# Midlands 5 West (South)

Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (formerly Midlands 5 West (South)) is a level 10 English Rugby Union league and level 5 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and even (on occasion) Cheshire and 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 in 2006 originally the league was divided into two regional divisions – Midlands 6 South-East and South-West – but was merged into a single division for the 2010–11 season. In its present state promoted teams typically move up to either Midlands 4 West (North) or Midlands 4 West (South) with there being no relegation as it is the basement division for Midlands rugby. There was also another regional tier 5 Midlands league - Midlands 5 West (North) - but this league was discontinued at the end of the 2018–19 season, with most teams transferred into a new-look Midlands 5 West (South). Further restructuring followed in the wake of the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it has been known as Counties 4 Midlands West (South).

## 2024-25

Departing were Upton-upon-Severn and Malvern II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South). Warley (4th) left on a level transfer to Counties 4 Midlands West (North).
Joining were Old Leamingtonians II, Kidderminster Carolians II and Trinity Guild.

## 2023-24

Departing were Hereford II and Worcester II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South).
Joining were Upton-on-Severn, Birmingham Exiles, Warley and Old Halesonians II.
With two leaving and four joining the league was restored to twelve clubs from ten.

## 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 (South).
Departing were Birmingham & Solihull, Cannock and Greyhound, all promoted. Leaving on a level transfer to Counties 4 Midlands West (North) were Stone (5th), Bloxwich (7th), St Leonards (8th) and Atherstone (11th).
Joining were Hereford II, Worcester II, Malvern II, Evesham and Droitwich II.
With seven leaving and five joining the league was reduced in size from twelve clubs to ten.

## 2021–22

Dixonians, who finished 11th 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

* Atherstone (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
* Birmingham Civil Service (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
* Birmingham Exiles
* Copsewood
* Rugby Welsh
* Trinity Guild
* Wellesbourne

## Teams 2015-16

* Birmingham Exiles
* Copsewood
* Five Ways Old Edwardians (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
* Keresley
* Rugby Welsh
* Trinity Guild
* Wellesbourne

## Teams 2014-15

* Alcester (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
* Birmingham Civil Service (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
* Birmingham Exiles
* Copsewood
* Coventry Technical
* Keresley
* Rugby Welsh
* Trinity Guild
* Wellesbourne

## Teams 2013-14

* Birmingham Exiles
* Copsewood
* Coventry Technical
* Keresley
* Rugby Lions
* Rugby Welsh
* Trinity Guild
* Warwickian
* Wellesbourne

## Teams 2012–13

* Birmingham Exiles
* Copsewood
* Coventry Technical
* Greyhound
* Rugby Welsh
* Stoke Old Boys
* Trinity Guild
* Wellesbourne

## 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 it was split into two separate divisions - Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West) - containing the following teams:
Midlands 6 West (South-East)
* Atherstone - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (5th)
* Coventrians - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (runners up)
* Coventry Saracens - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (9th)
* Manor Park - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (9th)
* Old Wheatleyans - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (4th)
* Pinley - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (8th)
* Rugby Welsh - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (3rd)
* Standard - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (8th)
* Trinity Guild - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (10th)
* Warwickian - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (6th)
Midlands 6 West (South-West)
* Birmingham Civil Service - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (5th)
* Birmingham Exiles - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (8th)
* Bromyard - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (6th)
* Chaddesley Corbett - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (runners up)
* Claverdon - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (7th)
* Clee Hill - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (4th)
* Dudley Wasps - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (3rd)
* Redditch - transferred from North Midlands (South) 1 (7th)
* Warley - relegated from Midlands 5 West (North) (8th)

