Somerset Premier

Somerset Premier (known as Tribute Somerset Premier for sponsorship reasons) is an English rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England involving teams based in the county of Somerset as well as some teams based in Bristol. Originally a single division called Gloucestershire/Somerset, in 2000 the division split into two county leagues called Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier. The league champions of Somerset Premier are automatically promoted to Western Counties North while the runners up play the runners up of Gloucester Premier for their place. Relegated teams drop into Somerset 1. Only 1st XV sides can be promoted into Western Counties North, although any side can fall to Somerset 1. Each season a 1st XV side from Somerset Premier is picked to take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a national competition for clubs at level 8.

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

Participating teams

 * Bridgwater & Albion II
 * Bristol Harlequins (relegated from Western Counties North)
 * Crewkerne (promoted from Somerset 1)
 * Gordano
 * Keynsham II
 * Hornets II
 * Nailsea & Backwell
 * Oldfield Old Boys
 * Old Redcliffians II
 * St Bernadettes Old Boys
 * Stothert & Pitt RFC
 * Tor
 * Weston-super-Mare II
 * Winscombe
 * Wiveliscombe

Somerset 1

 * Bristol Barbarians
 * Castle Cary
 * Imperial
 * Minehead Barbarians (relegated from Somerset Premier)
 * Old Sulians
 * Wyvern

Somerset 2 North

 * Bath Old Edwardians (promoted from Somerset 3 North)
 * Cheddar Valley (transferred from Somerset 2 South)
 * Old Culverhaysians

Somerset 2 South

 * Martock
 * Morganians
 * Somerton

Somerset 3 North

 * Avon II
 * Barton Hill II
 * Bristol Telephone Area
 * Imperial II
 * Keynsham IV
 * Nailsea & Backwell II
 * Old Bristolians III
 * Oldfield Old Boys III

Somerset 3 South

 * Wincanton

2015–16
The 2015–16 Somerset Premier consists of fourteen teams from Somerset and south-west Bristol. The season began on the 5 September 2015 and ended on the 30 April 2016.

Participating teams and location
Eleven of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Gordano were promoted to Western Counties North while Bristol Imperial and Clevedon II were relegated to Somerset 1.

Somerset 1

 * Bristol Barbarians
 * Castle Cray
 * Crewkerne
 * Imperial
 * Old Sulians
 * Wyvern

Somerset 2 North

 * Old Culverhaysians

Somerset 2 South

 * Cheddar Valley
 * Martock
 * Morganians
 * Somerton

Somerset 3 North

 * Bath Old Edwardians

Participating Clubs 2014/15

 * Clevedon II (promoted from Somerset 1)
 * Gordano
 * Imperial
 * Minehead Barbarians
 * Oldfield Old Boys (relegated from Western Counties North)
 * Old Redcliffians II
 * Nailsea & Backwell
 * St Bernadettes Old Boys
 * Taunton II
 * Tor
 * Weston-super-Mare II
 * Winscombe
 * Wiveliscombe
 * Yatton

Participating Clubs 2013/14

 * Bristol Barbarians
 * Gordano
 * Keynsham II
 * Minehead Barbarians
 * Nailsea & Backwell
 * Old Redcliffians II
 * St Bernadettes Old Boys (promoted from Somerset 1)
 * Stothert & Pitt
 * Taunton II
 * Tor
 * Weston-super-Mare II
 * Winscombe
 * Wiveliscombe
 * Yatton (relegated from Western Counties North)

Participating Clubs 2012/13

 * Chew Valley
 * Gordano
 * Imperial
 * Keynsham
 * Midsomer Norton
 * Minehead Barbarians
 * Nailsea & Backwell
 * Old Redcliffians II
 * Stothert & Pitt
 * Taunton II
 * Tor
 * Weston-super-Mare II
 * Winscombe
 * Wiveliscombe

Participating teams 2010/11

 * Avon
 * Chard
 * Chew Valley
 * Gordano
 * Imperial
 * Midsomer Norton
 * Minehead Barbarians
 * St Bernadettes
 * Stothert & Pitt
 * Taunton II
 * Tor
 * Wells
 * Weston Hornets
 * Winscombe

