Counties 1 Midlands East (South)


Counties 1 Midlands East is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the [English Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby Union Midland Division|Midlands League], made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 East and Midlands 3 East ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 East and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name.
The current champions are Stamford.

Format

The champions and occasionally the runner-up is promoted to Regional 2 Midlands East. Teams are relegated to Counties 2 Midlands East (South); with the number of teams relegated depending on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above.
The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals, home and away. 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.

2025–26

Participating teams & locations

Departing were Stamford promoted to Regional 2 Midlands East, whilst Stockwood Park, Peterborough Lions and Old Laurentians were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands East (South).
Also leaving were Bourne and Spalding who moved on a level transfer to Counties 1 Midlands East (North).
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BiggleswadeLangford RoadBiggleswade, Bedfordshire6th
BugbrookeCamp CloseBugbrooke, Northamptonshire5th
DunstabliansBidwell ParkHoughton Regis, BedfordshirePromoted from Counties 2 Midlands East (South)
Hinckley 2XVDe Montfort Park2,000Hinckley, LeicestershireLevel transfer from Counties 1 Midlands East (North)
Leicester ForestHinckley RoadLeicester Forest East, LeicestershireRelegated from Regional 2 Midlands East
Long BuckbyStation RoadLong Buckby, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Counties 2 Midlands East (South)
Market BosworthCadeby LaneMarket Bosworth, LeicestershireRelegated from Regional 2 Midlands East
Newbold on AvonParkfield RoadNewbold-on-Avon, Warwickshire4th
Nuneaton Old EdwardiansWeddington RoadNuneaton, WarwickshireLevel transfer from Counties 1 Midlands East (North)
Stewarts & LloydsOccupation RoadCorby, Northamptonshire9th
TowcestriansGreens Norton RoadTowcester, Northamptonshire3rd
VipersVipers GroundWhetstone, Leicestershire2nd

2024–25

Departing were Daventry and Market Bosworth, both promoted to Regional 2 Midlands East, whilst Oakham and Long Buckby were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands East (South). Joining were Newbold-on-Avon and Towcestrians, both relegated from Regional 2 Midlands East together with Stewarts & Lloyds and Biggleswade, both promoted from Counties 2 Midlands East (South).

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BiggleswadeLangford RoadBiggleswade, BedfordshirePromoted from Counties 2 Midlands East (South)
BourneMilking Nook DroveBourne, Lincolnshire4th
BugbrookeCamp CloseBugbrooke, Northamptonshire9th
Newbold-on-AvonParkfield RoadNewbold-on-Avon, WarwickshireRelegated from Regional 2 Midlands East
Old LaurentiansFenley FieldRugby, Warwickshire6th
Peterborough LionsBretton WoodsBretton, Cambridgeshire10th
SpaldingMemorial FieldSpalding, Lincolnshire7th
StamfordHambleton RoadStamford, Lincolnshire3rd
Stewarts & LloydsOccupation RoadCorby, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Counties 2 Midlands East (South)
Stockwood ParkLondon RoadLuton, Bedfordshire8th
TowcestriansGreens Norton RoadTowcester, NorthamptonshireRelegated from Regional 2 Midlands East
VipersVipers GroundWhetstone, Leicestershire5th

2023–24

Departing were Wellingborough, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands East, whilst Dunstablians, St. Ives and Northampton Casuals were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands East (South). Joining were Peterborough Lions and Old Laurentians, both relegated from Regional 2 Midlands East together with Daventry and Spalding, both promoted from Counties 2 Midlands East (South).

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BourneMilking Nook DroveBourne, Lincolnshire4th
BugbrookeCamp CloseBugbrooke, Northamptonshire7th
DaventryDaventry & District Sports ClubDaventry, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Counties 2 Midlands East (South)
Long BuckbyStation RoadLong Buckby, Northamptonshire8th
Market BosworthCadeby LaneMarket Bosworth, Leicestershire3rd
OakhamRutland ShowgroundOakham, Rutland9th
Old LaurentiansFenley FieldRugby, WarwickshireRelegated from Regional 2 Midlands East
Peterborough LionsBretton WoodsBretton, CambridgeshireRelegated from Regional 2 Midlands East
SpaldingMemorial FieldSpalding, LincolnshirePromoted from Counties 2 Midlands East (South)
StamfordHambleton RoadStamford, Lincolnshire5th
Stockwood ParkLondon RoadLuton, Bedfordshire6th
VipersVipers GroundWhetstone, Leicestershire2nd

2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 1 Midlands East ).

