Midlands 5 West (South)

Last updated
Counties 4 Midlands West (South)
Current season or competition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2022-23 Counties 4 Midlands West (South)
Sport Rugby union
Instituted2006;18 years ago (2006)(as Midlands 6 West (South-East & South-West)
Number of teams11
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Most titles Birmingham Exiles, Rugby Welsh, Stoke Old Boys (2 titles)
Website England RFU

Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (formerly Midlands 5 West (South)) is a level 10 English Rugby Union league and level 5 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and even (on occasion) Cheshire and 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 in 2006 originally the league was divided into two regional divisions – Midlands 6 South-East and South-West – but was merged into a single division for the 2010–11 season. In its present state promoted teams typically move up to either Midlands 4 West (North) or Midlands 4 West (South) with there being no relegation as it is the basement division for Midlands rugby. There was also another regional tier 5 Midlands league - Midlands 5 West (North) - but this league was discontinued at the end of the 2018–19 season, with most teams transferred into a new-look Midlands 5 West (South). Further restructuring followed in the wake of the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it has been known as Counties 4 Midlands West (South).

2024-25

Departing were Upton-upon-Severn and Malvern II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South). Warley (4th) left on a level transfer to Counties 4 Midlands West (North).

Joining were Old Leamingtonians II, Kidderminster Carolians II and Trinity Guild.

2023-24

Departing were Hereford II and Worcester II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South).

Joining were Upton-on-Severn, Birmingham Exiles, Warley and Old Halesonians II.

With two leaving and four joining the league was restored to twelve clubs from ten.

2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review [1] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 4 Midlands West (South).

Departing were Birmingham & Solihull, Cannock and Greyhound, all promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South). Leaving on a level transfer to Counties 4 Midlands West (North) were Stone (5th), Bloxwich (7th), St Leonards (8th) and Atherstone (11th).

Joining were Hereford II, Worcester II, Malvern II, Evesham and Droitwich II.

With seven leaving and five joining the league was reduced in size from twelve clubs to ten.

2021–22

Dixonians, who finished 11th 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

2018–19

2017–18

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 it was split into two separate divisions - Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West) - containing the following teams:

Midlands 6 West (South-East)

Midlands 6 West (South-West)

Midlands 5 West (South) honours

Midlands 6 West (South-East) / (South-West) (2006–2009)

The league was originally divided into two sub-divisions known as Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West). These divisions were introduced along with their counterpart Midlands 6 West (North) at tier 10 to replace the discontinued North Midlands 2, Warwickshire 1 and Warwickshire 2 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 5 West (South) and there was no relegation.

Midlands 5 West (South-East & South-West)
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated TeamsLeague NameReference
2006–0710 Pinley Manor Park No relegation [b] Midlands 6 West (South-East) [3]
9 Dudley Wasps Redditch No relegationMidlands 6 West (South-West) [4]
2007–089 Stoke Old Boys Coventrians No relegationMidlands 6 West (South-East) [5]
10 Redditch Clee Hill No relegationMidlands 6 West (South-West) [6]
2008–099 Rugby Welsh Alcester No relegationMidlands 6 West (South-East) [7]
10 Birmingham Exiles Warley No relegation [c] Midlands 6 West (South-West) [8]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 5 West (South-East) / (South-West) (2009–2010)

Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 6 West (South-East / South-West) and their counterpart Midlands 6 West (North) were renamed as Midlands 5 West (South-East / South-West) and Midlands 5 West (North), with all leagues remaining at tier 10. Promotion was now to Midlands 4 West (South) (formerly Midlands 5 West (South)) and there was no relegation.

Midlands 5 West (South-East & South-West)
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated TeamsLeague NameReference
2009–109 Trinity Guild Atherstone No relegationMidlands 5 West (South-East) [9]
8 Clee Hill Tenbury No relegationMidlands 5 West (South-West) [10]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 5 West (South) (2009–present)

Midlands 5 West (South-East / South West) were remerged into a single tier 10 division ahead of the 2010–11 season. Promotion continued to Midlands 4 West (South) and there was no relegation.

