Tribute_Western_Counties_North

Counties 1 Western North

Counties 1 Western North

English rugby union league


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 champions are promoted to South West 1 West and the runner-up plays the second team in Western Counties West, with the winning team gaining promotion. The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above, but is usually two or three to Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier. Although 2nd XV rugby is part of the Somerset regional league system, only 1st XV teams are allowed in Tribute Western Counties North. Since 2021/22 2nd xv teams have been allowed in Counties 1 Tribute Western North but under current RFU Rules they are unable to be promoted beyond here.

Quick Facts Sport, Instituted ...

The current champions are Matson and they are promoted to Regional 2 Tribute Severn. Due to the reorganisation of the leagues, Cheltenham, Chosen Hill Former Pupils, Gordano and Winscome are also promoted. There is no relegation and the eight remaining teams, along with four promoted teams form the new level 7 Counties 1 Tribute Western North.

Teams also participate in the RFU Intermediate Cup – a national competition for clubs at level 7 - with all clubs affiliated with the Gloucestershire RFU involved and a representative being sent from the Somerset RFU.

Format

The champions are promoted to either Regional 2 South West or Regional 2 Severn, depending on location. The teams finishing in the last two or three places are relegated to the appropriate Counties 2 leagues in Gloucester or Somerset (awaiting confirmation by the RFU) 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.

2022–23

League table

More information Played, Won ...

2021–22

Participating teams

More information Team, Ground ...

League table

More information Played, Won ...

2020–21

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic the season was cancelled.

2019–20

Participating teams

More information Team, Ground ...

2018–19

Participating teams

More information Team, Ground ...

Promotion play-off

In the play-off for promotion, Midsomer Norton played Crediton from Western Counties West for promotion to South West 1 West. Midsomer Norton had the best playing record and hosted the match, losing 15 – 19. This was the first time either team had participated in the play-offs, at this level, and Crediton's win was the sixth time the away team had won match. Teams from Western Counties North lead 10–9 in the nineteen play-off matches played since 2001.

More information Played, Won ...
27 April 2019
15:00
Midsomer Norton15 – 19Crediton
Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset

[3]

2017–18

The season started on 2 September and the final league matches were due to be completed by 21 April 2018, with the promotion play-off the following week.

Participating teams

More information Team, Ground ...

Promotion play-off

Each season, the runners-up in Western Counties West and Western Counties North, participate in a play-off for promotion to South West 1 West. The team with the best playing record, in this case Chew Valley, host the match, and for the second successive season they lost, this time to Devonport Services 12 – 22. It is the first time Devonport Services are promoted to a level six league.[4] This match was the eighteenth play-off for promotion; the northern sides lead with ten victories to the west's eight and the home teams are leading thirteen to five.

More information Played, Won ...
April 2018
15:00
Chew Valley12 – 22Devonport Services
Chew Lane, Chew Magna

2016–17

Participating teams

More information Team, Ground ...

League table

More information Played, Won ...

Promotion play-off

Each season, the runners-up in Western Counties North and Western Counties West, participate in a play-off for promotion to South West 1 West. The team with the best playing record, in this case Chew Valley, host the match and they lost to their opponents Cullompton 12 – 29.

More information Played, Won ...
29 April 2017
15:00
Chew Valley12 – 29Cullompton
Chew Lane

2015–16

The 2015–16 Tribute Western Counties North consists of fourteen teams; six from Somerset, four from Gloucestershire, three from Bristol and one from Wiltshire. The season started on 5 September 2015 and is finishes on 30 April 2016.

Participating teams and location

Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Coney Hill and runners up Newent (who won their playoff game) were promoted to Tribute South West 1 West while Bristol Saracens and North Bristol were relegated to the Gloucester Premier and Stothert & Pitt to the Tribute Somerset Premier.

