Counties 1 Southern South (formerly known as Southern Counties South) is a level 7 league in the Rugby Football Union South West Division, the rugby union governing body for South West England, part of the Rugby Football Union. When league rugby first began in 1987 it was a single league known as Southern Counties but in 1996 the division was split into two regional leagues: Southern Counties North (now Counties 1 Southern North) and Southern Counties South. Counties 1 Southern South currently sits at the seventh tier of club rugby union in England and primarily features teams based in Dorset and Wiltshire.
Quick Facts Sport, Instituted ...
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The league champions at the end of the season are promoted to Regional 2 South Central while the runners up face the runners up from Southern Counties North for their place. Relegated teams tend to drop to either Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North, Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts South or Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts Central depending on geographic placement. As of the 2022–23 season, with the RFU league restructuring, lower XVs are able to play in Counties 1 Southern South.
More information Team, Ground ...
Team |
Ground |
Capacity |
Town/Area |
Previous season |
Combe Down | Holly's Corner | | Combe Down, Bath, Somerset | 7th |
Chippenham II | Allington Fields | 9500 | Chippenham, Wiltshire | Promoted from Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts North (champions) |
Corsham | Lacock Road | | Corsham, Wiltshire | 9th |
Devizes | The Sports Club | | Devizes, Wiltshire | Relegated from Regional 2 Severn (12th) |
Dorchester | Coburg Road | | Dorchester, Dorset | 8th |
Frome | Gypsy Lane | | Frome, Somerset | 4th |
Melksham | The Conigre | 1,000 | Melksham, Wiltshire | Promoted from Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts Central (champions) |
Royal Wootton Bassett II | Ballards Ash | | Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire | 6th |
Salisbury | Castle Road | 1,500 | Salisbury, Wiltshire | Relegated from Regional 2 South Central (11th) |
Sherborne | Gainsborough Park | | Sherborne, Dorset | 3rd |
Swanage & Wareham | Bestwall Road | | Wareham, Dorset | 2nd |
Walcot | Albert Field | | Lansdown, Bath, Somerset | 5th |
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Locations of the 2024-25 Southern Counties South teams in Avon and Wiltshire
Locations of the 2024-25 Southern Counties South teams in Somerset and Dorset
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More information Team, Ground ...
Team |
Ground |
Capacity |
Town/Area |
Previous season |
Avonvale | Bathford Playing Fields | | Bathford, Bath, Somerset | 9th |
Combe Down | Holly's Corner | | Combe Down, Bath, Somerset | 4th |
Corsham | Lacock Road | | Corsham, Wiltshire | Promoted from Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts Central (champions) |
Dorchester | Coburg Road | | Dorchester, Dorset | 5th |
Frome | Gypsy Lane | | Frome, Somerset | Relegated from Regional 2 Severn (11th) |
North Dorset | Slaughtergate | 1,000 | Gillingham, Dorset | 8th |
Royal Wootton Bassett II | Ballards Ash | | Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire | 7th |
Sherborne | Gainsborough Park | | Sherborne, Dorset | Relegated from Regional 2 South West (11th) |
Swanage & Wareham | Bestwall Road | | Wareham, Dorset | 6th |
Walcot | Albert Field | | Lansdown, Bath, Somerset | 2nd |
Weymouth & Portland | Monmouth Avenue | | Weymouth, Dorset | Promoted from Counties 2 Dorset & Wilts South (champions) |
Yeovil | Yeovil Showground | | Yeovil, Somerset | 3rd |
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Locations of the 2023-24 Southern Counties South teams in Avon and Wiltshire
Locations of the 2023-24 Southern Counties South teams in Somerset and Dorset
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More information Team, Ground ...
