–24 Nine of last years teams participate in this season's competition. Champions, Camborne were promoted to National League 2 West while Old Centralians (11th) and Drybrook (12th) were both relegated to Regional 2 Severn. Six of the teams are from Devon, while Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Somerset each have two clubs.
Participating teams and locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Barnstaple Pottingham Road 2,000 (575 seats) Barnstaple, Devon Relegated from National League 2 West 13th Brixham Astley Park 1,800 (300 stand) Brixham, Devon 3rd Chew Valley Lobbingtons Chew Magna, Somerset 2nd Devonport Services The Rectory 2,000 Devonport, Plymouth, Devon 4th Exmouth Imperial Recreation Ground 1,250 (250 stand) Exmouth, Devon 5th Ivybridge Cross-in-Hand Ivybridge, Devon 6th Launceston Polson Bridge 3,000 (194 seats) Launceston, Cornwall 8th Lydney Regentsholme 3,000 (340 seats) Lydney, Gloucestershire 7th Matson Redwell Road Matson, Gloucester, Gloucestershire Promoted from Regional 2 Severn (1st) Okehampton Showground 1,120 (120 seats) Okehampton, Devon 9th St Austell Tregorrick Park 4,000 (300 seats) St Austell, Cornwall Promoted from Regional 2 South West (1st) Weston-super-Mare Recreation Ground 3,000 Weston-super-Mare, Somerset 10th
League table
Results
2022–23 This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review.
Nine of the teams who competed in the final season of the SW Premier competition returned. Departing were Exeter University (champions), Hornets (runners-up) and Old Redcliffians (3rd) were promoted to National League 2 West whilst Bournemouth (8th) and Royal Wootton Bassett (13th) were level transferred to Regional 1 South Central.
with five teams leaving and three joining the league was reduced in size from 14 clubs to 12.
Participating teams and locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Brixham Astley Park 1,800 (300 stand) Brixham, Devon 7th Camborne Recreation Ground 7,000 (780 seats) Camborne, Cornwall 11th Chew Valley Lobbingtons Chew Magna, Somerset Promoted from South West 1 West (champions) Devonport Services The Rectory 2,000 Devonport, Plymouth, Devon Promoted from South West 1 West (runner-up) Drybrook Mannings Ground Drybrook, Gloucestershire 10th Exmouth Imperial Recreation Ground 1,250 (250 stand) Exmouth, Devon 5th Ivybridge Cross-in-Hand Ivybridge, Devon 9th Launceston Polson Bridge 3,000 (194 seats) Launceston, Cornwall 6th Lydney Regentsholme 3,000 (340 seats) Lydney, Gloucestershire Promoted from South West 1 West (3rd) Okehampton Showground 1,120 (120 seats) Okehampton, Devon 14th Old Centralians Saintbridge Sports Centre Gloucester, Gloucestershire 12th Weston-super-Mare Recreation Ground 3,000 Weston-super-Mare, Somerset 4th
Final league table
Results
2021–22 The first matches were played on 4 September 2021 and the final league matches on 23 April 2022. Exeter University (as champions), Old Redcliffians (as runner-up) and Hornets (3rd) are all promoted to National League 2 West (formerly National League 2 South). The RFU will announce the format of the tier 5 leagues during the summer of 2022.
Participating teams Nine of the fourteen teams participated in the previous competition (2019–20). The champions, Barnstaple were promoted to National League 2 South, while Newbury and Bracknell were both relegated to South West 1 East. Maidenhead have been level transferred to London & South East Premier. The teams coming into this season's competition are Old Redcliffians and Bournemouth, both relegated from National League 2 South in 15th and 16th position respectively. Teams promoted into this season's competition are Hornets, champions of South West 1 West, and two teams from South West 1 East, Royal Wootton Bassett and Old Centralians (1st and 2nd respectively).
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Bournemouth Chapel Gate 1,500 Bournemouth, Dorset Relegated from National League 2 South Brixham Astley Park 1,800 (300 stand) Brixham, Devon 5th Camborne Recreation Ground 7,000 (780 seats) Camborne, Cornwall 9th Drybrook Mannings Ground Drybrook, Gloucestershire 7th Exeter University Topsham Sports Ground Exeter, Devon 6th Exmouth Imperial Recreation Ground 1,250 (250 stand) Exmouth, Devon 10th Hornets Hutton Moor Park 1,100 (100 stand) Weston-super-Mare, Somerset Promoted from South West 1 West (champions) Ivybridge Cross-in-Hand Ivybridge, Devon 8th Launceston Polson Bridge 3,000 (194 seats) Launceston, Cornwall 11th Okehampton Showground 1,120 (120 seats) Okehampton, Devon 4th Old Centralians Saintbridge Sports Centre Gloucester, Gloucestershire Promoted from South West 1 East (runner-up) Old Redcliffians Scotland Lane 1,000 Brislington, Bristol Relegated from National League 2 South Royal Wootton Bassett Ballard's Ash 5,000 Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire Promoted from South West 1 East (champions) Weston-super-Mare Recreation Ground 3,000 Weston-super-Mare, Somerset 2nd
Final league table
2020–21 Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
2019–20 The season ended before all the matches were completed because of the coronavirus pandemic and the RFU used a best playing record formula to decide the final table. Barnstaple are the champions.
Participating teams Ten of the thirteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by three promoted sides; Launceston, Newbury Blues and Okehampton. Bournemouth were promoted to National League 2 South, while relegated sides included Newton Abbot and Cleve (both South West 1 West), and Old Patesians (South West 1 East). Initially, Bromsgrove were due to be level transferred from Midlands Premier but the withdrawal of Birmingham & Solihull from the league system meant that they stayed put, leaving South West Premier with just thirteen teams.