Regional 2 East Midlands
English rugby union regional league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Regional 2 Midlands East is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the eastern region of the Midlands, including sides from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and occasionally Bedfordshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire. When this division began in 1987 it was known as Midlands 2 East, and has been restructured several times, most notably as a single division known as Midlands 2 between 1992 and 2000, and Midlands 1 East before regionalising again to its present format with the new name of Regional 2 Midlands East as part of England Rugby's Future Competition Structure[1] change at the start of the 2022–23 season. Lutterworth are the 2024–25 champions.
Current season or competition: 2024–25 Regional 2 Midlands East | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1987 (as Midlands 2 East) |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Country |  England |
| Holders | Lutterworth (2024–25) |
| Most titles | Bedford Athletic, Syston (4 titles) |
| Website | England RFU |
Structure and format
The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to April, making a total of twenty-two matches each. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
- 4 points are awarded for a win
- 2 points are awarded for a draw
- 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
- 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
- 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match
There is one automatic promotion place and two relegation places. The champions and runner-up are promoted to Regional 1 Midlands (formerly Midlands Premier). The last two teams are relegated teams to either Counties 1 Midlands East (North) or Counties 1 Midlands East (South), depending on geographic location.[2]
2025–26
Participating teams and locations
Departing were Lutterworth, promoted to Regional 1 Midlands, while Leicester Forest (12th) and Market Bosworth (11th) were relegated to Counties 1 Midlands East (South). Promoted into the league were Old Coventrians, 2nd in Counties 1 Midlands West (South) and Stamford, champions of Counties 1 Midlands East (South).
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  Daventry M Harborough Old Scouts Oadby Wyggs Coventrians Stamford Wellingborough Locations of the 2025-26 Regional 2 Midlands East teams
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League table
| ||||||||||||||||
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Loss bonus | Pts | Pts adj. Play offs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northampton Old Scouts | 22 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 880 | 446 | 434 | 18 | 1 | 96 | −1 pt Promoted | ||||
| 2 | Market Harborough | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 951 | 285 | 666 | 18 | 1 | 93 | Promotion play-off | ||||
| 3 | Broadstreet | 22 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 830 | 422 | 408 | 17 | 2 | 89 | Promotion play-off | ||||
| 4 | Bedford Athletic | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 789 | 550 | 239 | 16 | 1 | 81 | Promotion play-off | ||||
| 5 | Peterborough | 22 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 805 | 571 | 234 | 16 | 2 | 70 | Promotion play-off | ||||
| 6 | Stamford | 22 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 565 | 606 | −41 | 14 | 2 | 64 | |||||
| 7 | Kettering | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 575 | 537 | 38 | 12 | 1 | 53 | |||||
| 8 | Oadby Wyggestonians | 22 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 527 | 712 | −185 | 9 | 5 | 44 | |||||
| 9 | Olney | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 582 | 753 | −171 | 12 | 4 | 44 | |||||
| 10 | Old Coventrians | 22 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 430 | 965 | −535 | 9 | 3 | 27 | −5 pts Relegation play-off | ||||
| 11 | Daventry (R) | 22 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 414 | 819 | −405 | 7 | 2 | 27 | Relegation play-off | ||||
| 12 | Wellingborough (R) | 22 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 350 | 1032 | −682 | 4 | 1 | 13 | Relegation | ||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Updated: 4 May 2026 Source:[3] | ||||||||||||||||
Play-offs
- Regional 2 promotion play-offs
- Round 2
- Regional 2 Midlands West v Regional 2 Midlands East play-off
- Promotion play-off final
- Regional 2 relegation play-off
- Daventry relegated.
