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County’s rugby union clubs discover their leagues for new season
The county’s rugby clubs have found out what leagues they will play in next season, with three sides moved to the Regional Two Midlands West division for next season in a slight restructure.
Cheltenham and Newent have moved from Regional Two Severn, while Stow-on-the-Wold move from Regional Two South Central along with Shipston on Stour.
Elsewhere, in National One, Cinderford will be up against Richmond, back in the third tier after relegation from the Championship, while National Two North, East and West champions Sedgley Park, Blackheath and Leicester Lions are promoted.
Regional One South West contains two Gloucestershire sides in Lydney and Matson, the Redwell Road side promoted as champions of Regional Two Severn, but Drybrook and Old Centralians are relegated to Regional Two Severn and join Chosen Hill FP in that division.
In the Counties leagues, last season’s champions Cinderford II stay in One Western North as second XVs are not allowed in the regional divisions, and they are joined by Longlevens, who finished third last season, and promoted Gloucestershire Two South winners Clifton II, who beat Gloucestershire Two North’s champions Smiths in a promotion play-off.
Two North looks set to be a very competitive division, with Smiths aiming to repeat their title win, while Cheltenham North come down from One Western North and Old Patesians and Stroud are promoted from Three North – meaning plenty of mouth-watering derby clashes.
Berry Hill, Bream and Dursley stay in Two South, Dursley having finished third last season and Bream fourth, while both sides enjoyed big cup successes, while Berry Hill will aim to improve on last season’s ninth place.
Lydney II are relegated to Three South, while Drybrook requested for their second XV to be put in the North section, due to increased travelling requirements, but the RFU weren’t able to accommodate that, so the club have made the decision to go into the district leagues.
Three North sees Cheltenham Saracens, Ross-on-Wye and Old Centralians II relegated, while Gloucestershire Four North top two Longlevens II and Painswick are promoted, with Fairford and Norton dropping out.
Fairford asked to move into Dorset and Wilts Three North, a more local league for travelling purposes, while Norton are relegated to Four North – a league which sees the welcome return of Cheltenham Civil Service into the league structure.
National One (14): Birmingham Moseley, Bishop’s Stortford, Blackheath, Chinnor, Cinderford, Darlington MP, Leicester Lions, Plymouth Albion, Rams, Richmond, Rosslyn Park, Sale FC, Sedgley Park, Taunton Titans
Regional One South West (12): Barnstaple, Brixham, Chew Valley, Devonport Services, Exmouth, Ivybridge, Launceston, Lydney, Matson, Okehampton, St Austell, Weston-super-Mare
Regional Two Severn (12): Chippenham, Chosen Hill FP, Devizes, Drybrook, Gordano, Keynsham, Old Centralians , Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Thornbury, Trowbridge, Winscombe
Regional Two Midlands West (12): Berkswell & Balsall, Cheltenham, Newent, Moseley Oak, Silhillians, Shipston-on-Stour, Stow-on-the-Wold , Hereford, Ludlow, Malvern, Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester
Counties One Western North (12): Barton Hill, Bridgwater and Albion, Chipping Sodbury, Cinderford II, Cleve, Clevedon, Clifton II, Longlevens, Midsomer Norton, Nailsea & Backwell, Old Bristolians, Old Redcliffians II
Counties Two Gloucestershire North (12): Brockworth, Cheltenham North, Cirencester, Coney Hill, Gordon League, Hucclecote, Old Cryptians, Old Patesians, Old Richians, Smiths Rugby, Spartans, Stroud
Counties Two Gloucestershire South (12): Avonmouth Old Boys, Berry Hill, Bream, Bristol Saracens, Dings Crusaders II, Dursley, Frampton Cotterell, North Bristol, Old Colstonians, Old Elizabethans, St Mary’s Old Boys, Whitehall
Counties Three Berks Bucks and Oxon North (11): Abingdon II, Amersham and Chiltern II, Aylesbury II, Banbury III, Buckingham II, Faringdon, Risborough, Stow-on-the-Wold II, Tring III, Wallingford II, Witney III
Counties Three Dorset and Wilts North (7): Chippenham III, Cricklade, Fairford, Minety II, Royal Wootton Bassett IV, Swindon College Old Boys II, Swindon II
Counties Three Gloucestershire North (12): Bredon Star, Cheltenham Saracens, Chosen HIll FP II, Gloucester Old Boys, Longlevens II, Matson II, Minchinhampton, Old Centralians II, Painswick, Ross-on-Wye, Tewkesbury, Widden Old Boys
Counties Three Gloucestershire South (11): Aretians, Ashley Down Old Boys, Bishopston, Bristol Aeroplane Co, Broad Plain, Clifton III, Cotham Park, Lydney II, Old Bristolians II, Southmead, St Brendans Old Boys
Counties Four Gloucestershire North (7): Cheltenham Civil Service, Cheltenham III, Cinderford III, Greyhound, Ledbury II, Newent II, Norton
In the women’s leagues, Drybrook and Cheltenham II are set to play in the Championship South West II, alongside Ivybridge, Trojans, North Bristol, Cullompton, St Mary’s OB and Yeovil.
Fairford have been placed in the NC3 South West North league against county rivals Cheltenham Civil Service, Cheltenham North and Old Cryptians, as well as Clee Hill, Kidderminster Carolians, Luctonians and Pershore.
