Counties 3 Somerset


Counties 3 Somerset is an English rugby union league which sits at the ninth level of league rugby union in England involving teams based in the county of Somerset as well as some teams based in Bristol. 1st, 2nd and even 3rd XV sides can participate in the division as long as they are not from the same club.
The league champions and runners up are promoted to Counties 2 Somerset while relegated teams drop to either Counties 4 Somerset North or Counties 4 Somerset South depending on location. Each year clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase – a level 9–12 national competition.

Teams 2025–26

North

Departing were Keynsham II, promoted to Counties 2 Somerset, while Walcott II were relegated to Counties 4 Somerset North.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Bristol HarlequinsBroomhill RoadBrislington, Bristol3rd
Bristol Telephone AreaBTRA Sports GroundStockwood, BristolPromoted from Counties 4 Somerset North
Clevedon IIColeridge Vale Playing FieldsClevedon8th
Gordano IICaswell LanePortbury7th
Midsomer Norton IINorton Down Playing FieldsMidsomer NortonRunners-up
Nailsea & Backwell IIWest End ParkNailseaRelegated from Counties 2 Somerset
Old Redcliffians IIIScotland Lane1,000Brislington, Bristol5th
Old SuliansLansdown RoadBath6th
Winscombe IIRecreation GroundWinscombe, Somerset9th
YattonThe ParkYatton4th

South

Departing were Castle Cary promoted to Counties 2 Somerset while Cheddar Valley and Somerton were relegated to Counties 4 Somerset North and Counties 4 Somerset South respectively.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Bridgwater & Albion IIBath Road5,000BridgwaterRunners-up
Chard IIThe Park, Essex CloseChard10th
CrewkerneHenhayes Recreation GroundCrewkerne9th
Hornets IIIHutton Moor Park1,100 Weston-super-Mare8th
MartockThe Recreation GroundMartockPromoted from Counties 4 Somerset South
North Petherton IIBeggars BrookNorth Petherton5th
TorBrian Harbinson Memorial ParkGlastonbury, Somerset3rd
Wellington IIAthletic GroundWellington7th
WellsCharter WayWells, SomersetRelegated from Counties 2 Somerset
Weston-super-Mare IIRecreation Ground3,000Weston-super-Mare, Somerset6th
Wiveliscombe IIRecreational GroundWiveliscombePromoted from Counties 4 Somerset South
WyvernMountfields roadTaunton4th

Teams 2024–25

North

Departing were Nailsea & Backwell II, promoted to Counties 2 Somerset, while Imperial II were relegated.
Joining were Walcott II, Yatton and Chew Valley III.
Chew Valley III and Oldfield Old Boys II both started but did not complete the season meaning the remaining league fixtures were contested by ten sides.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Bristol HarlequinsBroomhill RoadBrislington, Bristol3rd
Clevedon IIColeridge Vale Playing FieldsClevedon9th
Gordano IICaswell LanePortbury8th
Keynsham IIBristol RoadKeynsham2nd
Midsomer Norton IINorton Down Playing FieldsMidsomer Norton5th
Old Redcliffians IIIScotland Lane1,000Brislington, Bristol7th
Old SuliansLansdown RoadBath6th
Walcott IIAlbert FieldLansdown, BathPromoted from Counties 4 Somerset North
Winscombe IIRecreation GroundWinscombe, Somerset4th
YattonThe ParkYattonRelegated from Counties 2 Somerset

