Midlands 3 West (North)

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Counties 2 Midlands West (West)
Current season or competition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2024-25 Counties 2 Midlands West (North)
Sport Rugby union
Instituted1992;32 years ago (1992)(as Midlands West 2)
Number of teams12
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Most titles Telford Hornets (3 titles)
Website England RFU

Counties 2 Midlands West (West) (formerly 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 it to adopt the name Midlands 3 West (North) and again following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it was known, briefly as Counties 2 Midlands West (North), before the league was split East/West giving rise to its current name.

Contents

Promoted teams tend to move up to Counties 2 Midlands West (North) or Counties 2 Midlands West (South) depending on location. Relegated teams typically drop to Midlands 4 West (North). Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a level 8 national competition.

2024-25

Departing were Newport (Salop) 2XV and Willenhall, both promoted. Handsworth (11th) and Rugeley (12th) were relegated.

Joining were Harborne, Longton, Trentham and Walsall II.

Participating teams & locations

2023-24

The league name changed from Counties 2 Midlands West (North) to Counties 2 Midlands West (West) with a corresponding adjustment in the make up of the competing sides.

Departing were Burntwood and Harborne, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (North). Aldridge (12th) and Cleobury Mortimer (11th) were relegated. Veseyans left on a level transfer to Counties 2 Midlands West (East).

Joining on a level transfer, were Bromyard and Tenbury from Counties 2 Midlands West (East) together with Rugeley, Willenhall and Stourbridge Lions.

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 West (North).

Departing were Edwardians, Telford Hornets and Shrewsbury, all promoted to Counties 1 Midlands West (North). Also leaving were Eccleshall (11th) and Linley & Kidsgrove (7th).

Joining were Bridgnorth II, Luctonians III, Market Drayton, Oswestry and Newport (Salop) 2XV.

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 2010–11

Original teams

Teams in Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 2 West, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:

Midlands 3 West (North) honours

Midlands West 2 (1992–1993)

Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) were originally part of a single tier 8 division called Midlands West 2. Promotion was to Midlands West 1 and relegation was to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1.

Midlands West 2
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
1992–9313 Nuneaton Old Edwardians Aston Old Edwardians Handsworth [2]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands West 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 West dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Midlands West 1 while relegation was to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1.

Midlands West 2
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
1993–9413 Old Laurentians Newport (Salop) No relegation [3]
1994–9513 Luctonians Kenilworth Coventry Welsh, Dunlop [4]
1995–9613 Selly Oak Malvern [b] No relegation [c] [5]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands West 2 (1996–2000)

At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands West 2 returned to being a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to Midlands West 1 while relegation was to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1.

Midlands West 2
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
1996–9717 Telford Hornets Woodrush Trinity Guild, Newcastle (Staffs), Rugby St Andrews [6]
1997–9817 Shrewsbury Evesham Coventry Saracens [7]
1998–9917 Newcastle (Staffs) Birmingham Exiles Manor Park, GPT Coventry, Warley [8] [d]
1999–0017 Kidderminster Carolians [e] Old Yardleians [f] No relegation [g] [9] [h]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 4 West (North) (2000–2004)

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands West 2 split into two tier 8 regional leagues - Midlands 4 West (North) and Midlands 4 West (South). Promotion was now to Midlands 3 West (North) [i] and relegation to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire 1 [j] .

Midlands 4 West North
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
2000–0110 Bridgnorth Lordswood Dixonians Warley, Edwardians [10]
2001–0210 Burntwood Willenhall Wheaton Aston, Cleobury Mortimer, Handsworth [11]
2002–0310 Telford Hornets Old Saltleians No relegation [12]
2003–0410 Wednesbury Newport (Salop) Handsworth, Uttoxeter [13]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 4 West (North) (2004–2006)

At the start of the 2004–05 season Midlands 4 West (North) remained at tier 8 of the league system, with promotion continuing to Midlands 3 West (North). However, the restructuring of the leagues below meant that relegation was now to either North Midlands (North) [k] or Staffordshire [l]

Midlands 4 West North
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
2004–0510 Newcastle (Staffs) Ludlow Yardley & District, Selly Oak [14]
2005–0610 Old Saltleians Burntwood No relegation [m] [15]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 4 West (North) (2006–2009)

At the start of the 2006–07 season Midlands 4 West (North) remained at tier 8 of the league system, with promotion continuing to Midlands 3 West (North). The cancellation of the Staffordshire league meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands 5 West (North).

