Counties 4 Gloucestershire

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 2017–18 season there is currently no relegation. Up until 2017–18 Gloucester 2 was a single division but has since been split into two regional divisions.

Teams 2025–26

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).

North

South

Teams 2024–25

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.

Teams 2023–24

North

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.

South

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.

Teams 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review.

North

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.

South

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 2017–18.

Teams 2021–22

Ahead of the new season Stroud RFC, promoted to South West 1 West as champions of Western Counties North in 2019–20, withdrew from SW1W and instead joined at the bottom of the regional RFU pyramid in Gloucester 2.

North

South

2020–21

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.

Teams 2019–20

North

South

Teams 2018–19

North

South

Teams 2017–18

Teams 2016–17

• Bishopston (relegated from Gloucester 1)
• Bristol Airplane Company
• Broad Plain
• Cheltenham Civil Service (promoted from Gloucester 3)
• Kingswood
• Minchinhampton
• Painswick (relegated from Gloucester 1)
• Old Colstians
• Old Elizabethans (promoted from Gloucester 3)
• Ross-on-Wye
• Smiths
• Westbury-on-Severn

Teams 2015–16

The 2015–16 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 2014–15 champions St Brendan's Old Boys and runners up Bishopston were promoted to the Gloucester 1 while Old Elizabethans were relegated to Gloucester 3.

Teams 2014–15

• Aretians
• Ashley Down Old Boys (relegated from Gloucester 1)
• Bishopston (relegated from Gloucester 1)
• Bristol Aeroplane Co.
• Broad Plain
• Cotham Park
• Old Elizabethans (promoted from Gloucester 3)
• Ross-on-Wye
• St. Brendan's Old Boys
• Spartans
• Tredworth (promoted from Gloucester 3)
• Westbury-on-Severn

Teams 2013–14

• Aretians
• Bredon Star
• Bristol Aeroplane Co.
• Broad Plain (relegated from Gloucester 1)
• Cheltenham Civil Service
• Cotham Park
• Old Cryptians (promoted from Gloucester 3)
• Ross-on-Wye
• Spartans
• St. Brendands Old Boys
• Westbury-on-Severn (promoted from Gloucester 3)

Teams 2012–13

• Aretians
• Ashley Down Old Boys
• Bream
• Bredon Star
• Bristol Aeroplane Co.
• Cainscross
• Cheltenham Civil Service
• Cotham Park
• Gloucester All Blues
• Ross On Wye
• Spartans
• St Brendan's Old Boys

Teams 2011–12

• Aretians (relegated from Gloucester 1)
• Bristol Aeroplane Co.
• Broad Plain
• Cheltenham Civil Service (relegated from Gloucester 1)
• Chipping Sodbury
• Cotham Park (relegated from Gloucester 1)
• Gloucester All Blues
• Old Cryptians
• Old Elizabethans
• St. Brendon's Old Boys
• Tetbury (withdrawn)
• Westbury-on-Severn

Teams 2010–11

• Bristol Aeroplane Co.
• Cheltenham Saracens RFC
• Chipping Sodbury
• Greyhound RFC
• Old Cryptians
• Old Elizabethans
• Newent (promoted from Gloucester 3)
• St. Brendon's Old Boys
• Smiths
• Tetbury
• Tredworth
• Westbury-on-Severn

Teams 2009–10

• Bristol Aeroplane Co.
• Cainscross
• Cheltenham Saracens RFC
• Cotham Park
• Greyhound
• Kingswood
• Old Elizabethans
• St. Brendan's Old Boys
• Tetbury
• Tredworth
• Westbury-on-Severn

Teams 2008–09

• Bream
• Bristol Aeroplane Co.
• Cainscross
• Cheltenham Saracens RFC
• Greyhound
• Kingswood
• Old Cryptians
• Old Elizabethans
• Tetbury
• Tredworth
• Westbury-on-Severn

Teams 2007–08

• Ashley Down Old Boys
• Bristol Aeroplane Co.
• Cainscross
• Cheltenham Civil Service
• Cheltenham Saracens RFC
• Kingswood
• Old Cryptians
• Old Elizabethans
• Smiths
• Tetbury
• Westbury-on-Severn

