Midlands 5 West (North)


Counties 4 Midlands West was a level 10 English Rugby Union league and level 5 of the Midlands League, that was made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and even Cheshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. Each year some of the clubs in this division took part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
The league was formed in 2005 and was originally known as Midlands 6 West (North) prior to the Midlands league restructure at the end of the 2008-09 season. Promoted teams typically moved up to Counties 3 Midlands West (North) and there was relegation due to it being one of the basement divisions for Midlands rugby. At the end of the 2018–19 season the league was discontinued, with the majority of teams transferred to Midlands 5 West (South). However, following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 the league was reinstated with the new name Counties 4 Midlands West.

2025-26

Departing were Newport (Salop) III and St Leonards, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (North). Warley were promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South).
Aldridge re-entered the league having withdrawn from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) in season 2024-25.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AldridgeBourne ValeAldridge, West MidlandsRe-entry
BloxwichStafford Road Sports ClubBloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands6th
Burntwood IIThe SportswayBurntwood, Staffordshire5th
EssingtonHigh Hill CentreEssington, Staffordshire10th
Linley & KidsgroveKidsgrove Cricket ClubKidsgrove, Staffordshire9th
Newcastle IIILilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire7th
Stafford IIThe County GroundStafford, StaffordshireNew entry
Stoke-on-Trent IIHartwell LaneBarlaston, StaffordshireRelegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North)
Telford Hornets IIHinkshay RoadTelford, Shropshire8th
Trentham IINew Inn LaneTrentham, Stoke-on-Trent, StaffordshireNw entry
WednesburyWoden Road NorthWednesbury, West Midlands4th
Whitchurch IIEdgeley ParkWhitchurch, ShropshireNew entry

2024-25

Departing were Burton III and Stoke-on-Trent II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (North). Atherstone were promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (East).
Joining were Newport (Salop) III, Telford Hornets II and Warley.
Whittington and Erdington started the season but withdrew due to an inability to fulfil fixtures.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
BloxwichStafford Road Sports ClubBloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands4th
Burntwood IIThe SportswayBurntwood, Staffordshire7th
EssingtonHigh Hill CentreEssington, Staffordshire6th
Linley & KidsgroveKidsgrove Cricket ClubKidsgrove, Staffordshire11th
Newcastle IIILilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire10th
Newport (Salop) IIIThe Old ShowgroundNewport, ShropshireNew entry
St LeonardsUniversal Sports and Social ClubStafford, Staffordshire8th
Telford Hornets IIHinkshay RoadTelford, ShropshireNew entry
WarleyTatbank RoadOldbury, West MidlandsLevel transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South)
WednesburyWoden Road NorthWednesbury, West Midlands5th

2023-24

Departing were Stone, promoted whilst Longton II returned to the Staffordshire merit leagues.
Joining were Whittington, Wednesbury and Burntwood II.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AtherstoneAtherstone Town Cricket ClubAtherstone, Warwickshire6th
BloxwichStafford Road Sports ClubBloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands3rd
Burton IIIBattlestead Croft, TatenhillBurton, Staffordshire7th
Burntwood IIThe SportswayBurntwood, StaffordshireNew entry
ErdingtonSpring Lane Playing FieldsErdington, West Midlands9th
EssingtonHigh Hill CentreEssington, Staffordshire5th
Linley & KidsgroveKidsgrove Cricket ClubKidsgrove, Staffordshire8th
Newcastle IILilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire2nd
St LeonardsUniversal Sports and Social ClubStafford, Staffordshire4th
Stoke-on-TrentHartwell LaneBarlaston, Staffordshire10th
WednesburyWoden Road NorthWednesbury, West MidlandsRelegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North)
WhittingtonEastern AvenueLichfield, StaffordshireRe-entry

