# Counties 4 Somerset South

Counties 4 Somerset South (formerly known as Somerset 2 South or Tribute Somerset 2 South for sponsorship reasons) is an English rugby union league which sits at the tenth level of league rugby union in England alongside its counterpart Somerset 2 North. When the division was founded in 1987 it was a single league known as Somerset 2, but since 2006 it has been split into two regional divisions.
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 are promoted to Counties 3 Somerset South while relegated teams used to drop to Somerset 3 South but since the RFU Adult Competition Review they instead now join county merit leagues.

## Teams 2024–25

Departing were Wyvern (champions), promoted to Counties 3 Somerset South. Wells II (5th) and Yatton II (7th) did not return for the new season.
Joining were Bridgwater & Albion III, Burnham-on-Sea II and Wiveliscombe II.

## Teams 2023–24

Departing were Burnham-on-Sea II, Cheddar Valley and Crewkerne, promoted to Counties 3 Somerset South. Wincanton (9th) were relegated.
Joining were Hornets IV, Morganians, Wells II, Wyvern and Yeovil II.

## Teams 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review.
Departing were Chard, Wiveliscombe II, Somerton, Wells II and Castle Cary (1st - 5th in that order) all promoted to Counties 3 Somerset South. Yeovil II (6th), Winscombe II (7th) and Wyvern (10th) did not return for the new season.

## 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 2) was a single division containing the following teams from Somerset and parts of Bristol:
* Avon
* Bath Old Edwardians
* Blagdon
* Bristol Harlequins
* Chard
* Cheddar Valley
* Imperial
* St. Bernadette's Old Boys
* Stothert & Pitt
* Wells
* Winscombe

## Somerset 2 honours
### Somerset 2 (1987–1993)

The original Somerset 2 was a tier 10 league with promotion to Somerset 1 and relegation to Somerset 3.
Somerset 2 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) |
| 1987–88 | 11 | St. Bernadette's Old Boys | Bristol Harlequins | Cheddar Valley, Chard |
| 1988–89 | 12 | Avonvale | Yeovil | Westland, Wellington |
| 1989–90 | 11 | Wiveliscombe | Imperial | St. Brendan's Old Boys |
| 1990–91 | 13 | Stothert & Pitt | Wellington | Bath Old Edwardians, Avon |
| 1991–92 | 13 | Wells | Imperial | No relegation |
| 1992–93 | 13 | North Petherton | Chard | Burnham-on-Sea, Castle Cary |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Somerset 2 (1993–1996)

The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Somerset 2 dropped to become a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 and relegation to Somerset 3.
Somerset 2 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) |
| 1993–94 | 13 | Tor | Gordano | Avonvale, Bath Saracens |
| 1994–95 | 13 | Imperial | Stothert & Pitt | Cheddar Valley, Westland |
| 1995–96 | 13 | Wells | North Petherton | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Somerset 2 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Somerset 2 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 and relegation to Somerset 3.
Somerset 2 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) |
| 1996–97 | 10 | Winscombe | Blagdon | Bath Old Edwardians, Bath Old Saracens |
| 1997–98 | 10 | Avon | Old Ashtonian | Crewkerne, Castle Cary |
| 1998–99 | 10 | Broadplain | Bristol Barbarians | Cheddar Valley, Bath Old Edwardians |
| 1999–00 | 10 | Avonvale | Minehead Barbarians | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Somerset 2 (2000–2006)

Somerset 2 remained as a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1, while the cancellation of Somerset 3 at the end of the 1999–00 season meant there was no longer relegation.
Somerset 2 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2000–01 | 9 | Crewkerne | Burnham-on-Sea | No relegation |
| 2001–02 | 8 | Bristol Barbarians | Bath Old Edwardians | No relegation |
| 2002–03 | 8 | Winscombe | Burnham-on-Sea | No relegation |
| 2003–04 | 7 | Blagdon | Avonvale | No relegation |
| 2004–05 | 7 | Old Sulians | Martock | No relegation |
| 2005–06 | 6 | Bath Old Edwardians | Somerton | Multiple teams |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Somerset 2 South (2006–2009)

At the start of the 2006–07 Somerset 2 was split into two regional divisions - Somerset 2 North and Somerset 2 South - both remaining at tier 10 of the league system. This restructuring was to enable 2nd XV and 3rd XV sides to play in the Somerset leagues for the first time and would make up most of the teams. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 while relegation was now to Somerset 3 South. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.
Somerset 2 South :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2006–07 | 5 | Bridgwater & Albion II | Taunton II | No relegation |
| 2007–08 | 11 | Taunton II | Weston-super-Mare II | Morganians |
| 2008–09 | 11 | Weston-super-Mare II | Bridgwater & Albion III | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Somerset 2 South (2009–present)

Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Somerset 2 South and its counterpart Somerset 2 South remained as tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1, while relegation was to Somerset 3 South. The league continued to be sponsored by Tribute.
Somerset 2 South :
| Season | No. of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2009–10 | 13 | Wellington II | Bridgwater & Albion III | No relegation |
| 2010–11 | 13 | Castle Cary | Wells II | No relegation |
| 2011–12 | 13 | Chard II | North Petherton II | No relegation |
| 2012–13 | 13 | Crewkerne | Cheddar Valley | Martock |
| 2013–14 | 12 | Cheddar Valley | Tor II | No relegation |
| 2014–15 | 13 | Wyvern | Hornets III | Yeovil II, Wellington |
| 2015–16 | 14 | Wells II | Hornets III | Frome III |
| 2016–17 | 13 | Morganians | North Petherton II | Midsomer Norton III |
| 2017–18 | 13 | Castle Cary | Winscombe II | Tor II |
| 2018–19 | 12 | Taunton III | Winscombe II | Bridgwater & Albion III, Martock |
| 2019–20 | 10 | Morganians | Somerton | No relegation |
| 2020–21 | | | | |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Number of league titles

* Avonvale (2)
* Castle Cary (2)
* Crewkerne (2)
* Morganians (2)
* Wells (2)
* Winscombe (2)
* Avon (1)
* Bath Old Edwardians (1)
* Blagdon (1)
* Bridgwater & Albion II (1)
* Bristol Barbarians (1)
* Broadplain (1)
* Chard II (1)
* Cheddar Valley (1)
* Imperial (1)
* North Petherton (1)
* Old Sulians (1)
* St. Bernadette's Old Boys (1)
* Stothert & Pitt
* Taunton II (1)
* Taunton III (1)
* Tor (1)
* Wellington II (1)
* Wells II (1)
* Weston-super-Mare II (1)
* Wiveliscombe (1)
* Wyvern (1)