Midlands 3 East (South)

Last updated

Counties 2 Midlands East (South)
Current season or competition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2024-25 Counties 2 Midlands East (South)
Sport Rugby union
Instituted1992;33 years ago (1992)(as Midlands East 2)
Number of teams12
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Most titles Leicester Forest, Lutterworth, Market Harborough, Rushden & Higham, Stamford (2 titles)
Website England RFU

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.

Contents

Promoted teams move up to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) while demoted teams drop into Counties 3 Midlands East North West, Counties 3 Midlands East North East, Counties 3 Midlands East Central or Counties 3 Midlands East South depending on location.

2024-25

Departing were Biggleswade and Stewarts & Lloyds, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South). Luton (11th) and Bedford Queens (12th) were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East (South). Bedford Swifts (10th) elected to withdraw from the leagues and instead play merit table rugby for 2024-25.

Joining were Long Buckby and Oakham, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South), together with Northampton BBOB and Rugby St Andrews, both promoted.

With five teams departing and four joining the league was reduced in size from twelve clubs to eleven.

Participating teams & locations

2023-24

Departing were Daventry and Spalding, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South). Melton Mowbray (6th) moved on a level transfer to Counties 2 Midlands East (North). Northampton BBOB and Northampton Men's Own were relegated.

Joining were St Ives, Dunstablians and Northampton Casuals, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South), together with Bedford Swifts and Brackley, both promoted.

Participating teams & locations

2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review [1] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 2 Midlands East (South)).

Departing were Stockwood Park, Dunstablians and Bourne, all promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South).

Joining were Biggleswade, Northampton BBOB and St Neots, all promoted.

Participating teams & locations

2021–22

Participating teams & locations

2020–21

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.

2019–20

Participating teams & locations

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

Teams 2016-17

Teams 2015-16

Teams 2014-15

Teams 2013-14

Teams 2012–13

Teams 2011–12

Teams 2010–11

Teams 2008–09

Original teams

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 (South) honours

Midlands East 2 (1992–1993)

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.

Midlands East 2
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
1992–9314 Kettering Northampton BBOB Glossop, Southwell, Market Rasen & Louth, Stamford [2]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands East 2 (1993–1996)

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.

Midlands East 2
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
1993–9413 Long Buckby Wellingborough Dronfield, Kesteven [3]
1994–9513 Ilkeston Huntingdon & District Worksop, Grimsby, Luton [4]
1995–9613 Lutterworth Old Northamptonians [a] No relegation [b] [5]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands East 2 (1996–2000)

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.

Midlands East 2
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
1996–9717 Northampton Men's Own Northampton Old Scouts Chesterfield Panthers, East Retford, Mellish [6]
1997–9817 Dunstablians Oadby Wyggestonian Bedford Queens, Northampton BBOB [7]
1998–9917 Luton South Leicester Nottingham Casuals, Biggleswade
1999–0017 Market Bosworth [c] Long Eaton [d] No relegation [e]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 4 East (South) (2000–2006)

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 East Midlands 1.

Midlands 4 East (South)
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
2000–01 [8] 10 Market Harborough Melton Mowbray Sleaford, West Bridgford, Stamford [9]
2001–0210 Lutterworth Old Northamptonians Oakham, Bugbrooke [10]
2002–0310 Rushden & Higham Stockwood Park Biggleswade, Northampton BBOB [11]
2003–0410 Coalville Daventry No relegation [g] [12]
2004–059 Leicester Forest Northampton Casuals Market Harborough [13]
2005–0610 Vauxhall Motors Bugbrooke Stoneygate [14]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 4 East (South) (2006–2009)

Midlands 4 East (South) continued to be a tier 8 league with promotion up into Midlands 3 East (South). However, the cancellation of East Midlands 1 at the end of the 2005–06 season meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands 5 East (South).

Midlands 4 East (South)
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
2006–0710 Vipers Northampton BBOB Biggleswade, Rushden & Higham [15]
2007–0810 Aylestone St James Old Newtonians Oadby Wyggestonians, Stockwood Park [16]
2008–0912 Market Harborough Peterborough Lions No relegation [h] [17]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 3 East (South) (2009–present)

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 (South) (formerly Midlands 3 East (South)) and relegation to Midlands 4 East (South) (formerly Midlands 5 East (South)).