Avon
Avon
Bristol
Bristol
Burnham-on-Sea
Burnham-on-Sea
Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Chew Valley
Chew Valley
C.H.F.P.
C.H.F.P.
Stroud
Stroud
Wellington
Wellington
Bristol area teamsBarton HillBristol HarlequinsGordanoKeynshamWhitehall
Bristol area teamsBarton Hill
Bristol Harlequins
Gordano
Keynsham
Whitehall
Locations of the 2015-16 Tribute Western Counties North teams
Barton Hill
Barton Hill
Bristol Harlequins
Bristol Harlequins
Gordano
Gordano
Keynsham
Keynsham
Whitehall
Whitehall
2015-16 Bristol & surrounding area Tribute Western Counties North teams
More information Team, Ground ...

Participating teams 2014–15

Participating teams 2013–14

Participating teams 2012–13

Participating teams 2011–12

Participating teams 2010–11

Participating teams 2009–10

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Western Counties) contained the following teams:

Western Counties North honours

Western Counties (1987–1993)

Originally Western Counties North and Western Counties West was a single division called Western Counties (sponsored by Courage), involving teams based in the south-west of England including Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Gloucester and Somerset. Each team played one match against each of the other teams with the winning team awarded two points; there was one point for each team in a drawn match.[6] It was a tier 7 league with promotion up to South West 2[lower-alpha 1] and relegation to either Cornwall/Devon or Gloucestershire/Somerset.[lower-alpha 2]

More information Season, No of teams ...

Western Counties (1993–1996)

At the end of the 1992–93 season the top six teams from London Division 1 and the top six from South West Division 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that Western Counties dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to South West 2 and relegation down to either Cornwall/Devon or Gloucestershire/Somerset.[lower-alpha 4] The league continued to be sponsored by Courage.

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Western Counties North (1996–2000)

Major restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Western Counties split into two separate leagues, Western Counties North and Western Counties West, which reverted to tier 7 leagues due to the cancellation of National 5 South.[14] Promotion from Western Counties North was to the new South West 2 West division (formerly South West 2)[lower-alpha 7] while relegation was to Gloucestershire/Somerset.[lower-alpha 8][lower-alpha 9]

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Western Counties North (2000–2009)

Western Counties North remained a tier 7 league, with promotion continuing to South West 2 West. Relegation was to either Gloucester Premier or Somerset Premier following the cancellation of Gloucestershire/Somerset at the end of the 1999–00 season. From the 2008–09 season the league sponsor was Tribute.

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Western Counties North (2009–present)

Despite widespread league restructuring by the RFU, Western Counties North continues as a tier 7 league, with promotion to South West 1 West (formerly South West 2 West) and relegation to either Gloucester Premier or Somerset Premier. Tribute continue to sponsor the league.

More information Season, No of teams ...

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a one-off promotion play-off game played between the league runners-up of Western Counties North and Western Counties West for the third and final promotion place to South West 1 West, with the team with the superior league record having home advantage in the tie. As of the end of the 2018–19 season the northern sides have been the more successful with ten victories to the west's nine while the home team has won thirteen times compared to the away teams six.

More information Season, Home team ...

Number of league titles

Sponsorship

The Western Counties League and South West 2 were part of the Courage Clubs Championship and was sponsored by Courage Brewery from the first season, 1987–88 to season 1996–97.[65] The league was unsponsored until season 2007–08 when St Austell Brewery sponsored South-west based leagues under the Tribute Ale label.

