Somerset 3 North (known asTribute Somerset 3 North for sponsorship reasons) is an Englishrugby union league which sits at the eleven level of league rugby union in England alongside its counterpartSomerset 3 South. 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 North currently involves teams from the northern part ofSomerset as well as teams based in south and westBristol. 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 toSomerset 2 North and there is no relegation as this is the lowest level of league rugby in Somerset.
When league rugby began in 1987 this league (known as Somerset 3) was a single division containing the following teams fromSomerset and parts ofBristol:
For the 1989–90 season Somerset 3 split into two regional leagues - Somerset 3A and Somerset 3B - both at tier 11 of the league system. Promotion continued toSomerset 2 and there was no relegation.
After a single season Somerset 3 reverted to being a single division at tier 11 of the league system. Promotion continued toSomerset 2 and there was no relegation.
The creation ofNational League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Somerset 3 dropped to become a tier 12 league. Promotion continued toSomerset 2 and there was no relegation.
The cancellation ofNational League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Somerset 3 reverted to being a tier 11 league. Promotion continued toSomerset 2 and there was no relegation. Somerset 3 was cancelled at the end of the 1999–00 season and all teams transferred intoSomerset 2.
After an absence of six years, Somerset 3 returned - now split into two regional tier 11 divisions - Somerset 3 North andSomerset 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 toSomerset 2 North[g] and there was no relegation. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would beTribute.
Despite widespread restructuring by theRFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Somerset 3 North and its counterpartSomerset 3 South, remained as tier 11 leagues. Promotion continued toSomerset 2 North and there was no relegation. The league would continued to be sponsored byTribute.
^Westland would later merge withYeovil to form Ivel Barbarians in 1995.[2] Ivel Barbarians would in turn be renamed asYeovil Rugby Club in 2014.[3]
^Restructuring of the majority of the south west leagues from 11 to 13 teams meant that five clubs were promoted includingAvon,Bath Old Edwardians andCastle Cary.
^Despite finishing as champions,Walcot III were not promoted as the club's 2nd XV were already inSomerset 2 North.
^Despite finishing as champions,Clevedon III were not promoted as the club's 2nd XV were already inSomerset 2 North.
^Despite finishing as champions,Old Redcliffians IV would drop out of the Somerset leagues before the start of the new season.
^Runners upClevedon III would drop out of the league as the club's 2nd XV were relegated fromSomerset 1 at the end of the season, dropping two divisions down into Somerset 3 North.
^Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1988).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89 (17th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 123–139.ISBN0-356-15884-5.
^Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1989).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989–90 (18th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 133–136.ISBN0-356-17862-5.
^abJohns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1990).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1990–91 (19th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 143–146.ISBN0-356-19162-1.
^Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1991).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991–92 (20th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 164–167.ISBN0-356-20249-6.
^Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1992).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992–93 (21st ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 176–179.ISBN0-7472-7907-1.
^Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94 (22nd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing Ltd. pp. 157–160.ISBN0-7472-7891-1.
^Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994).Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing.ISBN0-7472-7850-4.
2020–21 Somerset 3 North
England
