Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 1 Midlands West (South) | |
Sport | Rugby union |
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Instituted | 1992 | (as Midlands West 1)
Number of teams | 12 |
Country | England |
Most titles | Barkers Butts, Kenilworth, Leamington, Newbold-on-Avon, Stratford-upon-Avon, Sutton Coldfield (2 titles) |
Website | England RFU |
Counties 1 Midlands West (South) (formerly Midlands 2 West (South)) is a level seven English rugby union league and level three of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the West Midlands region including Herefordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands West 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 West (South) and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name.
Promoted teams tend to move up to Regional Midlands 2 West or occasionally to Regional 2 Midlands North. Relegated teams drop to Counties 2 Midlands West (South).
Departing were Ledbury, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands West as runners-up (Luctonians 2XV finished top but were not permitted to be promoted on Level 6 owing to league rules on reserve teams in the RFU leagues). Broadstreet 2XV and Earlsdon were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands West (South). Manor Park moved on a level transfer to Counties 1 Midlands East (North).
Joining were Barkers Butts, Camp Hill, Worcester and Berkswell & Balsall.
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Departing were Berkswell & Balsall, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands West. Barkers Butts and Coventry Welsh were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands West (South). Kidderminster Carolians (2nd) and Spartans (9th) moved on a level transfer to Counties 1 Midlands West (North).
Joining were Alcester, Manor Park, Luctonians 2XV, Evesham and Droitwich.
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This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review [3] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 1 Midlands West (South).
Departing were Evesham, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands West and Old Laurentians promoted to Regional 2 Midlands East, whilst Nuneaton Old Edwardians and Silhillians were promoted to Regional 2 Midlands North. Pinley were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands West (South).
Joining were Ledbury, Old Leamingtonians and Coventry Welsh promoted from Midlands 3 West (South) together with new entries Broadstreet 2XV and Bromsgrove 2XV.
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
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Teams in Midlands 2 West (North) and Midlands 2 West (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 1 West, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:
Midlands 2 West (North) and Midlands 2 West (South) were originally part of a single tier 7 division called Midlands West 1. Promotion was to Midlands 2 and relegation to Midlands West 2 [lower-alpha 5] .
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Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
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1992–93 | 13 | Willenhall | Newbold-on-Avon | Old Yardleians | [6] | |||||||||
Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |
The top six teams from Midlands 1 and the top six from North 1 were combined to create National 5 North, meaning that Midlands 1 West dropped to become a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands 2 and Midlands West 2.
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Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
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1993–94 | 13 | Sutton Coldfield | Bromsgrove | Nuneaton Old Edwardians | [7] | |||||||||
1994–95 | 13 | Newport (Salop) | Longton | Ludlow, Newcastle (Staffs) | [8] | |||||||||
1995–96 | 13 | Luctonians | Dudley Kingswinford [lower-alpha 6] | No relegation [lower-alpha 7] | [9] | |||||||||
Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |
At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands West 1 returned to being a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands 2 and Midlands West 2.
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Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
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1996–97 | 17 | Longton | Malvern | Dixonians, Stoke Old Boys, Tamworth | [10] | |||||||||
1997–98 | 17 | Newbold-on-Avon | Keresley | Nuneaton Old Edwardians | [11] | |||||||||
1998–99 | 17 | Malvern | Selly Oak | Ludlow, Willenhall, Leek | ||||||||||
1999–00 | 17 | Selly Oak | Shrewsbury | No relegation [lower-alpha 8] | ||||||||||
Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |
Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands West 1 split into two tier 7 regional leagues - Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South). Promotion was now to Midlands 2 West (formerly Midlands 2) and relegation to Midlands 4 West (South) (formerly Midlands West 2) [lower-alpha 9] .
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Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
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2000–01 | 9 | Stratford-upon-Avon | Leamington | Kings Norton | [12] | |||||||||
2001–02 | 10 | Leamington | Bedworth | No relegation | [13] | |||||||||
2002–03 | 10 | Nuneaton Old Edwardians | Old Coventrians | Evesham, Birmingham Exiles | [14] | |||||||||
2003–-04 | 12 | Old Coventrians | Leamington | Southam, Keresley | [15] | |||||||||
2004–05 | 12 | Barkers Butts | Pershore | Shipston on Stour, Droitwich | [16] | |||||||||
2005–06 | 12 | Solihull | Hereford | Keresley, Old Leamingtonians | [17] | |||||||||
2006–07 | 12 | Hereford | Stratford-upon-Avon | Old Coventrians, Ledbury | [18] | |||||||||
2007–08 | 12 | Sutton Coldfield | Droitwich | Edwardians, Bedworth, Stourbridge Lions | [19] | |||||||||
2008–09 | 12 | Leamington | Nuneaton Old Edwardians | No relegation | [20] | |||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) were renamed as Midlands 2 West (North) and Midlands 2 West (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 7. Promotion was now to Midlands 1 West (formerly Midlands 2 West) and relegation to Midlands 3 West (South) (formerly Midlands 4 West (South)).