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BourneMilking Nook DroveBourne, LincolnshirePromoted from Midlands 3 East (South)
BugbrookeCamp CloseBugbrooke, Northamptonshire8th
DunstabliansBidwell ParkHoughton Regis, BedfordshirePromoted from Midlands 3 East (South)
Long BuckbyStation RoadLong Buckby, Northamptonshire6th
Market BosworthCadeby LaneMarket Bosworth, Leicestershire4th
Northampton CasualsRush Mills HouseNorthampton, Northamptonshire11th
OakhamRutland ShowgroundOakham, Rutland12th
StamfordHambleton RoadStamford, Lincolnshire9th
St IvesSomersham RoadSt Ives, Cambridgeshire10th
Stockwood ParkLondon RoadLuton, BedfordshirePromoted from Midlands 3 East (South)
VipersVipers GroundWhetstone, Leicestershire5th
WellingboroughCut Throat LaneGreat Doddington, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire7th

2021–22

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BugbrookeCamp CloseBugbrooke, Northamptonshire5th
Leicester ForestHinckley RoadLeicester Forest East, Leicestershire3rd
Long BuckbyStation RoadLong Buckby, Northamptonshire10th
Market BosworthCadeby LaneMarket Bosworth, Leicestershire4th
Northampton CasualsRush Mills HouseNorthampton, Northamptonshire8th
Rushmore RoadNorthampton, Northamptonshire6th
OakhamRutland ShowgroundOakham, RutlandPromoted from Midlands 3 East (South)
OlneyEast StreetOlney, BuckinghamshireRelegated from Midlands 1 East
StamfordHambleton RoadStamford, LincolnshirePromoted from Midlands 3 East (South)
St IvesSomersham RoadSt Ives, Cambridgeshire9th
VipersVipers GroundWhetstone, Leicestershire7th
WellingboroughCut Throat LaneGreat Doddington, Wellingborough, NorthamptonshireRelegated from Midlands 1 East

2020–21

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.

2019–20

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BelgraveBelgrave PasturesBelgrave, Leicester, Leicestershire4th
BugbrookeCamp CloseBugbrooke, Northamptonshire6th
Leicester ForestHinckley RoadLeicester Forest East, LeicestershirePromoted from Midlands 3 ES
Leighton BuzzardWright's MeadowLeighton Buzzard, BedfordshireRelegated from Midlands 1 East
Long BuckbyStation RoadLong Buckby, Northamptonshire7th
Market BosworthCadeby LaneMarket Bosworth, Leicestershire9th
Melton MowbrayMelton Sports VillageMelton Mowbray, LeicestershireRelegated from Midlands 1 East
Northampton CasualsRush Mills HouseNorthampton, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Midlands 3 ES
Rushmore RoadNorthampton, NorthamptonshireRelegated from Midlands 1 East
Stewarts & LloydsOccupation RoadCorby, Northamptonshire8th
St IvesSomersham RoadSt Ives, Cambridgeshire3rd
VipersVipers GroundWhetstone, Leicestershire10th

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BelgraveBelgrave PasturesBelgrave, Leicester, Leicestershire4th
BugbrookeCamp CloseBugbrooke, NorthamptonshireRelegated from Midlands 1 East
CoalvilleMemorial GroundCoalville, LeicestershireLevel transfer from Midlands 2 West (North)
Huntingdon & DistrictHuntingdon RacecourseBrampton, Huntingdon, CambridgeshireRelegated from Midlands 1 East
Long BuckbyStation RoadLong Buckby, Northamptonshire8th
Market BosworthCadeby LaneMarket Bosworth, Leicestershire7th
Market HarboroughThe Rugby GroundMarket Harborough, Leicestershire3rd
OakhamRutland ShowgroundOakham, Rutland9th
OlneyEast StreetOlney, Buckinghamshire6th
St IvesSomersham RoadSt Ives, CambridgeshirePromoted from Midlands 3 East (South)
Stewarts & LloydsOccupation RoadCorby, Northamptonshire10th
VipersVipers GroundWhetstone, LeicestershirePromoted from Midlands 3 East (South)

