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.

Gloucester 3
Current season or competition:
2017–18 Gloucester 3
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987) (as Gloucestershire 3)
Ceased2018; 6 years ago (2018)
Number of teams9
CountryEngland
HoldersUnited Bristol Hospitals (1st title) (2017–18 promoted to Gloucester 2)
Most titlesSt Brendan's Old Boys (3 titles)
Websiteenglandrugby.com

Teams 2017–18

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Teams 2016-17

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2015–16

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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.

Team Ground Capacity Town/Village Previous season
Cainscross Victory Park Cainscross, Stroud, Gloucestershire 3rd
Cheltenham Civil Service Tewkesbury Road Uckington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 5th
Gloucester All Blues The Oxleaze Gloucester, Gloucestershire 4th
Norton Norton Parish Grounds Norton, Gloucestershire 7th
Old Elizabethans Severn Road Hallen, Gloucestershire Relegated from Gloucester 2 (11th)
Tetbury The Recreation Ground Tetbury, Gloucestershire 6th
Wotton KLB School Playing Fields Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire Joined from Gloucestershire Reserve League - South 2 (1st)

Teams 2014-15

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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

Teams 2013–14

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  • Cainscross (relegated from Gloucester 2)
  • Hardwicke & Quedgeley
  • Minchinhampton
  • Norton
  • Old Elizabethans
  • Smiths
  • Tredworth

Teams 2012–13

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  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Minchinhampton
  • Norton
  • Old Cryptians (relegated from Gloucester 2)
  • Old Elizabethans (relegated from Gloucester 2)
  • Smiths
  • Tredworth
  • Westbury-on-Severn

Teams 2011-12

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  • Bredon Star
  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cainscross
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Greyhound RFC (relegated from Gloucester 2)
  • Minchinhampton
  • Smiths (relegated from Gloucester 2)

Teams 2010-11

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  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Broad Plain
  • Cainscross (relegated from Gloucester 2)
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Minchinhampton
  • Wotton

Teams 2009-10

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  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Dowty
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Minchinhampton
  • Newent
  • Smiths
  • Wotton

Teams 2008-09

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  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cotham Park
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Minchinhampton
  • Newent
  • St. Brendan's Old Boys
  • Smiths
  • Wotton

Teams 2007-08

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  • 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

Teams 2006-07

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  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cainscross
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Greyhound
  • Minchinhampton
  • Pilning
  • St. Brendan's Old Boys
  • Smiths (relegated from Gloucester 2)
  • Wotton

Teams 2005-06

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North

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  • Cainscross
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Minchinhampton
  • Ross-on-Wye
  • Tredworth
  • Westbury-on-Severn

South

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  • Bristol Aeroplane Co.
  • Cotham Park
  • Kingswood
  • Pilning
  • St. Brendan's Old Boys
  • Tetbury
  • Wotton

Teams 2004-05

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North

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  • Fairford
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Hartpury College
  • Ross-on-Wye
  • Smiths
  • Tredworth
  • Westbury-on-Severn

South

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  • Bristol Aeroplane Co.
  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cainscross
  • Minchinhampton
  • Pilning
  • St. Brendan's Old Boys
  • Tetbury
  • Wotton

Teams 2003-04

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North

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  • Cainscross
  • Fairford
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Ross-on-Wye
  • Tredworth
  • Newent

South

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  • Bristol Aeroplane Co.
  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cotham Park
  • Kingswood
  • Pilning
  • St. Brendan's Old Boys
  • Tetbury
  • Wotton

Teams 2002-03

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North

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  • Cainscross
  • Cheltenham Civil Service
  • Dursley
  • Fairford
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Newent
  • Tredworth

South

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  • Bristol Aeroplane Co.
  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cotham Park
  • Old Colstonians
  • Pilning
  • St. Brendand's Old Boys
  • Tetbury
  • Wotton

