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Counties 4 Midlands West (South)

Current season or competition: 2022-23 Counties 4 Midlands West (South)
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	2006; 19 years ago (2006) (as Midlands 6 West (South-East & South-West)
Number of teams	11
Country	England
Most titles	Birmingham Exiles, Rugby Welsh, Stoke Old Boys (2 titles)
Website	England RFU

Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (formerly Midlands 5 West (South)) is a level 10 English Rugby Union league and level 5 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and even (on occasion) Cheshire and 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 in 2006 originally the league was divided into two regional divisions – Midlands 6 South-East and South-West – but was merged into a single division for the 2010–11 season. In its present state promoted teams typically move up to either Midlands 4 West (North) or Midlands 4 West (South) with there being no relegation as it is the basement division for Midlands rugby. There was also another regional tier 5 Midlands league - Midlands 5 West (North) - but this league was discontinued at the end of the 2018–19 season, with most teams transferred into a new-look Midlands 5 West (South). Further restructuring followed in the wake of the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it has been known as Counties 4 Midlands West (South).

2024-25

Departing were Upton-upon-Severn and Malvern II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South). Warley (4th) left on a level transfer to Counties 4 Midlands West (North).

Joining were Old Leamingtonians II, Kidderminster Carolians II and Trinity Guild.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands 5th Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 8th Droitwich II Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground 3,000 Droitwich, Worcestershire 3rd Evesham II Lower Albert Road Evesham, Worcestershire 10th Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire 12th Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 6th Kidderminster Carolians II Marlpool Lane Kidderminster, Worcestershire New entry Old Halesonians II Wassell Grove Hagley, Stourbridge, Worcestershire 7th Old Leamingtonians The Crofts Blackdown, Warwickshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (12th) Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 9th Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 11th Trinity Guild Rowley Road Baginton, Warwickshire Re-entry

B'ham ExilesBishop's CastleKeresleyLeamingtoniansTrinity Guildclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Midlands West (South) teams Droitwich IIEvesham IIFive WaysKidderminster IIHalesonians IIRedditchStourportclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Midlands West (South) teams in Worcestershire

2023-24

Departing were Hereford II and Worcester II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South).

Joining were Upton-on-Severn, Birmingham Exiles, Warley and Old Halesonians II.

With two leaving and four joining the league was restored to twelve clubs from ten.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (10th) Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 8th Droitwich II Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground 3,000 Droitwich, Worcestershire 6th Evesham II Lower Albert Road Evesham, Worcestershire 10th Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire 7th Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 5th Malvern II Spring Lane Malvern, Worcestershire 4th Old Halesonians II Wassell Grove Hagley, Stourbridge, Worcestershire New entry Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 9th Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 3rd Upton-upon-Severn Banwell Park Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (11th) Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) (10th)

B'ham ExilesBishop's CastleKeresleyWarleyclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Midlands West (South) teams Droitwich IIEvesham IIFive WaysHalesonians IIMalvern IIRedditchStourportUptonclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Midlands West (South) teams in Worcestershire

2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 4 Midlands West (South).

Departing were Birmingham & Solihull, Cannock and Greyhound, all promoted. Leaving on a level transfer to Counties 4 Midlands West (North) were Stone (5th), Bloxwich (7th), St Leonards (8th) and Atherstone (11th).

Joining were Hereford II, Worcester II, Malvern II, Evesham and Droitwich II.

With seven leaving and five joining the league was reduced in size from twelve clubs to ten.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 9th Droitwich II Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground 3,000 Droitwich, Worcestershire New entry Evesham II Lower Albert Road Evesham, Worcestershire New entry Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire 12th Hereford II Wyeside Hereford, Herefordshire New entry Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 10th Malvern II Spring Lane Malvern, Worcestershire New entry Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 6th Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 4th Worcester II Offerton Lane Worcester, Worcestershire New entry

Bishop's CastleHereford IIKeresleyclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Midlands West (South) teams Droitwich IIEvesham IIFive WaysMalvern IIRedditchStourportWorcester IIclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Midlands West (South) teams

