Level 8 English Rugby Union league
Counties 2 Midlands West (West) (formerly 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 it to adopt the name Midlands 3 West (North) and again following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it was known, briefly as Counties 2 Midlands West (North), before the league was split East/West giving rise to its current name.
Promoted teams tend to move up to Counties 2 Midlands West (North) or Counties 2 Midlands West (South) depending on location. Relegated 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.
2024-25
Departing were Newport (Salop) 2XV and Willenhall, both promoted. Handsworth (11th) and Rugeley (12th) were relegated.
Joining were Harborne, Longton , Trentham and Walsall II .
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bridgnorth Bulls
Edgar Davies Ground
Bridgnorth , Shropshire
10th
Bromyard
Clive Richards Sports Ground
Bromyard , Herefordshire
4th
Clee Hill
Tenbury Road
Cleehill , Shropshire
3rd
Harborne
Metchley Park
Birmingham , West Midlands
Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (North)
Longton
Trentham Fields
Longton , Stoke-on-Trent , Staffordshire
Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (North)
Luctonians III
Mortimer Park
2,500 (300 seats)
Kingsland , Herefordshire
5th
Market Drayton
Greenfields Lane
Market Drayton , Shropshire
9th
Oswestry
Granville Park
Oswestry , Shropshire
8th
Stourbridge Lions
Stourton Park
Stourbridge , West Midlands
6th
Tenbury
Penlu
Tenbury Wells , Worcestershire
7th
Trentham
New Inn Lane
Trentham , Stoke-on-Trent , Staffordshire
Promoted from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) (Champions)
Walsall II
Broadway Ground
1,150 (150 stand)
Walsall , West Midlands
Level transfer from Counties 2 Midlands West (East)
Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 2 Midlands West (North) teams in Staffordshire and the West Midlands
Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 2 Midlands West (West) teams in Staffordshire and the West Midlands
2023-24
The league name changed from Counties 2 Midlands West (North) to Counties 2 Midlands West (West) with a corresponding adjustment in the make up of the competing sides.
Departing were Burntwood and Harborne, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (North) . Aldridge (12th) and Cleobury Mortimer (11th) were relegated. Veseyans left on a level transfer to Counties 2 Midlands West (East) .
Joining on a level transfer, were Bromyard and Tenbury from Counties 2 Midlands West (East) together with Rugeley, Willenhall and Stourbridge Lions .
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bridgnorth Bulls
Edgar Davies Ground
Bridgnorth , Shropshire
9th
Bromyard
Clive Richards Sports Ground
Bromyard , Herefordshire
Level transfer from Counties 2 Midlands West (East) (6th)
Clee Hill
Tenbury Road
Cleehill , Shropshire
5th
Handsworth
Charles Lewis Memorial Ground
Walsall , West Midlands
10th
Luctonians III
Mortimer Park
2,500 (300 seats)
Kingsland , Herefordshire
8th
Market Drayton
Greenfields Lane
Market Drayton , Shropshire
7th
Newport (Salop) 2XV
The Old Showground
Newport , Shropshire
4th
Oswestry
Granville Park
Oswestry , Shropshire
6th
Rugeley
St Augustine's Field
Rugeley , Staffordshire
Promoted from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) (runners-up)
Stourbridge Lions
Stourton Park
Stourbridge , West Midlands
New entry
Tenbury
Penlu
Tenbury Wells , Worcestershire
Level transfer from Counties 2 Midlands West (East) (4th)
Willenhall
Bognop Road
Essington , Staffordshire
Promoted from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) (Champions)
Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 2 Midlands West (North) teams in Staffordshire and the West Midlands
Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 2 Midlands West (West) teams in the West Midlands
2022-23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review[ 1] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 2 Midlands West (North).
Departing were Edwardians, Telford Hornets and Shrewsbury, all promoted to Counties 1 Midlands West (North) . Also leaving were Eccleshall (11th) and Linley & Kidsgrove (7th).
Joining were Bridgnorth II , Luctonians III , Market Drayton, Oswestry and Newport (Salop) 2XV .