Midlands 4 West North
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
2006–0712 Leek Lordswood Dixonians Old Griffinians, Aldridge [16]
2007–0812 Old Halesonians Bournville Telford Hornets, Harborne [17]
2008–0912 Willenhall Shrewsbury Cleobury Mortimer [18]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 3 West (North) (2009–present)

League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 4 West (North) and Midlands 4 West (South) were renamed as Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 8. Promotion was now to Midlands 2 West (North) (formerly Midlands 3 West (North)) and relegation to Midlands 4 West (North) (formerly Midlands 5 West (North)).

Midlands 4 West North
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
2009–1012 Leek Tamworth Bloxwich [19]
2010–1112 Burntwood Moseley Oak Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley, Telford Hornets [20]
2011–1212 Veseyans Wolverhampton Harborne, Uttoxeter [21]
2012–1312 Willenhall Stourbridge Lions Cleobury Mortimer, Eccleshall [22]
2013–1412 Veseyans Shrewsbury Market Drayton, Yardley & District [23]
2014–1512 Handsworth Harborne Aston Old Edwardians, Uttoxeter [24]
2015–1612 Tamworth Newcastle (Staffs) Bloxwich, Wednesbury [25]
2016–1712 Ludlow Cleobury Mortimer Eccleshall, Clee Hill [26]
2017–1812 Telford Hornets Stafford Barton-Under-Needwood, Willenhall [27]
2018–1912 Shrewsbury Burntwood Cannock, Trentham [28]
2019–2012 Uttoxeter Old Saltleians Willenhall, Wednesbury [29]
2020–2112
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

See also

Notes

  1. Selly Oak are currently known as Moseley Oak - the amateur side affiliated with Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club.
  2. Due to the cancellation of National 5 North at the end of the season, nine clubs were promoted including Old Coventrians, Ludlow, Stratford-upon-Avon, Nuneaton Old Edwardians, Tamworth, Stoke Old Boys and Dixonians.
  3. Due to widespread restructuring caused by the cancellation of National 5 North there was no relegation.
  4. Midlands West 2 is mistakenly referred to as Midlands 4 East (South) on RFU website for 1998–99 season.
  5. Champions Kidderminster Carolians would be promoted into the new Midlands 3 West (North).
  6. Due to Midlands league restructuring four clubs would be promoted including Old Yardleians (2nd) and Leek (4th) who would go into Midlands 3 West (North), while Nuneaton Old Edwardians (3rd) would go into Midlands 3 West (South).
  7. As Midlands West 2 was to split up into two regional leagues there was no relegation. Clubs that were not promoted were transferred into either Midlands 4 West (North) or Midlands 4 West (South).
  8. Midlands West 2 is mistakenly referred to as Midlands 4 East (South) on RFU website for 1999–00 season.
  9. Prior to the 2000–01 season Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) were part of a Midlands West 1.
  10. Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 was split into Staffordshire 1 and Warwickshire 1 at the end of the 1999–00 season.
  11. North Midlands 1 was divided into North Midlands (North) and [North Midlands 1
  12. Formerly Staffordshire 1.
  13. No relegation as the division would be increased from 10 to 12 teams for the following season.
  14. One of Telford Hornets titles was won when division was unified as Midlands West 2.
  15. One of Newcastle (Staffs) titles was won when division was unified as Midlands West 2.
  16. One of Shrewsbury titles was won when division was unified as Midlands West 2.
  17. Kidderminster Carolians title was won when division was unified as Midlands West 2.
  18. Luctonians title was when league was single division known as Midlands West 2.
  19. Nuneaton Old Edwardians title was when league was single division known as Midlands West 2.
  20. Old Laurentians title was when league was single division known as Midlands West 2.
  21. Selly Oak's title was when league was single division known as Midlands West 2.

Related Research Articles

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References

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