Misplaced Pages

Counties 4 Midlands West (North)

Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 4 Midlands West (North)
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	2005; 20 years ago (2005) (as Midlands 6 West (North))
Ceased	2019; 6 years ago (2019)
Number of teams	6
Country	England
Holders	Tenbury (3rd title) (2018–19) (promoted to Midlands 4 West (North) )
Most titles	Tenbury (3 titles)
Website	England RFU

Counties 4 Midlands West (North) (formerly Midlands 5 West (North)) was a level 10 English Rugby Union league and level 5 of the Midlands League, that was made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and even Cheshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. Each year some of the clubs in this division took part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.

The league was formed in 2005 and was originally known as Midlands 6 West (North) prior to the Midlands league restructure at the end of the 2008-09 season. Promoted teams typically moved up to Midlands 4 West (North) and there was relegation due to it being one of the basement divisions for Midlands rugby. At the end of the 2018–19 season the league was discontinued, with the majority of teams transferred to Midlands 5 West (South). However, following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 the league was reinstated with the new name Counties 4 Midlands West (North).

2024-25

Departing were Burton III and Stoke-on-Trent II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (North). Atherstone were promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (East).

Joining were Newport (Salop) III, Telford Hornets II and Warley.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands 4th Burntwood II The Sportsway Burntwood, Staffordshire 7th Erdington Spring Lane Playing Fields Erdington, West Midlands 12th Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire 6th Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire 11th Newcastle (Staffs) II Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 10th Newport (Salop) III The Old Showground Newport, Shropshire New entry St Leonards Universal Sports and Social Club Stafford, Staffordshire 8th Telford Hornets II Hinkshay Road Telford, Shropshire New entry Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (4th) Wednesbury Woden Road North Wednesbury, West Midlands 5th Whittington Eastern Avenue Lichfield, Staffordshire 9th

BloxwichBurntwood IIErdington EssingtonLinleyNewcastle IINewport (Salop) IIISt LeonardsTelford IIWarleyWednesburyWhittingtonclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Midlands West (North) teams

2023-24

Departing were Stone, promoted whilst Longton II (11th) returned to the Staffordshire merit leagues.

Joining were Whittington, Wednesbury and Burntwood II.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire 6th Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands 3rd Burton III Battlestead Croft, Tatenhill Burton, Staffordshire 7th Burntwood II The Sportsway Burntwood, Staffordshire New entry Erdington Spring Lane Playing Fields Erdington, West Midlands 9th Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire 5th Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire 8th Newcastle (Staffs) II Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 2nd St Leonards Universal Sports and Social Club Stafford, Staffordshire 4th Stoke-on-Trent Hartwell Lane Barlaston, Staffordshire 10th Wednesbury Woden Road North Wednesbury, West Midlands Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) (10th) Whittington Eastern Avenue Lichfield, Staffordshire Re-entry

AtherstoneBloxwichBurton IIIBurntwood IIErdington EssingtonLinleyNewcastle IISt LeonardsStoke IIWednesburyWhittingtonclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Midlands West (North) teams

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 (North).

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (11th) Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (7th) Burton III Battlestead Croft, Tatenhill Burton, Staffordshire New entry Erdington Spring Lane Playing Fields Erdington, West Midlands Re-entry Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire Re-entry Longton II Trentham Fields Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire New entry Newcastle (Staffs) II Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire New entry St Leonards Universal Sports and Social Club Stafford, Staffordshire Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (8th) Stoke-on-Trent II Hartwell Lane Barlaston, Staffordshire New entry Stone Stone Hockey Club Aston By Stone, Staffordshire Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (5th)

AtherstoneBloxwichBurton IIIErdington EssingtonLongton IILinleyNewcastle IISt LeonardsStoke IIStoneclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Midlands West (North) teams

2019-2022

Not contested

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 3rd Chaddesley Corbett Fox Lane Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire 5th Dixonians Rowheath Park Birmingham, West Midlands Greater Birmingham Merit League (champions) Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 8th Tenbury Penlu Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (South) (11th) Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands 6th

