Midlands 4 East (South)

Counties 3 Midlands East (South North) / (South South) (formerly Midlands 4 East (South) area level 9 English Rugby Union leagues and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire, all of whom play home and away matches 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.

Counties 3 Midlands East (South)

Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands East (South)
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	2006; 19 years ago (2006) (as Midlands 5 East (South))
Number of teams	11
Country	England
Most titles	St Neots (2 titles)
Website	England RFU

Formed for the 2006-07 season, the division was originally known as Midlands 5 East (South) but changed to its present name for the 2008-09 season due to league restructuring. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 4 East (South) and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name. From 2023-24 the league was split into South and Central divisions.

Promoted teams move up to Counties 2 Midlands East (South) and since Midlands 5 East (South) was abolished there has been no relegation.

2025-26

Ahead of the new season the Central league was rebranded South (North) and the South league rebranded South (South).

South North

Departing were West Bridgford II (champions), promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South).

The rest of the league were level transferred with Long Eaton II (runners-up), Castle Donington (6th), Leesbrook (7th), Melbourne II (5th), Nottinghamians (8th) who all moving to the Counties 3 Midlands East (North West) division; while Bingham (3rd) and Southwell II (4th) moved to the to the Counties 3 Midlands East (North East) division.

Ilkeston II (9th), Mellish II (10th) and Nottingham Moderns II (11th) did not return for the new season.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aylestone Athletic Victoria Road Leicester, Leicestershire Level transfer from South (6th) Birstall Co-Op Sports Ground Birstall, Leicestershire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (North) (9th) Leicester Lions III Westleigh Park 2,000 Blaby, Leicestershire New entry Market Harborough II The Rugby Ground Market Harborough, Leicestershire New entry Oakham Rutland Showground Oakham, Rutland Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) (10th) Rugby St Andrews Ashlawn Road Rugby, Warwickshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) (9th) Rugby Welsh Alwyn Road Rugby, Warwickshire Level transfer from South (4th) Sileby Platts Lane Cossington, Leicestershire Level transfer from South (7th) South Leicester Welford Road Ground Leicester, Leicestershire Level transfer from South (10th) Stamford College Old Boys Stamford Welland Academy Stamford, Lincolnshire Level transfer from South (8th) Syston III Barkby Road Queniborough, Leicestershire New entry Vipers II Vipers Ground Whetstone, Leicestershire New entry

Leicester M Harborough II Oakham Rugby SA Rugby Welsh Sileby Stamford COB Syston II Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 3 Midlands East (South North) teams Aylestone Birstall Leicester Lions III South Leicester Vipers II Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 3 Midlands East (South North) teams in Leicester

South South

Departing were Leighton Buzzard (champions) and Rugby Lions (runners-up), both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South) while Luton (3rd) were promoted to the newly re-branded Counties 2 Hertfordshire (formerly Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex).

Also leaving on a level transfer to the South (North) division were Aylestone Athletic (6th), Rugby Welsh (4th), Sielby (7th), South Leicester (10th) and Stamford College Old Boys (8th).

Deepings (11th) and Northampton Men's Own (9th) did not return for the new season.

Bedford Queens (5th) were initially placed in the league but withdrew before the season began. Similarly Northampton BBOB were relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) (11th) into this league but also withdrew before the season began.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Ampthill IV Dillingham Park 3,000 Ampthill, Bedfordshire New entry Bedford Athletic II Putnoe Woods 500 Bedford, Bedfordshire Relegated from Counties 2 Eastern Counties (7th) Daventry II Daventry & District Sports Club Daventry, Northamptonshire New entry Kettering II Waverley Road Kettering, Northamptonshire New entry Old Northamptonians II Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion Northampton, Northamptonshire New entry Olney II East Street Olney, Buckinghamshire New entry

Ampthill IV Bedford Athletic II Daventry II Kettering II Old Northamptonians II Olney II Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 3 Midlands East South (South) teams

2024–25

Central

Departing were Keyworth, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South) together with Asbourne II, North Hykeham, Paviors II, Rolls-Royce and Sleaford who all returned to the Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East and West divisions.

