LEAGUE RE-ORGANISATION IN THE DORSET AND WILTS LEAGUES FOR SEASON 2022-2023
The long awaited RFU re-organisation of the League structures has now been issued and the structure of the Leagues in our area is known. Level 9 rugby is now known as Counties 3. The clubs were promised an input into the restructure in Dorset and Wilts however this never materialised and the structure was solely decided by the D & W RFU with North, South and Central Leagues with reduced numbers in both Counties 2 and 3. In our Counties 3 Leagues we will play each other 3 times giving a total of 18 League games for the season. The promotion/relegation criteria is yet to be formally announced, due by mid June, however D & W are recommending one up/one down between Counties 2 and 3 so it is vital for us to aim for the top spot. You will see that the top 4 in last season's D & W Central got promoted while 3 went up from North, the top two and RWB 3 to allow RWB 4 to join the league. A point to prove ?
The league structure from Level 3 down is as detailed below
National 1 (Level 3)- one league as per last season
National 2 (Level 4)- now 3 Leagues up from 2
Regional 1 (Level 5)- now 6 Leagues up from 4
Regional 2 (Level 6)- now 12 Leagues up from 8
Counties 1 (Level 7)- In our area it is called Southern South with 12 teams-
Avonvale,Blandford,Combe Down,Dorchester,Frome 2,North Dorset, RWB 2,Swanage & Wareham,Trowbridge 2,Walcot,Wimborne and Yeovil
Counties 2(Level 8)- Counties 2 Dorset and Wilts North with 9 teams- Calne,Chippenham 2,Devizes 2,Marlbrough 2,Minety, Pewsey Vale,RWB 3, Sutton Benger
- Counties 2 Dorset and Wilts Central with 9 teams- Amesbury,Bradford-on-Avon,Corsham,Melksham,North Dorset 2,Salisbury 2,Warminster, Westbury, Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew
- Counties 2 Dorset and Wilts South with 9 teams- Bournemouth 3,Bridport,East Dorset Dockers,Lytchett Minister,Oakmedians,Puddletown,Swanage & Wareham 2,Weymouth,Wimborne 2
Counties 3 (Level 9)- Counties 3 Dorset and Wilts North with 7 teams- Chippenham 3, Colerne, Cricklade, Minety 2, RWB 4, Supermarine, Swindon College OB 2
- Counties 3 Dorset and Wilts Central with 7 teams- Bath Saracens, Combe Down 2, Corsham 2, Melksham 2, Sherborne 2, Trowbridge 3, Warminster 2
- Counties 3 Dorset and Wilts South with 7 teams- Christchurch, Dorchester 2, East Dorset Dockers 2, Ellingham & Ringwood 2, Oakmedians 2, Poole, Salisbury 3
