48-770: Cornwall/Devon League (known as Tribute Cornwall/Devon League for sponsorship reasons) was an English level eight , rugby union league for clubs principally based in Cornwall and Devon . Following the reorganisation of the English rugby union leagues in 2022, the league was replaced by two level eight leagues based in Cornwall and Devon. The Pirates Amateurs won the last competition in season 2021–22 and were promoted to Counties 1 Western West The champions and runner-up were promoted to Western Counties West . The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in
96-663: A draw; 0 pts for a loss When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams: The original Cornwall/Devon League (sponsored by Courage ) was a tier 8 league with promotion up to Western Counties and relegation down to either Cornwall 1 or Devon 1 . The creation of National 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that the Cornwall/Devon League dropped to a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Western Counties and relegation to either Cornwall 1 or Devon 1 . The league continued to be sponsored by Courage . The cancellation of National 5 South at
144-492: A minimum of eight games against the clubs in their division. 1985 saw the creation of a third national merit league. In 1987 this was formed into a true national league system. The format and competitiveness of the leagues has changed greatly since the leagues were first formed and a widespread and global restructuring of the leagues was announced in November 2008, for implementation from the 2009–10 season. Under this new structure,
192-605: A new league structure would be implemented in the community game from 2022–23. The new structure which was partly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be reviewed every three years and saw the following changes: Below level 6 leagues sizes will depend on number of teams and geographical location. In February 2021, the RFU approved a moratorium on relegation from both the Premiership and Championship in response to uncertainty caused by
240-556: A play-off for promotion to South West 1 West. The team with the best playing record, in this case Kingsbridge, hosted the match against Keynsham and won 16 – 10. The 2014–15 Western Counties West consisted of fourteen teams; nine from Devon, four from Cornwall and one from Somerset. The season started on 6 September 2014 and finished on 18 April 2015. Teignmouth became champions with two matches to play after Exeter University had fifty points deducted for playing ineligible players. Teignmouth were promoted to South West 1 West , while
288-469: A play-off for the third promotion match. A total of fourteen teams contested the Cornwall/Devon league, eight from Devon and six from Cornwall. Nine of the sides played in the league last season and were joined by two relegated from Western Counties West , two promoted from Devon 1 and one promoted from Cornwall 1 . The relegated teams were Penryn (13th place) and Saltash (14th) and
336-475: A second tier of professional competition. The former National Division One was decreased from 16 clubs to 12 to accommodate the new fixture structure. For the first three seasons this included: Starting with the 2012–13 season , the second group stage was discontinued. The top four teams at the end of the home-and-away season entered play-offs to determine the league champion, which earned promotion providing Premiership entry standards were met. The bottom team at
384-496: A tier 8 division, with promotion to Western Counties West and relegation to either Cornwall 1 or Devon 1 . Tribute continued to sponsor the league. The Cornwall/Devon League was part of the Courage Clubs Championship and sponsored by Courage Brewery from the first season, 1987–88 to season 1996–97. The league was unsponsored until season 2007–08 when St Austell Brewery sponsored South-west based leagues under
432-562: Is an English rugby union league. Originally a single division called Western Counties, in 1996 the division split into two regional leagues called Western Counties North and Western Counties West. Western Counties West was renamed Counties 1 Western West prior to the 2022–23 season and is currently a seventh tier league for clubs based in the south-west of England; mainly Cornwall , Devon and Somerset . The champions are promoted to Regional 2 South West . The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in
480-525: Is the top level league in England, containing the best 10 professional clubs. The premiership still includes strict ground criteria and a salary cap that must be met by all participants. Promotion from the Championship remains (subject to eligibility), however the bottom side have not been relegated since the end of the 2019–20 season. The club seeking promotion must meet the minimum standards criteria. The champion
528-483: Is the top team in the RFU Championship after the league season. A play-off system was previously in place to decide which team were crowned champions. It was hoped this would bring to an end a select number of clubs bouncing between the leagues. (For example, each season between 2005–06 and 2008–09 saw the club relegated to National Division One earning promotion to the Premiership the following season, and also either
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#1732855521826576-527: The 2017-18 season, the National League 3 leagues were renamed to have Premier as part of their title in order to make a distinction between regional rugby union and the National Leagues above. Other changes that season saw London 3 North East be replaced by two new leagues - London 3 Eastern Counties and London 3 Essex - with teams transferred depending on location. In 2020, it was announced that
