Midlands 4 West (North)
Level 9 English Rugby Union league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Counties 3 Midlands West (North) (formerly Midlands 4 West (North)) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands and occasionally Cheshire, 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.
Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (North) | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2005 (as Midlands 5 West (North)) |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Country |  England |
| Most titles | Eccleshall, Harborne (2 titles) |
| Website | England RFU |
Formed for the 2005-06 season, the division was originally known as Midlands 5 West (North) but changed to its present name for the 2008–09 season due to league restructuring. Further restructuring followed in the wake of the RFU's Adult Competition Review and from season 2022-23 it has been known by its current name.
Promoted teams move up to Counties 2 Midlands West (North) while relegated teams drop to Counties 4 Midlands West (North).
2025-26
Departing were Leek II and Newcastle (Staffs) II, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (West). Stoke-on-Trent II (11th) were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands West (North).
Handsworth (6th) left on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands West (East).
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  Barton Cannock Eccleshall Market Drayton  Oswestry Rugeley St Leonards Stone Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 3 Midlands West (North) teams
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2024-25
Departing were Aston Old Edwardians and Trentham, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (East) and Counties 2 Midlands West (West) respectively. Cleobury Mortimer (6th) went on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands West (South). Shrewsbury II (11th) and Ludlow II (12th) were relegated into the Shropshire merit leagues.
Joining were Burton III, Handsworth, Rugeley, Stoke-on-Trent II and Uttoxeter.
Aldridge (10th in 2023-24) started but did not complete the season leaving eleven sides to contest the remaining fixtures.
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Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands West (North) teams
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2023-24
Departing were Willenhall and Rugeley, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (West). Wednesbury (9th) and Warley (10th) were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands West (North) and Counties 4 Midlands West (South) respectively.
Joining were Aldridge, Cleobury Mortimer, Stone, Leek II, Shrewsbury II and Newcastle (Staffs) II.
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 Aldridge Aston OE Barton Cannock Cleobury Eccleshall Ludlow II Newcastle II Shrewsbury II Stone Trentham Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Midlands West (North) teams
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2022-23
Departing were Oswestry and Market Drayton, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (North). Birmingham Exiles (10th) departed on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands West (South). Essington (12th) were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands West (North). Yardley & District (8th) did not return for the new season.
Joining were Cannock, Eccleshall, Ludlow II
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Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Midlands West (North) teams
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2021–22
Participating teams & locations
Cannock who finished 12th in 2019-20 were relegated to Midlands 5 West (South) with their place taken by Oswestry who were level transferred from Lancs/Cheshire 2 which was disbanded before the start of the 2021-22 season.
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Locations of the 2021–22 Midlands 4 West (North) teams in Staffordshire and the West Midlands  Market Drayton Oswestry Locations of the 2021–22 Midlands 4 West (North) teams in Shropshire
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2020–21
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
2019–20
Participating teams & locations
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Clee Hill Market Drayton Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 4 West (North) teams in Shropshire
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2018–19
Participating teams & locations
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Clee Hill Market Drayton Locations of the 2018-19 Midlands 4 West (North) teams in Shropshire
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2017–18
Participating teams & locations
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Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 4 West (North) teams
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Teams 2016-17
- Aston Old Edwardians
- Barton-Under-Needwood
- Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
- Bloxwich (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))
- Church Stretton
- Essington (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
- Five Way Old Edwardians
- Rugeley
- St Leonards (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
- Trentham
- Wednesbury (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))
- Yardley & District
Teams 2015-16
- Aldridge (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
- Aston Old Edwardians (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))
- Barton-Under-Needwood
- Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
- Bromyard
- Church Stretton (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
- Market Drayton
- Rugeley
- Telford Hornets
- Uttoxeter (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))
- Yardley & District
Teams 2014-15
- Barton-Under-Needwood (transferred from Midlands 4 West (South))
- Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
- Bromyard
- Cannock
- Cleobury Mortimer
- Greyhound
- Market Drayton (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))
- Rugeley (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
- Telford Hornets (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
- Tenbury
- Yardley & District (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))
Teams 2013-14
- Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
- Bromyard
- Cannock
- Clee Hill
- Cleobury Mortimer (relegated from Midlands 3 West (North))
- Five Ways Old Edwardians
- Greyhound
- Harborne
- St Leonards (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
- Tenbury
- Warley (promoted from Midlands 5 West (North))
Teams 2012–13
- Barton-Under-Needwood
- Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
- Bromyard
- Cannock
- Clee Hill
- Five Ways O.E.
