Tribute Somerset Premier | |
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Current season or competition::![]() |
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Sport | Rugby union |
Instituted | 2000 |
Number of teams | 14 |
Country | England |
Holders | Winscombe (1st title) (2016–17 promoted to Tribute Western Counties North) |
Most titles |
Bristol Harlequins Gordano Old Redcliffians (2 titles) |
Website | englandrugby.com |
Tribute Somerset Premier 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. The league champions are automatically promoted to Tribute Western Counties North while the runners up play the runners up of Gloucester Premier for their place. Relegated teams drop into Somerset 1.
There are five divisions below this league - Somerset 1, Somerset 2 North, Somerset 2 South, Somerset 3 North and Somerset 3 South. These leagues mostly consist of 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams of clubs whose 1st XV plays at a higher level.
The 2015–16 Tribute 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.
Eleven of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Gordano were promoted to Tribute Western Counties North while Bristol Imperial and Clevedon II were relegated to Somerset 1.
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of the Gloucester Premier and Tribute Somerset Premier for the third and final promotion place to Tribute Western Counties North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2016–17 season Gloucester Premier teams have been the most successful with eleven wins to the Tribute Somerset Premier teams six; and the home team has won promotion on twelve occasions compared to the away teams five.