Counties 3 Somerset (formerly known as Somerset 1 or Tribute Somerset 1 for sponsorship reasons) is an English rugby union league which sits at the ninth level of league rugby union in England involving teams based in the county of Somerset as well as some teams based in Bristol. 1st, 2nd and even 3rd XV sides can participate in the division as long as they are not from the same club.
The league champions and runners up are promoted to Counties 2 Somerset while relegated teams drop to either Counties 4 Somerset North or Counties 4 Somerset South depending on location. Each year clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase – a level 9–12 national competition.
Teams 2026-27
North
Departing were Yatton, promoted to Counties 2 Somerset. There was no relegation.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Bristol Harlequins Broomhill Road Brislington, Bristol 3rd Bristol Telephone Area BTRA Sports Ground Stockwood, Bristol 10th Cheddar Valley Sharpham Road Cheddar Promoted from Counties 4 Somerset North (runners-up) Clevedon II Coleridge Vale Playing Fields Clevedon 5th Gordano II Caswell Lane Portbury 4th Keynsham II Bristol Road Keynsham Relegated from Counties 2 Somerset (9th) Midsomer Norton II Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton 7th Nailsea & Backwell II West End Park Nailsea 6th Old Redcliffians III Scotland Lane 1,000 Brislington, Bristol 8th Old Sulians Lansdown Road Bath 2nd Winscombe II Recreation Ground Winscombe, Somerset 9th
South
Departing were Wells promoted to Counties 2 Somerset. Also leaving were Wellington II and Crewkerne (10th) relegated to Counties 4 Somerset South.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Bridgwater & Albion II Bath Road 5,000 Bridgwater 4th Burnham-on-Sea II BASC Ground Burnham-on-Sea Promoted from Counties 4 Somerset South (champions) Castle Cary Brook House Field Castle Cary Relegated from Counties 2 Somerset Chard II The Park, Essex Close Chard 6th Hornets III Hutton Moor Park 1,100 (100 stand) Weston-super-Mare 11th Martock The Recreation Ground Martock 7th North Petherton II Beggars Brook North Petherton 8th Somerton Gasson's Lane Somerton Promoted from Counties 4 Somerset South (runners-up) Tor Brian Harbinson Memorial Park Glastonbury, Somerset 3rd Weston-super-Mare II Recreation Ground 3,000 Weston-super-Mare, Somerset 2nd Wiveliscombe II Recreational Ground Wiveliscombe 9th Wyvern Mountfields road Taunton 5th
Teams 2025–26
North
Departing were Keynsham II, promoted to Counties 2 Somerset, while Walcott II were relegated to Counties 4 Somerset North.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Bristol Harlequins Broomhill Road Brislington, Bristol 3rd Bristol Telephone Area BTRA Sports Ground Stockwood, Bristol Promoted from Counties 4 Somerset North Clevedon II Coleridge Vale Playing Fields Clevedon 8th Gordano II Caswell Lane Portbury 7th Midsomer Norton II Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton Runners-up Nailsea & Backwell II West End Park Nailsea Relegated from Counties 2 Somerset Old Redcliffians III Scotland Lane 1,000 Brislington, Bristol 5th Old Sulians Lansdown Road Bath 6th Winscombe II Recreation Ground Winscombe, Somerset 9th Yatton The Park Yatton 4th
South
Departing were Castle Cary promoted to Counties 2 Somerset while Cheddar Valley (12th) and Somerton (11th) were relegated to Counties 4 Somerset North and Counties 4 Somerset South respectively.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Bridgwater & Albion II Bath Road 5,000 Bridgwater Runners-up Chard II The Park, Essex Close Chard 10th Crewkerne Henhayes Recreation Ground Crewkerne 9th Hornets III Hutton Moor Park 1,100 (100 stand) Weston-super-Mare 8th Martock The Recreation Ground Martock Promoted from Counties 4 Somerset South (runners-up) North Petherton II Beggars Brook North Petherton 5th Tor Brian Harbinson Memorial Park Glastonbury, Somerset 3rd Wellington II Athletic Ground Wellington 7th Wells Charter Way Wells, Somerset Relegated from Counties 2 Somerset Weston-super-Mare II Recreation Ground 3,000 Weston-super-Mare, Somerset 6th Wiveliscombe II Recreational Ground Wiveliscombe Promoted from Counties 4 Somerset South (champions) Wyvern Mountfields road Taunton 4th
Teams 2024–25
North
Departing were Nailsea & Backwell II, promoted to Counties 2 Somerset, while Imperial II were relegated.