Midlands 5 West (South)
SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated TeamsReference
2010–118 Claverdon Old Wheatleyans No relegation [11]
2011–127 Coventrians Warwickian No relegation [12]
2012–138 Stoke Old Boys Greyhound No relegation [13]
2013–149 Rugby Lions Warwickian No relegation [14]
2014–158 Birmingham Civil Service Alcester No relegation [15]
2015–167 Keresley Five Ways Old Edwardians No relegation [16]
2016–177 Burbage Birmingham Civil Service No relegation [17]
2017–187 Aldridge Kings Norton No relegation [18]
2018–195 Birmingham Exiles Birmingham Civil Service No relegation [19]
2019–2011 [d] Rugby Welsh Chaddesley Corbett No relegation [20]
2020–2111No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Between 2007 and 2010 there was a promotion playoff between the runners-up of Midlands 5 West (South-East) and Midlands 5 West (South-West) for the third and final promotion place to Midlands 4 West (South), with the team with the superior league record having home advantage in the tie. The playoffs were dissolved at the end of the 2009-10 season when Midlands 5 West (South) became one division. By the end of the promotion play-offs the Midlands 5 West (South-East) teams won all four playoff games and the home team has also won promotion on all four occasions.

Midlands 5 West (South-East) v Midlands 5 West (South-West) promotion play-off results
SeasonHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttendance
2006–07 [21] Manor Park (SE)25-22 Redditch (SW)Heath End, Nuneaton, Warwickshire
2007–08 [22] Coventrians (E)27-0 Clee Hill (SW)The Black Pad, Holbrooks, Coventry, Warwickshire
2008–09 [23] Alchester (SE)25-7 Warley (SW)Fritwell Playing Fields, Fritwell, Oxfordshire
2009–10 [24] Atherstone (SE)47-15 Tenbury (SW)Atherstone Town Cricket Club, Atherstone, Warwickshire
Green background is the promoted team. SE = Midlands 5 West (South-East) (formerly Midlands 6 West (South-East)) and SW = Midlands 5 West (South-West) (formerly Midlands 6 West (South-West))

Number of league titles

Notes

  1. ↑ Dudley Wasps were the 2nd XV of Dudley Kingswinford - now 3rd XV. [2]
  2. ↑ Standard would drop out of the league for the following season.
  3. ↑ Highley would drop out of the league for the following season.
  4. ↑ The league expanded from 5 to 10 teams following the dissolution of Midlands 5 West (North) at the end of 2018–19 season.
  5. ↑ One of Birmingham Exiles titles was won when division was split into Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West).
  6. ↑ One of Rugby Welsh's titles was won when division was split into Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West).
  7. ↑ One of Stoke Old Boys title was won when division was split into Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West).
  8. ↑ Clee Hill's title was won when division was split into Midlands 5 West (South-East) and Midlands 5 West (South-West).
  9. ↑ Dudley Wasps title was won when division was split into Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West).
  10. ↑ Pinley's title was won when division was split into Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West).
  11. ↑ Redditch's title was won when division was split into Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West).
  12. ↑ Trinity Guild's title was won when division was split into Midlands 5 West (South-East) and Midlands 5 West (South-West).

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 2022-06-13.
  2. ↑ "Dudley Kingswinford Wasps XV". Dudley Kingswinford RFC. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "2006-2007 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "2006-2007 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "2006-2007 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "2007-2008 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "2008-2009 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "2008-2009 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "2009-2010 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "2009-2010 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "2010-2011 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "2011-2012 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "2012-2013 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "2013-2014 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "2014-2015 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  16. ↑ "2015-2016 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  17. ↑ "2016-2017 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  18. ↑ "2017-2018 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  19. ↑ "2018-19 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  20. ↑ "Men's Midlands Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  21. ↑ "Park hold on for promotion". Coventry Telegraph. 24 April 2007.
  22. ↑ "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2007-08". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  23. ↑ "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2008-09". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  24. ↑ "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2009-10". England Rugby. 1 May 2010.
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