Season will be split into three windows
The fixtures for next season’s rugby campaign have been released.
After last season was concluded early because of the Coronavirus pandemic and tables had to be completed using a formula, the new campaign has taken measures to ensure of some sort of league structure whilst conforming to government advice and preparing for all eventualities.
The start date to the season has yet to be confirmed for definite, but it is currently hoped to get underway on September 15 for its first of three stages.
Initially, all of the leagues have been split into two, so leagues of 14 teams have been split into two groups of seven, and the first window of matches will see teams play the other six in their group twice over 14 weeks. This means that in a league of 14, each team will have two BYE weeks.
If the season cannot start on September 5, then the games pencilled in for that date automatically move to the end of the season rather than pushing the whole season back. This means that if the season cannot start until the date of the fifth round of matches, the fixtures will begin from the fifth round of matches and play through until round 14 before then playing rounds 1-4 in the same order.
If the first window of matches is completed successfully then teams will move onto window two which will see teams playing the other sides in the league they haven’t faced yet, either home or away. If there’s still time before the end of the season then window three will see the reverse fixtures taking place.
Without a concrete start date, there has been no dates set for when windows two and three would start, if they can. If only the first window is possible then a playoff between the leaders of the two groups will be staged to decide the league winner.
The RFU has yet to make a decision on any cup competitions, nor on the effects of promotion or relegation going into the 2021/22, with the possibility of this being a ‘filler’ season.
In South West 1 West, Keynsham have been grouped with Newent, Old Patesians, Thornbury, Lydney, Stroud and Chew Valley. Walcot, Avonvale, Combe Down and Corsham will be playing plenty of local derbies after grouped together in Southern Counties South, alongside Swindon College and Swindon.
Stothert & Pitt, Oldfield Old Boys and Avon will also continue their local rivalries with four derbies each in group one of Somerset Prem, they will also face Nailsea & Backwell, Bristol Harlequins, Imperial and St Bernadettes.
Old Sulians and Keynsham 2nd will come together in Somerset 1, as well as meeting Old Redcliffians 2nd, Chew Valley 2nd, Nailsea & Backwell 2nd and Midsomer Norton
2nd. There’s further derbies in Somerset 2N as Oldfield Old Boys 2nd, Bath Old Edwardians, Stothert & Pitt 3rd and Walcot 2nd have all been placed together alongside Bristol Telephones and Old Redcliffians 3rd.
There’s only nine teams in Somerset 3N, although Keynsham 3rd have been grouped with Bristol Harlequins 2nd, Old Culverhaysians, Imperial 2nd and St Bernadettes Old Boys 2nd so will only face the two BYE weeks, including the opening weekend if the season starts as planned.
In Dorset & Wilts 2N, Corsham 2nd and Colerne have been paired together alongside Devizes 2nd, Pewsey Vale and Chippenham 3rd, they will also face two BYE weeks.
Combe Down 2nd, Bradford on Avon and Bath Saracens have all been placed in the newly formed Dorset & Wilts 2 Central alongside Melksham 2nd and will face four BYE weeks in the initial stage.
