Counties 1 Western North (known as Counties 1 Tribute Western North for sponsorship purposes) is an English rugby union league. Originally a single division called Western Counties, in 1996 the division split into two regional leagues called Western Counties North and Western Counties West. Western Counties North was renamed Counties 1 Western North prior to the 2022–23 season and is currently a seventh tier league for clubs based in the south-west of England; mainly Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset. The current champions are Cleve.
Format The champions are promoted to Regional 2 Severn. The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above, but is usually two or three to Counties 2 Gloucestershire North / South and Counties 2 Somerset.
The season runs from September to March 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 champions Nailsea & Backwell promoted to Regional 2 South West while Bridgwater & Albion (10th) and Taunton II (11th) were relegated to Counties 2 Somerset as were Chosen Hill Former Pupils (12th) to Counties 2 Gloucestershire.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Burnham-on-Sea BASC Ground Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset Promoted from Counties 2 Somerset (champions) Chard The Park, Essex Close Chard, Somerset 6th Cheltenham Newlands Park 1,000 Southam, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Relegated from Regional 2 Severn Cinderford II Dockham Road 2,500 Cinderford, Gloucestershire Promoted from Counties 2 Gloucestershire (champions) Clifton II Station Road 2,500 (400 seats) Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol 4th Dings Crusaders II Shaftsbury Park 2,250 (250 seats) Frenchay, Bristol 2nd Gordano Caswell Lane Portbury, Somerset 8th Gordon League Hempsted Lane Gloucester, Gloucestershire 9th Midsomer Norton Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton, Somerset 3rd Old Bristolians Memorial Playing Fields Failand, Somerset 5th Old Redcliffians II Scotland Lane 1,000 Brislington, Bristol 7th Wellington Athletic Ground Wellington, Somerset Relegated from Regional 2 South West
2025–26 Participating teams and location Departing were Cleve promoted to Regional 2 Severn while Cinderford 2XV and Burnham-on-Sea were relegated.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Bridgwater & Albion Bath Road 5,000 Bridgwater, Somerset 6th Chard The Park, Essex Close Chard, Somerset 8th Chosen Hill Former Pupils Brookfield Road Churchdown, Gloucestershire 10th Clifton II Station Road 2,500 (400 seats) Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol 2nd Dings Crusaders II Shaftsbury Park 2,250 (250 seats) Frenchay, Bristol Promoted from Counties 2 Gloucestershire South (champions) Gordano Caswell Lane Portbury, Somerset Relegated from Regional 2 Severn (11th) Gordon League Hempsted Lane Gloucester, Gloucestershire 9th Midsomer Norton Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton, Somerset Promoted from Counties 2 Somerset (champions) Nailsea & Backwell West End Park Nailsea, Somerset 5th Old Bristolians Memorial Playing Fields Failand, Somerset 3rd Old Redcliffians II Scotland Lane 1,000 Brislington, Bristol 4th Taunton II Towergate Stadium 2,000 (198 seats) Taunton, Somerset 7th
2024–25 Participating teams and location Departing were Longlevens, in second place were promoted to Regional 2 Severn instead of the champions Cinderford 2XV as league regulations to not allow second teams to be promoted to a level six league. Chipping Sodbury were relegated to Counties 2 Gloucestershire South and Clevedon and Midsomer Norton were relegated to Counties 2 Somerset. With four teams leaving and five joining the league was restored to twelve sides.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Bridgwater & Albion Bath Road 5,000 Bridgwater, Somerset 5th Burnham-on-Sea BASC Ground Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset Relegated from Regional 2 South West (12th) Chard The Park, Essex Close Chard, Somerset Relegated from Regional 2 South West (11th) Chosen Hill Former Pupils Brookfield Road Churchdown, Gloucestershire Relegated from Regional 2 Severn (11th) Cinderford II Dockham Road 2,500 Cinderford, Gloucestershire 1st (not promoted) Cleve The Hayfields Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire 8th Clifton II Station Road 2,500 (400 seats) Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol 6th Gordon League Hempsted Lane Gloucester, Gloucestershire Promoted from Counties 2 Gloucestershire North (champions) Nailsea & Backwell West End Park Nailsea, Somerset 3rd Old Bristolians Memorial Playing Fields Failand, Somerset 7th Old Redcliffians II Scotland Lane 1,000 Brislington, Bristol 4th Taunton II Towergate Stadium 2,000 (198 seats) Taunton, Somerset Promoted from Counties 2 Somerset (champions)
League table 2024–25 Counties 1 Western North League TablePlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPointsPts adj 1 Cleve (P) 22 20 0 2 821 318 503 15 1 98 2 2 Clifton II 22 19 0 3 707 424 283 18 2 97 1 3 Old Bristolians 22 15 0 7 737 556 181 18 2 80 4 Old Redcliffians II 22 14 0 8 608 484 124 12 3 73 2 5 Nailsea & Backwell 21 13 0 8 662 517 145 15 6 73 6 Bridgewater & Albion 21 9 0 12 553 717 −164 12 3 51 7 Taunton II 22 11 0 11 643 645 −2 13 2 49 −10 8 Chard 21 7 0 14 518 612 −94 9 6 43 9 Gordon League 21 6 1 14 387 680 −293 5 3 34 10 Chosen Hill Former Pupils 22 5 0 17 441 697 −256 9 5 34 11 Cinderford II (R) 22 6 1 15 409 598 −189 10 3 29 −10 12 Burnham-on-Sea (R) 22 4 0 18 554 792 −238 8 4 28 If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled Green background is the promotion place Pink background are the relegation placesUpdated: 1 November 2025
