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.
Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (South) | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2006 (as Midlands 5 West (South)) |
| Number of teams | 11 |
| Country |  England |
| Most titles | Woodrush (2 titles) |
| Website | England RFU |
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
editAhead of the season a new East division was introduced.
East
editThe 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.
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Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (East) teams in Leicestershire & Warwickshire Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (East) teams in Staffordshire & the West Midlands
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South
editDeparting 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.
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Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (South) teams Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (South) teams in the West Midlands
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2023-24
editDeparting 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.
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Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Midlands West (South) teams Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Midlands West (South) teams in Coventry & the West Midlands
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2022-23
editThis 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.
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Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Midlands West (South) teams in Warwickshaire & Worcestershire Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Midlands West (South) teams in Coventry & the West Midlands
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2021-22
editParticipating teams & locations
editBirmingham Civil Service, who finished 10th in 2019-20, did not return for the current season.
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Locations of the 2021-22 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Worcestershire Locations of the 2021-22 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Warwickshire & West Midlands
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2020–21
editDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
2019–20
editParticipating teams & locations
edit
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Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Worcestershire & Herefordshire Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Warwickshire & West Midlands
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2018–19
editParticipating teams & locations
edit
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Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Herefordshire Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire & Leicestershire
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2017–18
editParticipating teams & locations
edit
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Locations of the 2017-18 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Worcestershire Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Warwickshire, West Midlands & Leicestershire
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Teams 2016-17
edit- Alcester
- Bromyard
- Claverdon
- Coventrians
- Coventry Welsh
- Harbury (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
- Keresley (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
- Kings Norton
- Pershore (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
- Redditch
- Stoke Old Boys
Teams 2015-16
edit- Alcester (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
- Atherstone
- Birmingham Civil Service (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
- Claverdon
- Coventrians
- Coventry Welsh
- Kings Norton
- Manor Park (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
- Redditch
- Stoke Old Boys
- Upton-on-Severn (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
Teams 2014-15
edit- Atherstone
- Claverdon
- Coventrians
- Coventry Welsh
- Evesham (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
- Five Ways Old Edwardians
- Kings Norton (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
- Redditch
- Rugby Lions (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
- Stoke Old Boys
- Warwickian (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
Teams 2013-14
edit- Alcester
- Atherstone
- Barton-under-Needwood
- Birmingham Civil Service
- Claverdon
- Coventrians
- Coventry Welsh
- Harbury
- Redditch (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
- Stoke Old Boys
- Woodrush (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
Teams 2012–13
edit- Alcester
- Atherstone
- Birmingham C.S.
- Claverdon
- Coventrians
- Coventry Welsh
- Harbury
- Keresley
- Manor Park
- Old Yardleians
- Warwickian
Teams 2008–09
edit- Copsewood
- Coventrians
- Coventry Welsh
- Dudley Wasps
- Evesham
- Harbury
- Keresley
- Manor Park
- Pinley
- Redditch
- Stoke Old Boys
- Worcester Students
Worcester Students withdrew from the league after failing to field 15 players regularly.
Original teams
editWhen this division was introduced in 2006 as Midlands 5 West (South), it contained the following teams:
- Alcester - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (7th)
- Bredon Star - transferred from North Midlands (South) 1 (6th)
- Coventry Technical - promoted from Warwickshire 2 (champions)
- Coventry Welsh - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (4th)
- Harbury - relegated from Midlands 4 West (South) (10th)
- Rugby St Andrews - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (5th)
- Southam - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (3rd)
- Stoke Old Boys - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (6th)
- Upton-upon-Severn - transferred from North Midlands (South) 1 (runners up)
- Woodrush - transferred from North Midlands (South) 1 (5th)
Midlands 4 West (South) Honours
editMidlands 5 West (South) (2006–2009)
editLeague 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).
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | 10 | Woodrush | Southam | Coventry Technical, Bredon Star, Stoke Old Boys | [2] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 10 | Rugby St Andrews | Upton-on-Severn | Tenbury, Alcester | [3] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 10 | Redditch | Harbury | Copsewood, Coventrians | [4] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Midlands 4 West (South) (2009–present)
editFurther 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)).
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 10 | Evesham | Coventry Welsh | Dudley Wasps[a] | [6] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 11 | Pinley | Keresley | Stoke Old Boys, Trinity Guild | [7] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 11 | Old Wheatleyans | Ledbury | Rugby Welsh, Birmingham Exiles | [8] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 11 | Old Yardleians | Manor Park | Keresley, Warwickian | [9] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 10 | Woodrush | Harbury | Alcester | [10] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 10 | Rugby Lions | Evesham | Five Ways Old Edwardians | [11] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 10 | Manor Park | Upton-on-Severn | Birmingham Civil Service | [12] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 11 | Bromyard | Alcester | Kings Norton, Keresley | [13] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 11 | Stoke Old Boys | Coventry Welsh | Tenbury, Birmingham Civil Service | [14] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 11 | Burbage | Bedworth | Redditch, Greyhound | [15] | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | 11 | Tenbury | Bromyard | Kings Norton | [16] | |||||||||
| 2020–21 | 11 | |||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
edit- Woodrush (2)
- Evesham (1)
- Bromyard (1)
- Burbage (1)
- Manor Park (1)
- Old Yardleians (1)
- Old Wheatleyans (1)
- Pinley (1)
- Redditch (1)
- Rugby Lions (1)
- Rugby St Andrews (1)
- Stoke Old Boys (1)
- Tenbury (1)
Notes
edit- ^ 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 13 June 2022.
- ^ "2006-2007 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2007-2008 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2008-2009 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "Division 1". Pitchero. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2009-2010 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2010-2011 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2011-2012 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2012-2013 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2013-2014 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2014-2015 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
- ^ "2015-2016 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "2016-2017 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "2017-2018 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ "2018-19 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
- ^ "Men's Midlands Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- English RFU (2008). "Rugby First". RFU. Archived from the original on 28 April 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
- Rugby First: To view previous seasons in the league, search for any club within that league then click on to club details followed by fixtures and then select the appropriate season.