# Midlands 4 East (South)

Counties 3 Midlands East (South) / (Central) (formerly Midlands 4 East (South) area level 9 English Rugby Union leagues and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire, all of whom play home and away matches 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 East (South) but changed to its present name for the 2008-09 season due to league restructuring. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 4 East (South) and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name. From 2023-24 the league was split into South and Central divisions.
Promoted teams move up to Counties 2 Midlands East (South) and since Midlands 5 East (South) was abolished there has been no relegation.

## 2024–25
### Central

Joining were Bingham, Castle Donington, Ilkeston II, Leesbrook, Nottingham Moderns II and Spalding II.
Departing were Keyworth, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South) together with Asbourne II, North Hykeham, Paviors II, Rolls-Royce and Sleaford who all returned to the Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East and West divisions.

### South

Departing were Northampton BBOB and Rugby St Andrews, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South). Castle Donington left on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands East (Central).
Joining were Aylestone Athletic, Bedford Queens, Leighton Buzzard and Luton

## 2023–24

Ahead of the new season a new Central division was introduced.

### Central

This newly created league was formed in the majority of sides on a level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East and West divisions plus the addition of Melllish 2XV.

### South

Departing were Bedford Swifts and Brackley, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South). Thorley (7th) were relegated into the Cambridgeshire reserve leagues.
Joining were Castle Donington, Northampton BBOB, Northampton Men's Own, Rugby St Andrews, Rugby Welsh and Sielby.

## 2022–23

Departing were Biggleswade, St Neots and Northampton BBOB, all promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South).
Joining were Rugby Lions.

## 2021–22
### Participating teams and locations

Kempston, who finished 11th in 2019-20, and Wellingborough Old Grammarians, who finished 12th in 2019-20, did not return for the current season.
Joining the league are South Leicester who withdrew from Midlands Premier in season 2019-20.
Aylestone St James withdrew from the league midway through the season leaving it with nine teams.

## 2020–21

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

## Teams 2016–17

* Bedford Queens
* Bedford Swifts
* Bourne
* Brackley
* Deepings
* Old Newtonians
* Sileby Town
* Stamford College Old Boys
* Thorney
* Wellingborough Old Grammarians

## Teams 2015–16

* Bedford Queens (relegated from Midlands 3 East (South))
* Bedford Swifts
* Birstall
* Bourne
* Brackley
* Deepings
* Northampton Men's Own (relegated from Midlands 3 East (South))
* Sileby Town
* Stamford College Old Boys
* Thorney
* Wellingborough Old Grammarians

## Teams 2014–15

* Bedford Swifts
* Bourne
* Brackley (relegated from Midlands 3 East (South))
* Corby
* Deepings (relegated from Midlands 3 East (South))
* Kempston
* Old Newtonians
* Sileby Town
* St Neots
* Stamford College Old Boys
* Thorney
* Westwood

## Teams 2013–14

* Aylestone Athletic
* Bedford Swifts
* Bourne
* Corby
* Kempston
* Long Buckby (relegated from Midlands 3 East (South))
* Old Newtonians (relegated from Midlands 3 East (South))
* Oundale
* St Neots
* Stamford College Old Boys
* Thorney
* Westwood

## Teams 2012–13

* Aylestone Athletic
* Bedford Swifts
* Bourne
* Brackley
* Corby
* Oundale
* St Ives (Midlands)
* St Neots
* Stamford College Old Boys
* Thorney
* Wellingborough Old Grammarians
* Westwood

## Teams 2008–09

* Ashfield
* Bedford Swifts
* Brackley
* Bugbrooke
* Daventry
* Deepings
* Long Buckby
* Market Harborough
* Northampton Casuals
* Northampton Men's Own
* Peterborough Lions
* Rugby St Andrews
* Vauxhall Motors

## Original teams

When this division was introduced in 2006 as Midlands 5 East (South), it contained the following teams:
* Aylestone St James - promoted from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 2 (champions)
* Bedford Queens - transferred from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 (4th)
* Bedford Swifts - transferred from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 (3rd)
* Kempston - promoted from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 2 (runners up)
* Market Harborough - transferred from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 (5th)
* Oundle - transferred from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 (7th)
* St Ives (Midlands) - transferred from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 (8th)
* Stamford - transferred from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (11th)
* Stoneygate - relegated from Midlands 4 East (South) (10th)
* Wellingborough Old Grammarians - transferred from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 (6th)

## Midlands 4 East (South) honours
### Midlands 5 West (North) (2006–2009)

League restructuring ahead of the 2006–07 season saw the introduction of Midlands 5 East (South) and its counterpart Midlands 5 East (North) at tier 9 to replace the discontinued East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 and Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 4 East (South) and relegation to Midlands 6 East (South).
Midlands 5 East (South) :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2006–07 | 10 | Bedford Swifts | Aylestone St James | Wellingborough O.G., Kempston |
| 2007–08 | 10 | Market Harborough | Deepings | St Ives (Midlands), Stamford |
| 2008–09 | 10 | Stockwood Park | Bedford Queens | Kempston, Wellingborough O.G., Aylestone Athletic |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands 4 East (South) (2009–present)

Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 5 East (North) and Midlands 5 East (South) were renamed as Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 9. Promotion was now to Midlands 3 East (South) (formerly Midlands 4 East (South)) and relegation to Midlands 5 East (South) (formerly Midlands 6 East (South)) until that league was discontinued at the end of the 2009–10 season.
Midlands 4 East (South) :
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| 2009–10 | 8 | Oadby Wyggestonians | Rushden & Higham | No relegation |
| 2010–11 | 11 | Stamford | Biggleswade | No relegation |
| 2011–12 | 12 | Old Newtonians | Northampton Men's Own | No relegation |
| 2012–13 | 12 | Brackley | St Ives (Midlands) | No relegation |
| 2013–14 | 11 | Long Buckby | Oundle | No relegation |
| 2014–15 | 10 | St Neots | Old Newtonians | No relegation |
| 2015–16 | 10 | Northampton Men's Own | Birstall | No relegation |
| 2016–17 | 9 | Sileby Town | Bedford Queens | No relegation |
| 2017–18 | 9 | St Neots | Bourne | No relegation |
| 2018–19 | 11 | N'hampton BBOB | Sileby | No relegation |
| 2019–20 | 11 | Birstall | Northampton Men's Own | No relegation |
| 2020–21 | 11 | | | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Number of league titles

* St Neots (2)
* Bedford Swifts (1)
* Birstall (1)
* Brackley (1)
* Long Buckby (1)
* Market Harborough (1)
* N'hampton BBOB (1)
* Northampton Men's Own (1)
* Oadby Wyggestonians (1)
* Old Newtonians (1)
* Sileby Town (1)
* Stamford (1)
* Stockwood Park (1)