# Counties 1 Midlands West (South)

Counties 1 Midlands West (South) (formerly Midlands 2 West (South)) is a level seven English rugby union league and level three of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the West Midlands region including Herefordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands West 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (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 West (South) and post the Rugby Football Union (RFU)'s Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name.
Promoted teams tend to move up to Regional Midlands 2 West or occasionally to Regional 2 Midlands North. Relegated teams drop to Counties 2 Midlands West (South).

## 2024–25

Departing were Ledbury, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands West as runners-up (Luctonians 2XV finished top but were not permitted to be promoted on Level 6 owing to league rules on reserve teams in the RFU leagues). Broadstreet 2XV and Earlsdon were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands West (East). Manor Park moved on a level transfer to Counties 1 Midlands East (North).
Joining were Barkers Butts, Camp Hill, Worcester and Berkswell & Balsall.

## 2023–24

Departing were Berkswell & Balsall, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands West. Barkers Butts and Coventry Welsh were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands West (East). Kidderminster Carolians (2nd) and Spartans (9th) moved on a level transfer to Counties 1 Midlands West (North).
Joining were Alcester, Manor Park, Luctonians 2XV, Evesham and Droitwich.

## 2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 1 Midlands West (South).
Departing were Evesham, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands West and Old Laurentians promoted to Regional 2 Midlands East, whilst Nuneaton Old Edwardians and Silhillians were promoted to Regional 2 Midlands North. Pinley were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands West (South).
Joining were Ledbury, Old Leamingtonians and Coventry Welsh promoted from Midlands 3 West (South) together with new entries Broadstreet 2XV and Bromsgrove 2XV.

## 2020–21

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

## 2016–17

* Barkers Butts
* Berkswell & Balsall
* Dunlop
* Earlsdon
* Leamington
* Malvern
* Nuneaton Old Edwardians
* Pinley
* Rugby Lions (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Silhillians (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
* Southam (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Spartans (Midlands)

## 2015–16

* Banbury
* Barkers Butts (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
* Bedworth (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Berkswell & Balsall (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
* Droitwich
* Dunlop (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Earlsdon (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
* Leamington
* Malvern
* Nuneaton Old Edwardians
* Pilney
* Spartans (Midlands)

## 2014–15

* Banbury
* Droitwich
* Leamington
* Malvern (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
* Newbold on Avon
* Nuneaton Old Edwardians
* Old Coventrians
* Old Laurentians (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
* Old Leamingtonians
* Old Yardleians (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Pilney(promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Spartans (Midlands)

## 2013–14

* Banbury
* Bedworth
* Droitwich
* Dunlop
* Earlsdon
* Kidderminster
* Leamington
* Nuneaton Old Edwardians
* Old Coventrians (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Old Leamingtonians (promoted from Midlands 3 West (South))
* Spartans (Midlands)
* Stourbridge Lions

## 2012–13

* Banbury
* Bedworth
* Droitwich
* Dunlop
* Earlsdon
* Kenilworth (relegated from Midlands 1 West)
* Kidderminster
* Leamington
* Newbold-on-Avon
* Old Laurentians
* Shipton-on-Stour
* Upton-on-Severn

## 2011–12

* Banbury
* Barkers Butts
* Barkswell & Balsall
* Cheltenham North
* Droitwich
* Kidderminster Carolians
* Leamington
* Newbold-on-Avon
* Old Laurentians
* Pershore
* Silhillians
* Upton on Severn

## 2008–09

* Barkers Butts
* Berkswell & Balsall
* Droitwich
* Earlsdon
* Kidderminster Carolians
* Leamington
* Newbold-on-Avon
* Nuneaton Old Edwardians
* Old Coventrians
* Old Laurentians
* Silhillians
* Spartans

## Original teams

Teams in Midlands 2 West (North) and Midlands 2 West (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 1 West, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:
* Bromsgrove - relegated from Midlands 2 West (11th)
* Dudley Kingswinford - promoted from North Midlands 1 (runners up)
* Kings Norton - promoted from North Midlands 1 (4th)
* Leek - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (4th)
* Ludlow - promoted from North Midlands 1 (5th)
* Newbold-on-Avon - relegated from Midlands 2 West (9th)
* Newcastle (Staffs) - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (runners up)
* Old Halesonians - promoted from North Midlands 1 (3rd)
* Old Leamingtonians - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (5th)
* Old Longtonians - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (champions)
* Old Yardleians - promoted from North Midlands 1 (champions)
* Sutton Coldfield - relegated from Midlands 2 West (10th)
* Willenhall - promoted from Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 (3rd)

