Counties 3 Devon (formerly 'Devon League 2', also known as 'Tribute Devon 2' for sponsorship reasons) is an English level nine
rugby union
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
league for clubs based in
Devon
Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...
. Promotion is to
Counties 1 Devon. Formerly relegation was to
Devon League 3 but after its cancellation in 2003 there was no automatic relegation as this was the lowest division in club rugby union in Devon.
The league was suspended at the end of the 2017–18 season, with teams being either promoted into
Devon League 1
Counties 2 Devon (formerly Devon League 1) is an English level eight rugby union league for clubs primarily based in Devon (and occasionally includes one Cornish club — St Columba & Torpoint). The champions are promoted to Counties 1 Wester ...
or transferred into the Devon Merit Leagues. The league was reinstated following the
RFU Adult competition Review which came into effect ahead of the 2022–23 season, but was initially split into East and West divisions before being re-categorised as East & North / South & West ahead of the 2023–24 season.
Format
The results of the matches contributed 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 are awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
* 1 additional (bonus) point are awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match.
2025-26
North & East
Departing were Crediton II, promoted to
Counties 2 Devon.
South & West
Departing were
Ivybridge II, promoted to
Couties 2 Devon.
2024–25
North & East
Departing were Topsham II, promoted to
Counties 2 Devon.
Teignmouth II started but did not complete the season leaving eleven sides to contest the fixtures.
South & West
Departing were Dartmouth and Tamar Saracens, promoted to
Couties 2 Devon. Tavistock II (10th) did not return for the new season.
2023–24
The league was redesignated as North & East and South & West for the new season.
North & East
Departing were Old Plymouthian & Mannamedian, promoted to
Counties 2 Devon. Torrington (9th) and Buckfastleigh Ramblers (10th) returned to their respective merit leagues.
Teignmouth II, Topsham II and
Okehampton II joined on a level transfer from the West league.
South & West
Departing were Plymouth Argaum, promoted to
Couties 2 Devon.
Topsham II (3rd), Newton Abbot (4th) and
Teignmouth II (8th) went on a level transfer to the North & East division.
2022–23
The league was reinstated following the
RFU Adult competition Review which saw the competition split into East and West divisions.
East
West
2018–2022
Not contested.
2017–18
The season started on 28 October 2017 and the last matches were played on 24 February 2018
Participating clubs and locations
2016–17
Participating clubs
Final table
2015–16
Participating clubs and locations
2014–15
North Tawton came first and were promoted to
Devon 1 along with the runner-up Tamar Saracens. Both teams won thirteen of their fourteen matches; losing just the one match away to each other.
2013–14
Participating clubs
Final table
2012–13
Participating clubs
* Buckfastleigh Ramblers
* Devonport HSOB
* Ilfracombe
* North Tawton
* Plymouth Argaum
* Plympton Victoria
* St Columba & Torpoint
* Tamar Saracens
Final table
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division was split into two regional leagues known as Devon 2A and Devon 2B and contained the following teams:
Devon 2A
Devon 2A was for teams based in
Plymouth
Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...
and the surrounding area.
*
Devonport HSOB
*
Jesters
A jester, also known as joker, court jester, or fool, was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch kept to entertain guests at the royal court. Jesters were also travelling performers who entertained common folk at fairs and town ma ...
*
Plympton
Plympton is a suburb of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England. It is in origin an ancient Stannary, stannary town. It was an important trading centre for locally mined tin, and a seaport before the River Plym silted up and trade moved down riv ...
*
Plymouth YMCA
*
Old Public Oaks
*
Old Plymothian & Mannamedian
*
Tamar Saracens
*
St Columba & Torpoint
*
Victoria
Devon 2B
Devon 2B was for teams based in the rest of
Devon
Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...
.
*
Cullompton
Cullompton () is a town and civil parish in the district of Mid Devon and the county of Devon, England. It is north-east of Exeter and lies on the River Culm. In 2021, the parish as a whole had a population of 10,071, while the built-up area o ...
*
Dartmouth
*
North Tawton
North Tawton is a small town in Devon, England, situated on the river Taw. It is administered by West Devon Council. The population of the electoral ward at the census 2011 was 2,026.
History
Romans crossed the River Taw at what is now Newla ...
*
Salcombe
Salcombe is a resort town in the South Hams district of Devon, south west England. The town is close to the mouth of the Kingsbridge Estuary, mostly built on the steep west side of the estuary. It lies within the South Devon Area of Outstand ...
*
Tavistock
Tavistock ( ) is an ancient stannary and market town and civil parish in the West Devon district, in the county of Devon, England. It is situated on the River Tavy, from which its name derives. At the 2011 census, the three electoral wards (N ...
*
Topsham
*
Withycombe
Devon League 2 honours
Devon League 2A / 2B (1987–1992)
The original Devon 2 (sponsored by
Courage
Courage (also called bravery, valour ( British and Commonwealth English), or valor (American English)) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in ...
) was split into two tier 10 regional leagues - Devon 2A (
Plymouth
Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...
region) and Devon 2B (rest of
Devon
Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...
). Promotion was up to
Devon 1 and there was no relegation.
