Counties 1 Western North


Counties 1 Western North 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 point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
  • 1 additional point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.

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 & AlbionBath Road5,000Bridgwater, Somerset6th
ChardThe Park, Essex CloseChard, Somerset8th
Chosen Hill Former PupilsBrookfield RoadChurchdown, Gloucestershire10th
Clifton IIStation Road2,500 Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol2nd
Dings Crusaders IIShaftsbury Park2,250 Frenchay, BristolPromoted from Counties 2 Gloucestershire South
GordanoCaswell LanePortbury, SomersetRelegated from Regional 2 Severn
Gordon LeagueHempsted LaneGloucester, Gloucestershire9th
Midsomer NortonNorton Down Playing FieldsMidsomer Norton, SomersetPromoted from Counties 2 Somerset
Nailsea & BackwellWest End ParkNailsea, Somerset5th
Old BristoliansMemorial Playing FieldsFailand, Somerset3rd
Old Redcliffians IIScotland Lane1,000Brislington, Bristol4th
Taunton IITowergate Stadium2,000 Taunton, Somerset7th

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 & AlbionBath Road5,000Bridgwater, Somerset5th
Burnham-on-SeaBASC GroundBurnham-on-Sea, SomersetRelegated from Regional 2 South West
ChardThe Park, Essex CloseChard, SomersetRelegated from Regional 2 South West
Chosen Hill Former PupilsBrookfield RoadChurchdown, GloucestershireRelegated from Regional 2 Severn
Cinderford IIDockham Road2,500Cinderford, Gloucestershire1st
CleveThe HayfieldsMangotsfield, Gloucestershire8th
Clifton IIStation Road2,500 Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, Bristol6th
Gordon LeagueHempsted LaneGloucester, GloucestershirePromoted from Counties 2 Gloucestershire North
Nailsea & BackwellWest End ParkNailsea, Somerset3rd
Old BristoliansMemorial Playing FieldsFailand, Somerset7th
Old Redcliffians IIScotland Lane1,000Brislington, Bristol4th
Taunton IITowergate Stadium2,000 Taunton, SomersetPromoted from Counties 2 Somerset

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 & AlbionBath Road5,000Bridgwater, SomersetRelegated from Regional 2 South West
Chipping SodburyThe RidingsChipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire9th
Cinderford IIDockham Road2,500Cinderford, Gloucestershire1st
CleveThe HayfieldsMangotsfield, Gloucestershire8th
ClevedonColeridge Vale Playing FieldsClevedon, Somerset6th
Clifton IIStation Road2,500 Cribbs Causeway, Patchway, BristolPromoted from Counties 2 Gloucestershire South
LonglevensLongford LaneLonglevens, Gloucestershire3rd
Midsomer NortonNorton Down Playing FieldsMidsomer Norton, Somerset5th
Nailsea & BackwellWest End ParkNailsea, Somerset4th
Old BristoliansMemorial Playing FieldsFailand, Somerset10th
Old Redcliffians IIScotland Lane1,000Brislington, BristolPromoted from Counties 2 Somerset

2022–23

Participating teams and location

TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
Avonmouth Old BoysBarracks LaneShirehampton, Bristol12th
Barton HillDuncombe RoadSpeedwell, Bristol10th
Burnham-on-SeaBASC GroundBurnham-on-Sea, Somerset6th Western Counties West
Cheltenham NorthStoke Orchard RoadBishop's Cleeve, Gloucestershire13th
Chipping SodburyThe RidingsChipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire8th
Cinderford IIDockham Road2,500Cinderford, GloucestershireNew entry
CleveThe HayfieldsMangotsfield, Gloucestershire9th
ClevedonColeridge Vale Playing FieldsClevedon, Somerset11th
LonglevensLongford LaneLonglevens, Gloucestershire1st Gloucester Premier
Midsomer NortonNorton Down Playing FieldsMidsomer Norton, Somerset7th
Nailsea & BackwellWest End ParkNailsea, Somerset1st Somerset Premier
Old BristoliansMemorial Playing FieldsFailand, Somerset6th

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 BoysBarracks LaneShirehampton, Bristol5th
Barton HillDuncombe RoadSpeedwell, Bristol7th
CheltenhamNewlands Park1,000Southam, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire3rd
Cheltenham NorthStoke Orchard RoadBishop's Cleeve, GloucestershirePromoted from Gloucester Premier
Chipping SodburyThe RidingsChipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire6th
Chosen Hill Former PupilsBrookfield RoadChurchdown, GloucestershirePromoted from Gloucester Premier
CleveThe HayfieldsMangotsfield, GloucestershireRelegated from South West 1 West
ClevedonColeridge Vale Playing FieldsClevedon, Somerset12th
GordanoCaswell LanePortbury, Somerset8th
MatsonRedwell RoadMatson, Gloucester, Gloucestershire2nd
Midsomer NortonNorton Down Playing FieldsMidsomer Norton, Somerset4th
Old BristoliansMemorial Playing FieldsFailand, Somerset10th
WinscombeRecreation Ground1,200Winscombe, Somerset9th

2020–21

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic the season was cancelled.