Fixtures (with prospective dates and possible window two and three matches): Keynsham: Thornbury (Sep 5) H, Chew Valley (Sep 12) A, Round 3 BYE, Lydney (Sep 26) H, Newent (Oct 3) A, Old Patesians (Oct 19) H, Stroud (Oct 17) A, Thornbury (Oct 24) A, Chew Valley (Oct 31) H, Round 10 BYE, Lydney (Nov 14) A, Newent (Nov 21) H, Old Patesians (Nov 28) A, Stroud (Dec 5) H. Window 2 - Wellington A, Devonport Services H, Crediton A, Bridgwater & Albion H, North Petherton A, Sidmouth H, St Austell A. Window 3 - Wellington H, Devonport Services A, Crediton H, Bridgwater & Albion A, North Petherton H, Sidmouth A, St Austell H. Walcot: Avonvale (Sep 26) H, Swindon (Oct 3) A, combe Down (Oct 10) H, Swindon College (Oct 17) A, Corsham (Oct 24) H, Swindon (Oct 31) H, Combe Down (Nov 14) A, Swindon College (Nov 21) H, Corsham (Nov 28) A, Avonvale (Dec 5) A. Window 2 - Devizes A, Wimborne H, Swanage & Wareham A, Dorchester H, Salisbury A, Yeovil H. Window 3 - Wimborne A, Devizes H, Dorchester A, Swanage & Wareham H, Yeovil A, Salisbury H. Avonvale: Walcot (Sep 26) A, Combe Down (Oct 3) A, Corsham (Oct 10) H, Swindon (Oct 17) A, Swindon College (Oct 24) H, Combe Down (Oct 31) H, Corsham (Nov 14) A, Swindon (Nov 21) H, Swindon College (Nov 28) A, Walcot (Dec 5) H. Window 2 - Yeovil A, Devizes H, Wimborne A, Swanage & Wareham H, Dorchester A, Salisbury H. Window 3 - Devizes A, Yeovil H, Swanage & Wareham A, Wimborne H, Salisbury A, Dorchester H. Combe Down: Swindon College (Sep 26) A, Avonvale (Oct 3) H, Walcot (Oct 10) A, Corsham (Oct 17) A, Swindon (Oct 24) H, Avonvale (Oct 31) A, Walcot (Nov 14) H, Corsham (Nov 21) H, Swindon (Nov 28) A, Swindon College (Dec 5) H. Window 2 - Salisbury A, Yeovil H, Devizes A, Wimborne A, Swanage & Wareham A, Dorchester H. Window 3 - Yeovil A, Salisbury H, Wimborne A, Devizes H, Dorchester A, Swanage & Wareham H. Corsham: Swindon (Sep 26) A, Swindon College (Oct 3) H, Avonvale (Oct 10) A, Combe Down (Oct 17) H, Walcot (Oct 24) A, Swindon College (Oct 31) A, Avonvale (Nov 14) H, Combe Down (Nov 21) A, Walcot (Nov 28) H, Swindon (Dec 5) H. Window 2 - Dorchester A, Salisbury H, Yeovil A, Devizes H, Wimborne A, Swanage & Wareham H. Window 3 - Salisbury A, Dorchester H, Devizes A, Yeovil H, Swanage & Wareham A, Wimborne H. Stothert & Pitt: Bristol Harlequins (Sep 5) A, Imperial (Sep 12) H, Nailsea & Backwell (Sep 19) A, Oldfield Old Boys (Sep 26) H, St Bernadettes (Oct 3) A, Round 6 BYE, Avon (Oct 17) H, Bristol Harlequins (Oct 24) H, Imperial (Oct 31) A, Nailsea & Backwell (Nov 7) H, Oldfield Old Boys (Nov 14) A, St Bernadettes (Nov 21) H, Round 13 BYE, Avon (Dec 5) A. Window 2 Tor A, Wells H, Hornets 2nd A, Yatton H, Minehead Barbarians A, Weston-super-mare 2nd H, Crewkerne A. Window 3 - Tor H, Wells A, Hornets 2nd H, Yatton A, Minehead Barbarians H, Weston-super-mare 2nd A, Crewkerne H. Oldfield Old Boys: Nailsea & Backwell (Sep 5) A, Round 2 BYE, St Bernadettes (Sep 19) H, Stothert & Pitt (Sep 26) A, Avon (Oct 3) H, Bristol Harlequins (Oct 10) A, Imperial (Oct 17) H, Nailsea & Backwell (Oct 24) H, Round 9 BYE, St Bernadettes (Nov 7) A, Stothert & Pitt (Nov 14) H, Avon (Nov 21) A, Bristol Harlequins (Nov 28) H, Imperial (Dec 5) A. Window 2 - Westonsuper-mare 2nd A, Crewkerne H, Tor A, Wells H, Hornets 2nd A, Yatton H, Minehead Barbarians A. Window 3 - Weston-super-mare 2nd H, Crewkerne A, Tor H, Wells A, Hornets 2nd