Somerset 1 (known as Tribute Somerset 1 for sponsorship reasons) is an English
rugby union league which sits at the ninth level of league rugby union in England involving teams based in the county of
Somerset as well as some teams based in
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 and runners up are promoted to
Somerset Premier while relegated teams drop to either
Somerset 2 North or
Somerset 2 South depending on location. Each year clubs in this division also take part in the
RFU Junior Vase – a level 9–12 national competition.
The cancellation of Gloucestershire/Somerset at the end of the 1999–00 season, saw Somerset 1 remain at tier 9, with promotion now to the new
Somerset Premier[m] and relegation continuing to
Somerset 2.
Somerset 1 remained a tier 9 league with promotion to
Somerset Premier but the splitting of Somerset 2 into two regional divisions, meant that relegation was now to either
Somerset 2 North or
Somerset 2 South. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be
Tribute.
Despite widespread restructuring by the
RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Somerset 1 remained a tier 9 league, with promotion continuing to
Somerset Premier, while relegation to either
Somerset 2 North or
Somerset 2 South. The league would continued to be sponsored by
Tribute.
^Yeovil would later merge with
Westland to form Ivel Barbarians in 1995.[4] Ivel Barbarians would in turn be renamed as
Yeovil Rugby Club in 2014.[5]
^Due to restructuring of the majority of south west leagues from 11 to 13 teams for the following season, 3rd place
Bristol Harlequins were also promoted.
^Due to the restructuring of Somerset 1 from 11 to 13 teams for the following season, there was no relegation.
^League restructuring caused by the cancellation of
National 5 South meant that champions
Chard were promoted two divisions up into
Western Counties North (formerly Western Counties).
^Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89 (17th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 123–139.
ISBN0-356-15884-5.
^Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1989). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989–90 (18th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 133–136.
ISBN0-356-17862-5.
^Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1990). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1990–91 (19th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 143–146.
ISBN0-356-19162-1.
^Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1991). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991–92 (20th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 164–167.
ISBN0-356-20249-6.
^Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1992). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992–93 (21st ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 176–179.
ISBN0-7472-7907-1.
^Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94 (22nd ed.). London: Headline Book Publishing Ltd. pp. 157–160.
ISBN0-7472-7891-1.
^Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing.
ISBN0-7472-7850-4.