South West Premier (formerly National League 3 South West) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of four leagues at this level, alongside London & South East Premier, Midlands Premier and North Premier. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009-10 season following reorganisation by the Rugby Football Union, and the name change from National League 3 to Premier was introduced for the 2017-18 season by the RFU in order to lessen confusion for what is a series of regional leagues. South West Premier is the highest regional rugby union league covering South West England and part of South East England.
The club finishing in first place is automatically promoted to National League 2 South. The runner-up play the second placed team of London & South East Premier, with the winner also gaining promotion. Relegated teams drop down to either South West 1 East or South West 1 West (occasionally Midlands 1 West) depending on location, and other factors such as the location of relegated and promoted teams in other divisions.
The current champions are Old Redcliffians, who will participate in National League 2 South next season.
Video South West Premier
Format
The season runs from September to May and comprises twenty-six rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals, home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
- 4 points are awarded for a win
- 2 points are awarded for a draw
- 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
- 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
- 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match
Maps South West Premier
2017-18
Participating teams
Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition (when it was known as National League 3 South West). They are joined by Exmouth, who were relegated from National League 2 South, and by three promoted sides; Weston-super-Mare, Maidenhead and Newbury Blues. Old Redcliffians (champions) were promoted to National League 2 South, while relegated teams included Launceston (Tribute South West 1 West), Salisbury (South West 1 East) and Bromsgrove (Midlands 1 West).
2016-17
Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Launceston who were relegated from National League 2 South, and by two promoted sides: Camborne and Salisbury. Exmouth (champions) and Barnstaple (play-off) were promoted to National League 2 South, while Chippenham were relegated to Tribute South West 1 West, and Old Patesians and Old Centralians to South West 1 East. To address a league imbalance due to only one team coming down from National League 2 South, both Bromsgrove and Bracknell have been level transferred into the league from National League 3 Midlands and National League 3 London & SE respectively, Bromsgrove having finished 9th and Bracknell 11th.
Participating teams
Final league table
Promotion play-off
Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 London & SE, and National League 3 South West participate in a play-off for the third promotion place to National League 2 South. The team with the best playing record, in this case Wimbledon, hosted the match and destroyed their opponents Dings Crusaders 55 - 5 to win promotion.
2015-16
Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by two teams relegated from National League 2 South, Dings Crusaders and Lydney; and by three promoted teams Cleve, Chippenham and Ivybridge. The teams leaving the league were the 2014-15 champions, Redingensians who were promoted to National League 2 South and the relegated teams, Chard and Weston-super-Mare to play in Tribute South West 1 West, and Oxford Harlequins to South West 1 East. Bracknell, who finished 3rd last season, transferred to National League 3 London and SE.
Participating teams
Final league table
Promotion play-off
Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 London and SE, and National League 3 South West participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 South. The team with the best playing record, in this case Tonbridge Juddians, host the match and their opponents were Barnstaple, who won the match 30 - 31, scoring the winning points with a penalty in the last seconds of the match.
2014-15
Participating teams
Final league table
Promotion play-off
Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 London and SE, and National League 3 South West participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 South. The team with the best playing record, in this case Exmouth, hosts the match; their opponents were Barnes and the match was played on 25 April 2015. At the end of full-time the match score was 22 - 22, and Barnes scored the only points in extra-time, to win the match 27- 22.
After extra time (80 mins: 22 - 22)
2013-14
- Amersham & Chiltern RFC
- Avonmouth Old Boys
- Barnstaple
- Bracknell (promoted from South West 1 East)
- Brixham
- Chippenham
- Lydney (relegated from National League 2 South)
- Newton Abbot
- Old Centralians (promoted from South West 1 East)
- Old Patesians
- Old Redcliffians (promoted from Tribute South West 1 West)
- Redingensians
- Weston-super-Mare
- Worcester Wanderers (promoted from Midlands 1 West)
League winners
- Lydney (promoted to National League 2 South)
Relegated
- Avonmouth Old Boys (relegated to South West 1 West)
- Chippenham (relegated to South West 1 East)
- Worcester Wanderers (relegated to Midlands 1 West)
Transferred
- Amersham & Chiltern RFC (transferred to National League 3 London & SE)
Final league table
2012-13
- Amersham & Chiltern RFC
- Avonmouth Old Boys
- Barnstaple
- Brixham
- Chippenham
- Exmouth
- London Irish Amateur (transferred from National League 3 London & SE)
- Maidenhead (promoted from South West 1 East)
- Malvern
- Newton Abbot
- Old Patesians
- Oxford Harlequins
- Redingensians
- Weston-super-Mare
2011-12
- Amersham & Chiltern RFC
- Barnstaple
- Bournemouth
- Bridgwater & Albion
- Chinnor
- Chippenham
- Exmouth
- Newbury Blues (relegated from National League 2 South)
- Newton Abbot
- Old Patesians
- Old Redcliffians
- Oxford Harlequins
- Redingensians
- Weston-super-Mare
2010-11
- Barnstaple
- Bournemouth
- Bridgwater & Albion
- Cheltenham
- Chinnor
- Cleve
- Coney Hill
- Exmouth
- Hartpury College
- Newton Abbot
- Old Patesians
- Oxford Harlequins
- Redingensians
- Weston-super-Mare
2009-10
The first season as a national league
- Barnstaple
- Bournemouth
- Chinnor
- Chippenham
- Cleve
- Coney Hill
- Exmouth
- Maidenhead (promoted from South West 1 East)
- Old Patesians
- Oxford Harlequins
- Reading
- Redingensians
- Taunton
- Weston-super-Mare
2007-08
Final league table
South West Premier honours
In the first season of the English rugby union league pyramid, sponsored by Courage, there was four, tier five leagues. The geographical area for teams in South West Division One covered an area of south-west England from Oxfordshire and Berkshire in the east to Cornwall in the west. There were eleven teams in the league and they played each team once, giving each team ten matches. The other tier five leagues were London 1, Midlands 1 and North 1. This system prevailed for five seasons, and in 1992-93 the number of teams increased from eleven to thirteen. The following season (1993-94) the league was reorganised and the four tier five leagues became two; National 5 North and National 5 South. After three seasons, in 1996-97, a further reorganisation occurred, and there was a return to four, tier five leagues; with South West Division One covering the area of south-west England from Berkshire westwards. This system prevailed until 2009-10 when the number of teams was increased from twelve to fourteen and renamed National League Three South West. There was a name change for the beginning of season 2017-18 when the division was renamed the South West Premier.
South West Division One
National 5 South
The top six teams from London Division One and the top six from South West Division One were combined to create National 5 South. South West Division One was now the name of a tier six league and was one of two feeder leagues for National 5 South, the other being London Division One.
South West Division oOne
The division was renamed South West Division One and the top four divisions increased in size. Lydney was promoted to National Division Three and all of the other teams, bar Camborne, were transferred to National 4 South.
National League 3 South West
The division was renamed National League 3 South West following a restructuring of the national leagues which led to changes at all levels.
South West Premier
For the 2017-18 season all divisions at tier 5 were renamed from National League 3 to Premier meaning that National League 3 South West became known as South West Premier.
Promotion play-offs
Since the 2000-01 season there has been a promotion play-off game between the runners-up of London & South East Premier and South West Premier for the third and final promotion place to National League 2 South with the team with the superior league record having home advantage. As of the 2017-18 season the London and south-east teams have been most successful with twelve wins to the south-west teams six while the home side have won fourteen of the eighteen ties.
Number of league titles
Notes
See also
- English rugby union system
- Rugby union in England
References
External links
- RFU Website South West Premier
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments