Counties 2 Gloucestershire (or Counties 2 Tribute Gloucester for sponsorship reasons; formerly known as Gloucester Premier) is an English

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 which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England with teams largely being based in the county of

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...

and

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

. Originally a single division called Gloucestershire/Somerset, in 2000 the division split into two county leagues called Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier. Following the Adult Competition Review the league was renamed Counties 2 Gloucestershire and split into North and South divisions. For season 2025-26 the divisions were consolidated once more. The league champions are promoted to Counties 1 Western North while the runner-up play the runner-up from Somerset Premier for the third promotion place. Relegated teams drop down into Counties 3 Gloucestershire North or Counties 3 Gloucestershire South depending on location.

Teams 2025-26

For season 2025-26 the North / South divisions were consolidated once more. Departing were Dings Crusaders II , promoted to Counties 1 Western North as champions of the South division who defeated Smiths (champions of the North division) 28-45 in the promotion play-off. All other teams, those placed 6th-12th in the North division and 7th-12th in the South division were cascaded down a level in the RFU pyramid to Counties 3 Gloucestershire (North) and Counties 3 Gloucestershire (South) respectively with the exception of Chipping Sodbury (12th South) who dropped two levels to Counties 4 Gloucestershire (South).

Teams 2024–25

North

Departing were Gordon League, promoted to Counties 1 Western North. Old Cryptians (11th) were relegated. Joining were Gloucester Old Boys, Bredon Star and Berry Hill.

South

Departing were Berry Hill on a level transfer to Counties 2 Gloucestershire (North). Avonmouth Old Boys (11th) and Whitehall (12th) were relegated. Joining were Lydney II, Chipping Sodbury and Southmead

Teams 2023–24

North

Departing were Cheltenham Saracens (12th), Old Centralians II (11th) and Ross-On-Wye (10th), all relegated. Spartans (Gloucester) (8th) did not return for the new season. Joining were Old Patesians and Stroud, both promoted, together with Cheltenham North, relegated from Counties 1 Western North

South

Departing were Clifton II, promoted to Counties 1 Western North. Lydney II (11th) and Drybrook II (12th) were relegated. Joining were Avonmouth Old Boys, relegated from Counties 1 Western North, together with North Bristol and Old Colstonians.

Teams 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU's Adult Competition review and saw the league split into two divisions. Departing were Longlevens, promoted to Counties 1 Western North.

North

Joining were Spartans who had withdrawn from Counties 1 Western North in the 2021–22 season.

South

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.

2020–21

Due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.

Teams 2019–20

Teams 2018–19

Teams 2017–18

Teams 2016–17

Teams 2015–16

The 2015–16 Gloucester Premier consisted of twelve teams from

and

. 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.

League table

Teams 2014–15

Stroud Stroud is a market town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District. The town's population was 13,500 in 2021. Sited below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills, at the meeting point of the ...

are champions and along with the runner-up

Whitehall Whitehall is a road and area in the City of Westminster, Central London, England. The road forms the first part of the A roads in Zone 3 of the Great Britain numbering scheme, A3212 road from Trafalgar Square to Chelsea, London, Chelsea. It ...

(play-off winner) were promoted to

Western Counties North Counties 1 Western North (known as Counties 1 Tribute Western North for sponsorship purposes) is an English rugby union league. Originally a single division called Western Counties, in 1996 the division split into two regional leagues called ...

Painswick Painswick is a town and civil parish in the Stroud District in Gloucestershire, England. Originally the town grew from the wool trade, but it is now best known for its parish church's Taxus baccata, yew trees and the local Painswick House, Pain ...

and Gordon League were relegated to Gloucester 1. * Berry Hill (relegated from

) *Bream (promoted from Gloucester 1) *Cheltenham Saracens (promoted from Gloucester 1) *Cirencester (relegated from

) *Frampton Cotterell *Gordon League *Hucclecote *Painswick *St. Mary's Old Boys *Stroud *Tewkesbury *Whitehall

Teams 2013–14

*Bristol Saracens *Dursley *Frampton Cotterill *Gordon League *Hucclecote (promoted from Gloucester 1) *

Newent Newent (; originally called "Noent") is a market town and civil parish in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. The town is north-west of Gloucester. Its population was 5,073 at the 2001 census, rising to 5,207 in 2011, The population ...

(promoted from Gloucester 1) *Painswick *Southmead *Stroud *St Mary's Old Boys *Tewkesbury *Whitehall

Teams 2012–13

*Bristol Saracens *

Drybrook Drybrook is a village and civil parish in the Forest of Dean in west Gloucestershire, England. Location It lies in the north-west edge of the Royal Forest, bordering with Herefordshire, about from Cinderford, and about from Mitcheldean. ...

*Dursley *Frampton Cotterell *Gordon League *Painswick *Southmead *Stroud *St Mary's Old Boys (SW) *Tewkesbury *Whitehall *Widden Old Boys

Teams 2011–12

*Bishopston *Bristol Saracens *

*Frampton Cotterell *Longlevens * Old Bristolians *Old Colstonians *Old Richians *Southmead *St. Mary's Old Boys *Tewkesbury *Widden Old Boys

Teams 2010–11

*Bristol Saracens *Brockworth *Frampton Cotterell *Gloucester Old Boys * Old Bristolians *Old Colstonians *Old Richians *Ross-on-Wye RFC *Southmead *Tewkesbury *Whitehall RFC *Widden Old Boys

Teams 2009–10

*Bristol Saracens *Cirencester *Frampton Cotterell *Gloucester Old Boys *Hucclecote *Matson *Old Colstonians *Old Richians *Ross-on-Wye RFC *Spartans *Tewkesbury *Whitehall

