# Midlands 3 West (South)

Counties 2 Midlands West (East) (formerly Midlands 3 West (South)) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 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 sometimes Oxfordshire, 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 (South). Further restructuring followed in the wake of the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it was known, briefly as Counties 2 Midlands West (South), before the league was split East/West giving rise to its current name.
Promoted teams tend to move up to Counties 2 Midlands West (South) or Counties 2 Midlands West (North) depending on location. Relegated teams typically drop to Counties 3 Midlands West (South) or Counties 3 Midlands West (East) or occasionally to Counties 3 Midlands 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 Barkers Butts promoted to Counties 1 Midlands West (South) and Veseyans promoted to Counties 1 Midlands West (North). Uttoxeter and Woodrush were relegated. Walsall II (8th) moved on a level transfer to Counties 2 Midlands West (West)
Joining were Aston Old Edwardians, Broadstreet 2XV, Earlsdon, Harbury and Stoke Old Boys.
In November 2024 Coventrians (3rd in 2023-24) withdrew from the league stating "decision was taken to protect the safety and well being of our players following a significant loss of playing personnel for various reasons including injury and retirement." The league will therefore be completed with eleven sides.

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

The league name changed from Counties 2 Midlands West (South) to Counties 2 Midlands West (East) with a corresponding adjustment in the make up of the competing sides.
Departing were Alcester and Manor Park, both promoted to Counties 1 Midlands West (South); Pinley (12th) and Kenilworth II (11th) were both relegated to Counties 3 Midlands West (South); Rugby St Andrews (10th) were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East (South); Burbage (9th) withdrew from league competition. Also leaving, but on a level transfer, were Bromyard (6th) and Tenbury (4th) to Counties 2 Midlands West (West).
Joining were Barkers Butts, Birmingham & Solihull, Coalville, Coventry Welsh, Old Coventrians, Uttoxeter, Veseyans and Walsall II.

### 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 2 Midlands West (South).
Departing were Ledbury, Old Leamingtonians and Coventry Welsh all promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (South). Stoke Old Boys were relegated.
Joining were Claverdon, Old Wheatleyans, Pinley and Kenilworth II.

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

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

## Teams 2016-17

* Bedworth (relegated from Midlands 2 West (South))
* Droitwich (relegated from Midlands 2 West (South))
* Evesham
* Ledbury
* Manor Park (promoted from Midlands 4 West (South))
* Old Coventrians
* Old Leamingtonians
* Old Wheatleyans
* Rugby St Andrews
* Shipston on Stour
* Upton-on-Severn (promoted from Midlands 4 West (South))
* Woodrush

## Teams 2015-16

* Cheltenham North
* Evesham (promoted from Midlands 4 West (South))
* Harbury
* Ledbury
* Old Coventrians (relegated from Midlands 2 West (South))
* Old Leamingtonians (relegated from Midlands 2 West (South))
* Old Wheatleyans
* Pershore
* Rugby Lions (promoted from Midlands 4 West (South))
* Shipston on Stour
* Southam
* Woodrush

## Teams 2014-15

* Bedworth (relegated from Midlands 2 West (South))
* Cheltenham North
* Dunlop (relegated from Midlands 2 West (South))
* Harbury (promoted from Midlands 4 West (South))
* Ledbury
* Manor Park
* Old Wheatleyans
* Pershore
* Shipston on Stour
* Southam
* Upton-on-Severn
* Woodrush (promoted from Midlands 4 West (South))

## Teams 2013–14

* Cheltenham North
* Evesham
* Kings Norton
* Ledbury
* Manor Park
* Old Wheatleyans
* Old Yardleians (promoted from Midlands 4 West (South))
* Pershore
* Pinley
* Shipston on Stour (relegated from Midlands 2 West (South))
* Southam
* Upton-on-Severn (relegated from Midlands 2 West (South))

## Teams 2012–13

* Cheltenham North
* Evesham
* Kings Norton
* Ledbury
* Old Coventrians
* Old Leamingtonians
* Old Wheatleyans
* Pershore
* Pinley
* Redditch
* Southam
* Woodrush

## Teams 2009–10

* Dunlop
* Edwardians
* Harbury
* Kings Norton
* Ledbury
* Old Leamingtonians
* Pershore
* Redditch
* Shipston on Stour
* Southam
* Upton upon Severn
* Woodrush

## Teams 2008–09

* Bedworth
* Dunlop
* Edwardians
* Kings Norton
* Ledbury
* Old Leamingtonians
* Pershore
* Shipston on Stour
* Southam
* Upton On Severn
* Woodrush
* Worcester Wanderers

## 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:
* Aston Old Edwardians - promoted from North Midlands 1 (10th)
* Coventry Welsh - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (10th)
* Dixonians - promoted from North Midlands 1 (6th)
* Handsworth - promoted from Staffordshire 1 (champions)
* Kenilworth - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (7th)
* Nuneaton Old Edwardians - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (6th)
* Old Laurentians - promoted from Warwickshire 1 (champions)
* Selly Oak - promoted from North Midlands 2 (champions)
* Shrewsbury - promoted from North Midlands 1 (11th)
* Stratford-upon-Avon - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (9th)
* Tamworth - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (8th)
* West Midlands Police - promoted from North Midlands 1 (8th)
* Woodrush - promoted from North Midlands 1 (7th)

