Midlands 5 West (North)

Counties 4 Midlands West (North) (formerly Midlands 5 West (North)) 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.

Counties 4 Midlands West (North)

Current season or competition: 2024-25 Counties 4 Midlands West (North)
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	2005; 20 years ago (2005) (as Midlands 6 West (North))
Ceased	2019; 6 years ago (2019)
Number of teams	6
Country	England
Holders	Tenbury (3rd title) (2018–19) (promoted to Midlands 4 West (North) )
Most titles	Tenbury (3 titles)
Website	England RFU

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 (North).

2025-26

Departing were Newport (Salop) III (champions) and St Leonards (runners-up), both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (North). Warley (3rd) 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Aldridge re-entered the league having withdrawn from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) in season 2024-25.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aldridge Bourne Vale Aldridge, West Midlands Re-entry Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands 6th Burntwood II The Sportsway Burntwood, Staffordshire 5th Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire 10th Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire 9th Newcastle (Staffs) III Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 7th Stafford II The County Ground Stafford, Staffordshire New entry Stoke-on-Trent II Hartwell Lane Barlaston, Staffordshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) Telford Hornets II Hinkshay Road Telford, Shropshire 8th Trentham II New Inn Lane Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Nw entry Wednesbury Woden Road North Wednesbury, West Midlands 4th Whitchurch II Edgeley Park Whitchurch, Shropshire New entry

Aldridge Bloxwich Burntwood II Essington Linley Newcastle III Stafford II Stoke II Telford II Trentham II Wednesbury Whitchurch II Locations of the 2025-26 Counties 4 Midlands West (North) teams

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 (9th in 23-24) and Erdington (12th in 23-24) started the season but withdrew due to an inability to fulfil fixtures.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands 4th Burntwood II The Sportsway Burntwood, Staffordshire 7th Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire 6th Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire 11th Newcastle (Staffs) III Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 10th Newport (Salop) III The Old Showground Newport, Shropshire New entry St Leonards Universal Sports and Social Club Stafford, Staffordshire 8th Telford Hornets II Hinkshay Road Telford, Shropshire New entry Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (4th) Wednesbury Woden Road North Wednesbury, West Midlands 5th

Bloxwich Burntwood II Essington Linley Newcastle III Newport (Salop) III St Leonards Telford II Warley Wednesbury Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Midlands West (North) teams

2023-24

Departing were Stone, promoted whilst Longton II (11th) returned to the Staffordshire merit leagues.

Joining were Whittington, Wednesbury and Burntwood II.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire 6th Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands 3rd Burton III Battlestead Croft, Tatenhill Burton, Staffordshire 7th Burntwood II The Sportsway Burntwood, Staffordshire New entry Erdington Spring Lane Playing Fields Erdington, West Midlands 9th Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire 5th Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire 8th Newcastle (Staffs) II Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 2nd St Leonards Universal Sports and Social Club Stafford, Staffordshire 4th Stoke-on-Trent Hartwell Lane Barlaston, Staffordshire 10th Wednesbury Woden Road North Wednesbury, West Midlands Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) (10th) Whittington Eastern Avenue Lichfield, Staffordshire Re-entry

Atherstone Bloxwich Burton III Burntwood II Erdington Essington Linley Newcastle II St Leonards Stoke II Wednesbury Whittington Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Midlands West (North) teams

2022-23

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review^[1] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 4 Midlands West (North).

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (11th) Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (7th) Burton III Battlestead Croft, Tatenhill Burton, Staffordshire New entry Erdington Spring Lane Playing Fields Erdington, West Midlands Re-entry Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire Re-entry Longton II Trentham Fields Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire New entry Newcastle (Staffs) II Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire New entry St Leonards Universal Sports and Social Club Stafford, Staffordshire Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (8th) Stoke-on-Trent II Hartwell Lane Barlaston, Staffordshire New entry Stone Stone Hockey Club Aston By Stone, Staffordshire Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (5th)

Atherstone Bloxwich Burton III Erdington Essington Longton II Linley Newcastle II St Leonards Stoke II Stone Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Midlands West (North) teams

