Counties 2 Midlands East (South)


Counties 2 Midlands East is a level 8 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 clubs from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire, all of whom play home and away matches 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 (North) and Midlands 4 East 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. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season saw it changed to Midlands 2 East. After the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name.
Promoted teams move up to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) while demoted teams drop into Counties 3 Midlands East North West, Counties 3 Midlands East North East, Counties 3 Midlands East Central or Counties 3 Midlands East South depending on location.

2025–26

Departing were Long Buckby and Dunstablians, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) as champions and runners-up respectively.
Rugby St Andrews and Oakham were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East South (North) while Northampton BBOB were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East South (South).

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/areaPrevious season
BrackleyNightingale CloseBrackley, Northamptonshire6th
Huntingdon & DistrictHuntingdon RacecourseBrampton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire7th
Leighton BuzzardWright's MeadowLeighton Buzzard, BuckinghamshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (South)
Northampton CasualsRush Mills HouseNorthampton, Northamptonshire5th
Old LaurentiansFenley FieldRugby, WarwickshireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
Oundle IIOccupation RoadOundle, NorthamptonshireNew entry
Peterborough LionsBretton WoodsBretton, CambridgeshireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
Rugby LionsWebb Ellis Road3,200 Rugby, WarwickshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (South)
Rushden & HighamManor ParkRushden, Northamptonshire4th
St IvesSomersham RoadSt Ives, Cambridgeshire3rd
St NeotsThe CommonSt Neots, Cambridgeshire8th
Stockwood ParkLondon RoadLuton, BedfordshireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)

2024–25

Departing were Biggleswade and Stewarts & Lloyds, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South). Luton and Bedford Queens were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East (South). Bedford Swifts elected to withdraw from the leagues and instead play merit table rugby for 2024–25.
Joining were Long Buckby and Oakham, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South), together with Northampton BBOB and Rugby St Andrews, both promoted.
With five teams departing and four joining the league was reduced in size from twelve clubs to eleven.

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/areaPrevious season
BrackleyNightingale CloseBrackley, Northamptonshire6th
DunstabliansBidwell ParkHoughton Regis, Bedfordshire8th
Huntingdon & DistrictHuntingdon RacecourseBrampton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire5th
Long BuckbyStation RoadLong Buckby, NorthamptonshireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
Northampton BBOBSaint Andrew's RoadNorthampton, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (South)
Northampton CasualsRush Mills HouseNorthampton, Northamptonshire9th
OakhamRutland ShowgroundOakham, RutlandRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
Rugby St AndrewsAshlawn RoadRugby, WarwickshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (South)
Rushden & HighamManor ParkRushden, Northamptonshire7th
St IvesSomersham RoadSt Ives, Cambridgeshire4th
St NeotsThe CommonSt Neots, Cambridgeshire3rd

2023–24

Departing were Daventry and Spalding, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South). Melton Mowbray moved on a level transfer to Counties 2 Midlands East (North). Northampton BBOB and Northampton Men's Own were relegated.
Joining were St Ives, Dunstablians and Northampton Casuals, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South), together with Bedford Swifts and Brackley, both promoted.

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/areaPrevious season
Bedford QueensPutnoe Woods500Bedford, Bedfordshire10th
Bedford SwiftsInternational Athletics StadiumBedford, BedfordshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (South)
BiggleswadeLangford RoadBiggleswade, Bedfordshire7th
BrackleyNightingale CloseBrackley, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (South)
DunstabliansBidwell ParkHoughton Regis, BedfordshireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
Huntingdon & DistrictHuntingdon RacecourseBrampton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire8th
LutonNewlands RoadLuton, Bedfordshire5th
Northampton CasualsRush Mills HouseNorthampton, NorthamptonshireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
Rushden & HighamManor ParkRushden, Northamptonshire4th
Stewarts & LloydsOccupation RoadCorby, Northamptonshire3rd
St IvesSomersham RoadSt Ives, CambridgeshireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
St NeotsThe CommonSt Neots, Cambridgeshire9th

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 Stockwood Park, Dunstablians and Bourne, all promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South).
Joining were Biggleswade, Northampton BBOB and St Neots, all promoted.