Joining were Walcott II, Yatton and Chew Valley III.
Chew Valley III (promoted as champions from Counties 4 Somerset North) and Oldfield Old Boys II (10th in 2023–24) both started but did not complete the season meaning the remaining league fixtures were contested by ten sides.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Bristol Harlequins Broomhill Road Brislington, Bristol 3rd Clevedon II Coleridge Vale Playing Fields Clevedon 9th Gordano II Caswell Lane Portbury 8th Keynsham II Bristol Road Keynsham 2nd Midsomer Norton II Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton 5th Old Redcliffians III Scotland Lane 1,000 Brislington, Bristol 7th Old Sulians Lansdown Road Bath 6th Walcott II Albert Field Lansdown, Bath Promoted from Counties 4 Somerset North (3rd) Winscombe II Recreation Ground Winscombe, Somerset 4th Yatton The Park Yatton Relegated from Counties 2 Somerset
South
Departing were Burnham-on-Sea II (12th) and Wiveliscombe II (11th) both relegated to Counties 4 Somerset South.
There was no promotion as Hornets II were already in Counties 2 Somerset meaning Hornets III could not compete in the same league.
Joining were Wyvern and Weston-super-Mare II.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Bridgwater & Albion II Bath Road 5,000 Bridgwater 8th Castle Cary Brook House Field Castle Cary 2nd Chard II The Park, Essex Close Chard 10th Cheddar Valley Sharpham Road Cheddar 9th Crewkerne Henhayes Recreation Ground Crewkerne 5th Hornets III Hutton Moor Park 1,100 (100 stand) Weston-super-Mare Champions (not promoted) North Petherton II Beggars Brook North Petherton 3rd Somerton Gasson's Lane Somerton 6th Tor Brian Harbinson Memorial Park Glastonbury, Somerset 4th Wellington II Athletic Ground Wellington 7th Weston-super-Mare II Recreation Ground 3,000 Weston-super-Mare, Somerset Relegated from Counties 2 Somerset Wyvern Mountfields road Taunton Promoted from Counties 4 Somerset South
Teams 2023–24
North
Departing were Chew Valley II, promoted to Counties 2 Somerset, while Stothert & Pitt (9th) and Bristol Telephone Area (12th) were relegated.
Joining were Imperial II and Old Redcliffians III..
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Bristol Harlequins Broomhill Road Brislington, Bristol 3rd Clevedon II Coleridge Vale Playing Fields Clevedon 11th Gordano II Caswell Lane Portbury 6th Imperial II South Bristol Sports Centre Hengrove, Bristol Promoted from Counties 4 Somerset North (runners-up) Keynsham II Bristol Road Keynsham 2nd Midsomer Norton II Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton 10th Nailsea & Backwell II West End Park Nailsea 4th Oldfield Old Boys II Shaft Road Monkton Combe, Bath 8th Old Redcliffians III Scotland Lane 1,000 Brislington, Bristol Promoted from Counties 4 Somerset North (champions) Old Sulians Lansdown Road Bath 5th Winscombe II Recreation Ground Winscombe, Somerset 7th
South
Departing were Huish Tigers, promoted to Counties 2 Somerset. Wells II (10th) were relegated to Counties 4 Somerset South.