2024–25
Participating teams and locations
Departing were Nuneaton, promoted to Regional 1 Midlands whilst Newbold on Avon and Towcestrians were relegated. Joining were Broadstreet, relegated from Regional 1 Midlands together with Daventry and Market Bosworth both promoted from Counties 1 Midlands East (South).
|
Daventry Leicester Forest M Harborough Old Scouts Oadby Wyggs Wellingborough Locations of the 2024–25 Regional 2 Midlands East teams
|
League table
| ||||||||||||||||
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Loss bonus | Points | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lutterworth (P) | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 832 | 340 | 492 | 19 | 0 | 107 | |||||
| 2 | Northampton Old Scouts | 22 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 870 | 482 | 388 | 18 | 2 | 90 | |||||
| 3 | Market Harborough | 22 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 596 | 353 | 243 | 10 | 2 | 84 | |||||
| 4 | Olney | 22 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 561 | 587 | −26 | 12 | 3 | 63 | |||||
| 5 | Peterborough | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 620 | 670 | −50 | 14 | 4 | 58 | |||||
| 6 | Oadby Wyggestonians | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 634 | 638 | −4 | 12 | 6 | 54 | |||||
| 7 | Broadstreet | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 579 | 652 | −73 | 10 | 3 | 49 | |||||
| 8 | Wellingborough | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 472 | 492 | −20 | 8 | 7 | 47 | |||||
| 9 | Daventry | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 434 | 524 | −90 | 4 | 6 | 42 | |||||
| 10 | Kettering | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 450 | 650 | −200 | 6 | 6 | 40 | |||||
| 11 | Market Bosworth | 22 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 431 | 766 | −335 | 9 | 3 | 38 | |||||
| 12 | Leicester Forest | 22 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 447 | 772 | −325 | 11 | 3 | 34 | |||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places Updated: 25 October 2025 Source: "Regional 2 Midlands East". Market Harborough RUFC. | ||||||||||||||||
2023–24
Participating teams and locations
Departing were Old Northamptonians, promoted to Regional 1 South East while Peterborough Lions and Old Laurentians were relegated. Leighton Buzzard, 10th the previous season, were level transferred to Regional 2 Thames. Joining were Nuneaton, relegated from Regional 1 Midlands, Oadby Wyggestonians and Leicester Forest both on a level transfer from Regional 2 Midlands North and Wellingborough promoted from Counties 1 Midlands East (South).
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Leicester Forest M Harborough Old Scouts Oadby Wyggs Wellingborough Locations of the 2023–24 Regional 2 Midlands East teams
|
League table
| ||||||||||||||||
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Loss bonus | Points | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nuneaton (P) | 22 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 980 | 397 | 583 | 20 | 3 | 99 | |||||
| 2 | Lutterworth | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 868 | 363 | 505 | 18 | 2 | 94 | |||||
| 3 | Market Harborough | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 712 | 327 | 385 | 15 | 0 | 89 | |||||
| 4 | Northampton Old Scouts | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 854 | 355 | 499 | 16 | 0 | 86 | |||||
| 5 | Kettering | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 517 | 561 | −44 | 10 | 1 | 59 | |||||
| 6 | Olney | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 635 | 671 | −36 | 14 | 2 | 52 | |||||
| 7 | Leicester Forest | 22 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 544 | 640 | −96 | 9 | 2 | 45 | |||||
| 8 | Peterborough | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 507 | 588 | −81 | 7 | 9 | 44 | |||||
| 9 | Wellingborough | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 438 | 591 | −153 | 6 | 1 | 43 | |||||
| 10 | Oadby Wyggestonians | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 522 | 783 | −261 | 7 | 3 | 38 | |||||
| 11 | Newbold on Avon | 22 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 326 | 920 | −594 | 4 | 0 | 20 | |||||
| 12 | Towcestrians | 22 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 347 | 1054 | −707 | 6 | 2 | 16 | |||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places Updated: 1 January 2025 Source: "Regional 2 Midlands East". England Rugby. | ||||||||||||||||
2022–23
Participating teams and locations
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league rebranded as Regional 2 Midlands East.
