Counties 1 Midlands West (South) Explained

Counties 1 Midlands West (South)
Current Season:	2024-25 Counties 1 Midlands West (South)
Sport:	Rugby union
Founded:	(as Midlands West 1)
Teams:	12
Most Champs:	Barkers Butts, Kenilworth, Leamington, Newbold-on-Avon, Stratford-upon-Avon, Sutton Coldfield
Count:	2
Website:	England RFU

Counties 1 Midlands West (South) (formerly Midlands 2 West (South)) is a level seven English rugby union league and level three of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the West Midlands region including Herefordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands West 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 West (South) and post the Rugby Football Union (RFU)'s Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name.

Promoted teams tend to move up to Regional Midlands 2 West or occasionally to Regional 2 Midlands North. Relegated teams drop to Counties 2 Midlands West (South).

2024–25

Departing were Ledbury, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands West as runners-up (Luctonians 2XV finished top but were not permitted to be promoted on Level 6 owing to league rules on reserve teams in the RFU leagues). Broadstreet 2XV and Earlsdon were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands West (East). Manor Park moved on a level transfer to Counties 1 Midlands East (North).

Joining were Barkers Butts, Camp Hill, Worcester and Berkswell & Balsall.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Alcester	Birmingham Road			6th
	Bob Coward Memorial Ground			Promoted from Counties 2 Midlands West (East) (champions)
Berkswell & Balsall	Honiley Road			Relegated from Regional 2 Midlands West
	Finstall Park			8th
Camp Hill	The Shrine			Level transfer from Counties 1 Midlands West (North) (10th)
	Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground	3,000		9th
Evesham	Lower Albert Road			3rd
Leamington	Moorefields			4th
	Mortimer Park ^[1]	2,500 (300 seats)		Champions (not promoted)
Old Coventrians	Tile Hill Lane			10th
Old Leamingtonians	The Crofts			7th
	Offerton Lane			Relegated from Regional 2 Midlands West

2023–24

Departing were Berkswell & Balsall, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands West. Barkers Butts and Coventry Welsh were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands West (East). Kidderminster Carolians (2nd) and Spartans (9th) moved on a level transfer to Counties 1 Midlands West (North).

Joining were Alcester, Manor Park, Luctonians 2XV, Evesham and Droitwich.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Alcester	Birmingham Road			Promoted from Counties 2 Midlands West (South) (runners-up)
		1,500 (250 seats)		10th
	Finstall Park			8th
	Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground	3,000		Relegated from Regional 2 Midlands West (12th)
Earlsdon	Mitchell Avenue			7th
Evesham	Lower Albert Road			Relegated from Regional 2 Midlands West (11th)
Ledbury	Ross Road			4th
Leamington	Moorefields			5th
	Mortimer Park ^[2]	2,500 (300 seats)		Level transfer from Counties 1 Midlands West (North) (champions)
Manor Park	Griff & Coton			Promoted from Counties 2 Midlands West (South) (champions)
Old Coventrians	Tile Hill Lane			6th
Old Leamingtonians	The Crofts			3rd

2022–23

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

Departing were Evesham, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands West and Old Laurentians promoted to Regional 2 Midlands East, whilst Nuneaton Old Edwardians and Silhillians were promoted to Regional 2 Midlands North. Pinley were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands West (South).

Joining were Ledbury, Old Leamingtonians and Coventry Welsh promoted from Midlands 3 West (South) together with new entries Broadstreet 2XV and Bromsgrove 2XV.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Bob Coward Memorial Ground			5th
Berkswell & Balsall	Honiley Road			6th
		1,500 (250 seats)		New entry
	Finstall Park			New entry
Coventry Welsh	Burbages Lane			Promoted from Midlands 3 West (South) (3rd)
Earlsdon	Mitchell Avenue			11th
Kidderminster Carolians	Marlpool Lane			7th
Ledbury	Ross Road			Promoted from Midlands 3 West (South) (champions)
Leamington	Moorefields			9th
Old Coventrians	Tile Hill Lane			10th
Old Leamingtonians	The Crofts			Promoted from Midlands 3 West (South) (runners-up)
Spartans	Coppice Lane			8th

2021–22

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Bob Coward Memorial Ground			4th
Berkswell & Balsall	Honiley Road			Promoted from Midlands 3 West South (runners-up)
Earlsdon	Mitchell Avenue			10th
Evesham	Lower Albert Road			11th
Kidderminster Carolians	Marlpool Lane			Relegated from Midlands 1 West (14th)
Leamington	Moorefields			5th
Nuneaton Old Edwardians	Weddington Road			3rd
Old Coventrians	Tile Hill Lane			Promoted from Midlands 3 West South (champions)
Old Laurentians	Fenley Field			6th
Pinley	Wyken Croft			8th
	The Memorial Ground			7th
Spartans	Coppice Lane			9th

