Gloucester 3


Gloucester 3 was an English rugby union league which sat at the eleventh level of league rugby union in England for teams based in Gloucestershire as well as some in Bristol. Promoted clubs moved into Gloucester 2, and since the cancellation of Gloucester 4 at the end of the 1995–96 season there had been no relegation. The division was discontinued at the end of the 2017–18 season and Gloucester 2 was divided into north and south regional divisions.

Teams 2017–18

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
CainscrossVictory ParkCainscross, Stroud, Gloucestershire6th
FairfordWalnut Tree FieldFairford, Gloucestershire4th
Gloucester All BluesThe OxleazeGloucester, Gloucestershire7th
KingswoodGrimsbury Road Playing FieldsWarmley, Kingswood, GloucestershireRelegated from Gloucester 2
NortonNorton Parish GroundsNorton, Gloucestershire5th
PainswickBroadham FieldsPainswick, GloucestershireRelegated from Gloucester 2
TetburyThe Recreation GroundTetbury, Gloucestershire3rd
United Bristol HospitalsPortway Development GroundPortway, BristolTransferred from Gloucestershire Reserve Leagues
Westbury-on-SevernParish Playing FieldWestbury-on-Severn, GloucestershireRelegated from Gloucester 2

Teams 2016-17

  • Aretians
  • Cainscross
  • Cotham Park
  • Fairford
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Norton
  • Tetbury
  • Wotton

    2015–16

The 2015–16 Gloucester 3 consists of seven teams from Gloucestershire. The season starts on 12 September 2015 and is due to end on 16 April 2016. Four of the seven teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Smiths and runners up Minchinhampton were promoted to the Gloucester 2 while Wotton joined from the Gloucestershire Reserve League. As it is the basement league in Gloucestershire there is no relegation.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
CainscrossVictory ParkCainscross, Stroud, Gloucestershire3rd
Cheltenham Civil ServiceTewkesbury RoadUckington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire5th
Gloucester All BluesThe OxleazeGloucester, Gloucestershire4th
NortonNorton Parish GroundsNorton, Gloucestershire7th
Old ElizabethansSevern RoadHallen, GloucestershireRelegated from Gloucester 2
TetburyThe Recreation GroundTetbury, Gloucestershire6th
WottonKLB School Playing FieldsWotton-Under-Edge, GloucestershireJoined from Gloucestershire Reserve League - South 2

Teams 2014-15

  • Cainscross
  • Cheltenham Civil Service '
  • Gloucester All Blues '
  • Hardwicke & Quedgeley Harlequins
  • Minchinhampton
  • Norton
  • Smiths
  • Tetbury

    Teams 2013–14

  • Cainscross
  • Hardwicke & Quedgeley
  • Minchinhampton
  • Norton
  • Old Elizabethans
  • Smiths
  • Tredworth

    Teams 2012–13

  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Minchinhampton
  • Norton
  • Old Cryptians '
  • Old Elizabethans '
  • Smiths
  • Tredworth
  • Westbury-on-Severn

    Teams 2011-12

  • Bredon Star
  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cainscross
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Greyhound RFC
  • Minchinhampton
  • Smiths ''''''

    Teams 2010-11

  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Broad Plain
  • Cainscross
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Minchinhampton
  • Wotton

    Teams 2009-10

  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Dowty
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Minchinhampton
  • Newent
  • Smiths
  • Wotton

    Teams 2008-09

  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cotham Park
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Minchinhampton
  • Newent
  • St. Brendan's Old Boys
  • Smiths
  • Wotton

    Teams 2007-08

  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cotham Park
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Greyhound
  • Minchinhampton
  • Pilning
  • St. Brendon's Old Boys
  • Tredworth
  • Wotton

    Teams 2006-07

  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cainscross
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Greyhound
  • Minchinhampton
  • Pilning
  • St. Brendan's Old Boys
  • Smiths
  • Wotton

    Teams 2005-06

North

  • Cainscross
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Minchinhampton
  • Ross-on-Wye
  • Tredworth
  • Westbury-on-Severn

    South

  • Bristol Aeroplane Co.
  • Cotham Park
  • Kingswood
  • Pilning
  • St. Brendan's Old Boys
  • Tetbury
  • Wotton

    Teams 2004-05

North

  • Fairford
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Hartpury College
  • Ross-on-Wye
  • Smiths
  • Tredworth
  • Westbury-on-Severn

    South

  • Bristol Aeroplane Co.
  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cainscross
  • Minchinhampton
  • Pilning
  • St. Brendan's Old Boys
  • Tetbury
  • Wotton

