Regional 2 West Midlands Explained

Regional 2 West Midlands
Current Season:	2023–24 Regional 2 West Midlands
Sport:	Rugby union
Founded:	(as Midlands 2 West)
Teams:	12
Season:	2022–23
Most Champs:	Burton, Bromsgrove
Count:	4
Website:	England RFU

Regional 2 West Midlands is an English level 6 rugby union league for rugby clubs in the western region of the Midlands. It includes sides from Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, the West Midlands, Worcestershire and occasionally Cheshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Oxfordshire. When this division began in 1987 it was known as Midlands 2 West, and has been restructured several times, most notably as a single division known as Midlands 2 between 1992 and 2000. It has been called Regional 2 West Midlands since 2022–23.

The current champions are Old Halesonians and they are promoted to Regional 1 Midlands for season 2023–24.

2022–23

Final league table

<															-- --> width=20% style="border:0px" Regional 2 West Midlands 2022–23
	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points for	Points against	Points diff	Try bonus	Loss bonus	Points	Points deducted
1	Old Halesonians (P)	22	19	0	3	652	392	260	15	0	91
2		22	17	0	5	720	285	435	15	2	86
3	Ludlow	22	17	0	5	762	307	455	14	1	83
4	Stratford-upon-Avon	22	13	0	9	596	436	160	11	2	65
5		22	13	0	9	502	464	38	10	3	65
6		22	13	0	9	512	485	27	8	2	65
7		22	11	0	11	521	571	−50	9	3	56
8	Crewe	22	10	0	12	567	558	9	11	3	54
9		22	9	0	13	563	493	70	11	5	52
10	Wolverhampton	22	8	0	14	422	493	−71	7	4	43
11	Evesham (R)	22	2	0	20	354	772	−418	3	4	10	−5
12	Droitwich (R)	22	0	0	22	170	1085	−915	0	0	0
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
	Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places Updated: 25 June 2023 Source: Web site: Regional 2 West Midlands . England Rugby.

2021–22

The teams competing in 2021–22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019–20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020–21.

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground	3,000		11th
	Wyeside			5th
	Glasshouse Lane			2nd
	Cooke Fields			3rd
Ludlow	The Linney			7th
	Spring Lane			Promoted from Midlands 2 West (South) (2nd)
	Wassell Grove			12th
	Parkfield Road			6th
	Hartwell Lane			8th
Stratford-upon-Avon	Loxley Road			Promoted from Midlands 2 West (South) (1st)
	Roger Smoldon Ground			10th
	Edgeley Park			4th
Wolverhampton	Castlecroft Road			Promoted from Midlands 2 West (North) (1st)
	Cummins Farm / Weston Field Pitches			9th

2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced ^[1] that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Midlands 1 West was not contested.

Teams 2019–20

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground	3,000		9th
	Heathbrook	2,260 (260 seats)		Runners up (lost playoff)
	Wyeside			6th
	Glasshouse Lane			Promoted from Midlands 2 West (South) (champions)
Kidderminster Carolians	Marlpool Lane			Promoted from Midlands 2 West (South) (playoff)
	Cooke Fields			Relegated from Midlands Premier (13th)
Ludlow	The Linney			Promoted from Midlands 2 West (North) (champions)
	Wassell Grove			8th
	Parkfield Road			3rd
	Hartwell Lane			5th
	Stourton Park	3,500 (499 seats)		11th
	Roger Smoldon Ground			10th
	Edgeley Park			4th
	Cummins Farm / Weston Field Pitches			7th

Teams 2018–19

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Finstall Park			3rd
	Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground	3,000		Promoted from Midlands 2 West (South) (champions)
	Heathbrook	2,260 (260 seats)		Runners up (lost playoff)
	Wyeside			6th
	Trentham Fields			Relegated from Midlands Premier (13th)
	Spring Lane			Promoted from Midlands 2 West (South) (runners up)
		5,000 (1,300 seats)		7th
	Wassell Grove			Relegated from Midlands Premier (14th)
	Parkfield Road			Relegated from Midlands Premier (12th)
	Hartwell Lane			4th
	Stourton Park	3,500 (499 seats)		8th
	Roger Smoldon Ground			10th
	Edgeley Park			Promoted from Midlands 2 West (North) (champions)
	Cummins Farm / Weston Field Pitches			9th