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

Midlands 2 West (North) and Midlands 2 West (South) were originally part of a single tier 7 division called Midlands West 1. Promotion was to Midlands 2 and relegation to Midlands West 2.
Midlands West 1 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference |
| 1992–93 | 13 | Willenhall | Newbold-on-Avon | Old Yardleians | |
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands West 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 West dropped to become a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands 2 and Midlands West 2.
Midlands West 1 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 1993–94 | 13 | Sutton Coldfield | Bromsgrove | Nuneaton Old Edwardians |
| 1994–95 | 13 | Newport (Salop) | Longton | Ludlow, Newcastle (Staffs) |
| 1995–96 | 13 | Luctonians | Dudley Kingswinford | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands West 1 (1996–2000)

At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands West 1 returned to being a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands 2 and Midlands West 2.
Midlands West 1 :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 1996–97 | 17 | Longton | Malvern | Dixonians, Stoke Old Boys, Tamworth |
| 1997–98 | 17 | Newbold-on-Avon | Keresley | Nuneaton Old Edwardians |
| 1998–99 | 17 | Malvern | Selly Oak | Ludlow, Willenhall, Leek |
| 1999–00 | 17 | Selly Oak | Shrewsbury | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |||||||||||

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

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands West 1 split into two tier 7 regional leagues - Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South). Promotion was now to Midlands 2 West (formerly Midlands 2) and relegation to Midlands 4 West (South) (formerly Midlands West 2).
Midlands 3 West (South) :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2000–01 | 9 | Stratford-upon-Avon | Leamington | Kings Norton |
| 2001–02 | 10 | Leamington | Bedworth | No relegation |
| 2002–03 | 10 | Nuneaton Old Edwardians | Old Coventrians | Evesham, Birmingham Exiles |
| 2003–-04 | 12 | Old Coventrians | Leamington | Southam, Keresley |
| 2004–05 | 12 | Barkers Butts | Pershore | Shipston on Stour, Droitwich |
| 2005–06 | 12 | Solihull | Hereford | Keresley, Old Leamingtonians |
| 2006–07 | 12 | Hereford | Stratford-upon-Avon | Old Coventrians, Ledbury |
| 2007–08 | 12 | Sutton Coldfield | Droitwich | Edwardians, Bedworth, Stourbridge Lions |
| 2008–09 | 12 | Leamington | Nuneaton Old Edwardians | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

