Counties 3 Midlands East (North)


Counties 3 Midlands East / are level 9 English Rugby Union leagues and level 4 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. Each year some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
Formed for the 2006–07 season, the division was originally known as Midlands 5 East but changed to its present name for the 2008–09 season due to league restructuring.
Promoted teams tend to move up to Counties 2 Midlands East (North), while relegation is to Counties 4 Midlands East (West) or Counties 4 Midlands East (East).
The division was split across two geographic areas for the 2021–22 season as part of an RFU reorganisation of the Midlands regional league. Further restructuring followed in the wake of the RFU's Adult Competition Review, with the league initially known as Counties 3 Midlands East East / West. From season 2023–24 a Counties 3 Midlands East (Central) was introduced before in 2024–25 the East league was split North East and North West.

2025–26

North East

Departing were Sleaford promoted to Counties 2 Midlands (East) North.
East Retford, Meden Vale and Worksop were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands East (West) while Lincoln II were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands East (East)
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BinghamThe PavilionBingham, NottinghamshireLevel transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central)
BostonPrincess Royal Sports Arena2,000Boston, LincolnshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands (East) North
CleethorpesKGV Playing FieldsCleethorpes, Lincolnshire5th
GrimsbySpringfieldGrimsby, Lincolnshire3rd
Market Rasen & Louth IIWillingham RoadMarket Rasen, Lincolnshire4th
Newark IIThe Rugby Ground1,000 Newark-on-Trent, NottinghamshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands (East) North
North HykehamRuston Sports and BarNorth Hykeham, Lincolnshire6th
OllertonBoughton Sports FieldBoughton, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire2nd
SkegnessWainfleet RoadSkegness, Lincolnshire7th
Southwell IIPentelowesSouthwell, NottinghamshireLevel transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central)

North West

Departing were Tupton, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (North). Amber Valley, Chesterfield Panthers, Mansfield II and Matlock II were all relegated to Counties 4 Midlands East (West) while Paviors II were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands East (East).
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Ashbourne IIRecreation GroundAshbourne, Derbyshire6th
AshfieldPolly Bowls Sports GroundSutton in Ashfield, NottinghamshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (North)
Bakewell ManneriansLady Manners SchoolBakewell, Derbyshire5th
BelperStrutts Playing FieldBelper, Derbyshire2nd
Castle DoningtonSpital Park PavilionCastle Donington, DerbyshireLevel transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central)
Derby IIHaslams LaneDerby, DerbyshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (North)
Dronfield IIGosforth FieldsDronfield Woodhouse, Dronfield, Derbyshire3rd
LeesbrookAsterdale Sports CentreSpondon, Derby, DerbyshireLevel transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central)
Long Eaton IIWest Park1,000Long Eaton, DerbyshireLevel transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central)
Melbourne IICockshut Lane2,000Melbourne, DerbyshireLevel transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central)
NottinghamiansAdbolton LaneHolme Pierrepont, NottinghamshireLevel transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central)
Rolls-RoyceMoor LaneDerby, Derbyshire4th

2024–25

Ahead of the new season the league was divided into two divisions, North East and North West.

North East

Departing were Mosborough promoted to Counties 2 Midlands (East) North.
Joining were Grimsby, Lincoln II, Market Rasen & Louth II, North Hykeham, Skegness and Sleaford.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
CleethorpesKGV Playing FieldsCleethorpes, Lincolnshire8th
East RetfordOrdsall RoadRetford, Nottinghamshire9th
GrimsbySpringfieldGrimsby, LincolnshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands (East) North
Lincoln IILongdales ParkLincoln, LincolnshireNew entry
Market Rasen & Louth IIWillingham RoadMarket Rasen, LincolnshireNew entry
Meden ValeElkesley RoadMeden Vale, Nottinghamshire4th
North HykehamRuston Sports and BarNorth Hykeham, LincolnshireLevel transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central)
OllertonBoughton Sports FieldBoughton, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire7th
SkegnessWainfleet RoadSkegness, LincolnshireRe-entry
SleafordDavid Williams PavilionSleaford, LincolnshireLevel transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central)
WorksopStubbing LaneWorksop, Nottinghamshire11th

North West

Joining were Ashbourne II, Belper, Paviors II and Rolls-Royce
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Amber ValleyLower SomercotesAlfreton, Derbyshire12th
Ashbourne IIRecreation GroundAshbourne, DerbyshireLevel transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central)
Bakewell ManneriansLady Manners SchoolBakewell, Derbyshire3rd
BelperStrutts Playing FieldBelper, DerbyshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands (East) North
Chesterfield PanthersDunston Road2,000Chesterfield, Derbyshire5th
Dronfield IIGosforth FieldsDronfield Woodhouse, Dronfield, Derbyshire10th
Mansfield IIEakring Road1,000Mansfield, NottinghamshireNew entry
Matlock IICromford MeadowsCromford, Matlock, Derbyshire6th
Paviors IIThe Ron Rossin GroundNottingham, NottinghamshireLevel transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central)
Rolls-RoyceMoor LaneDerby, DerbyshireLevel transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central)
TuptonNorth SideTupton, Derbyshire2nd