624-555: The 2021–22 competition were promoted to the level seven Counties 1 Western West for the 2022–23 season; Pirates Amateurs, Topsham, Cullompton, Bude and Plymstock Albion Oaks. Five teams were assigned to the level eight league Counties 2 Cornwall ; Hayle, Liskead-Looe, Newquay Hornets, Saltash and Veor while four teams were assigned to the level eight league Counties 2 Devon ; North Tawton, Tavistock, Torquay Athletic and Withycombe. No teams were relegated to level nine. If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in
672-460: The COVID-19 pandemic. It was also confirmed that league structure and minimum standards criteria for promotion were being reviewed. The moratorium only covered relegation and did not include promotion from the Championship meaning the Premiership expanded to 13 teams with the Championship reduced to 11 in 2021–22 with the promotion of Saracens . In June 2021, as part of the wider review the moratorium
720-530: The Cornwall/Devon league, seven each from Cornwall and Devon. Nine of the sides played in the league last season and were joined by two relegated from Western Counties West , two promoted from Devon 1 and one promoted from Cornwall 1 . The relegated teams are Tavistock (13th place) and St Ives (14th), and the incoming teams are Plymouth Argaum and Plymstock Albion Oaks (both from Devon 1) and Newquay Hornets (Cornwall 1). The season started on 5 September 2015 and ended on 30 April 2016 with three matches still to play;
768-468: The Cornwall/Devon league, seven from Devon, six from Cornwall and one from Somerset (Wellington). Nine of the sides played in the league last season and are joined by Bude (13th) and Wellington (14th), both relegated from Western Counties West , and three sides promoted from Devon 1 and Cornwall 1 . Wessex (from Devon 1) and Hayle (Cornwall 1) are champions of their respective leagues and Torrington were also promoted after Newquay Hornets declined to contest
816-637: The Cornwall/Devon league. The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals, home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows: Ten of last seasons twelve teams played in that season's competition. The champions Tiverton were promoted to Regional 2 South West , while Falmouth (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Cornwall . Barnstaple II and Redruth II won promoted from Counties 2 Devon and Counties 2 Cornwall respectively. If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in
864-443: The RFU deciding that the matches need not be played. Bude, won the league for the first time and along with the runner-up, St Ives are promoted to Western Counties West. The bottom three teams are relegated; Newquay Hornets and Hayle to Cornwall 1 and Exeter Saracens to Devon 1. The 2014–15 Cornwall/Devon League consisted of fourteen teams; seven from Cornwall and seven from Devon. The season started on 6 September 2014 and
912-551: The Tribute Ale label. English rugby union system Men's Rugby union in England consists of 106 leagues, which includes professional leagues at the highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout the system. Women's Rugby union in England consists of 26 leagues, which includes a national semi-professional league at the highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout
960-604: The best playing record, in this case Chew Valley, host the match, and for the second successive season they lost, this time to Devonport Services 12 – 22. It is the first time Devonport Services are promoted to a level six league. This match was the eighteenth play-off for promotion; the northern sides lead with ten victories to the west's eight and the home teams are leading thirteen to five. The 2016–17 Western Counties West League consists of fourteen teams; seven from Devon, five from Cornwall and two from Somerset. The season began on 3 September 2016 and finished on 22 April 2017. Ten of
1008-467: The end of home-and-away season was relegated to, and replaced by the champions of, the third tier National League 1 . From 2017–18 through to 2019–20 and from 2021–22 , the championship play-off was eliminated. The league-season champions earned automatic promotion (again, assuming that they meet Premiership standards). Relegation criteria did not change. However, there was a moratorium placed on relegation in both 2020–21 and 2021–22 . From 2023–24
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#17328555218261056-474: The end of the 1995–96 season saw the Cornwall/Devon League return to being a tier 8 division. Further restructuring meant that promotion was now to Western Counties West (formerly Western Counties) while relegation continued to either Cornwall 1 or Devon 1 . From the 2008–09 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute . Despite widespread league restructuring by the RFU , the Cornwall/Devon League continued as
1104-605: The final matches were played on 18 April 2015. Crediton beat the runner-up Saltash on the final day of the season to claim first place and both teams were promoted to Western Counties West. The bottom three teams were relegated; Old Plymothian & Mannamedian and South Molton to Devon 1 , and Liskeard-Looe to Cornwall 1 . Exeter University , the champions, lost only one match and finished in their highest ever league placing. Tiverton came second and both teams were promoted to Western Counties West for 2014–15 season. Newquay Hornets, and Veor who won only two matches and promoted