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Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
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2009–10 | 12 | Worcester Wanderers | Old Laurentians | Newbold on Avon, Old Coventrians | [21] | |||||||||
2010–11 | 12 | Dunlop | Bedworth | Earlsdon, Old Coventrians | [22] | |||||||||
2011–12 | 12 | Barkers Butts | Berkswell & Balsall | Cheltenham North, Pershore | [23] | |||||||||
2012–13 | 12 | Kenilworth | Old Laurentians | Upton-on-Severn, Shipston on Stour | [24] | |||||||||
2013–14 | 12 | Earlsdon | Banbury | Bedworth, Dunlop | [25] | |||||||||
2014–15 | 12 | Newbold-on-Avon | Old Laurentians | Old Leamingtonians, Old Coventrians | [26] | |||||||||
2015–16 | 12 | Banbury | Earlsdon | Droitwich, Bedworth | [27] | |||||||||
2016–17 | 12 | Rugby Lions | Silhillians | Dunlop [lower-alpha 10] | [28] | |||||||||
2017–18 | 12 | Droitwich | Malvern | Old Yardleians, Berkswell & Balsall | [29] | |||||||||
2018–19 | 12 | Kenilworth | Kidderminster Carolians | Rugby St Andrews, Old Coventrians | [30] | |||||||||
2019–20 | 12 | Stratford-upon-Avon | Malvern | Southam | [31] | |||||||||
2020–21 | 12 | |||||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Midlands 2 West (North) and Midlands 2 West (South) for the third and final promotion place to Midlands 1 West (asides from 2008-09 which was played between the runners up of Midlands 2 West (South) and Midlands 2 East (North) due to RFU restructuring). The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the Midlands 2 West (South) teams had ten wins to Midlands 2 West (North) teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on eleven occasions compared to the away teams seven.
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Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | |||
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2000–01 [32] | Stafford (N) | 32-10 | Leamington (S) | The County Ground, Stafford, Staffordshire | ||||
2001–02 [33] | Bedworth (S) | 10-6 | Aston Old Edwardians (N) | Smarts Road, Bedworth, Warwickshire | ||||
2002-03 [34] | Old Coventrians (S) | 15-17 | Stoke on Trent (N) | Till Hill Lane, Coventry, Warwickshire | ||||
2003-04 [35] | Sutton Coldfield (N) | 3-37 | Leamington (S) | Roger Smoldon Ground, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands | ||||
2004-05 [36] | Newport (Salop) (N) | 25-12 | Pershore (S) | The Old Showground, Newport, Shropshire | ||||
2005–06 [37] | Bridgnorth (N) | 17-14 | Hereford (S) | Edgar Davis Ground, Bridgnorth, Shropshire | ||||
2006–07 [38] | Sutton Coldfield (N) | 11-18 | Stratford-upon-Avon (S) | Roger Smoldon Ground, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands | ||||
2007–08 [39] | Droitwich (S) | 3-18 | Stoke on Trent (N) | The Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire | ||||
2008–09 | Promotion playoffs different for this season only. [lower-alpha 11] | |||||||
2009–10 [40] | Old Saltleians (N) | 12-14 | Old Laurentians (S) | Watton Lane, Water Orton, Warwickshire | ||||
2010–11 [41] | Bedworth (S) | 15-6 | Old Saltleians (N) | Smarts Road, Bedworth, Warwickshire | ||||
2011–12 [42] | Old Saltleians (N) | 3-27 | Berkswell & Balsall (S) | Watton Lane, Water Orton, Warwickshire | ||||
2012–13 [43] | Old Laurentians (S) | 16-6 | Selly Oak (S) | Fenley Field, Rugby, Warwickshire | ||||
2013–14 [44] | Crewe & Nantwich (N) | 18-13 | Banbury (S) | Newcastle Road, Nantwich, Cheshire | 500 | |||
2014–15 [45] | Old Laurentians (S) | 32-23 | Old Saltleians (N) | Fenley Field, Rugby, Warwickshire | 500 | |||
2015–16 [46] | Earlsdon (S) | 5-20 | Wolverhampton (N) | Mitchell Avenue, Canley, Coventry, West Midlands | ||||
2016–17 [47] | Camp Hill (N) | 53-0 | Silhillians | Haslucks Green Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands | ||||
2017–18 [48] | Malvern (S) | 53-12 | Crewe & Nantwich (N) | Spring Lane, Malvern, Worcestershire | ||||
2018–19 [49] | Kidderminster Carolians (S) | 33-17 | Tamworth (N) | Marlpool Lane, Kidderminster, Worcestershire | 500 | |||
2019–20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Malvern (S) - promoted instead. | |||||||
2020–21 | ||||||||
Green background is the promoted team. N = Midlands 2 West (North) (formerly Midlands 3 West (North)) and S = Midlands 2 West (South) (formerly Midlands 3 West (South)) | ||||||||
As mentioned above the 2008-09 promotion playoffs in Midlands 3 were different due to RFU restructuring for the following season. The two runners up with the worst league records in the four regional divisions at this level would have to face each other for the final promotion spot, with the team with the superior league record having home advantage.
