# Midlands 4 West (South)

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.

## 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.

## 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.

## 2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review 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.

## 2021-22
### Participating teams & locations

Birmingham Civil Service, who finished 10th in 2019-20, did not return for the current season.

## 2020–21

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

## Teams 2016-17

* Alcester
* Bromyard
* Claverdon
* Coventrians
* Coventry Welsh
* Harbury (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Keresley (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
* Kings Norton
* Pershore (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Redditch
* Stoke Old Boys

## Teams 2015-16

* Alcester (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
* Atherstone
* Birmingham Civil Service (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
* Claverdon
* Coventrians
* Coventry Welsh
* Kings Norton
* Manor Park (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Redditch
* Stoke Old Boys
* Upton-on-Severn (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))

## Teams 2014-15

* Atherstone
* Claverdon
* Coventrians
* Coventry Welsh
* Evesham (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Five Ways Old Edwardians
* Kings Norton (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Redditch
* Rugby Lions (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
* Stoke Old Boys
* Warwickian (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))

## Teams 2013-14

* Alcester
* Atherstone
* Barton-under-Needwood
* Birmingham Civil Service
* Claverdon
* Coventrians
* Coventry Welsh
* Harbury
* Redditch (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Stoke Old Boys
* Woodrush (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))

## 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:
* Alcester - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (7th)
* Bredon Star - transferred from North Midlands (South) 1 (6th)
* Coventry Technical - promoted from Warwickshire 2 (champions)
* Coventry Welsh - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (4th)
* Harbury - relegated from Midlands 4 West (South) (10th)
* Rugby St Andrews - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (5th)
* Southam - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (3rd)
* Stoke Old Boys - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (6th)
* Upton-upon-Severn - transferred from North Midlands (South) 1 (runners up)
* Woodrush - transferred from North Midlands (South) 1 (5th)

## 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 5 West (South) :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2006–07 | 10 | Woodrush | Southam | Coventry Technical, Bredon Star, Stoke Old Boys |
| 2007–08 | 10 | Rugby St Andrews | Upton-on-Severn | Tenbury, Alcester |
| 2008–09 | 10 | Redditch | Harbury | Copsewood, Coventrians |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### 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)).
Midlands 4 West (South) :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2009–10 | 10 | Evesham | Coventry Welsh | Dudley Wasps |
| 2010–11 | 11 | Pinley | Keresley | Stoke Old Boys, Trinity Guild |
| 2011–12 | 11 | Old Wheatleyans | Ledbury | Rugby Welsh, Birmingham Exiles |
| 2012–13 | 11 | Old Yardleians | Manor Park | Keresley, Warwickian |
| 2013–14 | 10 | Woodrush | Harbury | Alcester |
| 2014–15 | 10 | Rugby Lions | Evesham | Five Ways Old Edwardians |
| 2015–16 | 10 | Manor Park | Upton-on-Severn | Birmingham Civil Service |
| 2016–17 | 11 | Bromyard | Alcester | Kings Norton, Keresley |
| 2017–18 | 11 | Stoke Old Boys | Coventry Welsh | Tenbury, Birmingham Civil Service |
| 2018–19 | 11 | Burbage | Bedworth | Redditch, Greyhound |
| 2019–20 | 11 | Tenbury | Bromyard | Kings Norton |
| 2020–21 | 11 | | | |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Number of league titles

* Woodrush (2)
* Evesham (1)
* Bromyard (1)
* Burbage (1)
* Manor Park (1)
* Old Yardleians (1)
* Old Wheatleyans (1)
* Pinley (1)
* Redditch (1)
* Rugby Lions (1)
* Rugby St Andrews (1)
* Stoke Old Boys (1)
* Tenbury (1)