Counties 2 Midlands East (South)
Level 8 English Rugby Union league
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Counties 2 Midlands East (South) (formerly Midlands 3 East (South)) is a level 8 English rugby union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire, all of whom play home and away matches throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 2, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, led to the current name of Midlands 3 East (South). Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season saw it changed to Midlands 2 East (South). After the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name.
Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 2 Midlands East (South) | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1992 (as Midlands East 2) |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Country |  England |
| Most titles | Leicester Forest, Lutterworth, Market Harborough, Rushden & Higham, Stamford (2 titles) |
| Website | England RFU |
Promoted teams move up to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) while demoted teams drop into Counties 3 Midlands East North West, Counties 3 Midlands East North East, Counties 3 Midlands East Central or Counties 3 Midlands East South depending on location.
2026-27
Departing were Oundle II and Leighton Buzzard, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) as champions and runners-up respectively.
Huntingdon & District (11th) and Rugby Lions (12th) were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East South (South).
Participating teams and locations
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  Brackley Casuals Laurentians R&H S & L St Ives Stockwood Park Locations of the 2026-27 Counties 2 Midlands East (South) teams
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2025–26
Departing were Long Buckby and Dunstablians, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) as champions and runners-up respectively.
Rugby St Andrews (9th) and Oakham (10th) were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East South (North) while Northampton BBOB (11th) were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East South (South).
Participating teams and locations
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Brackley H&D Casuals Laurentians Rugby Lions R&H St Ives Stockwood Park Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 2 Midlands East (South) teams
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2024–25
Departing were Biggleswade and Stewarts & Lloyds, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South). Luton (11th) and Bedford Queens (12th) were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East (South). Bedford Swifts (10th) elected to withdraw from the leagues and instead play merit table rugby for 2024–25.
Joining were Long Buckby and Oakham, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South), together with Northampton BBOB and Rugby St Andrews, both promoted.
With five teams departing and four joining the league was reduced in size from twelve clubs to eleven.
Participating teams and locations
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Locations of the 2024–25 Counties 2 Midlands East (South) teams
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2023–24
Departing were Daventry and Spalding, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South). Melton Mowbray (6th) moved on a level transfer to Counties 2 Midlands East (North). Northampton BBOB and Northampton Men's Own were relegated.
Joining were St Ives, Dunstablians and Northampton Casuals, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South), together with Bedford Swifts and Brackley, both promoted.
Participating teams and locations
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Locations of the 2023–24 Counties 2 Midlands East (South) teams
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2022–23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review[3] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 2 Midlands East (South)).
Departing were Stockwood Park, Dunstablians and Bourne, all promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South).
Joining were Biggleswade, Northampton BBOB and St Neots, all promoted.
Participating teams and locations
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Queens Daventry Huntingdon Melton Mowbray BBOB Northampton MO R & H Spalding Stewarts & Lloyds Locations of the 2022–23 Counties 2 Midlands East (South) teams
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2021–22
Participating teams and locations
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Bedford Queens Bourne Daventry Huntingdon Melton Mowbray Northampton MO Rushden & Higham Spalding Stewarts & Lloyds Stockwood Park Locations of the 2021–22 Midlands 3 East (South) teams
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2020–21
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
2019–20
Participating teams and locations
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Queens Bourne Daventry Huntingdon N'hampton BBOB Rushden & Higham Spalding Stamford Stockwood Park Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 3 East (South) teams
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2018–19
Participating teams and locations
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Queens Bourne Daventry L Forest N Casuals Rushden & Higham Stamford Stockwood Park Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 3 East (South) teams
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2017–18
Participating teams and locations
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Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 3 East (South) teams
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Teams 2016-17
- Aylestone St James (transferred from Midlands 3 East (North))
- Biggleswade (relegated from Midlands 2 East (South))
- Daventry
- Dunstablians
- Leicester Forest (relegated from Midlands 2 East (South))
- Long Buckby
- Northampton BBOB
- Northampton Casuals