League table
| ||||||||||||||||
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Try bonus | Loss bonus | Points | Points deducted | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Northamptonians (P) | 20 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 753 | 284 | 260 | 15 | 0 | 91 | |||||
| 2 | Lutterworth | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 680 | 331 | 349 | 14 | 4 | 82 | |||||
| 3 | Northampton Old Scouts | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 719 | 427 | 292 | 14 | 4 | 78 | |||||
| 4 | Market Harborough | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 464 | 311 | 153 | 7 | 3 | 76 | |||||
| 5 | Peterborough | 21 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 597 | 391 | 206 | 12 | 1 | 69 | |||||
| 6 | Olney | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 562 | 604 | −42 | 11 | 3 | 62 | |||||
| 7 | Kettering | 22 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 409 | 470 | −61 | 6 | 4 | 51 | |||||
| 8 | Newbold on Avon | 21 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 429 | 580 | −151 | 9 | 1 | 46 | |||||
| 9 | Towcestrians | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 380 | 678 | −298 | 7 | 1 | 40 | |||||
| 10 | Leighton Buzzard | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 397 | 536 | −139 | 6 | 5 | 39 | |||||
| 11 | Old Laurentians (R) | 22 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 326 | 689 | −363 | 3 | 3 | 14 | |||||
| 12 | Peterborough Lions (R) | 22 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 286 | 701 | −415 | 5 | 2 | 0 | −15 | ||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places Updated: 26 June 2023 Source: "Regional 2 East Midlands". England Rugby. | ||||||||||||||||
2021–22
Participating teams and locations
The teams competing in 2021-22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019-20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020-21.
|
Belgrave Dronfield M Harborough Oadby Wyggs Locations of the 2021–22 Midlands 1 East teams
|
2020–21
On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced[5] that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Midlands 1 East was not contested.
2019–20
Participating teams and locations
|
M Harborough Oadby Wellingborough Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 1 East teams
|
2018–19
Participating teams and locations
|
Melton Mowbray Northampton OS Oadby Paviors Wellingborough Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 1 East teams
|
2017–18
Participating teams and locations
|
Bugbrooke Huntingdon Market Rasen Melton Mowbray Old Scouts Paviors Wellingborough Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 1 East teams
|
2016–17
- Bugbooke
- Dronfield (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
- Huntingdon & District
- Ilkeston
- Kettering
- Leighton Buzzard
- Lutterworth (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
- Market Rasen & Louth
- Melton Mowbray (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
- Newbold-on-Avon (promoted from Midlands 2 West (South))
- Northampton Old Scouts
- Old Northamptonians (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
- Paviors
- Wellingborough
2015–16
- Bedford Athletic
- Bugbooke
- Derby
- Huntingdon & District
- Ilkeston
- Kettering
- Market Rasen & Louth
- Matlock (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
- Newark
- Newbold-on-Avon (promoted from Midlands 2 West (South))
- Northampton Old Scouts (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
- Old Laurentians (promoted from Midlands 2 West (South))
- Paviors
- Wellingborough (promoted from Midlands 2 East (South))
2014–15
- Bedford Athletic (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
- Belgrave (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
- Bugbrooke
- Derby
- Huntingdon & District
- Ilkeston
- Kettering
- Mansfield
- Market Rasen & Louth
- Newark
- Old Northamptonians
- Paviors
- Spalding (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
- Syston (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
2013–14
- Bugbrooke (promoted from Midlands 2 East (South))
- Coalville (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
- Derby (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
- Huntingdon & District (promoted from Midlands 2 East (South))
- Ilkeston
- Kettering
- Mansfield (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
- Market Rasen & Lough
- Matlock
- Newark
- Old Northamptonians
- Paviors
- Peterborough
- Peterborough Lions
2012–13
- Bedford Athletic
- Ilkeston
- Kettering
- Loughborough
- Market Bosworth (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
- Market Rasen and Louth
- Matlock
- Newark
- Paviors
- Peterborough
- Peterborough Lions
- Spalding
- Towcestrians
2011–12
- Bedford Athletic
- Coalville
- Derby
- Ilkeston
- Kettering
- Leighton Buzzard
- Loughborough
- Market Rasen and Louth
- Matlock
- Nuneaton OE
- Paviors
- Peterborough
- Spalding
- Towcestrians (promoted from Midlands 2 East (South))
2010–11
- Bedford Athletic
- Coalville
- Derby
- Dunstablians
- Ilkeston
- Kettering
- Leighton Buzzard
- Mansfield
- Matlock
- Newark
- Paviors
- Spalding
- Syston
- Wellingborough
2009–10
- Derby
- Dunstablians
- Ilkeston
- Leighton Buzzard
- Mansfield
- Market Bosworth
- Matlock
- Newark
- Old Northamptonians
- Paviors
- Scunthorpe
- Stewarts & Lloyd
- Syston
- Wellingborough
2008–09
Ampthill promoted as champions to newly formed National Division 3 Midlands.
