Devon League 2


Counties 3 Devon is an English level nine rugby union league for clubs based in Devon. Promotion is to Counties 1 Devon. Formerly relegation was to Devon League 3 but after its cancellation in 2003 there was no automatic relegation as this was the lowest division in club rugby union in Devon.
The league was suspended at the end of the 2017–18 season, with teams being either promoted into Devon League 1 or transferred to the Devon Merit Leagues. The league was reinstated following the RFU Adult competition Review which came into effect ahead of the 2022–23 season, but was initially split into East and West divisions before being re-categorised as East & North / South & West ahead of the 2023–24 season.

Format

The results of the matches contributed 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 are awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
  • 1 additional point are awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.

2025–26

North & East

Departing were Crediton II, promoted to Counties 2 Devon.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Cullompton IIStafford ParkCullompton, Devon8th
Exeter AthleticBravelandsClyst St Mary, Devon9th
Exeter EngineersBravelandsClyst St Mary, Devon7th
Exmouth IIImperial Recreation Ground1,250 Exmouth, DevonRelegated from Counties 2 Devon
New CrossFive Lanes Pitch, Strap LaneKingsteignton3rd
Newton Abbot IIRackerhayes1,150 Newton Abbot, Devon10th
North TawtonTaw MeadowNorth Tawton2nd
Okehampton IIShowground1,120 Okehampton, Devon6th
Sidmouth IIBlackmore FieldSidmouth, Devon4th
Tiverton IICoronation Field750 Tiverton, Devon5th

South & West

Departing were Ivybridge II, promoted to Counties 2 Devon.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Brixham IIAstley ParkBrixham, Devon2nd
Kingsbridge IIHigh House1,000 Kingsbridge, Devon10th
Old TechniciansWeston Mill Oak Villa Social ClubPlymouth3rd
Paignton IIQueen's ParkPaignton, Devon4th
Plymouth ArgaumBickleigh DownPlymouth, DevonRelegated from Counties 2 Devon
Plympton VictoriaSt.Boniface ArenaPlympton, Plymouth8th
Plymstock Albion Oaks IIHorsham Playing FieldsStaddiscombe, Plymouth9th
SalcombeTwo Meads500Salcombe5th
Tamar SaracensThe ParkwayErnesettle, PlymouthRelegated from Counties 2 Devon
Torquay Athletic IIRecreation GroundTorquay, Devon6th
TotnesBorough ParkTotnes7th

2024–25

North & East

Departing were Topsham II, promoted to Counties 2 Devon.
Teignmouth II started but did not complete the season leaving eleven sides to contest the fixtures.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Cullompton IIStafford ParkCullompton, Devon4th
Crediton IIBlagdonCrediton, Devon3rd
Exeter AthleticBravelandsClyst St Mary, Devon9th
Exeter EngineersBravelandsClyst St Mary, DevonNew entry
New CrossFive Lanes Pitch, Strap LaneKingsteigntonRunners-up
Newton Abbot IIRackerhayes1,150 Newton Abbot, Devon10th
North TawtonTaw MeadowNorth TawtonRelegated from Counties 2 Devon
Okehampton IIShowground1,120 Okehampton, Devon6th
Sidmouth IIBlackmore FieldSidmouth, Devon7th
Tiverton IICoronation Field750 Tiverton, Devon5th

South & West

Departing were Dartmouth and Tamar Saracens, promoted to Couties 2 Devon. Tavistock II did not return for the new season.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Brixham IIAstley ParkBrixham, Devon4th
Ivybridge IICross-in-HandIvybridge, DevonRelegated from Counties 2 Devon
Kingsbridge IIHigh House1,000 Kingsbridge, Devon9th
Old TechniciansWeston Mill Oak Villa Social ClubPlymouth6th
Paignton IIQueen's ParkPaignton, Devon5th
Plymstock Albion Oaks IIHorsham Playing FieldsStaddiscombe, Plymouth7th
Plympton VictoriaSt.Boniface ArenaPlympton, Plymouth11th
SalcombeTwo Meads500Salcombe3rd
Torquay Athletic IIRecreation GroundTorquay, Devon8th
TotnesBorough ParkTotnes12th

2023–24

The league was redesignated as North & East and South & West for the new season.