2020–21

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

2019–20

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Bob Coward Memorial Ground			6th
Earlsdon	Mitchell Avenue			5th
Evesham	Lower Albert Road			8th
Leamington	Moorefields			9th
	Spring Lane			Relegated from Midlands 1 West (13th)
Nuneaton Old Edwardians	Weddington Road			4th
Old Laurentians	Fenley Field			3rd
Pinley	Wyken Croft			Promoted from Midlands 3 WN (champions)
	The Memorial Ground			7th
Southam	The Rugby Field			10th
Spartans	Coppice Lane			Level transfer from Midlands 2 West (North) (9th)
Stratford-upon-Avon	Loxley Road			Relegated from South West 1 East (14th)

2018–19

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Bob Coward Memorial Ground			5th
Earlsdon	Mitchell Avenue			4th
Evesham	Lower Albert Road			6th
	Glasshouse Lane			3rd
Kidderminster Carolians	Marlpool Lane			Level transfer from Midlands 2 West (North) (9th)
Leamington	Moorefields			8th
Nuneaton Old Edwardians	Weddington Road			9th
Old Coventrians	Tile Hill Lane			Promoted from Midlands 3 West (South) (runners up)
Old Laurentians	Fenley Field			Level transfer from Midlands 2 East (South) (5th)
Rugby St Andrews	Ashlawn Road			Promoted from Midlands 3 West (South) (champions)
	The Memorial Ground			7th
Southam	The Rugby Field			10th

2017–18

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Bob Coward Memorial Ground			10th
Berkswell & Balsall	Honiley Road			4th
	Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground	3,000		Promoted from Midlands 3 West (South) (champions)
Earlsdon	Mitchell Avenue			6th
Evesham	Lower Albert Road			Promoted from Midlands 3 West (South) (runners up)
	Glasshouse Lane			Relegated from Midlands 1 West (14th)
Leamington	Moorefields			9th
	Spring Lane			5th
Nuneaton Old Edwardians	Weddington Road			11th
Old Yardleians	Tilehouse Lane			Level transfer from Midlands 2 West (North) (10th)
	The Memorial Ground			2nd (lost promotion play-off)
Southam	The Rugby Field			8th

2016–17

• Barkers Butts
• Berkswell & Balsall
• Dunlop
• Earlsdon
• Leamington
• Malvern
• Nuneaton Old Edwardians
• Pinley
• Rugby Lions (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
• Silhillians (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
• Southam (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
• Spartans (Midlands)

2015–16

• Banbury
• Barkers Butts (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
• Bedworth (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
• Berkswell & Balsall (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
• Droitwich
• Dunlop (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
• Earlsdon (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
• Leamington
  • Malvern Nuneaton Old Edwardians
• Pilney
• Spartans (Midlands)

2014–15

• Banbury
• Droitwich
• Leamington
• Malvern (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
  • Newbold on Avon Nuneaton Old Edwardians
• Old Coventrians
• Old Laurentians (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
• Old Leamingtonians
• Old Yardleians (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
• Pilney(promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
• Spartans (Midlands)

2013–14

• Banbury
• Bedworth
• Droitwich
• Dunlop
• Earlsdon
• Kidderminster
• Leamington
• Nuneaton Old Edwardians
• Old Coventrians (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
• Old Leamingtonians (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
• Spartans (Midlands)
• Stourbridge Lions

2012–13

• Banbury
• Bedworth
• Droitwich
• Dunlop
• Earlsdon
• Kenilworth (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
• Kidderminster
• Leamington
• Newbold-on-Avon
• Old Laurentians
• Shipton-on-Stour
• Upton-on-Severn

2011–12

• Banbury
• Barkers Butts
• Barkswell & Balsall
• Cheltenham North
• Droitwich
• Kidderminster Carolians
• Leamington
• Newbold-on-Avon
• Old Laurentians
• Pershore
• Silhillians
• Upton on Severn

2008–09

• • Barkers Butts Berkswell & Balsall
• Droitwich
• Earlsdon
• Kidderminster Carolians
• Leamington
  • Newbold-on-Avon Nuneaton Old Edwardians
• Old Coventrians
• Old Laurentians
• Silhillians
• Spartans

Original teams

Teams in Midlands 2 West (North) and Midlands 2 West (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 1 West, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:

• Bromsgrove - relegated from Midlands 2 West (11th)
• Dudley Kingswinford - promoted from North Midlands 1 (runners up)
• Kings Norton - promoted from North Midlands 1 (4th)
• Leek - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (4th)
• Ludlow - promoted from North Midlands 1 (5th)
• Newbold-on-Avon - relegated from Midlands 2 West (9th)
• Newcastle (Staffs) - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (runners up)
• Old Halesonians - promoted from North Midlands 1 (3rd)
• Old Leamingtonians - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (5th)
• Old Longtonians - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (champions)
• Old Yardleians - promoted from North Midlands 1 (champions)
• Sutton Coldfield - relegated from Midlands 2 West (10th)
• Willenhall - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (3rd)

Midlands 2 West (South) honours

Midlands West 1 (1992–1993)

Midlands 2 West (North) and Midlands 2 West (South) were originally part of a single tier 7 division called Midlands West 1. Promotion was to Midlands 2 and relegation to Midlands West 2.