Team |
Ground |
Capacity |
Town/Area |
Previous season |
Avonvale | Bathford Playing Fields | | Bathford, Bath, Somerset | 11th Southern Counties South |
Blandford | Larksmead Recreation Ground | | Blandford, Dorset | Promoted Dorset & Wilts 1 South (runners-up) |
Combe Down | Holly's Corner | | Combe Down, Bath, Somerset | 6th Southern Counties South |
Dorchester | Coburg Road | | Dorchester, Dorset | 8th Southern Counties South |
Frome II | Gypsy Lane | | Frome, Somerset | Promoted Dorset & Wilts 1 North (champions) |
North Dorset | Slaughtergate | 1,000 | Gillingham, Dorset | Promoted Dorset & Wilts 1 South (champions) |
Royal Wootton Bassett II | Ballards Ash | | Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire | Promoted Dorset & Wilts 1 North (3rd) |
Swanage & Wareham | Bestwall Road | | Wareham, Dorset | 5th Southern Counties South |
Trowbridge II | Doric Park | 9550 | Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire | Promoted Dorset & Wilts 1 North (runners-up) |
Walcot | Albert Field | | Lansdown, Bath, Somerset | 9th Southern Counties South |
Wimborne | Leigh Park | | Wimborne, Dorset | 4th Southern Counties South |
Yeovil | Yeovil Showground | | Yeovil, Somerset | 7th Southern Counties South |
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Locations of the 2022-23 Southern Counties South teams in Avon and Wiltshire
Locations of the 2022-23 Southern Counties South teams in Somerset and Dorset
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Thatcham finished 11th in 2019–20 but were level transferred to Southern Counties North for the current season.
More information Team, Ground ...
Team |
Ground |
Capacity |
Town/Area |
Previous season |
Avonvale | Bathford Playing Fields | | Bathford, Bath, Somerset | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 1 North (champions) |
Combe Down | Holly's Corner | | Combe Down, Bath, Somerset | 6th |
Corsham | Lacock Road | | Corsham, Wiltshire | 10th |
Devizes | The Sports Club | | Devizes, Wiltshire | 4th |
Dorchester | Coburg Road | | Dorchester, Dorset | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 1 South (champions) |
Salisbury | Castle Road | 1,500 | Salisbury, Wiltshire | Relegated from South West 1 East (14th) |
Swindon | Greenbridge Road | | Swindon, Wiltshire | 3rd |
Swindon College Old Boys | Nationwide Sports Pavilion | | Swindon, Wiltshire | 8th |
Swanage & Wareham | Bestwall Road | | Wareham, Dorset | 5th |
Walcot | Albert Field | | Lansdown, Bath, Somerset | 9th |
Wimborne | Leigh Park | | Wimborne, Dorset | Relegated from South West 1 East (13th) |
Yeovil | Yeovil Showground | | Yeovil, Somerset | 7th |
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Locations of the 2021–22 Southern Counties South teams in Avon and Wiltshire
Locations of the 2021–22 Southern Counties South teams in Somerset and Dorset
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Due to the coronavirus pandemic the season was cancelled.
More information Team, Ground ...
Team |
Ground |
Capacity |
Town/Area |
Previous season |
Combe Down | Holly's Corner | | Combe Down, Bath, Somerset | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 1 North (champions) |
Corsham | Lacock Road | | Corsham, Wiltshire | 9th |
Devizes | The Sports Club | | Devizes, Wiltshire | 8th |
Frome | Gypsy Lane | | Frome, Somerset | Runners up (lost playoff) |
Grove | Cane Lane | | Grove, Oxfordshire | 4th |
North Dorset | Slaughtergate | 1,000 | Gillingham, Dorset | 7th |
Swindon | Greenbridge Road | | Swindon, Wiltshire | Relegated from South West 1 East (13th) |
Swindon College Old Boys | Nationwide Sports Pavilion | | Swindon, Wiltshire | 6th |
Thatcham | Henwicky Worthy Sports Field | | Thatcham, Berkshire | 10th |
Swanage & Wareham | Bestwall Road | | Wareham, Dorset | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 1 South (champions) |
Walcot | Albert Field | | Lansdown, Bath, Somerset | 5th |
Yeovil | Yeovil Showground | | Yeovil, Somerset | 3rd |
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Locations of the 2019–20 Southern Counties South teams
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More information Team, Ground ...
Team |
Ground |
Capacity |
Town/Area |
Previous season |
Bradford-on-Avon | Broom Ground | | Winsley, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 1 North (champions) |
Corsham | Lacock Road | | Corsham, Wiltshire | 4th |
Devizes | The Sports Club | | Devizes, Wiltshire | 8th |
Dorchester | Coburg Road | | Dorchester, Dorset | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 1 South (champions) |
Frome | Gypsy Lane | | Frome, Somerset | 6th |
Grove | Cane Lane | | Grove, Oxfordshire | Relegated from South West 1 East (13th) |
North Dorset | Slaughtergate | 1,000 | Gillingham, Dorset | 5th |
Sherborne | Gainsborough Park | | Sherborne, Dorset | 3rd |
Swindon College Old Boys | Nationwide Sports Pavilion | | Swindon, Wiltshire | 9th |
Thatcham | Henwicky Worthy Sports Field | | Thatcham, Berkshire | Level transfer from Southern Counties North (5th) |
Walcot | Albert Field | | Lansdown, Bath, Somerset | 10th |
Yeovil | Yeovil Showground | | Yeovil, Somerset | 7th |
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Locations of the 2018–19 Southern Counties South teams
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More information Team, Ground ...