Teams 2008–09

*Bristol Saraces *Cirencester *

*Frampton Cotterell *Gloucester Old Boys *Hucclecote *Matson * Old Bristolians *Old Colstonians *Old Richians *Spartans *Whitehall

Teams 2007–08

*Aretians *Cirencester *

*Frampton Cotterell *Gloucester Old Boys *Hartpury College *Hucclecote *Matson *North Bristol *Old Colstonians *Old Richians *Whitehall

Teams 2006–07

*Aretians *Avonmouth Old Boys *Cirencester *

*Frampton Cotterell *Longlevens *Matson *Old Colstonians *Old Richians *Painswick *Widden Old Boys *Whitehall

Teams 2005–06

*Aretians *Barton Hill *Chosen Hill Former Pupils *

*Longlevens *Matson *Old Colstonians *Old Richians *Painswick *Widden Old Boys

Teams 2004–05

*Aretians *Avonmouth Old Boys *Barton Hill *Chosen Hill Former Pupils *Longlevens *North Bristol *Old Richians *Painswick *Southmead *Tewkesbury

Teams 2003–04

*Aretians *Avonmouth Old Boys *Cheltenham North *Chipping Sodbury *Cirencester *Chosen Hill Former Pupils *Longlevens *North Bristol * Old Bristolians *Painswick

Teams 2002–03

*Aretians *Avonmouth Old Boys *Barton Hill *Cirencester *Chosen Hill Former Pupils *

*Hucclecote *Longlevens *North Bristol *Painswick

Teams 2001–02

*Avonmouth Old Boys *Barton Hill *Bristol Saracens *Cirencester *Chipping Sodbury *Chosen Hill Former Pupils *

*Hucclecote *Longlevens *Spartans

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Gloucestershire/Somerset) contained the following teams from

and

Somerset Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...

: * Avonmouth Old Boys * Cleve * Combe Down * Coney Hill * Gordano *

Keynsham Keynsham ( ) is a town and civil parish located on the outskirts of the city of Bristol on the A4 that links the cities of Bristol and Bath, Somerset, Bath in Somerset, England. It had a population of 19,603 at the 2021 Census. It was listed i ...

Midsomer Norton Midsomer Norton is a town near the Mendip Hills in Bath and North East Somerset, England, south-west of Bath, Somerset, Bath, north-east of Wells, Somerset, Wells, north-west of Frome, west of Trowbridge and south-east of Bristol. It has ...

* Minehead Barbarians * St. Brendan's Old Boys * Tredworth *

Gloucester Premier honours

Gloucestershire/Somerset (1987–1993)

Originally Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier were combined in a single division known as Gloucestershire/Somerset, involving teams based in

and

. It was tier 8 league with promotion to Western Counties and relegation to either Gloucestershire 1 or Somerset 1.

Gloucestershire/Somerset (1993–1996)

The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Gloucestershire/Somerset dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Western Counties and relegation to either Gloucester 1 or Somerset 1.

Gloucestershire/Somerset (1996–2000)

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

, while relegation continued to either Gloucester 1 or Somerset 1.

Gloucester Premier (2000–2009)

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

and relegation to Gloucester 1. Between 2007–2009 Gloucester Premier was sponsored by High Bridge Jewellers.

Gloucester Premier (2009–present)

Despite widespread restructuring by the

RFU The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for rugby union in England. It was founded in 1871, and was the sport's international governing body prior to the formation of what is now known as World Rugby (WR) in 1886. It prom ...

at the end of the 2008–09 season, Gloucester Premier remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to

and relegation to Gloucester 1. From the 2017–18 season onward Gloucester Premier has been sponsored by Wadworth 6x.

Promotion play-offs

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

. 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.

Number of league titles

(3) *

Spartans Sparta was a prominent city-state in Laconia in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (), while the name Sparta referred to its main settlement in the valley of Evrotas river in Laconia, in southeastern P ...

(3) * Avonmouth Old Boys (2) * Chosen Hill Former Pupils (2) * Barton Hill (1) * Bristol Saracens (1) * Cheltenham North (1) *

Chipping Sodbury Chipping Sodbury is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority area of South Gloucestershire, in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It is situated 13 miles (21 km) north-east of Bristol and directly east of Yate. The town ...

(1) * Combe Down (1) * Coney Hill (1) * Dings Crusaders (1) * Gloucester Old Boys (1) * Hartpury College (1) *

(1) * Matson (1) *

(1) * North Bristol (1) * Old Bristolians (1) * Old Centralians (1) * Old Culverhaysians (1) * Old Patesians (1) * Old Richians (1) * St. Bernadette's Old Boys (1) * St. Mary's Old Boys (1) *

(1) * Thornbury (1) *

(1)

Notes

References

{{Rugby union in England 8 Rugby union in Bristol Sport in Gloucester Rugby union in Gloucestershire

Teams 2025-26

Teams 2024–25

North

South

Teams 2023–24

North

South

Teams 2022–23

North

South

Teams 2021–22

2020–21

Teams 2019–20

Teams 2018–19

Teams 2017–18

Teams 2016–17

Teams 2015–16

League table

Teams 2014–15

Teams 2013–14

Teams 2012–13

Teams 2011–12

Teams 2010–11

Teams 2009–10

Teams 2008–09

Teams 2007–08

Teams 2006–07

Teams 2005–06

Teams 2004–05

Teams 2003–04

Teams 2002–03

Teams 2001–02

Original teams

Gloucester Premier honours

Gloucestershire/Somerset (1987–1993)

Gloucestershire/Somerset (1993–1996)

Gloucestershire/Somerset (1996–2000)

Gloucester Premier (2000–2009)

Gloucester Premier (2009–present)

Promotion play-offs

Number of league titles

Notes

See also

References