Counties 4 Somerset North (formerly known as Somerset 2 North or Tribute Somerset 2 North for sponsorship reasons) is an English rugby union league which sits at the tenth level of league rugby union in England alongside its counterpart Somerset 2 South. When the division was founded in 1987 it was a single league known as Somerset 2, but since 2006 it has been split into two regional divisions.
Counties 4 Somerset North currently involves teams from the northern part of Somerset as well as teams based in south and west Bristol. 1st, 2nd and even 3rd XV sides can participate in the division as long as they are not from the same club. The league champions are promoted to Counties 3 Somerset North while relegated teams used to drop to Somerset 3 North but since the RFU Adult Competition Review now drop to local merit leagues.
Departing were Bristol Telephone Area (runners-up) promoted to Counties 3 Somerset North. Yatton II were league winners but could not be promoted as Yatton were already in the league above.
St Bernadettes Old Boys II (4th) did not return for the new season.
Wells II (8th) moved on a level transfer back to Counties 4 Somerset South.
Chew Valley III had been promoted to Counties 3 Somerset North for season 2024âÂÂ25 but withdrew and re-entered the leagues at the bottom of the pyramid. Oldfield Old Boys II also withdrew from Counties 3 Somerset North in 2024âÂÂ25 and similarly re-joined the leagues a level below.
Departing were Chew Valley III (champions) and Walcot II (3rd), promoted to Counties 3 Somerset North. Keynsham III were runners-up but could not be promoted as Keynsham II were already in the league above.
Joining were Yatton II and Wells II.
Departing were Old Redcliffians III and Imperial II, promoted to Counties 3 Somerset North.
Joining were Bristol Telephone Area, relegated from Counties 3 Somerset North.
With two leaving and only one joining the league was reduced in size from nine clubs to eight.
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review.
Departing were Gordano II (champions), Clevedon II (3rd), Oldfield Old Boys (4th) and Bristol Telephone Area (7th) to Counties 3 Somerset North whilst Hornets III (runners-up) were promoted to Counties 3 Somerset South. Also leaving were Bristol Barbarians (5th), Weston-super-Mare III (6th) and Yatton (9th).
Winscombe II, who finished 6th in 2019âÂÂ20, were level transferred to Somerset 2 South for the 2021âÂÂ22 season.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020âÂÂ21 season was cancelled.
When league rugby began in 1987 this league (known as Somerset 2) was a single division containing the following teams from Somerset and parts of Bristol:
The original Somerset 2 was a tier 10 league with promotion to Somerset 1 and relegation to Somerset 3.
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993âÂÂ94 season meant that Somerset 2 dropped to become a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 and relegation to Somerset 3.
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995âÂÂ96 season meant that Somerset 2 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 and relegation to Somerset 3.
Somerset 2 remained as a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1, while the cancellation of Somerset 3 at the end of the 1999âÂÂ00 season meant there was no longer relegation.
At the start of the 2006âÂÂ07 Somerset 2 was split into two regional divisions - Somerset 2 North and Somerset 2 South - both remaining at tier 10 of the league system. This restructuring was to enable 2nd XV and 3rd XV sides to play in the Somerset leagues for the first time and would make up most of the teams. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 while relegation was now to Somerset 3 North. From the 2007âÂÂ08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.
Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008âÂÂ09 season, Somerset 2 North and its counterpart Somerset 2 South, remained as tier 10 leagues. Promotion continued to Somerset 1, while relegation was to Somerset 3 North. The league would continued to be sponsored by Tribute.