Team |
Ground |
Capacity |
Town/Area |
Previous season |
Blandford | Larksmead Recreation Ground | | Blandford, Dorset | 10th |
Corsham | Lacock Road | | Corsham, Wiltshire | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 1 North (champions) |
Devizes | The Sports Club | | Devizes, Wiltshire | 6th |
Frome | Gypsy Lane | | Frome, Somerset | 8th |
Marlborough | The Common | | Marlborough, Wiltshire | 5th |
North Dorset | Slaughtergate | 1,000 | Gillingham, Dorset | 7th |
Sherborne | Gainsborough Park | | Sherborne, Dorset | 3rd |
Swanage & Wareham | Bestwall Road | | Wareham, Dorset | 4th |
Swindon College Old Boys | Nationwide Sports Pavilion | | Swindon, Wiltshire | Promoted from Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier (champions) |
Trowbridge | Doric Park | | Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire | 2nd (lost playoff) |
Walcot | Albert Field | | Lansdown, Bath, Somerset | 9th |
Yeovil | Yeovil Showground | | Yeovil, Somerset | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 1 South (Champions) |
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Locations of the 2017–18 Southern Counties South teams in Wiltshire and Avon
Locations of the 2017–18 Southern Counties South teams in Dorset & Somerset
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More information Team, Ground ...
Team |
Ground |
Capacity |
City/Area |
Previous season |
Blandford | Larksmead Recreation Ground | | Blandford, Dorset | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 1 South (runners up) |
Combe Down | Holly's Corner | | Combe Down, Bath, Somerset | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 1 North (champions) |
Devizes | The Sports Club | | Devizes, Wiltshire | 4th |
Dorset Dockers | Potterne Park | | Verwood, Dorset | 7th |
Frome | Gypsy Lane | | Frome, Somerset | 10th |
Marlborough | The Common | | Marlborough, Wiltshire | 6th |
North Dorset | Slaughtergate | 1,000 | Gillingham, Dorset | 3rd |
Sherborne | Gainsborough Park | | Sherborne, Dorset | 5th |
Swanage & Wareham | Bestwall Road | | Wareham, Dorset | Relegated from South West 1 East (14th) |
Trowbridge | Doric Park | | Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire | Relegated from South West 1 East (13th) |
Walcot | Albert Field | | Lansdown, Bath, Somerset | 8th |
Wimborne | Leigh Park | | Wimborne, Dorset | 9th |
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Locations of the 2016–17 Southern Counties South teams in Wiltshire and Somerset
Locations of the 2016–17 Southern Counties South teams in Dorset
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The 2015–16 Southern Counties South consists of twelve teams; four each from Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. The season started on 12 September 2015 and ended on 23 April 2016.
Participating teams
Eight of the twelve teams participated in last season's competition. The 2014–15 champions Swanage & Wareham and runners up Salisbury (who won their playoff game) were promoted to the South West 1 East while Supermarine and Corsham were both relegated to Dorset & Wilts 1 North. Royal Wootton Bassett were level transferred from Southern Counties North.
More information Team, Ground ...
