Counties 1 Midlands West (North)


Counties 1 Midlands West is a level 7 English rugby union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of clubs from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands and occasionally Cheshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands West 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 West and Midlands 3 West ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 West and post the Rugby Football Union 's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name.
Sutton Coldfield are the current champions.

Format

The champions are promoted to [Regional 2 West Midlands| Regional Midlands 1 West|Midlands 2 West] or occasionally to Regional 2 Midlands North. The number of teams relegated depends on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above, but is usually to Counties 2 Midlands West (South).
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 & location

Departing were the champions Sutton Coldfield promoted to Regional 2 Midlands North, while Willenhall, Stafford and Wolverhampton were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands West (West). Also leaving were Kidderminster Carolians on a level transfer to Counties 1 Midlands West (South). Joining the league were Aston Old Edwardians promoted from Counties 2 Midlands West (East) and Stourbridge Lions promoted from Counties 2 Midlands West (West) as champions. Crewe & Nantwich were relegated from Regional 2 North West, Tamworth relegated from Regional 2 North Midlands and Whitchurch relegated from Regional 2 West Midlands.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Aston Old EdwardiansSunnybank AvenueKingstanding, Birmingham, West MidlandsPromoted from Counties 2 Midlands West (East)
BurntwoodThe SportswayBurntwood, Staffordshire2nd
Crewe & NantwichNewcastle RoadNantwich, CheshireRelegated from Regional 2 North West

2024–25

Participating teams & locations

Departing were Edwardians promoted to Regional 2 Midlands North whilst Old Saltleians were promoted to Regional 2 Midlands West. Harborne and Longton were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands West (West). Camp Hill left on a level transfer to Counties 1 Midlands West (South). Joining were Sutton Coldfield and Wolverhampton, both relegated, together with Veseyans, Newport (Salop) 2XV and Willenhall – all promoted.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BurntwoodThe SportswayBurntwood, Staffordshire4th
Kidderminster CaroliansMarlpool LaneKidderminster, Worcestershire6th
Newport (Salop) 2XVThe Old ShowgroundNewport, ShropshirePromoted from Counties 2 Midlands West (West)
Newcastle Lilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire3rd
ShrewsburySundorne CastleUffington, Shrewsbury, Shropshire5th
SpartansCoppice LaneMiddleton, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands8th
StaffordThe County GroundStafford, Staffordshire9th
Sutton ColdfieldRoger Smoldon GroundSutton Coldfield, West MidlandsRelegated from Regional 2 Midlands North
Telford HornetsHinkshay RoadTelford, Shropshire7th
VeseyansMemorial GroundWalsall, West MidlandsPromoted from Counties 2 Midlands West (East)
WillenhallBognop RoadEssington, StaffordshirePromoted from Counties 2 Midlands West (West)
WolverhamptonCastlecroft RoadCastlecroft, Wolverhampton, West MidlandsRelegated from Regional 2 Midlands North

2023–24

Participating teams & locations

Departing were 2nd-placed Tamworth promoted to Regional 2 Midlands North. Luctonians 2XV moved on a level transfer to Counties 1 Midlands West (South) – promotion to level 6 was not permitted due to league rules on reserve teams in the RFU leagues. Stourbridge Lions and Uttoxeter were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands West (West) and Counties 2 Midlands West (East) respectively. Joining were Harborne and Burntwood, both promoted, together with Kidderminster Carolians and Spartans both on a level transfer
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BurntwoodThe SportswayBurntwood, StaffordshirePromoted from Counties 2 Midlands West (North)
Camp HillThe ShrineShirley, Solihull, West Midlands5th
EdwardiansMemorial GroundSolihull, West Midlands3rd
HarborneMetchley ParkBirmingham, West MidlandsPromoted from Counties 2 Midlands West (North)
Kidderminster CaroliansMarlpool LaneKidderminster, WorcestershireLevel transfer from Counties 1 Midlands West (South)
LongtonTrentham FieldsLongton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire10th
Newcastle Lilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire7th
Old SaltleiansWatton LaneWater Orton, Warwickshire8th
ShrewsburySundorne CastleUffington, Shrewsbury, Shropshire6th
SpartansCoppice LaneMiddleton, Sutton Coldfield, West MidlandsLevel transfer from Counties 1 Midlands West (South)
StaffordThe County GroundStafford, Staffordshire4th
Telford HornetsHinkshay RoadTelford, Shropshire9th

2022–23

Participating teams & locations

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 1 Midlands West. Departing were Crewe & Nantwich, Moseley Oak and Walsall all promoted to Regional 2 Midlands West. Also leaving was Leek, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands North. Joining were Edwardians, Shrewsbury, Telford Hornets and Luctonians 2XV.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Camp HillThe ShrineShirley, Solihull, West Midlands6th
EdwardiansMemorial GroundSolihull, West MidlandsPromoted from Midlands 3 West (North)
LongtonTrentham FieldsLongton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire5th
Luctonians 2XVMortimer Park2,500 Kingsland, HerefordshireNew entry
Newcastle Lilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire9th
Old SaltleiansWatton LaneWater Orton, Warwickshire11th
ShrewsburySundorne CastleUffington, Shrewsbury, ShropshirePromoted from Midlands 3 West (North)
StaffordThe County GroundStafford, Staffordshire8th
Stourbridge LionsStourton Park3,500 Stourbridge, West Midlands12th
TamworthWigginton ParkTamworth, Staffordshire7th
Telford HornetsHinkshay RoadTelford, ShropshirePromoted from Midlands 3 West (North)
UttoxeterOldfields Sports & Social Club2,000Uttoxeter, Staffordshire10th