- Harborne
- Market Drayton
- Telford Hornets
- Tenbury
- Uttoxeter
Teams 2008–09
- Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
- Burntwood
- Cleobury Mortimer
- Handsworth
- Leek
- Moseley Oak
- Newcastle
- Old Yardleians
- Shrewsbury
- Tamworth
- Veseyans
- Willenhall
Teams 2007–08
- Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
- Bournville
- Burntwood
- Harborne
- Old Halesonians
- Old Yardleians
- Moseley Oak
- Tamworth
- Telford Hornets
- Veseyans
- Willenhall
Original teams
When this division was introduced in 2005 as Midlands 5 West (North), it contained the following teams:
- Bloxwich - transferred from North Midlands (North) (4th)
- Bournville - transferred from North Midlands (North) (9th)
- Cannock - transferred from Staffordshire 1 (champions)
- Essington - transferred from North Midlands (North) (7th)
- Five Ways Old Edwardians - transferred from North Midlands (North) (6th)
- Old Griffinians - transferred from North Midlands (North) (3rd)
- Selly Oak - relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (9th)
- Warley -transferred from North Midlands (North) (5th)
- Yardley & District - relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (10th)
Midlands 4 West (North) honours
Midlands 5 West (North) (2005–2009)
Midlands 5 West (North) was introduced ahead of the 2005–06 season as a tier 9 league to replace the discontinued North Midlands (North) and Staffordshire 1 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 4 West (North) and relegation to Midlands 6 West (North).
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 9 | Old Griffinians | Selly Oak | Essington, Warley | [1] | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | 10 | Bournville | Kings Norton | Yardley & District, Rugeley | [2] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 10 | Handsworth | Cleobury Mortimer | Aldridge | [3] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 11 | Bloxwich | Telford Hornets | Five Ways Old Edwardians, Stourport | [4] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Midlands 4 West (North) (2009–present)
Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 5 West (North) and Midlands 5 West (South) were renamed as Midlands 4 West (North) and Midlands 4 West (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 9. Promotion was now to Midlands 3 West (North) (formerly Midlands 4 West (North)) and relegation to Midlands 5 West (North) (formerly Midlands 6 West (North)) until that league was discontinued at the end of the 2018–19 season.
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 9 | Eccleshall | Yardley & District | No relegation[a] | [5] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 11 | Harborne | Cleobury Mortimer | Warley, Essington | [6] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 11 | Edwardians | Bloxwich | Rugeley, St Leonards | [7] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 11 | Market Drayton | Uttoxeter | Telford Hornets, Barton-Under-Needwood | [8] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 11 | Harborne | Clee Hill | St Leonards, Warley | [9] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 11 | Cleobury Mortimer | Cannock | Tenbury, Greyhound | [10] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 11 | Uttoxeter | Telford Hornets | Market Drayton, Aldridge | [11] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 12 | Trentham | Barton-under-Needwood | St Leonards, Bishops Castle & Onny Valley | [12] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 10 | Eccleshall | Wednesbury | Church Stretton [b] | [13] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 11 | Linley | Willenhall | Bloxwich | [14] | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | 12 | Clee Hill | Aldridge | Cannock | [15] | |||||||||
| 2020–21 | 12 | |||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Eccleshall (2)
- Harborne (2)
- Bloxwich (1)
- Bournville (1)
- Clee Hill (1)
- Cleobury Mortimer (1)
- Edwardians (1)
- Handsworth (1)
- Linley (1)
- Market Drayton (1)
- Old Griffinians (1)
- Trentham (1)
- Uttoxeter (1)