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Dorset & Wilts 3 North

Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	1992 (as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3)
Ceased	2020
Number of teams	7
Country	England
Holders	Bath Saracens (1st title)
Most titles	Combe Down II, Swindon College Old Boys II (2 titles)
Website	englandrugby.com

Dorset & Wilts 3 North was an English Rugby Union league, forming part of the South West Division, for clubs primarily based in Wiltshire, sitting at tier 10 of the English rugby union system. Promoted teams tended to move up to Dorset & Wilts 2 North and there was no relegation. The league was created in 2005 and was disbanded after the 2019–20 season.

History

Until 2005, Dorset & Wilts 3 was one division with teams from Berkshire included. In that year, three regional divisions were created for teams in Dorset and Wiltshire, namely Dorset & Wilts 3 North, Dorset & Wilts 3 South and Dorset & Wilts 3 West. The West division was disbanded at the end of the 2008–09 season, leaving just the North and South divisions.

On occasion, clubs in this division also took part in the RFU Junior Vase, a level 9–12 national competition.

The 2019–20 season ended early in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, in common with all English leagues. Neither of the Dorset & Wilts 3 divisions featured in plans for the 2020–21 season.

2019–20

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Bath Saracens Sulis Sports Club Bath, Somerset 3rd Bradford-on-Avon II Broom Ground Winsley, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire 6th Chippenham III Allington Fields Chippenham, Wiltshire 4th Cricklade Fairview Field Cricklade, Wiltshire Relegated from Dorset & Wilts 2 North (11th) Minety II Minety Playing Fields Minety, Wiltshire 8th Royal Wootton Bassett III Ballard's Ash Sports Ground Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire Relegated from Dorset & Wilts 2 North (12th) Swindon III Greenbridge Road Swindon, Wiltshire 7th Warminister II Folly Lane Warminster, Wiltshire 5th

Bath SaracensBradford-on-Avon IIChippenham IIICrickladeMinety IIWootton Bassett IIISwindon IIIWarminster IIclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2019–20 Dorset & Wilts 3 North teams

2018–19

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Amesbury Archers Way Salisbury, Wiltshire N/A (joined league) Bath Saracens Sulis Sports Club Bath, Somerset 6th Bradford-on-Avon II Broom Ground Winsley, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire 8th Chippenham III Allington Fields Chippenham, Wiltshire 5th Combe Down II Holly's Corner Combe Down, Bath, Somerset Relegated from Dorset & Wilts 2 North (12th) Minety II Minety Playing Fields Minety, Wiltshire 7th Swindon III Greenbridge Road Swindon, Wiltshire 4th Warminister II Folly Lane Warminster, Wiltshire 3rd

AmesburyBath SaracensBradford IIChippenham IIICombe Down IIMinety IISwindon IIIWarminster IIclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2018–19 Dorset & Wilts 3 North teams

2017–18

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season Bath Saracens Sulis Sports Club Bath, Somerset Relegated from Dorset & Wilts 2 North (11th) Bradford-on-Avon II Broom Ground Winsley, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire 5th Chippenham III Allington Fields Chippenham, Wiltshire Relegated from Dorset & Wilts 2 North (12th) Corsham II Lacock Road Corsham, Wiltshire 3rd Melksham III The Conigre 1,000 Melksham, Wiltshire 11th Minety II Minety Playing Fields Minety, Wiltshire 7th Supermarine II Supermarine Sports and Social Club South Marston, Swindon, Wiltshire 9th Swindon III Greenbridge Road Swindon, Wiltshire 10th Trowbridge III Doric Park Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire 6th Warminister II Folly Lane Warminster, Wiltshire 4th

Bath SaracensBradford IIChippenham IIICorsham IIMelksham IIIMinety IISupermarine IISwindon IIIWarminster IITrowbridge IIIclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2017–18 Dorset & Wilts 3 North teams

2016–17

• Alfred's Nomads
• Bradford-upon-Avon II (relegated from Dorset & Wilts 2 North)
• Corsham II
• Devizes III
• Melksham III
• Minety II
• Swindon III
• Swindon College Old Boys II (relegated from Dorset & Wilts 2 North)
• Supermarine II
• Trowbridge III
• Warminster II
• Westbury II

2015–16

The division consisted of eleven teams, all based in Wiltshire.

Eight of the eleven teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions, Combe Down II, were promoted to Dorset & Wilts 2 North, while Chippenham III and Supermarine II were relegated from there. No teams were relegated to Dorset & Wilts 4.

