Gloucester 3 was an English rugby union league which sat at the eleventh level of league rugby union in England for teams based in Gloucestershire as well as some in Bristol. Promoted clubs moved into Gloucester 2, and since the cancellation of Gloucester 4 at the end of the 1995–96 season there had been no relegation. The division was discontinued at the end of the 2017–18 season and Gloucester 2 was divided into north and south regional divisions.
Quick Facts Sport, Instituted ...
Gloucester 3|
Sport | Rugby union |
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Instituted | 1987; 37 years ago (1987) (as Gloucestershire 3) |
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Ceased | 2018; 6 years ago (2018) |
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Number of teams | 9 |
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Country | England |
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Holders | United Bristol Hospitals (1st title) (2017–18 promoted to Gloucester 2) |
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Most titles | St Brendan's Old Boys (3 titles) |
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Website | englandrugby.com |
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More information Team, Ground ...
Team |
Ground |
Capacity |
Town/Village |
Previous season |
Cainscross | Victory Park | | Cainscross, Stroud, Gloucestershire | 6th |
Fairford | Walnut Tree Field | | Fairford, Gloucestershire | 4th |
Gloucester All Blues | The Oxleaze | | Gloucester, Gloucestershire | 7th |
Kingswood | Grimsbury Road Playing Fields | | Warmley, Kingswood, Gloucestershire | Relegated from Gloucester 2 (12th) |
Norton | Norton Parish Grounds | | Norton, Gloucestershire | 5th |
Painswick | Broadham Fields | | Painswick, Gloucestershire | Relegated from Gloucester 2 (11th) |
Tetbury | The Recreation Ground | | Tetbury, Gloucestershire | 3rd |
United Bristol Hospitals | Portway Development Ground | | Portway, Bristol | Transferred from Gloucestershire Reserve Leagues |
Westbury-on-Severn | Parish Playing Field | | Westbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire | Relegated from Gloucester 2 (10th) |
|
Locations of the 2017-18 Gloucester 3 teams
|
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- Aretians (relegated from Gloucester 2)
- Cainscross
- Cotham Park
- Fairford
- Gloucester All Blues
- Norton
- Tetbury
- Wotton
The 2015–16 Gloucester 3 consists of seven teams from Gloucestershire. The season starts on 12 September 2015 and is due to end on 16 April 2016. Four of the seven teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Smiths and runners up Minchinhampton were promoted to the Gloucester 2 while Wotton joined from the Gloucestershire Reserve League. As it is the basement league in Gloucestershire there is no relegation.
Locations of the 2015-16 Gloucester 3 teams
More information Team, Ground ...
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- Cainscross
- Cheltenham Civil Service (relegated from Gloucester 2)
- Gloucester All Blues (relegated from Gloucester 2)
- Hardwicke & Quedgeley Harlequins
- Minchinhampton
- Norton
- Smiths
- Tetbury
- Cainscross (relegated from Gloucester 2)
- Hardwicke & Quedgeley
- Minchinhampton
- Norton
- Old Elizabethans
- Smiths
- Tredworth
- Gloucester Civil Service
- Minchinhampton
- Norton
- Old Cryptians (relegated from Gloucester 2)
- Old Elizabethans (relegated from Gloucester 2)
- Smiths
- Tredworth
- Westbury-on-Severn
- Bredon Star
- Bristol Telephone Area
- Cainscross
- Gloucester Civil Service
- Greyhound RFC (relegated from Gloucester 2)
- Minchinhampton
- Smiths (relegated from Gloucester 2)
- Bristol Telephone Area
- Broad Plain
- Cainscross (relegated from Gloucester 2)
- Gloucester All Blues
- Gloucester Civil Service
- Minchinhampton
- Wotton
- Bristol Telephone Area
- Dowty
- Gloucester All Blues
- Gloucester Civil Service
- Minchinhampton
- Newent
- Smiths
- Wotton
- Bristol Telephone Area
- Cotham Park
- Gloucester All Blues
- Gloucester Civil Service
- Minchinhampton
- Newent
- St. Brendan's Old Boys
- Smiths
- Wotton
- Bristol Telephone Area
- Cotham Park (relegated from Gloucester 2)
- Gloucester All Blues
- Gloucester Civil Service
- Greyhound
- Minchinhampton
- Pilning
- St. Brendon's Old Boys
- Tredworth
- Wotton
- Bristol Telephone Area
- Cainscross
- Gloucester All Blues
- Gloucester Civil Service
- Greyhound
- Minchinhampton
- Pilning
- St. Brendan's Old Boys
- Smiths (relegated from Gloucester 2)
- Wotton
North
- Cainscross
- Gloucester All Blues
- Gloucester Civil Service
- Minchinhampton
- Ross-on-Wye
- Tredworth
- Westbury-on-Severn
South
- Bristol Aeroplane Co.