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

League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) were renamed as Midlands 2 West (North) and Midlands 2 West (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 7. Promotion was now to Midlands 1 West (formerly Midlands 2 West) and relegation to Midlands 3 West (South) (formerly Midlands 4 West (South)).
Midlands 2 West (South) :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2009–10 | 12 | Worcester Wanderers | Old Laurentians | Newbold on Avon, Old Coventrians |
| 2010–11 | 12 | Dunlop | Bedworth | Earlsdon, Old Coventrians |
| 2011–12 | 12 | Barkers Butts | Berkswell & Balsall | Cheltenham North, Pershore |
| 2012–13 | 12 | Kenilworth | Old Laurentians | Upton-on-Severn, Shipston on Stour |
| 2013–14 | 12 | Earlsdon | Banbury | Bedworth, Dunlop |
| 2014–15 | 12 | Newbold-on-Avon | Old Laurentians | Old Leamingtonians, Old Coventrians |
| 2015–16 | 12 | Banbury | Earlsdon | Droitwich, Bedworth |
| 2016–17 | 12 | Rugby Lions | Silhillians | Dunlop |
| 2017–18 | 12 | Droitwich | Malvern | Old Yardleians, Berkswell & Balsall |
| 2018–19 | 12 | Kenilworth | Kidderminster Carolians | Rugby St Andrews, Old Coventrians |
| 2019–20 | 12 | Stratford-upon-Avon | Malvern | Southam |
| 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 West (North) and Midlands 2 West (South) for the third and final promotion place to Midlands 1 West (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 West (South) teams had ten wins to Midlands 2 West (North) teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on eleven occasions compared to the away teams seven.
Midlands 2 West (North) v Midlands 2 West (South) promotion play-off results :
| Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance |
| 2000–01 | Stafford (N) | 32-10 | Leamington (S) | The County Ground, Stafford, Staffordshire | |
| 2001–02 | Bedworth (S) | 10-6 | Aston Old Edwardians (N) | Smarts Road, Bedworth, Warwickshire | |
| 2002-03 | Old Coventrians (S) | 15-17 | Stoke on Trent (N) | Till Hill Lane, Coventry, Warwickshire | |
| 2003-04 | Sutton Coldfield (N) | 3-37 | Leamington (S) | Roger Smoldon Ground, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands | |
| 2004-05 | Newport (Salop) (N) | 25-12 | Pershore (S) | The Old Showground, Newport, Shropshire | |
| 2005–06 | Bridgnorth (N) | 17-14 | Hereford (S) | Edgar Davis Ground, Bridgnorth, Shropshire | |
| 2006–07 | Sutton Coldfield (N) | 11-18 | Stratford-upon-Avon (S) | Roger Smoldon Ground, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands | |
| 2007–08 | Droitwich (S) | 3-18 | Stoke on Trent (N) | The Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire | |
| 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 | Old Saltleians (N) | 12-14 | Old Laurentians (S) | Watton Lane, Water Orton, Warwickshire | |
| 2010–11 | Bedworth (S) | 15-6 | Old Saltleians (N) | Smarts Road, Bedworth, Warwickshire | |
| 2011–12 | Old Saltleians (N) | 3-27 | Berkswell & Balsall (S) | Watton Lane, Water Orton, Warwickshire | |
| 2012–13 | Old Laurentians (S) | 16-6 | Selly Oak (S) | Fenley Field, Rugby, Warwickshire | |
| 2013–14 | Crewe & Nantwich (N) | 18-13 | Banbury (S) | Newcastle Road, Nantwich, Cheshire | 500 |
| 2014–15 | Old Laurentians (S) | 32-23 | Old Saltleians (N) | Fenley Field, Rugby, Warwickshire | 500 |
| 2015–16 | Earlsdon (S) | 5-20 | Wolverhampton (N) | Mitchell Avenue, Canley, Coventry, West Midlands | |
| 2016–17 | Camp Hill (N) | 53-0 | Silhillians | Haslucks Green Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands | |
| 2017–18 | Malvern (S) | 53-12 | Crewe & Nantwich (N) | Spring Lane, Malvern, Worcestershire | |
| 2018–19 | Kidderminster Carolians (S) | 33-17 | Tamworth (N) | Marlpool Lane, Kidderminster, Worcestershire | 500 |
| 2019–20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Malvern (S) - promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Malvern (S) - promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Malvern (S) - promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Malvern (S) - promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Malvern (S) - promoted instead. |
| 2020–21 | |
| Green background is the promoted team. N = Midlands 2 West (North) (formerly Midlands 3 West (North)) and S = Midlands 2 West (South) (formerly Midlands 3 West (South)) ||||||

### 2008–09 promotion play-offs

As mentioned above the 2008–09 promotion playoffs in Midlands 3 were different due to RFU restructuring for the following season. The two runners up with the worst league records in the four regional divisions at this level would have to face each other for the final promotion spot, with the team with the superior league record having home advantage.
Midlands 2 West (South) v Midlands 2 East (North) promotion play-off results :
| Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance |
| 2008–09 | Spalding (N) | 12-14 | Nuneaton Old Edwardians (S) | Memorial Field, Spalding, Lincolnshire | |
| Green background is the promoted team. S = Midlands 2 West (South) (formerly Midlands 3 West (South)) and N = Midlands 2 East (North) (formerly Midlands 3 West (North)) ||||||

## Number of league titles

* Barkers Butts (2)
* Kenilworth (2)
* Leamington (2)
* Newbold-on-Avon (2)
* Stratford-upon-Avon (2)
* Sutton Coldfield (2)
* Banbury (1)
* Droitwich (1)
* Dunlop (1)
* Earlsdon (1)
* Hereford (1)
* Longton (1)
* Luctonians (1)
* Malvern (1)
* Newport (Salop) (1)
* Nuneaton Old Edwardians (1)
* Old Coventrians (1)
* Rugby Lions (1)
* Selly Oak (1)
* Solihull (1)
* Willenhall (1)
* Worcester Wanderers (1)