<											----> Midlands West 1
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
1992–93	13	Willenhall			^[4]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands West 1 (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 1 West dropped to become a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands 2 and Midlands West 2.

<											----> Midlands West 1
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
1993–94	13	Sutton Coldfield			^[5]
1994–95	13	Newport (Salop)			^[6]
1995–96	13	Luctonians		No relegation	^[7]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands West 1 (1996–2000)

At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands West 1 returned to being a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands 2 and Midlands West 2.

<											----> Midlands West 1
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
1996–97	17	Longton			^[8]
1997–98	17	Newbold-on-Avon			^[9]
1998–99	17	Malvern
1999–00	17	Selly Oak		No relegation
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 3 West (South) (2000–2009)

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands West 1 split into two tier 7 regional leagues - Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South). Promotion was now to Midlands 2 West (formerly Midlands 2) and relegation to Midlands 4 West (South) (formerly Midlands West 2).

<											----> Midlands 3 West (South)
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2000–01	9	Stratford-upon-Avon			^[10]
2001–02	10	Leamington		No relegation	^[11]
2002–03	10	Nuneaton Old Edwardians			^[12]
2003–-04	12	Old Coventrians			^[13]
2004–05	12	Barkers Butts			^[14]
2005–06	12	Solihull			^[15]
2006–07	12	Hereford			^[16]
2007–08	12	Sutton Coldfield			^[17]
2008–09	12	Leamington		No relegation	^[18]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 2 West (South) (2009–present)

League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) were renamed as Midlands 2 West (North) and Midlands 2 West (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 7. Promotion was now to Midlands 1 West (formerly Midlands 2 West) and relegation to Midlands 3 West (South) (formerly Midlands 4 West (South)).

<											----> Midlands 2 West (South)
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2009–10	12	Worcester Wanderers			^[19]
2010–11	12	Dunlop			^[20]
2011–12	12	Barkers Butts			^[21]
2012–13	12	Kenilworth			^[22]
2013–14	12	Earlsdon			^[23]
2014–15	12	Newbold-on-Avon			^[24]
2015–16	12	Banbury			^[25]
2016–17	12	Rugby Lions			^[26]
2017–18	12	Droitwich			^[27]
2018–19	12	Kenilworth			^[28]
2019–20	12	Stratford-upon-Avon			^[29]
2020–21	12
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Midlands 2 West (North) and Midlands 2 West (South) for the third and final promotion place to Midlands 1 West (asides from 2008-09 which was played between the runners up of Midlands 2 West (South) and Midlands 2 East (North) due to RFU restructuring). The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the Midlands 2 West (South) teams had ten wins to Midlands 2 West (North) teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on eleven occasions compared to the away teams seven.

<						----> Midlands 2 West (North) v Midlands 2 West (South) promotion play-off results
Season	Home team	Score	Away team	Venue	Attendance
2000–01^[30]	Stafford (N)	32-10	Leamington (S)	The County Ground, Stafford, Staffordshire
2001–02^[31]	Bedworth (S)	10-6	Aston Old Edwardians (N)
2002-03^[32]	Old Coventrians (S)	15-17	Stoke on Trent (N)
2003-04^[33]	Sutton Coldfield (N)	3-37	Leamington (S)
2004-05^[34]	Newport (Salop) (N)	25-12	Pershore (S)
2005–06^[35]	Bridgnorth (N)	17-14	Hereford (S)
2006–07^[36]	Sutton Coldfield (N)	11-18	Stratford-upon-Avon (S)
2007–08^[37]	Droitwich (S)	3-18	Stoke on Trent (N)
2008–09	Promotion playoffs different for this season only.
2009–10^[38]	Old Saltleians (N)	12-14	Old Laurentians (S)
2010–11^[39]	Bedworth (S)	15-6	Old Saltleians (N)
2011–12^[40]	Old Saltleians (N)	3-27	Berkswell & Balsall (S)
2012–13^[41]	Old Laurentians (S)	16-6	Selly Oak (S)
2013–14^[42]	Crewe & Nantwich (N)	18-13	Banbury (S)		500
2014–15^[43]	Old Laurentians (S)	32-23	Old Saltleians (N)		500
2015–16^[44]	Earlsdon (S)	5-20	Wolverhampton (N)
2016–17^[45]	Camp Hill (N)	53-0
2017–18^[46]	Malvern (S)	53-12	Crewe & Nantwich (N)
2018–19^[47]	Kidderminster Carolians (S)	33-17	Tamworth (N)		500
2019–20	Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Malvern (S) - promoted instead.
2020–21
Green background is the promoted team. N = Midlands 2 West (North) (formerly Midlands 3 West (North)) and S = Midlands 2 West (South) (formerly Midlands 3 West (South))

2008–09 promotion play-offs

As mentioned above the 2008–09 promotion playoffs in Midlands 3 were different due to RFU restructuring for the following season. The two runners up with the worst league records in the four regional divisions at this level would have to face each other for the final promotion spot, with the team with the superior league record having home advantage.

