Midlands 4 West (South)

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Counties 3 Midlands West (East) / (South)
Current season or competition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (South)
Sport Rugby union
Instituted2006;18 years ago (2006)(as Midlands 5 West (South))
Number of teams11
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Most titles Woodrush (2 titles)
Website England RFU

Counties 3 Midlands West (East) / (South) (formerly 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.

Contents

Formed for the 2006-07 season, the division was originally known as Midlands 5 West (South) but changed to its present name for the 2008-09 season due to league restructuring. Further restructuring followed in the wake of the RFU's Adult Competition Review and from season 2022-23 it has been known by its current name. For season 2024-25 a new season a new East division was introduced.

Promoted teams move up to Counties 2 Midlands West (East) or Counties 2 Midlands West (West), depending on location, while relegated teams drop to Counties 4 Midlands West (South).

2024-25

Ahead of the season a new East division was introduced.

East

The league was formed with three teams - Bedworth, Pinley & Tamworth II - moving on a level transfer from the Counties 3 Midlands West (South) league and the addition of the 2XV/3XVs from eight clubs; these included three - Hinckley, Lutterworth and Syston - from Leicestershire whose teams would historically competed in East Midlands RFU reserve leagues.

South

Departing were Harbury and Stoke Old Boys, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (East). Old Leamingtonians II (12th) were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands West (South). Kenilworth II (11th) did not return for the new season. Also leaving, but on a level transfer were Bedworth (6th), Pinley (7th) and Tamworth II (9th), all tot the newly formed Counties 3 Midlands West (East).

Joining were Edwardians II, Bournville II, Malvern, Dudley Kingswinford II, Upton-upon-Severn, Woodrush and Cleobury Mortimer.

2023-24

Departing were Birmingham & Solihull and Coventrians, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (East). Birmingham Exiles (10th) and Upton-upon-Severn (11th) were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands West (South). Rugby Welsh (6th) went on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands East (South).

Joining were Pinley (12th) and Kenilworth II, both relegated. Also entering the league were Hereford II, Worcester II, Tamworth II and Old Leamingtonians II.

2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review [1] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 3 Midlands West (South).

Departing were Claverdon and Old Wheatleyans, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (South). Chaddesley Corbett (8th) did not return for the new season.

Joining were Birmingham & Solihull, Birmingham Exiles and Stoke Old Boys.

2021-22

Participating teams & locations

Birmingham Civil Service, who finished 10th in 2019-20, did not return for the current season.

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 2008–09

Worcester Students withdrew from the league after failing to field 15 players regularly.

Original teams

When this division was introduced in 2006 as Midlands 5 West (South), it contained the following teams:

Midlands 4 West (South) Honours

Midlands 5 West (South) (2006–2009)

League restructuring ahead of the 2006–07 season saw the introduction of Midlands 5 West (South) at tier 9 to replace the discontinued North Midlands 1 and Warwickshire 1 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegation to Midlands 6 West (South-East) or Midlands 6 West (South-West).

Midlands 5 West (South)
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
2006–0710 Woodrush Southam Coventry Technical, Bredon Star, Stoke Old Boys [2]
2007–0810 Rugby St Andrews Upton-on-Severn Tenbury, Alcester [3]
2008–0910 Redditch Harbury Copsewood, Coventrians [4]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 4 West (South) (2009–present)

Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 5 West (North) and Midlands 5 West (South) were renamed as Midlands 4 West (North) and Midlands 4 West (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 9. Promotion was now to Midlands 3 West (South) (formerly Midlands 4 West (South)) and relegation to Midlands 5 West (South) (formerly two regional divisions known as Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West)).

Midlands 4 West (South)
SeasonNo of teamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated teamsReference
2009–1010 Evesham Coventry Welsh Dudley Wasps [a] [6]
2010–1111 Pinley Keresley Stoke Old Boys, Trinity Guild [7]
2011–1211 Old Wheatleyans Ledbury Rugby Welsh, Birmingham Exiles [8]
2012–1311 Old Yardleians Manor Park Keresley, Warwickian [9]
2013–1410 Woodrush Harbury Alcester [10]
2014–1510 Rugby Lions Evesham Five Ways Old Edwardians [11]
2015–1610 Manor Park Upton-on-Severn Birmingham Civil Service [12]
2016–1711 Bromyard Alcester Kings Norton, Keresley [13]
2017–1811 Stoke Old Boys Coventry Welsh Tenbury, Birmingham Civil Service [14]
2018–1911 Burbage Bedworth Redditch, Greyhound [15]
2019–2011 Tenbury Bromyard Kings Norton [16]
2020–2111
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

Notes

  1. ↑ Although they finished 8th and outside of the relegation zone, Dudley Wasps would drop out of the division to join the North Midlands Reserve League - Division 1. [5]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 13 June 2022.
  2. ↑ "2006-2007 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "2007-2008 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "2008-2009 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Division 1". Pitchero. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "2009-2010 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "2010-2011 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "2011-2012 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "2012-2013 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "2013-2014 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "2014-2015 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "2015-2016 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  13. ↑ "2016-2017 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  14. ↑ "2017-2018 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  15. ↑ "2018-19 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  16. ↑ "Men's Midlands Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
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