Counties 3 Midlands East (North East) / (North West) (formerly Midlands 4 East (North)) 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.
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2006 (as Midlands 5 East (North)) |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Country |  England |
| Holders | Boston (2nd title) (2019–20) (promoted to Midlands 3 East (North)) |
| Most titles | Belper, Boston (2 titles) |
| Website | England RFU |
Formed for the 2006–07 season, the division was originally known as Midlands 5 East (North) but changed to its present name for the 2008–09 season due to league restructuring. Promoted teams tend to move up to Midlands 3 East (North). Up until the 2017–18 season, relegated teams dropped down to Midlands 5 East (North), but since that division has been abolished there is currently no relegation.
The division was split across two geographic areas (East & West) 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(s) initially known as Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East / West. From season 2023-24 a Counties 3 Midlands East (Central) was introduced before in 2024-25 the East (North) league was split North East and North West.
2024-25
editNorth East
editDeparting were Mosborough promoted to Counties 2 Midlands (East) North.
Joining were Grimsby, Lincoln II, Market Rasen & Louth II, North Hykeham, Skegness and Sleaford.
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 Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands East (North East) teams
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North West
editJoining were Ashbourne II, Belper, Paviors II and Rolls-Royce
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 Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands East (North West) teams in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
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2023-24
editDeparting 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 (3rd) 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.
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Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East teams
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2022-23
editThis was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review[1] with the league adopting its new name(s) of Counties 3 Midlands West (North) East / West.
East
editDeparting were Gainsborough, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands (East) North.
Joining were Meden Vale, Newark II, Nottinghamians, Nottingham Medics, Paviors II and Southwell II .
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Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East teams
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West
editDeparting 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.
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Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Midlands East (North) West teams
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2021–22
editSkegness, 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.
Participating teams & locations
edit
Eastedit
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Locations of the 2021–22 Midlands 4 East (North) East teams
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Westedit
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Locations of the 2021–22 Midlands 4 East (North) West teams
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2020–21
editDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
2019–20
editParticipating teams & locations
edit
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Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 4 East (North) teams
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2018–19
editParticipating teams & locations
edit
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Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 4 East (North) teams
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2017–18
editParticipating teams & locations
edit
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Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 4 East (North) teams
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Teams 2016–17
edit- Amber Valley
- Boston (relegated from Midlands 3 East (North))
- East Retford
- Long Eaton
- Mellish
- Meden Vale (promoted from Midlands 5 East (North))
- Nottingham Moderns (relegated from Midlands 3 East (North))
- Ollerton (promoted from Midlands 5 East (North))
- Tupton
- Worksop
Teams 2015–16
edit- Amber Valley (relegated from Midlands 3 East (North))
- Bingham
- Birstall (promoted from Midlands 5 East (North))
- Buxton
- Cleethorpes
- East Retford
- Long Eaton
- Mellish (relegated from Midlands 3 East (North))
- North Hykeham (promoted from Midlands 5 East (North))
- Rolls-Royce
- Tupton
- Worksop
Teams 2014–15
edit- Ashfield
- Belper
- Bingham
- Buxton
- Cleethorpes
- East Retford (relegated from Midlands 3 East (North))
- Keyworth
- Long Eaton
- Rolls-Royce (promoted from Midlands 5 East (North))
- Skegness (relegated from Midlands 3 East (North))
- Tupton
- Worksop
Teams 2013–14
edit- Amber Valley (relegated from Midlands 3 East (North))
- Ashfield
- Belper (relegated from Midlands 3 East (North))
- Bingham (promoted from Midlands 5 East (North))
- Chesterfield Panthers
- Cleethorpes
- Keyworth
- Leesbrook (promoted from Midlands 5 East (North))
- Long Eaton
- Nottinghamians
- Tupton
- Worksop
Teams 2012–13
edit- Ashfield
- Boston
- Chesterfield Panthers
- Cleethorpes
- Horncastle
- Keyworth
- Long Eaton
- Nottinghamians
- Nottingham Corsairs
- Skegness
- Tupton
- Worksop
Teams 2009–10
edit- Belper (promoted from Midlands 5 East (North))
- Castle Donington (promoted from Midlands 5 East (North))