Team |
Ground |
Capacity |
Town/Village |
Previous season |
Bradford-on-Avon | Broom Ground | | Winsley, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire | 10th |
Devizes | The Sports Club | | Devizes, Wiltshire | Relegated from South West 1 East (12th) |
Dorchester | Coburg Road | | Dorchester, Dorset | 9th |
Dorset Dockers | Potterne Park | | Verwood, Dorset | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 1 South (champions) |
Frome | Gypsy Lane | | Frome, Somerset | 6th |
Marlborough | The Common | | Marlborough, Wiltshire | Promoted from Dorset & Wilts 1 North (champions) |
Midsomer Norton | Norton Down Playing Fields | | Midsomer Norton, Somerset | 7th |
North Dorset | Slaughtergate | 1,000 | Gillingham, Dorset | 4th |
Royal Wootton Bassett | Ballard's Ash Sports Ground | | Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire | Transferred from Southern Counties North (3rd) |
Sherborne | Gainsborough Park | | Sherborne, Dorset | 3rd |
Walcot | Albert Field | | Lansdown, Bath, Somerset | 5th |
Wimborne | Leigh Park | | Wimborne, Dorset | 8th |
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Locations of the 2015–16 Southern Counties South teams in Wiltshire and Somerset
Locations of the 2015–16 Southern Counties South teams in Dorset
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League Table 2015–16
More information Team, P ...
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Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
Points For |
Points Against |
+/− |
Try Bonus Points |
Losing Bonus Points |
League Points |
1 | Royal Wootton Bassett | 22 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 640 | 223 | 417 | 13 | 3 | 92 |
2 | Midsomer Norton | 22 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 643 | 297 | 346 | 14 | 3 | 83 |
3 | North Dorset | 22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 712 | 365 | 347 | 13 | 5 | 80 |
4 | Devizes | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 462 | 322 | 140 | 10 | 4 | 71 |
5 | Sherborne | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 619 | 392 | 227 | 9 | 3 | 70 |
6 | Marlborough | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 491 | 391 | 100 | 7 | 5 | 68 |
7 | Dorset Dockers | 22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 506 | 555 | −49 | 9 | 2 | 54 |
8 | Walcot | 22 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 467 | 561 | −94 | 6 | 2 | 38 |
9 | Wimborne | 22 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 406 | 577 | −171 | 7 | 3 | 38 |
10 | Frome | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 324 | 664 | −340 | 4 | 4 | 31 |
11 | Bradford-on-Avon | 22 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 255 | 691 | −436 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
12 | Dorchester | 22 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 284 | 771 | −487 | 4 | 0 | 11 |
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When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Southern Counties) contained the following teams:
Southern Counties South (2000–2004)
Southern Counties South remained a tier 7 league, with promotion continuing to South West 2 East. However, the transfer of Berkshire clubs from the Dorset/Wilts leagues to the Bucks/Oxon leagues, meant that relegation was now to Dorset & Wilts 1 (formerly Berks/Dorset/Wilts 1).[lower-alpha 13]
More information Season, No of teams ...
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Season |
No of teams |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Relegated teams |
Ref |
2000–01 | 9 | Redingensians | Salisbury | No relegation | [7] |
2001–02 | 10 | Wimborne | Oakmeadians | Melksham, Corsham, Swindon College Old Boys | [8] |
2002–03 | 10 | Frome | Oakmeadians | Calne | [9] |
2003–04 | 9 | Ivel Barbarians | Tadley | Westbury | [10] |
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
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Southern Counties South (2005–2009)
Southern Counties South remained a tier 7 league, with promotion continuing to South West 2 East, while a further restructuring of the Dorset/Wilts leagues meant that relegation was now to either Dorset & Wilts 1 North or Dorset & Wilts 1 South.
More information Season, No of teams ...
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Southern Counties North (2009–present)
Despite widespread league restructuring by the RFU, Southern Counties South continued as a tier 7 league, with promotion to South West 1 East (formerly South West 2 East) and relegation to either Dorset & Wilts 1 North or Dorset & Wilts 1 South.
More information Season, No of teams ...
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Season |
No of teams |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Relegated teams |
Ref |
2009–10 | 12 | Wimborne | Frome | Ivel Barbarians, Minety | [16] |
2010–11 | 12 | Salisbury | Oldfield Old Boys | Bradford-on-Avon, Bridport, Marlborough | [17] |
2011–12 | 12 | North Dorset | Dorchester | Melksham, Blandford | [18] |
2012–13 | 12 | Devizes | Trowbridge | Supermarine, Oakmeadians | [19] |
2013–14 | 12 | Wells | Trowbridge | Ivel Barbarians | [20] |
2014–15 | 12 | Swanage & Wareham | Salisbury | Supermarine, Corsham | [21] |
2015–16 | 12 | Royal Wootton Bassett | Midsomer Norton | Dorchester, Bradford-on-Avon | [22] |
2016–17 | 12 | Wimborne | Trowbridge | Dorset Dockers, Combe Down | [23] |
2017–18 | 12 | Trowbridge | Marlborough | Blandford, Swanage & Wareham | [24] |
2018–19 | 12 | Sherborne | Frome | Bradford-on-Avon, Dorchester | [25] |
2019–20 | 12 | Grove | Frome | North Dorset | [26] |
2020–21 | 12 | |
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
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Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Southern Counties North and Southern Counties South for the third and final promotion place to South West 1 East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season Southern Counties North teams have been the most successful with twelve wins to the Southern Counties South teams seven; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.
