Midlands 3 West (North) Explained

Midlands 3 West (North)
Current Season:	2019–20 Midlands 3 West (North)
Sport:	Rugby union
Founded:	(as Midlands West 2)
Teams:	12
Champion:	Uttoxeter (1st title)
Most Champs:	Telford Hornets
Count:	3
Website:	England RFU

Midlands 3 West (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands and occasionally Cheshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands West 2, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 4 West (North) and Midlands 4 West (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, led to the current name of Midlands 3 West (North).

Promoted teams tend to move up to Midlands 2 West (North) while demoted teams typically drop to Midlands 4 West (North). Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a level 8 national competition.

2021-22

Participating teams & locations

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Aldridge	Bourne Vale			Promoted from Midlands 4 WN (runners-up)
Burntwood	The Sportsway			Relegated from Midlands 2 WN (11th)
Clee Hill	Tenbury Road			Promoted from Midlands 4 WN (champions)
Cleobury Mortimer	Love Lane			6th
Eccleshall	Baden Hall			9th
Edwardians	Memorial Ground			5th
	Charles Lewis Memorial Ground			10th
Harborne	Metchley Park			3rd
Linley & Kidsgrove	Kidsgrove Cricket Club			7th
Shrewsbury	Sundorne Castle			Relegated from Midlands 2 WN (12th)
Telford Hornets	Hinkshay Road			8th
Veseyans	Memorial Ground			4th

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
Cleobury Mortimer	Love Lane			9th
Eccleshall	Baden Hall			7th
Edwardians	Memorial Ground			4th
	Charles Lewis Memorial Ground			10th
Harborne	Metchley Park			6th
Linley & Kidsgrove	Kidsgrove Cricket Club			Promoted from Midlands 4 WN (champions)
Old Saltleians	Watton Lane			3rd
Telford Hornets	Hinkshay Road			Relegated from Midlands 2 WN (12th)
	Oldfields Sports & Social Club	2,000		5th
Veseyans	Memorial Ground			Relegated from Midlands 2 WN (11th)
	Woden Road North			8th
Willenhall	Bognop Road			Promoted from Midlands 4 WN (runners up)

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Burntwood	The Sportsway			3rd
Cannock	Morgan Ground			6th
Cleobury Mortimer	Love Lane			Relegated from Midlands 2 West (North) (12th)
Eccleshall	Baden Hall			Promoted from Midlands 4 West (North) (champions)
Edwardians	Memorial Ground			7th
	Charles Lewis Memorial Ground			9th
Harborne	Metchley Park			5th
Old Saltleians	Watton Lane			Relegated from Midlands 2 West (North) (11th)
Shrewsbury	Sundorne Castle			4th
Trentham	New Inn Lane			10th
	Oldfields Sports & Social Club	2,000		8th
	Woden Road North			Promoted from Midlands 4 West (North) (runners up)

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Barton-under-Needwood	Holland Sports Club			Promoted from Midlands 4 West (North) (runners up)
Burntwood	The Sportsway			3rd
Cannock	Morgan Ground			10th
Edwardians	Memorial Ground			6th
	Charles Lewis Memorial Ground			4th
Harborne	Metchley Park			8th
Shrewsbury	Sundorne Castle			Relegated from Midlands 2 West (North) (11th)
Stafford	The County Ground			Relegated from Midlands 2 West (North) (10th)
Telford Hornets	Hinkshay Road			7th
Trentham	New Inn Lane			Promoted from Midlands 4 West (North) (champions)
	Oldfields Sports & Social Club	2,000		5th
Willenhall	Bognop Road			9th

Teams 2016-17

• Burntwood
• Cannock
• Clee Hill
• Cleobury Mortimer
• Eccleshall
• Edwardians
• Handsworth (relegated from Midlands 2 West (North))
• Harborne (relegated from Midlands 2 West (North))
• Ludlow
• Telford Hornets (promoted from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Uttoxeter (promoted from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Willenhall

