# Midlands 2 East (South)

Counties 1 Midlands East (South) (formerly Midlands 2 East (South)) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire, who play home and away matches throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 East (South) and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name.
Promoted teams tend to move up to Regional Midlands 2 East or occasionally to Regional 2 Midlands North. Relegated teams drop to Counties 2 Midlands East (South).

## 2024-25

Departing were Daventry and Market Bosworth, both promoted to Regional 2 Midlands East, whilst Oakham and Long Buckby were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands East (South).
Joining were Newbold on Avon and Towcestrians, both relegated from Regional 2 Midlands East together with Stewarts & Lloyds and Biggleswade, both promoted from Counties 2 Midlands East (South).

### Participating teams & locations
## 2023-24

Departing were Wellingborough, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands East, whilst Dunstablians, St. Ives and Northampton Casuals were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands East (South).
Joining were Peterborough Lions and Old Laurentians, both relegated from Regional 2 Midlands East together with Daventry and Spalding, both promoted from Counties 2 Midlands East (South).

### Participating teams & locations
## 2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 1 Midlands East (South)).

### Participating teams & locations
## 2020–21

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

## Teams 2016-17

* Belgrave
* Luton
* Lutterworth
* Market Harborough
* Melton Mowbray
* Oadby Wanderers
* Oakham
* Old Laurentians (relegated from Midlands 1 East)
* Olney
* Oundale (promoted from Midlands 3 East (South))
* Peterborough
* Rushden & Higham
* Stamford (transferred from Midlands 2 East (North))
* Vipers

## Teams 2015-16

* Belgrave (relegated from Midlands 1 East)
* Biggleswade
* Leicester Forest
* Lutterworth
* Market Harborough
* Melton Mowbray (promoted from Midlands 3 East (North))
* Oadby Wanderers
* Oakham
* Olney
* Peterborough
* Rushden & Higham (promoted from Midlands 3 East (South))
* Vipers (promoted from Midlands 3 East (South))

## Teams 2014-15

* Biggleswade (promoted from Midlands 3 East (South))
* Dunstablians
* Leicester Forest
* Lutterworth
* Market Harborough
* Northampton Old Scouts
* Oadby Wyggestonians
* Oakham
* Olney
* Peterborough (relegated from Midlands 1 East)
* Stewarts & Lloyds (promoted from Midlands 3 East (South))
* Wellingborough

## Teams 2013-14

* Dunstablians
* Leicester Forest
* Leighton Buzzard
* Lutterworth
* Market Harborough
* Newbold-on-Avon (transferred from Midlands 2 West (South))
* Northampton BBOB
* Northampton Old Scouts
* Oadby Wyggestonians
* Olney
* Rushden & Higham (promoted from Midlands 3 East (South))
* Wellingborough

## Teams 2012–13

* Biggleswade (promoted from Midlands 3 East (South))
* Bugbrooke
* Dunstablians
* Huntingdon & District
* Leighton Buzzard (relegated from Midlands 1 East)
* Lutterworth
* Market Harborough
* Northampton BBOB (promoted from Midlands 3 East (South))
* Northampton Old Scouts
* Oadby Wyggestonians
* Vipers
* Wellingborough
After leading the division from matchday 1, Huntingdon & District were pipped to the title by Bugbrooke by way of bonus points on the season's final day. Huntingdon were promoted alongside Bugbrooke to Midlands 1 East following a playoff victory over the second placed team from Midlands 2 East (North), Oakham. Biggleswade joined Vipers in the relegation places following a final day defeat to Oadby Wyggestonians.

## Teams 2011–12

* Bugbrooke
* Dunstablians
* Huntingdon
* Long Buckby
* Lutterworth
* Market Harborough
* Northampton Old Scouts
* Oadby Wygstonians
* Peterborough Lions
* Stockwood Park
* Vipers
* Wellingborough

## Teams 2010-11

* Bugbrooke
* Huntingdon and District
* Leicester Forest
* Lutterworth
* Market Harborough
* Northampton BBOB
* Northampton Old Scouts
* Peterborough Lions
* Stewarts and Lloyds
* Stockwood Park
* Towcestrians
* Vipers

## Original teams

Teams in Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 1 East, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:
* Amber Valley - relegated from Midlands 2 East (9th)
* Ampthill - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire (5th)
* Belgrave - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire (3rd)
* Chesterfield Panthers - promoted from Nott, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (champions)
* Dronfield - promoted from Nott, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (5th)
* Hinckley - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire (champions)
* Luton - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire (4th)
* Mellish - promoted from Nott, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (4th)
* Scunthorpe - relegated from Midlands 2 East (10th)
* Spalding - promoted from Nott, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (runners up)
* Stewarts & Lloyds - relegated from Midlands 2 East (11th)
* Stoneygate - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire (runners up)
* West Bridgford - promoted from Nott, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (3rd)

