Counties 1 Western West


Counties 1 Western West 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 West was renamed Counties 1 Western West prior to the 2022–23 season and is currently a seventh tier league for clubs based in the south-west of England; mainly Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. The champions are promoted to Regional 2 South West. The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above, but can be one, two or three, to either Counties 2 Cornwall, Counties 2 Devon or Counties 2 Somerset, depending on location.
Pirate Amateurs are the current champions.

Format

The champions are promoted to Regional 2 South West, while the last two teams, depending on their location, are relegated to Counties 2 Cornwall, Counties 2 Devon or Counties 2 Somerset. In previous seasons teams were relegated to the Cornwall/Devon league. The season runs from September to April 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

Departing were Pirates Amateurs promoted to Regional 2 South West, while Bude, Tavistock and Bideford were relegated.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
Barnstaple IIPottingham Road2,000 Barnstaple, Devon3rd
KingsbridgeHigh House1,000 Kingsbridge, Devon7th
Newton AbbotRackerhayes1,150 Newton Abbot, DevonRelegated from Regional 2 South West
PaigntonQueen's Park1,650 Paignton, Devon2nd
PenrynMemorial Ground4,000 Penryn, Cornwall9th
Plymstock Albion OaksHorsham Playing FieldsStaddiscombe, Plymouth4th
Redruth IIThe Recreation Ground3,500 Redruth, Cornwall5th
SaltashMoorlands LaneSaltashPromoted from Counties 2 Cornwall
St IvesRecreation Ground3,000 St Ives8th
Torquay AthleticRecreation Ground3,000 Torquay, DevonPromoted from Counties 2 Devon
TruroSt Clement's Hill2,000Truro, CornwallRelegated from Regional 2 South West
WiveliscombeRecreational GroundWiveliscombe, Somerset6th

2024–25

The champions Tiverton were promoted to Regional 2 South West, while Falmouth were relegated to Counties 2 Cornwall. Barnstaple II and Redruth II were promoted from Counties 2 Devon and Counties 2 Cornwall respectively. Six of the teams are from Devon, five from Cornwall and one from Somerset. Ten of last seasons twelve teams played in that season's competition.

Participating teams and location

TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
Barnstaple IIPottingham Road2,000 Barnstaple, DevonPromoted from Counties 2 Devon
BidefordKing George's Field2,000Bideford, Devon9th
BudeBencoolen Meadow750Bude, Cornwall11th
KingsbridgeHigh House1,000 Kingsbridge, Devon4th
PaigntonQueen's Park1,650 Paignton, Devon2nd
PenrynMemorial Ground4,000 Penryn, Cornwall6th
Pirates AmateursMennaye Field4,000 Penzance, Cornwall5th
Plymstock Albion OaksHorsham Playing FieldsStaddiscombe, Plymouth3rd
Redruth IIThe Recreation Ground3,500 Redruth, CornwallPromoted from Counties 2 Cornwall
St IvesRecreation Ground3,000 St Ives8th
TavistockSandy Park500Tavistock, Devon7th
WiveliscombeRecreational GroundWiveliscombe, Somerset10th

2023–24

Departing were Topsham and Cullompton, promoted to Regional 2 South West. There was no relegation.

Participating teams and location

TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
BidefordKing George's Field2,000Bideford, Devon8th
BudeBencoolen Meadow750Bude, Cornwall10th
FalmouthRecreation Ground3,000Falmouth, Cornwall12th
KingsbridgeHigh House1,000 Kingsbridge, Devon3rd
PaigntonQueen's Park1,650 Paignton, Devon11th
PenrynMemorial Ground4,000 Penryn, Cornwall7th
Pirates AmateursMennaye Field4,000 Penzance, Cornwall4th
Plymstock Albion OaksHorsham Playing FieldsStaddiscombe, Plymouth9th
St IvesRecreation Ground3,000 St IvesPromoted from Counties 2 Cornwall
TavistockSandy Park500Tavistock, DevonPromoted from Counties 2 Devon
TivertonCoronation Field2750 Tiverton, Devon5th
WiveliscombeRecreational GroundWiveliscombe, Somerset6th