2019–20

Participating teams

TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
Avonmouth Old BoysBarracks LaneShirehampton, Bristol5th
Barton HillDuncombe RoadSpeedwell, Bristol10th
Bristol SaracensBakewell Memorial GroundCribbs Causeway, BristolPromoted from Gloucester Premier
CheltenhamNewlands ParkSoutham, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire11th
Chipping SodburyWickwar RoadChipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire6th
ClevedonColeridge Vale Playing FieldsClevedon, Somerset8th
Coney HillMetz HillGloucester, GloucestershireRelegated from South West 1 West
GordanoCaswell LanePortbury, Somerset7th
MatsonRedwell RoadMatson, Gloucester, Gloucestershire3rd
Midsomer NortonNorton Down Playing FieldsMidsomer Norton, SomersetRunners up
Old BristoliansMemorial Playing FieldsFailand, Somerset9th
SpartansLansdown RoadGloucester, GloucestershirePromoted from Gloucester Premier
StroudFromehall Park4,000 Stroud, Gloucestershire4th
WinscombeRecreation Ground1,200Winscombe, SomersetLevel transfer from Western Counties West

2018–19

Participating teams

TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
Avonmouth Old BoysBarracks LaneShirehampton, Bristol3rd
Barton HillDuncombe RoadSpeedwell, BristolPromoted from Gloucester Premier
CheltenhamNewlands ParkSoutham, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire10th
Chew ValleyChew LaneChew Magna, SomersetRunner-up
Chipping SodburyWickwar RoadChipping Sodbury, GloucestershirePromoted from Gloucester Premier
Chosen Hill Former PupilsBrookfield RoadChurchdown, Gloucestershire7th
ClevedonColeridge Vale Playing FieldsClevedon, SomersetRelegated from South West 1 West
GordanoCaswell LanePortbury, SomersetPromoted from Somerset Premier
MatsonRedwell RoadMatson, Gloucester, GloucestershireRelegated from South West 1 West
Midsomer NortonNorton Down Playing FieldsMidsomer Norton, Somerset6th
Old BristoliansMemorial Playing FieldsFailand, Somerset5th
Old RichiansSandyleazeGloucester, Gloucestershire4th
StroudFromehall Park4,000 Stroud, Gloucestershire8th
WellsCharter WayWells, Somerset9th

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.
PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
Midsomer Norton262006750595155202102
Crediton 262123643423220121101

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

TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
Avonmouth Old BoysBarracks LaneShirehampton, Bristol4th
Bristol SaracensBakewell Memorial GroundCribbs Causeway, Bristol7th
CheltenhamNewlands Park Sports & Social VenueSoutham, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire10th
Chew ValleyChew LaneChew Magna, Somerset2nd
Chosen Hill Former PupilsBrookfield RoadChurchdown, Gloucestershire3rd
Coney HillMetz HillGloucester, Gloucestershire11th
Midsomer NortonNorton Down Playing FieldsMidsomer Norton, SomersetRelegated from Tribute South West 1 West
Old BristoliansMemorial Playing FieldsFailand, Somerset6th
Oldfield Old BoysShaft RoadMonkton Combe, Bath, SomersetPromoted from Tribute Somerset Premier
Old RichiansSandyleazeGloucester, GloucestershirePromoted from Gloucester Premier
StroudFromehall Park4,000 Stroud, Gloucestershire5th
WellsCharter WayWells, Somerset9th
WinscombeRecreation Ground1,200Winscombe, SomersetPromoted from Tribute Somerset Premier
YattonThe ParkYatton, Somerset8th

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. 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.
PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
Chew Valley26180879845834015592
Devonport Services 26171871945626314690

2016–17

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.
PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
Chew Valley262204822493329180106
Cullompton 262204659311348112101

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 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.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
AvonAshley LaneBradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire5th
Barton HillDuncombe RoadSpeedwell, Bristol10th
Bristol HarlequinsBroomhill RoadBrislington, Bristol3rd
Burnham-on-SeaBASC GroundBurnham-on-Sea, Somerset11th
CheltenhamNewlands Park Sports & Social VenueSoutham, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire9th
Chew ValleyChew LaneChew Magna, Somerset4th
Chosen Hill Former PupilsBrookfield RoadChurchdown, Gloucester, Gloucestershire6th
GordanoCaswell LanePortbury, Somersetpromoted from Tribute Somerset Premier
KeynshamBristol RoadKeynsham, Somerset8th
MatsonRedwell RoadGloucester, Gloucestershirerelegated from Tribute South West 1 West
Old BristoliansMemorial Playing FieldsFailand, Somerset7th
StroudFromehall Park4,000 Stroud, Gloucestershirepromoted from Gloucester Premier
WellingtonAthletic GroundWellington, Somersetlevel transfer from Tribute Western Counties West
WhitehallFoundry LaneWhitehall, Bristolpromoted from Gloucester Premier

Participating teams 2014–15

  • Avon
  • Barton Hill
  • Bristol Harlequins
  • Bristol Saracens '
  • Burnham-on-Sea
  • Cheltenham
  • Chew Valley
  • Chosen Hill Former Pupils
  • Coney Hill '
  • Keynsham
  • Old Bristolians
  • Newent
  • North Bristol
  • Stothert & Pitt

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 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, 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. It was a tier 7 league with promotion up to South West 2 and relegation to either Cornwall/Devon or Gloucestershire/Somerset.

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. The league continued to be sponsored by Courage.

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. Promotion from Western Counties North was to the new South West 2 West division while relegation was to Gloucestershire/Somerset.

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.

Western Counties North (2009–2022)

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

Counties 1 Western North (2022– )

Following league reorganisation, Western Counties North is renamed Counties 1 Western North and continues to be a tier 7 league. Promotion is to Regional 2 South West and relegation to Counties 2 Gloucester or Counties 2 Somerset. Tribute continue to sponsor the league.

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.

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. The league was unsponsored until season 2007–08 when St Austell Brewery sponsored South-west based leagues under the Tribute Ale label.