Teams 2006–07

• Ashley Down Old Boys
• Bristol Aeroplane Co.
• Cheltenham Saracens RFC
• Cotham Park
• Dursley
• Ross-on-Wye
• Kingswood
• Old Elizabethans
• Tetbury
• Tredworth
• Westbury-on-Severn

Teams 2005–06

• Ashley Down Old Boys
• Bristol Aeroplane Co.
• Brockworth
• Cheltenham Saracens RFC
• Dursley
• Hartpury College
• Hucclecote
• Old Cryptians
• Old Elizabethans
• Smiths

Teams 2004–05

• Bream
• Brockworth
• Cheltenham Civil Service
• Cheltenham Saracens RFC
• Cotham Park
• Dursley
• Gloucester Civil Service
• Hucclecote
• Kingswood
• Old Elizabethans

Teams 2003–04

• Bream
• Cheltenham Civil Service
• Dursley
• Minchinhampton
• Old Colstonians
• Old Cryptians
• Old Elizabethans
• Smiths
• Westbury-on-Severn

Teams 2002–03

• Cheltenham Saracens RFC
• Kingswood
• Minchinhampton
• Old Cryptians
• Old Elizabethans
• Ross-on-Wye
• Smiths
• Westbury-on-Severn
• Widden Old Boys

Teams 2001–02

• Bishopston
• Bristol Aeroplane Co.
• Cainscross
• Dursley
• Kingswood
• Old Elizabethans
• Painswick
• Smiths
• Southmead
• Tewkesbury

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (then a single division known as Gloucestershire 2) contained the following teams:

• Ashley Down Old Boys
• Barton Hill
• Brockworth
• Caincross
• Cheltenham Civil Service
• Cheltenham Saracens
• Cotham Park
• Dursley
• North Bristol
• Old Cryptians
• Saintbridge Former Pupils

Gloucester 2 honours

Gloucestershire 2 (1987–1991)

Originally as single division known as Gloucestershire 2, it was a tier 10 league with promotion to Gloucestershire 1 and relegation to Gloucestershire 3.

Gloucester 2 (1991–1993)

Gloucestershire 2 was shorted to Gloucester 2 for the 1991–92 season onward. It remained a tier 10 league with promotion to Gloucester 1 and relegation to Gloucester 3.

Gloucester 2 (1993–1996)

The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Gloucester 2 dropped to become a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Gloucester 1 and relegation to Gloucester 3.

Gloucester 2 (1996–2000)

The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Gloucester 2 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Gloucester 1 and relegation to Gloucester 3.

Gloucester 2 (2000–2009)

Gloucester 2 remained a tier 10 league despite the cancellation of Gloucestershire/Somerset at the end of the 1999–00 season. Promotion continued to Gloucester 1 and relegation to Gloucester 3. Between 2007 and 2009 Gloucester 2 was sponsored by High Bridge Jewellers.

Gloucester 2 (2009–2017)

Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Gloucester 2 remained a tier 10 league, with promotion continuing to Gloucester 1 and relegation to Gloucester 3.

Gloucester 2 North / South (2018–present)

For the 2018–19 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.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2018–19 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 2019–20 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.

Number of league titles

• Bream (3)
• Ashley Down Old Boys (2)
• Brockworth (2)
• Cheltenham Saracens (2)
• Chipping Sodbury (2)
• Old Colstonians (2)
• St. Brendan's Old Boys (2)
• Tewkesbury (2)
• Bishopston (1)
• Cheltenham Civil Service (1)
• Dursley (1)
• Gloucester Old Boys (1)
• Hartpury College (1)
• Hucclecote Old Boys (1)
• Kingswood (1)
• North Bristol (1)
• Old Centralians (1)
• Old Cryptians (1)
• Ross-on-Wye (1)
• Southmead (1)
• Spartans (1)
• Stow-on-the-Wold (1)
• Thornbury (1)
• Tredworth (1)
• Westbury-on-Severn (1)

See also

• South West Division RFU
• Gloucestershire RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

Notes