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Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | |||
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2008–09 [50] | Spalding (N) | 12-14 | Nuneaton Old Edwardians (S) | Memorial Field, Spalding, Lincolnshire | ||||
Green background is the promoted team. S = Midlands 2 West (South) (formerly Midlands 3 West (South)) and N = Midlands 2 East (North) (formerly Midlands 3 West (North)) | ||||||||
Midlands 4 West (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands and occasionally Cheshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
Regional 2 Midlands East is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the eastern region of the Midlands, including sides from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and occasionally Bedfordshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire. When this division began in 1987 it was known as Midlands 2 East, and has been restructured several times, most notably as a single division known as Midlands 2 between 1992 and 2000, and Midlands 1 East before regionalising again to its present format with the new name of Regional 2 Midlands East as part of England Rugby's Future Competition Structure change at the start of the 2022-23 season.
Midlands 3 West (South) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and sometimes Oxfordshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands West 2, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 4 West (North) and Midlands 4 West (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, led to the current name of Midlands 3 West (South).
Midlands 3 West (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands and occasionally Cheshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands West 2, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 4 West (North) and Midlands 4 West (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, led to the current name of Midlands 3 West (North).
Midlands 4 West (South) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and even on occasion Oxfordshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
Regional 1 Midlands is a level five semi-professional league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 it was known as Midlands Division 1. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following a reorganisation by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), and the name change from National League 3 to Premier was introduced for the 2017–18 season by the RFU in order to lessen confusion for what is a series of regional leagues. Regional 1 Midlands is the highest regional rugby union league in the English Midlands.
Regional 2 Midlands West is an English level 6 rugby union league for rugby clubs in the western region of the Midlands. It includes sides from Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, the West Midlands, Worcestershire and occasionally Cheshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Oxfordshire. When this division began in 1987 it was known as Midlands 2 West, and has been restructured several times, most notably as a single division known as Midlands 2 between 1992 and 2000. It has been called Regional 2 Midlands West since 2022–23.
Counties 1 Midlands West (North) (formerly Midands 2 West (North)) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of clubs from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands and occasionally Cheshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands West 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 West (North) and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name.
Counties 1 Midlands East (North) (formerly Midland 2 East (North)) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occasional team from Leicestershire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 East (North) and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name
Counties 1 Midlands East (South) (formerly Midlands 2 East (South)) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire, who play home and away matches throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 East (South) and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name.
The North Midlands Rugby Football Union is a governing body for rugby union in part of The Midlands, England. The union is the constituent body of the Rugby Football Union for the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire and the Greater Birmingham area.
The Warwickshire Rugby Football Union is a governing body for rugby union in part of The Midlands, England. The union is the constituent body of the Rugby Football Union for the city of Coventry and the county of Warwickshire. The current president is Yorkie Kinmond of the Earlsdon Rugby Club.
Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league, with teams from Staffordshire and Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands West 2 and relegated teams dropped to either Staffordshire 1 or Warwickshire 1. The division was cancelled at the end of the 1999–00 campaign due to nationwide league restructuring by the RFU, with the majority of teams transferred into the newly introduced Midlands 4 West (North) or Midlands 4 West (South).
Warwickshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegated sides dropped to Warwickshire 2. Warwickshire 1 was cancelled at the end of the 2005–06 season with the majority of teams transferred into the newly introduced Midlands 5 West (South).
Warwickshire 2 was a tier 10 English Rugby Union league with teams from Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Warwickshire 1 and there was no relegation since the cancellation of Warwickshire 3 back in 1992. Warwickshire 2 was cancelled at the end of the 2005–06 season with the majority of teams transferred into the newly introduced Midlands 6 West (South-East) or Midlands 6 West (South-West).
North Midlands (South) 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegated teams dropped to North Midlands (South) 2.
North Midlands (South) 2 was a tier 10 English Rugby Union league with teams from Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to North Midlands 1 and since the cancellation of North Midlands 3 at the end of the 2003–04 season there was no relegation. North Midlands (South) 2 was itself cancelled at the end of the 2005–06 campaign and the majority of teams transferred to the newly introduced Midlands 6 West (South-West).
North Midlands 3 was a tier 11 English Rugby Union league with teams from Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to North Midlands (South) 2 and since the cancellation of North Midlands 4 at the end of the 1991–92 campaign there was no relegation. North Midlands 3 was cancelled at the end of the 2003–04 season with teams transferred into either North Midlands (South) 2 or North Midlands (North).
Staffordshire/Warwickshire 2 was a tier 11 English Rugby Union league with teams from Staffordshire and Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 and relegated teams dropped to Staffordshire/Warwickshire 3. Restructuring of the Staffordshire/Warwickshire leagues at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that the division was cancelled and all teams transferred into Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1.
Regional 2 North Midlands is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the North Midlands including sides from Leicestershire, Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire. It was created following the 2022 Adult Competition Review by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).