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BelgraveBelgrave PasturesBelgrave, Leicester, Leicestershire7th
Long BuckbyStation RoadLong Buckby, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Midlands 3 East (South)
LutonNewlands RoadLuton, Bedfordshire8th
Market BosworthCadeby LaneMarket Bosworth, LeicestershireLevel transfer from Midlands 2 East (North)
Market HarboroughThe Rugby GroundMarket Harborough, Leicestershire9th
Oadby WyggestoniansOval ParkOadby, Leicestershire4th
OakhamRutland ShowgroundOakham, Rutland6th
Old LaurentiansFenley FieldRugby, Warwickshire5th
OlneyEast StreetOlney, Buckinghamshire3rd
PinleyWyken CroftWyken, Coventry, West MidlandsLevel transfer from Midlands 2 West (South)
StamfordHambleton RoadStamford, Lincolnshire10th
Stewarts & LloydsOccupation RoadCorby, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Midlands 3 East (South)

Teams 2016–17

Teams 2015–16

Teams 2014–15

Teams 2013–14

Teams 2012–13

After leading the division from matchday 1, Huntingdon & District were pipped to the title by Bugbrooke by way of bonus points on the season's final day. Huntingdon were promoted alongside Bugbrooke to Midlands 1 East following a playoff victory over the second placed team from Midlands 2 East, Oakham. Biggleswade joined Vipers in the relegation places following a final day defeat to Oadby Wyggestonians.

Teams 2011–12

  • Bugbrooke
  • Dunstablians
  • Huntingdon
  • Long Buckby
  • Lutterworth
  • Market Harborough
  • Northampton Old Scouts
  • Oadby Wygstonians
  • Peterborough Lions
  • Stockwood Park
  • Vipers
  • Wellingborough

Teams 2010–11

  • Bugbrooke
  • Huntingdon and District
  • Leicester Forest
  • Lutterworth
  • Market Harborough
  • Northampton BBOB
  • Northampton Old Scouts
  • Peterborough Lions
  • Stewarts and Lloyds
  • Stockwood Park
  • Towcestrians
  • Vipers

Original teams

Teams in Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East were originally part of a single division called Midlands 1 East, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:
  • Amber Valley - relegated from Midlands 2 East
  • Ampthill - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire
  • Belgrave - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire
  • Chesterfield Panthers - promoted from Nott, Lincs & Derbyshire 1
  • Dronfield - promoted from Nott, Lincs & Derbyshire 1
  • Hinckley - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire
  • Luton - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire
  • Mellish - promoted from Nott, Lincs & Derbyshire 1
  • Scunthorpe - relegated from Midlands 2 East
  • Spalding - promoted from Nott, Lincs & Derbyshire 1
  • Stewarts & Lloyds - relegated from Midlands 2 East
  • Stoneygate - promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire
  • West Bridgford - promoted from Nott, Lincs & Derbyshire 1

Midlands 2 East (South) honours

Midlands East 1 (1992–1993)

Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East were originally part of a single tier 7 division called Midlands East 1. Promotion was to Midlands 2 and relegation to Midlands East 2.

Midlands East 1 (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 1 East became a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands 2 and Midlands East 2.

Midlands East 1 (1996–2000)

At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands East 1 returned to being a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands 2 and Midlands East 2.

Midlands 3 East (South) (2000–2009)

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands East 1 split into two tier 7 regional leagues – Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East. Promotion is to Midlands 2 East and relegation to Midlands 4 East (South).

Midlands 2 East (South) (2009–present)

League restructuring by the RFU lead to Midlands 3 East and Midlands 3 East renamed as Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East, with both leagues remaining at tier 7. Promotion is to Midlands 1 East and relegation to Midlands 3 East (South).

Counties 1 Midlands East (South) (2022– )

Following league reorganisation, Midland 2 East is renamed Counties 1 Midlands East and continues to be a tier 7 league. Promotion is to Regional 2 Midlands East and relegation to Counties 2 Midlands East (South)

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East for the third and final promotion place to Midlands 1 East and Midlands 2 East. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the Midlands 2 East teams have ten wins to the Midlands 2 East teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams five.

Number of league titles

Updated to 2024–25 season