Bishop's CastleChaddesley CorbettDixoniansStourportTenbury}Warleyclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 5 West (North) teams

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (11th) Chaddesley Corbett Fox Lane Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire 5th Gnosall Gnosall Family Sports Club Gnosall, Staffordshire Staffordshire Merit Leagues Greyhound Hereford City Sports Club Hereford, Herefordshire 3rd Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire Transferred from South Lancs/Cheshire 3 (14th) St Leonards Brian Westhead Pavilion Stafford, Staffordshire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (12th) Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 6th Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands 7th

Bishop's CastleChaddesley CorbettGnosallGreyhoundLinleySt LeonardsStourportWarleyclass=notpageimage| Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 5 West (North) teams

Participating Clubs 2016-17

• Acton Nomads
• Aldridge (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Chaddesley Corbett
• Greyhound
• Market Drayton (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Stourport
• Tenbury
• Warley

Participating Clubs 2015-16

• Chaddesley Corbett
• Essington
• Greyhound (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Tenbury (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
• St Leonards
• Stourport
• Warley

Participating Clubs 2014-15

• Aldridge
• Birmingham Barbarians
• Chaddesley Corbett
• Church Stretton
• Essington
• St Leonards
• Stourport
• Warley (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Whittington

Participating Clubs 2013-14

• Aldridge
• Birmingham Barbarians
• Chaddesley Corbett
• Essington
• Rugeley
• Stourport
• Telford Hornets
• Whittington

Participating clubs 2012–13

• Aldridge
• Birmingham Barbarians
• Essington
• Rugeley
• St Leonards
• Stourport
• Warley
• Whittington

Participating clubs 2010–11

• Aldridge
• Birmingham Civil Service
• Bromyard
• Five Ways Old Edwardians
• Hanford
• Old Griffinians
• Stourport
• Tenbury
• Wheaton Aston
• Whittington

Original teams

When this division was introduced in 2005 as Midlands 6 West (North) it contained the following teams:

• Barton-under-Needwood - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (3rd)
• Eccleshall - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (8th)
• Gnosall - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (9th)
• Hanford - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (8th)
• Market Drayton - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (6th)
• Rugley - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (7th)
• St Leonards - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (runners up)
• Stone - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (4th)
• Wheaton Aston & Penkridge - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (11th)
• Whittington - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (5th)

Midlands 5 West (North) honours

Midlands 6 West (North) (2005–2009)

Midlands 6 West (North) was introduced ahead of the 2005–06 season as a tier 10 league to replace the discontinued North Midlands (North) and Staffordshire 1 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 5 West (North) and there was no relegation.

Midlands 5 West (North) (2009–2019)

Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 6 West (North) and their counterparts Midlands 6 West (South-East / South-West) were renamed as Midlands 5 West North and Midlands 5 West (South-East) and Midlands 5 West (South-West), with all leagues remaining at tier 10. Promotion was now to Midlands 4 West (North) (formerly Midlands 5 West (North)) and there was no relegation. At the end of 2018–19 season Midlands 5 West (North) was cancelled.

Number of league titles

• Tenbury (3)
• Essington (2)
• St Leonards (2)
• Barton-Under-Needwood (1)
• Bromyard (1)
• Church Stretton (1)
• Greyhound (1)
• Handsworth (1)
• Market Drayton (1)
• Rugeley (1)

Notes

See also

• Midlands RFU
• North Midlands RFU
• Staffordshire RU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

References

1. "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 2022-06-13.
2. "2005-2006 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
3. "2006-2007 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
4. "2007-2008 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
5. "2008-2009 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
6. "2009-2010 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
7. "2010-2011 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
8. "2011-2012 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
9. "2012-2013 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
10. "2013-2014 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
11. "2014-2015 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
12. "2015-2016 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
13. "2016-2017 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
14. "2017-2018 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
15. "2018-19 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.