    Teams 2003-04

North

  • Cainscross
  • Fairford
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Ross-on-Wye
  • Tredworth
  • Newent

    South

  • Bristol Aeroplane Co.
  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cotham Park
  • Kingswood
  • Pilning
  • St. Brendan's Old Boys
  • Tetbury
  • Wotton

    Teams 2002-03

North

  • Cainscross
  • Cheltenham Civil Service
  • Dursley
  • Fairford
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Newent
  • Tredworth

    South

  • Bristol Aeroplane Co.
  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cotham Park
  • Old Colstonians
  • Pilning
  • St. Brendand's Old Boys
  • Tetbury
  • Wotton

    Teams 2001-02

North

  • Fairford
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Newent
  • Smiths
  • Ross-on-Wye
  • Tredworth

    South

  • Bristol Aeroplane Co.
  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cainscross
  • Cotham Park
  • Minchinhampton
  • Tetbury
  • Wotton

    Teams 2000-01

North

  • Fairford
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Newent
  • Ross-on-Wye
  • Tredworth
  • Widden Old Boys

    South

  • Bristol Aeroplane Co.
  • Cotham Park
  • Minchinhampton
  • Old Colstonians
  • St. Brendan's Old Boys
  • Wotton

    Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
  • Bishopston
  • Chipping Sodbury
  • Chosen Hill Former Pupils
  • Frampton Cotterell
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Gloucester Old Boys
  • Kingswood
  • Old Bristolians
  • Painswick
  • Tewkesbury
  • Thornbury

    Gloucester 3 honours

Gloucestershire 3 (1987–1991)

Originally a single division known as Gloucestershire 3, it was a tier 11 league with promotion to Gloucestershire 2 and relegation to Gloucestershire 4.

Gloucester 3 (1991–1993)

Gloucestershire 3 was shorted to Gloucester 3 for the 1991–92 season onward. It remained a tier 11 league with promotion to Gloucester 2 and relegation to Gloucester 4.

Gloucester 3 (1993–1996)

The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Gloucester 3 dropped to become a tier 12 league. Promotion continued to Gloucester 2 and relegation to Gloucester 4.

Gloucester 3 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Gloucester 3 reverted to being a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Gloucester 1 while the cancellation of Gloucester 4 meant there was no longer relegation.

Gloucester 3 North / South (2000–2006)

Restructuring of the Gloucester leagues at the end of the 1999–00 season saw Gloucester 3 split into two regional leagues - Gloucester 3 North and Gloucester 3 South - both at tier 11 of the league system. Promotion continued to Gloucester 2 and there was no relegation.

Gloucester 3 (2006–2009)

For the 2006–07 season Gloucester 3 North and South were remerged back into a single Gloucester 3 division, remaining at tier 11 of the league system. Promotion continued to Gloucester 2 and there was no relegation. Between 2007 and 2009 Gloucester 3 was sponsored by High Bridge Jewellers.

Gloucester 3 (2009–2018)

Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Gloucester 2 remained a tier 11 league, with promotion continuing to Gloucester 1 and there was no relegation. From 2017 the league was now sponsored by Wadworth 6x. At the end of the 2017–18 the division was disbanded and all teams promoted to the newly regionalised Gloucester 2 - Gloucester 2 North or Gloucester 2 South.

Promotion play-offs

Between 2001 and 2005 there was a promotion play-off between the runners-up of Gloucester 3 North and Gloucester 3 South for the third and final promotion place to Gloucester 2. The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. During the 2005–06 season the play-offs were discontinued as Gloucester 3 would merge into one division for the 2006–07 season. Before they were discontinued Gloucester 3 North teams have been the most successful with three wins to the Gloucester 3 South teams' two; and the home team has won promotion on all five occasions.

Number of league titles

  • St Brendan's Old Boys
  • Dursley
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Ross-on-Wye
  • Old Elizabethans
  • Smiths
  • Bishopston
  • Bredon Star
  • Broad Plain
  • Bristol Aeroplane Co.
  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Caincross
  • Cheltenham Civil Service
  • Cotham Park
  • Frampton Cotterell
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Hartpury College
  • Hucclecote Old Boys
  • Kingswood
  • Minchinhampton
  • Newent
  • Old Bristolians
  • Old Colstonians
  • Old Cryptians
  • Painswick
  • Southmead
  • Tetbury
  • Tredworth
  • United Bristol Hospitals
  • Widden Old Boys