Counties 4 Gloucestershire (formerly 'Gloucester 2 North / South') are English rugby union leagues which sits at the tenth level of league rugby union in England for teams primarily based in Gloucestershire as well as some teams from Bristol. Promoted clubs move into Counties 3 Gloucestershire (North) or Counties 3 Gloucestershire (South) depending on location. Since the discontinuation of Gloucester 3 at the end of the 2017âÂÂ18 season there is currently no relegation. Up until 2017âÂÂ18 Gloucester 2 was a single division but has since been split into two regional divisions.
For the new campaign the North / South divisional split was reinstated to allow for the cascading down of teams from Counties 2 Gloucestershire which was consolidated from two divisions to one with a corresponding cascade down from Counties 3 Gloucestershire (North) and Counties 3 Gloucestershire (South).
For the new campaign the North / South divisional split ceased and the remaining teams consolidated into one league.
Departing from the North division were Norton promoted to Counties 3 Gloucestershire (North); Cheltenham II, Cinderford III and Ledbury II returned to their respective merit leagues.
Departing from the South division were Kingswood and Dings Crusaders III promoted to Counties 3 Gloucestershire (South); Barton Hill II (5th) and Whitehall II (7th) returned to their respective merit leagues.
Departing were Painswick and Longlevens II both promoted to Counties 3 Gloucestershire (North). Greyhound (4th), Newent II (6th) and Old Cryptians II (8th) did not return for the new season.
Departing were Bristol Aeroplane Company and Clifton III promoted to Counties 3 Gloucestershire (South).
Thornbury II (4th) and Avonmouth Old Boys II (9th) did not return for the new season.
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review.
Departing were Tewkesbury, Bredon Star, Stroud, Minchinhampton, Norton (2nd to 6th respectively) were promoted to Counties 3 Gloucestershire (North). Cheltenham Civil Service (champions) and Old Patesians II (8th) did not return for the new season.
Departing were Old Colstonians, North Bristol, Cotham Park, Southmead, Broad Plain, Old Bristolians II, Bishopston and Frampton Cotterell II (1st-8th respectively), all promoted to Counties 3 Gloucestershire (South). Cleve II (11th) did not return for the new season.
Yate re-entered league rugby having last competed in Somerset 3 North in 2017âÂÂ18.
Ahead of the new season Stroud RFC, promoted to South West 1 West as champions of Western Counties North in 2019âÂÂ20, withdrew from SW1W and instead joined at the bottom of the regional RFU pyramid in Gloucester 2.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020âÂÂ21 season was cancelled.
The 2015âÂÂ16 Gloucester 2 consists of twelve teams; ten from Gloucestershire and Bristol as well as two teams in Herefordshire and Somerset. 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 St Brendan's Old Boys and runners up Bishopston were promoted to the Gloucester 1 while Old Elizabethans were relegated to Gloucester 3.
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (then a single division known as Gloucestershire 2) contained the following teams:
Originally as single division known as Gloucestershire 2, it was a tier 10 league with promotion to Gloucestershire 1 and relegation to Gloucestershire 3.
Gloucestershire 2 was shorted to Gloucester 2 for the 1991âÂÂ92 season onward. It remained a tier 10 league with promotion to Gloucester 1 and relegation to Gloucester 3.
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993âÂÂ94 season meant that Gloucester 2 dropped to become a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Gloucester 1 and relegation to Gloucester 3.
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995âÂÂ96 season meant that Gloucester 2 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Gloucester 1 and relegation to Gloucester 3.
Gloucester 2 remained a tier 10 league despite the cancellation of Gloucestershire/Somerset at the end of the 1999âÂÂ00 season. Promotion continued to Gloucester 1 and relegation to Gloucester 3. Between 2007 and 2009 Gloucester 2 was sponsored by High Bridge Jewellers.
Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008âÂÂ09 season, Gloucester 2 remained a tier 10 league, with promotion continuing to Gloucester 1 and relegation to Gloucester 3.
For the 2018âÂÂ19 season Gloucester 2 was split into two regional tier 10 leagues - Gloucester 2 North and Gloucester 2 South. Promotion continued to Gloucester 1 and there was no longer any relegation due to the cancellation of Gloucester 3. The league was now sponsored by Wadworth 6x.
Since the 2018âÂÂ19 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of the Gloucester 2 North and Gloucester 2 South for the third and final promotion place to Gloucester 1. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019âÂÂ20 season Gloucester 2 North teams have been the most successful with one wins to the Gloucester 2 South teams zero; and the home team has won promotion on one occasions compared to the away teams zero.