2021–22

Dixonians, who finished 11th in 2019-20, did not return for the current season.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire 6th Birmingham & Solihull Portway Portway, Birmingham, West Midlands Promoted from Greater Birmingham Merit League Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 10th Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands 8th Cannock Morgan Ground Huntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (12th) Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire 5th Greyhound Hereford City Sports Club Hereford, Herefordshire 9th Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 7th Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 3rd St Leonards Universal Sports and Social Club Stafford, Staffordshire Promoted from Staffordshire Merit Table Division 1 Stone Stone Hockey Club Aston By Stone, Staffordshire Promoted from Staffordshire Merit Table Division 1 Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 4th

AtherstoneB&SBishop's CastleBloxwichCannockFive WaysGreyhoundKeresleyRedditchSt LeonardsStoneStourportclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2021–22 Midlands 5 West (South) teams

2020–21

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.

2019–20

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire 5th Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire Transferred from Midlands 5 West (North) (3rd) Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands Relegated from Midlands 4 WN (11th) Chaddesley Corbett Fox Lane Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire Transferred from Midlands 5 West (North) (5th) Dixonians Rowheath Park Birmingham, West Midlands Greater Birmingham Merit League (champions) Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire Joined league Greyhound Hereford City Sports Club Hereford, Herefordshire Relegated from Midlands 4 WS (10th) Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 4th Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire Relegated from Midlands 4 WS (11th) Rugby Welsh Alwyn Road Rugby, Warwickshire 3rd Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire Transferred from Midlands 5 West (North) (8th)

AtherstoneBishop's CastleBloxwichDixoniansGreyhoundKeresleyRugby Welshclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 5 West (South) teams Chaddesley CorbettFive WaysRedditchStourportclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 5 West (South) teams in Worcestershire

2018–19

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire 4th Birmingham Civil Service Land Rover Social Club Solihull, West Midlands Relegated from Midlands 4 West (South) (10th) Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands 6th Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 5th Rugby Welsh Alwyn Road Rugby, Warwickshire 3rd

AtherstoneB'ham CSB'ham ExilesKeresleyR Welshclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 5 West (South) teams in Warwickshire

2017–18

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aldridge Bourne Vale Aldridge, West Midlands Transferred from Midlands 5 West (North) (4th) Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire 5th Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands 3rd Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (10th) Kings Norton Hopgood Park Hopwood, Worcestershire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (11th) Rugby Welsh Alwyn Road Rugby, Warwickshire 4th Trinity Guild Rowley Road Baginton, Warwickshire 6th

AldridgeB'ham ExilesKings NortonAtherstoneKeresleyR WelshTrinityclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 5 West (South) teams

Teams 2016-17

• Atherstone (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
• Birmingham Civil Service (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
• Birmingham Exiles
• Copsewood
• Rugby Welsh
• Trinity Guild
• Wellesbourne

Teams 2015-16

• Birmingham Exiles
• Copsewood
• Five Ways Old Edwardians (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
• Keresley
• Rugby Welsh
• Trinity Guild
• Wellesbourne

Teams 2014-15

• Alcester (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
• Birmingham Civil Service (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
• Birmingham Exiles
• Copsewood
• Coventry Technical
• Keresley
• Rugby Welsh
• Trinity Guild
• Wellesbourne

Teams 2013-14

• Birmingham Exiles
• Copsewood
• Coventry Technical
• Keresley
• Rugby Lions
• Rugby Welsh
• Trinity Guild
• Warwickian
• Wellesbourne

Teams 2012–13

• Birmingham Exiles
• Copsewood
• Coventry Technical
• Greyhound
• Rugby Welsh
• Stoke Old Boys
• Trinity Guild
• Wellesbourne

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 it was split into two separate divisions - Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West) - containing the following teams:

Midlands 6 West (South-East)

• Atherstone - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (5th)
• Coventrians - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (runners up)
• Coventry Saracens - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (9th)
• Manor Park - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (9th)
• Old Wheatleyans - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (4th)
• Pinley - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (8th)
• Rugby Welsh - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (3rd)
• Standard - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (8th)
• Trinity Guild - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (10th)
• Warwickian - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (6th)

Midlands 6 West (South-West)