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Aldridge
Bourne Vale
Aldridge , West Midlands
10th
Bridgnorth II
Edgar Davies Ground
Bridgnorth , Shropshire
New entry
Burntwood
The Sportsway
Burntwood , Staffordshire
4th
Clee Hill
Tenbury Road
Cleehill , Shropshire
7th
Cleobury Mortimer
Love Lane
Cleobury Mortimer , Shropshire
9th
Handsworth
Charles Lewis Memorial Ground
Walsall , West Midlands
6th
Harborne
Metchley Park
Birmingham , West Midlands
5th
Luctonians III
Mortimer Park
2,500 (300 seats)
Kingsland , Herefordshire
New entry
Market Drayton
Greenfields Lane
Market Drayton , Shropshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 WN
Newport (Salop) 2XV
The Old Showground
Newport , Shropshire
New entry
Oswestry
Granville Park
Oswestry , Shropshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 WN
Veseyans
Memorial Ground
Walsall , West Midlands
8th
Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 2 Midlands West (North) teams in Staffordshire and the West Midlands
Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 2 Midlands West (North) teams in Staffordshire and the West Midlands
2021-22
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Aldridge
Bourne Vale
Aldridge , West Midlands
Promoted from Midlands 4 WN (runners-up)
Burntwood
The Sportsway
Burntwood , Staffordshire
Relegated from Midlands 2 WN (11th)
Clee Hill
Tenbury Road
Cleehill , Shropshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 WN (champions)
Cleobury Mortimer
Love Lane
Cleobury Mortimer , Shropshire
6th
Eccleshall
Baden Hall
Eccleshall , Staffordshire
9th
Edwardians
Memorial Ground
Solihull , West Midlands
5th
Handsworth
Charles Lewis Memorial Ground
Walsall , West Midlands
10th
Harborne
Metchley Park
Birmingham , West Midlands
3rd
Linley & Kidsgrove
Kidsgrove Cricket Club
Kidsgrove , Staffordshire
7th
Shrewsbury
Sundorne Castle
Uffington , Shrewsbury , Shropshire
Relegated from Midlands 2 WN (12th)
Telford Hornets
Hinkshay Road
Telford , Shropshire
8th
Veseyans
Memorial Ground
Walsall , West Midlands
4th
Locations of the 2021-22 Midlands 3 West (North) teams in Staffordshire and the West Midlands
Locations of the 2021-22 Midlands 3 West (North) teams
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
Cleobury Mortimer , Shropshire
9th
Eccleshall
Baden Hall
Eccleshall , Staffordshire
7th
Edwardians
Memorial Ground
Solihull , West Midlands
4th
Handsworth
Charles Lewis Memorial Ground
Walsall , West Midlands
10th
Harborne
Metchley Park
Birmingham , West Midlands
6th
Linley & Kidsgrove
Kidsgrove Cricket Club
Kidsgrove , Staffordshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 WN (champions)
Old Saltleians
Watton Lane
Water Orton , Warwickshire
3rd
Telford Hornets
Hinkshay Road
Telford , Shropshire
Relegated from Midlands 2 WN (12th)
Uttoxeter
Oldfields Sports & Social Club
2,000
Uttoxeter , Staffordshire
5th
Veseyans
Memorial Ground
Walsall , West Midlands
Relegated from Midlands 2 WN (11th)
Wednesbury
Woden Road North
Wednesbury , West Midlands
8th
Willenhall
Bognop Road
Essington , Staffordshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 WN (runners up)
Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 3 West (North) teams in Staffordshire and the West Midlands
Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 3 West (North) teams in Shropshire
2018–19
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Burntwood
The Sportsway
Burntwood , Staffordshire
3rd
Cannock
Morgan Ground
Huntington , Cannock Chase , Staffordshire
6th
Cleobury Mortimer
Love Lane
Cleobury Mortimer , Shropshire
Relegated from Midlands 2 West (North) (12th)
Eccleshall
Baden Hall
Eccleshall , Staffordshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 West (North) (champions)
Edwardians
Memorial Ground
Solihull , West Midlands
7th
Handsworth
Charles Lewis Memorial Ground
Walsall , West Midlands
9th
Harborne
Metchley Park
Birmingham , West Midlands
5th
Old Saltleians
Watton Lane
Water Orton , Warwickshire
Relegated from Midlands 2 West (North) (11th)
Shrewsbury
Sundorne Castle
Uffington , Shrewsbury , Shropshire
4th
Trentham
New Inn Lane
Trentham , Stoke-on-Trent , Staffordshire
10th
Uttoxeter
Oldfields Sports & Social Club
2,000
Uttoxeter , Staffordshire
8th
Wednesbury
Woden Road North
Wednesbury , West Midlands
Promoted from Midlands 4 West (North) (runners up)
Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 3 West (North) teams
2017–18
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Barton-under-Needwood
Holland Sports Club
Barton-under-Needwood , Staffordshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 West (North) (runners up)
Burntwood
The Sportsway