## Midlands 3 West (South) 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 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference |
| 1992–93 | 13 | Nuneaton Old Edwardians | Aston Old Edwardians | Handsworth | |
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |||||||||||

### 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 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 1993–94 | 13 | Old Laurentians | Newport (Salop) | No relegation |
| 1994–95 | 13 | Luctonians | Kenilworth | Coventry Welsh, Dunlop |
| 1995–96 | 13 | Selly Oak | Malvern | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |||||||||||

### 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 West 2 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 1996–97 | 17 | Telford Hornets | Woodrush | Trinity Guild, Newcastle (Staffs), Rugby St Andrews |
| 1997–98 | 17 | Shrewsbury | Evesham | Coventry Saracens |
| 1998–99 | 17 | Newcastle (Staffs) | Birmingham Exiles | Manor Park, GPT Coventry, Warley |
| 1999–00 | 17 | Kidderminster Carolians | Old Yardleians | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands 4 West (South) (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 (South) and relegation to either North Midlands 1 or Warwickshire 1.
Midlands 4 West South :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2000–01 | 10 | Silhillians | Pershore | Stoke Old Boys, Redditch, Trinity Guild |
| 2001–02 | 10 | Ledbury | Southam | Woodrush, Dunlop, Stourport |
| 2002–03 | 10 | Shipston-on-Stour | Droitwich | Coventry Welsh, Kings Norton |
| 2003–04 | 12 | Old Yardleians | Earlsdon | Trinity Guild, Birmingham Exiles, Dunlop |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands 4 West (South) (2004–2006)

At the start of the 2004–05 season Midlands 4 West (South) remained at tier 8 of the league system, with promotion continuing to Midlands 3 West (South). However, the restructuring of the leagues below meant that relegation was now to either North Midlands (South) 1 or Warwickshire 1.
Midlands 4 West South :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2004–05 | 10 | Solihull | Keresley | Manor Park, Southam, Evesham |
| 2005–06 | 10 | Stourbridge Lions | Edwardians | Harbury |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands 4 West (South) (2006–2009)

At the start of the 2006–07 season Midlands 4 West (South) remained at tier 8 of the league system, with promotion continuing to Midlands 3 West (South). The cancellation of Warwickshire 1 league meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands 5 West (South).
Midlands 4 West South :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2006–07 | 12 | Droitwich | Berkswell & Balsall | Keresley, Cleobury Mortimer |
| 2007–08 | 12 | Spartans (Midlands) | Old Coventrians | Copsewood, Evesham |
| 2008–09 | 12 | Worcester Wanderers | Bedworth | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands 3 West (South) (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 (South) (formerly Midlands 3 West (North)) and relegation to Midlands 4 West (South).
Midlands 3 West (South) Honours :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name |
| 2009–10 | 12 | Dunlop | Pershore | Ledbury, Edwardians | Midlands 3 West (South) |
| 2010–11 | 12 | Upton-on-Severn | Newbold-on-Avon | Coventry Welsh, Harbury | Midlands 3 West (South) |
| 2011–12 | 11 | Earlsdon | Shipston-on-Stour | Old Yardleians | Midlands 3 West (South) |
| 2012–13 | 12 | Old Coventrians | Old Leamingtonians | Redditch, Woodrush | Midlands 3 West (South) |
| 2013–14 | 12 | Old Yardleians | Pinley | Evesham, Kings Norton | Midlands 3 West (South) |
| 2014–15 | 12 | Dunlop | Bedworth | Upton-on-Severn, Manor Park | Midlands 3 West (South) |
| 2015–16 | 12 | Rugby Lions | Southam | Pershore, Harbury | Midlands 3 West (South) |
| 2016–17 | 12 | Droitwich | Evesham | Bedworth | Midlands 3 West (South) |
| 2017–18 | 12 | Rugby St Andrews | Old Coventrians | Bromyard, Old Wheatleyans | Midlands 3 West (South) |
| 2018–19 | 12 | Pinley | Shipston-on-Stour | Upton-on-Severn, Old Yardleians | Midlands 3 West (South) |
| 2019–20 | 12 | Old Coventrians | Berkswell & Balsall | Bedworth | Midlands 3 West (South) |
| 2020–21 | 12 | | |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Number of league titles

* Droitwich (2)
* Dunlop (2)
* Old Coventrians (2)
* Old Yardleians (2)
* Earlsdon (1)
* Kidderminster Carolians (1)
* Ledbury (1)
* Luctonians (1)
* Newcastle (Staffs) (1)
* Nuneaton Old Edwardians (1)
* Old Laurentians (1)
* Pinley (1)
* Rugby Lions (1)
* Rugby St Andrews (1)
* Selly Oak (1)
* Shipston-on-Stour (1)
* Shrewsbury (1)
* Silhillians (1)
* Solihull (1)
* Spartans (Midlands) (1)
* Stourbridge Lions (1)
* Telford Hornets (1)
* Upton-on-Severn (1)
* Worcester Wanderers (1)