Midlands 4 West (North)


Counties 3 Midlands West is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands and occasionally Cheshire, 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 2005-06 season, the division was originally known as Midlands 5 West but changed to its present name for the 2008–09 season due to league restructuring. Further restructuring followed in the wake of the RFU's Adult Competition Review and from season 2022-23 it has been known by its current name.
Promoted teams move up to Counties 2 Midlands West (North) while relegated teams drop to Counties 4 Midlands West (North).

2025-26

Departing were Leek II and Newcastle II, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (West). Stoke-on-Trent II were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands West (North).
Handsworth left on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands West (East).
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Barton-under-NeedwoodHolland Sports ClubBarton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire3rd
Burton IIIBattlestead Croft, TatenhillBurton, Staffordshire10th
CannockMorgan GroundHuntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire7th
EccleshallBaden HallEccleshall, Staffordshire5th
Lichfield IICooke FieldsLichfield, StaffordshireLevel transfer from Counties 3 Midlands West (East)
Market DraytonGreenfields LaneMarket Drayton, ShropshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (West)
Newport (Salop) IIIThe Old ShowgroundNewport, ShropshirePromoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (North)
OswestryGranville ParkOswestry, ShropshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (West)
RugeleySt Augustine's FieldRugeley, Staffordshire9th
St LeonardsUniversal Sports and Social ClubStafford, StaffordshirePromoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (North)
StoneStone Hockey ClubAston By Stone, Staffordshire8th
UttoxeterOldfields Sports & Social Club2,000Uttoxeter, Staffordshire4th

2024-25

Departing were Aston Old Edwardians and Trentham, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (East) and Counties 2 Midlands West (West) respectively. Cleobury Mortimer went on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands West (South). Shrewsbury II and Ludlow II were relegated into the Shropshire merit leagues.
Joining were Burton III, Handsworth, Rugeley, Stoke-on-Trent II and Uttoxeter.
Aldridge started but did not complete the season leaving eleven sides to contest the remaining fixtures.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Barton-under-NeedwoodHolland Sports ClubBarton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire4th
Burton IIIBattlestead Croft, TatenhillBurton, StaffordshirePromoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (North)
CannockMorgan GroundHuntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire8th
EccleshallBaden HallEccleshall, Staffordshire7th
HandsworthCharles Lewis Memorial GroundWalsall, West MidlandsRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (West)
Leek IIAltrad ParkCheddleton, Staffordshire3rd
Newcastle IILilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire5th
RugeleySt Augustine's FieldRugeley, StaffordshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (West)
Stoke-on-Trent IIHartwell LaneBarlaston, StaffordshirePromoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (North)
StoneStone Hockey ClubAston By Stone, Staffordshire9th
UttoxeterOldfields Sports & Social Club2,000Uttoxeter, StaffordshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (East)

2023-24

Departing were Willenhall and Rugeley, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (West). Wednesbury and Warley were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands West (North) and Counties 4 Midlands West (South) respectively.
Joining were Aldridge, Cleobury Mortimer, Stone, Leek II, Shrewsbury II and Newcastle II.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AldridgeBourne ValeAldridge, West MidlandsRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (North)
Aston Old EdwardiansASunnybank AvenueKingstanding, Birmingham, West Midlands5th
Barton-under-NeedwoodHolland Sports ClubBarton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire4th
CannockMorgan GroundHuntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire7th
Cleobury MortimerLove LaneCleobury Mortimer, ShropshireRelegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (North)
EccleshallBaden HallEccleshall, Staffordshire6th
Leek IIAltrad ParkCheddleton, StaffordshireNew entry
Ludlow IIThe LinneyLudlow, Shropshire8th
Newcastle IILilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, StaffordshireNew entry
Shrewsbury IISundorne CastleUffington, Shrewsbury, ShropshireNew entry
StoneStone Hockey ClubAston By Stone, StaffordshirePromoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (North)
TrenthamNew Inn LaneTrentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire3rd

