Stroud have been promoted to the South West One division after the RFU confirmed the final league positions for the 2019/20 season.

All league rugby beneath the Gallagher Premiership was ended earlier this month due to the coronavirus crisis, with the final league standings based on a best playing record strategy.

The RFU’s formula means Stroud have now been declared champions of the Western Counties North after they sat 22 points clear of second place Matson.

Stroud were also unbeaten in the league. 

Club chairman Roger Hughes said: "On behalf of the board I would like to thank everyone involved in the running of the club.

"For me the most impressive aspect of our play last season was our defence.

"Every player supporting the next with a desire and steely determination that the opposition would not breach our line.

"Having said that we scored some scintillating tries at the other end.

"It is with much excitement that we look forward to the challenges of playing in a higher league and we are starting to plan for this now."

From the Championship to grassroots levels, the final league standings in all the leagues has been decided using a team’s average points per game total for home and away fixtures.

This has then been applied to all the remaining fixtures and added to a team’s league points total so far to decide the final league positions.

The decision also means Coney Hill will be relegated from Western Counties North after they were rooted to the foot of the division.