Somerset 2 South (known as Tribute Somerset 2 South for sponsorship reasons) is an English rugby union league which sits at the tenth level of league rugby union in England alongside its counterpart Somerset 2 North. When the division was founded in 1987 it was a single league known as Somerset 2, but since 2006 it has been split into two regional divisions.
Somerset 2 North currently involves teams from the southern part of Somerset. 1st, 2nd and even 3rd XV sides can participate in the division as long as they are not from the same club. The league champions are promoted to Somerset 1 while relegated teams drop to Somerset 3 South.
When league rugby began in 1987 this league (known as Somerset 2) was a single division containing the following teams from Somerset and parts of Bristol:
The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Somerset 2 dropped to become a tier 11 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 and relegation to .
The cancellation of National League 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Somerset 2 reverted to being a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 and relegation to .
Somerset 2 remained as a tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1, while the cancellation of at the end of the 1999–00 season meant there was no longer relegation.
At the start of the 2006–07 Somerset 2 was split into two regional divisions - Somerset 2 North and Somerset 2 South - both remaining at tier 10 of the league system. This restructuring was to enable 2nd XV and 3rd XV sides to play in the Somerset leagues for the first time and would make up most of the teams[l]. Promotion continued to Somerset 1 while relegation was now to Somerset 3 South[m]. From the 2007–08 season onward the league sponsor would be Tribute.
Despite widespread restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 2008–09 season, Somerset 2 South and its counterpart Somerset 2 South remained as tier 10 league. Promotion continued to Somerset 1, while relegation was to Somerset 3 South. The league continued to be sponsored by Tribute.
^ would briefly split into two divisions - Somerset 3A and 3B - during the 1989–90 season before remerging into a single division.
^Restructuring of the leagues above Somerset 2 from 11 to 13 teams meant that five clubs were promoted including , and .
^Due to the restructuring of the Somerset leagues there was no relegation.
^Due to widespread restructuring at the end of the 1995–96 due to the cancellation of National League 5 South, six clubs were promoted including , , and .
^Widespread league restructuring meant that there was no relegation.
^The cancellation of at the end of the 1999–00 season meant that there was no relegation.
^Despite finishing as champions would not be promoted, instead transferring to the new Somerset 2 North division that was introduced for the following season.
^Runners up were promoted to Somerset 1 instead of champions .
^The reintroduction of Somerset 3 in the form of Somerset 3 North and Somerset 3 South for the 2006–07 season would see relegation return. and would drop to Somerset 3 South while and would transfer to Dorset & Wilts 3 West.
^In the first season of Somerset 2 North, were the only 1st XV side - the rest being 2nd XV teams.
^Somerset 3 returned for the first time since the 1999–00 season; now split into two regional divisions - Somerset 3 North and Somerset 3 South.
^No relegation as league due to increase from 5 to 11 teams for the following season.
^No relegation as league due to increase from 11 to 13 teams for the following season.