English rugby union league
Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts South (formerly Dorset & Wilts 2 South) is an EnglishRugby Union league, forming part of theSouth West Division , for clubs primarily based inDorset , sitting at tier 9 of theEnglish rugby union system .
Promoted teams typically move up toCounties 2 Dorset & Wilts South or occasionally toCounties 2 Dorset & Wilts Central . Relegated teams used to drop toDorset & Wilts 3 South but since that division was cancelled at the end of the 2018–19 season there has been no relegation.
Departing wereBournemouth III promoted toCounties 2 Dorset & Wilts South . Also leaving were Ellingham & Ringwood II (3rd) on a level transfer toCounties 3 Hampshire .
Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Blandford Larksmead Recreation Ground Blandford ,Dorset Relegated fromCounties 2 D&W South (9th) Dorchester II Coburg Road Dorchester ,Dorset 8th Lytchett Minster II Lytchett Park Lytchett Minster ,Poole ,Dorset 7th Oakmedians II Meyrick Park Bournemouth ,Dorset 4th Poole Recreation Ground Hamworthy ,Poole ,Dorset 5th Sherborne II Gainsborough Park Sherborne ,Dorset 2nd Swanage & Wareham III Bestwall Rd Wareham ,Dorset 9th Wimborne III Leigh Park Wimborne ,Dorset 6th
Locations of the 2025–26 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts South teams
Departing were Swanage & Wareham II and Puddletown, both promoted toCounties 2 Dorset & Wilts South whileSalisbury III (7th) returned to merit league rugby.
Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Bournemouth III Chapel Gate Bournemouth ,Dorset 4th Dorchester II Coburg Road Dorchester ,Dorset 6th Ellingham & Ringwood II Parsonage Barn Lane Ringwood ,Hampshire Relegated fromCounties 2 D&W South (9th) Lytchett Minster II Lytchett Park Lytchett Minster ,Poole ,Dorset Promoted from Group 1 Dorset & Wilts Matrix Oakmedians II Meyrick Park Bournemouth ,Dorset 5th Poole Recreation Ground Hamworthy ,Poole ,Dorset 8th Sherborne II Gainsborough Park Sherborne ,Dorset 3rd Swanage & Wareham III Bestwall Rd Wareham ,Dorset New entry Wimborne III Leigh Park Wimborne ,Dorset Promoted from Group 1 Dorset & Wilts Matrix
Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts South teams
Departing were Ellingham & Ringwood II promoted toCounties 2 Dorset & Wilts South .
Bournemouth III re-joined the league pyramid having most recently competed inDorset & Wilts 1 South in season 2021–22.
Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Bournemouth III Chapel Gate Bournemouth ,Dorset Re-entry Dorchester II Coburg Road Dorchester ,Dorset Runners-up Oakmedians II Meyrick Park Bournemouth ,Dorset 3rd Poole Recreation Ground Hamworthy ,Poole ,Dorset 4th Puddletown Enterprise Park Piddlehinton ,Dorset Relegated fromCounties 2 D&W South (7th) Salisbury III Castle Road 1,500 Salisbury ,Wiltshire 5th Sherborne II Gainsborough Park Sherborne ,Dorset Level transfer from Counties 3 D&W Central (3rd) Swanage & Wareham II Bestwall Rd Wareham ,Dorset Relegated fromCounties 2 Dorset & Wilts South
Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts South teams
Departing were Lytchett Minster promoted toCounties 2 Dorset & Wilts South , Christchurch (runners-up) moved toCounties 4 Hampshire whilst Wimborne III (7th),Swanage & Wareham III (8th) and East Dorset Dockers II (9th) returned to merit league rugby.
Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 3 Dorset & Wilts South teams
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 formedDorset & Wilts 2 Central for the current season.
Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Christchurch East Sports And Social Club Christchurch ,Dorset Promoted from Dorset & Wilts South Matrix 2 Dorchester II Coburg Road Dorchester ,Dorset 7th East Dorset Dockers II Iford Lane Playing Fields Bournemouth ,Dorset 11th Ellingham & Ringwood II Parsonage Barn Lane Ringwood ,Hampshire 3rd Lytchett Minster Lytchett Park Lytchett Minster ,Poole ,Dorset Relegated fromDorset & Wilts 1 South (12th) Oakmedians II Meyrick Park Bournemouth ,Dorset 6th Poole Recreation Ground Hamworthy ,Poole ,Dorset 4th Swanage & Wareham III Bestwall Road Wareham ,Dorset 10th Wimborne III Leigh Park Wimborne ,Dorset 8th
Locations of the 2021–22 Dorset & Wilts 2 South teams
Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic , the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Bridport Brewery Fields Bridport ,Dorset Relegated fromDorset & Wilts 1 South (11th) Dinton[ a] The Recreation Ground Dinton ,Wiltshire 7th Dorchester II Coburg Road Dorchester ,Dorset Champions (not promoted)[ b] East Dorset Iford Lane Playing Fields Bournemouth ,Dorset 9th Ellingham & Ringwood II Parsonage Barn Lane Ringwood ,Hampshire 5th North Dorset II Slaughtergate 1,000 Gillingham ,Dorset Relegated fromDorset & Wilts 1 South (dropped out) Oakmedians II Meyrick Park Bournemouth ,Dorset 11th Poole Recreation Ground Hamworthy ,Poole ,Dorset Promoted fromDorset & Wilts 3 South (runners up) Salisbury III Castle Road 1,500 Salisbury ,Wiltshire 6th Swanage & Wareham III Bestwall Road Wareham ,Dorset Promoted fromDorset & Wilts 3 South (3rd) Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew Netherhampton Road Netherhampton ,Salisbury ,Wiltshire 4th Wimborne III Leigh Park Wimborne ,Dorset 10th
Locations of the 2019–20 Dorset & Wilts 2 South teams
Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Dinton The Recreation Ground Dinton ,Wiltshire 5th Dorchester II Coburg Road Dorchester ,Dorset 6th East Dorset Iford Lane Playing Fields Bournemouth ,Dorset 4th Ellingham & Ringwood II Parsonage Barn Lane Ringwood ,Hampshire 7th Lytchett Minster Lytchett Park Lytchett Minster ,Poole ,Dorset Relegated fromDorset & Wilts 1 South (12th) New Milton II Normans Way Ashley ,New Milton ,Hampshire Relegated fromDorset & Wilts 1 South (11th) North Dorset III Slaughtergate 1,000 Gillingham ,Dorset Promoted fromDorset & Wilts 3 South (champions) Oakmedians II Meyrick Park Bournemouth ,Dorset 10th Salisbury III Castle Road 1,500 Salisbury ,Wiltshire 3rd Swanage & Wareham II Bestwall Road Wareham ,Dorset Relegated fromDorset & Wilts 1 South (7th)[ c] Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew Netherhampton Road Netherhampton ,Salisbury ,Wiltshire 9th Wimborne III Leigh Park Wimborne ,Dorset Promoted fromDorset & Wilts 3 South (runners up)
Locations of the 2018–19 Dorset & Wilts 2 South teams
Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Blandford II Larksmead Rugby Pitches Blandford Forum ,Dorset Promoted fromDorset & Wilts 3 South (runners up) Dinton The Recreation Ground Dinton ,Wiltshire Promoted fromDorset & Wilts 3 South (3rd) Dorchester II Coburg Road Dorchester ,Dorset 9th East Dorset Iford Lane Playing Fields Bournemouth ,Dorset Relegated fromDorset & Wilts 1 South (12th) Ellingham & Ringwood II Parsonage Barn Lane Ringwood ,Hampshire 6th New Milton III Normans Way Ashley ,New Milton ,Hampshire Promoted fromDorset & Wilts 3 South (champions) Oakmedians II Meyrick Park Bournemouth ,Dorset 7th Puddletown Enterprise Park Piddlehinton ,Dorset 4th Salisbury III Castle Road 1,500 Salisbury ,Wiltshire 2nd (not promoted) Sherborne II Gainsborough Park Sherborne ,Dorset Relegated fromDorset & Wilts 1 South (11th) Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew Netherhampton Road Netherhampton ,Salisbury ,Wiltshire 5th
Locations of the 2017–18 Dorset & Wilts 2 South teams
Bridport Bournemouth IV Dorchester II Ellinghan & Ringwood II Dorset Dockers II (promoted fromDorset & 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 The 2015–16 Dorset & Wilts 2 South consisted of twelve teams; seven based inDorset , three fromHampshire and one each fromSomerset andWiltshire . 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 toDorset & Wilts 1 South along withSalisbury II (2nd) andSwanage & Wareham II (3rd), whileNorth Dorset III andWimborne III were relegated toDorset & Wilts 3 South .
