Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 2 Midlands East (North) | |
Sport | Rugby union |
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Instituted | 1992 | (as Midlands East 2)
Number of teams | 12 |
Country | England |
Most titles | Ashbourne, Ashby, Grimsby, Oakham (2 titles) |
Website | England RFU |
Counties 2 Midlands East (North) (formerly Midlands 3 East (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 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 2, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (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 East (North) and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name.
Promoted teams tend to move up to Counties 1 Midlands East (North) while demoted teams typically drop into Counties 3 Midlands East North West or Counties 3 Midlands East North East.
Departing were Kesteven and Nottingham Moderns, both promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (North). Grimsby and Belper were relegated.
Joining were Boston and Birstall, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (North). Keyworth were promoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central) whilst Mosborough came up from Counties 3 Midlands East (North).
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Departing were Boston and Mansfield, both promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (North). Bakewell Mannerians (10th), East Retford (11th) and Sielby (12th) were relegated.
Joining were Asbourne and Ashby, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (North). Newark II were promoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (N) East whilst Derby II came up from Counties 3 Midlands East (N) West. Melton Mowbray joined on a level transfer from Counties 2 Midlands East (South).
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This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review [1] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 2 Midlands East (North)).
Departing were Mellish and Birstall, both promoted to Counties 1 Milands East (North).
Joining were Gainsborough and Nottingham Moderns, both promoted.
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The teams competing in 2021–22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019–20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020-21.
Buxton (4th) in 2019-20 did not return for the new season.
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
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Teams in Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 2 East, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:
Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were originally part of a single tier 8 division called Midlands East 2. Promotion was to Midlands East 1 and relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.
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Season | No. of teams | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
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1992–93 | 14 | Kettering | Northampton BBOB | Glossop, Southwell, Market Rasen & Louth, Stamford | [2] | |||||||||
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 2 East dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Midlands East 1 while relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.
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Season | No. of teams | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
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1993–94 | 13 | Long Buckby | Wellingborough | Dronfield, Kesteven | [3] | |||||||||
1994–95 | 13 | Ilkeston | Huntingdon & District | Worksop, Grimsby, Luton | [4] | |||||||||
1995–96 | 13 | Lutterworth | Old Northamptonians [a] | No relegation [b] | [5] | |||||||||
Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |
At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands East 2 returned to being a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to Midlands East 1 while relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.
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Season | No. of teams | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
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1996–97 | 17 | Northampton Men's Own | Northampton Old Scouts | Chesterfield Panthers, East Retford, Mellish | [6] | |||||||||
1997–98 | 17 | Dunstablians | Oadby Wyggestonian | Bedford Queens, Northampton BBOB | [7] | |||||||||
1998–99 | 17 | Luton | South Leicester | Nottingham Casuals, Biggleswade | ||||||||||
1999–2000 | 17 | Market Bosworth [c] | Long Eaton [d] | No relegation [e] | ||||||||||
Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |
Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands East 2 split into two tier 8 regional leagues - Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South). Promotion was now to Midlands 3 East (North) [f] and relegation to either Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 East or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 West [g] .
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Season | No. of teams | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
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2000–01 | 10 | Matlock | Market Rasen & Louth | Worksop, Ashfield, Belper | [8] | |||||||||
2001–02 | 10 | Loughborough Students | Paviors | Melbourne, East Retford, Amber Valley | [9] | |||||||||
2002–03 | 10 | Mellish | West Bridgford | Ashfield, Long Eaton | [10] | |||||||||
2003–04 | 10 | Grimsby | Lincoln | Buxton | [11] | |||||||||
2004–05 | 10 | Oakham | Ashfield | Nottingham Casuals, East Leake | [12] | |||||||||
2005–06 | 10 | Ashbourne | Sleaford | No relegation [h] | [13] | |||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Midlands 4 East (North) continued to be a tier 8 league with promotion up into Midlands 3 East (North). However, the cancellation of Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 East and Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 West at the end of the 2005–06 season meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands 5 East (North).
