Counties 3 Gloucestershire (formerly Gloucester 1) is an English rugby union league which sits at the ninth level of league rugby union in England for teams based primarily in the county of Gloucestershire but also on occasion teams from Bristol. Promoted clubs move into Counties 2 Gloucestershire North or Counties 2 Gloucestershire South depending on location. Relegated clubs drop into either Counties 4 Gloucestershire.
With the consolidation of the North & South divisions in Counties 2 Gloucestershire only one team, Tewkesbury, were promoted.
Only three teams (2nd-4th) retained their places in the league, all other teams, those placed 5th-10th, were cascaded down a level the RFU pyramid to Counties 4 Gloucestershire (North) with the exception of Norton (8th) and Chosen Hill FP II (10th) who dropped out of the RFU league pyramid.
With the consolidation of the North & South divisions in Counties 2 Gloucestershire no team was promoted.
Those teams who finished 1st-7th retained their place in the league whilst those placed 8th-12th were cascaded down a level the RFU pyramid to Counties 4 Gloucestershire (South).
Departing were Bredon Star and Gloucester Old Boys, promoted to Counties 2 Gloucestershire North whilst Painswick (10th) and Ross-on-Wye (11th) were relegated to Counties 4 Gloucestershire.
Spartans (Gloucester) re-entered the leagues having withdrawn from Counties 2 Gloucestershire North ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Departing were Lydney II and Southmead promoted to Counties 2 Gloucestershire South. Aretians (10th) and Bishopston (11th) were relegated to Counties 4 Gloucestershire.
Barton Hill re-entered the leagues having withdrawn from Counties 1 Western North ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Departing were Old Patesians and Stroud, promoted to Counties 2 Gloucestershire North whilst Norton (11th) were relegated to Counties 4 Gloucestershire North. Fairford (9th) left on a level transfer to Counties 3 Tribute Dorset & Wilts North.
Departing were North Bristol and Old Colstonians promoted to Counties 2 Gloucestershire South. Frampton Cottrell II were relegated to Counties 4 Gloucestershire South
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review.
Departing were Smiths, Gordon League, Brockworth, Cirencester and Old Centralians II - all promoted to Counties 2 Gloucestershire North as were Berry Hill and Drybrook II to Counties 2 Gloucestershire South.
Old Patesians had finished 13th in Tribute South West 1 West an elected to suffer a triple relegation (bypassing levels 7 & 8) ahead of the new season.
Departing were Bream, Dursley, Lydney II, St Mary's Old Boys and Whitehall - all promoted to Counties 2 Gloucestershire South.
Thornbury II (10th), Avonmouth Old Boys II (11th) and Barton Hill II (12th) were relegated to Counties 4 Gloucestershire (South).
United Bristol Hospitals (9th) withdrew from league competition ahead of the new season.
For the new season Gloucester 1 was split into North and South Divisions with the addition of several second teams from sides higher in the pyramid with twelve clubs in each division. The teams competing in 2021âÂÂ22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019âÂÂ20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020âÂÂ21.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020âÂÂ21 season was cancelled.
The 2015âÂÂ16 Gloucester 1 consists of twelve teams from Gloucestershire and Bristol as well as one team just over the border in Worcestershire. The season starts on 12 September 2015 and is due to end on 23 April 2016. Eight of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014âÂÂ15 champions Longlevens and runners up Chipping Sodbury were promoted to the Gloucester Premier while Old Colstonians and Kingswood were relegated to Gloucester 2.
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Gloucestershire 1) contained the following teams:
Originally known as Gloucestershire 1, it was a tier 9 league with promotion to Gloucestershire/Somerset and relegation to Gloucester 2.
Gloucestershire 1 was shorted to Gloucester 1 for the 1991âÂÂ92 season onward. It remained a tier 9 league with promotion to Gloucestershire/Somerset and relegation to Gloucester 2.
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993âÂÂ94 season meant that Gloucester 1 dropped to become a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Gloucestershire/Somerset and relegation to Gloucester 2.
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995âÂÂ96 season meant that Gloucester 1 reverted to being a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Gloucestershire/Somerset and relegation to Gloucester 2.
Gloucester 1 remained a tier 9 league despite the cancellation of Gloucestershire/Somerset at the end of the 1999âÂÂ00 season. Promotion was now to the new Gloucester Premier, while relegation continued to Gloucester 2. Between 2007 and 2009 Gloucester 1 was sponsored by High Bridge Jewellers.
Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008âÂÂ09 season, Gloucester 1 remained a tier 9 league, with promotion continuing to Gloucester Premier and relegation to Gloucester 2.
Gloucester 1 remained a tier 9 league with promotion continuing to Gloucester Premier, while relegation was now to either Gloucester 2 North or Gloucester 2 South (formerly a single division). The league was now sponsored by Wadworth 6x.