Locations of the 2015–16 Dorset & Wilts 2 South teams in Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset & Wiltshire
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 fromDorset & 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 fromDorset & 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 fromDorset & Wilts 3 South (champions) Yeovil Yeovil Showground Yeovil ,Somerset Relegated fromDorset & Wilts 1 South (11th)
When league rugby began in 1987, this division (known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2) contained the following teams fromBerkshire ,Dorset andWiltshire :
[ edit ] [ edit ] OriginallyDorset & Wilts 2 North and Dorset & Wilts 2 South were combined in a single division known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2, involving clubs based inBerkshire ,[ d] Dorset andWiltshire . It was a tier 9 league with promotion toBerks/Dorset/Wilts 1 and, from the 1988–89 season onward, relegation was to eitherBerks/Dorset/Wilts 3 East orBerks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West .
[ edit ] The creation ofNational League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 dropped to become a tier 10 league. Promotion continued toBerks/Dorset/Wilts 1 , while relegation was now toBerks/Dorset/Wilts 3 .[ g]
[ edit ] The cancellation ofNational 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 toBerks/Dorset/Wilts 1 and relegation toBerks/Dorset/Wilts 3 .
[ edit ] At the end of the 1999–00 season Berks/Wilts/Dorset 2 was restructured following the departure ofBerkshire clubs to join theBucks & 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 toDorset & Wilts 2 and there was no relegation due to the cancellation ofBerks/Wilts/Dorset 3 .
[ edit ] Ahead of the 2004–05 season, local league restructuring meant that promotion from Dorset & Wilts 2 South was now toDorset & Wilts 1 South (formerly Dorset & Wilts 1) and relegation to the newly introducedDorset & Wilts 3 South (last known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3). It remained a tier 9 league.
[ edit ] Despite widespread restructuring by theRFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Dorset & Wilts 2 South remained a tier 9 league, with promotion continuing toDorset & Wilts 1 South and relegation toDorset & Wilts 3 South until that division was abolished at the end of the 2018–19 season.
