SOUTH West 1 West - which contains Bridgwater & Albion and North Petherton - is set to be reduced from 14 to 12 teams in the 2021/22 season.

This proposal is included in the RFU (Rugby Football Union) Future Competitions Structure Group’s recommendation paper on the adult male competitions structure, for implementation in the 2021/22 campaign.

Following consultation with clubs and players over the last nine months, the RFU acknowledges that players are playing fewer games each season due to lifestyle reasons and modern day demands on time.

The proposals include reducing league sizes, introducing league break weekends and organising leagues in such a way as to minimise teams’ travel time.

Level 3 - National 1, containing Taunton Titans - is to be cut from 16 teams to 14, as is Level 4, which will see two leagues (National 2 North and South) become three.

Levels 5 (which includes South West Premier) and 6 (including South West 1 West) are both to reduce in size from 14 teams to 12; four divisions at Level 5 will become six, and eight at Level 5 become 12.

New cup competitions are also to be introduced at Levels 5 and 6; the league season would run from September to March, with cup matches from March to May.

Level 7 and below - including Western Counties West, Somerset Premier, Somerset 1, Somerset 2 South and Somerset 3 South - are to feature a minimum of 16 divisions (depending on new entries), with 10-12 teams in each, depending on effect of regionalisation and local need.

Feedback is now being sought, ahead of the RFU Council decision on Friday, October 2, 2020.