- Ampthill
- Derby
- Dunstablians
- Leighton Buzzard
- Mansfield
- Market Bosworth
- Matlock
- Newark
- Paviors
- Scunthorpe
- Syston
- Wellingborough
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Midlands 2 East) contained the following teams:
- Kettering
- Leighton Buzzard
- Lincoln
- Loughborough
- Matlock
- Newark
- Stamford
- Stoneygate
- Syston
- Vipers
- Wigston[a]
Midland 1 East honours
Midlands 2 East (1987–1992)
The original Midlands 2 East (along with its counterpart Midlands 2 West) was a tier 6 league with promotion up to Midlands Premier and relegation down to either East Midlands/Leicestershire or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 11 | Newark | Vipers | Wigston, Loughborough | [10] | |||||||||
| 1988–89 | 11 | Leighton Buzzard | Syston | Hinckley | [11] | |||||||||
| 1989–90 | 11 | Towcestrians | Vipers | Stoneygate | [12] | |||||||||
| 1990–91 | 11 | Syston | Vipers | Lincoln, Kettering, Chesterfield Panthers | [13] | |||||||||
| 1991–92 | 11 | Vipers | Paviors | Stewarts & Lloyds, Scunthorpe, Amber Valley | [14] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Midlands 2 (1992–1993)
Restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 1992–93 season saw Midlands 2 East and Midlands 2 West combined in a single tier 6 division known as Midlands 2. Promotion continued to Midlands 1 while relegation as now was now to the newly introduced Midlands East 1[b].
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–93 | 12 | Burton | Worcester | Biggleswade, Nottingham Moderns | [15] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Midlands 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 dropped to become a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands Premier and Midlands East 1[c].
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 13 | Whitchurch | Stafford | Vipers | [16] | |||||||||
| 1994–95 | 13 | Leighton Buzzard | Broadstreet | Willenhall, Newark, Peterborough | [17] | |||||||||
| 1995–96 | 13 | Scunthorpe | Hinckley[d] | No relegation[e] | [18] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Midlands 2 (1996–2000)
At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands 2 returned to being a tier 6 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands Premier and Midlands East 1[f].
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 17 | Banbury | Kenilworth | Bedworth, Matlock, Long Buckby, Keresley | [19] | |||||||||
| 1997–98 | 17 | Bedford Athletic | Dudley Kingswinford | Paviors | [20] | |||||||||
| 1998–99 | 17 | Longton | Newbold-on-Avon | Leamington, Towcestrians, Stafford | ||||||||||
| 1999–00 | 17 | Malvern[g] | Bromsgrove[h] | No relegation[i] | ||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Midlands 2 East (2000–2009)
Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands 2 split back into two tier 6 regional leagues - Midlands 2 East and Midlands 2 West. Promotion continued to Midlands 1 while relegation was now to either Midlands 3 East (North) or Midlands 3 East (South) (both formerly part of Midlands East 1).
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 12 | Dunstablians | Wellingborough | Stockwood Park, Leighton Buzzard, Nottingham Moderns | [21] | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 12 | Hinckley | Spalding | Lincoln, Huntingdon & District | [22] | |||||||||
| 2002–03 | 12 | Kettering | Luton | Ilkeston, Wellingborough | [23] | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | 12 | Mansfield | Hinckley | Nottingham Moderns, Banbury, Northampton Old Scouts | [24] | |||||||||
| 2004–05 | 12 | Luton | Market Bosworth | Huntingdon & District, Syston, Melton Mowbray | [25] | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 12 | South Leicester | Peterborough | Ampthill, Spalding, Towcestrians | [26] | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | 12 | Loughborough Students | Matlock | Mansfield, Northampton Old Scouts, Ilkeston | [27] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 12 | Kettering | Hinckley | Melton Mowbray, Banbury, Old Northamptonians | [28] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 12 | Ampthill | Scunthorpe | No relegation due to league restructure[j] | [29] | |||||||||
| Green background are the promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Midlands 1 East (2009–2022)
League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 2 East and Midlands 2 West were renamed as Midlands 1 East and Midlands 1 West, with both leagues remaining at tier 6. Promotion was now to National League 3 Midlands[k] (formerly Midlands 1) and relegation to either Midlands 2 East (North) or Midlands 2 East (South)[l].