Number of league titles [ edit ] ^ Dinton would later drop out of the 2019–20 Dorset & Wilts 2 South. ^ Despite finishing as championsDorchester II were denied promotion due to the Dorcester 1st XV being relegated intoDorset & Wilts 1 South fromSouthern Counties South . ^ Despite finishing 7th Swanage & Wareham II were relegated due to the Swanage & Wareham 1st XV being relegated intoDorset & Wilts 1 South fromSouthern Counties South . ^ Since 2000, Berkshire clubs have played in theBerks/Bucks & Oxon leagues. ^ Restructuring of the south-west leagues from 11 to 13 teams for the following season, meant that four teams were promoted, includingBradford-on-Avon andPuddleton . ^ The restructuring of Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 East and Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West into a single season calledBerks/Dorsets/Wilts 3 , meant that there was no relegation. ^ Prior to the 1992–93 seasonBerks/Dorset/Wilts 3 was divided into two regional divisions - Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 East and Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West. ^ ChampionsBournemouth University were not promoted. ^ 3rd placeWestbury also promoted. ^ Restructuring of the Berks, Dorset & Wilts leagues, including a reduction of teams in each division, meant that more teams were relegated than usual. ^ There would be no relegation due to the cancellation ofBerks/Dorset/Wilts 3 at the end of the season. ^ Weymouth & Portland II ,North Dorset III ,Dorchester III andBlandford II were the relegated teams this year. The reason so many teams were relegated was due to the creation of a new division (Dorset & Wilts 3 North & South) for the following season.^ Not promoted as Salisbury 2nd team in division above. ^ Not promoted as Bournemouth 2nd team in division above. ^ Bridport II ,Dorchester II ,South Wilts andSwanage & Wareham III were the relegated teams this year. The reason for so many relegated teams was due to the creation of a new Dorset & Wilts 4 division for the following season.^ After finishing the season bottom of the league - Frome III chose to drop toTribute Somerset 3 South instead ofDorset & Wilts 3 South . ^ Salisbury III finished as runners up but were not promoted as Salisbury II were in the division above. 3rd placeBridport were promoted instead. ^ Despite finishing 8th New Milton III were relegated due to New Milton II being relegated into Dorset & Wilts 2 South fromDorset & Wilts 1 South . ^ ChampionsDorchester II were not promoted intoDorset & Wilts 1 North due to the Dorcester 1st XV being relegated into that division fromSouthern Counties South . ^ 3rd placeSwanage & Wareham II also promoted. ^ No relegation due to dissolution ofDorset & Wilts 3 South at the end of the season. AsNorth Dorset II were relegated into the division,North Dorset III dropped out of the league. ^ League reduced from 12 to 11 teams afterDinton drop out of the league.New Milton II would also transfer intoHampshire 2 . ^ One of Blandford's titles was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2. ^ Bournemouth University were formerly known as Dorset Institute of Higher Education (D.I.H.E.). Both titles were won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2. ^ One of North Dorset's titles was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2. ^ Sherborne have won three titles overall - two by the 2nd team and one by the 1st team. ^ Aldermaston's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2. ^ Chippenham's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2. ^ Melksham's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2. ^ Minety's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2. ^ Salisbury have won two titles overall - one by the 2nd team and one by the 3rd team. ^ Supermarine's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2. ^ Swindon College Old Boys title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2. ^ Tadley's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2. ^ Thatcham's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2. ^ Trowbridge's title was won when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2. ^ Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1988).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89 (17th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 123– 139.ISBN 0 356 15884 5 ^ Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1989).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989–90 (18th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 133– 136.ISBN 0 356 17862 5 ^ Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1990).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1990–91 (19th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 143– 146.ISBN 0 356 19162 1 ^ Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1991).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991–92 (20th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 164– 167.ISBN 0 356 20249 6 ^ Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1992).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992–93 (21st ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 176– 179.ISBN 0 7472 7907 1 ^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94 (22nd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing Ltd. pp. 157– 160.ISBN 0 7472 7891 1 ^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95 . London: Headline Bookline Publishing.ISBN 0 7472 7850 4 ^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1995).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96 . London: Headline Bookline Publishing.ISBN 0 7472 7816 4 ^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97 . London: Headline Book Publishing.ISBN 0 7472 7771 0 ^ "1998-99 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "1999-00 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2000-01 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2001-02 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2002-03 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2003-04 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2004-05 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2005-06 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2006-07 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2007-08 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2008-09 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2009-10 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2010-11 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2011-12 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2012-13 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2013-14 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2014-15 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2015-16 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2016-17 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved2 May 2017 .^ "2017-18 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved21 April 2018 .^ "2018-19 South-West Division" .England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved13 April 2018 .^ "Men's South West Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF) .England Rugby . Retrieved25 April 2020 .
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