- Cotham Park
- Kingswood
- Pilning
- St. Brendan's Old Boys
- Tetbury
- Wotton
North
- Fairford
- Gloucester All Blues
- Hartpury College
- Ross-on-Wye
- Smiths
- Tredworth
- Westbury-on-Severn
South
- Bristol Aeroplane Co.
- Bristol Telephone Area
- Cainscross
- Minchinhampton
- Pilning
- St. Brendan's Old Boys
- Tetbury
- Wotton
North
- Cainscross
- Fairford
- Gloucester All Blues
- Gloucester Civil Service
- Ross-on-Wye
- Tredworth
- Newent
South
- Bristol Aeroplane Co.
- Bristol Telephone Area
- Cotham Park
- Kingswood
- Pilning
- St. Brendan's Old Boys
- Tetbury
- Wotton
North
- Cainscross
- Cheltenham Civil Service
- Dursley
- Fairford
- Gloucester All Blues
- Gloucester Civil Service
- Newent
- Tredworth
South
- Bristol Aeroplane Co.
- Bristol Telephone Area
- Cotham Park
- Old Colstonians
- Pilning
- St. Brendand's Old Boys
- Tetbury
- Wotton
North
- Fairford
- Gloucester All Blues
- Gloucester Civil Service
- Newent
- Smiths
- Ross-on-Wye
- Tredworth
South
- Bristol Aeroplane Co.
- Bristol Telephone Area
- Cainscross
- Cotham Park
- Minchinhampton
- Tetbury
- Wotton
North
- Fairford
- Gloucester All Blues
- Gloucester Civil Service
- Newent
- Ross-on-Wye
- Tredworth
- Widden Old Boys
South
- Bristol Aeroplane Co.
- Cotham Park
- Minchinhampton
- Old Colstonians
- St. Brendan's Old Boys
- Wotton
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (then a single division known as Gloucestershire 3) contained the following teams:
- Bishopston
- Chipping Sodbury
- Chosen Hill Former Pupils
- Frampton Cotterell
- Gloucester Civil Service
- Gloucester Old Boys
- Kingswood
- Old Bristolians
- Painswick
- Tewkesbury
- Thornbury
Gloucestershire 3 (1987–1991)
Originally a single division known as Gloucestershire 3, it was a tier 11 league with promotion to Gloucestershire 2 and relegation to Gloucestershire 4.[a]
More information Season, No of teams ...
|
Season |
No of teams |
Champions |
Runners–up |
Relegated Teams |
Ref |
1987–88 | 11 | Old Bristolians | Gloucester Old Boys | Bishopton, Gloucester Civil Service | [1] |
1988–89 | 11 | Frampton Cotterell | Thornbury | Chosen Hill Former Pupils | |
1989–90 | 11 | Hucclecote Old Boys | Chipping Sodbury | No relegation[b] | |
1990–91 | 13 | Bristol Telephone Area | Old Richians | Smiths | |
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
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Gloucester 3 (1991–1993)
Gloucestershire 3 was shorted to Gloucester 3 for the 1991–92 season onward. It remained a tier 11 league with promotion to Gloucester 2 and relegation to Gloucester 4.
More information Season, No of teams ...
|
Season |
No of teams |
Champions |
Runners–up |
Relegated Teams |
Ref |
1991–92 | 13 | Painswick | Stow-on-the-Wold[c] | No relegation[d] | |
1992–93 | 13 | Dursley | Tetbury | Tewkesbury | |
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
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Gloucester 3 (1993–1996)
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Gloucester 3 dropped to become a tier 12 league. Promotion continued to Gloucester 2 and relegation to Gloucester 4.
More information Season, No of teams ...
|
Season |
No of teams |
Champions |
Runners–up |
Relegated Teams |
Ref |
1993–94 | 13 | Bishopston | Kingswood | Gloucester All Blues, Bristol Aeroplane Company | [2] |
1994–95 | 13 | Caincross | Broad Plain | Minchinhampton | [3] |
1995–96 | 13 | Southmead | Westbury-on-Severn[e] | No relegation[f] | [4] |
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
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Gloucester 3 (1996–2000)
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Gloucester 3 reverted to being a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Gloucester 1 while the cancellation of Gloucester 4 meant there was no longer relegation.
