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

League table

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

League table

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

League table

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