## Midlands 5 West (South) honours
### Midlands 6 West (South-East) / (South-West) (2006–2009)

The league was originally divided into two sub-divisions known as Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West). These divisions were introduced along with their counterpart Midlands 6 West (North) at tier 10 to replace the discontinued North Midlands 2, Warwickshire 1 and Warwickshire 2 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 5 West (South) and there was no relegation.
Midlands 5 West (South-East & South-West) :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name |
| 2006–07 | 10 | Pinley | Manor Park | No relegation | Midlands 6 West (South-East) |
| 2006–07 | 9 | Dudley Wasps | Redditch | No relegation | Midlands 6 West (South-West) |
| 2007–08 | 9 | Stoke Old Boys | Coventrians | No relegation | Midlands 6 West (South-East) |
| 2007–08 | 10 | Redditch | Clee Hill | No relegation | Midlands 6 West (South-West) |
| 2008–09 | 9 | Rugby Welsh | Alcester | No relegation | Midlands 6 West (South-East) |
| 2008–09 | 10 | Birmingham Exiles | Warley | No relegation | Midlands 6 West (South-West) |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands 5 West (South-East) / (South-West) (2009–2010)

Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 6 West (South-East / South-West) and their counterpart Midlands 6 West (North) were renamed as Midlands 5 West (South-East / South-West) and Midlands 5 West (North), with all leagues remaining at tier 10. Promotion was now to Midlands 4 West (South) (formerly Midlands 5 West (South)) and there was no relegation.
Midlands 5 West (South-East & South-West) :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | League Name |
| 2009–10 | 9 | Trinity Guild | Atherstone | No relegation | Midlands 5 West (South-East) |
| 2009–10 | 8 | Clee Hill | Tenbury | No relegation | Midlands 5 West (South-West) |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands 5 West (South) (2009–present)

Midlands 5 West (South-East / South West) were remerged into a single tier 10 division ahead of the 2010–11 season. Promotion continued to Midlands 4 West (South) and there was no relegation.
Midlands 5 West (South) :
| Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams |
| 2010–11 | 8 | Claverdon | Old Wheatleyans | No relegation |
| 2011–12 | 7 | Coventrians | Warwickian | No relegation |
| 2012–13 | 8 | Stoke Old Boys | Greyhound | No relegation |
| 2013–14 | 9 | Rugby Lions | Warwickian | No relegation |
| 2014–15 | 8 | Birmingham Civil Service | Alcester | No relegation |
| 2015–16 | 7 | Keresley | Five Ways Old Edwardians | No relegation |
| 2016–17 | 7 | Burbage | Birmingham Civil Service | No relegation |
| 2017–18 | 7 | Aldridge | Kings Norton | No relegation |
| 2018–19 | 5 | Birmingham Exiles | Birmingham Civil Service | No relegation |
| 2019–20 | 11 | Rugby Welsh | Chaddesley Corbett | No relegation |
| 2020–21 | 11 | | | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Promotion play-offs

Between 2007 and 2010 there was a promotion playoff between the runners-up of Midlands 5 West (South-East) and Midlands 5 West (South-West) for the third and final promotion place to Midlands 4 West (South), with the team with the superior league record having home advantage in the tie. The playoffs were dissolved at the end of the 2009-10 season when Midlands 5 West (South) became one division. By the end of the promotion play-offs the Midlands 5 West (South-East) teams won all four playoff games and the home team has also won promotion on all four occasions.
Midlands 5 West (South-East) v Midlands 5 West (South-West) promotion play-off results :
| Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue |
| 2006–07 | Manor Park (SE) | 25-22 | Redditch (SW) | Heath End, Nuneaton, Warwickshire |
| 2007–08 | Coventrians (E) | 27-0 | Clee Hill (SW) | The Black Pad, Holbrooks, Coventry, Warwickshire |
| 2008–09 | Alchester (SE) | 25-7 | Warley (SW) | Fritwell Playing Fields, Fritwell, Oxfordshire |
| 2009–10 | Atherstone (SE) | 47-15 | Tenbury (SW) | Atherstone Town Cricket Club, Atherstone, Warwickshire |
| Green background is the promoted team. SE = Midlands 5 West (South-East) (formerly Midlands 6 West (South-East)) and SW = Midlands 5 West (South-West) (formerly Midlands 6 West (South-West)) ||||||

## Number of league titles

* Birmingham Exiles (2)
* Rugby Welsh (2)
* Stoke Old Boys (2)
* Aldridge (1)
* Birmingham Civil Service (1)
* Burbage (1)
* Claverdon (1)
* Clee Hill (1)
* Coventrians (1)
* Dudley Wasps (1)
* Keresley (1)
* Pinley (1)
* Redditch (1)
* Rugby Lions (1)
* Trinity Guild (1)