Teams 2017–18

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Finstall Park			Relegated from National League 3 South West (14th)
		5,500 (600 seats)		3rd
Camp Hill	The Shrine			Promoted from Midlands 2 West (North) (playoff)
	Heathbrook	2,260 (260 seats)		4th
	Wyeside			9th
Lutterworth	Ashby Lane			Level transfer from Midlands 1 East (4th)
	Cockshut Lane	2,000		Promoted from Midlands 2 East (North) (champions)
		5,000 (1,300 seats)		6th
	Webb Ellis Road	1,000		Promoted from Midlands 2 West (South) (champions)
	Hartwell Lane			10th
	Stourton Park	3,500 (499 seats)		Promoted from Midlands 2 West (North) (champions)
	Roger Smoldon Ground			7th
Wolverhampton	Castlecroft Road			11th
	Cummins Farm / Weston Field Pitches			8th

2016-17

• • • Bournville Burton Crewe & Nantwich
• Dudley Kingswinford
• Hereford
• Kenilworth
• Moseley Oak (promoted from Midlands 2 West (North))
• Newport (Salop) (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Stratford upon Avon
• Sutton Coldfield (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
• Whitchurch
• Wolverhampton (promoted from Midlands 2 West (North))
• Worcester Wanderers

2015–16

Participating teams and locations

Team	Ground	City/Area	Previous season
			relegated from National League 3 Midlands
			promoted from Midlands 2 West (North)
			relegated from National League 3 Midlands
Crewe & Nantwich	Vagrants Sports Ground
	Heathbrook	Kingswinford, West Midlands	relegated from National League 3 Midlands
	Wyeside
	Post and Time Park
	Memorial Ground	Solihull, West Midlands
Stratford upon Avon	Pearcecorft	Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
	Broadway Ground	Walsall, West Midlands
	Edgeley Park	Whitchurch, Shropshire

2014–15

• Barkers Butts
• Berkswell & Balsall
• Crewe and Nantwich (promoted from Midlands 2 West (North))
• Earlsdon (promoted from Midlands 2 West (South))
• Hereford
• Kenilworth
• Leek (promoted from Midlands 2 West (North))
• Newport (Salop) RFC (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
• Silhillians
  • Stoke-on-Trent Stratford Upon Avon
• Walsall
• Whitchurch
• Worcester Wanderers (relegated from National League 3 South West)

2013–14

• Barkers Butts
• Berkswell & Balsall
• Burton
• Hereford
• Kenilworth (promoted from Midlands 2 West (South))
• Lichfield
• Malvern (relegated from National League 3 South West)
• Market Bosworth (transferred from Midlands 1 East)
• Old Laurentians
• Silhillians (promoted from Midlands 2 West (North))
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Stratford Upon Avon
• Walsall
• Whitchurch

2012–13

• Barkers Butts
• Berkswell & Balsall
• Burton
• Camp Hill
• Hereford (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
• Lichfield
• Ludlow
• Northwich
• Old Halesonians
• Stoke-on-Trent (promoted from Midlands 2 West (North)
• Stratford Upon Avon
• Walsall
• Whitchurch
• Worcester Wanderers

2011–12

• Bedworth
  • Bournville Burton (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
• Camp Hill
• Dunlop
• Kenilworth (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
• Lichfield
• Ludlow
• Old Halesonians RFC
• Stratford Upon Avon
• Sutton Coldfield
• Walsall
• Whitchurch
• Worcester Wanderers

2010–11

• Banbury
• Bournville
• Camp Hill
• Dudley Kingswinford
• Leamington
• Lichfield
• Nuneaton Old Edwardians
• Old Halesonians
• Old Laurentians
• Stratford Upon Avon
• Sutton Coldfield
• Walsall
• Whitchurch
• Worcester Wanderers

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Midlands 2 West) contained the following teams:

• Bromsgrove
• Burton
• Dixonians
• Dudley Kingswinford
• Evesham
• Hereford
• Leamington
• Newbold-on-Avon
• Sutton Coldfield
• Tamworth
• Worcester

Regional 2 West Midlands honours

Midlands 2 West (1987–1992)

The original Midlands 2 West (along with its counterpart Midlands 2 East) was a tier 6 league with promotion to Midlands Premier and relegation to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire/Warwickshire.

<											----> Midlands 2 West
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
1987–88	11	Hereford			^[2]
1988–89	11	Sutton Coldfield			^[3]
1989–90	11	Camp Hill			^[4]
1990–91	11	Leamington			^[5]
1991–92	11	Bedworth			^[6]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 2 (1992–1993)

Restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 1992–93 season saw Midlands 2 West and Midlands 2 East combined in a single tier 6 division known as Midlands 2. Promotion continued to Midlands 1 while relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands West 1.

<											----> Midlands 2
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
1992–93	12	Burton			^[7]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 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 dropped to become a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands Premier and Midlands West 1.