2012–13

• Bradford-on-Avon II
• Calne II
• Colerne
• Devizes III
• Melksham III
• Minety II
• Pewsey Vale II
• Supermarine III
• Swindon III
• Swindon College Old Boys III
• Trowbridge III
• Warminster II

2011–12

• Calne II
• Colerne
• Combe Down II
• Devizes III
• Melksham III
• Midsomer Norton IV
• Mintey II
• Pewsey Vale II
• Supermarine II
• Swindon College Old Boys III
• Trowbridge III
• Warminster II

Original teams

When this division was introduced in 1992 it was a single division known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3, containing the following teams from Dorset and Wiltshire:

• Amesbury – transferred from Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 East (4th)
• Colerne – transferred from Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 East (5th)
• Plessey Christ – transferred from Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West (6th)
• Portcastrians – transferred from Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West (7th)
• Poole – transferred from Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West (5th)
• Westbury – transferred from Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West (4th)

Dorset & Wilts 3 North honours

Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 (1992–1993)

Originally Dorset & Wilts 3 North and Dorset & Wilts 3 South were combined in a single division known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3. Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 itself was created ahead of the 1992–93 season by merging the existing Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 East and Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West divisions. It was a tier 10 league with promotion to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 and there was no relegation.

Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 (1993–1996)

The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 dropped to become a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 and there was no relegation.

Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 and there was no relegation. At the end of the 1999–00 season the division was cancelled and all teams transferred into the new look Dorset & Wilts 2 North or Dorset & Wilts 2 South

Dorset & Wilts 3 North (2005–2009)

After an absence of four years, Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 was reintroduced in the form of two tier 10 regional divisions – Dorset & Wilts 3 North and Dorset & Wilts 3 South. Promotion was to Dorset & Wilts 2 North and there was no relegation.

Dorset & Wilts 3 North (2009–present)

Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Dorset & Wilts 3 North remained a tier 10 league, with promotion continuing to Dorset & Wilts 2 North and there was no relegation.

Number of league titles

• Combe Down II (2)
• Swindon College Old Boys II (2)
• Amesbury (1)
• Bath Saracens (1)
• Berkshire Shire Hall (1)
• Bradford-on-Avon (1)
• Calne II (1)
• Colerne (1)
• Corsham II (1)
• Corsham III (1)
• Dorset Police (1)
• Fairford (1)
• Hungerford (1)
• Minety (1)
• Minety II (1)
• Poole (1)
• Puddletown (1)
• Portcastrians (1)
• Royal Wootton Bassett III (1)
• Trowbridge III (1)

Notes

1. Bradford-on-Avon II would withdraw from Dorset & Wilts 3 North during the 2019–20 season.
2. Despite the name for the first season of Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 there were no actual Berkshire based clubs.
3. Plessey Christ would be renamed as Christchurch RFC for the 1993–94 season onward.
4. In Portcastrians would be renamed as East Dorset RFC in 2003.
5. Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 would be divided into Dorset & Wilts 2 North or Dorset & Wilts 2 South ahead of the 2000–01 season.
6. This would be the last season of Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3. All six Teams would all be promoted into a new regional league for the next season – joining either Dorset & Wilts 2 North or Dorset & Wilts 2 South depending on geographical location. A level 3 regional division would be reinstated in 2005–06.
7. Division expanded due to folding of Dorset & Wilts 3 West.
8. Not promoted as Trowbridge 2nd team in division above.
9. Reduced from 10 to 8 teams after Melksham III and Supermarine II withdrew from league.
10. Reduced from 8 to 7 teams after Bradford-on-Avon II withdrew from league.
11. No promotion due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
12. Berkshire Shire Hall's was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
13. Bradford-on-Avon's title was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
14. Corsham have won two titles overall – one by the 2nd team and one by the 3rd team.
15. Dorset Police's title was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
16. Hungerford's title was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
17. As club Minety have actually won two titles – one by the 1st XV when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3, the other by the 2nd XV when the league was known as Dorset & Wilts 3 North.
18. Poole's title was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
19. Puddletown's title was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
20. Portcastrians (currently East Dorset) title was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.

See also

• South West Division RFU
• Dorset & Wilts RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

References

1. "RFU – Statement". South West RFU Competitions. March 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
2. "LEAGUE STRUCTURE OF SOUTH WEST DIVISION 2020/21" (PDF). South West Rugby. June 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
3. "PORTCASTRIAN VETS". East Dorset RFC. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
4. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7850-4.
5. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7850-4.
6. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7816-4.
7. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7771-0.
8. "1998–99 South West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
9. "1999-00 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
10. "2005–06 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
11. "2006–07 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
12. "2007–08 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
13. "2008–09 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
14. "2009–10 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
15. "2010–11 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
16. "2011–12 South West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
17. "2012–13 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
18. "2013–2014 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
19. "2014–15 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
20. "2015–16 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
21. "2016–17 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
22. "2017–18 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
23. "2018–19 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
24. "Men's South West Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.

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