H, Yatton A, Minehead Barbarians A. Avon: Round 1 BYE, Bristol Harlequins (Sep 12) H, Imperial (Sep 19) A, Nailsea & Backwell (Sep 26) H, Oldfield Old Boys (Oct 3) A, St Bernadettes (Oct 10) H, Stothert & Pitt (Oct 17) A, Round 8 BYE, Bristol Harlequins (Oct 31) A, Imperial (Nov 7) H, Nailsea & Backwell (Nov 14) A, Oldfield Old Boys (Nov 21) H, St Bernadettes (Nov 28) A, Stothert & Pitt (Dec 5) H. Window 2 - Minehead Barbarians A, Westonsuper-mare 2nd H, Crewkerne A, Tor H, Wells A, Hornets 2nd H, Yatton A. Window 3 - Minehead Barbarians H, Weston-super-mare 2nd A, Crewkerne H, Tor A, Wells H, Hornets 2nd A, Yatton H. Old Sulians: Old Redcliffians 2nd (Sep 26) H, Nailsea & Backwell 2nd (Oct 3) A, Keynsham 2nd (Oct 10) H, Chew Valley 2nd (Oct 17) A, Midsomer Norton 2nd (Oct 24) H, Nailsea & Backwell 2nd (Oct 31) H, Keynsham 2nd (Nov 14) A, Chew Valley 2nd (Nov 21) H, Midsomer Norton 2nd (Nov 28) A, Old Redcliffians 2nd (Dec 5) A. Window 2 - Wellington 2nd A, Taunton 2nd H, North Petherton 2nd A, Morganians H, Cheddar Valley A, Bridgwater & Albion 2nd H. Window 3 - Taunton 2nd A, Wellington 2nd H, Morganians H, North Petherton 2nd H, Bridgwater & Albion 2nd A, Cheddar Valley H. Keynsham 2nd: Chew Valley 2nd (Sep 26) A, Old Redcliffians 2nd (Oct 3) H, Old Sulians (Oct 10) A, Midsomer Norton (Oct 17) A, Nailsea & Backwell 2nd (Oct 14) H, Old Redcliffians 2nd (Oct 31) A, Old Sulians (Oct 31) H, Midsomer Norton 2nd (Nov 28) A, Chew Valley 2nd (Dec 5) H. Window 2 - Cheddar Valley A, Bridgwater & Albion 2nd H, Wellington 2nd A, Taunton 2nd H, North Petherton 2nd A, Morganians H. Window 3 - Bridgwater & Albion 2nd A, Cheddar Valley H, Taunton 2nd A, Wellington 2nd A, Morganians A, North Petherton 2nd H. Oldfield Old Boys 2nd: Bath Old Edwardians (Sep 26) H, Old Redcliffians 3rd (Oct 3) A, Bristol Telephones (Oct 10) H, Stothert & Pitt 3rd (Oct 17) A, Walcot 2nd (October 14) H, Old Redcliffians 3rd (Oct 31) H, Bristol Telephones (Nov 14) A, Stothert & Pitt 3rd (Nov 21) H, Walcot 2nd (Nov 28) A, Bath Old Edwardians (Dec 5). Window 2 - Yatton 2nd A, Weston-supermare 3rd H, Hornets 3rd A, Bristol Barbarians H, Clevedon 2nd A, Gordano 2nd H. Window 3 Weston-super-mare 3rd A, Yatton 2nd H, Bristol Barbarians A, Hornets 3rd H, Gordano 2nd A, Clevedon 2nd H. Bath Old Edwardians: Oldfield Old Boys (Sep 16) A, Bristol Telephones (Oct 3) A, Walcot 2nd (Oct 10 H), Old Redcliffians 2nd (Oct 17) A, Stothert & Pitt 3rd (Oct 14) H, Bristol Telephones (Oct 31) H, Walcot 2nd (Nov 14) A, Old Redcliffians 3rd (Nov 21) H, Stothert & Pitt 3rd (Nov 28) A, Oldfield Old Boys 2nd Dec 5) H. Window 2 - Gordano 2nd A, Yatton 2nd H, Weston-super-mare 3rd A, Hornets 3rd H, Bristol Barbarians A, Clevedon 2nd H. Window 3 - Yatton 2nd A, Gordano 2nd H, Hornets 3rd A, Weston-super-mare 3rd H, Clevedon 2nd A, Bristol Barbarians H. Stothert & Pitt 3rd: Bristol Telephones (Sep 26) H, Walcot 2nd (Oct 3) A, Old Redcliffians 3rd (Oct 10) H, Oldfield Old Boys 2nd (Oct 17) H, Bath Old Edwardians (Oct 24) A, Walcot 2nd (Oct 31) H, Old Redcliffians 3rd (Nov 14) A, Oldfield Old Boys (Nov 21) A, Bath Old Edwardians (Nov 28) H, Bristol Telephones (Dec 5) A. Window 2 - Weston-super-mare 3rd A, Hornets 3rd H, Bristol Barbarians A, Clevedon 2nd H, Gordano 2nd A, Yatton 2nd H. Window 3 - Hornets 3rd A, Weston-super-mare 3rd A, Clevedon 2nd A, Bristol Barbarians H, Yatton 2nd A, Gordano 2nd H. Walcot 2nd: Old Redcliffians 2nd (Sep 16) A, Stothert & Pitt 3rd (Oct 3) H, Bath Old Edwardians (Oct 10) A, Bristol Telephones (Oct 17) H, Oldfield Old Boys 2nd (Oct 24) A, Stothert & Pitt 3rd (Oct 31) A, Bath Old Edwardians (Nov 14) H, Bristol Telephones (Nov 21) A, Oldfield Old Boys 2nd (Nov 28) H, Old Redcliffians 3rd (Dec 5) H. Window 2 - Bristol Barbarians A, Clevedon 2nd H, Gordano 2nd A, Yatton 2nd H, Weston-super-mare 3rd A, Hornets 3rd H. Window 3 - Clevedon 2nd A, Bristol Barbarians H, Yatton 2nd A, Gordano 2nd H, Hornets 3rd A, Weston-super-mare 3rd H. Keynsham 3rd: Round 1 BYE, St Bernadettes Old Boys 2nd (Oct 3) A, Bristol Harlequins (Oct 10) H, Imperial 2nd (Oct 17) A, Old Culverhaysians (Oct 24) H, St Bernadettes Old Boys (Oct 31) H, Bristol Harlequins 2nd (Nov 12) A, Imperial 2nd (Nov 21) H, Old Culverhaysians (Nov 28) A, Round 10 BYE. Window 2 - Nailsea & Backwell 3rd H, Yatton 3rd A, Round 13 BYE, Round 14 BYE, Gordano 3rd H, Chew Valley 3rd A. Window 3 - Yatton 3rd H, Nailsea & Backwell 2nd A, Round 19 BYE, Round 20 BYE, Chew Valley 3rd H, Gordano 3rd A. Corsham 2nd: Devizes 2nd (Oct 3) A, Pewsey Vale (Oct 10) H, Chippenham 3rd (Oct 17) A, Colerne (Oct 24) H, Round 5 BYE, Devizes 2nd (Nov 7) H, Pewsey Vale (Nov 14) A, Chippenham 3rd (Nov 21) H, Colerne (Nov 28) A, Round 10 BYE. Window 2 - Supermarine H, Royal Wootton Bassett 3rd A, Cricklade H, Swindon College Old Boys 2nd A, Round 15 BYE. Window 3 - Supermarine A, Royal Wootton Bassett 3rd H, Cricklade A, Swindon College Old Boys 2nd H, Round 10 BYE. Colerne: Pewsey Vale (Oct 3) A, Chippenham 3rd (Oct 10) H, Round 3 BYE, Corsham 2nd (Oct 24) A, Devizes 2nd (Oct 31) H, Pewsey Vale (Nov 7) H, Chippenham 3rd (Nov 14) A, Round 8 BYE, Corsham 2nd (Nov 28) H, Devizes 2nd (Dec 5) A. Window 2 - Royal Wootton Bassett 3rd H, Cricklade A, Swindon College Old Boys 2nd H, Round 14 BYE, Supermarine A. Window 3 - Royal Wootton Bassett 3rd A, Cricklade H, Swindon College Old Boys 2nd A, Round 19 BYE, Supermarine A. Combe Down 2nd: Melksham (Oct 3) H, Round 2 BYE, Bath Saracens (Oct 17) H, Bradford on Avon (Oct 24) A, Round 5 BYE, Melksham 2nd (Nov 7) A, Round 7 BYE, Bath Saracens (Nov 21) A, Bradford on Avon (Nov 28) H, Round 10 BYE. Window 2 - Salisbury 3rd A, Warminster 2nd H, Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew A, Amesbury H, North Dorset 2nd A. Window 3 - Salisbury 3rd H, Warminster 2nd A, Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew H, Amesbury A, North Dorset 2nd H. Bradford on Avon: Round 1 BYE, Bath Saracens (Oct 10) A, Round 3 BYE, Combe Down 2nd (Oct 24) H, Melksham 2nd (Oct 31) A, Round 6 BYE, Bath Saracens (Nov 14) H, Round 8 BYE, Combe Down 2nd (Nov 28) A, Melksham 2nd (Dec 5) H. Window 2 - North Dorset 2nd A, Salisbury 3rd H, Warminster 2nd A, Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew H, Amesbury A. Window 2 - North Dorset 2nd H, Salisbury 3rd A, Warminster 2nd H, Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew A, Amesbury H. Bath Saracens: Round 1 BYE, Bradford on Avon (Oct 10) H, Combe Down 2nd (Oct 17) A, Melksham 2nd (Oct 24) H, Round 5 BYE, Round 6 BYE, Bradford on Avon (Nov 14) A, Come Down 2nd (Nov 21) H, Melksham 2nd (Nov 28) A, Round 10 BYE. Window 2 - Amesbury A, North Dorset 2nd H, Salisbury 3rd A, Warminster 2nd H, Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew A. Window 3 - Amesbury H, North Dorset 2nd A, Salisbury 3rd H, Warminster 2nd A, Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew H.