See also

Notes

  1. South West 2 is currently two regional divisions - South West 1 East and South West 1 West.
  2. Gloucestershire/Somerset is currently two separate leagues - Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier.
  3. Old Culverhaysians also promoted.
  4. Currently split into Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier.
  5. League restructuring meant that five teams were promoted, including 3rd to 5th place Penzance & Newlyn, Devonport Services and Tiverton.
  6. There was no relegation as Western Counties was due to split into Western Counties North and Western Counties West.
  7. From the 1996–97 season South West 2 was split into two regional divisions – South West 2 East and South West 2 West.
  8. Relegated Western Counties West clubs dropped to Cornwall/Devon.
  9. Oldfield Old Boys, Drybrook, Bristol Harlequins, St Bernadettes Old Boys, Wiveliscombe and Thornbury were the relegated sides this season. The reason for so many relegations was because the league would be reduced from 17 to 12 teams for the 2000-01 season.
  10. There was no relegation this year as the league changed from 12 to 14 teams for the 2009-10 season due to restructuring of the league system by the RFU.
  11. One of Matson's title wins were back when the league was known as Western Counties.
  12. One of Gordon League's title wins was when the league was known as Western Counties.
  13. Clevedon's title was when the league was known as Western Counties.
  14. Coombe Down's title win was when the league was known as Western Counties.
  15. Coombe Down's title win was when the league was known as Western Counties.
  16. Gloucester Old Boys title win was when the league was known as Western Counties.
  17. Launceston's title win was when the league was known as Western Counties.
  18. Old Patesians title win was back when the league was known as Western Counties.
  19. Penryn's title win was when the league was known as Western Counties.

References

  1. "Counties 1 Tribute Western North 2022–2023". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  2. "Tribute Western Counties North 2016–2017". English Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  3. "Results". England Rugby. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  4. "RUGBY REPORTS: Devonport Services secure promotion to South West One". Plymouth Sports Gazette. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  5. "Tribute Western Counties North 2016–2017". English Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  6. Williams, Tony; Mitchell, Bill (eds.). Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1991–92 (4th ed.). Taunton: Football Directories. ISBN 1 869833 15 5.
  7. Stephen Jones, ed. (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89. London: Rothmans Publications Ltd.
  8. Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). Courage Clubs Championship. Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91. Horsham: Burlington Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 1873057024.
  9. Cornwall Rugby Football Union 1992–3,1996–7
  10. Jones, Stephen, ed. (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94 (22nd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. pp. 151–167. ISBN 0 7472 7891 1.
  11. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7850 4.
  12. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7816 4.
  13. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7771 0.
  14. Mick Cleary, ed. (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98 (26th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishers. ISBN 0 7472 7732 X.
  15. McCleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1998). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998–99 (27th ed.). Headline Book Publishing. pp. 86–98. ISBN 0 7472 7653 6.
  16. "1998-99 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  17. "1999-00 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  18. "2000-01 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  19. "2001-02 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  20. "2002-03 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  21. "2003-04 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  22. "2004-05 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  23. "2005-06 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  24. "2006-07 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  25. "2007-08 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  26. "2008-09 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  27. "2009-10 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  28. "2010-11 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  29. "2011-12 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  30. "2012-13 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  31. "2013-14 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  32. "2014-15 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  33. "2015-16 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  34. "2016-17 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  35. "2017-18 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  36. "2018-19 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  37. "Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
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  39. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 27 April 2002.
  40. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
  41. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  42. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  43. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
  44. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  45. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  46. "View from the blindside". Sidmouth Herald. 2 May 2008.
  47. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  48. "Disappointment". Ivybridge RFC. 25 April 2009.
  49. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 24 April 2010.
  50. "Promoted Camels give Thornbury the hump". Bristol Post. 27 April 2010.
  51. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 30 April 2011.
  52. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 28 April 2012.
  53. "Dorling upbeat despite play-off loss". Torquay Herald Express. 3 May 2012.
  54. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 11 May 2013.
  55. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 26 April 2014.
  56. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 25 April 2015.
  57. "Newent promoted after thriller". Malvern Gazette. 30 April 2015.
  58. "South West Play-Offs". England Rugby. 7 May 2016.
  59. "Chew Valley RFC lose division playoff". Chew Valley Gazette. 2 May 2017.
  60. "Credit due for Crediton as Norton lose playoff". The Midsomer Norton & Radstock Journal. 2 May 2019.
  61. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98 (26th ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7732 X.

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