Joining were Bingham, Castle Donington, Ilkeston II, Leesbrook and Nottingham Moderns II.

Spalding II (new entry) started but did not complete the season withdrawing to leave the remaining eleven sides to contest the remaining fixtures.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bingham The Pavilion Bingham, Nottinghamshire Re-entry Castle Donington Spital Park Pavilion Castle Donington, Derbyshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (South) (4th) Ilkeston II The Stute Ilkeston, Derbyshire New entry Leesbrook Asterdale Sports Centre Spondon, Derby, Derbyshire Re-entry Long Eaton II West Park 1,000 Long Eaton, Derbyshire 6th Melbourne II Cockshut Lane 2,000 Melbourne, Derbyshire 4th Mellish II War Memorial Ground Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 12th Nottinghamians Adbolton Lane Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire 11th Nottingham Moderns II Ferryfields Wilford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire New entry Southwell II Pentelowes Southwell, Nottinghamshire 9th West Bridgford II The Memorial Ground West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire 2nd

Castle Donington Ilkeston II Leesbrook Long Eaton II Melbourne II Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands East (Central) teams in Derbyshire and Lincolnshire Bingham Mellish II Nott'ians Nottingham Moderns II Southwell II West Bridgford II Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands East (Central) teams in Nottinghamshire

South

Departing were Northampton BBOB and Rugby St Andrews, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South). Castle Donington left on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands East (Central).

Joining were Luton and Bedford Queens, both relegated into the league together with Aylestone Athletic, a re-entry, and Leighton Buzzard who had withdrawn from Regional 2 Thames mid-way through the previous season.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aylestone Athletic Victoria Road Leicester, Leicestershire Re-entry Bedford Queens Putnoe Woods 500 Bedford, Bedfordshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) Deepings Spalding Road Deeping St James, Lincolnshire 10th Leighton Buzzard Wright's Meadow Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire Re-entry Luton Newlands Road Luton, Bedfordshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) Northampton Men's Own Stoke Road Ashton, Northamptonshire 5th Rugby Lions Webb Ellis Road Rugby, Warwickshire 7th Rugby Welsh Alwyn Road Rugby, Warwickshire 3rd Sileby Platts Lane Cossington, Leicestershire 6th South Leicester Welford Road Ground Leicester, Leicestershire 9th Stamford College Old Boys Stamford Welland Academy Stamford, Lincolnshire 8th

Aylestone Queens Deepings Leighton Buzzard Luton Northampton MO Rugby Lions Rugby Welsh Sileby South Leicester Stamford COB Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 3 Midlands East (South) teams

2023–24

Ahead of the new season a new Central division was introduced.

Central

This newly created league was formed in the majority of sides on a level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East and West divisions plus the addition of Melllish 2XV.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Ashbourne II Recreation Ground Ashbourne, Derbyshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) West (10th) Keyworth Willoughby Road Widmerpool, Nottinghamshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) West (2nd) Long Eaton II West Park 1,000 Long Eaton, Derbyshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) West (11th) Melbourne II Cockshut Lane 2,000 Melbourne, Derbyshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) West (5th) Mellish II War Memorial Ground Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire New entry North Hykeham Ruston Sports and Bar North Hykeham, Lincolnshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East (5th) Nottinghamians Adbolton Lane Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East (8th) Paviors II The Ron Rossin Ground Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East (7th) Rolls-Royce Moor Lane Derby, Derbyshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) West (8th) Sleaford David Williams Pavilion Sleaford, Lincolnshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East (6th) Southwell II Pentelowes Southwell, Nottinghamshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East (4th) West Bridgford II The Memorial Ground West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) West (7th)

Ashbourne II Keyworth Long Eaton II Melbourne II Mellish II North Hykeham Nottinghamians Paviors II Rolls-Royce Sleaford Southwell II West Bridgford II Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Midlands East (Central) teams

South

Departing were Bedford Swifts and Brackley, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South). Thorley (7th) were relegated into the Cambridgeshire reserve leagues.