2023–24 Participating teams and location Departing were 2nd placed Burnham-on-Sea, promoted to Regional 1 South West. Although Cinderford 2XV finished top, owing to league regulations Cinderford were unable to be promoted. Avonmouth Old Boys and Cheltenham North were relegated. Barton Hill, 7th in 2022–23, did not return for the new season and with four teams departing and three joining, the league ran with eleven sides last season.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Bridgwater & Albion Bath Road 5,000 Bridgwater, Somerset Relegated from Regional 2 South West (12th) Chipping Sodbury The Ridings Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire 9th Cinderford II Dockham Road 2,500 Cinderford, Gloucestershire 1st (not promoted) Cleve The Hayfields Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire 8th Clevedon Coleridge Vale Playing Fields Clevedon, Somerset 6th Clifton II Station Road 2,500 (400 seats) Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol Promoted from Counties 2 Gloucestershire South (champions) Longlevens Longford Lane Longlevens, Gloucestershire 3rd Midsomer Norton Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton, Somerset 5th Nailsea & Backwell West End Park Nailsea, Somerset 4th Old Bristolians Memorial Playing Fields Failand, Somerset 10th Old Redcliffians II Scotland Lane 1,000 Brislington, Bristol Promoted from Counties 2 Somerset (champions)
League table 2023–24 Counties 1 Western North League TablePlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints 1 Cinderford II 20 17 1 2 753 221 532 13 0 88 2 Longlevens (P) 20 17 0 3 883 363 520 17 0 85 3 Nailsea & Backwell 20 14 1 5 656 349 307 16 2 76 4 Old Redcliffians II 20 14 0 6 734 491 243 13 2 71 5 Bridgewater & Albion 20 10 0 10 548 548 0 11 3 54 6 Clifton II 20 7 2 11 467 491 −24 10 5 50 7 Old Bristolians 20 8 0 12 426 663 −237 9 2 43 8 Cleve 20 7 0 13 460 595 −135 9 3 40 9 Midsomer Norton (R) 20 7 0 13 546 560 −14 7 4 39 10 Clevedon (R) 20 6 2 12 380 537 −157 4 2 38 11 Chipping Sodbury (R) 20 0 0 20 194 1229 −1035 0 0 0If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled Green background is the promotion place Pink background are the relegation placesUpdated: 1 November 2025
2022–23 Participating teams and location
TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Avonmouth Old Boys Barracks Lane Shirehampton, Bristol 12th Barton Hill Duncombe Road Speedwell, Bristol 10th Burnham-on-Sea BASC Ground Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset 6th Western Counties West Cheltenham North Stoke Orchard Road Bishop's Cleeve, Gloucestershire 13th Chipping Sodbury The Ridings Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire 8th Cinderford II Dockham Road 2,500 Cinderford, Gloucestershire New entry Cleve The Hayfields Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire 9th Clevedon Coleridge Vale Playing Fields Clevedon, Somerset 11th Longlevens Longford Lane Longlevens, Gloucestershire 1st Gloucester Premier Midsomer Norton Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton, Somerset 7th Nailsea & Backwell West End Park Nailsea, Somerset 1st Somerset Premier Old Bristolians Memorial Playing Fields Failand, Somerset 6th
League table 2022–23 Counties 1 Western North League TablePlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints 1 Cinderford II 21 20 0 1 1024 301 723 17 1 98 2 Burnham-on-Sea (P) 22 17 0 5 814 473 341 15 2 85 3 Longlevens 22 17 0 5 905 410 495 15 1 84 4 Nailsea & Backwell 22 16 1 5 685 446 239 15 2 83 5 Midsomer Norton 22 12 1 9 666 590 76 11 5 66 6 Clevedon 22 13 0 9 473 555 −82 9 2 63 7 Barton Hill 22 11 0 11 452 642 −190 9 1 54 8 Cleve 21 7 0 14 501 501 0 8 7 43 9 Chipping Sodbury 22 8 0 14 440 779 −339 7 1 40 10 Old Bristolians 22 4 0 18 441 525 −84 8 10 20 11 Cheltenham North (R) 22 3 0 19 448 973 −525 8 0 20 12 Avonmouth Old Boys (R) 22 2 0 20 319 973 −654 2 5 15If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled Green background is the promotion place Pink background are the relegation placesUpdated: 1 August 2023
2021–22 Spartans, 11th in 2019–20, withdrew during the season leaving the league to complete with thirteen clubs.
Participating teams
TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season Avonmouth Old Boys Barracks Lane Shirehampton, Bristol 5th Barton Hill Duncombe Road Speedwell, Bristol 7th Cheltenham Newlands Park 1,000 Southam, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 3rd Cheltenham North Stoke Orchard Road Bishop's Cleeve, Gloucestershire Promoted from Gloucester Premier (2nd) Chipping Sodbury The Ridings Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire 6th Chosen Hill Former Pupils Brookfield Road Churchdown, Gloucestershire Promoted from Gloucester Premier (champions) Cleve The Hayfields Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire Relegated from South West 1 West (14th) Clevedon Coleridge Vale Playing Fields Clevedon, Somerset 12th Gordano Caswell Lane Portbury, Somerset 8th Matson Redwell Road Matson, Gloucester, Gloucestershire 2nd Midsomer Norton Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton, Somerset 4th Old Bristolians Memorial Playing Fields Failand, Somerset 10th Winscombe Recreation Ground 1,200 Winscombe, Somerset 9th
League table