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Season | No. of teams | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
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2006–07 | 12 | Grimsby | West Bridgford | Chesterfield Panthers, East Retford | [14] | |||||||||
2007–08 | 12 | Bakewell Mannerians | Ashbourne | Castle Donington | [15] | |||||||||
2008–09 | 12 | Market Rasen & Louth | Belgrave | No relegation [i] | [16] | |||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South) were renamed as Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 8. Promotion was now to Midlands 2 East (North) (formerly Midlands 3 East (North)) and relegation to Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands 5 East (North)).
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Season | No. of teams | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
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2009–10 | 11 | Oakham | Ashby | Boston | [17] | |||||||||
2010–11 | 12 | Ashbourne | Nottingham Casuals | Ashfield, Southwell | [18] | |||||||||
2011–12 | 12 | Dronfield | Sleaford | Nottingham Corsairs, Worksop | [19] | |||||||||
2012–13 | 12 | Melbourne | Kesteven | Amber Valley, Belper | [20] | |||||||||
2013–14 | 12 | Ashby | West Bridgford | Skegness, East Retford | [21] | |||||||||
2014–15 | 12 | Melton Mowbray | Southwell | Mellish, Amber Valley | M [22] | |||||||||
2015–16 | 12 | Kesteven | Loughborough | Nottingham Moderns, Boston | [23] | |||||||||
2016–17 | 12 | Lincoln | Bakewell Mannerians | Chesterfield Panthers, Ashfield | [24] | |||||||||
2017–18 | 13 | Long Eaton | Ashby | Grimsby, Sileby Town | [25] | |||||||||
2018–19 | 12 | Nottingham Casuals | Ashfield | Tupton, Sleaford | [26] | |||||||||
2019–20 | 12 | Ashby | Southwell | Rolls-Royce, Nottingham Moderns | [27] | |||||||||
2020–21 | 12 | |||||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Midlands 5 East (North) was a level 10 English Rugby Union league and level 5 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occasional team from Leicestershire, with home and away matches played throughout the season.
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.
Counties 3 Midlands East / are level 9 English Rugby Union leagues and level 4 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. Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
Counties 3 Midlands East (South) / (Central) (formerly Midlands 4 East area level 9 English Rugby Union leagues and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire, all of whom play home and away matches 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.
Counties 2 Midlands East (South) (formerly Midlands 3 East (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 East Midlands region including clubs from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire, all of whom play home and away matches throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 2, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (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 East (South). 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.
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 Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire & Derbyshire 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 Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire and Derbyshire, with each county also having its own sub-unions with additional club cup competitions. As well as overseeing club rugby, the Notts, Lincs and Derbyshire RFU also administers the county representative teams.
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 East (North) and relegated teams dropped to Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 2.
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 2 was a tier 10 English Rugby Union league with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 and relegated teams dropped to Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 3.
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 3 was a tier 11 English Rugby Union league with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 2 and since the cancellation of Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 4 at the end of the 1995–96 season there was no relegation.
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 4 was a tier 13 English Rugby Union league with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 3 and since the cancellation of Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 5 at the end of the 1991–92 season there was no relegation. Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 4 was cancelled at the end of the 1995–96 campaign and the majority of teams transferred into Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 3.
East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Bedfordshire, parts of Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 East (North) and relegated teams dropped to East Midlands/Leicestershire 2.
East Midlands/Leicestershire 2 was a tier 10 English Rugby Union league with teams from Bedfordshire, parts of Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 and relegated teams dropped to East Midlands/Leicestershire 3.
East Midlands/Leicestershire 3 was a tier 11 English Rugby Union league with teams from Bedfordshire, parts of Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to East Midlands/Leicestershire 2 and relegated teams dropped to East Midlands/Leicestershire 4 until that division was cancelled at the end of the 1995–96 season.
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 East was a tier 9 division in the English rugby union system with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and the eastern region of Leicestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 East (North) and relegated teams dropped to Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 2 East.
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 West was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the western region of Leicestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 East (North) and relegated teams dropped to Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 2 West.
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 2 East was a tier 10 English Rugby Union league with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and the eastern region of Leicestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 East and there was no relegation.
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 2 West was a tier 10 English Rugby Union league with teams from Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the western region of Leicestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 West and there was no relegation.
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).