North & East

Departing were Old Plymouthian & Mannamedian, promoted to Counties 2 Devon. Torrington and Buckfastleigh Ramblers returned to their respective merit leagues.
Teignmouth II, Topsham II and Okehampton II joined on a level transfer from the West league.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Cullompton IIStafford ParkCullompton, Devon6th
Crediton IIBlagdonCrediton, DevonRunners-up
Exeter AthleticBravelandsClyst St Mary, Devon7th
New CrossFive Lanes Pitch, Strap LaneKingsteignton8th
Newton Abbot IIRackerhayes1,150 Newton Abbot, Devon4th
Okehampton IIShowground1,120 Okehampton, Devon4th
Sidmouth IIBlackmore FieldSidmouth, Devon5th
Teignmouth IIBitton Park Sports GroundTeignmouth, Devon8th
Tiverton IICoronation Field750 Tiverton, Devon3rd
Topsham IIBonfire FieldTopsham, Exeter3rd

South & West

Departing were Plymouth Argaum, promoted to Couties 2 Devon.
Topsham II, Newton Abbot and Teignmouth II went on a level transfer to the North & East division.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Brixham IIAstley ParkBrixham, DevonRelegated from Counties 2 Devon
DartmouthDartmouth Leisure CentreDartmouth7th
Kingsbridge IIHigh House1,000 Kingsbridge, DevonNew entry
Old TechniciansWeston Mill Oak Villa Social ClubPlymouth6th
Paignton IIQueen's ParkPaignton, Devon9th
Plymstock Albion Oaks IIHorsham Playing FieldsStaddiscombe, Plymouth10th
Plympton VictoriaSt.Boniface ArenaPlympton, PlymouthRe-entry
SalcombeTwo Meads500Salcombe5th
Tamar SaracensThe ParkwayErnesettle, PlymouthRunners-up
Tavistock IISandy Park500Tavistock, DevonNew entry
Torquay Athletic IIRecreation GroundTorquay, DevonNew entry
TotnesBorough ParkTotnes11th

2022–23

The league was reinstated following the RFU Adult competition Review which saw the competition split into East and West divisions.

East

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Buckfastleigh RamblersBuckfastleigh Sports ClubBuckfastleighDevon League 1
Cullompton IIStafford ParkCullompton, DevonNew entry
Crediton IIBlagdonCrediton, DevonNew entry
Exeter AthleticBravelandsClyst St Mary, DevonDevon League 1
New CrossFive Lanes Pitch, Strap LaneKingsteigntonDevon League 1
Okehampton IIShowground1,120 Okehampton, DevonNew entry
Old Plymouthian & MannamedianKing George V Playing FieldsPlymstock, PlymouthDevon League 1
Sidmouth IIBlackmore FieldSidmouth, DevonNew entry
Tiverton IICoronation Field750 Tiverton, DevonNew entry
TorringtonDonnacroftGreat TorringtonDevon League 1

West

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
DartmouthDartmouth Leisure CentreDartmouthDevon League 1
Newton Abbot IIRackerhayes1,150 Newton Abbot, DevonNew entry
Old TechniciansWeston Mill Oak Villa Social ClubPlymouthDevon League 1
Paignton IIQueen's ParkPaignton, DevonNew entry
Plymouth ArgaumBickleigh DownPlymouth, DevonDevon League 1
Plymstock Albion Oaks IIHorsham Playing FieldsStaddiscombe, PlymouthNew entry
SalcombeTwo Meads500SalcombeDevon League 1
Tamar SaracensThe ParkwayErnesettle, PlymouthDevon League 1
Teignmouth IIBitton Park Sports Ground1,210 Teignmouth, DevonNew entry
Topsham IIBonfire FieldTopsham, ExeterNew entry
TotnesBorough ParkTotnesDevon League 1

2018–2022

Not contested.