Teams 2015-16

• Bloxwich
• Burntwood
• Cannock (promoted from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Clee Hill
• Cleobury Mortimer (promoted from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Eccleshall
• Edwardians
• Ludlow (relegated from Midlands 2 West (North))
• Newcastle (Staffs)
• Tamworth (relegated from Midlands 2 West (North))
• Wednesbury
• Willenhall

Teams 2014-15

• Aston Old Edwardians (relegated from Midlands 2 West (North))
• Bloxwich
• Burntwood
• Clee Hill (promoted from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Eccleshall
• Edwardians
• Handsworth
• Harborne (promoted from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Newcastle (Staffs)
• Uttoxeter
• Wednesbury
• Willenhall (relegated from Midlands 2 West (North))

Teams 2013-14

• Bloxwich
• Burntwood
• Eccleshall
• Edwardians
• Handsworth
• Market Drayton (promoted from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Newcastle (Staffs)
• Shrewsbury
• Uttoxeter (promoted from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Veseyans (relegated from Midlands 2 West (North))
• Wednesbury
• Yardley & District

Teams 2012–13

• Bloxwich
• Burntwood
• Cleobury Mortimer
• Eccleshall
• Edwardians
• Handsworth
• Newcastle (Staffs)
• Shrewsbury
• Stourbridge Lions
• Wednesbury
• Willenhall
• Yardley & District

Teams 2010–11

• Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
• Burntwood
• Eccleshall
• Handsworth
• Moseley Oak
• Newcastle (Staffs)
• Telford
• Uttoxeter
• Veseyans
• Wednesbury
• Wolverhampton
• Yardley & District

Original teams

Teams in Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 2 West, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:

• Aston Old Edwardians - promoted from North Midlands 1 (10th)
• Coventry Welsh - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (10th)
• Dixonians - promoted from North Midlands 1 (6th)
• Handsworth - promoted from Staffordshire 1 (champions)
• Kenilworth - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (7th)
• Nuneaton Old Edwardians - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (6th)
• Old Laurentians - promoted from Warwickshire 1 (champions)
• Selly Oak - promoted from North Midlands 2 (champions)
• Shrewsbury - promoted from North Midlands 1 (11th)
• Stratford-upon-Avon - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (9th)
• Tamworth - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (8th)
• West Midlands Police - promoted from North Midlands 1 (8th)
• Woodrush - promoted from North Midlands 1 (7th)

Midlands 3 West (North) honours

Midlands West 2 (1992–1993)

Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) were originally part of a single tier 8 division called Midlands West 2. Promotion was to Midlands West 1 and relegation was to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1.

<											----> Midlands West 2
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
1992–93	13	Nuneaton Old Edwardians			^[1]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands West 2 (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 2 West dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Midlands West 1 while relegation was to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1.

<											----> Midlands West 2
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
1993–94	13	Old Laurentians		No relegation	^[2]
1994–95	13	Luctonians			^[3]
1995–96	13	Selly Oak		No relegation	^[4]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands West 2 (1996–2000)

At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands West 2 returned to being a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to Midlands West 1 while relegation was to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1.

<											----> Midlands West 2
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
1996–97	17	Telford Hornets			^[5]
1997–98	17	Shrewsbury			^[6]
1998–99	17	Newcastle (Staffs)			^[7]
1999–00	17	Kidderminster Carolians		No relegation	^[8]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 4 West (North) (2000–2004)

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands West 2 split into two tier 8 regional leagues - Midlands 4 West (North) and Midlands 4 West (South). Promotion was now to Midlands 3 West (North) and relegation to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire 1.

