English rugby union league
Counties 3 Midlands West (East) / (South) Sport Rugby union Instituted 2006; 18 years ago (2006 ) (as Midlands 5 West (South)) Number of teams 11 Country England Most titles Woodrush (2 titles) Website England RFU
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 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
Atherstone , Warwickshire
Promoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (North)
Bedworth
Nicholas Chamberlaine School
Bedworth , Warwickshire
Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (6th)
Hinckley III
De Montfort Park
Hinckley , Leicestershire
New entry
Lichfield II
Cooke Fields
Lichfield , Staffordshire
New entry
Lutterworth II
Ashby Lane
Lutterworth , Leicestershire
New entry
Nuneaton II
Liberty Way
Nuneaton , Warwickshire
New entry
Old Saltleians II
Watton Lane
Water Orton , Warwickshire
New entry
Pinley
Wyken Croft
Wyken , Coventry , West Midlands
Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (7th)
Syston II
Barkby Road
Queniborough , Leicestershire
New entry
Tamworth II
Wigginton Park
Tamworth , Staffordshire
Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (9th)
Veseyans II
Memorial Ground
Walsall , West Midlands
New entry
Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (East) teams in Leicestershire & Warwickshire
Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (East) teams in Staffordshire & the West Midlands
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
Bournville II
Avery Fields
Edgbaston , Birmingham , West Midlands
New entry
Cleobury Mortimer
Love Lane
Cleobury Mortimer , Shropshire
Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) (6th)
Dudley Kingswinford II
Heathbrook
Kingswinford , Dudley , West Midlands
New entry
Edwardians II
Memorial Ground
Solihull , West Midlands
New entry
Hereford II
Wyeside
Hereford , Herefordshire
4th
Kings Norton
Hopwood Park
Hopwood , Worcestershire
10th
Malvern II
Spring Lane
Malvern, Worcestershire
Promoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (South)
Old Yardleians
Tilehouse Lane
Shirley , Solihull , West Midlands
5th
Pershore
Mill Lane
Pershore , Worcestershire
3rd
Upton-upon-Severn
Banwell Park
Upton-upon-Severn , Worcestershire
Promoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (South)
Woodrush
Icknield Street
Forhill , Worcestershire
Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (East)
Worcester II
Offerton Lane
Worcester, Worcestershire
8th
Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (South) teams
Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (South) teams in the West Midlands
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
Nicholas Chamberlaine School
Bedworth , Warwickshire
7th
Harbury
Waterloo Fields
Harbury , Warwickshire
3rd
Hereford II
Wyeside
Hereford , Herefordshire
New entry
Kenilworth II
Glasshouse Lane
Kenilworth , Warwickshire
Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (South)
Kings Norton
Hopwood Park
Hopwood , Worcestershire
8th
Old Leamingtonians II
The Crofts
Blackdown , Warwickshire
New entry
Old Yardleians
Tilehouse Lane
Shirley , Solihull , West Midlands
9th
Pershore
Mill Lane
Pershore , Worcestershire
4th
Pinley
Wyken Croft
Wyken , Coventry , West Midlands
Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (South)
Stoke Old Boys
Albert Gale Field
Binley , Coventry , West Midlands
5th
Tamworth II
Wigginton Park
Tamworth , Staffordshire
New entry
Worcester II
Offerton Lane
Worcester, Worcestershire
New entry
Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Midlands West (South) teams
Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Midlands West (South) teams in Coventry & 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 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
Nicholas Chamberlaine School
Bedworth , Warwickshire
3rd
Birmingham Exiles
Old Damson Lane
Elmdon , West Midlands
Level transfer from Midlands 4 West (North) (10th)
Birmingham & Solihull
Portway
Portway, Birmingham , West Midlands
Promoted from Midlands 5 West (South)
Coventrians
The Black Pad
Holbrooks , Coventry , West Midlands
9th
Harbury
Waterloo Fields
Harbury , Warwickshire
6th
Kings Norton
Hopwood Park
Hopwood , Worcestershire
11th
Old Yardleians
Tilehouse Lane
Shirley , Solihull , West Midlands
5th
Pershore
Mill Lane
Pershore , Worcestershire
10th
Rugby Welsh
Alwyn Road
Rugby , Warwickshire
7th
Stoke Old Boys
Albert Gale Field
Binley , Coventry , West Midlands
Relegated from Midlands 3 West (South)
Upton-upon-Severn
Banwell Park
Upton-upon-Severn , Worcestershire
4th
Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Midlands West (South) teams in Warwickshaire & Worcestershire
Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Midlands West (South) teams in Coventry & the West Midlands
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
Nicholas Chamberlaine School
Bedworth , Warwickshire