2017–18

The season started on 28 October 2017 and the last matches were played on 24 February 2018

Participating clubs and locations

GroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season-
Buckfastleigh RamblersBuckfastleigh Sports ClubBuckfastleigh4th
Devonport HSOBStonehouse CreekDevonport, Plymouth6th
IlfracombeBrimlandsIlfracombeRelegated from Devon 1
North TawtonTaw MeadowNorth TawtonRelegated from Devon 1
Old Plymouthian & MannamedianKing George V Playing FieldsPlymstock, Plymouth3rd
Plympton VictoriaSt.Boniface ArenaPlympton, Plymouth7th
St Columba & TorpointDefiance FieldTorpoint, Cornwall8th
SalcombeTwo Meads500Salcombe5th

2015–16

Participating clubs and locations

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Buckfastleigh RamblersBuckfastleigh Sports ClubBuckfastleigh6th
DartmouthDartmouth Leisure CentreDartmouth5th
Devonport HSOBStonehouse CreekDevonport, Plymouth7th
IlfracombeBrimlandsIlfracombe4th
Old TechniciansWeston Mill Oak Villa Social ClubPlymouthRelegated from Devon 1
Plympton VictoriaSt.Boniface ArenaPlympton, Plymouth8th
SalcombeTwo Meads500Salcombe3rd
TorringtonDonnacroftTorringtonRelegated from Devon 1

2014–15

North Tawton came first and were promoted to Devon 1 along with the runner-up Tamar Saracens. Both teams won thirteen of their fourteen matches; losing just the one match away to each other.

2012–13

Participating clubs

  • Buckfastleigh Ramblers
  • Devonport HSOB
  • Ilfracombe
  • North Tawton
  • Plymouth Argaum
  • Plympton Victoria
  • St Columba & Torpoint
  • Tamar Saracens

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division was split into two regional leagues known as Devon 2A and Devon 2B and contained the following teams:

Devon 2A

Devon 2A was for teams based in Plymouth and the surrounding area.

Devon 2B

Devon 2B was for teams based in the rest of Devon.

Devon League 2 honours

Devon League 2A / 2B (1987–1992)

The original Devon 2 was split into two tier 10 regional leagues – Devon 2A and Devon 2B. Promotion was to Devon 1 and there was no relegation.

Devon League 2 (1992–1993)

Ahead of the 1992–93 season Devon 2A and 2B were merged into a single tier 10 division known as Devon 2. Promotion continued to Devon 1 and there was no relegation. The league continued to be sponsored by Courage.

Devon League 2 (1993–96)

The creation of National 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Devon 2 dropped to become a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Devon 1 and there was no relegation until the introduction of Devon 3 at the end of the 1995–96 season. The league continued to be sponsored by Courage.

Devon League 2 (1996–2003)

The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Devon 2 return to being a tier 10 division. Promotion continued to Cornwall/Devon and relegation was now down to the new Devon 3.

Devon League 2 (2003–2009)

Devon 2 continued as a tier 10 league with promotion to Devon 1. However, the cancellation of Devon 3 at the end of the 2002–03 meant that there was no longer relegation. From the 2008–09 season onward the league sponsor is Tribute.

Devon 1 South & West (2009–2010)

For a solitary season Devon 2 was known as Devon 1 South & West. It remained a tier 10 league with promotion to Devon 1 and there was no relegation. Tribute continued to sponsor the league.

Devon League 2 (2010–2018)

Devon 1 South & West was renamed back to Devon 2 for the 2010–11 season onward. It continued as a tier 10 league with promotion to Devon 1 and there was no relegation. Tribute continued to sponsor the league. At the end of the 2017–18 season Devon 2 was disbanded and all teams transferred into either Devon 1 or the Devon Merit Leagues.

Number of league titles