Level 8 English Rugby Union league
Counties 2 Midlands East (South) (formerly Midlands 3 East (South)) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League , made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Bedfordshire , Leicestershire , Northamptonshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire , all of whom play home and away matches throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 2, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, led to the current name of Midlands 3 East (South). Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 East (South) and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name.
Promoted teams move up to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) while demoted teams drop into Counties 3 Midlands East North West, Counties 3 Midlands East North East, Counties 3 Midlands East Central or Counties 3 Midlands East South depending on location.
2024-25
Departing were Biggleswade and Stewarts & Lloyds, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) . Bedford Swifts (10th), Luton (11th) and Bedford Queens (12th) were relegated.
Joining were Long Buckby and Oakham, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South) , together with Northampton BBOB and Rugby St Andrews, both promoted.
With five teams departing and four joining the league was reduced in size from twelve clubs to eleven.
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Brackley
Nightingale Close
Brackley , Northamptonshire
6th
Dunstablians
Bidwell Park
Houghton Regis , Bedfordshire
8th
Huntingdon & District
Huntingdon Racecourse
Brampton , Huntingdon , Cambridgeshire
5th
Long Buckby
Station Road
Long Buckby , Northamptonshire
Relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
Northampton BBOB
Saint Andrew's Road
Northampton , Northamptonshire
Promoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (South) (runners-up)
Northampton Casuals
Rush Mills House
Northampton , Northamptonshire
9th
Oakham
Rutland Showground
Oakham , Rutland
Relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
Rugby St Andrews
Ashlawn Road
Rugby , Warwickshire
Promoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (South) (champions)
Rushden & Higham
Manor Park
Rushden , Northamptonshire
7th
St Ives
Somersham Road
St Ives , Cambridgeshire
4th
St Neots
The Common
St Neots , Cambridgeshire
3rd
Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 2 Midlands East (South) teams
2023-24
Departing were Daventry and Spalding, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) . Melton Mowbray (6th) moved on a level transfer to Counties 2 Midlands East (North) . Northampton BBOB and Northampton Men's Own were relegated.
Joining were St Ives, Dunstablians and Northampton Casuals, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South) , together with Bedford Swifts and Brackley, both promoted.
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bedford Queens
Putnoe Woods
500
Bedford , Bedfordshire
10th
Bedford Swifts
International Athletics Stadium
Bedford , Bedfordshire
Promoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (South) (runners-up)
Biggleswade
Langford Road
Biggleswade , Bedfordshire
7th
Brackley
Nightingale Close
Brackley , Northamptonshire
Promoted from Counties 3 Midlands East (South) (champions)
Dunstablians
Bidwell Park
Houghton Regis , Bedfordshire
Relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
Huntingdon & District
Huntingdon Racecourse
Brampton , Huntingdon , Cambridgeshire
8th
Luton
Newlands Road
Luton , Bedfordshire
5th
Northampton Casuals
Rush Mills House
Northampton , Northamptonshire
Relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
Rushden & Higham
Manor Park
Rushden , Northamptonshire
4th
Stewarts & Lloyds
Occupation Road
Corby , Northamptonshire
3rd
St Ives
Somersham Road
St Ives , Cambridgeshire
Relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South)
St Neots
The Common
St Neots , Cambridgeshire
9th
Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 2 Midlands East (South) teams
2022-23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review[ 1] with the league adopting its new name of Counties 2 Midlands East (South)).
Departing were Stockwood Park, Dunstablians and Bourne, all promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) .
Joining were Biggleswade , Northampton BBOB and St Neots , all promoted.