2021–22

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Camp HillThe ShrineShirley, Solihull, West Midlands2nd
Crewe & NantwichNewcastle RoadNantwich, Cheshire9th
LeekEsterchem ParkCheddleton, Staffordshire4th
LongtonTrentham FieldsLongton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire6th
Moseley OakBirmingham Moseley Rugby Club5,000 Birmingham, West Midlands8th
Newcastle Lilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire10th
Old SaltleiansWatton LaneWater Orton, WarwickshirePromoted from Midlands 3 West (North)
StaffordThe County GroundStafford, Staffordshire3rd
Stourbridge LionsStourton Park3,500 Stourbridge, West MidlandsRelegated from Midlands 1 West
TamworthWigginton ParkTamworth, Staffordshire7th
UttoxeterOldfields Sports & Social Club2,000Uttoxeter, StaffordshirePromoted from Midlands 3 West (North)
WalsallBroadway Ground1,150 Walsall, West Midlands5th

2020–21

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

2019–20

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BurntwoodThe SportswayBurntwood, StaffordshirePromoted from Midlands 3 WN
Camp HillThe ShrineShirley, Solihull, West Midlands4th
Crewe & NantwichNewcastle RoadNantwich, Cheshire6th
LeekEsterchem ParkCheddleton, Staffordshire5th
LongtonTrentham FieldsLongton, Stoke-on-Trent, StaffordshireRelegated from Midlands 1 West
Moseley OakBirmingham Moseley Rugby Club5,000 Birmingham, West MidlandsRelegated from Midlands 1 West
Newcastle Lilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire7th
ShrewsburySundorne CastleUffington, Shrewsbury, ShropshirePromoted from Midlands 3 WN
StaffordThe County GroundStafford, Staffordshire10th
TamworthWigginton ParkTamworth, StaffordshireRunners up
WalsallBroadway Ground1,150 Walsall, West Midlands8th
WolverhamptonCastlecroft RoadCastlecroft, Wolverhampton, West Midlands3rd

2018–19

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Camp HillThe ShrineShirley, Solihull, West MidlandsRelegated from Midlands 1 West
Crewe & NantwichNewcastle RoadNantwich, CheshireRunners up
LeekEsterchem ParkCheddleton, Staffordshire3rd
LudlowThe LinneyLudlow, Shropshire5th
Newcastle Lilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire10th
SpartansCoppice LaneMiddleton, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands4th
StaffordThe County GroundStafford, StaffordshirePromoted from Midlands 3 West (North)
TamworthWigginton ParkTamworth, Staffordshire8th
Telford HornetsHinkshay RoadTelford, ShropshirePromoted from Midlands 3 West (North)
VeseyansMemorial GroundWalsall, West Midlands6th
WalsallBroadway Ground1,150 Walsall, West Midlands7th
WolverhamptonCastlecroft RoadCastlecroft, Wolverhampton, West MidlandsRelegated from Midlands 1 West

2017–18

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Cleobury MortimerLove LaneCleobury Mortimer, ShropshirePromoted from Midlands 3 West (North)
Crewe & NantwichNewcastle RoadNantwich, CheshireRelegated from Midlands 1 West
Kidderminster CaroliansMarlpool LaneKidderminster, Worcestershire6th
LeekEsterchem ParkCheddleton, Staffordshire3rd
LudlowThe LinneyLudlow, ShropshirePromoted from Midlands 3 West (North)
Newcastle Lilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire9th
Old SaltleiansWatton LaneWater Orton, Warwickshire8th
SpartansCoppice LaneMiddleton, Sutton Coldfield, West MidlandsLevel transfer from Midlands 2 West (South)
TamworthWigginton ParkTamworth, Staffordshire5th
VeseyansMemorial GroundWalsall, West Midlands7th
WalsallBroadway Ground1,150 Walsall, West Midlands4th
WhitchurchEdgeley ParkWhitchurch, ShropshireRelegated from Midlands 1 West

Teams 2016–17

Teams 2015-16

Teams 2014–15

Teams 2013–14

Teams 2012–13

Teams 2011–12

Teams 2010–11

Original teams

Teams in Midlands 2 West and Midlands 2 West (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 1 West, which contained the following sides when in was introduced in 1992:

Counties 1 Midlands West (North) honours

Midlands West 1 (1992–1993)

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

Midlands West 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 West dropped to become a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands 2 and Midlands West 2.

Midlands West 1 (1996–2000)

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

Midlands 3 West (North) (2000–2009)

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

Midlands 2 West (North) (2009–22)

League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 3 West and Midlands 3 West were renamed Midlands 2 West and Midlands 2 West (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 7. Promotion was to Midlands 1 West and relegation to Midlands 3 West (North).

Counties 1 Midlands West (North) (2022– )

Following league reorganisation, Midlands 2 West is renamed Counties 1 Midlands West and continues to be a tier 7 league. Promotion is to Regional 2 North Midlands. Relegation is usually to one of the Counties 2 Midlands West leagues.

Promotion play-offs

Between the 2000–01 season and 2018–19 there were play-offs between the runners-up of Midlands 2 West and Midlands 2 West (South) for the third and final promotion place to Midlands 1 West and Midlands 2 East. The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2018–19 season the Midlands 2 West teams had ten wins to Midlands 2 West teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on eleven occasions compared to the away teams seven.

Number of league titles