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/areaPrevious season
Bedford QueensPutnoe Woods500Bedford, Bedfordshire10th
BiggleswadeLangford RoadBiggleswade, BedfordshirePromoted from Midlands 4 East (South)
DaventryDaventry & District Sports ClubDaventry, Northamptonshire12th
Huntingdon & DistrictHuntingdon RacecourseBrampton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire6th
LutonNewlands RoadLuton, Bedfordshire8th
Melton MowbrayMelton Sports VillageMelton Mowbray, Leicestershire5th
Northampton BBOBSaint Andrew's RoadNorthampton, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Midlands 4 East (South)
Northampton Men's OwnStoke RoadAshton, Northamptonshire9th
Rushden & HighamManor ParkRushden, Northamptonshire4th
SpaldingMemorial FieldSpalding, Lincolnshire11th
Stewarts & LloydsOccupation RoadCorby, Northamptonshire7th
St NeotsThe CommonSt Neots, CambridgeshirePromoted from Midlands 4 East (South)

2021–22

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/areaPrevious season
Bedford QueensPutnoe Woods500Bedford, Bedfordshire10th
BourneMilking Nook DroveBourne, Lincolnshire3rd
DaventryDaventry & District Sports ClubDaventry, Northamptonshire9th
DunstabliansBidwell ParkHoughton Regis, Bedfordshire5th
Huntingdon & DistrictHuntingdon RacecourseBrampton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire8th
LutonNewlands RoadLuton, BedfordshireRelegated from London 2 North West
Melton MowbrayMelton Sports VillageMelton Mowbray, LeicestershireRelegated from Midlands 2 ES
Northampton Men's OwnStoke RoadAshton, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Midlands 4 ES
Rushden & HighamManor ParkRushden, Northamptonshire7th
SpaldingMemorial FieldSpalding, Lincolnshire6th
Stewarts & LloydsOccupation RoadCorby, NorthamptonshireRelegated from Midlands 2 ES
Stockwood ParkLondon RoadLuton, Bedfordshire4th

2020–21

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

2019–20

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/areaPrevious season
Bedford QueensPutnoe Woods500Bedford, Bedfordshire8th
BourneMilking Nook DroveBourne, Lincolnshire7th
DaventryDaventry & District Sports ClubDaventry, Northamptonshire4th
DunstabliansBidwell ParkHoughton Regis, Bedfordshire6th
Huntingdon & DistrictHuntingdon RacecourseBrampton, Huntingdon, CambridgeshireRelegated from Midlands 2 ES
Northampton BBOBSaint Andrew's RoadNorthampton, NorthamptonshirePromoted from Midlands 4 ES
OakhamRutland ShowgroundOakham, RutlandRelegated from Midlands 2 ES
Rushden & HighamManor ParkRushden, Northamptonshire10th
SpaldingMemorial FieldSpalding, LincolnshireLevel transfer from Midlands 3 EN
St NeotsThe CommonSt Neots, Cambridgeshire9th
StamfordHambleton RoadStamford, Lincolnshire3rd
Stockwood ParkLondon RoadLuton, Bedfordshire5th

2018–19

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/areaPrevious season
Bedford QueensPutnoe Woods500Bedford, Bedfordshire10th
BiggleswadeLangford RoadBiggleswade, Bedfordshire5th
BirstallCo-Op Sports GroundBirstall, LeicestershireLevel transfer from Midlands 3 East (North)
BourneMilking Nook DroveBourne, LincolnshirePromoted from Midlands 4 East (South)
DaventryDaventry & District Sports ClubDaventry, Northamptonshire6th
DunstabliansBidwell ParkHoughton Regis, Bedfordshire9th
Leicester ForestHinckley RoadLeicester Forest East, Leicestershire4th
Northampton CasualsRush Mills HouseNorthampton, Northamptonshire3rd
Rushden & HighamManor ParkRushden, Northamptonshire 8th
St NeotsThe CommonSt Neots, CambridgeshirePromoted from Midlands 4 East (South)
StamfordHambleton RoadStamford, LincolnshireRelegated from Midlands 2 East (South)
Stockwood ParkLondon RoadLuton, Bedfordshire7th