More information Season, Home team ...
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Southern Counties North v Southern Counties South promotion play-off results |
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Season |
Home team |
Score |
Away team |
Venue |
Attendance |
2000–01[27] | Salisbury (S) | 49–20 | Grove (N) | Castle Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire | |
2001–02[28] | Grove (N) | 30–13 | Oakmeadians (S) | Recreation Lane, Grove, Oxfordshire | |
2002–03[29] | Oakmeadians (S) | 24–17 | Aylesbury (N) | Meryick Park, Bournemouth, Dorset | |
2003–04[30] | Amersham & Chiltern (N)[lower-alpha 14] | | Tadley (S) | Ash Grove, Amersham, Buckinghamshire | |
2004–05[31] | Frome (S) | 12–38 | Henley Wanderers (N) | Gypsy Lane, Frome, Somerset | |
2005–06[32] | Oldfield Old Boys (S) | 32–33 | Swindon (N) | Shaft Road, Monkton Combe, Somerset | |
2006–07[33] | Wootton Bassett (S) | 17–20 | Tadley (N) | Ballards Ash Sports Ground, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire | |
2007–08[34] | Wallingford (N) | 22–3 | Wootton Bassett (S) | Wallingford Sports Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire | |
2008–09[35] | Marlow (N) | 18–15 | Wootton Bassett (S) | Riverwoods Drive, Marlow, Buckinghamshire | |
2009–10[36] | Amersham & Chiltern (N) | 45–12 | Frome (S) | Ash Grove, Amersham, Buckinghamshire | |
2010–11[37] | Aylesbury (N) | 10–39 | Oldfield Old Boys (S) | Ostler's Field, Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire | |
2011–12[38] | Windsor (N) | 22–15 | Dorcester (S) | Home Park, Windsor, Berkshire | |
2012–13[39] | Grove (N) | 39–20 | Trowbridge (S) | Recreation Lane, Grove, Oxfordshire | |
2013–14[40] | Trowbridge (S) | 27–19 | Aylesbury (N) | Doric Park, Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire | |
2014–15[41] | Salisbury (S) | 34–16 | Aylesbury (N) | Castle Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire | |
2015–16[42] | Midsomer Norton (S) | 29–22 | Aylesbury (N) | Norton Down Playing Fields, Midsomer Norton, Somerset | |
2016–17[43] | Bicester (N) | 53–20 | Trowbridge (S) | Oxford Road, Bicester, Oxfordshire | |
2017–18[44] | Windsor (N) | 29–31 | Marlborough (S) | Home Park, Windsor, Berkshire | |
2018–19[45] | Frome (S) | 10–23 | Buckingham (N) | Gypsy Lane, Frome, Somerset | 400 |
2019–20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up – Frome (S) – promoted instead. |
2020–21 | |
Green background is the promoted team. N = Southern Counties North and S = Southern Counties South |
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Redingensians are currently known as Rams.
3rd place Windsor also promoted.
No relegation due to league expansion from 11 to 13 teams for the 1992–93 season.
The result of the 2003–04 playoff between Amersham & Chiltern and Tadley is unknown due to all the south-west promotion playoff games from this season missing from the RFU website. However, as Amersham & Chiltern were in the higher division the next season (and Tadley were not) it is assumed they won the playoff game. Amersham & Chiltern would also have hosted the game as they had a better points record in their league than Tadley did in theirs.
Both of Banbury's titles were won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
One of Bournemouth's titles was won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
One of Redingensians titles was won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
One of Sherborne's titles was won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
One of Swanage & Wareham's titles was won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
Dorchester's title was won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
Ivel Barbarians are now known as Yeovil Rugby Club.
Marlow's title was won when league was a single division known as Southern Counties.
Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7850 4.
Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. London: Headline Bookline Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7816 4.
Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John, eds. (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0 7472 7771 0.