2022–23

Participating teams and location

TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
BidefordKing George's Field2,000Bideford, DevonWestern Counties West
BudeBencoolen Meadow750Bude, CornwallPromoted from Cornwall/Devon League
CullomptonStafford ParkCullompton, DevonPromoted from Cornwall/Devon League
FalmouthRecreation Ground3,000Falmouth, CornwallWestern Counties West
KingsbridgeHigh House1,000 Kingsbridge, DevonWestern Counties West
PaigntonQueen's Park1,650 Paignton, DevonWestern Counties West
PenrynMemorial Ground4,000 Penryn, CornwallWestern Counties West
Pirates AmateursMennaye Field4,000 Penzance, CornwallPromoted from Cornwall/Devon League
Plymstock Albion OaksHorsham Playing FieldsStaddiscombe, PlymouthPromoted from Cornwall/Devon League
TivertonCoronation Field2750 Tiverton, DevonWestern Counties West
TopshamBonfire FieldTopsham, ExeterPromoted from Cornwall/Devon League
WiveliscombeRecreational GroundWiveliscombe, SomersetWestern Counties West

2021–22

Participating teams and location

TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
BidefordKing George's Field2,000Bideford, Devon8th
Burnham-on-SeaBASC GroundBurnham-on-Sea, SomersetPromoted from Somerset Premier
ChardThe Park, Essex CloseChard, Somerset7th
FalmouthRecreation Ground3,000Falmouth, Cornwall10th
HonitonAllhallows Playing FieldHoniton, Devon11th
KingsbridgeHigh House1,000 Kingsbridge, Devon4th
Newton AbbotRackerhayes1,150 Newton Abbot, DevonRelegated from South West 1 West
PaigntonQueen's Park1,650 Paignton, DevonPromoted from Cornwall/Devon League
PenrynMemorial Ground4,000 Penryn, Cornwall6th
TeignmouthBitton Park Sports Ground1,210 Teignmouth, Devon3rd
TivertonCoronation Field2750 Tiverton, Devon9th
TruroSt Clement's Hill2,000Truro, CornwallPromoted from Cornwall/Devon League
Wadebridge CamelsMolesworth Field500Wadebridge, Cornwall5th
WiveliscombeRecreational GroundWiveliscombe, Somerset13th

2020–21

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the season was cancelled.

2019–20

Participating teams and location

TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
BidefordKing George's Field2,000Bideford, Devon10th
ChardThe Park, Essex CloseChard, Somerset12th
CullomptonStafford ParkCullompton, DevonRelegated from South West 1 West
FalmouthRecreation Ground3,000Falmouth, Cornwall7th
HonitonAllhallows Playing FieldHoniton, DevonPromoted from Cornwall/Devon
KingsbridgeHigh House1,000 Kingsbridge, Devon8th
PenrynMemorial Ground4,000 Penryn, CornwallPromoted from Cornwall/Devon
SaltashMoorlands LaneSaltash, Cornwall11th
St AustellTregorrick Park4,000 St Austell, Cornwall4th
TeignmouthBitton Park Sports Ground1,210 Teignmouth, DevonRelegated from South West 1 West
TivertonCoronation Field750Tiverton, Devon5th
Wadebridge CamelsMolesworth Field500Wadebridge, Cornwall6th
WellingtonAthletic GroundWellington, Somerset3rd
WiveliscombeRecreational GroundWiveliscombe, SomersetPromoted from Somerset Premier

2018–19

Participating teams and location

TeamGroundCapacityTown/AreaPrevious season
BidefordKing George's Field2,000Bideford, DevonRelegated from South West 1 West
ChardThe Park, Essex CloseChard, Somerset7th
CreditonBlagdonCrediton, Devon10th
FalmouthRecreation Ground3,000Falmouth, Cornwall12th
KingsbridgeHigh House1,000 Kingsbridge, Devon4th
PaigntonQueen's Park1,650 Paignton, Devon9th
SaltashMoorlands LaneSaltash, CornwallPromoted from Cornwall/Devon
SidmouthBlackmore FieldSidmouth, Devon6th
St AustellTregorrick Park4,000 St Austell, Cornwall3rd
TivertonCoronation Field750Tiverton, Devon11th
TruroSt Clement's Hill2,000Truro, Cornwall8th
Wadebridge CamelsMolesworth Field500Wadebridge, Cornwall5th
WellingtonAthletic GroundWellington, SomersetPromoted from Cornwall/Devon
WinscombeRecreation Ground1,200Winscombe, SomersetLevel transfer from Western Counties North