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bedford Queens
Putnoe Woods
500
Bedford , Bedfordshire
10th
Biggleswade
Langford Road
Biggleswade , Bedfordshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 East (South) (champions)
Daventry
Daventry & District Sports Club
Daventry , Northamptonshire
12th
Huntingdon & District
Huntingdon Racecourse
Brampton , Huntingdon , Cambridgeshire
6th
Luton
Newlands Road
Luton , Bedfordshire
8th
Melton Mowbray
Melton Sports Village
Melton Mowbray , Leicestershire
5th
Northampton BBOB
Saint Andrew's Road
Northampton , Northamptonshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 East (South) (3rd)
Northampton Men's Own
Stoke Road
Ashton , Northamptonshire
9th
Rushden & Higham
Manor Park
Rushden , Northamptonshire
4th
Spalding
Memorial Field
Spalding , Lincolnshire
11th
Stewarts & Lloyds
Occupation Road
Corby , Northamptonshire
7th
St Neots
The Common
St Neots , Cambridgeshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 East (South) (runners-up)
Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 2 Midlands East (South) teams
2021–22
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bedford Queens
Putnoe Woods
500
Bedford , Bedfordshire
10th
Bourne
Milking Nook Drove
Bourne , Lincolnshire
3rd
Daventry
Daventry & District Sports Club
Daventry , Northamptonshire
9th
Dunstablians
Bidwell Park
Houghton Regis , Bedfordshire
5th
Huntingdon & District
Huntingdon Racecourse
Brampton , Huntingdon , Cambridgeshire
8th
Luton
Newlands Road
Luton , Bedfordshire
Relegated from London 2 North West (12th)
Melton Mowbray
Melton Sports Village
Melton Mowbray , Leicestershire
Relegated from Midlands 2 ES (11th)
Northampton Men's Own
Stoke Road
Ashton , Northamptonshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 ES (runners-up)
Rushden & Higham
Manor Park
Rushden , Northamptonshire
7th
Spalding
Memorial Field
Spalding , Lincolnshire
6th
Stewarts & Lloyds
Occupation Road
Corby , Northamptonshire
Relegated from Midlands 2 ES (12th)
Stockwood Park
London Road
Luton , Bedfordshire
4th
Locations of the 2021–22 Midlands 3 East (South) teams
2020–21
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
2019–20
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bedford Queens
Putnoe Woods
500
Bedford , Bedfordshire
8th
Bourne
Milking Nook Drove
Bourne , Lincolnshire
7th
Daventry
Daventry & District Sports Club
Daventry , Northamptonshire
4th
Dunstablians
Bidwell Park
Houghton Regis , Bedfordshire
6th
Huntingdon & District
Huntingdon Racecourse
Brampton , Huntingdon , Cambridgeshire
Relegated from Midlands 2 ES (12th)
Northampton BBOB
Saint Andrew's Road
Northampton , Northamptonshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 ES (champions)
Oakham
Rutland Showground
Oakham , Rutland
Relegated from Midlands 2 ES (11th)
Rushden & Higham
Manor Park
Rushden , Northamptonshire
10th
Spalding
Memorial Field
Spalding , Lincolnshire
Level transfer from Midlands 3 EN (3rd)
St Neots
The Common
St Neots , Cambridgeshire
9th
Stamford
Hambleton Road
Stamford , Lincolnshire
3rd
Stockwood Park
London Road
Luton , Bedfordshire
5th
Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 3 East (South) teams
2018–19
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bedford Queens
Putnoe Woods
500
Bedford , Bedfordshire
10th
Biggleswade
Langford Road
Biggleswade , Bedfordshire
5th
Birstall
Co-Op Sports Ground
Birstall , Leicestershire
Level transfer from Midlands 3 East (North) (7th)
Bourne
Milking Nook Drove
Bourne , Lincolnshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 East (South) (runners up)
Daventry
Daventry & District Sports Club
Daventry , Northamptonshire
6th
Dunstablians
Bidwell Park
Houghton Regis , Bedfordshire
9th
Leicester Forest
Hinckley Road
Leicester Forest East , Leicestershire
4th
Northampton Casuals
Rush Mills House
Northampton , Northamptonshire
3rd
Rushden & Higham
Manor Park
Rushden , Northamptonshire
8th
St Neots
The Common
St Neots , Cambridgeshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 East (South) (champions)
Stamford
Hambleton Road
Stamford , Lincolnshire
Relegated from Midlands 2 East (South) (11th)
Stockwood Park
London Road
Luton , Bedfordshire
7th
Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 3 East (South) teams
2017–18
Participating teams & locations
Team
Ground
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bedford Queens
Putnoe Woods
500
Bedford , Bedfordshire
Promoted from Midlands 4 East (South)
Biggleswade
Langford Road
Biggleswade , Bedfordshire
7th
Daventry
Daventry & District Sports Club
Daventry , Northamptonshire
9th
Dunstablians
Bidwell Park
Houghton Regis , Bedfordshire
5th
Leicester Forest
Hinckley Road
Leicester Forest East , Leicestershire
8th
Northampton BBOB
Saint Andrew's Road
Northampton , Northamptonshire
6th
Northampton Casuals
Rush Mills House
Northampton , Northamptonshire
4th
Northampton Mens Own
Stoke Road
Ashton , Northamptonshire
10th
Rushden & Higham
Manor Park
Rushden , Northamptonshire
Relegated from Midlands 2 East (North) (12th)
St Ives (Midlands)
Somersham Road
St Ives , Cambridgeshire
3rd
Stockwood Park
London Road
Luton , Bedfordshire
Relegated from London 2 North West (12th)
Vipers
Vipers Ground
Whetstone , Leicestershire
Relegated from Midlands 2 East (North) (11th)
Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 3 East (South) teams
Teams 2016-17
Teams 2015-16
Teams 2014-15
Teams 2013-14
Teams 2012–13
Bedford Queens
Daventry
Deepings
Long Buckby
Northampton Casuals
Northampton Mens Own
Old Newtonians
Rugby St Andrews
Rushden & Higham
Stamford
Stewarts & Lloyds
Stockwood Park
Teams 2011–12
Bedford Queens
Bedford Swifts
Biggleswade
Brackley
Daventry
Deepings
Northampton BBOB
Northampton Casuals
Rugby St Andrews
Rushden & Higham
Stamford
Stewarts & Lloyds
Teams 2010–11
Bedford Queens
Bedford Swifts
Brackley
Daventry
Deepings
Long Buckby
Northampton Casuals
Northampton Mens Own
Oadby Wyggestonians
Old Newtonians
Rugby St Andrews
Rushden & Higham
Teams 2008–09
Aylestone St James
Banbury
Huntingdon & District
Leicester Forest
Lutterworth
Northampton BBOB
Northampton Old Scouts
Old Newtonians
Old Northamptonians
Stewarts & Lloyds
Towcestrians
Vipers
Original teams
Teams in Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 2 East, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:
Midlands 3 East (South) honours
Midlands East 2 (1992–1993)
Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were originally part of a single tier 8 division called Midlands East 2. Promotion was to Midlands East 1 and relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 .
