Midlands 3 East (North)


Counties 2 Midlands East is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occasional team from Leicestershire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 2, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 4 East and Midlands 4 East (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, led to the current name of Midlands 3 East and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name.
Promoted teams tend to move up to Counties 1 Midlands East (North) while demoted teams typically drop into Counties 3 Midlands East North West or Counties 3 Midlands East North East.

2025–26

Departing were Keyworth and Ashby, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (North) as champions and runners-up respectively.
With a reorganisation of the leagues below, a greater than usual number of clubs were relegated meaning Boston and Newark II were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East (North East) together with Birstall relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East (South North), while Derby II and Ashfield were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East (North West).
Ashbourne left on a level transfer to Counties 2 Midlands West (West).

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
CoalvilleMemorial GroundCoalville, LeicestershireLevel transfer from Counties 2 Midlands West (East)
GainsboroughRoses Sports FieldsGainsborough, Lincolnshire7th
LoughboroughDerby Road Playing FieldsLoughborough, LeicestershireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (North)
MansfieldEakring Road1,000Mansfield, NottinghamshireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (North)
Melton MowbrayMelton Sports VillageMelton Mowbray, Leicestershire5th
MosboroughMosborough Miners Welfare ClubMosborough, Sheffield, South Yorkshire6th
Nottingham CasualsWeir Field Recreation GroundBeeston, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire4th
Scunthorpe IIHeslam Park1,212 Scunthorpe, LincolnshireNew entry
SleafordDavid Williams PavilionSleaford, LincolnshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (North East)
Syston IIBarkby RoadQueniborough, LeicestershirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands West (East)
TuptonNorth SideTupton, DerbyshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (North West)
West Bridgford IIThe Memorial GroundWest Bridgford, NottinghamshireNew entry

2024–25

Departing were Kesteven and Nottingham Moderns, both promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (North). Grimsby and Belper were relegated.
Joining were Boston and Birstall, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (North). Keyworth were promoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central) whilst Mosborough came up from Counties 3 Midlands East (North).

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AshbourneRecreation GroundAshbourne, Derbyshire3rd
AshbyNottingham RoadAshby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire10th
AshfieldPolly Bowls Sports GroundSutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire7th
BirstallCo-Op Sports GroundBirstall, LeicestershireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (North)
BostonPrincess Royal Sports Arena2,000Boston, LincolnshireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (North)
Derby IIHaslams LaneDerby, Derbyshire5th
GainsboroughRoses Sports FieldsGainsborough, Lincolnshire9th
KeyworthWilloughby RoadWidmerpool, NottinghamshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central)
Melton MowbrayMelton Sports VillageMelton Mowbray, Leicestershire4th
MosboroughMosborough Miners Welfare ClubMosborough, Sheffield, South YorkshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (North)
Newark IIThe Rugby Ground1,000 Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire8th
Nottingham CasualsWeir Field Recreation GroundBeeston, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire6th

2023–24

Departing were Boston and Mansfield, both promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (North). Bakewell Mannerians, East Retford and Sielby were relegated.
Joining were Asbourne and Ashby, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (North). Newark II were promoted from Counties 3 Midlands East East whilst Derby II came up from Counties 3 Midlands East West. Melton Mowbray joined on a level transfer from Counties 2 Midlands East (South).

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AshbourneRecreation GroundAshbourne, DerbyshireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (North)
AshbyNottingham RoadAshby-de-la-Zouch, LeicestershireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (North)
AshfieldPolly Bowls Sports GroundSutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire7th
BelperStrutts Playing FieldBelper, Derbyshire9th
Derby IIHaslams LaneDerby, DerbyshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (N) West
GainsboroughRoses Sports FieldsGainsborough, Lincolnshire6th
GrimsbySpringfieldGrimsby, Lincolnshire8th
KestevenWoodnookGrantham, Lincolnshire4th
Melton MowbrayMelton Sports VillageMelton Mowbray, LeicestershireLevel transfer from Counties 2 Midlands East (South)
Newark IIThe Rugby Ground1,000 Newark-on-Trent, NottinghamshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (N) East
Nottingham CasualsWeir Field Recreation GroundBeeston, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire3th
Nottingham ModernsFerryfieldsWilford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire5th

2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 2 Midlands East ).
Departing were Mellish and Birstall, both promoted to Counties 1 Milands East (North).
Joining were Gainsborough and Nottingham Moderns, both promoted.

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AshfieldPolly Bowls Sports GroundSutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire9th
Bakewell ManneriansLady Manners SchoolBakewell, Derbyshire8th
BelperStrutts Playing FieldBelper, Derbyshire10th
BostonPrincess Royal Sports Arena2,000Boston, Lincolnshire5th
East RetfordOrdsall RoadRetford, Nottinghamshire12th
GainsboroughRoses Sports FieldsGainsborough, LincolnshirePromoted from Midlands 4 EN (East)
GrimsbySpringfieldGrimsby, Lincolnshire7th
KestevenWoodnookGrantham, Lincolnshire4th
MansfieldEakring Road1,000Mansfield, Nottinghamshire6th
Nottingham CasualsWeir Field Recreation GroundBeeston, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire3rd
Nottingham ModernsFerryfieldsWilford, Nottingham, NottinghamshirePromoted from Midlands 4 EN (West)
SilebyPlatts LaneCossington, Leicestershire11th

2021–22

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.
Buxton in 2019-20 did not return for the new season.

