# Counties 3 Somerset

Counties 3 Somerset (formerly known as Somerset 1 or Tribute Somerset 1 for sponsorship reasons) 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 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.

### South

Departing were Burnham-on-Sea II (12th) and Wiveliscombe II (11th) 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.

## Teams 2023–24
### North

Departing were Chew Valley II, promoted to Counties 2 Somerset, while Stothert & Pitt (9th) and Bristol Telephone Area (12th) were relegated.
Joining were Imperial II and Old Redcliffians III..

### South

Departing were Huish Tigers, promoted to Counties 2 Somerset. Wells II (10th) were relegated to Counties 4 Somerset South.
Joining were Burnham-on-Sea II, Cheddar Valley, Crewkerne and Tor.

## 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 (7th) who took a voluntary relegation to Counties 4 Somerset South and Morganians (11th) 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.

### South

Joining were Castle Cary, Chard II, Hornets III, Huish Tigers (double promotion), Somerton, Wells II and Wiveliscombe II.

## Teams 2021–22

Taunton II (11th in 2019–20) started but did not complete the season leaving eleven sides to contest the remaining fixtures.

## 2020–21

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

## 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 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) |
| 1987–88 | 12 | Old Culverhaysians | Frome | Wellington, Crewkerne, Yeovil |
| 1988–89 | 11 | Frome | Oldfield Old Boys | St. Brendan's Old Boys, Burnham-on-Sea |
| 1989–90 | 11 | Oldfield Old Boys | Walcot Old Boys | Avonvale, Gordano |
| 1990–91 | 11 | Wiveliscombe | Old Redcliffians | Yeovil, Imperial |
| 1991–92 | 11 | Old Sulians | Old Redcliffians | No relegation |
| 1992–93 | 13 | Hornets | Walcot Old Boys | Westland, Gordano |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### 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 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) |
| 1993–94 | 13 | Midsomer Norton | Yatton | Stothert & Pitt, Imperial |
| 1994–95 | 13 | Wellington | Walcot Old Boys | Yeovil, North Petherton, Wells |
| 1995–96 | 13 | Chard | Wiveliscombe | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### 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 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) |
| 1996–97 | 10 | Wells | Frome | Crewkerne |
| 1997–98 | 10 | Chew Valley | Frome | Avonvale, Blagdon |
| 1998–99 | 10 | Avon | North Petherton | Winscombe, Minehead Barbarians |
| 1999–00 | 10 | Frome | Wells | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### 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 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2000–01 | 12 | Minehead Barbarians | Wells | Bristol Barbarians |
| 2001–02 | 12 | Nailsea & Backwell | North Petherton | Burnham-on-Sea |
| 2002–03 | 12 | Chard | Stothert & Pitt | Bath Old Edwardians, Avonvale |
| 2003–04 | 12 | Winscombe | Combe Down | Old Sulians |
| 2004–05 | 11 | Minehead Barbarians | Old Culverhaysians | Avonvale. Blagdon |
| 2005–06 | 11 | Gordano | Wells | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### 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 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2006–07 | 12 | Winscombe | Old Sulians | Somerton |
| 2007–08 | 12 | Burnham-on-Sea | North Petherton | Martock, Crewkerne |
| 2008–09 | 12 | St. Bernadette's Old Boys | Taunton II | Bristol Barbarians |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### 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.
Somerset 1 :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2009–10 | 12 | Gordano | Imperial | St. Mary's Old Boys II, Broad Plain |
| 2010–11 | 14 | Nailsea & Backwell | Weston-super-Mare II | Old Culverhaysians |
| 2011–12 | 14 | Old Redcliffians II | Wiveliscombe | No relegation |
| 2012–13 | 14 | St. Bernadette's Old Boys | Bristol Barbarians | Walcot II |
| 2013–14 | 14 | Clevedon II | Imperial | Old Redcliffians III, Wells II |
| 2014–15 | 14 | Hornets II | Chew Valley II | Cheddar Valley, Midsomer Norton II |
| 2015–16 | 14 | Bridgwater & Albion II | Crewkerne | Chard II, North Petherton II |
| 2016–17 | 14 | Minehead Barbarians | Imperial | Castle Cary, Bristol Harlequins II, Yatton II |
| 2017–18 | 13 | Bristol Barbarians | Bristol Harlequins | Wyvern, Clevedon II, Old Bristolians II |
| 2018–19 | 12 | Tor | Stothert & Pitt | Castle Cary |
| 2019–20 | 12 | Bristol Harlequins | Crewkerne | Bath Old Edwardians |
| 2020–21 | 12 | | | |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Number of league titles

* Minehead Barbarians (3)
* Chard (2)
* Frome (2)
* Gordano (2)
* Nailsea & Backwell (2)
* St. Bernadette's Old Boys (2)
* Winscombe (2)
* Avon (1)
* Bridgwater & Albion II (1)
* Bristol Barbarians (1)
* Bristol Harlequins (1)
* Burnham-on-Sea (1)
* Chew Valley (1)
* Clevedon II (1)
* Hornets (1)
* Hornets II (1)
* Midsomer Norton (1)
* Old Culverhaysians (1)
* Old Redcliffians II (1)
* Old Sulians (1)
* Oldfield Old Boys (1)
* Tor (1)
* Wellington (1)
* Wells (1)
* Wiveliscombe (1)