Regional 2 East Midlands


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 change at the start of the 2022–23 season. Lutterworth are the 2024–25 champions.

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 point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
  • 1 additional 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. The last two teams are relegated teams to either Counties 1 Midlands East (North) or Counties 1 Midlands East (South), depending on geographic location.

2025–26

Participating teams and locations

Departing were Lutterworth, promoted to Regional 1 Midlands whilst Leicester Forest and Market Bosworth were relegated to Counties 1 Midlands East (South).
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bedford AthleticPutnoe Woods500Bedford, BedfordshireRelegated from Regional 1 South East
BroadstreetIvor Preece Field1,500 Binley Woods, Coventry, West Midlands7th
DaventryDaventry & District Sports ClubDaventry, Northamptonshire9th
Rugby Football Club|Kettering]Waverley RoadKettering, Northamptonshire10th
Market HarboroughThe Rugby GroundMarket Harborough, Leicestershire3rd
Northampton Old ScoutsRushmere RoadNorthampton, Northamptonshire2nd
Oadby WyggestoniansOval ParkOadby, Leicestershire6th
Old CoventriansTile Hill LaneTile Hill, Coventry, West MidlandsPromoted from Counties 1 Midlands West (South)
OlneyEast StreetOlney, Buckinghamshire4th
PeterboroughFortress FengatePeterborough, Cambridgeshire5th
StamfordHambleton RoadStamford, LincolnshirePromoted from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
WellingboroughCut Throat LaneGreat Doddington, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire8th

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).
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BroadstreetIvor Preece Field1,500 Binley Woods, Coventry, West MidlandsRelegated from Regional 1 Midlands
DaventryDaventry & District Sports ClubDaventry, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
KetteringWaverley RoadKettering, Northamptonshire5th
Leicester ForestHinckley RoadLeicester Forest East, Leicestershire7th
LutterworthAshby LaneLutterworth, Leicestershire2nd
Market BosworthCadeby LaneMarket Bosworth, LeicestershirePromoted from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)

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).
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
KetteringWaverley RoadKettering, Northamptonshire7th
Leicester ForestHinckley RoadLeicester Forest East, LeicestershireLevel transfer from Regional 2 North Midlands
LutterworthAshby LaneLutterworth, Leicestershire2nd
Market HarboroughThe Rugby GroundMarket Harborough, Leicestershire4th
Newbold on AvonParkfield RoadNewbold-on-Avon, Warwickshire8th
Northampton Old ScoutsRushmere RoadNorthampton, Northamptonshire3rd
NuneatonLiberty Way4,314 Nuneaton, WarwickshireRelegated from Regional 1 Midlands
Oadby WyggestoniansOval ParkOadby, LeicestershireLevel transfer from Regional 2 North Midlands
OlneyEast StreetOlney, Buckinghamshire6th
PeterboroughFortress FengatePeterborough, Cambridgeshire5th
TowcestriansGreens Norton RoadTowcester, Northamptonshire9th
WellingboroughCut Throat LaneGreat Doddington, Wellingborough, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)

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.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
KetteringWaverley RoadKettering, Northamptonshire8th Midlands 1 East
Leighton BuzzardWright's MeadowLeighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire13th London 1 North
LutterworthAshby LaneLutterworth, Leicestershire11th Midlands 1 East
Market HarboroughThe Rugby GroundMarket Harborough, Leicestershire6th Midlands 1 East
Newbold on AvonParkfield RoadNewbold-on-Avon, Warwickshire6th Midlands 1 West
Northampton Old ScoutsRushmere RoadNorthampton, Northamptonshire3rd Midlands 2 East (South)
Old LaurentiansFenley FieldRugby, Warwickshire4th Midlands 2 West (South)
Old NorthamptoniansSir Humphrey Cripps PavilionNorthampton, Northamptonshire7th Midlands 1 East
OlneyEast StreetOlney, Buckinghamshire2nd Midlands 2 East (South)
PeterboroughFortress FengatePeterborough, Cambridgeshire4th Midlands 1 East
Peterborough LionsBretton WoodsBretton, Cambridgeshire13th Midlands 1 East
TowcestriansGreens Norton RoadTowcester, Northamptonshire12th Midlands 1 East

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.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bedford AthleticPutnoe Woods500Bedford, BedfordshireRelegated from London & South East Premier
BelgraveBelgrave PasturesBelgrave, Leicester, LeicestershirePromoted from Midlands 2 East (South)
DerbyHaslams LaneDerby, Derbyshire3rd
DronfieldGosforth FieldsDronfield Woodhouse, Dronfield, DerbyshirePromoted from Midlands 2 East (North)
KetteringWaverley Road2,000Kettering, NorthamptonshireRelegated from Midlands Premier
LutterworthAshby LaneLutterworth, Leicestershire7th
Market HarboroughThe Rugby GroundMarket Harborough, Leicestershire8th
Oadby WyggestoniansOval ParkOadby, Leicestershire5th
Old NorthamptoniansSir Humphrey Cripps PavilionNorthampton, Northamptonshire6th
PeterboroughFortress FengatePeterborough, Cambridgeshire10th
Peterborough LionsBretton WoodsBretton, CambridgeshireRelegated from Midlands Premier
Rugby LionsWebb Ellis Road4,000 Rugby, Warwickshire9th
TowcestriansGreens Norton RoadTowchester, Northamptonshire11th
West BridgfordThe Memorial GroundWest Bridgford, Nottinghamshire4th

2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 season meaning Midlands 1 East was not contested.