Joining were Burnham-on-Sea II, Cheddar Valley, Crewkerne and Tor.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Bridgwater & Albion II Bath Road 5,000 Bridgwater 9th Burnham-on-Sea II BASC Ground Burnham-on-Sea Promoted from Counties 4 Somerset South (champions) Castle Cary Brook House Field Castle Cary 2nd Chard II The Park, Essex Close Chard 3rd Cheddar Valley Sharpham Road Cheddar Promoted from Counties 4 Somerset South (3rd) Crewkerne Henhayes Recreation Ground Crewkerne Promoted from Counties 4 Somerset South (runners-up) Hornets III Hutton Moor Park 1,100 (100 stand) Weston-super-Mare 4th North Petherton II Beggars Brook North Petherton 6th Somerton Gasson's Lane Somerton 5th Tor Brian Harbinson Memorial Park Glastonbury, Somerset Relegated from Counties 2 Somerset Wellington II Athletic Ground Wellington 7th Wiveliscombe II Recreational Ground Wiveliscombe 8th
Teams 2022–23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league split into North and South divisions.
Departing were Old Redcliffians II, promoted, together with Cheddar Valley (7th) who took a voluntary relegation to Counties 4 Somerset South and Morganians (11th) who withdrew from league competition.
North
Joining were Bristol Harlequins, Bristol Telephone Area, Clevedon II, Gordano II, Oldfield Old Boys II, Stothert & Pitt and Winscombe II.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Bristol Harlequins Broomhill Road Brislington, Bristol Relegated from Somerset Premier Bristol Telephone Area BTRA Sports Ground Stockwood, Bristol Promoted from Somerset 2 North (7th) Clevedon II Coleridge Vale Playing Fields Clevedon Promoted from Somerset 2 North (3rd) Chew Valley II Chew Lane Chew Magna 2nd Gordano II Caswell Lane Portbury Promoted from Somerset 2 North (champions) Keynsham II Bristol Road Keynsham 4th Midsomer Norton II Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton 10th Nailsea & Backwell II West End Park Nailsea 6th Oldfield Old Boys II Shaft Road Monkton Combe, Bath Promoted from Somerset 2 North (4th Old Sulians Lansdown Road Bath 3rd Stothert & Pitt Adams Field Corston, Somerset Relegated from Somerset Premier Winscombe II Recreation Ground Winscombe, Somerset Promoted from Somerset 2 South (7th)
South
Joining were Castle Cary, Chard II, Hornets III, Huish Tigers (double promotion), Somerton, Wells II and Wiveliscombe II.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Bridgwater & Albion II Bath Road 5,000 Bridgwater 8th Castle Cary Brook House Field Castle Cary Promoted from Somerset 2 South (5th) Chard II The Park, Essex Close Chard Promoted from Somerset 2 South (champions) Hornets III Hutton Moor Park 1,100 (100 stand) Weston-super-Mare Promoted from Somerset 2 North (runners-up) Huish Tigers Ash Meadow Park Taunton, Somerset Promoted from Somerset 3 South (champions) North Petherton II Beggars Brook North Petherton 5th Somerton Gasson's Lane Somerton Promoted from Somerset 2 South (3rd) Wellington II Athletic Ground Wellington 9th Wells II Charter Way Wells Promoted from Somerset 2 South (4th) Wiveliscombe II Recreational Ground Wiveliscombe Promoted from Somerset 2 South (runners-up)
Teams 2021–22
Taunton II (11th in 2019–20) started but did not complete the season leaving eleven sides to contest the remaining fixtures.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Bridgwater & Albion II Bath Road 5,000 Bridgwater 4th Cheddar Valley Sharpham Road Cheddar 5th Chew Valley II Chew Lane Chew Magna 3rd Keynsham II Bristol Road Keynsham 6th Midsomer Norton II Norton Down Playing Fields Midsomer Norton 9th Morganians Chedzoy Lane Bridgwater Promoted from Somerset 2 South (champions) Nailsea & Backwell II West End Park Nailsea Promoted from Somerset 2 North (champions) North Petherton II Beggars Brook North Petherton 8th Old Redcliffians II Scotland Lane 1,000 Brislington, Bristol Relegated from Somerset Premier (12th) Old Sulians Lansdown Road Bath 7th Wellington II Athletic Ground Wellington 10th
2020–21 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
Teams 2019–20