# Midlands 5 West (North)

Counties 4 Midlands West (North) (formerly Midlands 5 West (North)) was a level 10 English Rugby Union league and level 5 of the Midlands League, that was made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and even Cheshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. Each year some of the clubs in this division took part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
The league was formed in 2005 and was originally known as Midlands 6 West (North) prior to the Midlands league restructure at the end of the 2008-09 season. Promoted teams typically moved up to Midlands 4 West (North) and there was relegation due to it being one of the basement divisions for Midlands rugby. At the end of the 2018–19 season the league was discontinued, with the majority of teams transferred to Midlands 5 West (South). However, following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 the league was reinstated with the new name Counties 4 Midlands West (North).

## 2024-25

Departing were Burton III and Stoke-on-Trent II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (North). Atherstone were promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (East).
Joining were Newport (Salop) III, Telford Hornets II and Warley.

## 2023-24

Departing were Stone, promoted whilst Longton II (11th) returned to the Staffordshire merit leagues.
Joining were Whittington, Wednesbury and Burntwood II.

## 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 (North).

## 2019-2022

Not contested

## Participating Clubs 2016-17

* Acton Nomads
* Aldridge (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
* Chaddesley Corbett
* Greyhound
* Market Drayton (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
* Stourport
* Tenbury
* Warley

## Participating Clubs 2015-16

* Chaddesley Corbett
* Essington
* Greyhound (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
* Tenbury (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
* St Leonards
* Stourport
* Warley

## Participating Clubs 2014-15

* Aldridge
* Birmingham Barbarians
* Chaddesley Corbett
* Church Stretton
* Essington
* St Leonards
* Stourport
* Warley (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
* Whittington

## Participating Clubs 2013-14

* Aldridge
* Birmingham Barbarians
* Chaddesley Corbett
* Essington
* Rugeley
* Stourport
* Telford Hornets
* Whittington

## Participating clubs 2012–13

* Aldridge
* Birmingham Barbarians
* Essington
* Rugeley
* St Leonards
* Stourport
* Warley
* Whittington

## Participating clubs 2010–11

* Aldridge
* Birmingham Civil Service
* Bromyard
* Five Ways Old Edwardians
* Hanford
* Old Griffinians
* Stourport
* Tenbury
* Wheaton Aston
* Whittington

## Original teams

When this division was introduced in 2005 as Midlands 6 West (North) it contained the following teams:
* Barton-under-Needwood - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (3rd)
* Eccleshall - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (8th)
* Gnosall - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (9th)
* Hanford - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (8th)
* Market Drayton - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (6th)
* Rugley - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (7th)
* St Leonards - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (runners up)
* Stone - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (4th)
* Wheaton Aston & Penkridge - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (11th)
* Whittington - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (5th)

## Midlands 5 West (North) honours
### Midlands 6 West (North) (2005–2009)

Midlands 6 West (North) was introduced ahead of the 2005–06 season as a tier 10 league to replace the discontinued North Midlands (North) and Staffordshire 1 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 5 West (North) and there was no relegation.
Midlands 6 West (North) :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2005–06 | 10 | St Leonards | Rugley | No relegation |
| 2006–07 | 10 | Handsworth | Eccleshall | No relegation |
| 2007–08 | 9 | Barton-Under-Needwood | Yardley & District | No relegation |
| 2008–09 | 8 | Essington | Rugeley | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands 5 West (North) (2009–2019)

Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 6 West (North) and their counterparts Midlands 6 West (South-East / South-West) were renamed as Midlands 5 West North and Midlands 5 West (South-East) and Midlands 5 West (South-West), with all leagues remaining at tier 10. Promotion was now to Midlands 4 West (North) (formerly Midlands 5 West (North)) and there was no relegation. At the end of 2018–19 season Midlands 5 West (North) was cancelled.
Midlands 5 West (North) :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2009–10 | 8 | Market Drayton | Warley | No relegation |
| 2010–11 | 8 | Tenbury | Birmingham Civil Service | No relegation |
| 2011–12 | 9 | Bromyard | Five Ways Old Edwardians | No relegation |
| 2012–13 | 8 | St Leonards | Warley | No relegation |
| 2013–14 | 8 | Rugeley | Telford Hornets | No relegation |
| 2014–15 | 9 | Church Stretton | Aldridge | No relegation |
| 2015–16 | 7 | Essington | St Leonards | No relegation |
| 2016–17 | 7 | Tenbury | Market Drayton | No relegation |
| 2017–18 | 8 | Greyhound | Linley | No relegation |
| 2018–19 | 6 | Tenbury | Warley | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Number of league titles

* Tenbury (3)
* Essington (2)
* St Leonards (2)
* Barton-Under-Needwood (1)
* Bromyard (1)
* Church Stretton (1)
* Greyhound (1)
* Handsworth (1)
* Market Drayton (1)
* Rugeley (1)