- Northampton Men's Own (promoted from Midlands 4 East (South))
- St Ives (Midlands)
- St Neots
- Stewarts & Lloyds
Teams 2015-16
- Daventry
- Dunstablians (relegated from Midlands 2 East (South))
- Long Buckby
- Northampton BBOB
- Northampton Casuals
- Old Newtonians (promoted from Midlands 4 East (South))
- Oundale
- Rugby St Andrews
- Stockwood Park
- St Ives (Midlands)
- St Neots (promoted from Midlands 4 East (South))
- Stewarts & Lloyds (relegated from Midlands 2 East (South))
Teams 2014-15
- Bedford Queens
- Daventry
- Long Buckby (promoted from Midlands 4 East (South))
- Northampton BBOB (relegated from Midlands 2 East (South))
- Northampton Casuals
- Northampton Mens Own
- Oundale (promoted from Midlands 4 East (South))
- Rugby St Andrews
- Rushden & Higham (relegated from Midlands 2 East (South))
- St Ives (Midlands)
- Stockwood Park
- Vipers
Teams 2013-14
- Bedford Queens
- Biggleswade (relegated from Midlands 2 East (South))
- Brackley (promoted from Midlands 4 East (South))
- Daventry
- Deepings
- Northampton Casuals
- Northampton Mens Own
- Rugby St Andrews
- St Ives (Midlands) (promoted from Midlands 4 East (South))
- Stewarts & Lloyds
- Stockwood Park
- Vipers (relegated from Midlands 2 East (South))
Teams 2012–13
- Bedford Queens
- Daventry
- Deepings
- Long Buckby
- Northampton Casuals
- Northampton Mens Own
- Old Newtonians
- Rugby St Andrews
- Rushden & Higham
- Stamford
- Stewarts & Lloyds
- Stockwood Park
Teams 2011–12
- Bedford Queens
- Bedford Swifts
- Biggleswade
- Brackley
- Daventry
- Deepings
- Northampton BBOB
- Northampton Casuals
- Rugby St Andrews
- Rushden & Higham
- Stamford
- Stewarts & Lloyds
Teams 2010–11
- Bedford Queens
- Bedford Swifts
- Brackley
- Daventry
- Deepings
- Long Buckby
- Northampton Casuals
- Northampton Mens Own
- Oadby Wyggestonians
- Old Newtonians
- Rugby St Andrews
- Rushden & Higham
Teams 2008–09
- Aylestone St James
- Banbury
- Huntingdon & District
- Leicester Forest
- Lutterworth
- Northampton BBOB
- Northampton Old Scouts
- Old Newtonians
- Old Northamptonians
- Stewarts & Lloyds
- Towcestrians
- Vipers
Original teams
Teams in Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 2 East, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:
- Coalville - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire (6th)
- Glossop - promoted from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (6th)
- Kesteven - promoted from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (9th)
- Kettering - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire (7th)
- Lincoln - promoted from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (10th)
- Long Buckby - promoted from East Midlands 1 (champions)
- Lutterworth - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire (10th)
- Market Rasen & Louth - promoted from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 2 (runners up)
- Northampton BBOB - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire (9th)
- South Leicester - promoted from Leicestershire 1 (champions)
- Southwell - promoted from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (7th)
- Stamford - promoted from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (8th)
- Wellingborough - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire (8th)
- Worksop - promoted from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 2 (champions)
Midlands 3 East (South) honours
Midlands East 2 (1992–1993)
Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were originally part of a single tier 8 division called Midlands East 2. Promotion was to Midlands East 1 and relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.
Midlands East 2 (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 2 East dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Midlands East 1 while relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 13 | Long Buckby | Wellingborough | Dronfield, Kesteven | [5] | |||||||||
| 1994–95 | 13 | Ilkeston | Huntingdon & District | Worksop, Grimsby, Luton | [6] | |||||||||
| 1995–96 | 13 | Lutterworth | Old Northamptonians[a] | No relegation[b] | [7] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Midlands East 2 (1996–2000)
At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands East 2 returned to being a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to Midlands East 1 while relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 17 | Northampton Men's Own | Northampton Old Scouts | Chesterfield Panthers, East Retford, Mellish | [8] | |||||||||
| 1997–98 | 17 | Dunstablians | Oadby Wyggestonian | Bedford Queens, Northampton BBOB | [9] | |||||||||
| 1998–99 | 17 | Luton | South Leicester | Nottingham Casuals, Biggleswade | ||||||||||
| 1999–00 | 17 | Market Bosworth[c] | Long Eaton[d] | No relegation[e] | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Midlands 4 East (South) (2000–2006)
Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands East 2 split into two tier 8 regional leagues - Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South). Promotion was now to Midlands 3 East (North)[f] and relegation to East Midlands 1.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01[10] | 10 | Market Harborough | Melton Mowbray | Sleaford, West Bridgford, Stamford | [10] | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 10 | Lutterworth | Old Northamptonians | Oakham, Bugbrooke | [11] | |||||||||
| 2002–03 | 10 | Rushden & Higham | Stockwood Park | Biggleswade, Northampton BBOB | [12] | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | 10 | Coalville | Daventry | No relegation[g] | [13] | |||||||||
| 2004–05 | 9 | Leicester Forest | Northampton Casuals | Market Harborough | [14] | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 10 | Vauxhall Motors | Bugbrooke | Stoneygate | [15] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Midlands 4 East (South) (2006–2009)
Midlands 4 East (South) continued to be a tier 8 league with promotion up into Midlands 3 East (South). However, the cancellation of East Midlands 1 at the end of the 2005–06 season meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands 5 East (South).