2017–18

Participating teams and locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/areaPrevious season
Bedford QueensPutnoe Woods500Bedford, BedfordshirePromoted from Midlands 4 East (South)
BiggleswadeLangford RoadBiggleswade, Bedfordshire7th
DaventryDaventry & District Sports ClubDaventry, Northamptonshire9th
DunstabliansBidwell ParkHoughton Regis, Bedfordshire5th
Leicester ForestHinckley RoadLeicester Forest East, Leicestershire8th
Northampton BBOBSaint Andrew's RoadNorthampton, Northamptonshire6th
Northampton CasualsRush Mills HouseNorthampton, Northamptonshire4th
Northampton Mens OwnStoke RoadAshton, Northamptonshire10th
Rushden & HighamManor ParkRushden, NorthamptonshireRelegated from Midlands 2 East (North)
St Ives Somersham RoadSt Ives, Cambridgeshire3rd
Stockwood ParkLondon RoadLuton, BedfordshireRelegated from London 2 North West
VipersVipers GroundWhetstone, LeicestershireRelegated from Midlands 2 East (North)

Teams 2016-17

Teams 2015-16

  • Daventry
  • Dunstablians '
  • Long Buckby
  • Northampton BBOB
  • Northampton Casuals
  • Old Newtonians '
  • Oundale
  • Rugby St Andrews
  • Stockwood Park
  • St Ives
  • St Neots
  • Stewarts & Lloyds ''''''

Teams 2014-15

  • Bedford Queens
  • Daventry
  • Long Buckby '
  • Northampton BBOB '
  • Northampton Casuals
  • Northampton Mens Own
  • Oundale '
  • Rugby St Andrews
  • Rushden & Higham '
  • St Ives
  • Stockwood Park
  • Vipers

Teams 2013-14

  • Bedford Queens
  • Biggleswade '
  • Brackley '
  • Daventry
  • Deepings
  • Northampton Casuals
  • Northampton Mens Own
  • Rugby St Andrews
  • St Ives
  • Stewarts & Lloyds
  • Stockwood Park
  • Vipers ''''''

Teams 2012–13

  • Bedford Queens
  • Daventry
  • Deepings
  • Long Buckby
  • Northampton Casuals
  • Northampton Mens Own
  • Old Newtonians
  • Rugby St Andrews
  • Rushden & Higham
  • Stamford
  • Stewarts & Lloyds
  • Stockwood Park

Teams 2011–12

  • Bedford Queens
  • Bedford Swifts
  • Biggleswade
  • Brackley
  • Daventry
  • Deepings
  • Northampton BBOB
  • Northampton Casuals
  • Rugby St Andrews
  • Rushden & Higham
  • Stamford
  • Stewarts & Lloyds

Teams 2010–11

  • Bedford Queens
  • Bedford Swifts
  • Brackley
  • Daventry
  • Deepings
  • Long Buckby
  • Northampton Casuals
  • Northampton Mens Own
  • Oadby Wyggestonians
  • Old Newtonians
  • Rugby St Andrews
  • Rushden & Higham

Teams 2008–09

  • Aylestone St James
  • Banbury
  • Huntingdon & District
  • Leicester Forest
  • Lutterworth
  • Northampton BBOB
  • Northampton Old Scouts
  • Old Newtonians
  • Old Northamptonians
  • Stewarts & Lloyds
  • Towcestrians
  • Vipers

Original teams

Teams in Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East 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 (South) honours

Midlands East 2 (1992–1993)

Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East 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 (South) (2000–2006)

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands East 2 split into two tier 8 regional leagues - Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East. Promotion was now to Midlands 3 East (North) and relegation to East Midlands 1.

Midlands 4 East (South) (2006–2009)

Midlands 4 East continued to be a tier 8 league with promotion up into Midlands 3 East (South). However, the cancellation of East Midlands 1 at the end of the 2005–06 season meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands 5 East (South).

Midlands 3 East (South) (2009–present)

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

Number of league titles