Devon League 2 (1992–1993)
Ahead of the 1992–93 season Devon 2A and 2B were merged into a single tier 10 division known as Devon 2. Promotion continued to
Devon 1 and there was no relegation. The league continued to be sponsored by
Courage
Courage (also called bravery, valour ( British and Commonwealth English), or valor (American English)) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in ...
.
Devon League 2 (1993–96)
The creation of
National 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Devon 2 dropped to become a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to
Devon 1 and there was no relegation until the introduction of
Devon 3 at the end of the 1995–96 season. The league continued to be sponsored by
Courage
Courage (also called bravery, valour ( British and Commonwealth English), or valor (American English)) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in ...
.
Devon League 2 (1996–2003)
The cancellation of
National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Devon 2 return to being a tier 10 division. Promotion continued to
Cornwall/Devon and relegation was now down to the new
Devon 3.
Devon League 2 (2003–2009)
Devon 2 continued as a tier 10 league with promotion to
Devon 1. However, the cancellation of
Devon 3 at the end of the 2002–03 meant that there was no longer relegation. From the 2008–09 season onward the league sponsor would be
Tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of lands which the state con ...
.
Devon 1 South & West (2009–2010)
For a solitary season Devon 2 was known as Devon 1 South & West. It remained a tier 10 league with promotion to
Devon 1 and there was no relegation.
Tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of lands which the state con ...
continued to sponsor the league.
Devon League 2 (2010–2018)
Devon 1 South & West was renamed back to Devon 2 for the 2010–11 season onward. It continued as a tier 10 league with promotion to
Devon 1 and there was no relegation.
Tribute
A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of lands which the state con ...
continued to sponsor the league. At the end of the 2017–18 season Devon 2 was disbanded and all teams transferred into either Devon 1 or the Devon Merit Leagues.
Number of league titles
*
Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe ( ) is a seaside resort and civil parishes in England, civil parish on the North Devon coast, England, with a small harbour surrounded by cliffs.
The parish stretches along the coast from the 'Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay towar ...
(3)
*
Salcombe
Salcombe is a resort town in the South Hams district of Devon, south west England. The town is close to the mouth of the Kingsbridge Estuary, mostly built on the steep west side of the estuary. It lies within the South Devon Area of Outstand ...
(3)
*
Totnes
Totnes ( or ) is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England, within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is about west of Paignton, about west-southwest of Torquay and ab ...
(3)
*
Cullompton
Cullompton () is a town and civil parish in the district of Mid Devon and the county of Devon, England. It is north-east of Exeter and lies on the River Culm. In 2021, the parish as a whole had a population of 10,071, while the built-up area o ...
(2)
*
Devonport HSOB (2)
*
North Tawton
North Tawton is a small town in Devon, England, situated on the river Taw. It is administered by West Devon Council. The population of the electoral ward at the census 2011 was 2,026.
History
Romans crossed the River Taw at what is now Newla ...
(2)
*
Prince Rock Woodland Fort (2)
*
Tamar Saracens (2)
*
Topsham (2)
*
Buckfastleigh Ramblers (1)
*
Dartmouth (1)
*
Exeter Saracens (1)
*
Exeter University
The University of Exeter is a research university in the West Country of England, with its main campus in Exeter, Devon. Its predecessor institutions, St Luke's College, Exeter School of Science, Exeter School of Art, and the Camborne School o ...
(1)
*
Honiton
Honiton () is a market town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, Devon, River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. Honiton has a population estimated at 12,154 (based on 2021 census).
History
The ...
(1)
*
Jesters
A jester, also known as joker, court jester, or fool, was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch kept to entertain guests at the royal court. Jesters were also travelling performers who entertained common folk at fairs and town ma ...
(1)
*
New Cross
New Cross is an area in south-east London, England, south-east of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Lewisham and the London_postal_district#List_of_London_postal_districts, SE14 postcode district. New Cross is near St Johns, London, St Jo ...
(1)
*
Old Plymothian & Mannamedian (1)
*
Old Public Oaks (1)
*
Old Technicians (1)
*
Plymouth Argaum (1)
*
Plymstock Albion Oaks (1)
*
St Columba & Torpoint (1)
*
Tavistock
Tavistock ( ) is an ancient stannary and market town and civil parish in the West Devon district, in the county of Devon, England. It is situated on the River Tavy, from which its name derives. At the 2011 census, the three electoral wards (N ...
(1)
*
Withycombe (1)
Notes
See also
*
South West Division RFU
*
Devon RFU
*
Devon 1
*
Devon 3
*
English rugby union system
Men's Rugby union in England consists of 106 leagues, which includes professional leagues at the highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout the system.
Women's Rugby union in England consi ...
*
Rugby union in England
Rugby union in England is one of the leading professional and recreational team sports. In 1871 the Rugby Football Union, the governing body for rugby union in England, was formed by 21 rugby clubs, and the first international match, which invol ...
References
External links
Devon RFU
{{Rugby union in England
D
Sports leagues established in 1987
Sports leagues disestablished in 2018
1987 establishments in England
2018 disestablishments in England
Rugby union in Devon