2022-23

Departing were Oswestry and Market Drayton, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands West (North). Birmingham Exiles departed on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands West (South). Essington were relegated to Counties 4 Midlands West (North). Yardley & District did not return for the new season.
Joining were Cannock, Eccleshall, Ludlow II
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Aston Old EdwardiansASunnybank AvenueKingstanding, Birmingham, West Midlands7th
Barton-under-NeedwoodHolland Sports ClubBarton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire3rd
CannockMorgan GroundHuntington, Cannock Chase, StaffordshirePromoted from Midlands 5 West (South)
EccleshallBaden HallEccleshall, StaffordshireRelegated from Midlands 3 West (North)
Ludlow IIThe LinneyLudlow, ShropshireNew entry
RugeleySt Augustine's FieldRugeley, Staffordshire6th
TrenthamNew Inn LaneTrentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire5th
WarleyTatbank RoadOldbury, West Midlands11th
WednesburyWoden Road NorthWednesbury, West Midlands9th
WillenhallBognop RoadEssington, Staffordshire4th

2021–22

Participating teams & locations

Cannock who finished 12th in 2019-20 were relegated to Midlands 5 West (South) with their place taken by Oswestry who were level transferred from Lancs/Cheshire 2 which was disbanded before the start of the 2021-22 season.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Aston Old EdwardiansASunnybank AvenueKingstanding, Birmingham, West Midlands7th
Barton-under-NeedwoodHolland Sports ClubBarton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire3rd
Birmingham ExilesOld Damson LaneElmdon, West Midlands10th
EssingtonHigh Hill CentreEssington, Staffordshire8th
Market DraytonGreenfields LaneMarket Drayton, Shropshire4th
OswestryGranville ParkOswestry, ShropshireLevel transfer from Lancs/Cheshire 2
RugeleySt Augustine's FieldRugeley, Staffordshire5th
TrenthamNew Inn LaneTrentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire6th
WarleyTatbank RoadOldbury, West Midlands11th
WednesburyWoden Road NorthWednesbury, West MidlandsRelegated from Midlands 3 WN
WillenhallBognop RoadEssington, StaffordshireRelegated from Midlands 3 WN
Yardley & DistrictCole Hall LaneStechford, Birmingham, West Midlands9th

2020–21

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

2019–20

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AldridgeBourne ValeAldridge, West Midlands6th
Aston Old EdwardiansSunnybank AvenueKingstanding, Birmingham, West Midlands5th
Barton-under-NeedwoodHolland Sports ClubBarton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire7th
Birmingham ExilesOld Damson LaneElmdon, West MidlandsPromoted from Midlands 5 WS
CannockMorgan GroundHuntington, Cannock Chase, StaffordshireRelegated from Midlands 3 WN
Clee HillTenbury RoadCleehill, Shropshire4th
EssingtonHigh Hill CentreEssington, Staffordshire10th
Market DraytonGreenfields LaneMarket Drayton, Shropshire9th
RugeleySt Augustine's FieldRugeley, Staffordshire3rd
TrenthamNew Inn LaneTrentham, Stoke-on-Trent, StaffordshireRelegated from Midlands 3 WN
WarleyTatbank RoadOldbury, West MidlandsPromoted from Midlands 5 WN
Yardley & DistrictCole Hall LaneStechford, Birmingham, West Midlands8th

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AldridgeBourne ValeAldridge, West MidlandsPromoted from Midlands 5 West (South)
Aston Old EdwardiansSunnybank AvenueKingstanding, Birmingham, West Midlands6th
Barton-under-NeedwoodHolland Sports ClubBarton-under-Needwood, StaffordshireRelegated from Midlands 3 West (North)
BloxwichStafford Road Sports ClubBloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands8th
Clee HillTenbury RoadCleehill, Shropshire4th
EssingtonHigh Hill CentreEssington, Staffordshire9th
Linley & KidsgroveKidsgrove Cricket ClubKidsgrove, StaffordshirePromoted from Midlands 5 West (North)
Market DraytonGreenfields LaneMarket Drayton, Shropshire5th
RugeleySt Augustine's FieldRugeley, Staffordshire3rd
WillenhallBognop RoadEssington, StaffordshireRelegated from Midlands 3 West (North)
Yardley & DistrictCole Hall LaneStechford, Birmingham, West Midlands7th

