Somerset 3 North (known as Tribute Somerset 3 North 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 South. 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 North currently involves teams from the northern part of Somerset as well as teams based in south and west 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 North and there is no relegation as this is the lowest level of league rugby in Somerset.

Teams 2021-22

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Chew Valley III Chew Lane Chew Magna 2nd Imperial II South Bristol Sports Centre Hengrove, Bristol 4th Keynsham III Bristol Road Keynsham 6th Nailsea & Backwell III West End Park Nailsea, Somerset New entry St. Bernadette's Old Boys II Whitchurch Sports Ground Whitchurch, Bristol 3rd

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

Teams 2019–20

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season Bristol Harlequins II Valhalla Brislington, Bristol N/A Chew Valley III Chew Lane Chew Magna Relegated from Somerset 2 North (12th) Imperial II South Bristol Sports Centre Hengrove, Bristol 4th Keynsham III Bristol Road Keynsham N/A Old Culverhaysians Odd Down Sports Ground Odd Down, Bath N/A St. Bernadette's Old Boys II Whitchurch Sports Ground Whitchurch, Bristol 5th Stothert & Pitt II Adams Field Bath 3rd Winscombe III Recreation Ground 1,200 Winscombe 7th Yatton III The Park Yatton 6th

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 11 league with promotion to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.

Somerset 3SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated team(s)Ref 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 11 of the league system. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.

Somerset 3SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated team(s)League 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 11 of the league system. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.

Somerset 3SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated team(s)Ref 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 team(s)Ref 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 1999–00 season and all teams transferred into Somerset 2.

Somerset 3SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated team(s)Ref 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 1999–00 5 Martock Bath Old Edwardians No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3 North

After an absence of six years, Somerset 3 returned - now split into two regional tier 11 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 North and there was no relegation. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.

Somerset 3 NorthSeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated TeamsRef 2006–07 12 Walcot III Clevedon III No relegation 2007–08 14 Clevedon III Chew Valley II No relegation 2008–09 14 Old Redcliffians III Clevedon III No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Somerset 3 North (2009–present)

Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Somerset 3 North and its counterpart Somerset 3 South, remained as tier 11 leagues. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 North and there was no relegation. The league would continued to be sponsored by Tribute.

Somerset 3 NorthSeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated TeamsRef 2009–10 13 Keynsham III Walcot III No relegation 2010–11 12 Avon II Clevedon III No relegation 2011–12 13 Old Redcliffians IV Midsomer Norton III No relegation 2012–13 7 Nailsea & Backwell II Bath Old Edwardians No relegation 2013–14 11 Stothert & Pitt II Imperial II No relegation 2014–15 13 Midsomer Norton III Bristol Barbarians II No relegation 2015–16 9 Whitehall II Bath Old Edwardians No relegation 2016–17 10 Bristol Telephone Area Barton Hill II No relegation 2017–18 10 Barton Hill II Clevedon III No relegation 2018–19 7 Clevedon II Nailsea & Backwell II No relegation 2019–20 9 Stothert & Pitt II Chew Valley III No relegation 2020–21 Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

Avonvale (2) St. Brendan's Old Boys(2) Stothert & Pitt II (2) Backwell (1) Avon II (1) Barton Hill II (1) Bath Old Edwardians (1) Blagdon (1) British Gas (1) Bristol Telephone Area (1) Castle Cary (1) Chard (1) Chew Valley (1) Clevedon II (1) Clevedon III (1) Keynsham III (1) Martock (1) Midsomer Norton III (1) Nailsea & Backwell II (1) Old Redcliffians III (1) Old Redcliffians IV (1) Walcot III (1) Wellington (1) Whitehall II (1) Wiveliscombe (1)

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

Notes

References