2019–20

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
DerbyHaslams LaneDerby, DerbyshireRelegated from Midlands Premier
LutterworthAshby LaneLutterworth, Leicestershire6th
Market HarboroughThe Rugby GroundMarket Harborough, LeicestershirePromoted from Midlands 2 East (South)
MelbourneCockshut Lane2,000Melbourne, DerbyshirePromoted from Midlands 2 East (North)
Oadby WyggestoniansOval ParkOadby, Leicestershire3rd
OlneyEast StreetOlney, BuckinghamshirePromoted from Midlands 2 East (South)
Old NorthamptoniansSir Humphrey Cripps PavilionNorthampton, Northamptonshire8th
OundaleOccupation RoadOundle, Northamptonshire5th
PeterboroughFortress FengatePeterborough, Cambridgeshire4th
Rugby LionsWebb Ellis Road4,000 Rugby, Warwickshire11th
SystonBarkby RoadQueniborough, LeicestershireRelegated from Midlands Premier
TowcestriansGreens Norton RoadTowchester, Northamptonshire7th
WellingboroughCut Throat LaneGreat Doddington, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire10th
West BridgfordThe Memorial GroundWest Bridgford, Nottinghamshire9th

2018–19

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
KetteringWaverley Road2,000Kettering, Northamptonshire3rd
Leighton BuzzardWright's MeadowLeighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire11th
LutterworthAshby LaneLutterworth, Leicestershire5th
Melton MowbrayMelton Sports VillageMelton Mowbray, Leicestershire8th
Northampton Old ScoutsRushmere RoadNorthampton, Northamptonshire9th
Oadby WyggestoniansOval ParkOadby, LeicestershirePromoted from Midlands 2 East (South)
Old NorthamptoniansSir Humphrey Cripps PavilionNorthampton, Northamptonshire5th
OundaleOccupation RoadOundle, Northamptonshire7th
PaviorsThe Ron Rossin GroundNottingham, Nottinghamshire5th
PeterboroughFortress FengatePeterborough, Cambridgeshire6th
Rugby LionsWebb Ellis Road4,000 Rugby, WarwickshireLevel transfer from Midlands 1 West
TowcestriansGreens Norton RoadTowchester, NorthamptonshireRelegated from London & SE Premier
WellingboroughCut Throat LaneGreat Doddington, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire10th
West BridgfordThe Memorial GroundWest Bridgford, NottinghamshirePromoted from Midlands 2 East (North)

2017–18

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bedford AthleticPutnoe Woods500Bedford, BedfordshireRelegated from National 3 Midlands
BugbrookeCamp CloseBugbrooke, Northamptonshire9th
Huntingdon & DistrictHuntingdon RacecourseBrampton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire5th
KetteringWaverley Road2,000Kettering, Northamptonshire2nd
Leighton BuzzardWright's MeadowLeighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire10th
Market Rasen & LouthWillingham RoadMarket Rasen, Lincolnshire7th
Melton MowbrayMelton Sports VillageMelton Mowbray, Leicestershire6th
Northampton Old ScoutsRushmore RoadNorthampton, Northamptonshire11th
Old NorthamptoniansSir Humphrey Cripps PavilionNorthampton, Northamptonshire3rd
OundaleOccupation RoadOundle, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Midlands 2 East (South)
PaviorsThe Ron Rossin GroundNottingham, Nottinghamshire8th
PeterboroughFortress FengatePeterborough, CambridgeshirePromoted from Midlands 2 East (South)
SystonBarkby RoadQueniborough, LeicestershireRelegated from National 3 Midlands
WellingboroughCut Throat LaneGreat Doddington, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire12th

2016–17

2015–16

2014–15

2013–14

2012–13

2011–12

2010–11

2009–10

2008–09

Ampthill promoted as champions to newly formed National Division 3 Midlands.

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

Midland 1 East honours

Midlands 2 East (1987–1992)

The original Midlands 2 East was a tier 6 league with promotion up to Midlands Premier and relegation down to either East Midlands/Leicestershire or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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 and relegation to either Midlands 2 East (North) or Midlands 2 East (South).

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.

Number of league titles