Promotion play-off

In the play-off for promotion, Crediton played Midsomer Norton from Western Counties North 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

Participating teams and location

The 2017–18 Western Counties West League consists of fourteen teams; seven from Devon, five from Cornwall and two from Somerset. The season started on 2 September 2017 and finished on 21 April 2018. Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2016–17 champions, Exeter University were promoted to South West 1 West, along with the play-off winners Cullompton, while Chard and Kingsbridge were relegated from that league. Bude and Wellington were relegated to the Cornwall/Devon League and were replaced by Falmouth and Paignton.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/CityPrevious season
Burnham-on-SeaBASC GroundBurnham-on-Sea, Somerset12th
ChardThe Park, Essex CloseChard, SomersetRelegated from South West 1 West
CreditonBlagdonCrediton, Devon10th
Devonport ServicesThe Rectory2,000Devonport, Plymouth, Devon3rd
FalmouthRecreation Ground3,000Falmouth, CornwallPromoted from Cornwall/Devon
KingsbridgeHigh House1,000 Kingsbridge, DevonRelegated from South West 1 West
PaigntonQueen's Park1,650 Paignton, DevonPromoted from Cornwall/Devon
St AustellTregorrick Park4,000 St Austell, Cornwall7th
St IvesRecreation Ground3,000 St Ives, Cornwall6th
SidmouthBlackmore FieldSidmouth, Devon8th
TivertonCoronation Field750Tiverton, Devon11th
Torquay AthleticRecreation Ground3,000 Torquay, Devon9th
TruroSt Clement's Hill2,000Truro, Cornwall4th
Wadebridge CamelsMolesworth Field500Wadebridge, Cornwall5th

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

Participating teams and location

The 2016–17 Western Counties West League consists of fourteen teams; seven from Devon, five from Cornwall and two from Somerset. The season began on 3 September 2016 and finished on 22 April 2017. Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition, the 2015–16 champions, Okehampton were promoted to South West 1 West, along with the play-off winners Kingsbridge. Two Cornish teams, Penryn and Saltash were relegated to the Cornwall/Devon League and were replaced by Bude and St Ives. The three relegated teams from South West One were all allocated places in Western Counties North so the two most westerly teams from that division, Burnham and Wellington were transferred to this league to bring the number of teams to fourteen.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
BudeBencoolen Meadow750Bude, Cornwallpromoted from Cornwall/Devon
Burnham-on-SeaBASC GroundBurnham-on-Sea, Somersetlevel transfer from Western Counties North
CreditonBlagdonCrediton, Devon12th
CullomptonStafford ParkCullompton, Devon7th
Devonport ServicesThe Rectory2,000Devonport, Plymouth, Devon9th
Exeter UniversityDuckes Meadow, Salmon Pool LaneExeter, Devon4th
SidmouthBlackmore FieldSidmouth, Devon8th
St AustellTregorrick Park4,000 St Austell, Cornwall11th
St IvesRecreation Ground3,000 St Ives, Cornwallpromoted from Cornwall/Devon
TivertonCoronation Field750Tiverton, Devon6th
Torquay AthleticRecreation Ground3,000 Torquay, Devon5th
TruroSt Clement's Hill2,000Truro, Cornwall3rd
Wadebridge CamelsMolesworth Field500Wadebridge, Cornwall10th
WellingtonAthletic GroundWellington, Somersetlevel transfer from Western Counties North

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 they lost to Cullompton 12 – 29.
PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
Chew Valley262204822493329180106
Cullompton 262204659311348112101

2015–16

The 2015–16 Western Counties West League consists of fourteen teams; nine from Devon and five from Cornwall. The seasons started on 5 September 2015 and the last matches were played on 30 April 2016.