Relegated from Midlands 3 WS (12th)
Chaddesley Corbett
Fox Lane
Chaddesley Corbett , Worcestershire
Promoted from Midlands 5 WS (runners up)
Claverdon
Stadium of Dreams
Claverdon , Warwickshire
8th
Coventrians
The Black Pad
Holbrooks , Coventry , West Midlands
4th
Harbury
Waterloo Fields
Harbury , Warwickshire
9th
Kings Norton
Hopwood Park
Hopwood , Worcestershire
11th
Old Wheatleyans
Stade Wheats
Coundon , Coventry , West Midlands
5th
Old Yardleians
Tilehouse Lane
Shirley , Solihull , West Midlands
3rd
Pershore
Mill Lane
Pershore , Worcestershire
7th
Rugby Welsh
Alwyn Road
Rugby , Warwickshire
Promoted from Midlands 5 WS (champions)
Upton-upon-Severn
Banwell Park
Upton-upon-Severn , Worcestershire
6th
Locations of the 2021-22 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Worcestershire
Locations of the 2021-22 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Warwickshire & West Midlands
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
Solihull , West Midlands
Promoted from Midlands 5 WS (runners up)
Bromyard
Clive Richards Sports Ground
Bromyard , Herefordshire
6th
Claverdon
Stadium of Dreams
Claverdon , Warwickshire
4th
Coventrians
The Black Pad
Holbrooks , Coventry , West Midlands
9th
Harbury
Waterloo Fields
Harbury , Warwickshire
8th
Kings Norton
Hopwood Park
Hopwood , Worcestershire
7th
Old Wheatleyans
Stade Wheats
Coundon , Coventry , West Midlands
3rd
Old Yardleians
Tilehouse Lane
Shirley , Solihull , West Midlands
Relegated from Midlands 3 WS (11th)
Pershore
Mill Lane
Pershore , Worcestershire
5th
Tenbury
Penlu
Tenbury Wells , Worcestershire
Promoted from Midlands 5 WN (champions)
Upton-upon-Severn
Banwell Park
Upton-upon-Severn , Worcestershire
Relegated from Midlands 3 WS (12th)
Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Worcestershire & Herefordshire
Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Warwickshire & West Midlands
2018–19
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bedworth
Nicholas Chamberlaine School
Bedworth , Warwickshire
3rd
Bromyard
Clive Richards Sports Ground
Bromyard , Herefordshire
Relegated from Midlands 3 West (South) (12th)
Burbage
Recreation Ground
Burbage , Leicestershire
5th
Claverdon
Stadium of Dreams
Claverdon , Warwickshire
7th
Coventrians
The Black Pad
Holbrooks , Coventry , West Midlands
4th
Greyhound
Hereford City Sports Club
Hereford , Herefordshire
Promoted from Midlands 5 West (North) (champions)
Harbury
Waterloo Fields
Harbury , Warwickshire
8th
Kings Norton
Hopwood Park
Hopwood , Worcestershire
Promoted from Midlands 5 West (South) (runners up)
Old Wheatleyans
Stade Wheats
Coundon , Coventry , West Midlands
Relegated from Midlands 3 West (South) (11th)
Pershore
Mill Lane
Pershore , Worcestershire
6th
Redditch
Bromsgrove Road
Redditch , Worcestershire
9th
Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Herefordshire
Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire & Leicestershire
2017–18
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bedworth
Nicholas Chamberlaine School
Bedworth , Warwickshire
Relegated from Midlands 3 West (South) (12th)
Birmingham Civil Service
Landrover Social Club
Solihull , West Midlands
Promoted from Midlands 5 West (South) (runners up)
Burbage
Recreation Ground
Burbage, Leicestershire
Promoted from Midlands 5 West (South) (champions)
Claverdon
Stadium of Dreams
Claverdon , Warwickshire
6th
Coventrians
The Black Pad
Holbrooks , Coventry , West Midlands
5th
Coventry Welsh
Burbages Lane
Exhall , Coventry , West Midlands
4th
Harbury
Waterloo Fields
Harbury , Warwickshire
7th
Pershore
Mill Lane
Pershore , Worcestershire
9th
Redditch
Bromsgrove Road
Redditch , Worcestershire
8th
Stoke Old Boys
Albert Gale Field
Binley , Coventry , West Midlands
3rd
Tenbury
Penlu
Tenbury Wells , Worcestershire
Promoted from Midlands 5 West (North) (champions)
Locations of the 2017-18 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Worcestershire
Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 4 West (South) teams in Warwickshire, West Midlands & Leicestershire
Teams 2016-17
Teams 2015-16
Teams 2014-15
Teams 2013-14
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:
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 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)).
Number of league titles
Notes
^ Although they finished 8th and outside of the relegation zone, Dudley Wasps would drop out of the division to join the North Midlands Reserve League - Division 1.[ 5]
See also
References
English RFU (2008). "Rugby First" . RFU. Archived from the original on 28 April 2009. 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.
Governing body National teams
International competitions
Competition divisions
European competitions National competitions London and South East competitions Midland competitions Northern competitions South West competitions County competitions Discontinued competitions Related articles Other