Dorset & Wilts 3 West was English Rugby Union league, forming part of the South West Division, for clubs based in western Dorset. Promoted teams tended to move up to Dorset & Wilts 2 North or Dorset & Wilts 2 South depending on geographical location and there was no relegation. The league was originally created as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West in 1988 and ran until 1992 until it merged with Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 East to form Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3. The division would return as Dorset & Wilts 3 West in 2006. By the end of the 2008–09 season, the league was disbanded and clubs were transferred to Dorset & Wilts 3 North or Dorset & Wilts 3 South.

Dorset & Wilts 3 West
SportRugby Union
Instituted1988; 36 years ago (1988) (as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West)
Ceased2009; 15 years ago (2009)
Number of teams8
Country England
HoldersBradford-on-Avon II (1st title) (2008–09)
(promoted to Dorset & Wilts 2 North)

Original teams

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When this division was introduced in 1988 as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West, it contained the following teams from Dorset and Wiltshire[a]:

Dorset & Wilts 3 West honours

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Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West (1988–1992)

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Originally known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West and involved involving clubs based in Berkshire[e], Dorset and Wiltshire. It was a tier 10 league with promotion to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 and there was no relegation. At the end of the 1991–92 season Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West and counterpart Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 East would merge into a single division known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 (currently Dorset & Wilts 3 North and Dorset & Wilts 3 South).

Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Team(s) Ref
1988–89 7 Westbury Warminster No relegation [2]
1989–90 7 D.I.H.E. Warminster No relegation [3]
1990–91 7 Warminster Bridport No relegation [4]
1991–92 7 Blandford Trowbridge[f] No relegation [5]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Dorset & Wilts 3 West (2006–2009)

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Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West would return as Dorset & Wilts 3 West for the 2006–07 season, this time only involving clubs based in Dorset and Wiltshire. It was a tier 10 league with promotion to Dorset & Wilts 2 North or Dorset & Wilts 2 South and there was no relegation. After just three seasons the division was cancelled and all clubs transferred into either Dorset & Wilts 3 North or Dorset & Wilts 3 South.

Dorset & Wilts 3 West
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Team(s) Ref
2006–07 10 Corsham II Bath Saracens No relegation [6]
2007–08 10 Avonvale Combe Down II No relegation [7]
2008–09 8 Bradford-on-Avon II South Wilts No relegation [8]
Green backgrounds are promotion places

Number of league titles

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Notes

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  1. ^ Despite the name for the first season of Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West there were no actual Berkshire based clubs.
  2. ^ Plessey Christ would be renamed as Christchurch RFC for the 1993–94 season onward.
  3. ^ Dorset Institute of Higher Education would become known as Bournemouth University in 1992.
  4. ^ In Portcastrians would be renamed as East Dorset RFC in 2003[1].
  5. ^ Since 2000, Berkshire clubs have played in the Berks/Bucks & Oxon leagues.
  6. ^ 3rd place Bridport were also promoted.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "PORTCASTRIAN VETS". East Dorset RFC. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  2. ^ Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1989). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989–90 (18th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 133–136. ISBN 0 356 17862 5.
  3. ^ Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1990). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1990–91 (19th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 143–146. ISBN 0 356 19162 1.
  4. ^ Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1991). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991–92 (20th ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 164–167. ISBN 0 356 20249 6.
  5. ^ Johns, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1992). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992–93 (21st ed.). London: Rothmans Publications Ltd. pp. 176–179. ISBN 0 7472 7907 1.
  6. ^ "2011–2012 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  7. ^ "2012–2013 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  8. ^ "2013–2014 South-West Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 21 January 2015.