2019-2022

Not contested

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 3rd Chaddesley Corbett Fox Lane Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire 5th Dixonians Rowheath Park Birmingham, West Midlands Greater Birmingham Merit League (champions) Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 8th Tenbury Penlu Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (South) (11th) Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands 6th

Bishop's Castle Chaddesley Corbett Dixonians Stourport Tenbury } Warley Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 5 West (North) teams

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (11th) Chaddesley Corbett Fox Lane Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire 5th Gnosall Gnosall Family Sports Club Gnosall, Staffordshire Staffordshire Merit Leagues Greyhound Hereford City Sports Club Hereford, Herefordshire 3rd Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire Transferred from South Lancs/Cheshire 3 (14th) St Leonards Brian Westhead Pavilion Stafford, Staffordshire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (12th) Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 6th Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands 7th

Bishop's Castle Chaddesley Corbett Gnosall Greyhound Linley St Leonards Stourport Warley Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 5 West (North) teams

Participating Clubs 2016-17

• Acton Nomads
• Aldridge (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Chaddesley Corbett
• Greyhound
• Market Drayton (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Stourport
• Tenbury
• Warley

Participating Clubs 2015-16

• Chaddesley Corbett
• Essington
• Greyhound (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
• Tenbury (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
• St Leonards
• Stourport
• Warley

Participating Clubs 2014-15

• Aldridge
• Birmingham Barbarians
• Chaddesley Corbett
• Church Stretton
• Essington
• St Leonards
• Stourport
• Warley (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North))
• 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

• Aldridge
• Birmingham Civil Service
• Bromyard
• Five Ways Old Edwardians
• Hanford
• Old Griffinians
• Stourport
• Tenbury
• Wheaton Aston
• Whittington

Original teams

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

• Barton-under-Needwood - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (3rd)
• Eccleshall - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (8th)
• Gnosall - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (9th)
• Hanford - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (8th)
• Market Drayton - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (6th)
• Rugley - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (7th)
• St Leonards - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (runners up)
• Stone - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (4th)
• Wheaton Aston & Penkridge - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (11th)
• Whittington - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (5th)

Midlands 5 West (North) honours

Midlands 6 West (North) (2005–2009)

Midlands 6 West (North) 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 6 West (North)
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	Reference
2005–06	10	St Leonards	Rugley	No relegation	[2]
2006–07	10	Handsworth	Eccleshall	No relegation	[3]
2007–08	9	Barton-Under-Needwood	Yardley & District	No relegation	[4]
2008–09	8	Essington	Rugeley	No relegation	[5]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 5 West (North) (2009–2019)

Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 6 West (North) and their counterparts Midlands 6 West (South-East / South-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) (formerly Midlands 5 West (North)) and there was no relegation. At the end of 2018–19 season Midlands 5 West (North) was cancelled.

Midlands 5 West (North)
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	Reference
2009–10	8	Market Drayton	Warley	No relegation	[6]
2010–11	8	Tenbury	Birmingham Civil Service	No relegation	[7]
2011–12	9	Bromyard	Five Ways Old Edwardians	No relegation	[8]
2012–13	8	St Leonards	Warley	No relegation	[9]
2013–14	8	Rugeley	Telford Hornets	No relegation	[10]
2014–15	9	Church Stretton	Aldridge	No relegation	[11]
2015–16	7	Essington	St Leonards	No relegation	[12]
2016–17	7	Tenbury	Market Drayton	No relegation	[13]
2017–18	8	Greyhound	Linley	No relegation	[14]
2018–19	6	Tenbury	Warley	No relegation	[15]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Tenbury (3)
• Essington (2)
• St Leonards (2)
• Barton-Under-Needwood (1)
• Bromyard (1)
• Church Stretton (1)
• Greyhound (1)
• Handsworth (1)
• Market Drayton (1)
• Rugeley (1)

Notes

See also

• Midlands RFU
• North Midlands RFU
• Staffordshire RU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England