<						----> Midlands 2 West (South) v Midlands 2 East (North) promotion play-off results
Season	Home team	Score	Away team	Venue	Attendance
2008–09^[48]	Spalding (N)	12-14	Nuneaton Old Edwardians (S)
Green background is the promoted team. S = Midlands 2 West (South) (formerly Midlands 3 West (South)) and N = Midlands 2 East (North) (formerly Midlands 3 West (North))

Number of league titles

• Barkers Butts (2)
• Kenilworth (2)
• Leamington (2)
• Newbold-on-Avon (2)
• Stratford-upon-Avon (2)
• Sutton Coldfield (2)
• Banbury (1)
• Droitwich (1)
• Dunlop (1)
• Earlsdon (1)
• Hereford (1)
• Longton (1)
• Luctonians (1)
• Malvern (1)
• Newport (Salop) (1)
• Nuneaton Old Edwardians (1)
• Old Coventrians (1)
• Rugby Lions (1)
• Selly Oak (1)
• Solihull (1)
• Willenhall (1)
• Worcester Wanderers (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 . 21 July 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080721194230/http://clubs.rfu.com/clubs/ . 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: Mortimer Park . Luctonians Sports Club . 10 June 2023.
2. Web site: Mortimer Park . Luctonians Sports Club . 10 June 2023.
3. Web site: RFU announce new men's community structure . RFU . 2022-06-13.
4. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993-94. 1993. Headline. 0-7472-7891-1. 164–167.
5. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994-95. 1994. Headline. 0-7472-7891-1. 164–167.
6. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995-96. 1995. Headline. 0-7472-7850-4. 176–179.
7. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. 1996. Headline. 0-7472-7816-4. 192–195.
8. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98. 1997. Headline. 0-7472-7771-0. 156–159.
9. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998-99. 1998. Headline. 0-7472-7653-6. 90–93.
10. Web site: 2000-2001 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
11. Web site: 2001-2002 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
12. Web site: 2002-2003 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
13. Web site: 2003-2004 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
14. Web site: 2004-2005 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
15. Web site: 2005-2006 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
16. Web site: 2006-2007 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
17. Web site: 2007-2008 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
18. Web site: 2008-2009 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
19. Web site: 2009-2010 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
20. Web site: 2010-2011 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
21. Web site: 2011-2012 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
22. Web site: 2012-2013 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
23. Web site: 2013-2014 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
24. Web site: 2014-2015 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2015.
25. Web site: 2015-2016 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2016.
26. Web site: 2016-2017 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 22 April 2017.
27. Web site: 2017-2018 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 28 April 2018.
28. Web site: 2018-19 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 13 April 2019.
29. Web site: Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020.
30. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2000-01. England Rugby. 19 May 2001.
31. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2001-02. England Rugby. 27 April 2002.
32. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2002-03. England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
33. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2003-04. England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
34. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2004-05. England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
35. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2005-06. England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
36. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2006-07. England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
37. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2008-09. England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
38. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2009-10. England Rugby. 1 May 2010.
39. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2009-10. England Rugby. 30 April 2011.
40. Web site: Brilliant Berkswell win promotion play off against Old Saltelians. Solihull News. 4 May 2012.
41. Web site: Play Off Match Report: Old Laurentians 16-6 Moseley Oak. Moseley Supporters Board. 30 April 2013.
42. Web site: Crewe 18 Banbury 13. Crewe RUFC. 26 April 2014.
43. Web site: RUGBY: Old Laurentians’ play-off win - ACTION PICTURES. Rugby Advertiser. 30 April 2015.
44. Web site: Earlsdon RFC miss swift return to Midlands West One with Wolverhampton RFC defeat. Coventry Telegraph. 4 May 2016.
45. Web site: Celebrations for Camp Hill as local win confirms League One promotion. Solihull Observer. 4 May 2017.
46. Web site: Positive seasons end in defeat for Crewe & Nantwich and Sandbach. Crewe Chronicle. 2 May 2018.
47. Web site: KC's are history makers!!!. Kidderminster Carolians RFC (Pitchero). 27 April 2019.
48. Web site: Nuneaton Old Edwardians clinch rugby promotion. England Rugby. 29 April 2009.