2023–24

Departing from the East league were Newark II and from the West, Departing were Derby II, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands (East) North. Nottingham Medics withdrew from the league.
Moving on a level transfer to the newly formed Counties 3 Midlands East (Central) from the East league were North Hykeham, Nottinghamians, Paviors II, Sleaford and Southwell II; and from the West were Ashbourne II, Keyworth, Long Eaton II, Melbourne II, Rolls-Royce and West Bridgford II.
Joining were Mosborough, Bakewell Mannerians and East Retford.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Amber ValleyLower SomercotesAlfreton, Derbyshire12th
Bakewell ManneriansLady Manners SchoolBakewell, DerbyshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands (East) North
Chesterfield PanthersDunston Road2,000Chesterfield, Derbyshire4th
CleethorpesKGV Playing FieldsCleethorpes, Lincolnshire11th
Dronfield IIGosforth FieldsDronfield Woodhouse, Dronfield, Derbyshire9th
East RetfordOrdsall RoadRetford, NottinghamshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands (East) North
Matlock IICromford MeadowsCromford, Matlock, Derbyshire6th
Meden ValeElkesley RoadMeden Vale, Nottinghamshire2nd
MosboroughMosborough Miners Welfare ClubMosborough, Sheffield, South YorkshireLevel transfer from Counties 4 Yorkshire
OllertonBoughton Sports FieldBoughton, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire9th
TuptonNorth SideTupton, Derbyshire3rd
WorksopStubbing LaneWorksop, Nottinghamshire10th

2022–23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 3 Midlands West East / West.

East

Departing were Gainsborough, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands (East) North.
Joining were Meden Vale, Newark II, Nottinghamians, Nottingham Medics, Paviors II and Southwell II.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
CleethorpesKGV Playing FieldsCleethorpes, Lincolnshire3rd
Meden ValeElkesley RoadMeden Vale, NottinghamshireLevel transfer from Midlands 4 East West
Newark IIThe Rugby Ground1,000 Newark-on-Trent, NottinghamshireNew entry
North HykehamRuston Sports and BarNorth Hykeham, Lincolnshire4th
NottinghamiansAdbolton LaneHolme Pierrepont, NottinghamshireLevel transfer from Midlands 4 East West
Nottingham MedicsWeir Field Recreation GroundBeeston, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
OllertonBoughton Sports FieldBoughton, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire5th
Paviors IIThe Ron Rossin GroundNottingham, NottinghamshireNew entry
SleafordDavid Williams PavilionSleaford, Lincolnshire2nd
Southwell IIPentelowesSouthwell, NottinghamshireNew entry
WorksopStubbing LaneWorksop, Nottinghamshire6th

West

Departing were Nottingham Moderns, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands (East) North.
Joining were Ashbourne II, Derby II, Dronfield II, Keyworth, Long Eaton II, Matlock II, Melbourne II and West Bridgford II.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Amber ValleyLower SomercotesAlfreton, Derbyshire6th
Ashbourne IIRecreation GroundAshbourne, DerbyshireNew entry
Chesterfield PanthersDunston Road2,000Chesterfield, Derbyshire3rd
Derby IIHaslams LaneDerby, DerbyshireNew entry
Dronfield IIGosforth FieldsDronfield Woodhouse, Dronfield, DerbyshireNew entry
KeyworthWilloughby RoadWidmerpool, NottinghamshireRe-entry
Long Eaton IIWest Park1,000Long Eaton, DerbyshireNew entry
Matlock IICromford MeadowsCromford, Matlock, DerbyshireNew entry
Melbourne IICockshut Lane2,000Melbourne, DerbyshireNew entry
Rolls-RoyceMoor LaneDerby, Derbyshire7th
TuptonNorth SideTupton, Derbyshire4th
West Bridgford IIThe Memorial GroundWest Bridgford, NottinghamshireNew entry

2021–22

Skegness, who finished 12th in 2019–20, were placed in the East division for the current season but were unable to fulfil their fixtures and subsequently withdrew from the league.
The teams competing in 2021–22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019–20, the positions in brackets refer to that season not 2020–21.