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Aston Old EdwardiansSunnybank AvenueKingstanding, Birmingham, West Midlands9th
BloxwichStafford Road Sports ClubBloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands4th
Church StrettonChurch Stretton SchoolChurch Stretton, Shropshire8th
Clee HillTenbury RoadCleehill, ShropshireRelegated from Midlands 3 West (North)
EccleshallBaden HallEccleshall, StaffordshireRelegated from Midlands 3 West (North)
EssingtonHigh Hill CentreEssington, Staffordshire7th
Market DraytonGreenfields LaneMarket Drayton, ShropshirePromoted from Midlands 5 West (North)
RugeleySt Augustine's FieldRugeley, Staffordshire3rd
WednesburyWoden Road NorthWednesbury, West Midlands6th
Yardley & DistrictCole Hall LaneStechford, Birmingham, West Midlands10th

Teams 2016-17

  • Aston Old Edwardians
  • Barton-Under-Needwood
  • Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
  • Bloxwich '
  • Church Stretton
  • Essington '
  • Five Way Old Edwardians
  • Rugeley
  • St Leonards '
  • Trentham
  • Wednesbury '
  • Yardley & District

Teams 2015-16

  • Aldridge '
  • Aston Old Edwardians '
  • Barton-Under-Needwood
  • Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
  • Bromyard
  • Church Stretton '
  • Market Drayton
  • Rugeley
  • Telford Hornets
  • Uttoxeter '
  • Yardley & District

Teams 2014-15

  • Barton-Under-Needwood '
  • Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
  • Bromyard
  • Cannock
  • Cleobury Mortimer
  • Greyhound
  • Market Drayton '
  • Rugeley '
  • Telford Hornets '
  • Tenbury
  • Yardley & District ''''''

Teams 2013-14

  • Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
  • Bromyard
  • Cannock
  • Clee Hill
  • Cleobury Mortimer '
  • Five Ways Old Edwardians
  • Greyhound
  • Harborne
  • St Leonards '
  • Tenbury
  • Warley ''''''

Teams 2012–13

  • Barton-Under-Needwood
  • Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
  • Bromyard
  • Cannock
  • Clee Hill
  • Five Ways O.E.
  • Harborne
  • Market Drayton
  • Telford Hornets
  • Tenbury
  • Uttoxeter

Teams 2008–09

  • Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
  • Burntwood
  • Cleobury Mortimer
  • Handsworth
  • Leek
  • Moseley Oak
  • Newcastle
  • Old Yardleians
  • Shrewsbury
  • Tamworth
  • Veseyans
  • Willenhall

Teams 2007–08

  • Bishops Castle & Onny Valley
  • Bournville
  • Burntwood
  • Harborne
  • Old Halesonians
  • Old Yardleians
  • Moseley Oak
  • Tamworth
  • Telford Hornets
  • Veseyans
  • Willenhall

Original teams

When this division was introduced in 2005 as Midlands 5 West, it contained the following teams:

Midlands 4 West (North) honours

Midlands 5 West (North) (2005–2009)

Midlands 5 West was introduced ahead of the 2005–06 season as a tier 9 league to replace the discontinued North Midlands (North) and Staffordshire 1 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 4 West (North) and relegation to Midlands 6 West (North).

Midlands 4 West (North) (2009–present)

Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 5 West and Midlands 5 West were renamed as Midlands 4 West and Midlands 4 West (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 9. Promotion was now to Midlands 3 West (North) and relegation to Midlands 5 West (North) until that league was discontinued at the end of the 2018–19 season.

Number of league titles

  • Eccleshall
  • Harborne
  • Bloxwich
  • Bournville
  • Clee Hill
  • Cleobury Mortimer
  • Edwardians
  • Handsworth
  • Linley
  • Market Drayton
  • Old Griffinians
  • Trentham
  • Uttoxeter