Standings 2009/10

 * 1	Bristol Harlequins 40
 * 2	Chard	          34
 * 3	Taunton II	  33
 * 4     Avon               33
 * 5	Wells	          32
 * 6	Stothert & Pitt	  18
 * 7	Tor		  18
 * 8	Midsomer Norton	  18
 * 9	Chew Valley       16
 * 10    St Bernadettes      9
 * 11    Winscombe   8
 * 12    Old Sulians         3

Standings 2008/09

 * 1	Burnham on Sea	  35
 * 2	North Petherton	  34
 * 3	Tor	          30
 * 4     Bristol Harlequins 28
 * 5	Stothert & Pitt	  26
 * 6	Chew Valley	  20
 * 7	Chard		  19
 * 8	Midsomer Norton	  18
 * 9	Winscombe         18
 * 10    Wells              17
 * 11    Avon               15
 * 12    Old Sulians         4

Standings 2007/08

 * 1	Keynsham	40
 * 2	Chew Valley	32
 * 3	Winscombe	28
 * 4	Wells	       26
 * 5	Midsomer Norton	26
 * 6	Avon	       22
 * 7	Old Sulians	20
 * 8	Stothert & Pitt	20
 * 9	Chard	       18
 * 10     Tor            16
 * 11     Gordano	 8
 * 12     St Bernadettes  6

Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Gloucestershire/Somerset) contained the following teams:


 * Avonmouth Old Boys
 * Cleve
 * Combe Down
 * Coney Hill
 * Gordano
 * Keynsham
 * Midsomer Norton
 * Minehead Barbarians
 * St. Brendan's Old Boys
 * Tredworth
 * Whitehall

Gloucestershire/Somerset (1987–1993)
Originally Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier were combined in a single division known as Gloucestershire/Somerset, involving teams based in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Bristol. It was tier 8 league with promotion to Western Counties and relegation to either Gloucestershire 1 or Somerset 1.

Gloucestershire/Somerset (1993–1996)
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Gloucestershire/Somerset dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Western Counties and relegation to either Gloucester 1 or Somerset 1.

Gloucestershire/Somerset (1996–2000)
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Gloucestershire/Somerset reverted to being a tier 8 league. Further restructuring meant that promotion was now to Western Counties North, while relegation continued to either Gloucester 1 or Somerset 1.

Somerset Premier (2000–2009)
Gloucestershire/Somerset was reorganised into two county leagues at the end of the 1999–00 season, Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier, with both leagues remaining at level 8. Promotion from Somerset Premier was to Western Counties North and relegation to Somerset 1. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.

Somerset Premier (2009–present)
Despite widespread restructing by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Somerset Premier remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to Western Counties North and relegation to Somerset 1. The league would continued to be sponsored by Tribute.

Promotion play-offs
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of the Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier for the third and final promotion place to Western Counties North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Gloucester Premier teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Somerset Premier teams six; and the home team has won promotion on twelve occasions compared to the away teams seven.

Number of league titles

 * Gordano (3)
 * Bristol Harlequins (2)
 * Burnham-on-Sea (2)
 * Keynsham (2)
 * Old Redcliffians (2)
 * Avon (1)
 * Avonmouth Old Boys (1)
 * Barton Hill (1)
 * Chew Valley (1)
 * Combe Down (1)
 * Coney Hill (1)
 * Dings Crusaders (1)
 * Gloucester Old Boys (1)
 * Hornets (1)
 * Minehead Barbarians (1)
 * Old Centralians (1)
 * Old Culverhaysians (1)
 * Old Patesians (1)
 * Oldfield Old Boys (1)
 * Spartans (1)
 * St. Bernadette's Old Boys (1)
 * St. Mary's Old Boys (1)
 * Stothert & Pitt (1)
 * Walcot (1)
 * Winscombe (1)
 * Wiveliscombe (1)
 * Yatton (1)