## Midlands 2 East (South) honours
### Midlands East 1 (1992–1993)

Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South) were originally part of a single tier 7 division called Midlands East 1. Promotion was to Midlands 2 and relegation to Midlands East 2.
Midlands East 1 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference |
| 1992–93 | 13 | Belgrave | Hinckley | Dronfield, West Bridford | |
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands East 1 (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 1 East dropped to become a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands 2 and Midlands East 2.
Midlands East 1 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 1993–94 | 13 | Hinckley | Scunthorpe | Nottingham Moderns, Luton |
| 1994–95 | 13 | Scunthorpe | Long Buckby | Chesterfield, Northampton BBOB, Wellingborough |
| 1995–96 | 13 | Kettering | Huntingdon & District | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands East 1 (1996–2000)

At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands East 1 returned to being a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands 2 and Midlands East 2.
Midlands East 1 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 1996–97 | 17 | Nottingham Moderns | Old Northamptonians | Northampton BBOB, Biggleswade, Amber Valley |
| 1997–98 | 17 | Lincoln | Northampton Old Scouts | Ashbourne |
| 1998–99 | 17 | Wellingborough | Dunstablians | Coalville, Vipers |
| 1999–00 | 17 | Dunstablians | Luton | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands 3 East (South) (2000–2009)

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands East 1 split into two tier 7 regional leagues - Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South). Promotion was now to Midlands 2 East (formerly Midlands 2) and relegation to Midlands 4 East (South) (formerly Midlands East 2).
Midlands 3 East (South) :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2000–01 | 10 | South Leicester | Stewarts & Lloyds | Lutterworth, Old Northamptonians |
| 2001–02 | 10 | Northampton Old Scouts | Stewarts & Lloyds | Vipers, Stockwood Park |
| 2002–03 | 10 | Huntingdon & District | Peterborough | Long Buckby, Market Harborough |
| 2003–04 | 10 | Old Northamptonians | Peterborough | No relegation |
| 2004–05 | 12 | Towcestrians | Stewarts & Lloyds | Stoneygate, Rushden & Higham |
| 2005–06 | 12 | Northampton Old Scouts | Banbury | Stockwood Park |
| 2006–07 | 12 | Ampthill | Banbury | Bugbrooke, Northampton Mens Own |
| 2007–08 | 12 | Wellingborough | Leighton Buzzard | Daventry, Northampton Casuals |
| 2008–09 | 12 | Old Northamptonians | Stewarts & Lloyds | No relegation |
| 2009–10 | 12 | Banbury | Market Harborough | Old Newtonians |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands 2 East (South) (2009–present)