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 14 | Scunthorpe | Old Northamptonians | Market Bosworth, Stewarts & Lloyds | [30] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 14 | Syston | Mansfield | Dunstablians, Wellingborough | [31] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 14 | Derby | Paviors | Coalville, Nuneaton Old Edwardians, Leighton Buzzard | [32] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 14 | Bedford Athletic | Ilkeston | Loughborough, Spalding, Market Bosworth | [33] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 14 | Peterborough Lions | Derby | Coalville, Peterborough, Matlock | [34] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 14 | Syston | Old Northamptonians | Spalding, Belgrave, Mansfield | [35] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 14 | Bedford Athletic | Derby | Matlock, Old Laurentians, Newark | [36] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 14 | Newbold-on-Avon | Kettering | Ilkeston, Dronfield[m] | [38] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 14 | Bedford Athletic | Syston | Market Rasen & Louth, Huntingdon & District, Bugbrooke | [39] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 14 | Kettering | Paviors | Melton Mowbray, Northampton Old Scouts, Leighton Buzzard | [40] | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | 14 | Syston | Oundle | Wellingborough, Olney, Melbourne | [41] | |||||||||
| 2020–21 | 14 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. | ||||||||||||
| Green background are the promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Regional 2 Midlands East (2022–present)
| |||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 12 | Old Northamptonians | Lutterworth | Old Laurentians and Peterborough Lions RFC | |||||||||
| 2023–24 | 12 | Nuneaton | Lutterworth | Newbold-on-Avon and Towcestrians | |||||||||
| 2024–25 | 12 | Lutterworth | Northampton Old Scouts | Market Bosworth and Leicester Forest | |||||||||
Promotion play-offs
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Midlands 1 East and Midlands 1 West for the third and final promotion place to National League 3 Midlands. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the Midlands 1 East teams have been the most successful with eleven wins to the Midlands 1 West teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01[42] | Luctonians (W) | 20–13 | Wellingborough (E) | Mortimer Park, Kingsland, Herefordshire | ||||||||||
| 2001–02[43] | Old Laurentians (W) | 10–32 | Spalding (E) | Fenley Field, Rugby, Warwickshire | ||||||||||
| 2002–03[44] | Luton (E) | 16–11 | Derby (W) | Newlands Road, Luton, Bedfordshire | ||||||||||
| 2003–04[45] | Derby (W) | 29–12 | Hinckley (E) | Haslams Lane, Derby, Derbyshire | ||||||||||
| 2004–05[46] | Market Bosworth (E) | 40–7 | Malvern (W) | Cadeby Lane, Market Bosworth, Warwickshire | ||||||||||
| 2005–06[47] | Peterborough (E) | 23–21 | Kenilworth (W) | Fortress Fengate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire | 1,000 | |||||||||
| 2006–07[48] | Newport (Salop) (W) | 20–5 | Matlock (E) | The Old Showground, Newport, Shropshire | 500 | |||||||||
| 2007–08[49] | Hereford (W) | 13–43 | Hinckley (E) | Wyeside, Hereford, Herefordshire | ||||||||||
| 2008–09[50] | Scunthorpe (E) | 9–16 | Hereford (W) | Heslam Park, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire | ||||||||||
| 2009–10[51] | Bournville (W) | AWO[n] | Old Northamptonians (E) | Rowheath, Bournville, Birmingham, West Midlands | N/A | |||||||||
| 2010–11[53] | Sutton Coldfield (W) | 27–33 | Mansfield (E) | Roger Smoldon Ground, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands | ||||||||||
| 2011–12[54] | Bournville (W) | 42–11 | Paviors (E) | Bournbrook, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands | ||||||||||
| 2012–13[55] | Worcester Wanderers (W) | 27–17 (aet) | Ilkeston (E) | Weston's Field, Worcester, Worcestershire | ||||||||||
| 2013–14[56] | Burton (W) | 24–20 | Derby (E) | Peel Croft, Burton, Staffordshire | 1,000[57] | |||||||||