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | 10 | Vipers | Northampton BBOB | Biggleswade, Rushden & Higham | [16] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 10 | Aylestone St James | Old Newtonians | Oadby Wyggestonians, Stockwood Park | [17] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 12 | Market Harborough | Peterborough Lions | No relegation[h] | [18] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Midlands 3 East (South) (2009–present)
League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South) were renamed as Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 8. Promotion was now to Midlands 2 East (South) (formerly Midlands 3 East (South)) and relegation to Midlands 4 East (South) (formerly Midlands 5 East (South)).
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 11 | Bugbrooke | Stockwood Park | No relegation[i] | [19] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 12 | Oadby Wyggestonians | Long Buckby | Northampton Mens Own, Old Newtonians | [20] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 12 | Northampton BBOB | Biggleswade | Brackley, Bedford Swifts | [21] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 12 | Stamford | Rushden & Higham | Old Newtonians, Long Buckby | [22] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 12 | Biggleswade | Stewarts & Lloyds | Deepings, Brackley | [23] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 12 | Rushden & Higham | Vipers | Northampton Mens Own, Bedford Queens | [24] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 11 | Oundle | Stockwood Park | No relegation[j] | [25] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 12 | Stewarts & Lloyds | Long Buckby | Aylestone St James, St Neots | [26] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 12 | St Ives (Midlands) | Vipers | Northampton Mens Own, Northampton BBOB | [27] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 12 | Leicester Forest | Northampton Casuals | Biggleswade, Birstall | [28] | |||||||||
| 2019-20 | 12 | Stamford | Oakham | St Neots, Northampton BBOB, Bedford Queens | [29] | |||||||||
| 2020–21 | 12 | |||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Leicester Forest (2)
- Lutterworth (2)[k]
- Market Harborough (2)
- Rushden & Higham (2)
- Stamford (2)
- Aylestone St James (1)
- Biggleswade (1)
- Bugbrooke (1)
- Coalville (1)
- Dunstablians (1)[l]
- Ilkeston (1)[m]
- Kettering (1)[n]
- Long Buckby (1)[o]
- Luton (1)[p]
- Market Bosworth (1)[q]
- Northampton BBOB (1)
- Northampton Men's Own (1)[r]
- Oadby Wyggestonians (1)
- Oundle (1)
- St Ives (Midlands) (1)
- Stewarts & Lloyds (1)
- Vauxhall Motors (1)
- Vipers (1)
Notes
- Due to the cancellation of National 5 North at the end of the season, eight clubs were promoted including Lincoln, Wellingborough, Nottingham Moderns, Ashbourne, Northampton BBOB and Coalville.
- Due to widespread restructuring caused by the cancellation of National 5 North there was no relegation.
- Champions Market Bosworth would be promoted into the new Midlands 3 East (North).
- Due to Midlands league restructuring five clubs would be promoted including Glossop (3rd) and Loughborough who would go up into Midlands 3 East (North), while Vipers (4th) would go up into Midlands 3 East (South).
- As Midlands East 2 was due to split up into two regional leagues there was no relegation. Clubs that were not promoted were transferred into either Midlands 4 East (North) or Midlands 4 East (South).
- Prior to the 2000–01 season Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were part of a Midlands East 1.
- No relegation but Biddenham would drop out of the league for the following season.
- No relegation but Vauxhall Motors would drop out of the league for the following season.
- No relegation as the division would increase from 11 to 12 teams for the next season.
- As the league was set to expand from 11 to 12 teams for the following season there was no relegation.
- One of Lutterworth's titles was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.
- Dunstablians title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.
- Ilkeston's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.
- Kettering's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.
- Long Buckby's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.
- Market Bosworth's title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.
- Northampton Men's Own title was when league was single division known as Midlands East 2.