Teams 2001-02

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North

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  • Fairford
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Newent
  • Smiths
  • Ross-on-Wye
  • Tredworth

South

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  • Bristol Aeroplane Co.
  • Bristol Telephone Area
  • Cainscross
  • Cotham Park
  • Minchinhampton
  • Tetbury
  • Wotton

Teams 2000-01

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North

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  • Fairford
  • Gloucester All Blues
  • Gloucester Civil Service
  • Newent
  • Ross-on-Wye
  • Tredworth
  • Widden Old Boys

South

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  • Bristol Aeroplane Co.
  • Cotham Park
  • Minchinhampton
  • Old Colstonians
  • St. Brendan's Old Boys
  • Wotton

Original teams

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When league rugby began in 1987 this division (then a single division known as Gloucestershire 3) contained the following teams:

Gloucester 3 honours

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Gloucestershire 3 (1987–1991)

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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]

Gloucestershire 3
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.

Gloucester 3 (1991–1993)

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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.

Gloucester 3
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.

Gloucester 3 (1993–1996)

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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.

Gloucester 3
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.

Gloucester 3 (1996–2000)

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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.

Gloucester 3
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.

Gloucester 3 North / South (2000–2006)

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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.

Gloucester 3
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.

Gloucester 3 (2006–2009)

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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.

Gloucester 3
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.

Gloucester 3 (2009–2018)

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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.

Gloucester 3
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.

Promotion play-offs

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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.

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.

Number of league titles

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Gloucestershire 4 was briefly divided into Gloucestershire 4A or Gloucestershire 4B for the 1989–90 season before remerging back into a single division.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ The restructuring of south west leagues meant that there was no relegation.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ The cancellation of Gloucester 4 at the end of the season meant there would be no relegation.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 5 other teams promoted into either Gloucester 2 North or South for the following season as this was the last for Gloucester 3.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ One of St Brendan's Old Boys titles was won in Gloucester 3 South.
  13. ^ Ross-on-Wye's titles were won in Gloucester 3 North.
  14. ^ Bristol Aeroplane's title was won in Gloucester 3 South.
  15. ^ Cheltenham Civil Service's title was won in Gloucester 3 North.
  16. ^ Hartpury College's title was won in Gloucester 3 North.
  17. ^ Currently known as Hucclecote RFC.
  18. ^ Kingswood's title was won in Gloucester 3 South.
  19. ^ Minchinhampton's title was won in Gloucester 3 South.
  20. ^ Old Colstonians title was won in Gloucester 3 South.
  21. ^ Tetbury's title was won in Gloucester 3 South.
  22. ^ Widden Old Boys title was won in Gloucester 3 North.

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7850 4.
  3. ^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7816 4.
  4. ^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7771 0.
  5. ^ "1998-1999 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  6. ^ "1999-2000 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  7. ^ "2000-2001 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  8. ^ "2000-2001 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  9. ^ "2001-2002 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  10. ^ "2001-2002 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  11. ^ "2002-2003 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  12. ^ "2002-2003 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  13. ^ "2003-2004 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  14. ^ "2003-2004 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  15. ^ "2004-2005 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  16. ^ "2004-2005 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  17. ^ "2005-2006 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  18. ^ "2005-2006 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  19. ^ "2006-2007 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  20. ^ "2007-2008 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  21. ^ "1998-1999 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  22. ^ "2009-2010 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  23. ^ "2010-2011 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  24. ^ "2011-2012 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  25. ^ "2012-2013 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  26. ^ "2013-2014 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  27. ^ "2014-2015 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  28. ^ "2015-2016 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  29. ^ "2016-2017 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  30. ^ "2017-2018 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  31. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2000-01". England Rugby. 12 May 2001.
  32. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2001-02". England Rugby. 27 April 2002.
  33. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2002-03". England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
  34. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2003-04". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  35. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2004-05". England Rugby. 23 April 2005.
  36. ^ "South West Play-Offs 2005-06". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.