1152-468: The final matches were played on 23 April 2022. Nine of the fourteen teams participated in the previous, completed season (2019–20); which following the withdrawal of Lanner in February 2020 only had thirteen teams. Truro and Paignton were promoted to Western Counties West as champions and runner-up respectively while South Molton and Exeter Athletic were relegated to Devon 1 . Five of the fourteen teams from
1200-519: The following order: Green background are the promotion places. Updated: 7 August 2022 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the 2020–21 season was cancelled. If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Green background is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places. Updated: 2 April 2021 The season started on 2 September 2017 and finished on 21 April 2018. Fourteen teams contested
1248-415: The following order: Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are relegation places. Updated:15 July 2024 If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are relegation places. Updated:1 July 2023 If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in
1296-461: The following order: Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are relegation places. Updated:7 August 2022 Due to the coronavirus pandemic the season was cancelled. If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Green background is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places. Updated: 2 April 2021 In
1344-487: The fourteen teams participated in last season's competition, the 2015–16 champions, Okehampton were promoted to South West 1 West, along with the play-off winners Kingsbridge. Two Cornish teams, Penryn and Saltash were relegated to the Cornwall/Devon League and were replaced by Bude (champions) and St Ives (runner-up). The three relegated teams from South West One were all allocated places in Western Counties North so
1392-432: The incoming teams are Tamar Saracens and Topsham (both from Devon 1) and Lanner (Cornwall 1). The season started on 3 September 2016 and ended on 22 April 2017. Falmouth won the league for the first time and along with the runner-up, Paignton are promoted to Western Counties West. The bottom three teams are relegated; Bodmin to Cornwall 1 and Topsham and Tamar Saracens to Devon 1. A total of fourteen teams contested
1440-452: The last matches were played on 30 April 2016. Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Teignmouth were promoted to South West 1 West and Tavistock and St Ives were relegated to the Cornwall/Devon League. The only team from Somerset , Wellington, was transferred to Western Counties North. Each season, the runners-up in Western Counties North and Western Counties West, participate in
1488-449: The leagues above, but can be one, two or three, to either Counties 2 Cornwall , Counties 2 Devon or Counties 2 Somerset , depending on location. Tiverton are the current champions. The champions are promoted to Regional 2 South West (formerly South West 1 West), while the last two teams, depending on their location, are relegated to Counties 2 Cornwall, Counties 2 Devon or Counties 2 Somerset. In previous seasons teams were relegated to
Cornwall/Devon League - Misplaced Pages Continue
1536-606: The leagues above, but was usually two or three to Cornwall 1 and/or Devon 1 . The season ran from September to April and comprised twenty-six rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals, home and away. The results of the matches contributed points to the league as follows: The top two teams are promoted to Western Counties West and the bottom three teams are relegated to either Cornwall 1 or Devon 1 depending on their location. The 2021–22 Cornwall/Devon League consisted of fourteen teams; eight from Devon and six from Cornwall. The season started on 4 September 2021 and
1584-447: The level 4 National League 2 East , National League 2 West or National League 2 North depending on geographical location. The fourth tier is increased to three leagues of 14 teams each. The three league champions are promoted, with the bottom two in each league relegated to their respective regional division. With the restructuring, levels 5–11 became the new regional system. There are now 6 Regional 1 leagues, which are connected to
1632-521: The match; their opponents were Kingsbridge who lost the match 26 – 28 to a stoppage time penalty. When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Western Counties) contained the following teams: In the first season of the English rugby union league pyramid, sponsored by Courage, there was ten, tier seven leagues. The Western Counties League was for teams based in the south-west of England from Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Gloucester and Somerset. Each team played one match against each of
1680-433: The national leagues by promotion and relegation. The table below shows the current structure of the system. For each division, its official name, sponsorship name (which differs from its historic name) and number of clubs is given. At levels 1–3, each division promotes to the national division(s) that lie directly above it and relegates to the national division(s) that lie directly below it. Below that level, clubs relegate to
1728-1112: The nearest local league. Level 1 Premiership Rugby 10 clubs 2 RFU Championship 12 clubs 3 National League 1 14 clubs 4 National League 2 North 14 clubs National League 2 East 14 clubs National League 2 West 14 clubs 5 Regional 1 North East 12 clubs Regional 1 North West 12 clubs Regional 1 South East 12 clubs Regional 1 South Central 12 clubs Regional 1 South West 12 clubs Regional 1 Midlands 12 clubs 6 Regional 2 North 12 clubs Regional 2 North East 12 clubs Regional 2 North West 12 clubs Regional 2 Anglia 12 clubs Regional 2 South East 12 clubs Regional 2 Thames 12 clubs Regional 2 South Central 12 clubs Regional 2 South West 12 clubs Regional 2 Severn 12 clubs Regional 2 Midlands West 12 clubs Regional 2 Midlands North 12 clubs Western Counties West Counties 1 Western West (known as Counties 1 Tribute Western West for sponsorship reasons)