<											----> Midlands 2
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
1993–94	13	Whitchurch			^[8]
1994–95	13	Leighton Buzzard			^[9]
1995–96	13	Scunthorpe		No relegation	^[10]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 2 (1996–2000)

At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands 2 returned to being a tier 6 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands Premier and Midlands West 1.

<											----> Midlands 2
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
1996–97	17	Banbury			^[11]
1997–98	17	Bedford Athletic			^[12]
1998–99	17	Longton
1999–00	17	Malvern		No relegation
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 2 West (2000–2009)

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands 2 split back into two tier 6 regional leagues – Midlands 2 West and Midlands 2 East. Promotion continued to Midlands 1 while relegation was now to either Midlands 3 West (North) or Midlands 3 West (South) (both formerly part of Midlands West 1).

<											----> Midlands 2 West
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2000–01	12	Malvern			^[13]
2001–02	12	Bromsgrove			^[14]
2002–03	12	Old Laurentians			^[15]
2003–04	12	Bromsgrove			^[16]
2004–05	12	Burton			^[17]
2005–06	12	Broadstreet			^[18]
2006–07	12	Kenilworth			^[19]
2007–08	12	Malvern			^[20]
2008–09	12	Bromsgrove		No relegation	^[21]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 1 West (2009–2022)

League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 2 West and Midlands 2 East were renamed as Midlands 1 West and Midlands 1 East, with both leagues remaining at tier 6. Promotion was now to National League 3 Midlands (formerly Midlands 1) and relegation to either Midlands 2 West (North) or Midlands 2 West (South).

<											----> Midlands 1 West
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2009–10	13	Burton			^[22]
2010–11	14	Dudley Kingswinford			^[23]
2011–12	14	Sutton Coldfield			^[24]
2012–13	14	Old Halesonians			^[25]
2013–14	14	Lichfield			^[26]
2014–15	14	Newport (Salop)			^[27]
2015–16	14	Bridgnorth			^[28]
2016–17	14	Newport (Salop)			^[29]
2017–18	14	Burton			^[30]
2018–19	14	Bromsgrove			^[31]
2019–20	14	Dudley Kingswinford			^[32]
2020–21	14	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Regional 2 West (2022–present)

<											----> Midlands 1 West
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2022–23	12	Old Halesonians	Walsall	Evesham, Droitwich	^[33]

Promotion play-offs

From 2000–01 until 2018–19 there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Midlands 1 East and Midlands 1 West for the third and final promotion place to National League 3 Midlands. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2018–19 season the Midlands 1 East teams have been the most successful with eleven wins to the Midlands 1 West teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.

<											----> Midlands 1 East v Midlands 1 West promotion play-off results
Season	Home team	Score	Away team	Venue	Attendance
2000–01^[34]	Luctonians (W)	20–13	Wellingborough (E)
2001–02^[35]	Old Laurentians (W)	10–32	Spalding (E)
2002–03^[36]	Luton (E)	16–11	Derby (W)
2003–04^[37]	Derby (W)	29–12	Hinckley (E)
2004–05^[38]	Market Bosworth (E)	40–7	Malvern (W)
2005–06^[39]	Peterborough (E)	23–21	Kenilworth (W)		1,000
2006–07^[40]	Newport (Salop) (W)	20–5	Matlock (E)		500
2007–08^[41]	Hereford (W)	13–43	Hinckley (E)
2008–09^[42]	Scunthorpe (E)	9–16	Hereford (W)
2009–10^[43]	Bournville (W)	AWO	Old Northamptonians (E)		N/A
2010–11^[44]	Sutton Coldfield (W)	27–33	Mansfield (E)
2011–12^[45]	Bournville (W)	42–11	Paviors (E)
2012–13^[46]	Worcester Wanderers (W)	27–17 (aet)	Ilkeston (E)
2013–14^[47]	Burton (W)	24–20	Derby (E)		1,000^[48]
2014–15^[49]	Old Northamptonians (E)	20–5	Worcester Wanderers (W)
2015–16^[50]	Derby (E)	28–23	Bournville (W)		200^[51]
2016–17^[52]	Kettering (E)	19–55	Bournville (W)
2017–18^[53]	Dudley Kingswinford (W)	33–37	Syston (E)
2018–19^[54]	Paviors (E)	33–30	Dudley Kingswinford (W)
2019–20	Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up – Oundle (E) – promoted instead.
Green background is the promoted team. E = Midlands 1 East (formerly Midlands 2 East) and W = Midlands 1 West (formerly Midlands 2 West)

