Gloucester Premier is an English
rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England with teams largely being based in the county of
Gloucestershire and
Bristol. Originally a single division called Gloucestershire/Somerset, in 2000 the division split into two county leagues called Gloucester Premier and
Somerset Premier.
The league champions are automatically promoted to
Western Counties North while the runner-up play the runner-up from
Somerset Premier for the third promotion place. Relegated teams drop down into
Gloucester 1. Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the
RFU Senior Vase - a level 8 national competition.
Teams 2021–22
St Mary's Old Boys and
Berry Hill who finished 9th and 10th respectively in 2019-20 but will play in
Gloucester 1 in the current season. Their places were taken by Clifton II and Dings Crusaders II.
The 2015–16 Gloucester Premier consisted of twelve teams from
Gloucestershire and
Bristol. The season started on 5 September 2015 and the last match was played on 23 April 2016. Eight of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition.
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Gloucestershire/Somerset) contained the following teams from
Bristol,
Gloucestershire and
Somerset:
The cancellation of
National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Gloucestershire/Somerset reverted to being a tier 8 league. Further restructuring meant that promotion was now to
Western Counties North[f], while relegation continued to either
Gloucester 1 or
Somerset 1.
Gloucestershire/Somerset was reorganised into two county leagues at the end of the 1999–00 season, Gloucester Premier and
Somerset Premier, with both leagues remaining at level 8. Promotion from Gloucester Premier was to
Western Counties North and relegation to
Gloucester 1. Between 2007–2009 Gloucester Premier was sponsored by
High Bridge Jewellers.
Despite widespread restructuring by the
RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Gloucester Premier remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to
Western Counties North and relegation to
Gloucester 1. From the 2017–18 season onward Gloucester Premier has been sponsored by
Wadworth 6x.
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of the Gloucester Premier and
Somerset Premier for the third and final promotion place to
Western Counties North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Gloucester Premier teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Somerset Premier teams six; and the home team has won promotion on twelve occasions compared to the away teams seven.
Gloucester Premier v Somerset Premier promotion play-off results
^3rd place
Wiveliscombe also promoted. The reason for so many promotions was due to the majority of south-west league increasing from 11 to 13 teams for the following season.
^Despite finishing as champions, the cancellation of Gloucestershire/Somerset meant that
Old Centralians were instead transferred into the new look Gloucester Premier.
^There was no relegation as the division would be expanded from 10 to 12 teams for the next season.
^The result of the 2003-04 playoff between
Nailsea & Backwell and
Chosen Hill Former Pupils is unknown due to all the south-west promotion playoff games from this season missing from the RFU website. However, as Nailsea & Backwell were in the higher division the next season (and Chosen Hill Former Pupils were not) it is assumed they won the playoff game. Nailsea & Backwell would also have hosted the game as they had a better points record in their league than Chosen Hill Former Pupils did in theirs.
^One of
Spartans titles was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^One of
Avonmouth Old Boys titles was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Barton Hill's title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Combe Down's title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Coney Hill's title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Dings Crusaders title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Gloucester Old Boys title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Keynsham's title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Old Centralians title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Old Culverhaysians title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Old Patesians title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
Gloucester Premier is an English
rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England with teams largely being based in the county of
Gloucestershire and
Bristol. Originally a single division called Gloucestershire/Somerset, in 2000 the division split into two county leagues called Gloucester Premier and
Somerset Premier.
The league champions are automatically promoted to
Western Counties North while the runner-up play the runner-up from
Somerset Premier for the third promotion place. Relegated teams drop down into
Gloucester 1. Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the
RFU Senior Vase - a level 8 national competition.
Teams 2021–22
St Mary's Old Boys and
Berry Hill who finished 9th and 10th respectively in 2019-20 but will play in
Gloucester 1 in the current season. Their places were taken by Clifton II and Dings Crusaders II.
The 2015–16 Gloucester Premier consisted of twelve teams from
Gloucestershire and
Bristol. The season started on 5 September 2015 and the last match was played on 23 April 2016. Eight of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition.
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Gloucestershire/Somerset) contained the following teams from
Bristol,
Gloucestershire and
Somerset:
The cancellation of
National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Gloucestershire/Somerset reverted to being a tier 8 league. Further restructuring meant that promotion was now to
Western Counties North[f], while relegation continued to either
Gloucester 1 or
Somerset 1.
Gloucestershire/Somerset was reorganised into two county leagues at the end of the 1999–00 season, Gloucester Premier and
Somerset Premier, with both leagues remaining at level 8. Promotion from Gloucester Premier was to
Western Counties North and relegation to
Gloucester 1. Between 2007–2009 Gloucester Premier was sponsored by
High Bridge Jewellers.
Despite widespread restructuring by the
RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Gloucester Premier remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to
Western Counties North and relegation to
Gloucester 1. From the 2017–18 season onward Gloucester Premier has been sponsored by
Wadworth 6x.
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of the Gloucester Premier and
Somerset Premier for the third and final promotion place to
Western Counties North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Gloucester Premier teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Somerset Premier teams six; and the home team has won promotion on twelve occasions compared to the away teams seven.
Gloucester Premier v Somerset Premier promotion play-off results
^3rd place
Wiveliscombe also promoted. The reason for so many promotions was due to the majority of south-west league increasing from 11 to 13 teams for the following season.
^Despite finishing as champions, the cancellation of Gloucestershire/Somerset meant that
Old Centralians were instead transferred into the new look Gloucester Premier.
^There was no relegation as the division would be expanded from 10 to 12 teams for the next season.
^The result of the 2003-04 playoff between
Nailsea & Backwell and
Chosen Hill Former Pupils is unknown due to all the south-west promotion playoff games from this season missing from the RFU website. However, as Nailsea & Backwell were in the higher division the next season (and Chosen Hill Former Pupils were not) it is assumed they won the playoff game. Nailsea & Backwell would also have hosted the game as they had a better points record in their league than Chosen Hill Former Pupils did in theirs.
^One of
Spartans titles was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^One of
Avonmouth Old Boys titles was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Barton Hill's title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Combe Down's title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Coney Hill's title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Dings Crusaders title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Gloucester Old Boys title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Keynsham's title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Old Centralians title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Old Culverhaysians title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Old Patesians title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.