Regional 2 South West, (formerly known as South West 1 West) is an English, level six, rugby union league for clubs based in the south-west of England; i.e. Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. It is one of twelve leagues at this level in England. When league rugby started in 1986 it was known as South West 2, but in 1996 the division was split into two leagues â South West 1 West and South West 1 East. South West 1 West was renamed Regional 2 South West prior to the 2022âÂÂ23 season. The champions are promoted to Regional 1 South West (formerly South West Premier) and the bottom two sides are relegated, depending on location, to either Counties 1 Western West, Counties 1 Western North or Counties 1 Southern South.
Topsham are the current champions.
The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals, home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
Departing are Topsham promoted to Regional 1 South West while Truro and Newton Abbot were relegated to Counties 1 Western West.
Seven of the teams are from Devon, while Somerset has three clubs and Cornwall two clubs. Nine of last years teams participated in this season's competition, Sidmouth were promoted to Regional 1 South West while Chard and Burham-on-Sea were relegated to Counties 1 Western North. The new teams were Okehampton relegated from Regional 1 South West, Tiverton promoted from Counties 1 Western West and Winscombe on a level transfer from Regional 2 Severn.
Nine of last seasons twelve teams played in that season's competition. The champions St Austell were promoted to Regional 1 South West, while Sherborne (11th) and Bridgwater & Albion (12th) were relegated to Counties 1 Southern South and Counties 1 Western North respectively. Promoted from Counties 1 Western West are Topsham and Cullompton. Burnham-on-Sea are also promoted as the runner-up from Counties 1 Western North. (Chippenham II, as champions, are not eligible for promotion because their first XV play in Regional 2 Severn also a level six league).
Ahead of the new season, Stroud RFC (promoted as Western Counties North champions in 2019âÂÂ20) withdrew from the league, leaving thirteen teams in this season's competition. Ten of the teams in this season's competition competed in 2019âÂÂ20. The 'previous season' column in the table below refers to 2019âÂÂ20 not 2020âÂÂ21, which was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Of the thirteen teams competing in this season's competition, five are from Somerset, four from Gloucester, three from Devon and one from Cornwall. The season started on 4 September 2021 and the final matches were played on 23 April 2022.
Chew Valley won the competition for the first time, just one point ahead of both Devonport Services and Lydney, in 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Owing to the reorganisation of the league system for next season, an announcement is awaited from the RFU as to which league teams will be allocated to.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the season was cancelled.
This seasons play-off for promotion to the South West Premier was between Launceston and Old Centralians. Launceston had the better playing record and hosted the match at Polson Bridge, winning 33 â 22. This was the 19th play-off match, the first for Launceston and the second for Old Centralians who won promotion 2013. It was the 13th win for the home team and south-west teams have also won the match on 13 occasions.
The 2017âÂÂ18 South West 1 West consists of fourteen teams; five from Devon, four each from Gloucestershire and Somerset, and one from Cornwall. Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The season started on 2 September 2016 and the last league matches were played on 21 April 2017. The play-off match was played a week later on 28 April 2017.
This seasons play-off for promotion to the South West Premier was between Exeter University and Banbury. Over the season Exeter University had the better playing record and hosted the match at Topsham Sports Ground, winning 41 â 32. This was the 18th play-off match and the first for each of the teams; it was the 12th win for the home team and south-west teams have also won the match on 12 occasions. Banbury's total of 32 points was the most by a losing team and also the most by an away team.
The 2016âÂÂ17 South West 1 West consists of fourteen teams; six from Somerset and four each from Devon and Gloucestershire. Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The season started on 3 September 2016 and the last league matches were played on 22 April 2017. The play-off match was played a week later on 29 April 2017.
Each season, the runners-up in South West 1 East and South West 1 West, participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 3 South West. The team with the best playing record, in this case Newbury Blues, host the match and they beat their opponents Clevedon 25 â 22.
Camborne became champions on 9 April 2016, with two matches to play. Thornbury lost the play-off for promotion 24 â 26 at Salisbury and will continue to play in this league next season. Avonmouth OB, Coney Hill and Wells are all relegated to Western Counties North.
The 2015âÂÂ16 South West 1 West consisted of fourteen teams; six from Somerset, four from Gloucestershire, two from Devon and one each from Bristol and Cornwall. Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014âÂÂ15 champions Cleve, and Ivybridge (via the play-off) were promoted to National League 3 South West. The relegated teams, Cullompton and St Austell will play in Western Counties West, and Matson will play in Western Counties North. The season started on 5 September 2015 and the last matches were played on 30 April 2016.
Each season, the runners-up in South West 1 East and South West 1 West, participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 3 South West. The team with the best playing record, in this case Salisbury, host the match and their opponents are Thornbury.
Cleve became champions with two matches to play and are promoted to National League 3 South West for next season. The team in second place, Ivybridge beat Towcestrians (the runner-up of South West 1 East) 25 â 20 in the play-off for promotion. St Austell and Cullompton are relegated to Western Counties West and Matson are relegated to Western Counties North.
The 2014âÂÂ15 South West 1 West League consists of fourteen teams; four from Somerset, three each from Devon and Gloucestershire and two each from Bristol and Cornwall. The season started on 6 September 2014 and the last league matches were played on 18 April 2015; the play-off match was played a week later. Nine of the teams listed below participated in the South West 1 West last season. They were joined by Avonmouth OB who were relegated from National League 3 South West, Drybrook and Matson both promoted from Western Counties North, Ivybridge promoted from Western Counties West and Wells promoted from Southern Counties South.
Each season, the runners-up in South West 1 East and South West 1 West, participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 3 South West. The team with the best playing record, in this case Towcestrians, hosts the match; their opponents were Ivybridge who won 25 â 20.
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as South West 2) contained the following teams:
Originally South West 1 West and South West 1 East were combined in a single division called South West 2. It was a tier 6 league with promotion to South West 1 and relegation to either Western Counties or Southern Counties.
The top six teams from South West 1 and the top six from London 1 were combined to create National 5 South, meaning that South West 2 dropped one level to tier 7. Promotion continued to South West 1 and relegation to either Western Counties or Southern Counties.
League restructuring by the RFU for the 1996âÂÂ97 season saw South West 2 split into two regional divisions known as South West 2 West and South West 2 East, and the cancellation of National 5 South meant that both divisions became tier 6 leagues. Promotion continued to South West 1, while relegation was now to either Western Counties North or Western Counties West.
League restructuring by the RFU meant that South West 2 West and South East 2 East were renamed as South West 1 West and South West 1 East, with both leagues remaining at tier 6. Promotion was to National League 3 South West, while relegation continued to either Western Counties North or Western Counties West.
League restructuring by the RFU created twelve leagues at level six. The champions are promoted to Regional 1 South West and the bottom two sides are relegated, depending on location, to either Counties 1 Western West, Counties 1 Western North or Counties 1 Southern South.
From season 2000âÂÂ01 through to 2018âÂÂ19 there has been a play-off, between the league runners-up of South West 1 East and South West 1 West, for the third and final promotion place to South West Premier. The team with the superior league record had home advantage. At the end of the 2018âÂÂ19 season the South West 1 West teams' have been the stronger with thirteen wins to the South West 1 East teams' six, while the home team has won promotion thirteen times to the away teams six.