Number of league titles

• Burton (4)
• Bromsgrove (4)
• Malvern (3)
• Dudley Kingswinford (2)
• Lichfield (2)
• Newport (Salop) (2)
• Sutton Coldfield (2)
• Banbury (1)
• Bedford Athletic (1)
• Bedworth (1)
• Bridgnorth (1)
• Broadstreet (1)
• Camp Hill (1)
• Hereford (1)
• Kenilworth (1)
• Leamington (1)
• Leighton Buzzard (1)
• Longton (1)
• Old Halesonians (1)
• Old Laurentians (1)
• Scunthorpe (1)
• Whitchurch (1)

See also

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

References

• Web site: English RFU . 2008 . Rugby First . RFU . 2008-07-21 . refStaffordshire Rugby . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090307115827/http://clubs.rfu.com/clubs/ . 7 March 2009 . dmy-all.
• 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 Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season . RFU . 2020-10-20 . 2020-11-09.
2. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988-89. 1988. Queen Anne Press. 0-356-15884-5. 130–134.
3. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989-90. 1989. Queen Anne Press. 0-356-17862-5. 136–139.
4. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1990-91. 1990. Queen Anne Press. 0-356-19162-1. 140–143.
5. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991-92. 1991. Queen Anne Press. 0-356-20249-6. 161–164.
6. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992-93. 1992. Headline. 0-7472-7907-1. 183–185.
7. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993-94. 1993. Headline. 0-7472-7891-1. 164–167.
8. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994-95. 1994. Headline. 0-7472-7891-1. 164–167.
9. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995-96. 1995. Headline. 0-7472-7850-4. 176–179.
10. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. 1996. Headline. 0-7472-7816-4. 192–195.
11. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98. 1997. Headline. 0-7472-7771-0. 156–159.
12. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998-99. 1998. Headline. 0-7472-7653-6. 90–93.
13. Web site: 2000-01 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
14. Web site: 2001-02 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
15. Web site: 2002-03 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
16. Web site: 2003-04 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
17. Web site: 2004-05 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
18. Web site: 2005-06 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
19. Web site: 2006-07 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
20. Web site: 2007-08 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
21. Web site: 2008-09 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
22. Web site: 2009-10 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
23. Web site: 2010-11 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
24. Web site: 2011-12 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
25. Web site: 2012-13 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
26. Web site: 2013-14 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 December 2014.
27. Web site: 2014-15 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 29 April 2015.
28. Web site: 2015-16 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2016.
29. Web site: 2016-17 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 22 April 2017.
30. Web site: 2017-18 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 28 April 2018.
31. Web site: 2018-19 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 13 April 2019.
32. Web site: Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020.
33. Web site: Regional 2 West Midlands final table . England Rugby . 24 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230724230032/https://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/search-results?competition=1597&division=39125&season=2022-2023 . 24 July 2023.
34. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2000-01. England Rugby. 12 May 2001.
35. Web site: RUGBY: Spalding go up after storming comeback. Peterborough Telegraph. 30 April 2002.
36. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2002-03. England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
37. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2003-04. England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
38. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2004-05. England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
39. Web site: RUGBY: Borough up after promotion thriller. Peterborough Telegraph. 2 May 2006.
40. Web site: Newport are on the up. Shropshire Star. 1 May 2007.
41. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2008-09. England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
42. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2008-09. England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
43. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2009-10. England Rugby. 1 May 2010.
44. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2010-11. England Rugby. 30 April 2011.
45. Web site: Midlands Division Play-Offs 2011-12. England Rugby. 28 April 2012.
46. Web site: Elks Defeated In Extra Time. Worcester Wanderers (Pitchero). 27 April 2013.
47. Web site: 1st XV Match Report Sat 26th Apr’14: Burton 24 v 20 Derby (National 3 Midlands Playoff). Derby RFC. 26 April 2014.
48. Web site: Brewers 0 Chesterfield 2 (Burton 24 Derby 20) Sun 27 April 2014. Beer and Bovril Blogspot. 30 April 2014.
49. Web site: PLAY OFF WIN FOR THE ONS. Old Northamptonians RFC (Pitchero). 25 April 2015.
50. Web site: Rugby union: Derby RFC promoted to National League Three after play-off victory over Bournville. Derby Telegraph. 1 May 2017.
51. Web site: Derby rugby union. Derby County Fans. 30 April 2017.
52. Web site: PROMOTION ACHIEVED AFTER AN ASSURED PERFORMANCE AT KETTERING. Bourneville Rugby (Pitchero). 29 April 2017.
53. Web site: A GAME TOO FAR. Dudley Kingswinford RFC. 12 May 2018.
54. Web site: Dudley Kingswinford suffer more play-off disappointment. Halesowen News. 1 May 2019.