Joining were Castle Donington, Northampton BBOB, Northampton Men's Own, Rugby St Andrews, Rugby Welsh and Sielby.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Castle Donington Spital Park Pavilion Castle Donington, Derbyshire Re-entry Deepings Spalding Road Deeping St James, Lincolnshire 6th Northampton BBOB Saint Andrew's Road Northampton, Northamptonshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) Northampton Men's Own Stoke Road Ashton, Northamptonshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) Rugby Lions Webb Ellis Road Rugby, Warwickshire 3rd Rugby St Andrews Ashlawn Road Rugby, Warwickshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (East) (10th) Rugby Welsh Alwyn Road Rugby, Warwickshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (6th) Sileby Platts Lane Cossington, Leicestershire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) South Leicester Welford Road Ground Leicester, Leicestershire 4th Stamford College Old Boys Stamford Welland Academy Stamford, Lincolnshire 5th

Castle Donington Deepings N'hampton BBOB Northampton MO Rugby Lions Rugby SA Rugby Welsh Sileby South Leicester Stamford COB Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 3 Midlands East (South) teams

2022–23

Departing were Biggleswade, St Neots and Northampton BBOB, all promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South).

Joining were Rugby Lions.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bedford Swifts International Athletics Stadium Bedford, Bedfordshire 4th Brackley Nightingale Close Brackley, Northamptonshire 5th Deepings Spalding Road Deeping St James, Lincolnshire 7th Rugby Lions Webb Ellis Road Rugby, Warwickshire Re-entry South Leicester Welford Road Ground Leicester, Leicestershire 8th Stamford College Old Boys Stamford Welland Academy Stamford, Lincolnshire 6th Thorney Ron Jacobs Playing Fields Thorney, Cambridgeshire 9th

Bedford Swifts Brackley Deepings Rugby Lions South Leicester Stamford COB Thorney Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 3 Midlands East (South) teams

2021–22

Participating teams and locations

Kempston, who finished 11th in 2019-20, and Wellingborough Old Grammarians, who finished 12th in 2019-20, did not return for the current season.

Joining the league are South Leicester who withdrew from Midlands Premier in season 2019-20.

Aylestone St James withdrew from the league midway through the season leaving it with nine teams.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aylestone St James Covert Lane Scraptoft, Leicester, Leicestershire 8th Bedford Swifts International Athletics Stadium Bedford, Bedfordshire 3rd Biggleswade Langford Road Biggleswade, Bedfordshire 5th Brackley Nightingale Close Brackley, Northamptonshire 6th Deepings Spalding Road Deeping St James, Lincolnshire 7th Northampton BBOB Saint Andrew's Road Northampton, Northamptonshire Relegated from Midlands 3 East (South) (11th) South Leicester Welford Road Ground Leicester, Leicestershire New entry Stamford College Old Boys Stamford Welland Academy Stamford, Lincolnshire 4th St Neots The Common St Neots, Cambridgeshire Relegated from Midlands 3 East (South) (12th) Thorney Ron Jacobs Playing Fields Thorney, Cambridgeshire 9th

Aylestone Bedford Swifts Biggleswade Brackley Deepings N'hampton BBOB South Leicester Stamford COB St Neots Thorney Locations of the 2021–22 Midlands 4 East (South) teams

