Midlands 5 West (North)

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 Counties 3 Midlands 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).

## 2025-26

[edit]

Departing were Newport (Salop) III (champions) and St Leonards (runners-up), both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (North). Warley (3rd) were promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South).

Aldridge re-entered the league having withdrawn from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) in season 2024-25.

| Team  | Ground  | Capacity  | City/Area  | Previous season

|
|
|
|

Aldridge | Bourne Vale |  | Aldridge, West Midlands | Re-entry
Bloxwich | Stafford Road Sports Club |  | Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands | 6th
Burntwood II | The Sportsway |  | Burntwood, Staffordshire | 5th
Essington | High Hill Centre |  | Essington, Staffordshire | 10th
Linley & Kidsgrove | Kidsgrove Cricket Club |  | Kidsgrove, Staffordshire | 9th
Newcastle (Staffs) III | Lilleshall Road |  | Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire | 7th
Stafford II | The County Ground |  | Stafford, Staffordshire | New entry
Stoke-on-Trent II | Hartwell Lane |  | Barlaston, Staffordshire | Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North)
Telford Hornets II | Hinkshay Road |  | Telford, Shropshire | 8th
Trentham II | New Inn Lane |  | Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire | Nw entry
Wednesbury | Woden Road North |  | Wednesbury, West Midlands | 4th
Whitchurch II | Edgeley Park |  | Whitchurch, Shropshire | New entry

Aldridge

Bloxwich

Burntwood II

Essington

Linley

Newcastle III

Stafford II

Stoke II

Telford II

Trentham II

Wednesbury

Whitchurch II

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Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 4 Midlands West (North) teams

## 2024-25

[edit]

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.

Whittington (9th in 23-24) and Erdington (12th in 23-24) started the season but withdrew due to an inability to fulfil fixtures.

| Team  | Ground  | Capacity  | City/Area  | Previous season

|
|
|
|

Bloxwich | Stafford Road Sports Club |  | Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands | 4th
Burntwood II | The Sportsway |  | Burntwood, Staffordshire | 7th
Essington | High Hill Centre |  | Essington, Staffordshire | 6th
Linley & Kidsgrove | Kidsgrove Cricket Club |  | Kidsgrove, Staffordshire | 11th
Newcastle (Staffs) III | 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

Bloxwich

Burntwood II

Essington

Linley

Newcastle III

Newport
(Salop) III

St Leonards

Telford II

Warley

Wednesbury

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Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Midlands West (North) teams

## 2023-24

[edit]

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

Atherstone

Bloxwich

Burton III

Burntwood II

Erdington

Essington

Linley

Newcastle II

St Leonards

Stoke II

Wednesbury

Whittington

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Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Midlands West (North) teams

## 2022-23

[edit]

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review[1] 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)

Atherstone

Bloxwich

Burton III

Erdington

Essington

Longton II

Linley

Newcastle II

St Leonards

Stoke II

Stone

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Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Midlands West (North) teams

## 2019-2022

[edit]

Not contested

## 2018–19

[edit]

### Participating teams & locations

[edit]

| 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 Castle

Chaddesley Corbett

Dixonians

Stourport

Tenbury

Warley

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Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 5 West (North) teams

## 2017–18

[edit]

### Participating teams & locations

[edit]

| 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 Castle

Chaddesley Corbett

Gnosall

Greyhound

Linley

St Leonards

Stourport

Warley

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 5 West (North) teams

## Participating Clubs 2016-17

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

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

## Participating Clubs 2013-14

[edit]

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

## Participating clubs 2012–13

[edit]

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

## Participating clubs 2010–11

[edit]

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

## Original teams

[edit]

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

[edit]

### Midlands 6 West (North) (2005–2009)

[edit]

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 6 West (North) |

|
|

Season  | No of Teams  | Champions  | Runners–up  | Relegated Teams  | Reference
2005–06 | 10 | St Leonards | Rugley | No relegation | [2]
2006–07 | 10 | Handsworth | Eccleshall | No relegation | [3]
2007–08 | 9 | Barton-Under-Needwood | Yardley & District | No relegation | [4]
2008–09 | 8 | Essington | Rugeley | No relegation | [5]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

### Midlands 5 West (North) (2009–2019)

[edit]

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.

|  | Midlands 5 West (North) |

|
|

Season  | No of Teams  | Champions  | Runners–up  | Relegated Teams  | Reference
2009–10 | 8 | Market Drayton | Warley | No relegation | [6]
2010–11 | 8 | Tenbury | Birmingham Civil Service | No relegation | [7]
2011–12 | 9 | Bromyard | Five Ways Old Edwardians | No relegation | [8]
2012–13 | 8 | St Leonards | Warley | No relegation | [9]
2013–14 | 8 | Rugeley | Telford Hornets | No relegation | [10]
2014–15 | 9 | Church Stretton | Aldridge | No relegation | [11]
2015–16 | 7 | Essington | St Leonards | No relegation | [12]
2016–17 | 7 | Tenbury | Market Drayton | No relegation | [13]
2017–18 | 8 | Greyhound | Linley | No relegation | [14]
2018–19 | 6 | Tenbury | Warley | No relegation | [15]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

## Number of league titles

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

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.

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