# Dorset & Wilts 2 South

Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts South (formerly Dorset & Wilts 2 South) is an English Rugby Union league, forming part of the South West Division, for clubs primarily based in Dorset, sitting at tier 9 of the English rugby union system.
Promoted teams typically move up to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts South or occasionally to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts Central. Relegated teams used to drop to Dorset & Wilts 3 South but since that division was cancelled at the end of the 2018–19 season there has been no relegation.

## 2024-25

Departing were Swanage & Wareham II and Puddletown, both promoted to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts South. Salisbury III (7th) returned to merit league rugby.

## 2023-24

Departing were Ellingham & Ringwood II promoted to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts South.
Bournemouth III re-joined the league pyramid having most recently competed in Dorset & Wilts 1 South in season 2021-22.

## 2022-23

Departing were Lytchett Minster promoted to Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts South, Christchurch (runners-up) moved to Counties 4 Hampshire whilst Wimborne III (7th), Swanage & Wareham III (8th) and East Dorset Dockers II (9th) returned to merit league rugby.

## 2021-22

Dorset Dockers and East Dorset (11th in 2019-20) merged ahead of the current season to form East Dorset Dockers.
North Dorset II, Salisbury III and Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew did not return as all were level transferred to the newly formed Dorset & Wilts 2 Central for the current season.

## 2020–21

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

## 2016–17

* Bridport
* Bournemouth IV
* Dorchester II
* Ellinghan & Ringwood II
* Dorset Dockers II (promoted from Dorset & Wilts 3 South)
* Lytchett Minster II (promoted from Dorset & Wilts 3 South)
* New Milton II
* North Dorset III
* Oakmedians II
* Puddletown
* Salisbury III
* Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew

## 2015–16

The 2015–16 Dorset & Wilts 2 South consisted of twelve teams; seven based in Dorset, three from Hampshire and one each from Somerset and Wiltshire. The season started on 12 September 2015 and ended on 23 April 2016.
Eight of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions, East Dorset were promoted to Dorset & Wilts 1 South along with Salisbury II (2nd) and Swanage & Wareham II (3rd), while North Dorset III and Wimborne III were relegated to Dorset & Wilts 3 South.
| Team | Ground | Capacity | Town/Village | Previous season |
| Bournemouth III | Chapel Gate | | Bournemouth, Dorset | 7th |
| Bridport | Brewery Fields | | Bridport, Dorset | 5th |
| Dorchester II | Coburg Road | | Dorchester, Dorset | 8th |
| Ellingham & Ringwood II | Parsonage Barn Lane | | Ringwood, Hampshire | 9th |
| Fordingbridge II | The Recreation Ground | | Fordingbridge, Hampshire | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 3 South (3rd) |
| New Milton II | Normans Way | | Ashley, New Milton, Hampshire | 10th |
| North Dorset III | Slaughtergate | 1,000 | Gillingham, Dorset | 12th (not relegated) |
| Poole | Recreation Ground | | Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 3 South (runners up) |
| Puddletown | Enterprise Park | | Piddlehinton, Dorset | 6th |
| Weymouth & Portland | Monmouth Avenue | | Weymouth, Dorset | 4th |
| Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew | Netherhampton Road | | Netherhampton, Salisbury, Wiltshire | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 3 South (champions) |
| Yeovil | Yeovil Showground | | Yeovil, Somerset | Relegated from Dorset & Wilts 1 South (11th) |

## 2012–13

* Dorchester II
* East Dorset
* Ellingham & Ringwood II
* Fordingbridge
* Frome II
* New Milton II
* North Dorset III
* Poole
* Puddletown
* Weymouth II

## Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987, this division (known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2) contained the following teams from Berkshire, Dorset and Wiltshire:
* Bradford-on-Avon
* Chippenham
* Corsham
* Lytchett Minster
* Minety
* North Dorset
* Oakmedians
* Poole
* Puddletown
* Swindon College Old Boys
* Supermarine
* Trowbridge

## Dorset & Wilts 2 South honours
### Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 (1987–1993)

Originally Dorset & Wilts 2 North and Dorset & Wilts 2 South were combined in a single division known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2, involving clubs based in Berkshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. It was a tier 9 league with promotion to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 and, from the 1988–89 season onward, relegation was to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 East or Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West.
Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) |
| 1987–88 | 12 | Chippenham | Corsham | No relegation |
| 1988–89 | 11 | North Dorset | Puddletown | Minety |
| 1989–90 | 11 | Melksham | Lytchett Minster | Poole |
| 1990–91 | 11 | D.I.H.E. | Swindon College Old Boys | R.E.M.E. Arborfield, Trowbridge, Westbury |
| 1991–92 | 11 | Aldermaston | Lytchett Minster | No relegation |
| 1992–93 | 13 | Supermarine | Marlborough | Berkshire Shire Hall |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. ||||||

### Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 (1993–1996)

The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 dropped to become a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1, while relegation was now to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) |
| 1993–94 | 13 | Blandford | Thatcham | Minety, Hungerford |
| 1994–95 | 13 | Bournemouth University | North Dorset | Poole |
| 1995–96 | 13 | Trowbridge | Calne | Bournemouth University, Puddletown, Warminster |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. ||||||

### Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 reverted to being a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 and relegation to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) |
| 1996–97 | 8 | Tadley | Ivel Barbarians | Pewsey Vale |
| 1997–98 | 10 | Swindon College Old Boys | Portcastrians | Supermarine, Berkshire Shire Hall |
| 1998–99 | 9 | Minety | Bridport | Hungerford, Puddletown, Marlborough |
| 1999–00 | 8 | Thatcham | Oakmeadians | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. ||||||

### Dorset & Wilts 2 South (2000–2004)

At the end of the 1999–00 season Berks/Wilts/Dorset 2 was restructured following the departure of Berkshire clubs to join the Bucks & Oxon leagues. It was now split into two tier 9 regional leagues - Dorset & Wilts 2 North and Dorset & Wilts 2 South. Promotion from Dorset & Wilts 2 South was now to Dorset & Wilts 2 and there was no relegation due to the cancellation of Berks/Wilts/Dorset 3.
Dorset & Wilts 2 South :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) |
| 2000–01 | 8 | Blandford | Martock | No relegation |
| 2001–02 | 6 | Sherborne | Weymouth & Portland | No relegation |
| 2002–03 | 6 | North Dorset | Bridport | No relegation |
| 2003–04 | 9 | Bridport | Martock | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. ||||||

### Dorset & Wilts 2 South (2004–2009)

Ahead of the 2004–05 season, local league restructuring meant that promotion from Dorset & Wilts 2 South was now to Dorset & Wilts 1 South (formerly Dorset & Wilts 1) and relegation to the newly introduced Dorset & Wilts 3 South (last known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3). It remained a tier 9 league.
Dorset & Wilts 2 South :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) |
| 2004–05 | 11 | Wincanton | Salisbury III | Multiple teams |
| 2005–06 | 10 | Salisbury III | Swanage & Wareham III | Bridport II, Oakmeadians Vets, Poole |
| 2006–07 | 10 | Bournemouth III | North Dorset III | Wincanton, Sherborne II, Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew |
| 2007–08 | 9 | Sherborne II | Wimborne III | Chard II |
| 2008–09 | 10 | Oakmeadians II | Bridport II | Wimborne III |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. ||||||

### Dorset & Wilts 2 South (2009–present)

Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Dorset & Wilts 2 South remained a tier 9 league, with promotion continuing to Dorset & Wilts 1 South and relegation to Dorset & Wilts 3 South until that division was abolished at the end of the 2018–19 season.
Dorset & Wilts 2 South :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated team(s) |
| 2009–10 | 11 | Bournemouth III | Sherborne II | Lytchett Minster II |
| 2010–11 | 12 | Salisbury II | Ellingham & Ringwood II | Multiple teams |
| 2011–12 | 10 | Oakmeadians II | Wimborne II | Wincanton, Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew |
| 2012–13 | 10 | East Dorset | Frome II | Fordingbridge II |
| 2013–14 | 11 | Dorset Dockers | Lytchett Minster | Frome III , Oakmeadians II, Poole |
| 2014–15 | 12 | East Dorset | Salisbury II | North Dorset III, Wimborne III |
| 2015–16 | 12 | Yeovil | Weymouth & Portland | Fordingbridge II, Poole |
| 2016–17 | 10 | New Milton II | Salisbury III (not promoted) | Lytchett Minster II, Dorchester II |
| 2017–18 | 11 | Sherborne II | Puddletown | Blandford II, New Milton III |
| 2018–19 | 12 | Dorchester II | Lytchett Minster | No relegation |
| 2019–20 | 11 | Bridport | Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew | No relegation |
| 2020–21 | 11 | | | |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. ||||||

## Number of league titles

* Blandford (2)
* Bournemouth III (2)
* Bournemouth University (2)
* Bridport (2)
* East Dorset (2)
* North Dorset (2)
* Oakmeadians II (2)
* Sherborne II (2)
* Aldermaston (1)
* Chippenham (1)
* Dorchester II (1)
* Dorset Dockers (1)
* Melksham (1)
* Minety (1)
* New Milton II (1)
* Salisbury II (1)
* Salisbury III (1)
* Sherborne (1)
* Supermarine (1)
* Swindon College Old Boys (1)
* Tadley (1)
* Thatcham (1)
* Trowbridge (1)
* Wincanton (1)
* Yeovil (1)