• Source: Counties 1 Southern South
    • Counties 1 Southern South (formerly known as Southern Counties South) is a level 7 league in the Rugby Football Union South West Division, the rugby union governing body for South West England, part of the Rugby Football Union. When league rugby first began in 1987 it was a single league known as Southern Counties but in 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues: Southern Counties North (now Counties 1 Southern North) and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern South currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and primarily features teams based in Dorset and Wiltshire.
      The league champions at the end of the season are promoted to Regional 2 South Central while the runners up face the runners up from Southern Counties North for their place. Relegated teams tend to drop to either Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North, Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts South or Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts Central depending on geographic placement. As of the 2022–23 season, with the RFU league restructuring, lower XVs are able to play in Counties 1 Southern South.


      2024-25




      2023-24




      2022-23




      2021–22


      Thatcham finished 11th in 2019–20 but were level transferred to Southern Counties North for the current season.


      2020–21


      Due to the coronavirus pandemic the season was cancelled.


      2019–20




      2018–19




      2017–18




      2016–17




      Season 2015–16


      The 2015–16 Southern Counties South consists of twelve teams; four each from Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. The season started on 12 September 2015 and ended on 23 April 2016.


      = Participating teams

      =
      Eight of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Swanage & Wareham and runners up Salisbury (who won their playoff game) were promoted to the South West 1 East while Supermarine and Corsham were both relegated to Dorset & Wilts 1 North. Royal Wootton Bassett were level transferred from Southern Counties North.


      = League Table 2015–16

      =


      Teams 2014–15


      Bradford-on-Avon
      Corsham
      Dorchester
      Frome
      Midsomer Norton
      North Dorset
      Salisbury (relegated from South West 1 East)
      Sherborne
      Supermarine
      Swanage & Wareham
      Walcot
      Wimborne


      Teams 2013–14


      Corsham
      Dorchester
      Frome
      Ivel Barbarians
      North Dorset (relegated from Tribute South West 1 West)
      Sherborne
      Swanage & Wareham
      Trowbridge
      Walcot
      Wells
      Wimborne


      Teams 2012–13


      Corsham
      Devizes
      Dorchester
      Frome
      Oakmeadians
      Sherborne
      Supermarine
      Trowbridge
      Walcott
      Weymouth
      Wimborne
      Wootton Bassett


      Teams 2009–10


      Bradford-on-Avon
      Corsham
      Devizes
      Dorchester
      Frome
      Ivel Barbarians
      Minety
      North Dorset
      Oldfield Old Boys
      Sherborne
      Tadley
      Wimborne


      Original teams


      When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Southern Counties) contained the following teams:

      Aylesbury
      Banbury
      Bletchley
      Bracknell
      Marlow
      Oxford Marathon
      Oxford Old Boys
      Redingensians
      Swindon
      Wimborne
      Windsor


      Southern Counties South honours




      = Southern Counties (1987–1993)

      =
      Originally Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South were combined in a single division called Southern Counties. It was a tier 7 league with promotion up to South West 2 and relegation down to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 or Bucks/Oxon 1.


      = Southern Counties (1993–1996)

      =
      At the end of the 1992–93 season the top six teams from London Division 1 and the top six from South West Division 1 were combined to create National 5 South. This meant that Southern Counties dropped from a tier 7 league to a tier 8 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion continued to South West 2 and relegation down to either Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 or Bucks/Oxon 1.


      = Southern Counties South (1996–2000)

      =
      Restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1995–96 season saw Southern Counties split into two separate leagues, Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South, which reverted to tier 7 leagues due to the cancellation of National 5 South. Promotion from Southern Counties South was now to the new South West 2 East while relegation was now only to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1 (currently split into Dorset & Wilts 1 North and Dorset & Wilts 2 South).


      = Southern Counties South (2000–2004)

      =
      Southern Counties South remained a tier 7 league, with promotion continuing to South West 2 East. However, the transfer of Berkshire clubs from the Dorset/Wilts leagues to the Bucks/Oxon leagues, meant that relegation was now to Dorset & Wilts 1 (formerly Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1).


      = Southern Counties South (2005–2009)

      =
      Southern Counties South remained a tier 7 league, with promotion continuing to South West 2 East, while a further restructuring of the Dorset/Wilts leagues meant that relegation was now to either Dorset & Wilts 1 North or Dorset & Wilts 1 South.


      = Southern Counties North (2009–present)

      =
      Despite widespread league restructuring by the RFU, Southern Counties South continued as a tier 7 league, with promotion to South West 1 East (formerly South West 2 East) and relegation to either Dorset & Wilts 1 North or Dorset & Wilts 1 South.


      Promotion play-offs


      Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South for the third and final promotion place to South West 1 East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Southern Counties North teams have been the most successful with twelve wins to the Southern Counties South teams seven; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.


      See also


      South West Division RFU
      Dorset & Wilts RFU
      English rugby union system
      Rugby union in England


      Number of league titles




      Notes




      References

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