Somerset Premier (known as Tribute Somerset Premier for sponsorship reasons) is an English
rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England involving teams based in the county of
Somerset as well as some teams based in
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 of Somerset Premier are automatically promoted to
Western Counties North while the runners up play the runners up of Gloucester Premier for their place. Relegated teams drop into
Somerset 1. Only 1st XV sides can be promoted into Western Counties North, although any side can fall to Somerset 1. Each season a 1st XV side from Somerset Premier is picked to take part in the
RFU Senior Vase - a national competition for clubs at level 8.
The 2015–16 Somerset Premier consists of fourteen teams from
Somerset and south-west
Bristol. The season began on the 5 September 2015 and ended on the 30 April 2016.
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[g], 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 Somerset Premier was to
Western Counties North and relegation to
Somerset 1. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be
Tribute.
Despite widespread restructing by the
RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Somerset Premier remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to
Western Counties North and relegation to
Somerset 1. The league would continued to be sponsored by
Tribute.
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.
^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
Keynsham's titles was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Avonmouth Old Boys title 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.
^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.
^Spartans title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
Somerset Premier (known as Tribute Somerset Premier for sponsorship reasons) is an English
rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England involving teams based in the county of
Somerset as well as some teams based in
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 of Somerset Premier are automatically promoted to
Western Counties North while the runners up play the runners up of Gloucester Premier for their place. Relegated teams drop into
Somerset 1. Only 1st XV sides can be promoted into Western Counties North, although any side can fall to Somerset 1. Each season a 1st XV side from Somerset Premier is picked to take part in the
RFU Senior Vase - a national competition for clubs at level 8.
The 2015–16 Somerset Premier consists of fourteen teams from
Somerset and south-west
Bristol. The season began on the 5 September 2015 and ended on the 30 April 2016.
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[g], 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 Somerset Premier was to
Western Counties North and relegation to
Somerset 1. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be
Tribute.
Despite widespread restructing by the
RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Somerset Premier remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to
Western Counties North and relegation to
Somerset 1. The league would continued to be sponsored by
Tribute.
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.
^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
Keynsham's titles was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.
^Avonmouth Old Boys title 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.
^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.
^Spartans title was when league was known as Gloucestershire/Somerset.