2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 4 Midlands West.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
AtherstoneAtherstone Town Cricket ClubAtherstone, WarwickshireLevel transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South)
BloxwichStafford Road Sports ClubBloxwich, Walsall, West MidlandsLevel transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South)
Burton IIIBattlestead Croft, TatenhillBurton, StaffordshireNew entry
ErdingtonSpring Lane Playing FieldsErdington, West MidlandsRe-entry
EssingtonHigh Hill CentreEssington, StaffordshireRelegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North)
Linley & KidsgroveKidsgrove Cricket ClubKidsgrove, StaffordshireRe-entry
Longton IITrentham FieldsLongton, Stoke-on-Trent, StaffordshireNew entry
Newcastle IILilleshall RoadClayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, StaffordshireNew entry
St LeonardsUniversal Sports and Social ClubStafford, StaffordshireLevel transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South)
Stoke-on-Trent IIHartwell LaneBarlaston, StaffordshireNew entry
StoneStone Hockey ClubAston By Stone, StaffordshireLevel transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South)

2019-2022

Not contested

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bishop's Castle & Onny ValleyBishop's Castle Community CollegeBishop's Castle, Shropshire3rd
Chaddesley CorbettFox LaneChaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire5th
DixoniansRowheath ParkBirmingham, West MidlandsGreater Birmingham Merit League
StourportWalshes MeadowStourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire8th
TenburyPenluTenbury Wells, WorcestershireRelegated from Midlands 4 West (South)
WarleyTatbank RoadOldbury, West Midlands6th

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Bishop's Castle & Onny ValleyBishop's Castle Community CollegeBishop's Castle, ShropshireRelegated from Midlands 4 West (North)
Chaddesley CorbettFox LaneChaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire5th
GnosallGnosall Family Sports ClubGnosall, StaffordshireStaffordshire Merit Leagues
GreyhoundHereford City Sports ClubHereford, Herefordshire3rd
Linley & KidsgroveKidsgrove Cricket ClubKidsgrove, StaffordshireTransferred from South Lancs/Cheshire 3
St LeonardsBrian Westhead PavilionStafford, StaffordshireRelegated from Midlands 4 West (North)
StourportWalshes MeadowStourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire6th
WarleyTatbank RoadOldbury, West Midlands7th

Participating Clubs 2016-17

  • Acton Nomads
  • Aldridge '
  • Chaddesley Corbett
  • Greyhound
  • Market Drayton '
  • Stourport
  • Tenbury
  • Warley

Participating Clubs 2015-16

  • Chaddesley Corbett
  • Essington
  • Greyhound '
  • Tenbury '
  • St Leonards
  • Stourport
  • Warley

Participating Clubs 2014-15

  • Aldridge
  • Birmingham Barbarians
  • Chaddesley Corbett
  • Church Stretton
  • Essington
  • St Leonards
  • Stourport
  • Warley
  • Whittington

Participating Clubs 2013-14

  • Aldridge
  • Birmingham Barbarians
  • Chaddesley Corbett
  • Essington
  • Rugeley
  • Stourport
  • Telford Hornets
  • Whittington

Participating clubs 2012–13

  • Aldridge
  • Birmingham Barbarians
  • Essington
  • Rugeley
  • St Leonards
  • Stourport
  • Warley
  • Whittington

Participating clubs 2010–11

Original teams

When this division was introduced in 2005 as Midlands 6 West it contained the following teams:

Midlands 5 West (North) honours

Midlands 6 West (North) (2005–2009)

Midlands 6 West was introduced ahead of the 2005–06 season as a tier 10 league to replace the discontinued North Midlands (North) and Staffordshire 1 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 5 West (North) and there was no relegation.

Midlands 5 West (North) (2009–2019)

Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 6 West and their counterparts Midlands 6 West were renamed as Midlands 5 West North and Midlands 5 West (South-East) and Midlands 5 West (South-West), with all leagues remaining at tier 10. Promotion was now to Midlands 4 West (North) and there was no relegation. At the end of 2018–19 season Midlands 5 West was cancelled.

Number of league titles

  • Tenbury
  • Essington
  • St Leonards
  • Barton-Under-Needwood
  • Bromyard
  • Church Stretton
  • Greyhound
  • Handsworth
  • Market Drayton
  • Rugeley