Midlands 4 West (South) Explained

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.

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 new 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.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Atherstone	Atherstone Town Cricket Club			Promoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (North)
Bedworth				Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (6th)
	De Montfort Park			New entry
	Cooke Fields			New entry
Lutterworth II	Ashby Lane			New entry
				New entry
Old Saltleians II	Watton Lane			New entry
Pinley	Wyken Croft			Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (7th)
	Barkby Road			New entry
	Wigginton Park			Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (9th)
Veseyans II	Memorial Ground			New entry

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.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Avery Fields			New entry
Cleobury Mortimer	Love Lane			Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) (6th)
	Heathbrook			New entry
Edwardians II	Memorial Ground			New entry
	Wyeside			4th
	Hopwood Park			10th
	Spring Lane
Old Yardleians	Tilehouse Lane			5th
Pershore	Mill Lane			3rd
Upton-upon-Severn	Banwell Park
Woodrush	Icknield Street			Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (East)
	Offerton Lane			8th

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.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Bedworth				7th
Harbury	Waterloo Fields			3rd
	Wyeside			New entry
	Glasshouse Lane			Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (South)
	Hopwood Park			8th
Old Leamingtonians II	The Crofts			New entry
Old Yardleians	Tilehouse Lane			9th
Pershore	Mill Lane			4th
Pinley	Wyken Croft			Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (South)
Stoke Old Boys	Albert Gale Field			5th
	Wigginton Park			New entry
	Offerton Lane			New entry

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.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Bedworth				3rd
Birmingham Exiles	Old Damson Lane			Level transfer from Midlands 4 West (North) (10th)
	Portway
Coventrians	The Black Pad			9th
Harbury	Waterloo Fields			6th
	Hopwood Park			11th
Old Yardleians	Tilehouse Lane			5th
Pershore	Mill Lane			10th
Rugby Welsh	Alwyn Road			7th
Stoke Old Boys	Albert Gale Field			Relegated from Midlands 3 West (South)
Upton-upon-Severn	Banwell Park			4th

2021-22

Participating teams & locations

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

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Bedworth				Relegated from Midlands 3 WS (12th)
Chaddesley Corbett	Fox Lane			Promoted from Midlands 5 WS (runners up)
Claverdon	Stadium of Dreams			8th
Coventrians	The Black Pad			4th
Harbury	Waterloo Fields			9th
	Hopwood Park			11th
	Stade Wheats			5th
Old Yardleians	Tilehouse Lane			3rd
Pershore	Mill Lane			7th
Rugby Welsh	Alwyn Road			Promoted from Midlands 5 WS (champions)
Upton-upon-Severn	Banwell Park			6th

2020–21

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

2019–20

Participating teams & locations

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Birmingham Civil Service	Land Rover Social Club			Promoted from Midlands 5 WS (runners up)
Bromyard	Clive Richards Sports Ground			6th
Claverdon	Stadium of Dreams			4th
Coventrians	The Black Pad			9th
Harbury	Waterloo Fields			8th
	Hopwood Park			7th
	Stade Wheats			3rd
Old Yardleians	Tilehouse Lane			Relegated from Midlands 3 WS (11th)
Pershore	Mill Lane			5th
Tenbury	Penlu			Promoted from Midlands 5 WN (champions)
Upton-upon-Severn	Banwell Park			Relegated from Midlands 3 WS (12th)

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Bedworth				3rd
Bromyard	Clive Richards Sports Ground			Relegated from Midlands 3 West (South) (12th)
Burbage	Recreation Ground			5th
Claverdon	Stadium of Dreams			7th
Coventrians	The Black Pad			4th
Greyhound	Hereford City Sports Club			Promoted from Midlands 5 West (North) (champions)
Harbury	Waterloo Fields			8th
	Hopwood Park			Promoted from Midlands 5 West (South) (runners up)
	Stade Wheats			Relegated from Midlands 3 West (South) (11th)
Pershore	Mill Lane			6th
Redditch	Bromsgrove Road			9th

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Bedworth				Relegated from Midlands 3 West (South) (12th)
Birmingham Civil Service	Landrover Social Club			Promoted from Midlands 5 West (South) (runners up)
Burbage	Recreation Ground			Promoted from Midlands 5 West (South) (champions)
Claverdon	Stadium of Dreams			6th
Coventrians	The Black Pad			5th
Coventry Welsh	Burbages Lane			4th
Harbury	Waterloo Fields			7th
Pershore	Mill Lane			9th
Redditch	Bromsgrove Road			8th
Stoke Old Boys	Albert Gale Field			3rd
Tenbury	Penlu			Promoted from Midlands 5 West (North) (champions)

Teams 2016-17

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Alcester
• Atherstone
• Birmingham C.S.
• Claverdon
• Coventrians
• Coventry Welsh
• Harbury
• Keresley
• Manor Park
• Old Yardleians
• Warwickian

Teams 2008–09

• 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

When 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

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)
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2006–07	10	Woodrush			[2]
2007–08	10	Rugby St Andrews			[3]
2008–09	10	Redditch			[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)
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2009–10	10	Evesham			[5]
2010–11	11	Pinley			[6]
2011–12	11	Old Wheatleyans			[7]
2012–13	11	Old Yardleians			[8]
2013–14	10	Woodrush			[9]
2014–15	10	Rugby Lions			[10]
2015–16	10	Manor Park			[11]
2016–17	11	Bromyard			[12]
2017–18	11	Stoke Old Boys			[13]
2018–19	11	Burbage			[14]
2019–20	11	Tenbury			[15]
2020–21	11
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• 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)

See also

• Midlands RFU
• North Midlands RFU
• Warwickshire RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

References

• Web site: English RFU . 2008 . Rugby First . RFU . 21 July 2008 . refStaffordshire Rugby . 28 April 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090428021201/http://clubs.rfu.com/clubs/portals/webmasters . dead .
• 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.

Notes and References

1. Web site: RFU announce new men's community structure . RFU . 2022-06-13.
2. Web site: 2006-2007 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
3. Web site: 2007-2008 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
4. Web site: 2008-2009 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
5. Web site: 2009-2010 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
6. Web site: 2010-2011 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
7. Web site: 2011-2012 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
8. Web site: 2012-2013 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
9. Web site: 2013-2014 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
10. Web site: 2014-2015 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2015.
11. Web site: 2015-2016 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2016.
12. Web site: 2016-2017 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 22 April 2017.
13. Web site: 2017-2018 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 28 April 2018.
14. Web site: 2018-19 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 13 April 2019.
15. Web site: Men's Midlands Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020.