Midlands 3 West (North)


Counties 2 Midlands West 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 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 2, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 4 West and Midlands 4 West (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, led to it to adopt the name Midlands 3 West and again following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it was known, briefly as Counties 2 Midlands West, before the league was split East/West giving rise to its current name.
Promoted teams tend to move up to Counties 2 Midlands West (North) or Counties 2 Midlands West (South) depending on location. Relegated teams typically drop to Midlands 4 West (North). Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a level 8 national competition.

2025-26

Departing were Stourbridge Lions promoted to Counties 1 Midlands West (North) and Bromyard promoted to Counties 1 Midlands West (South). Also leaving were Walsall II relegated to Counties 3 Midlands West (South) while Oswestry and Market Drayton were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands West (North). Harborne left on a level transfer to Counties 2 Midlands West (East).

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AshbourneRecreation GroundAshbourne, DerbyshireLevel transfer from Counties 2 Midlands East (North)
Bridgnorth BullsEdgar Davies GroundBridgnorth, Shropshire5th
Burton 2XVBattlestead Croft, TatenhillBurton, StaffordshireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (North)
Clee HillTenbury RoadCleehill, Shropshire4th
Leek IIAltrad ParkCheddleton, StaffordshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands West (North)
LongtonTrentham FieldsLongton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire7th
Luctonians IIIMortimer Park2,500 Kingsland, Herefordshire6th
Newcastle IILilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, StaffordshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands West (North)
StaffordThe County GroundStafford, StaffordshireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands West (North)
TrenthamNew Inn LaneTrentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire3rd
WillenhallBognop RoadEssington, StaffordshireRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands West (North)
WolverhamptonCastlecroft RoadCastlecroft, Wolverhampton, West MidlandsRelegated from Counties 1 Midlands West (North)

2024-25

Departing were Newport (Salop) 2XV and Willenhall, both promoted to Counties 1 Midlands West (North). Handsworth and Rugeley were relegated.
Joining were Harborne, Longton, Trentham and Walsall II.
Tenbury started but subsequently withdrew from the league leaving eleven teams to contest the remaining fixtures.

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bridgnorth BullsEdgar Davies GroundBridgnorth, Shropshire10th
BromyardClive Richards Sports GroundBromyard, Herefordshire4th
Clee HillTenbury RoadCleehill, Shropshire3rd
HarborneMetchley ParkBirmingham, West MidlandsRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (North)
LongtonTrentham FieldsLongton, Stoke-on-Trent, StaffordshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (North)
Luctonians IIIMortimer Park2,500 Kingsland, Herefordshire5th
Market DraytonGreenfields LaneMarket Drayton, Shropshire9th
OswestryGranville ParkOswestry, Shropshire8th
Stourbridge LionsStourton ParkStourbridge, West Midlands6th
TrenthamNew Inn LaneTrentham, Stoke-on-Trent, StaffordshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands West (North)
Walsall IIBroadway Ground1,150 Walsall, West MidlandsLevel transfer from Counties 2 Midlands West (East)

2023-24

The league name changed from Counties 2 Midlands West to Counties 2 Midlands West with a corresponding adjustment in the make up of the competing sides.
Departing were Burntwood and Harborne, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (North). Aldridge and Cleobury Mortimer were relegated. Veseyans left on a level transfer to Counties 2 Midlands West (East).
Joining on a level transfer, were Bromyard and Tenbury from Counties 2 Midlands West (East) together with Rugeley, Willenhall and Stourbridge Lions.

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bridgnorth BullsEdgar Davies GroundBridgnorth, Shropshire9th
BromyardClive Richards Sports GroundBromyard, HerefordshireLevel transfer from Counties 2 Midlands West (East)
Clee HillTenbury RoadCleehill, Shropshire5th
HandsworthCharles Lewis Memorial GroundWalsall, West Midlands10th
Luctonians IIIMortimer Park2,500 Kingsland, Herefordshire8th
Market DraytonGreenfields LaneMarket Drayton, Shropshire7th
Newport (Salop) 2XVThe Old ShowgroundNewport, Shropshire4th
OswestryGranville ParkOswestry, Shropshire6th
RugeleySt Augustine's FieldRugeley, StaffordshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands West (North)
Stourbridge LionsStourton ParkStourbridge, West MidlandsNew entry
TenburyPenluTenbury Wells, WorcestershireLevel transfer from Counties 2 Midlands West (East)
WillenhallBognop RoadEssington, StaffordshirePromoted from Counties 3 Midlands West (North)

2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 2 Midlands West.
Departing were Edwardians, Telford Hornets and Shrewsbury, all promoted to Counties 1 Midlands West (North). Also leaving were Eccleshall and Linley & Kidsgrove.
Joining were Bridgnorth II, Luctonians III, Market Drayton, Oswestry and Newport (Salop) 2XV.

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AldridgeBourne ValeAldridge, West Midlands10th
Bridgnorth IIEdgar Davies GroundBridgnorth, ShropshireNew entry
BurntwoodThe SportswayBurntwood, Staffordshire4th
Clee HillTenbury RoadCleehill, Shropshire7th
Cleobury MortimerLove LaneCleobury Mortimer, Shropshire9th
HandsworthCharles Lewis Memorial GroundWalsall, West Midlands6th
HarborneMetchley ParkBirmingham, West Midlands5th
Luctonians IIIMortimer Park2,500 Kingsland, HerefordshireNew entry
Market DraytonGreenfields LaneMarket Drayton, ShropshirePromoted from Midlands 4 WN
Newport (Salop) 2XVThe Old ShowgroundNewport, ShropshireNew entry
OswestryGranville ParkOswestry, ShropshirePromoted from Midlands 4 WN
VeseyansMemorial GroundWalsall, West Midlands8th