Participating teams and location

Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Teignmouth were promoted to South West 1 West and Tavistock and St Ives were relegated to the Cornwall/Devon League. The only team from Somerset, Wellington, was transferred to Western Counties North.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
CreditonBlagdonCrediton, Devonpromoted from Cornwall/Devon
CullomptonStafford ParkCullompton, Devonrelegated from South West 1 West
Devonport ServicesThe Rectory2,000Devonport, Plymouth, Devon6th
Exeter UniversityDuckes Meadow, Salmon Pool LaneExeter, Devon9th
KingsbridgeHigh House1,000 Kingsbridge, Devon2nd
OkehamptonShowground1,120 Okehampton, Devon7th
PenrynMemorial Ground4,000 Penryn, Cornwall11th
SaltashMoorlands LaneSaltash, Cornwallpromoted from Cornwall/Devon
SidmouthBlackmore FieldSidmouth, Devon8th
St AustellTregorrick Park4,000 St Austell, Cornwallrelegated from South West 1 West
TivertonCoronation Field750Tiverton, Devon3rd
Torquay AthleticRecreation Ground3,000 Torquay, Devon12th
TruroSt Clement's Hill2,000Truro, Cornwall4th
Wadebridge CamelsMolesworth Field500Wadebridge, Cornwall5th

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 Kingsbridge, hosted the match against Keynsham and won 16 – 10.
TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
Kingsbridge 262204745264481162108
Keynsham262024681306375144102

2014–15

Participating teams and location

The 2014–15 Western Counties West consisted of fourteen teams; nine from Devon, four from Cornwall and one from Somerset. The season started on 6 September 2014 and finished on 18 April 2015. Teignmouth became champions with two matches to play after Exeter University had fifty points deducted for playing ineligible players. Teignmouth were promoted to South West 1 West, while the second place team, Kingsbridge, lost to the runner-up of Western Counties North, Newent in the play-off for promotion. The last two teams, Tavistock and St Ives were relegated to Cornwall/Devon.
TeamGroundCapacityTown/VillagePrevious season
Devonport ServicesThe Rectory2,000Devonport, Plymouth, Devon8th
Exeter UniversityDuckes Meadow, Salmon Pool LaneExeter, Devonpromoted from Cornwall/Devon
KingsbridgeHigh House1,000 Kingsbridge, Devon3rd
OkehamptonShowground1,120 Okehampton, Devon9th
PenrynMemorial Ground4,000 Penryn, Cornwall6th
St IvesRecreation Ground3,000 St Ives, Cornwall12th
SidmouthBlackmore FieldSidmouth, Devonrelegated from South West 1 West
TavistockSandy ParkTavistock, Devon11th
TeignmouthBitton Sports Ground1,210 Teignmouth, Devon2nd
TivertonCoronation Field750Tiverton, Devonpromoted from Cornwall/Devon
Torquay AthleticRecreation Ground3,000Torquay, Devon7th
TruroSt Clement's Hill2,000Truro, Cornwall5th
Wadebridge CamelsMolesworth Field500Wadebridge, Cornwallrelegated from South West 1 West
WellingtonAthletic GroundWellington, Somerset10th

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 Newent, hosted the match; their opponents were Kingsbridge who lost the match 26 – 28 to a stoppage time penalty.
TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTry bonusLoss bonusPoints
Newent 262303827399428161110
Kingsbridge26180870142227912488

2013–14

2009–10

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

Western Counties honours

In the first season of the English rugby union league pyramid, sponsored by Courage, there was ten, tier seven leagues. The Western Counties League was for teams based in the south-west of England from Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Gloucester and Somerset. Each team played one match against each of the other teams with the winning team awarded two points, and there was one point for each team in a drawn match. This system prevailed for five seasons, and in 1992–93 the number of teams increased from eleven to thirteen. The following season Western Counties League was renamed Courage South West 2 League, and three seasons later in 1996–97 a major reorganisation occurred with South West 2 being split into two regional leagues:
  1. Courage Western Counties North consisted of sixteen teams based in Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset, and each team continued to play the others once
  2. Courage Western Counties West consisted of eleven teams based in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, and each team played the other twice.

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, and 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 West (1996–2009)

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 West was now to the new South West 2 West division while relegation was now to Cornwall/Devon. From the 2008–09 season the league sponsor is Tribute.

Western Counties West (2009–2022)

Despite widespread league restructuring by the RFU, Western Counties West continued as a tier 7 league, with promotion to South West 1 West and relegation to Cornwall/Devon. Tribute continued to sponsor the league.

Counties 1 Western West (2022– )

Following league reorganisation, Western Counties West is renamed Counties 1 Western West and continues to be a tier 7 league. Promotion is to Regional 2 South West and relegation to Counties 2 Cornwall, Counties 2 Devon or Counties 2 Somerset.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Western Counties North and Western Counties West for the third and final promotion place to South West 1 West. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. As of the end of the 2019–20 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 was 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.