More information Season, No of teams ...
|
Season |
No of teams |
Champions |
Runners–up |
Relegated Teams |
Ref |
1996–97 | 9 | Dursley | Old Elizabethans | No relegation | |
1997–98 | 9 | Gloucester All Blues | Minchinhampton | No relegation | |
1998–99 | 8 | Gloucester Civil Service | Old Colstonians | No relegation | [5] |
1999–00 | 6 | St Brendan's Old Boys | Wotton | No relegation | [6] |
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Close
Gloucester 3 North / South (2000–2006)
Restructuring of the Gloucester leagues at the end of the 1999–00 season saw Gloucester 3 split into two regional leagues - Gloucester 3 North and Gloucester 3 South - both at tier 11 of the league system. Promotion continued to Gloucester 2 and there was no relegation.
More information Season, No of teams ...
|
Season |
No of teams |
Champions |
Runners–up |
Relegated Teams |
League Name |
Ref |
2000–01 | 7 | Widden Old Boys | Ross-on-Wye | No relegation | Gloucester 3 North | [7] |
6 | St Brendan's Old Boys | Old Colstonians | No relegation | Gloucester 3 South | [8] |
2001–02 | 7 | Ross-on-Wye | Smiths | No relegation | Gloucester 3 North | [9] |
7 | Minchinhampton | Cainscross | No relegation | Gloucester 3 South | [10] |
2002–03 | 8 | Cheltenham Civil Service | Dursley | No relegation | Gloucester 3 North | [11] |
8 | Old Colstonians | Bristol Aeroplane Co. | No relegation | Gloucester 3 South | [12] |
2003–04 | 7 | Gloucester Civil Service | Cainscross | No relegation | Gloucester 3 North | [13] |
8 | Kingswood | Cotham Park | No relegation | Gloucester 3 South | [14] |
2004–05 | 7 | Hartpury College | Smiths | No relegation | Gloucester 3 North | [15] |
8 | Bristol Aeroplane Co. | Tetbury | No relegation | Gloucester 3 South | [16] |
2005–06 | 7 | Ross-on-Wye | Westbury-on-Severn | No relegation | Gloucester 3 North[g] | [17] |
7 | Tetbury | Kingswood | No relegation | Gloucester 3 South[h] | [18] |
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Close
Gloucester 3 (2006–2009)
For the 2006–07 season Gloucester 3 North and South were remerged back into a single Gloucester 3 division, remaining at tier 11 of the league system. Promotion continued to Gloucester 2 and there was no relegation. Between 2007 and 2009 Gloucester 3 was sponsored by High Bridge Jewellers.
More information Season, No of teams ...
|
Season |
No of teams |
Champions |
Runners–up |
Relegated Teams |
Ref |
2006–07 | 10 | Smiths | Cainscross | No relegation | [19] |
2007–08 | 10 | Tredworth | Greyhound | No relegation | [20] |
2008–09 | 9 | St Brendan's Old Boys | Cotham Park | No relegation | [21] |
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Close
Gloucester 3 (2009–2018)
Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Gloucester 2 remained a tier 11 league, with promotion continuing to Gloucester 1 and there was no relegation. From 2017 the league was now sponsored by Wadworth 6x. At the end of the 2017–18 the division was disbanded and all teams promoted to the newly regionalised Gloucester 2 - Gloucester 2 North or Gloucester 2 South.
More information Season, No of teams ...
|
Season |
No of teams |
Champions |
Runners–up |
Relegated Teams |
Ref |
2009–10 | 8 | Newent | Smiths | No relegation | [22] |
2010–11 | 7 | Broad Plain | Gloucester All Blues | No relegation | [23] |
2011–12 | 7 | Bredon Star | Cainscross | No relegation | [24] |
2012–13 | 7 | Old Cryptians | Westbury-on-Severn | No relegation | [25] |
2013–14 | 7 | Old Elizabethans | Tredworth | No relegation | [26] |
2014–15 | 8 | Smiths | Minchinhampton | No relegation | [27] |
2015–16 | 6 | Old Elizabethans | Cheltenham Civil Service | No relegation | [28] |
2016–17 | 8 | Cotham Park | Aretians | No relegation | [29] |
2017–18 | 9 | United Bristol Hospitals | Norton[i] | No relegation | [30] |
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Close
Between 2001 and 2005 there was a promotion play-off between the runners-up of Gloucester 3 North and Gloucester 3 South for the third and final promotion place to Gloucester 2. The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. During the 2005–06 season the play-offs were discontinued as Gloucester 3 would merge into one division for the 2006–07 season. Before they were discontinued Gloucester 3 North teams have been the most successful with three wins to the Gloucester 3 South teams' two; and the home team has won promotion on all five occasions.