Midlands East 2 (1993–1996)
The top six teams from Midlands 1 and the top six from North 1 were combined to create National 5 North , meaning that Midlands 2 East dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Midlands East 1 while relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 .
Midlands East 2 (1996–2000)
At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands East 2 returned to being a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to Midlands East 1 while relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 .
Midlands 4 East (South) (2000–2006)
Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands East 2 split into two tier 8 regional leagues - Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South). Promotion was now to Midlands 3 East (North) [ f] and relegation to East Midlands 1 .
Midlands 4 East (South) (2006–2009)
Midlands 4 East (South) continued to be a tier 8 league with promotion up into Midlands 3 East (South) . However, the cancellation of East Midlands 1 at the end of the 2005–06 season meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands 5 East (South) .
Midlands 3 East (South) (2009–present)
League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South) were renamed as Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 8. Promotion was now to Midlands 2 East (South) (formerly Midlands 3 East (South)) and relegation to Midlands 4 East (South) (formerly Midlands 5 East (South)).
Season
No of teams
Champions
Runners–up
Relegated teams
Reference
2009–10
11
Bugbrooke
Stockwood Park
No relegation[ i]
[ 18]
2010–11
12
Oadby Wyggestonians
Long Buckby
Northampton Mens Own , Old Newtonians
[ 19]
2011–12
12
Northampton BBOB
Biggleswade
Brackley , Bedford Swifts
[ 20]
2012–13
12
Stamford
Rushden & Higham
Old Newtonians , Long Buckby
[ 21]
2013–14
12
Biggleswade
Stewarts & Lloyds
Deepings , Brackley
[ 22]
2014–15
12
Rushden & Higham
Vipers
Northampton Mens Own , Bedford Queens
[ 23]
2015–16
11
Oundle
Stockwood Park
No relegation[ j]
[ 24]
2016–17
12
Stewarts & Lloyds
Long Buckby
Aylestone St James , St Neots
[ 25]
2017–18
12
St Ives (Midlands)
Vipers
Northampton Mens Own , Northampton BBOB
[ 26]
2018–19
12
Leicester Forest
Northampton Casuals
Biggleswade , Birstall
[ 27]
2019-20
12
Stamford
Oakham
St Neots , Northampton BBOB , Bedford Queens
[ 28]
2020–21
12
Green backgrounds are promotion places.
Number of league titles
Notes
See also
References
^ "RFU announce new men's community structure" . RFU. 13 June 2022.
^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993-94 . Headline. pp. 164–167. ISBN 0-7472-7891-1 .
^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994-95 . Headline. pp. 164–167. ISBN 0-7472-7891-1 .
^ Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995-96 . Headline. pp. 176–179. ISBN 0-7472-7850-4 .
^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97 . Headline. pp. 192–195. ISBN 0-7472-7816-4 .
^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98 . Headline. pp. 156–159. ISBN 0-7472-7771-0 .
^ Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1998). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998-99 . Headline. pp. 90–93. ISBN 0-7472-7653-6 .
^ "2000-2001 Midlands Division" . England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2000-2001 Midlands Division" . England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2001-2002 Midlands Division" . England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2001-2002 Midlands Division" . England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2003-2004 Midlands Division" . England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2004-2005 Midlands Division" . England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "2005-2006 Midlands Division" . England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved 7 March 2015 .
^ "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 .
^ "2012-2013 Midlands Division" . 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 .
^ "2015-2016 Midlands Division" . England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016 .
^ "2016-2017 Midlands Division" . England Rugby . RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017 .
^ "2017-2018 Midlands Division" . England Rugby . RFU. 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.
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