Counties 3 Devon (formerly Devon League 2, also known as Tribute Devon 2 for sponsorship reasons) is an English level nine rugby union league for clubs based in Devon. 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 2017âÂÂ18 season, with teams being either promoted into Devon League 1 or transferred to the Devon Merit Leagues. The league was reinstated following the RFU Adult competition Review which came into effect ahead of the 2022âÂÂ23 season, but was initially split into East and West divisions before being re-categorised as East & North / South & West ahead of the 2023âÂÂ24 season.
The results of the matches contributed points to the league as follows:
Departing were Crediton II, promoted to Counties 2 Devon.
Departing were Ivybridge II, promoted to Counties 2 Devon.
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.
Departing were Dartmouth and Tamar Saracens, promoted to Couties 2 Devon. Tavistock II (10th) did not return for the new season.
The league was redesignated as North & East and South & West for the new season.
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.
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.
The league was reinstated following the RFU Adult competition Review which saw the competition split into East and West divisions.
Not contested.
The season started on 28 October 2017 and the last matches were played on 24 February 2018
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.
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 was for teams based in Plymouth and the surrounding area.
Devon 2B was for teams based in the rest of Devon.
The original Devon 2 (sponsored by Courage) was split into two tier 10 regional leagues â Devon 2A (Plymouth region) and Devon 2B (rest of Devon). Promotion was to Devon 1 and there was no relegation.
Ahead of the 1992âÂÂ93 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.
The creation of National 5 South for the 1993âÂÂ94 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 1995âÂÂ96 season. The league continued to be sponsored by Courage.
The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995âÂÂ96 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 2 continued as a tier 10 league with promotion to Devon 1. However, the cancellation of Devon 3 at the end of the 2002âÂÂ03 meant that there was no longer relegation. From the 2008âÂÂ09 season onward the league sponsor is Tribute.
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 continued to sponsor the league.
Devon 1 South & West was renamed back to Devon 2 for the 2010âÂÂ11 season onward. It continued as a tier 10 league with promotion to Devon 1 and there was no relegation. Tribute continued to sponsor the league. At the end of the 2017âÂÂ18 season Devon 2 was disbanded and all teams transferred into either Devon 1 or the Devon Merit Leagues.