2020–21

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

2019–20

Participating teams and locations

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aylestone St James Covert Lane Scraptoft, Leicester, Leicestershire 6th Bedford Swifts International Athletics Stadium Bedford, Bedfordshire 5th Biggleswade Langford Road Biggleswade, Bedfordshire Relegated from Midlands 3 ES (12th) Birstall Co-Op Sports Ground Birstall, Leicestershire Relegated from Midlands 3 ES (11th) Brackley Nightingale Close Brackley, Northamptonshire 4th Deepings Spalding Road Deeping St James, Lincolnshire 7th Kempston Cutler Hammer Kempston, Bedfordshire 11th Northampton Men's Own Stoke Road Ashton, Northamptonshire 3rd Stamford College Old Boys Stamford Welland Academy Stamford, Lincolnshire 9th Thorney Ron Jacobs Playing Fields Thorney, Cambridgeshire 10th Wellingborough Old Grammarians The Memorial Sports Ground Wellingborough, Northamptonshire 8th

Aylestone Bedford Swifts Biggleswade Birstall Brackley Deepings Kempston N'hampton MO Stamford COB Thorney Wellingborough Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 4 East (South) teams

2018–19

Participating teams and locations

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aylestone St James Covert Lane Scraptoft, Leicester, Leicestershire 7th Bedford Swifts International Athletics Stadium Bedford, Bedfordshire 3rd Brackley Nightingale Close Brackley, Northamptonshire 6th Deepings Spalding Road Deeping St James, Lincolnshire 5th Kempston Cutler Hammer Kempston, Bedfordshire Promoted from East Midlands Merit League (champions) Northampton BBOB Saint Andrew's Road Northampton, Northamptonshire Relegated from Midlands 3 East (South) (12th) Northampton Men's Own Stoke Road Ashton, Northamptonshire Relegated from Midlands 3 East (South) (11th) Sileby Town Platts Lane Cossington, Leicestershire Relegated from Midlands 3 East (North) (12th) Stamford College Old Boys Stamford Welland Academy Stamford, Lincolnshire 9th Thorney Ron Jacobs Playing Fields Thorney, Cambridgeshire 8th Wellingborough Old Grammarians The Memorial Sports Ground Wellingborough, Northamptonshire 4th

Aylestone Bedford Swifts Brackley Deepings Kempston N'hampton BBOB N'hampton MO Sileby Stamford COB Thorney Wellingborough Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 4 East (South) teams

2017–18

Participating teams and locations

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aylestone St James Covert Lane Scraptoft, Leicester, Leicestershire Relegated from Midlands 3 East (South) (12th) Bedford Swifts International Athletics Stadium Bedford, Bedfordshire 9th Bourne Milking Nook Drove Bourne, Lincolnshire 5th Brackley Nightingale Close Brackley, Northamptonshire 6th Deepings Spalding Road Deeping St James, Lincolnshire 3rd St Neots The Common St Neots, Cambridgeshire Relegated from Midlands 3 East (South) (11th) Stamford College Old Boys Stamford Welland Academy Stamford, Lincolnshire 4th Thorney Ron Jacobs Playing Fields Thorney, Cambridgeshire 7th Wellingborough Old Grammarians The Memorial Sports Ground Wellingborough, Northamptonshire 8th

Aylestone Bedford Swifts Bourne Brackley Deepings St Neots Stamford COB Thorney Wellingborough OG Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 4 East (South) teams

Teams 2016–17

• Bedford Queens
• Bedford Swifts
• Bourne
• Brackley
• Deepings
• Old Newtonians
• Sileby Town
• Stamford College Old Boys
• Thorney
• Wellingborough Old Grammarians

Teams 2015–16

• Bedford Queens (relegated from Midlands 3 East (South))
• Bedford Swifts
• Birstall
• Bourne
• Brackley
• Deepings
• Northampton Men's Own (relegated from Midlands 3 East (South))
• Sileby Town
• Stamford College Old Boys
• Thorney
• Wellingborough Old Grammarians

Teams 2014–15

• Bedford Swifts
• Bourne
• Brackley (relegated from Midlands 3 East (South))
• Corby
• Deepings (relegated from Midlands 3 East (South))
• Kempston
• Old Newtonians
• Sileby Town
• St Neots
• Stamford College Old Boys
• Thorney
• Westwood