League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were renamed as Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 7. Promotion was now to Midlands 1 East (formerly Midlands 2 East) and relegation to Midlands 3 East (South) (formerly Midlands 4 East (South)).
Midlands 2 East (South) :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2010–11 | 12 | Towcestrians | Peterborough Lions | Northampton BBOB, Stewarts & Lloyds |
| 2011–12 | 12 | Peterborough Lions | Lutterworth | Long Buckby, Stockwood Park |
| 2012–13 | 12 | Bugbrooke | Huntingdon & District | Vipers, Biggleswade |
| 2013–14 | 12 | Leighton Buzzard | Newbold-on-Avon | Northampton BBOB, Rushden & Higham |
| 2014–15 | 12 | Northampton Old Scouts | Wellingborough | Dunstablians, Stewarts & Lloyds |
| 2015–16 | 12 | Melton Mowbray | Lutterworth | Biggleswade, Leicester Forest |
| 2016–17 | 12 | Peterborough | Oundle | Rushden & Higham, Vipers |
| 2017–18 | 12 | Oadby Wyggestonians | Luton | Pinley, Stamford |
| 2018–19 | 12 | Olney | Market Harborough | Huntingdon & District, Oakham |
| 2019–20 | 12 | Leighton Buzzard | Belgrave | Melton Mowbray, Stewarts & Lloyds |
| 2020–21 | 12 | |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South) for the third and final promotion place to Midlands 1 East (asides from 2008-09 which was played between the runners up of Midlands 2 West (South) and Midlands 2 East (North) due to RFU restructuring). The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the Midlands 2 East (South) teams have ten wins to the Midlands 2 East (North) teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams five.
Midlands 2 East (North) v Midlands 2 East (South) promotion play-off results :
| Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance |
| 2000–01 | Stewarts & Lloyds (S) | 9-13 | Ilkeston (N) | Occupation Road, Corby, Northamptonshire | |
| 2001–02 | Nottingham Moderns (N) | 26-8 | Stewarts & Lloyds (S) | Ferryfields, Wilford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire | |
| 2002-03 | Peterborough (S) | 3-59 | Loughborough Students (N) | Fortress Fengate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire | |
| 2003-04 | Peterborough (S) | 33-13 | Matlock (N) | Fortress Fengate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire | |
| 2004-05 | Matlock (N) | 25-10 | Stewarts & Lloyds (S) | Cromford Meadows, Cromford, Derbyshire | |
| 2005–06 | Ilkeston (N) | 24-21 | Banbury (S) | The Stute, Ilkeston, Derbyshire | |
| 2006–07 | Lutterworth (N) | 3-21 | Banbury (S) | Ashby Lane, Lutterworth, Leicestershire | |
| 2007–08 | Leighton Buzzard (S) | 16-15 | Spalding (N) | Wright's Meadow, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire | |
| 2008–09 | Promotion playoffs different for this season only.÷ | Promotion playoffs different for this season only.÷ | Promotion playoffs different for this season only.÷ | Promotion playoffs different for this season only.÷ | Promotion playoffs different for this season only.÷ |
| 2009–10 | Spalding (N) | 25-10 | Market Harborough (S) | Memorial Field, Spalding, Lincolnshire | 400 |
| 2010–11 | Peterborough Lions (S) | 17-20 | Loughborough (N) | Bretton Woods, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire | |
| 2011–12 | Market Bosworth (S) | 17-14 | Lutterworth (N) | Cadeby Lane, Market Bosworth, Warwickshire | |
| 2012–13 | Huntingdon (S) | 30-17 | Oakham (N) | The Racecourse, Brampton, Cambridgeshire | |
| 2013–14 | Spalding (N) | 24-14 | Newbold-on-Avon (S) | Memorial Field, Spalding, Lincolnshire | 400 |
| 2014–15 | Coalville (N) | 25-36 | Wellingborough (S) | Memorial Ground, Coalville, Leicestershire | |
| 2015–16 | Lutterworth (S) | 43-17 | West Bridgford (N) | Ashby Lane, Lutterworth, Leicestershire | |
| 2016–17 | Oundle (S) | 30-12 | Coalville (N) | Occupation Road, Oundle, Northamptonshire | 400 |
| 2017–18 | Luton (S) | 35-22 | Matlock (N) | Newlands Road, Luton, Bedfordshire | |
| 2018–19 | Market Harborough (S) | 25-21 | Dronfield (N) | Cadeby Lane, Market Bosworth, Leicestershire | |
| 2019–20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Belgrave (S) - promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Belgrave (S) - promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Belgrave (S) - promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Belgrave (S) - promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Belgrave (S) - promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Belgrave (S) - promoted instead. |
| 2020–21 | |
| Green background is the promoted team. M2EN = Midlands 2 East (North) (formerly Midlands 3 East (North)) and M2ES = Midlands 2 East (South) (formerly Midlands 3 East (South)) |||||||||||

## Number of league titles

* Northampton Old Scouts (3)
* Leighton Buzzard (2)
* Old Northamptonians (2)
* Towcestrians (2)
* Wellingborough (2)
* Ampthill (1)
* Banbury (1)
* Belgrave (1)
* Bugbrooke (1)
* Dunstablians (1)
* Hinckley (1)
* Huntingdon & District (1)
* Kettering (1)
* Lincoln (1)
* Melton Mowbray (1)
* Nottingham Moderns (1)
* Oadby Wyggestonians (1)
* Olney (1)
* Peterborough (1)
* Peterborough Lions (1)
* Scunthorpe (1)
* South Leicester (1)

## Note

* ↑ Midlands East 2 is currently split into two regional divisions - Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South).
* ↑ Due to the cancellation of National 5 North at the end of the season, four clubs were promoted including Ampthill and Long Buckby.
* ↑ Due to widespread restructuring caused by the cancellation of National 5 North there was no relegation.
* ↑ Due to the restructuring of the Midlands leagues for the following season, there was no relegation.
* ↑ Ahead of the 2000–01 Midlands East 2 was also split into two regional leagues - Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South).
* ↑ No relegation as the division would be increased from 10 to 12 teams for the following season.
* ↑ Due to the RFU restructuring the league system for the 2009-10 season, runners up Stewarts & Lloyds were automatically promoted as one of the two best runners up of the four Midlands 3 divisions, meaning they did not have to face a playoff.
* ↑ The 2008-09 promotion playoffs were different as the RFU was reorganizing the leagues across the country including the Midlands division. Usually the winners of each of the four regional divisions would go up automatically along with two of the runners up who won their respective playoffs, meaning 6 teams were promoted. This year one extra was required to be promoted so the top two runners up by league points - Bourneville (40) and Stewarts & Lloyds (40) went up - leaving the other two runners up - Nuneaton Old Edwardians (34) and Spalding (38) - to compete for the final promotion spot.
* ↑ After extra time.
* ↑ One of Wellingborough's titles was when league was single division known as Midlands East 1.
* ↑ Belgrave's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 1.
* ↑ Dunstablians title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 1.
* ↑ Hinckley's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 1.
* ↑ Kettering's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 1.
* ↑ Lincoln's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 1.
* ↑ Nottingham Moderns title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 1.
* ↑ Scunthorpe's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 1.