South

Departing were Burnham-on-Sea II and Wiveliscombe II both relegated to Counties 4 Somerset South.
There was no promotion as Hornets II were already in Counties 2 Somerset meaning Hornets III could not compete in the same league.
Joining were Wyvern and Weston-super-Mare II.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Bridgwater & Albion IIBath Road5,000Bridgwater8th
Castle CaryBrook House FieldCastle Cary2nd
Chard IIThe Park, Essex CloseChard10th
Cheddar ValleySharpham RoadCheddar9th
CrewkerneHenhayes Recreation GroundCrewkerne5th
Hornets IIIHutton Moor Park1,100 Weston-super-MareChampions
North Petherton IIBeggars BrookNorth Petherton3rd
SomertonGasson's LaneSomerton6th
TorBrian Harbinson Memorial ParkGlastonbury, Somerset4th
Wellington IIAthletic GroundWellington7th
Weston-super-Mare IIRecreation Ground3,000Weston-super-Mare, SomersetRelegated from Counties 2 Somerset
WyvernMountfields roadTauntonPromoted from Counties 4 Somerset South

Teams 2023–24

North

Departing were Chew Valley II, promoted to Counties 2 Somerset, while Stothert & Pitt and Bristol Telephone Area were relegated.
Joining were Imperial II and Old Redcliffians III..
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Bristol HarlequinsBroomhill RoadBrislington, Bristol3rd
Clevedon IIColeridge Vale Playing FieldsClevedon11th
Gordano IICaswell LanePortbury6th
Imperial IISouth Bristol Sports CentreHengrove, BristolPromoted from Counties 4 Somerset North
Keynsham IIBristol RoadKeynsham2nd
Midsomer Norton IINorton Down Playing FieldsMidsomer Norton10th
Nailsea & Backwell IIWest End ParkNailsea4th
Oldfield Old Boys IIShaft RoadMonkton Combe, Bath8th
Old Redcliffians IIIScotland Lane1,000Brislington, BristolPromoted from Counties 4 Somerset North
Old SuliansLansdown RoadBath5th
Winscombe IIRecreation GroundWinscombe, Somerset7th

South

Departing were Huish Tigers, promoted to Counties 2 Somerset. Wells II were relegated to Counties 4 Somerset South.
Joining were Burnham-on-Sea II, Cheddar Valley, Crewkerne and Tor.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Bridgwater & Albion IIBath Road5,000Bridgwater9th
Burnham-on-Sea IIBASC GroundBurnham-on-SeaPromoted from Counties 4 Somerset South
Castle CaryBrook House FieldCastle Cary2nd
Chard IIThe Park, Essex CloseChard3rd
Cheddar ValleySharpham RoadCheddarPromoted from Counties 4 Somerset South
CrewkerneHenhayes Recreation GroundCrewkernePromoted from Counties 4 Somerset South
Hornets IIIHutton Moor Park1,100 Weston-super-Mare4th
North Petherton IIBeggars BrookNorth Petherton6th
SomertonGasson's LaneSomerton5th
TorBrian Harbinson Memorial ParkGlastonbury, SomersetRelegated from Counties 2 Somerset
Wellington IIAthletic GroundWellington7th
Wiveliscombe IIRecreational GroundWiveliscombe8th

Teams 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league split into North and South divisions.
Departing were Old Redcliffians II, promoted, together with Cheddar Valley who took a voluntary relegation to Counties 4 Somerset South and Morganians who withdrew from league competition.

North

Joining were Bristol Harlequins, Bristol Telephone Area, Clevedon II, Gordano II, Oldfield Old Boys II, Stothert & Pitt and Winscombe II.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Bristol HarlequinsBroomhill RoadBrislington, BristolRelegated from Somerset Premier
Bristol Telephone AreaBTRA Sports GroundStockwood, BristolPromoted from Somerset 2 North
Clevedon IIColeridge Vale Playing FieldsClevedonPromoted from Somerset 2 North
Chew Valley IIChew LaneChew Magna2nd
Gordano IICaswell LanePortburyPromoted from Somerset 2 North
Keynsham IIBristol RoadKeynsham4th
Midsomer Norton IINorton Down Playing FieldsMidsomer Norton10th
Nailsea & Backwell IIWest End ParkNailsea6th
Oldfield Old Boys IIShaft RoadMonkton Combe, BathPromoted from Somerset 2 North