Teams 2013–14

• Aylestone Athletic
• Bedford Swifts
• Bourne
• Corby
• Kempston
• Long Buckby (relegated from Midlands 3 East (South))
• Old Newtonians (relegated from Midlands 3 East (South))
• Oundale
• St Neots
• Stamford College Old Boys
• Thorney
• Westwood

Teams 2012–13

• Aylestone Athletic
• Bedford Swifts
• Bourne
• Brackley
• Corby
• Oundale
• St Ives (Midlands)
• St Neots
• Stamford College Old Boys
• Thorney
• Wellingborough Old Grammarians
• Westwood

Teams 2008–09

• Ashfield
• Bedford Swifts
• Brackley
• Bugbrooke
• Daventry
• Deepings
• Long Buckby
• Market Harborough
• Northampton Casuals
• Northampton Men's Own
• Peterborough Lions
• Rugby St Andrews
• Vauxhall Motors

Original teams

When this division was introduced in 2006 as Midlands 5 East (South), it contained the following teams:

• Aylestone St James - promoted from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 2 (champions)
• Bedford Queens - transferred from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 (4th)
• Bedford Swifts - transferred from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 (3rd)
• Kempston - promoted from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 2 (runners up)
• Market Harborough^[a] - transferred from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 (5th)
• Oundle - transferred from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 (7th)
• St Ives (Midlands) - transferred from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 (8th)
• Stamford - transferred from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (11th)
• Stoneygate - relegated from Midlands 4 East (South) (10th)
• Wellingborough Old Grammarians - transferred from East Midlands/South Leicestershire 1 (6th)

Midlands 4 East (South) honours

Midlands 5 West (North) (2006–2009)

League restructuring ahead of the 2006–07 season saw the introduction of Midlands 5 East (South) and its counterpart Midlands 5 East (North) 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 (South) and relegation to Midlands 6 East (South).

Midlands 5 East (South)
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2006–07	10	Bedford Swifts	Aylestone St James	Wellingborough O.G., Kempston	[2]
2007–08	10	Market Harborough	Deepings	St Ives (Midlands), Stamford	[3]
2008–09	10	Stockwood Park	Bedford Queens	Kempston, Wellingborough O.G., Aylestone Athletic	[4]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 4 East (South) (2009–present)

Further 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 (South) (formerly Midlands 4 East (South)) and relegation to Midlands 5 East (South) (formerly Midlands 6 East (South)) until that league was discontinued at the end of the 2009–10 season.

Midlands 4 East (South)
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated teams	Reference
2009–10	8	Oadby Wyggestonians	Rushden & Higham	No relegation[b]	[5]
2010–11	11	Stamford	Biggleswade	No relegation	[6]
2011–12	12	Old Newtonians	Northampton Men's Own	No relegation	[7]
2012–13	12	Brackley	St Ives (Midlands)	No relegation	[8]
2013–14	11	Long Buckby	Oundle	No relegation	[9]
2014–15	10	St Neots	Old Newtonians	No relegation	[10]
2015–16	10	Northampton Men's Own	Birstall	No relegation	[11]
2016–17	9	Sileby Town	Bedford Queens	No relegation	[12]
2017–18	9	St Neots	Bourne	No relegation	[13]
2018–19	11	N'hampton BBOB	Sileby	No relegation	[14]
2019–20	11	Birstall	Northampton Men's Own	No relegation	[15]
2020–21	11			No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• St Neots (2)
• Bedford Swifts (1)
• Birstall (1)
• Brackley (1)
• Long Buckby (1)
• Market Harborough (1)
• N'hampton BBOB (1)
• Northampton Men's Own (1)
• Oadby Wyggestonians (1)
• Old Newtonians (1)
• Sileby Town (1)
• Stamford (1)
• Stockwood Park (1)

Notes

1. Market Harborough RUFC were known as Kibworth RFC prior to this season.^[1]
2. No relegation as division due to increase from 8 to 11 teams and Midlands 5 East (South) abolished for the following season.

See also

• Midlands RFU
• East Midlands RFU
• Leicestershire RU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England