Dorset & Wilts 3 North was an English Rugby Union league, forming part of the South West Division, for clubs primarily based in Wiltshire, sitting at tier 10 of the English rugby union system. Promoted teams tended to move up to Dorset & Wilts 2 North and there was no relegation. The league was created in 2005 and was disbanded after the 2019–20 season.
History
Until 2005, Dorset & Wilts 3 was one division with teams from Berkshire included. In that year, three regional divisions were created for teams in Dorset and Wiltshire, namely Dorset & Wilts 3 North, Dorset & Wilts 3 South and Dorset & Wilts 3 West. The West division was disbanded at the end of the 2008–09 season, leaving just the North and South divisions.
On occasion, clubs in this division also took part in the RFU Junior Vase, a level 9–12 national competition.
The 2019–20 season ended early in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, in common with all English leagues.[1] Neither of the Dorset & Wilts 3 divisions featured in plans for the 2020–21 season.[2]
The division consisted of eleven teams, all based in Wiltshire.
Eight of the eleven teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions, Combe Down II, were promoted to Dorset & Wilts 2 North, while Chippenham III and Supermarine II were relegated from there. No teams were relegated to Dorset & Wilts 4.
When this division was introduced in 1992 it was a single division known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3, containing the following teams from Dorset and Wiltshire[b]:
Portcastrians[d] – transferred from Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West (7th)
Poole – transferred from Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West (5th)
Westbury – transferred from Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West (4th)
Dorset & Wilts 3 North honours
Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 (1992–1993)
Originally Dorset & Wilts 3 North and Dorset & Wilts 3 South were combined in a single division known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3. Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 itself was created ahead of the 1992–93 season by merging the existing Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 East and Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 West divisions. It was a tier 10 league with promotion to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 and there was no relegation.
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 dropped to become a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 and there was no relegation.
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Berks/Dorset/Wilts 2 and there was no relegation. At the end of the 1999–00 season the division was cancelled and all teams transferred into the new look Dorset & Wilts 2 North or Dorset & Wilts 2 South[e]
After an absence of four years, Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3 was reintroduced in the form of two tier 10 regional divisions – Dorset & Wilts 3 North and Dorset & Wilts 3 South. Promotion was to Dorset & Wilts 2 North and there was no relegation.
Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Dorset & Wilts 3 North remained a tier 10 league, with promotion continuing to Dorset & Wilts 2 North and there was no relegation.
^This would be the last season of Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3. All six Teams would all be promoted into a new regional league for the next season – joining either Dorset & Wilts 2 North or Dorset & Wilts 2 South depending on geographical location. A level 3 regional division would be reinstated in 2005–06.
^Berkshire Shire Hall's was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
^Bradford-on-Avon's title was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
^Corsham have won two titles overall – one by the 2nd team and one by the 3rd team.
^Dorset Police's title was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
^Hungerford's title was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
^As club Minety have actually won two titles – one by the 1st XV when the league was known as Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3, the other by the 2nd XV when the league was known as Dorset & Wilts 3 North.
^Poole's title was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
^Puddletown's title was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.
^Portcastrians (currently East Dorset) title was won back when the league was Berks/Dorset/Wilts 3.