- Chesterfield Panthers
- Cleethorpes
- Dronfield
- East Leake
- East Retford
- Leesbrook
- Nottinghamians
- Rolls-Royce (promoted from Midlands 5 East (North))
- Skegness Panthers
- Uttoxeter
Teams 2008–09
edit- Amber Valley
- Ashby
- Ashfield
- Barton & District (promoted from Midlands 5 East (North))
- Belgrave
- Boston
- Kesteven
- Market Rasen & Louth
- Mellish
- Nottingham Casuals (promoted from Midlands 5 East (North))
- Oakham
- Southwell
Original teams
editWhen this division was introduced in 2006 as Midlands 5 East (North), it contained the following teams:
- Bakewell Mannerians - promoted from Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (champions)
- Boston - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (3rd)
- Dronfield - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (9th)
- East Leake - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (6th)
- Keyworth - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (7th)
- Long Eaton - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (8th)
- Nottingham Casuals - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (4th)
- Nottinghamians - promoted from Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire (champions)
- University of Derby - promoted from Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (runners up)
- Worksop - transferred from Notts, Lincs, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (5th)
Midlands 4 East (North) honours
editMidlands 5 West (North) (2006–2009)
editLeague restructuring ahead of the 2006–07 season saw the introduction of Midlands 5 East (North) 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).
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| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | 10 | Bakewell Mannerians | Boston | Long Eaton, Worksop, Keyworth | [2] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 10 | Barton & District | Nottingham Casuals | University of Derby, Dronfield | [3] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 10 | Worksop | Melbourne | No relegation[a] | [4] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Midlands 4 East (North) (2009–present)
editFurther league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 5 East (North) and Midlands 5 East (South) were renamed as Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 9. Promotion was now to Midlands 3 East (North) (formerly Midlands 4 East (North)) and relegation to Midlands 5 East (North) (formerly Midlands 6 East (North)) until that league was discontinued at the end of the 2017–18 season.
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| Season | No. of teams | Champions | Runners-up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 12 | Uttoxeter | Dronfield | Castle Donington | [5] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 11 | Belper | Nottingham Corsairs | Boston | [6] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 12 | Southwell | East Retford | Leesbrook, East Leake | [7] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 12 | Boston | Skegness | Horncastle, Nottingham Corsairs | [8] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 12 | Chesterfield Panthers | Amber Valley | Nottinghamians, Leesbrook | [9] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 12 | Belper | Ashfield | Skegness, Keyworth, Bingham | [10] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 10 | Buxton | Rolls-Royce | Cleethorpes, North Hykeham | [11] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 10 | Long Eaton | Nottingham Moderns | Meden Vale, Amber Valley | [12] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 9 | Ashfield | Tupton | No relegation[b] | [13] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 14 | Grimsby | Mellish | No relegation | [14] | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | 14 | Boston | East Retford | No relegation | [15] | |||||||||
| 2020–21 | 14 | No relegation | ||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
edit- Belper (2)
- Boston (2)
- Ashfield (1)
- Bakewell Mannerians (1)
- Barton & District (1)
- Buxton (1)
- Chesterfield Panthers (1)
- Grimsby (1)
- Long Eaton (1)
- Southwell (1)
- Uttoxeter (1)
- Worksop (1)
Notes
edit- ^ No relegation as division would increase from 10 to 12 teams for the following season.
- ^ Due to Midlands 5 East (North) being abolished there was no relegation and Midlands 4 East (North) would increase from 9 to 14 teams for the following season.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "RFU announce new men's community structure". RFU. 13 June 2022.
- ^ "2006–2007 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2007–2008 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2008–2009 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2009–2010 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2010–2011 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2011–2012 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "RFU". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2013–2014 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "2014–2015 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
- ^ "RFU". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "2016–2017 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "2017–2018 Midlands Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ "2018–19 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
- ^ "Men's Midlands Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- English RFU (2008). "Rugby First". RFU. Archived from the original on 28 April 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
- Rugby First: To view previous seasons in the league, search for any club within that league then click on to club details followed by fixtures and then select the appropriate season.