1776-411: The nineteen play-off matches played since 2001. The 2017–18 Western Counties West League consists of fourteen teams; seven from Devon, five from Cornwall and two from Somerset. The season started on 2 September 2017 and finished on 21 April 2018. Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. The 2016–17 champions, Exeter University were promoted to South West 1 West, along with
1824-500: The other teams with the winning team awarded two points, and there was one point for each team in a drawn match. This system prevailed for five seasons, and in 1992–93 the number of teams increased from eleven to thirteen. The following season Western Counties League was renamed Courage South West 2 League, and three seasons later in 1996–97 a major reorganisation occurred with South West 2 being split into two regional leagues: Originally Western Counties North and Western Counties West
1872-405: The play-off for promotion, Crediton played Midsomer Norton from Western Counties North for promotion to South West 1 West. Midsomer Norton had the best playing record and hosted the match, losing 15 – 19. This was the first time either team had participated in the play-offs, at this level, and Crediton's win was the sixth time the away team had won match. Teams from Western Counties North lead 10–9 in
1920-486: The play-off winners Cullompton, while Chard (12th place) and Kingsbridge (13th) were relegated from that league. Bude and Wellington were relegated to the Cornwall/Devon League and were replaced by Falmouth (champions) and Paignton (runner-up). Each season, the runners-up in Western Counties West and Western Counties North, participate in a play-off for promotion to South West 1 West. The team with
1968-400: The previous season, are both relegated to Cornwall 1 . In 2012–13 the Cornwall/Devon League consisted of thirteen teams; seven from Cornwall and six from Devon. The season started on 8 September 2012 and ended on 20 April 2013. Plymouth Barbarians were originally included in the fixtures but dropped out of the league during the season. Points are awarded as follows: 2 pts for a win; 1 pt for
Cornwall/Devon League - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-418: The promotion or relegation of Leeds Carnegie ). Debate still continues over the question of promotion and relegation, but with the strict criteria fears are reduced. From 2023–24, the last placed team from the Premiership will playoff against the Championship winner (subject to promotion eligibility) for a place in the following season's Premiership. The new RFU Championship was formed in 2009–10 to provide
2064-486: The second place team, Kingsbridge, lost to the runner-up of Western Counties North , Newent in the play-off for promotion. The last two teams, Tavistock and St Ives were relegated to Cornwall/Devon . Each season, the runners-up in Western Counties North and Western Counties West, participate in a play-off for promotion to South West 1 West . The team with the best playing record, in this case Newent, hosted
2112-505: The system, with the exception of the Women's Premiership . Historically, there were no leagues allowed as these were seen as a sign of professionalism. In the 1970s the RFU allowed the creation of regional merit leagues with the most significant ones being the North, Midlands, South West and London merit leagues. In 1984 the RFU approved the creation of two national merit tables where clubs had to play
2160-600: The top league remained the 12-team Gallagher Premiership . The second tier league was rebranded and restructured as the RFU Championship which replaced the old National Division One. This league also had 12 teams, and like the Premiership, is professional . Beneath the two professional leagues, the National Leagues were restructured to include a new 16 team National League 1 , 16 team National League 2 South and 16 team National League 2 North . The four top regional leagues became part of National League 3 at level five. For
2208-573: The two most westerly teams from that division, Burnham and Wellington were transferred to this league to bring the number of teams to fourteen. Each season, the runners-up in Western Counties West and Western Counties North, participate in a play-off for promotion to South West 1 West. The team with the best playing record, in this case Chew Valley, host the match and they lost to Cullompton 12 – 29. The 2015–16 Western Counties West League consists of fourteen teams; nine from Devon and five from Cornwall. The seasons started on 5 September 2015 and
2256-422: The winner (subject to eligibility) will contest a playoff with the bottom placed team in the Premiership for a place in the next season's Premiership. The new National League structure includes: The National League 1 was decreased from 16 to 14 teams. This resulted in a 26-game season on a home and away basis. The champions are promoted to the level 2 RFU Championship, and the bottom three sides are relegated to
2304-464: Was extended by a further two years in the Premiership and also included relegation from the Championship in 2021–22 and promotion from the Championship following the 2022–23 season. This means the Premiership may be further expanded to 14 teams in 2022–23 and the Championship may be reduced to 10. A summary of changes is outlines below: Promotion remains subject to minimum standards which have been reviewed and include several factors. Premiership Rugby
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