<											----> Midlands 4 West North
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2000–01	10	Bridgnorth			^[9]
2001–02	10	Burntwood			^[10]
2002–03	10	Telford Hornets		No relegation	^[11]
2003–04	10	Wednesbury			^[12]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 4 West (North) (2004–2006)

At the start of the 2004–05 season Midlands 4 West (North) remained at tier 8 of the league system, with promotion continuing to Midlands 3 West (North). However, the restructuring of the leagues below meant that relegation was now to either North Midlands (North) or Staffordshire

<											----> Midlands 4 West North
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2004–05	10	Newcastle (Staffs)			^[13]
2005–06	10	Old Saltleians		No relegation	^[14]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 4 West (North) (2006–2009)

At the start of the 2006–07 season Midlands 4 West (North) remained at tier 8 of the league system, with promotion continuing to Midlands 3 West (North). The cancellation of the Staffordshire league meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands 5 West (North).

<											----> Midlands 4 West North
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2006–07	12	Leek			^[15]
2007–08	12	Old Halesonians			^[16]
2008–09	12	Willenhall			^[17]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 3 West (North) (2009–present)

League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 4 West (North) and Midlands 4 West (South) were renamed as Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 8. Promotion was now to Midlands 2 West (North) (formerly Midlands 3 West (North)) and relegation to Midlands 4 West (North) (formerly Midlands 5 West (North)).

<											----> Midlands 4 West North
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2009–10	12	Leek			^[18]
2010–11	12	Burntwood			^[19]
2011–12	12	Veseyans			^[20]
2012–13	12	Willenhall			^[21]
2013–14	12	Veseyans			^[22]
2014–15	12	Handsworth			^[23]
2015–16	12	Tamworth			^[24]
2016–17	12	Ludlow			^[25]
2017–18	12	Telford Hornets			^[26]
2018–19	12	Shrewsbury			^[27]
2019–20	12	Uttoxeter			^[28]
2020–21	12
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Telford Hornets (3)
• Burntwood (2)
• Leek (2)
• Newcastle (Staffs) (2)
• Shrewsbury (2)
• Veseyans (2)
• Willenhall (2)
• Bridgnorth (1)
• Handsworth (1)
• Kidderminster Carolians (1)
• Ludlow (1)
• Luctonians (1)
• Nuneaton Old Edwardians (1)
• Old Halesonians (1)
• Old Laurentians (1)
• Old Saltleians (1)
• Selly Oak (1)
• Tamworth (1)
• Uttoxeter (1)
• Wednesbury (1)

See also

• Midlands RFU
• North Midlands RFU
• Staffordshire RU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

References

• Web site: English RFU . 2008 . Rugby First . RFU . 21 July 2008 . refStaffordshire Rugby . 20 July 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080720143427/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. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993-94. 1993. Headline. 0-7472-7891-1. 164–167.
2. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994-95. 1994. Headline. 0-7472-7891-1. 164–167.
3. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994-95. 1994. Headline. 0-7472-7891-1. 164–167.
4. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. 1996. Headline. 0-7472-7816-4. 192–195.
5. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98. 1997. Headline. 0-7472-7771-0. 156–159.
6. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998-99. 1998. Headline. 0-7472-7653-6. 90–93.
7. Web site: 1998-1999 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 6 December 2020.
8. Web site: 1999-2000 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 6 December 2020.
9. Web site: 2000-2001 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
10. Web site: 2001-2002 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
11. Web site: 2002-2003 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
12. Web site: 2003-2004 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
13. Web site: 2004-2005 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
14. Web site: 2005-2006 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
15. Web site: 2006-2007 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
16. Web site: 2007-2008 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
17. Web site: 2008-2009 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
18. Web site: 2009-2010 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
19. Web site: 2010-2011 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
20. Web site: 2011-2012 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
21. Web site: 2012-2013 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
22. Web site: 2013-2014 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 7 March 2015.
23. Web site: 2014-2015 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 2 May 2015.
24. Web site: 2015-2016 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 2 May 2016.
25. Web site: 2016-2017 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 22 April 2017.
26. Web site: 2017-2018 Midlands Division. England Rugby. 28 April 2018.
27. Web site: 2018-19 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 13 April 2019.
28. Web site: Men's Midlands Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020.