Counties 2 Gloucestershire (or Counties 2 Tribute Gloucester for sponsorship reasons; formerly known as Gloucester Premier) is an English rugby union league which sits at the eighth level of league rugby union in England with teams largely being based in the county of Gloucestershire and Bristol. Originally a single division called Gloucestershire/Somerset, in 2000 the division split into two county leagues called Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier. Following the Adult Competition Review the league was renamed Counties 2 Gloucestershire and split into North and South divisions. For season 2025-26 the divisions were consolidated once more.
The league champions are promoted to Counties 1 Western North while the runner-up play the runner-up from Somerset Premier for the third promotion place. Relegated teams drop down into Counties 3 Gloucestershire North or Counties 3 Gloucestershire South depending on location.
For season 2025âÂÂ26 the North / South divisions were consolidated once more.
Departing were Dings Crusaders II , promoted to Counties 1 Western North as champions of the South division who defeated Smiths (champions of the North division) 28-45 in the promotion play-off.
All other teams, those placed 6th-12th in the North division and 7th-12th in the South division were cascaded down a level in the RFU pyramid to Counties 3 Gloucestershire (North) and Counties 3 Gloucestershire (South) respectively with the exception of Chipping Sodbury (12th South) who dropped two levels to Counties 4 Gloucestershire (South).
Departing were Gordon League, promoted to Counties 1 Western North. Old Cryptians (11th) were relegated.
Joining were Gloucester Old Boys, Bredon Star and Berry Hill.
Departing were Berry Hill on a level transfer to Counties 2 Gloucestershire (North). Avonmouth Old Boys (11th) and Whitehall (12th) were relegated.
Joining were Lydney II, Chipping Sodbury and Southmead
Departing were Cheltenham Saracens (12th), Old Centralians II (11th) and Ross-On-Wye (10th), all relegated. Spartans (Gloucester) (8th) did not return for the new season.
Joining were Old Patesians and Stroud, both promoted, together with Cheltenham North, relegated from Counties 1 Western North
Departing were Clifton II, promoted to Counties 1 Western North. Lydney II (11th) and Drybrook II (12th) were relegated.
Joining were Avonmouth Old Boys, relegated from Counties 1 Western North, together with North Bristol and Old Colstonians.
This was the first season following the RFU's Adult Competition review and saw the league split into two divisions.
Departing were Longlevens, promoted to Counties 1 Western North.
Joining were Spartans who had withdrawn from Counties 1 Western North in the 2021âÂÂ22 season.
St Mary's Old Boys and Berry Hill who finished 9th and 10th respectively in 2019âÂÂ20 but will play in Gloucester 1 in the current season. Their places were taken by Clifton II and Dings Crusaders II.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020âÂÂ21 season was cancelled.
The 2015âÂÂ16 Gloucester Premier consisted of twelve teams from Gloucestershire and Bristol. The season started on 5 September 2015 and the last match was played on 23 April 2016. Eight of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition.
Stroud are champions and along with the runner-up Whitehall (play-off winner) were promoted to Western Counties North. Painswick and Gordon League were relegated to Gloucester 1.
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Gloucestershire/Somerset) contained the following teams from Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset:
Originally Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier were combined in a single division known as Gloucestershire/Somerset, involving teams based in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Bristol. It was tier 8 league with promotion to Western Counties and relegation to either Gloucestershire 1 or Somerset 1.
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993âÂÂ94 season meant that Gloucestershire/Somerset dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Western Counties and relegation to either Gloucester 1 or Somerset 1.
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995âÂÂ96 season meant that Gloucestershire/Somerset reverted to being a tier 8 league. Further restructuring meant that promotion was now to Western Counties North, while relegation continued to either Gloucester 1 or Somerset 1.
Gloucestershire/Somerset was reorganised into two county leagues at the end of the 1999âÂÂ00 season, Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier, with both leagues remaining at level 8. Promotion from Gloucester Premier was to Western Counties North and relegation to Gloucester 1. Between 2007âÂÂ2009 Gloucester Premier was sponsored by High Bridge Jewellers.
Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008âÂÂ09 season, Gloucester Premier remained a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to Western Counties North and relegation to Gloucester 1. From the 2017âÂÂ18 season onward Gloucester Premier has been sponsored by Wadworth 6x.
Since the 2000âÂÂ01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of the Gloucester Premier and Somerset Premier for the third and final promotion place to Western Counties North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019âÂÂ20 season Gloucester Premier teams have been the most successful with thirteen wins to the Somerset Premier teams six; and the home team has won promotion on twelve occasions compared to the away teams seven.