Latest News

Barnstaple win promotion play-off

Barnstaple overcame Tonbridge Juddian by 31-30 to win a place in National 2 South - joining SW rivals Exmouth in moving from National 3 South West.

There were also play-off wins for Salisbury, Midsomer Norton and Cirencester.

Meanwhile the final play-off fixture has been decided with Kingsbridge entertaining Keynsham on Saturday 7th for a place at level six.

01 May 16

Exmouth are champions

After missing out in the playoffs last season, Exmouth have clinched the National Three SW championship and promotion to National League 2 with a 38-24 win over title rivals Barnstaple.

A crowd of over 1,000 saw a tightly fought game with the winners only becoming clear in the final stages as the Cockles scored a breakaway try to seal the tie.

Barnstaple still have a route to qualify for promotion as they travel to Tonbridge Juddian for the Level 5 playoff next Saturday (30th April).

The officers and committee of the South West sent their congratulations to Exmouth and good luck to Barnstaple for next weekend.

 

24 Apr 16

End of Season Play offs

The end of season promotion play offs will be played on the 30th April 2016.  The venue for each match is decided on the basis of the best playing record (essentially points gained as a percentage of those possible in their league)

Level 5  Tonbridge Juddians v Barnstaple

Level 6  Salisbury v Thornbury

Level 7  Midsomer Norton v Aylesbury
Kingsbridge/Okehampton v Keynsham *(to be played 7th May 2016)

Level 8 Winscombe v Cirencester
 

Clubs involved will receive full details and a match card in the next few days.

 

24 Apr 16

Withycombe prepare for Twickenham final

Withycombe, last season's beaten Senior Vase semi finalists, have put the disappointment behind them and reached this year's Twickenham Final.

After booking their place on Easter Saturday they have had to wait a fortnight to learn who they will face on the 7th May. Their opponents will be West Leeds, who beat the Midland's representatives Oundle 31-23 away from home.

West Leeds are involved in a promotion battle in their league, Yorkshire Division Two, and currently head the table by 14 points and need seven points from their last three games to clinch the championship. The Senior Vase final will kick off at 1pm.

Sadly the South West's other representatives in the RFU Cups, Matson and Widden Old Boys, were both knocked out in the National Semi Finals.

 

09 Apr 16

Rain, Rain

Since the weekend before Christmas over 200 games have been postponed due to the weather, some more than once.

The Western part of the South West Leagues has been worst affected and there are now 31 games scheduled for Easter Saturday, seven for Easter Monday and 14 on the last Saturday in April. Any further postponements involving clubs already playing on those days could well mean midweek fixtures being required.

In addition the South West MAY have to prioritise fixtures and schedule those involving promotion and relegation ahead of other matches.

Clubs who have been affected by the weather are encouraged to look at their remaining fixtures and see if any can be played midweek to free up Saturday dates for matches that involve more travelling for either team. If a game is to be moved to a midweek date, both clubs should email their agreement to the Admin Office and the details will be updated.

 

07 Feb 16

RFU Cups - squad sizes

Teams playing in the RFU Cup competitions have to have FIVE players capable of playing in the front row in a match squad of 22 players. Three in the starting XV and two others that might be called on should any of the original front row get injured or require to be replaced.

We appreciate that the match result card supplied by the RFU has only space for four replacements, the names of the other three replacements can be included elsewhere on the card.

30 Dec 15

Mike Gee presented with his BEM

Accompanied by family and friends, South West League Co-ordinating Secretary Mike Gee has been presented with his British Empire Medal in a ceremony in Truro.

Mike was one of six from Cornwall who received their awards from the Lord-Lieutenant of the county Colonel Edward Bolitho OBE, himself a keen supporter of the Cornish Pirates.

In the citation read out prior to Mike receiving his medal, his contribution to rugby for over half a century at club, county, regional and national level was outlined and met with warm applause.

As well as receiving the award, Mike and his wife Louise, will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace next summer.

06 Sep 15

Cheltenham North

Cheltenham North have successfully applied to return to the South West Leagues from the start of Season 2016-2017.

In accordance with the South West’s policy of giving a full season’s notice, we are writing to inform you that an extra relegation may be required at some, or all, levels from Level 7 down, at the end of the 2015/16 season.

Cheltenham North currently play at Level 8 in the Midlands. Subsequently, ,they will come across to Level 8 into the South West, should they not finish in a promotion or relegation position at the end of this season

However, should they achieve promotion in 2015/16, they will play at Level 7 or, if they are relegated, they will come in at Level 9.

It is not possible at this stage to be more specific.

 

19 Aug 15

Student Pass

The RFU has been working to develop ways to make it easier for students to play for local rugby clubs and is introducing the Student Pass this season 2015-16 as a trial period.

The Student Pass is intended to encourage students to play more rugby more regularly by introducing greater flexibility with the registration of players. This will enable genuine students to play for their home club and the club local to their higher/further education institution by undergoing a simplified and less onerous player registration process.

Full details of the conditions are here.

Full details of the registration process are here.

16 Aug 15

Result Cards

A supply of result cards and, where appropriate, a list of registered players have been sent to all clubs for the new season.

Where the nominated league contact is responsible for more than one team within a club please take care when distributing the cards.  Take note of which team features on the envelope as different leagues use different cards

Newsletter 2 has also been published - see under Newsletters & Forms above.

14 Aug 15

Pages