Burntwood , Staffordshire
3rd
Cannock
Morgan Ground
Huntington , Cannock Chase , Staffordshire
10th
Edwardians
Memorial Ground
Solihull , West Midlands
6th
Handsworth
Charles Lewis Memorial Ground
Walsall , West Midlands
4th
Harborne
Metchley Park
Birmingham , West Midlands
8th
Shrewsbury
Sundorne Castle
Uffington , Shrewsbury , Shropshire
Relegated from Midlands 2 West (North) (11th)
Stafford
The County Ground
Stafford , Staffordshire
Relegated from Midlands 2 West (North) (10th)
Telford Hornets
Hinkshay Road
Telford , Shropshire
7th
Trentham
New Inn Lane
Trentham , Stoke-on-Trent , Staffordshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 West (North) (champions)
Uttoxeter
Oldfields Sports & Social Club
2,000
Uttoxeter , Staffordshire
5th
Willenhall
Bognop Road
Essington , Staffordshire
9th
Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 3 West (North) teams
Teams 2016-17
Teams 2015-16
Teams 2014-15
Teams 2013-14
Teams 2012–13
Teams 2010–11
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:
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 (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 (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 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) [ i] and relegation to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire 1 [ j] .
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) [ k] or Staffordshire [ l]
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 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)).
Season
No of teams
Champions
Runners–up
Relegated teams
Reference
2009–10
12
Leek
Tamworth
Bloxwich
[ 19]
2010–11
12
Burntwood
Moseley Oak
Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley , Telford Hornets
[ 20]
2011–12
12
Veseyans
Wolverhampton
Harborne , Uttoxeter
[ 21]
2012–13
12
Willenhall
Stourbridge Lions
Cleobury Mortimer , Eccleshall
[ 22]
2013–14
12
Veseyans
Shrewsbury
Market Drayton , Yardley & District
[ 23]
2014–15
12
Handsworth
Harborne
Aston Old Edwardians , Uttoxeter
[ 24]
2015–16
12
Tamworth
Newcastle (Staffs)
Bloxwich , Wednesbury
[ 25]
2016–17
12
Ludlow
Cleobury Mortimer
Eccleshall , Clee Hill
[ 26]
2017–18
12
Telford Hornets
Stafford
Barton-Under-Needwood , Willenhall
[ 27]
2018–19
12
Shrewsbury
Burntwood
Cannock , Trentham
[ 28]
2019–20
12
Uttoxeter
Old Saltleians
Willenhall , Wednesbury
[ 29]
2020–21
12
Green backgrounds are promotion places.
Number of league titles
See also
Notes
References
^ "RFU announce new men's community structure" . RFU. 13 June 2022.
^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993-94 . Headline. pp. 164– 167. ISBN 0-7472-7891-1 .
^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994-95 . Headline. pp. 164– 167. ISBN 0-7472-7891-1 .
^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994-95 . Headline. pp. 164– 167. ISBN 0-7472-7891-1 .
^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97 . Headline. pp. 192– 195. ISBN 0-7472-7816-4 .
^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98 . Headline. pp. 156– 159. ISBN 0-7472-7771-0 .
^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1998). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998-99 . Headline. pp. 90– 93. ISBN 0-7472-7653-6 .
^ "1998-1999 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 6 December 2020 .
^ "1999-2000 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 6 December 2020 .
^ "2000-2001 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2001-2002 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2002-2003 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2003-2004 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2004-2005 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2005-2006 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2006-2007 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2007-2008 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2008-2009 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2009-2010 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2010-2011 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2011-2012 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2012-2013 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2013-2014 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2014-2015 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 2 May 2015 .
^ "2015-2016 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. Retrieved 2 May 2016 .
^ "2016-2017 Midlands Division" . England Rugby. 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 20 July 2008. 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.
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