More information Season, Home team ...
|
League v League promotion play-off results |
|
|
Season |
Home team |
Score |
Away team |
Venue |
Attendance |
2000–01[31] | Old Colstonians (S) | 39-7 | Ross-on-Wye (N) | Colton's School, Stapleton, Bristol | |
2001–02[32] | Smiths (N) | 23-14 | Cainscross (S) | Prince of Wales Stadium, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire | |
2002–03[33] | Dursley (N) | 41-19 | Bristol Aeroplane Co. (S) | Stragglers Sports Ground, Stinchcombe, Dursley, Gloucestershire | |
2003–04[34] | Cotham Park (S)[j] | | Cainscross (N) | Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, Somerset | |
2004–05[35] | Smiths (N) | 26-20 | Tetbury (S) | Prince of Wales Stadium, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire | |
2005–06[36] | No promotion playoff.[k] |
Green background is the promoted team. |
Close
- St Brendan's Old Boys (3)[l]
- Dursley (2)
- Gloucester Civil Service (2)
- Ross-on-Wye (2)[m]
- Old Elizabethans (2)
- Smiths (2)
- Bishopston (1)
- Bredon Star (1)
- Broad Plain (1)
- Bristol Aeroplane Co. (1)[n]
- Bristol Telephone Area (1)
- Caincross (1)
- Cheltenham Civil Service (1)[o]
- Cotham Park (1)
- Frampton Cotterell (1)
- Gloucester All Blues (1)
- Hartpury College (1)[p]
- Hucclecote Old Boys (1)[q]
- Kingswood (1)[r]
- Minchinhampton (1)[s]
- Newent (1)
- Old Bristolians (1)
- Old Colstonians (1)[t]
- Old Cryptians (1)
- Painswick (1)
- Southmead (1)
- Tetbury (1)[u]
- Tredworth (1)
- United Bristol Hospitals (1)
- Widden Old Boys (1)[v]
Gloucestershire 4 was briefly divided into Gloucestershire 4A or Gloucestershire 4B for the 1989–90 season before remerging back into a single division.
There was no relegation at the end of the 1989–90 season due to Gloucestershire 4 remerging back into a single division and Gloucestershire 3 increasing from 11 to 13 teams.
The restructuring of the majority of south west leagues from 11 to 13 teams meant that six teams were promoted including Cheltenham Civil Service, Old Bristolians, Chosen Hill Former Pupils and Caincross.
The restructuring of south west leagues meant that there was no relegation.
Restructuring of the leagues following the cancellation of National League 5 South and Gloucester 4 at the end of the season meant that nine clubs would be promoted including Kingswood, Smiths, Aretians, Gloucester Civil Service, Old Colstonians, Chipping Sodbury and Tewkesbury.
The cancellation of Gloucester 4 at the end of the season meant there would be no relegation.
This would be the last season for Gloucester 3 North. For 2006-07 the division would merge with Gloucester 3 South to form a new division - Gloucester 3.
This would be the last season for Gloucester 3 South. For 2006-07 the division would merge with Gloucester 3 North to form a new division - Gloucester 3.
5 other teams promoted into either Gloucester 2 North or South for the following season as this was the last for Gloucester 3.
The result of the 2003-04 promotion playoff between Cotham Park and Cainscross is not listed on the RFU website, although Cotham Park would have had home advantage as they had a better league record than Cainscross. We do, however, know that Cotham Park won this game as they were in Gloucester 2 the next season while Cainscross were not.
There would be no promotion playoff at the end of the 2005-06 season as Gloucester 3 would become a single division the following season. Instead, both champions and runners up from Gloucester 3 North and Gloucester 3 South would be automatically promoted into Gloucester 2.
One of St Brendan's Old Boys titles was won in Gloucester 3 South.
Ross-on-Wye's titles were won in Gloucester 3 North.
Bristol Aeroplane's title was won in Gloucester 3 South.
Cheltenham Civil Service's title was won in Gloucester 3 North.
Hartpury College's title was won in Gloucester 3 North.
Currently known as Hucclecote RFC.
Kingswood's title was won in Gloucester 3 South.
Minchinhampton's title was won in Gloucester 3 South.
Old Colstonians title was won in Gloucester 3 South.
Tetbury's title was won in Gloucester 3 South.
Widden Old Boys title was won in Gloucester 3 North.
Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89 (17th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 123–139. ISBN 0 356 15884 5.
Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7850 4.
Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7816 4.
Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7771 0.