| 2014–15[58] | Old Northamptonians (E) | 20–5 | Worcester Wanderers (W) | Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion, Northampton, Northamptonshire | ||||||||||
| 2015–16[59] | Derby (E) | 28–23 | Bournville (W) | Haslams Lane, Derby, Derbyshire | 200[60] | |||||||||
| 2016–17[61] | Kettering (E) | 19–55 | Bournville (W) | Waverley Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire | ||||||||||
| 2017–18[62] | Syston (E) | 37–33 | Dudley Kingswinford (W) | Barkby Road, Queniborough, Leicestershire | ||||||||||
| 2018–19[63] | Paviors (E) | 33–30 | Dudley Kingswinford (W) | The Ron Rossin Ground, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire | ||||||||||
| 2019–20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner-up – Oundle (E) – promoted instead. | |||||||||||||
| Green background is the promoted team. E = Midlands 1 East (formerly Midlands 2 East) and W = Midlands 1 West (formerly Midlands 2 West) | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Bedford Athletic (4)[o]
- Syston (4)
- Kettering (3)
- Leighton Buzzard (2)[p]
- Scunthorpe (2)[q]
- Ampthill (1)
- Banbury (1)[r]
- Burton (1)[s]
- Derby (1)
- Dunstablians (1)
- Hinckley (1)
- Longton (1)[t]
- Loughborough Students (1)
- Luton (1)
- Lutterworth (1)
- Malvern (1)[u]
- Mansfield (1)
- Newbold-on-Avon (1)
- Newark (1)
- Nuneaton (1)
- Old Northamptonians (1)
- Peterborough Lions (1)
- South Leicester (1)
- Towcestrians (1)
- Vipers (1)
- Whitchurch (1)[v]
Notes
- Wigston RFC would later merge with Westleigh RFC in 1998 to form Leicester Lions RFC.[8][9]
- Not to be confused with Midlands 1 East, Midlands East 1 is currently split into two regional leagues - Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South).
- Midlands East 1 is currently split into two regional leagues - Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South).
- Nationwide league restructuring meant that there was no relegation this season.
- Midlands East 1 is currently split into two regional leagues - Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South).
- Due to the restructuring of Midlands 2 into two regional divisions champions Malvern were not promoted, instead being transferred to the new Midlands 2 West division.
- Midlands 2 was due to be restructured into two regional divisions for the following season. Malvern, Bromsgrove, Luctonians, Old Laurentians, Newport (Salop), Sutton Coldfield, Derby and Wolverhampton would transfer into Midlands 2 West, while Wellingborough, Kettering, Ampthill, Mansfield, Huntingdon & District, Lincoln, Nottingham Moderns, Leighton Buzzard and Stockwood Park would go into Midlands 2 East.
- Due to the restructuring of Midlands 2 into two regional divisions there was no relegation.
- The division would be renamed Midlands Division 1 East for the next season and along with the whole national restructure of the league system by the RFU lead to mass changes at all levels.
- National League 3 Midlands is currently known as Midlands Premier.
- Prior to the 2009–10 season Midlands 2 East (North) or Midlands 2 East (South) were both known as Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South).
- Due to London Welsh being expelled from the RFU Championship in January 2017 only 23 teams would be relegated from the 8 divisions that make up tier 6 of the English rugby union league system instead of the usual 24 - meaning that the 12th placed side in one of the leagues would be safe. In the end 12th placed Wellingborough from Midlands 1 East gained more points (56) than any other 12th placed team across tier 6 leaving them safe from relegation and ensuring only 2 teams went down from Midlands 1 East that season.[37]
- Old Northamptonians were promoted by default as Bournville were unable to field a front row for the 2009–10 play-off game.[52]
- One of Bedford Athletic's titles was when league was single division known as Midlands 2.
- One of Leighton Buzzard's titles was when league was single division known as Midlands 2.
- One of Scunthorpe's titles was when league was single division known as Midlands 2.
- Whitchurch's title was when league was single division known as Midlands 2.