• Birmingham Civil Service - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (5th)
• Birmingham Exiles - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (8th)
• Bromyard - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (6th)
• Chaddesley Corbett - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (runners up)
• Claverdon - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (7th)
• Clee Hill - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (4th)
• Dudley Wasps - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (3rd)
• Redditch - transferred from North Midlands (South) 1 (7th)
• Warley - relegated from Midlands 5 West (North) (8th)

Midlands 5 West (South) honours

Midlands 6 West (South-East) / (South-West) (2006–2009)

The league was originally divided into two sub-divisions known as Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West). These divisions were introduced along with their counterpart Midlands 6 West (North) at tier 10 to replace the discontinued North Midlands 2, Warwickshire 1 and Warwickshire 2 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 5 West (South) and there was no relegation.

Midlands 5 West (South-East) / (South-West) (2009–2010)

Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 6 West (South-East / South-West) and their counterpart Midlands 6 West (North) were renamed as Midlands 5 West (South-East / South-West) and Midlands 5 West (North), with all leagues remaining at tier 10. Promotion was now to Midlands 4 West (South) (formerly Midlands 5 West (South)) and there was no relegation.

Midlands 5 West (South) (2009–present)

Midlands 5 West (South-East / South West) were remerged into a single tier 10 division ahead of the 2010–11 season. Promotion continued to Midlands 4 West (South) and there was no relegation.

Promotion play-offs

Between 2007 and 2010 there was a promotion playoff between the runners-up of Midlands 5 West (South-East) and Midlands 5 West (South-West) for the third and final promotion place to Midlands 4 West (South), with the team with the superior league record having home advantage in the tie. The playoffs were dissolved at the end of the 2009-10 season when Midlands 5 West (South) became one division. By the end of the promotion play-offs the Midlands 5 West (South-East) teams won all four playoff games and the home team has also won promotion on all four occasions.

Number of league titles

• Birmingham Exiles (2)
• Rugby Welsh (2)
• Stoke Old Boys (2)
• Aldridge (1)
• Birmingham Civil Service (1)
• Burbage (1)
• Claverdon (1)
• Clee Hill (1)
• Coventrians (1)
• Dudley Wasps (1)
• Keresley (1)
• Pinley (1)
• Redditch (1)
• Rugby Lions (1)
• Trinity Guild (1)

Notes

1. Dudley Wasps were the 2nd XV of Dudley Kingswinford - now 3rd XV.
2. Standard would drop out of the league for the following season.
3. Highley would drop out of the league for the following season.
4. The league expanded from 5 to 10 teams following the dissolution of Midlands 5 West (North) at the end of 2018–19 season.
5. One of Birmingham Exiles titles was won when division was split into Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West).
6. One of Rugby Welsh's titles was won when division was split into Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West).
7. One of Stoke Old Boys title was won when division was split into Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West).
8. Clee Hill's title was won when division was split into Midlands 5 West (South-East) and Midlands 5 West (South-West).
9. Dudley Wasps title was won when division was split into Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West).
10. Pinley's title was won when division was split into Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West).
11. Redditch's title was won when division was split into Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West).
12. Trinity Guild's title was won when division was split into Midlands 5 West (South-East) and Midlands 5 West (South-West).

See also

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

References

1. "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 2022-06-13.
2. "Dudley Kingswinford Wasps XV". Dudley Kingswinford RFC. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
3. "2006-2007 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
4. "2006-2007 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
5. "2006-2007 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
6. "2007-2008 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
7. "2008-2009 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
8. "2008-2009 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
9. "2009-2010 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
10. "2009-2010 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
11. "2010-2011 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
12. "2011-2012 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
13. "2012-2013 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
14. "2013-2014 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
15. "2014-2015 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
16. "2015-2016 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
17. "2016-2017 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
18. "2017-2018 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
19. "2018-19 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
20. "Men's Midlands Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
21. "Park hold on for promotion". Coventry Telegraph. 24 April 2007.
22. "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2007-08". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
23. "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2008-09". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
24. "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2009-10". England Rugby. 1 May 2010.

• English RFU (2008). "Rugby First". RFU. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. 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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