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AshfieldPolly Bowls Sports GroundSutton in Ashfield, NottinghamshireRelegated from Midlands 2 EN
Bakewell ManneriansLady Manners SchoolBakewell, Derbyshire8th
BelperStrutts Playing FieldBelper, Derbyshire7th
BirstallCo-Op Sports GroundBirstall, LeicestershirePromoted from Midlands 4 ES
BostonPrincess Royal Sports Arena2,000Boston, LincolnshirePromoted from Midlands 4 EN
East RetfordOrdsall RoadRetford, NottinghamshirePromoted from Midlands 4 EN
GrimsbySpringfieldGrimsby, Lincolnshire5th
KestevenWoodnookGrantham, Lincolnshire6th
MansfieldEakring Road1,000Mansfield, Nottinghamshire9th
MellishWar Memorial GroundArnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire3rd
Nottingham CasualsWeir Field Recreation GroundBeeston, Nottingham, NottinghamshireRelegated from Midlands 2 EN
SilebyPlatts LaneCossington, Leicestershire10th

2020–21

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

2019–20

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AshbyNottingham RoadAshby-de-la-Zouch, LeicestershireRelegated from Midlands 2 EN
Bakewell ManneriansLady Manners SchoolBakewell, Derbyshire10th
BelperStrutts Playing FieldBelper, Derbyshire4th
BuxtonSunnyfieldsBuxton, Derbyshire6th
GrimsbySpringfieldGrimsby, LincolnshirePromoted from Midlands 4 EN
KestevenWoodnookGrantham, Lincolnshire5th
MansfieldEakring Road1,000Mansfield, Nottinghamshire9th
MellishWar Memorial GroundArnold, Nottingham, NottinghamshirePromoted from Midlands 4 EN
Nottingham ModernsFerryfieldsWilford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire7th
Rolls-RoyceMoor LaneDerby, Derbyshire8th
SilebyPlatts LaneCossington, LeicestershirePromoted from Midlands 4 ES
SouthwellPentelowesSouthwell, NottinghamshireRelegated from Midlands 2 EN

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AshfieldPolly Bowls Sports GroundSutton in Ashfield, NottinghamshirePromoted from Midlands 4 East (North)
Bakewell ManneriansLady Manners SchoolBakewell, DerbyshireRelegated from Midlands 2 East (North)
BelperStrutts Playing FieldBelper, Derbyshire9th
BuxtonSunnyfieldsBuxton, Derbyshire10th
KestevenWoodnookGrantham, Lincolnshire5th
MansfieldEakring Road1,000Mansfield, Nottinghamshire3rd
Nottingham CasualsWeir Field Recreation GroundBeeston, Nottingham, NottinghamshireRelegated from Midlands 2 East (North)
Nottingham ModernsFerryfieldsWilford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire11th
Rolls-RoyceMoor LaneDerby, Derbyshire4th
SleafordDavid Williams PavilionSleaford, Lincolnshire6th
SpaldingMemorial FieldSpalding, Lincolnshire8th
TuptonNorth SideTupton, DerbyshirePromoted from Midlands 4 East (North)

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AshbyNottingham RoadAshby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire5th
BelperStrutts Playing FieldBelper, Derbyshire3rd
BirstallCo-Op Sports GroundBirstall, Leicestershire9th
BuxtonSunnyfieldsBuxton, Derbyshire4th
GrimsbySpringfieldGrimsby, Lincolnshire10th
KestevenWoodnookGrantham, LincolnshireRelegated from Midlands 2 East (North)
Long EatonWest Park1,000Long Eaton, DerbyshirePromoted from Midlands 4 East (North)
MansfieldEakring Road1,000Mansfield, Nottinghamshire7th
Nottingham ModernsFerryfieldsWilford, Nottingham, NottinghamshirePromoted from Midlands 4 East (North)
Rolls-RoyceMoor LaneDerby, Derbyshire8th
Sileby TownPlatts LaneCossington, LeicestershireLevel transfer from Midlands 3 East (South)
SleafordDavid Williams PavilionSleaford, Lincolnshire5th
SpaldingMemorial FieldSpalding, LincolnshireRelegated from Midlands 2 East (North)

Teams 2016–17

Teams 2015–16

Teams 2014–15

Teams 2013–14

Teams 2012–13

Teams 2011–12

  • Amber Valley
  • Ashby
  • Belper
  • Dronfield
  • Grimsby
  • Kesteven
  • Lincoln
  • Melbourne
  • Mellish
  • Nottingham Boots Corsairs
  • Sleaford
  • Worksop

Teams 2010–11

  • Amber Valley
  • Ashbourne
  • Ashfield
  • Dronfield
  • Grimsby
  • Kesteven
  • Melbourne
  • Mellish
  • Nottingham Casuals
  • Sleaford
  • Southwell
  • Worksop

Teams 2008–09

Original teams

Teams in Midlands 3 East and Midlands 3 East (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 2 East, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:

Midlands 3 East (North) honours

Midlands East 2 (1992–1993)

Midlands 3 East and Midlands 3 East (South) were originally part of a single tier 8 division called Midlands East 2. Promotion was to Midlands East 1 and relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.

Midlands East 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 East dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Midlands East 1 while relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.

Midlands East 2 (1996–2000)

At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands East 2 returned to being a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to Midlands East 1 while relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.

Midlands 4 East (North) (2000–2006)

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands East 2 split into two tier 8 regional leagues - Midlands 4 East and Midlands 4 East (South). Promotion was now to Midlands 3 East (North) and relegation to either Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 East or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 West.

Midlands 4 East (North) (2006–2009)

Midlands 4 East continued to be a tier 8 league with promotion up into Midlands 3 East (North). However, the cancellation of Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 East and Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 West at the end of the 2005–06 season meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands 5 East (North).

Midlands 3 East (North) (2009–present)

League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 4 East and Midlands 4 East were renamed as Midlands 3 East and Midlands 3 East (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 8. Promotion was now to Midlands 2 East (North) and relegation to Midlands 4 East (North).

Number of league titles