2021-22

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AldridgeBourne ValeAldridge, West MidlandsPromoted from Midlands 4 WN
BurntwoodThe SportswayBurntwood, StaffordshireRelegated from Midlands 2 WN
Clee HillTenbury RoadCleehill, ShropshirePromoted from Midlands 4 WN
Cleobury MortimerLove LaneCleobury Mortimer, Shropshire6th
EccleshallBaden HallEccleshall, Staffordshire9th
EdwardiansMemorial GroundSolihull, West Midlands5th
HandsworthCharles Lewis Memorial GroundWalsall, West Midlands10th
HarborneMetchley ParkBirmingham, West Midlands3rd
Linley & KidsgroveKidsgrove Cricket ClubKidsgrove, Staffordshire7th
ShrewsburySundorne CastleUffington, Shrewsbury, ShropshireRelegated from Midlands 2 WN
Telford HornetsHinkshay RoadTelford, Shropshire8th
VeseyansMemorial GroundWalsall, West Midlands4th

2020–21

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

2019–20

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Cleobury MortimerLove LaneCleobury Mortimer, Shropshire9th
EccleshallBaden HallEccleshall, Staffordshire7th
EdwardiansMemorial GroundSolihull, West Midlands4th
HandsworthCharles Lewis Memorial GroundWalsall, West Midlands10th
HarborneMetchley ParkBirmingham, West Midlands6th
Linley & KidsgroveKidsgrove Cricket ClubKidsgrove, StaffordshirePromoted from Midlands 4 WN
Old SaltleiansWatton LaneWater Orton, Warwickshire3rd
Telford HornetsHinkshay RoadTelford, ShropshireRelegated from Midlands 2 WN
UttoxeterOldfields Sports & Social Club2,000Uttoxeter, Staffordshire5th
VeseyansMemorial GroundWalsall, West MidlandsRelegated from Midlands 2 WN
WednesburyWoden Road NorthWednesbury, West Midlands8th
WillenhallBognop RoadEssington, StaffordshirePromoted from Midlands 4 WN

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BurntwoodThe SportswayBurntwood, Staffordshire3rd
CannockMorgan GroundHuntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire6th
Cleobury MortimerLove LaneCleobury Mortimer, ShropshireRelegated from Midlands 2 West (North)
EccleshallBaden HallEccleshall, StaffordshirePromoted from Midlands 4 West (North)
EdwardiansMemorial GroundSolihull, West Midlands7th
HandsworthCharles Lewis Memorial GroundWalsall, West Midlands9th
HarborneMetchley ParkBirmingham, West Midlands5th
Old SaltleiansWatton LaneWater Orton, WarwickshireRelegated from Midlands 2 West (North)
ShrewsburySundorne CastleUffington, Shrewsbury, Shropshire4th
TrenthamNew Inn LaneTrentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire10th
UttoxeterOldfields Sports & Social Club2,000Uttoxeter, Staffordshire8th
WednesburyWoden Road NorthWednesbury, West MidlandsPromoted from Midlands 4 West (North)

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Barton-under-NeedwoodHolland Sports ClubBarton-under-Needwood, StaffordshirePromoted from Midlands 4 West (North)
BurntwoodThe SportswayBurntwood, Staffordshire3rd
CannockMorgan GroundHuntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire10th
EdwardiansMemorial GroundSolihull, West Midlands6th
HandsworthCharles Lewis Memorial GroundWalsall, West Midlands4th
HarborneMetchley ParkBirmingham, West Midlands8th
ShrewsburySundorne CastleUffington, Shrewsbury, ShropshireRelegated from Midlands 2 West (North)
StaffordThe County GroundStafford, StaffordshireRelegated from Midlands 2 West (North)
Telford HornetsHinkshay RoadTelford, Shropshire7th
TrenthamNew Inn LaneTrentham, Stoke-on-Trent, StaffordshirePromoted from Midlands 4 West (North)
UttoxeterOldfields Sports & Social Club2,000Uttoxeter, Staffordshire5th
WillenhallBognop RoadEssington, Staffordshire9th

Teams 2016-17

  • Burntwood
  • Cannock
  • Clee Hill
  • Cleobury Mortimer
  • Eccleshall
  • Edwardians
  • Handsworth '
  • Harborne '
  • Ludlow
  • Telford Hornets '
  • Uttoxeter '
  • Willenhall

Teams 2015-16

  • Bloxwich
  • Burntwood
  • Cannock '
  • Clee Hill
  • Cleobury Mortimer '
  • Eccleshall
  • Edwardians
  • Ludlow '
  • Newcastle
  • Tamworth '
  • Wednesbury
  • Willenhall

Teams 2014-15

Teams 2013-14

Teams 2012–13

Teams 2010–11

Original teams

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

Midlands 3 West (North) honours

Midlands West 2 (1992–1993)

Midlands 3 West and Midlands 3 West (South) were originally part of a single tier 8 division called Midlands West 2. Promotion was to Midlands West 1 and relegation was to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1.

Midlands West 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 West dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Midlands West 1 while relegation was to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1.

Midlands West 2 (1996–2000)

At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands West 2 returned to being a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to Midlands West 1 while relegation was to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1.

Midlands 4 West (North) (2000–2004)

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

Midlands 4 West (North) (2004–2006)

At the start of the 2004–05 season Midlands 4 West remained at tier 8 of the league system, with promotion continuing to Midlands 3 West (North). However, the restructuring of the leagues below meant that relegation was now to either North Midlands (North) or Staffordshire

Midlands 4 West (North) (2006–2009)

At the start of the 2006–07 season Midlands 4 West remained at tier 8 of the league system, with promotion continuing to Midlands 3 West (North). The cancellation of the Staffordshire league meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands 5 West (North).

Midlands 3 West (North) (2009–present)

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

Number of league titles