# Somerset 3 South

Somerset 3 South (known as Tribute Somerset 3 South for sponsorship reasons) is an English rugby union league which sits at the eleven level of league rugby union in England alongside its counterpart Somerset 3 North. When the division was founded in 1987 it was a single league known as Somerset 3, but since 2006 it has been split into two regional divisions.
Somerset 3 South currently involves teams from the southern part of Somerset - although this means anywhere in the county outside Bristol. 1st, 2nd, 3rd and even 4th XV sides can participate in the division as long as they are not from the same club. The league champions, and occasionally runners up, are promoted to Somerset 2 South and there is no relegation as this is the lowest level of league rugby in Somerset.

## 2020–21

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

## Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this league (known as Somerset 3) was a single division containing the following teams from Somerset and parts of Bristol:
* Avonvale
* Backwell
* Bath Civil Service
* Castle Cary
* Chew Valley
* Morganians
* Old Ashtonians
* Tor
* Wincanton
* Westland

## Somerset 3 honours
### Somerset 3 (1987–1989)

The original Somerset 3 was a tier 10 league with promotion to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.
Somerset 3 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 1987–88 | 10 | Avonvale | Westland | No relegation |
| 1988–89 | 12 | Wiveliscombe | Tor | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Somerset 3A / 3B (1989–1990)

For the 1989–90 season Somerset 3 split into two regional leagues - Somerset 3A and Somerset 3B - both at tier 10 of the league system. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.
Somerset 3 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | League name |
| 1989–90 | 7 | Blagdon | Backwell | No relegation | Somerset 3A |
| 1989–90 | 7 | Wellington | Chard | No relegation | Somerset 3B |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Somerset 3 (1990–1993)

After a single season Somerset 3 reverted to being a single division at tier 10 of the league system. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.
Somerset 3 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 1990–91 | 12 | Backwell | Westland | No relegation |
| 1991–92 | 11 | Chard | Bath Civil Services | No relegation |
| 1992–93 | 7 | Chew Valley | Old Ashtonians | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Somerset 3 (1993–1996)

The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Somerset 3 dropped to become a tier 12 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation.
Somerset 3 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 1993–94 | 9 | St. Brendan's Old Boys | Cheddar Valley | No relegation |
| 1994–95 | 9 | Avonvale | Bath Saracens | No relegation |
| 1995–96 | 9 | St. Brendan's Old Boys | Cheddar Valley | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Somerset 3 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Somerset 3 reverted to being a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 2 and there was no relegation. Somerset 3 was cancelled at the end of the 1999–2000 season and all teams transferred into Somerset 2.
Somerset 3 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 1996–97 | 6 | British Gas | Burnham-on-Sea | No relegation |
| 1997–98 | 5 | Bath Old Edwardians | Bath Saracens | No relegation |
| 1998–99 | 5 | Castle Cary | Crewkerne | No relegation |
| 1999–2000 | 5 | Martock | Bath Old Edwardians | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Somerset 3 South

After an absence of six years, Somerset 3 returned - now split into two regional tier 10 divisions - Somerset 3 North and Somerset 3 South. This restructuring was to enable 2nd XV and 3rd XV sides to play in the Somerset leagues for the first time. Promotion was now to Somerset 2 South and there was no relegation. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.
Somerset 3 South :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2006–07 | 12 | Bridgwater & Albion III | Wells II | No relegation |
| 2007–08 | 13 | Taunton III | Wiveliscombe II | No relegation |
| 2008–09 | 13 | Weston-super-Mare III | Castle Cary | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Somerset 3 South (2009–present)

Somerset 3 South :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2009–10 | 13 | Chew Valley II | Morganians | No relegation |
| 2010–11 | 12 | Hornets III | Bridgwater & Albion III | No relegation |
| 2011–12 | 8 | Burnham-on-Sea II | Wyvern | No relegation |
| 2012–13 | 9 | Hornets III | Wells III | No relegation |
| 2013–14 | 10 | Wellington III | Martock | No relegation |
| 2014–15 | 10 | Frome III | Martock | No relegation |
| 2015–16 | 11 | Yeovil II | Wells III | No relegation |
| 2016–17 | 10 | Weston-super-Mare IV | Wincanton | No relegation |
| 2017–18 | 11 | Taunton III | Wyvern II | No relegation |
| 2018–19 | 8 | Tor II | Wyvern | No relegation |
| 2019–20 | 5 | Cheddar Valley II | Martock | No relegation |
| 2020–21 | | | | |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Number of league titles

* Avonvale (2)
* Hornets III (2)
* St. Brendan's Old Boys(2)
* Taunton III (2)
* Backwell (1)
* Bath Old Edwardians (1)
* Blagdon (1)
* Bridgwater & Albion III (1)
* British Gas (1)
* Burnham-on-Sea II (1)
* Castle Cary (1)
* Chard (1)
* Cheddar Valley II (1)
* Chew Valley (1)
* Chew Valley II (1)
* Frome III (1)
* Martock (1)
* Tor II (1)
* Wellington (1)
* Wellington III (1)
* Weston-super-Mare III (1)
* Weston-super-Mare IV (1)
* Wiveliscombe (1)
* Yeovil II (1)