v t e Rugby union in England
Governing body	Rugby Football Union Rugby Football Union for Women (merged into the RFU)
National teams	Men's England England A 7's U-21 U-20 U-18 British & Irish Lions England Counties XV Women's Women's 7's
International competitions	Men's World Cup Six Nations Rugby World Cup Sevens Sevens World Series Sevens Grand Prix Series Commonwealth Games Women's World Cup Six Nations World Series Sevens
Competition divisions	Men's Premiership Championship National Leagues London and SE Division Northern Division Midland Division South West Division United Hospitals Cup Women's Premiership Women's Rugby
European competitions	European Rugby Champions Cup European Rugby Challenge Cup
National competitions	Premiership Rugby Premiership Cup RFU Championship Championship Cup National League 1 National League 2 East National League 2 North National League 2 West RFU Intermediate Cup RFU Senior Vase RFU Junior Vase Premiership Rugby Sevens Series Women's Premiership Premier 15s
London and South East competitions	Regional 1 South East Regional 1 South Central Regional 2 Anglia Regional 2 South Central Regional 2 South East Regional 2 Thames London 1 North London 2 North East London 2 North West London 2 South East London 2 South West London 3 North West London 3 South East London 3 South West Counties 2 Eastern Counties London 3 Essex Eastern Counties 1 Eastern Counties 2 Eastern Counties 3 Counties 2 Essex Counties 2 Hampshire Counties 3 Hampshire Counties 4 Hampshire Hampshire Cups Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex Herts/Middlesex 2 Hertfordshire Cups Middlesex Cups Counties 3 Kent Counties 4 Kent Counties 5 Kent Kent Cups Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex Counties 2 Surrey Counties 3 Surrey Counties 4 Surrey Counties 5 Surrey Surrey Cups Counties 2 Sussex Sussex 1 Sussex Cups
Midland competitions	Regional 1 Midlands Regional 2 North Midlands Regional 2 West Midlands Regional 2 East Midlands Counties 1 Midlands West (North) Counties 1 Midlands West (South) Midlands 2 East (North) Midlands 2 East (South) Midlands 3 West (North) Midlands 3 West (South) Midlands 3 East (North) Midlands 3 East (South) Midlands 4 West (North) Midlands 4 West (South) Midlands 4 East (North) Midlands 4 East (South) Midlands 5 West (South) Leicestershire Cups North Midlands Cups Staffordshire Cups Warwickshire Cups
Northern competitions	Regional 1 North East Regional 1 North West Regional 2 North Regional 2 North East Regional 2 North West North 1 East North 1 West North 2 West Counties 1 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire Lancs/Cheshire 1 Lancs/Cheshire 2 Cheshire Cups Lancashire Cups Counties 1 Cumbria Cumbria Cups Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland Counties 3 Durham & Northumberland Durham Cups Northumberland Cups Counties 1 Yorkshire Counties 2 Yorkshire Counties 3 Yorkshire Counties 4 Yorkshire Yorkshire Cups
South West competitions	Regional 1 South West Regional 2 Severn Regional 2 South West Counties 1 Southern North Counties 1 Southern South Counties 1 Western North Counties 1 Western West Counties 2 Cornwall Counties 3 Cornwall Cornwall Cups Counties 2 Devon Counties 3 Devon East Counties 3 Devon West Devon Cups Gloucester Premier Gloucester 1 Gloucester 2 North Gloucester 2 South Gloucestershire Cups Counties 2 Somerset Somerset 1 Somerset 2 North Somerset 2 South Somerset 3 North Somerset 3 South Somerset Cups Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier Oxfordshire Cups Dorset & Wilts 1 North Dorset & Wilts 1 South Dorset & Wilts 2 North Dorset & Wilts 2 South Dorset & Wilts 3 North
County competitions	Division 1 Division 2 Division 3
Discontinued competitions	Anglo-Welsh Cup Cornwall/Devon League Divisional Championship National League 2 South North Premier RFU Knockout Cup South West 1 East
Related articles	International players Clubs Churchill Cup Calcutta Cup Millennium Trophy Ella-Mobbs Trophy Hillary Shield
Other	English rugby union system Timeline of rugby union on UK television

• Rugby union leagues in the English Midlands