Midlands 3 East (South)
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
2009–1011 Bugbrooke Stockwood Park No relegation [i] [18]
2010–1112 Oadby Wyggestonians Long Buckby Northampton Mens Own, Old Newtonians [19]
2011–1212 Northampton BBOB Biggleswade Brackley, Bedford Swifts [20]
2012–1312 Stamford Rushden & Higham Old Newtonians, Long Buckby [21]
2013–1412 Biggleswade Stewarts & Lloyds Deepings, Brackley [22]
2014–1512 Rushden & Higham Vipers Northampton Mens Own, Bedford Queens [23]
2015–1611 Oundle Stockwood Park No relegation [j] [24]
2016–1712 Stewarts & Lloyds Long Buckby Aylestone St James, St Neots [25]
2017–1812 St Ives (Midlands) Vipers Northampton Mens Own, Northampton BBOB [26]
2018–1912 Leicester Forest Northampton Casuals Biggleswade, Birstall [27]
2019-2012 Stamford Oakham St Neots, Northampton BBOB, Bedford Queens [28]
2020–2112
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

Notes

  1. ↑ Due to the cancellation of National 5 North at the end of the season, eight clubs were promoted including Lincoln, Wellingborough, Nottingham Moderns, Ashbourne, Northampton BBOB and Coalville.
  2. ↑ Due to widespread restructuring caused by the cancellation of National 5 North there was no relegation.
  3. ↑ Champions Market Bosworth would be promoted into the new Midlands 3 East (North).
  4. ↑ Due to Midlands league restructuring five clubs would be promoted including Glossop (3rd) and Loughborough who would go up into Midlands 3 East (North), while Vipers (4th) would go up into Midlands 3 East (South).
  5. ↑ As Midlands East 2 was due to split up into two regional leagues there was no relegation. Clubs that were not promoted were transferred into either Midlands 4 East (North) or Midlands 4 East (South).
  6. ↑ Prior to the 2000–01 season Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were part of a Midlands East 1.
  7. ↑ No relegation but Biddenham would drop out of the league for the following season.
  8. ↑ No relegation but Vauxhall Motors would drop out of the league for the following season.
  9. ↑ No relegation as the division would increase from 11 to 12 teams for the next season.
  10. ↑ As the league was set to expand from 11 to 12 teams for the following season there was no relegation.
  11. ↑ One of Lutterworth's titles was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.
  12. ↑ Dunstablians title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.
  13. ↑ Ilkeston's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.
  14. ↑ Kettering's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.
  15. ↑ Long Buckby's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.
  16. ↑ Luton's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.
  17. ↑ Market Bosworth's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.
  18. ↑ Northampton Men's Own title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 13 June 2022.
  2. ↑ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993-94. Headline. pp. 164–167. ISBN   0-7472-7891-1.
  3. ↑ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994-95. Headline. pp. 164–167. ISBN   0-7472-7891-1.
  4. ↑ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995-96. Headline. pp. 176–179. ISBN   0-7472-7850-4.
  5. ↑ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. Headline. pp. 192–195. ISBN   0-7472-7816-4.
  6. ↑ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98. Headline. pp. 156–159. ISBN   0-7472-7771-0.
  7. ↑ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1998). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998-99. Headline. pp. 90–93. ISBN   0-7472-7653-6.
  8. ↑ "2000-2001 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "2000-2001 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "2001-2002 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "2001-2002 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "2003-2004 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "2004-2005 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "2005-2006 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "2006-2007 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "2007-2008 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "2008-2009 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  18. ↑ "2009-2010 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "2010-2011 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  20. ↑ "2011-2012 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "2012-2013 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  22. ↑ "2013-2014 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  23. ↑ "2014-2015 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  24. ↑ "2015-2016 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  25. ↑ "2016-2017 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  26. ↑ "2017-2018 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  27. ↑ "2018-19 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  28. ↑ "Men's Midlands Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
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