South

Joining were Castle Cary, Chard II, Hornets III, Huish Tigers, Somerton, Wells II and Wiveliscombe II.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Bridgwater & Albion IIBath Road5,000Bridgwater8th
Castle CaryBrook House FieldCastle CaryPromoted from Somerset 2 South
Chard IIThe Park, Essex CloseChardPromoted from Somerset 2 South
Hornets IIIHutton Moor Park1,100 Weston-super-MarePromoted from Somerset 2 North
Huish TigersAsh Meadow ParkTaunton, SomersetPromoted from Somerset 3 South
North Petherton IIBeggars BrookNorth Petherton5th
SomertonGasson's LaneSomertonPromoted from Somerset 2 South
Wellington IIAthletic GroundWellington9th
Wells IICharter WayWellsPromoted from Somerset 2 South
Wiveliscombe IIRecreational GroundWiveliscombePromoted from Somerset 2 South

Teams 2021–22

Taunton II started but did not complete the season leaving eleven sides to contest the remaining fixtures.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Bridgwater & Albion IIBath Road5,000Bridgwater4th
Cheddar ValleySharpham RoadCheddar5th
Chew Valley IIChew LaneChew Magna3rd
Keynsham IIBristol RoadKeynsham6th
Midsomer Norton IINorton Down Playing FieldsMidsomer Norton9th
MorganiansChedzoy LaneBridgwaterPromoted from Somerset 2 South
Nailsea & Backwell IIWest End ParkNailseaPromoted from Somerset 2 North
North Petherton IIBeggars BrookNorth Petherton8th
Old Redcliffians IIScotland Lane1,000Brislington, BristolRelegated from Somerset Premier
Old SuliansLansdown RoadBath7th
Wellington IIAthletic GroundWellington10th

2020–21

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

Teams 2019–20

TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Bath Old EdwardiansKing Edward's School Playing FieldsBath10th
Bridgwater & Albion IIBath Road5,000Bridgwater5th
Bristol HarlequinsValhallaBrislington, BristolRelegated from Somerset Premier
Cheddar ValleySharpham RoadCheddar6th
Chew Valley IIChew LaneChew Magna4th
CrewkerneHenhayes Recreation GroundCrewkerne11th
Keynsham IIBristol RoadKeynsham8th
Midsomer Norton IINorton Down Playing FieldsMidsomer NortonPromoted from Somerset 2 North
North PethertonBeggars BrookNorth Petherton3rd
Old SuliansLansdown RoadBath7th
Taunton IITowergate Stadium2,000 TauntonPromoted from Somerset 2 South
Wellington IIAthletic GroundWellington9th

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
  • Burnham-on-Sea
  • Crewkerne
  • Frome
  • Hornets
  • North Petherton
  • Old Culverhaysians
  • Oldfield Old Boys
  • Old Sulians
  • Walcot Old Boys
  • Wellington
  • Yeovil

Somerset 1 honours

Somerset 1 (1987–1993)

The original Somerset 1 was a tier 9 league with promotion to Gloucestershire/Somerset and relegation to Somerset 2.

Somerset 1 (1993–1996)

The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Somerset 1 dropped to become a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Gloucestershire/Somerset 1 and relegation to Somerset 2.

Somerset 1 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Somerset 1 reverted to being a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Gloucestershire/Somerset and relegation to Somerset 2.

Somerset 1 (2000–2006)

The cancellation of Gloucestershire/Somerset at the end of the 1999–00 season, saw Somerset 1 remain at tier 9, with promotion now to the new Somerset Premier and relegation continuing to Somerset 2.

Somerset 1 (2006–2009)

Somerset 1 remained a tier 9 league with promotion to Somerset Premier but the splitting of Somerset 2 into two regional divisions, meant that relegation was now to either Somerset 2 North or Somerset 2 South. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.

Somerset 1 (2009–present)

Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Somerset 1 remained a tier 9 league, with promotion continuing to Somerset Premier, while relegation to either Somerset 2 North or Somerset 2 South. The league would continued to be sponsored by Tribute.

Number of league titles