Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 4 Midlands West (North) | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2005 (2005) (as Midlands 6 West (North)) |
| Ceased | 2019 (2019) |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Country |  England |
| Holders | Tenbury (3rd title) (2018–19) (promoted to Midlands 4 West (North)) |
| Most titles | Tenbury (3 titles) |
| Website | England RFU |
Counties 4 Midlands West (North)/(Central) (formerly Midlands 5 West (North)) was a level 10 English Rugby Union league and level 5 of the Midlands League, that was made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and even Cheshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. Each year some of the clubs in this division took part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
The league was formed in 2005 and was originally known as Midlands 6 West (North) prior to the Midlands league restructure at the end of the 2008–09 season. Promoted teams typically moved up to Counties 3 Midlands West (North) and there was relegation due to it being one of the basement divisions for Midlands rugby. At the end of the 2018–19 season the league was discontinued, with the majority of teams transferred to Midlands 5 West (South). However, following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 the league was reinstated with the new name Counties 4 Midlands West (North).
2026-27
Ahead of the new season the league was split out with the introduction of a new 'Central' division.
North
Departing were Whitchurch II(champions) and Bloxwich (runners-up), both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (North). There was no relegation.
Leaving on a level transfer to the newly formed Central division were Wednesbury, Burntwood II, Telford Hornets II and Essington.
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Central
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2025-26
Departing were Newport (Salop) III (champions) and St Leonards (runners-up), both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (North). Warley (3rd) were promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South).
Aldridge re-entered the league having withdrawn from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) in season 2024–25 but subsequently withdrew part way through the season as did Stoke-on-Trent II (relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North)) leaving ten clubs to contest the outstanding fixtures.
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2024-25
Departing were Burton III and Stoke-on-Trent II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (North). Atherstone were promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (East).
Joining were Newport (Salop) III, Telford Hornets II and Warley.
Whittington (9th in 23–24) and Erdington (12th in 23–24) started the season but withdrew due to an inability to fulfil fixtures.
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2023-24
Departing were Stone, promoted whilst Longton II (11th) returned to the Staffordshire merit leagues.
Joining were Whittington, Wednesbury and Burntwood II.
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2022-23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review[1] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 4 Midlands West (North).
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2019-2022
Not contested
2018–19
Participating teams & locations
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2017–18
Participating teams & locations
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Participating Clubs 2016-17
- Acton Nomads
- Aldridge (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
- Chaddesley Corbett
- Greyhound
- Market Drayton (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
- Stourport
- Tenbury
- Warley
Participating Clubs 2015-16
- Chaddesley Corbett
- Essington
- Greyhound (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
- Tenbury (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
- St Leonards
- Stourport
- Warley
Participating Clubs 2014-15
- Aldridge
- Birmingham Barbarians
- Chaddesley Corbett
- Church Stretton
- Essington
- St Leonards
- Stourport
- Warley (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
- Whittington
Participating Clubs 2013-14
- Aldridge
- Birmingham Barbarians
- Chaddesley Corbett
- Essington
- Rugeley
- Stourport
- Telford Hornets
- Whittington
Participating clubs 2012–13
- Aldridge
- Birmingham Barbarians
- Essington
- Rugeley
- St Leonards
- Stourport
- Warley
- Whittington
Participating clubs 2010–11
- Aldridge
- Birmingham Civil Service
- Bromyard
- Five Ways Old Edwardians
- Hanford
- Old Griffinians
- Stourport
- Tenbury
- Wheaton Aston
- Whittington
Original teams
When this division was introduced in 2005 as Midlands 6 West (North) it contained the following teams:
- Barton-under-Needwood - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (3rd)
- Eccleshall - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (8th)
- Gnosall - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (9th)
- Hanford - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (8th)
- Market Drayton - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (6th)
- Rugley - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (7th)
- St Leonards - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (runners up)
- Stone - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (4th)
- Wheaton Aston & Penkridge - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (11th)
- Whittington - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (5th)
Midlands 5 West (North) honours
Midlands 6 West (North) (2005–2009)
Midlands 6 West (North) was introduced ahead of the 2005–06 season as a tier 10 league to replace the discontinued North Midlands (North) and Staffordshire 1 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 5 West (North) and there was no relegation.
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| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 10 | St Leonards | Rugley | No relegation | [2] | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | 10 | Handsworth | Eccleshall | No relegation | [3] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 9 | Barton-Under-Needwood | Yardley & District | No relegation | [4] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 8 | Essington | Rugeley | No relegation | [5] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Midlands 5 West (North) (2009–2019)
Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 6 West (North) and their counterparts Midlands 6 West (South-East / South-West) were renamed as Midlands 5 West North and Midlands 5 West (South-East) and Midlands 5 West (South-West), with all leagues remaining at tier 10. Promotion was now to Midlands 4 West (North) (formerly Midlands 5 West (North)) and there was no relegation. At the end of 2018–19 season Midlands 5 West (North) was cancelled.
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| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | Reference | |||||||||
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| 2009–10 | 8 | Market Drayton | Warley | No relegation | [6] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 8 | Tenbury | Birmingham Civil Service | No relegation | [7] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 9 | Bromyard | Five Ways Old Edwardians | No relegation | [8] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 8 | St Leonards | Warley | No relegation | [9] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 8 | Rugeley | Telford Hornets | No relegation | [10] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 9 | Church Stretton | Aldridge | No relegation | [11] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 7 | Essington | St Leonards | No relegation | [12] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 7 | Tenbury | Market Drayton | No relegation | [13] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 8 | Greyhound | Linley | No relegation | [14] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 6 | Tenbury | Warley | No relegation | [15] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Tenbury (3)
- Essington (2)
- St Leonards (2)
- Barton-Under-Needwood (1)
- Bromyard (1)
- Church Stretton (1)
- Greyhound (1)
- Handsworth (1)
- Market Drayton (1)
- Rugeley (1)
See also
Notes
References
- "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 2022-06-13.
- "2005-2006 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 29 November 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.