East

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
CleethorpesKGV Playing FieldsCleethorpes, Lincolnshire3rd
GainsboroughRoses Sports FieldsGainsborough, Lincolnshire6th
North HykehamRuston Sports and BarNorth Hykeham, Lincolnshire10th
OllertonBoughton Sports FieldBoughton, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire9th
SleafordDavid Williams PavilionSleaford, Lincolnshire4th
WorksopStubbing LaneWorksop, Nottinghamshire14th

West

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Amber ValleyLower SomercotesAlfreton, Derbyshire13th
Chesterfield PanthersDunston Road2,000Chesterfield, Derbyshire7th
Meden ValeElkesley RoadMeden Vale, Nottinghamshire5th
NottinghamiansAdbolton LaneHolme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire11th
Nottingham ModernsFerryfieldsWilford, Nottingham, NottinghamshireRelegated from Midlands 3 EN
Rolls-RoyceMoor LaneDerby, DerbyshireRelegated from Midlands 3 EN
TuptonNorth SideTupton, Derbyshire8th

2020–21

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

2019–20

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Amber ValleyLower SomercotesAlfreton, Derbyshire14th
BostonPrincess Royal Sports Arena2,000Boston, Lincolnshire5th
Chesterfield PanthersDunston Road2,000Chesterfield, Derbyshire8th
CleethorpesKGV Playing FieldsCleethorpes, Lincolnshire3rd
East RetfordOrdsall RoadRetford, Nottinghamshire4th
GainsboroughRoses Sports FieldsGainsborough, Lincolnshire13th
Meden ValeElkesley RoadMeden Vale, Nottinghamshire11th
North HykehamRuston Sports and BarNorth Hykeham, Lincolnshire6th
NottinghamiansAdbolton LaneHolme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire12th
OllertonBoughton Sports FieldBoughton, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire7th
SkegnessWainfleet RoadSkegness, Lincolnshire10th
SleafordDavid Williams PavilionSleaford, LincolnshireRelegated from Midlands 3 EN
TuptonNorth SideTupton, DerbyshireRelegated from Midlands 3 EN
WorksopStubbing LaneWorksop, Nottinghamshire9th

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Amber ValleyLower SomercotesAlfreton, DerbyshirePromoted from Midlands 5 East (North)
BostonPrincess Royal Sports Arena2,000Boston, Lincolnshire9th
Chesterfield PanthersDunston Road2,000Chesterfield, Derbyshire4th
CleethorpesKGV Playing FieldsCleethorpes, LincolnshirePromoted from Midlands 5 East (North)
East RetfordOrdsall RoadRetford, Nottinghamshire3rd
GainsboroughRoses Sports FieldsGainsborough, LincolnshirePromoted from Midlands 5 East (North)
GrimsbySpringfieldGrimsby, LincolnshireRelegated from Midlands 3 East (North)
Meden ValeElkesley RoadMeden Vale, NottinghamshirePromoted from Midlands 5 East (North)
MellishWar Memorial GroundArnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire6th
North HykehamOne NKNorth Hykeham, LincolnshirePromoted from Midlands 5 East (North)
NottinghamiansAdbolton LaneHolme Pierrepont, NottinghamshirePromoted from Midlands 5 East (North)
OllertonBoughton Sports FieldBoughton, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire7th
SkegnessWainfleet RoadSkegness, Lincolnshire8th
WorksopStubbing LaneWorksop, Nottinghamshire5th

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AshfieldPolly Bowls Sports GroundSutton in Ashfield, NottinghamshireRelegated from Midlands 3 East (North)
BostonPrincess Royal Sports Arena2,000Boston, Lincolnshire8th
Chesterfield PanthersDunston Road2,000Chesterfield, DerbyshireRelegated from Midlands 3 East (North)
East RetfordOrdsall RoadRetford, Nottinghamshire4th
MellishWar Memorial GroundArnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire3rd
OllertonBoughton Sports FieldBoughton, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire6th
SkegnessWainfleet RoadSkegness, LincolnshirePromoted from Midlands 5 East (North)
TuptonNorth SideTupton, Derbyshire5th
WorksopStubbing LaneWorksop, Nottinghamshire7th

Teams 2016–17

Teams 2015–16

Teams 2014–15

Teams 2013–14

Teams 2012–13

Teams 2009–10

Teams 2008–09

  • Amber Valley
  • Ashby
  • Ashfield
  • Barton & District '
  • Belgrave
  • Boston
  • Kesteven
  • Market Rasen & Louth
  • Mellish
  • Nottingham Casuals '
  • Oakham
  • Southwell

Original teams

When this division was introduced in 2006 as Midlands 5 East, it contained the following teams:
  • Bakewell Mannerians - promoted from Derbyshire/North Leicestershire
  • Boston - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire
  • Dronfield - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire
  • East Leake - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire
  • Keyworth - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire
  • Long Eaton - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire
  • Nottingham Casuals - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire
  • Nottinghamians - promoted from Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire
  • University of Derby - promoted from Derbyshire/North Leicestershire
  • Worksop - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire

Midlands 4 East (North) honours

Midlands 5 West (North) (2006–2009)

League restructuring ahead of the 2006–07 season saw the introduction of Midlands 5 East and its counterpart Midlands 5 East (South) at tier 9 to replace the discontinued East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 and Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 4 East (North) and relegation to either Midlands 6 East (North-East) or Midlands 6 East (North-West).

Midlands 4 East (North) (2009–present)

Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 5 East and Midlands 5 East were renamed as Midlands 4 East and Midlands 4 East (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 9. Promotion was now to Midlands 3 East (North) and relegation to Midlands 5 East (North) until that league was discontinued at the end of the 2017–18 season.

Number of league titles