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Regional 1 Midlands
Current season or competition:
2023–24 Regional 1 Midlands
SportRugby union
Instituted1987; 37 years ago (1987) (as Midlands 1)
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersOxford Harlequins (1st title) (2023–24 (promoted to National League 2 West))
Most titlesBroadstreet (4 titles)
Websiteclubs.rfu.com

Regional 1 Midlands (until 2021–22 known as Midlands Premier and up until 2016–17 known as National League 3 Midlands) is a level five semi-professional league in the English rugby union system.[1] It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 it was known as Midlands Division 1. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following a reorganisation by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), and the name change from National League 3 to Premier was introduced for the 2017–18 season by the RFU in order to lessen confusion for what is a series of regional leagues.[1] Regional 1 Midlands is the highest regional rugby union league in the English Midlands.

Oxford Harlequins are the current champions and are promoted to National League 2 West. Old Halesonians (11th) and Broadstreet (12th) are relegated.

Format

[edit]

The club that finishes as champions is automatically promoted to National League 2 West. Relegated teams drop down to either, Regional 2 East Midlands, Regional 2 North Midlands or Regional 2 West Midlands, depending on their location, and other factors such as the location of relegated and promoted teams in other divisions.

The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league table as follows:

  • 4 points are awarded for a win
  • 2 points are awarded for a draw
  • 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
  • 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
  • 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match

2024–25

[edit]

Departing were Stoke-on-Trent who finished fifth in 2023-24 and were level transferred to Regional 1 North West for the new season, Oxford Harlequins who were promoted to National League 2 East, while Old Halesonians and Broadstreet were relegated.

Participating teams and locations

[edit]

2023–24

[edit]

Participating teams and locations

[edit]

League table

[edit]
2023–24 Regional 1 Midlands
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Adj
P Oxford Harlequins 22 19 0 3 905 372 533 19 1 96
2 Stourbridge 22 17 1 4 831 467 364 16 3 89
3 Bromsgrove 22 15 0 7 671 449 222 11 4 75
4 Burton 22 13 0 9 553 528 25 11 5 69
5 Stoke-on-Trent 22 12 0 10 623 596 27 15 4 67
6 Bridgnorth 22 12 0 10 628 574 54 13 5 66
7 Derby 22 11 0 11 670 638 32 14 4 62
8 Banbury 22 10 1 11 623 676 –53 14 2 58
9 Syston 22 11 0 11 589 524 65 8 4 56
10 Kenilworth 22 7 1 14 595 704 −109 11 6 42 –5
R Old Halesonians 22 2 1 19 416 728 −312 5 4 19
R Broadstreet 22 1 0 21 260 1108 −848 1 2 7
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Team with most draws
  3. Difference between points for and against
  4. Total number of points for
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places
Updated: 12 May 2024
Source: "Regional 1 Midlands". England Rugby.

Results

[edit]
Home \ Away BAN BRI BRD BRM BUR DER KEN OLH OXF STK STB SYS
Banbury — 43–26 38–12 25–23 12–18 24–32 39–17 54–29 7–54 36–32 13–13 45–15
Bridgnorth 41–33 — 57–12 22–23 16–25 50–33 31–24 25–5 34–25 27–29 26–21 40–23
Broadstreet 27–30 19–36 — 10–62 11–36 17–58 10–59 30–25 12–66 12–55 19–64 7–49
Bromsgrove 35–26 11–16 53–0 — 33–26 42–20 49–7 17–10 34–25 23–33 27–11 31–7
Burton 20–7 43–19 71–0 30–22 — 43–34 28–0 33–14 3–43 28–22 31–32 19–13
Derby 34–22 26–24 31–8 13–17 27–26 — 22–17 51–14 27–32 41–26 21–41 23–17
Kenilworth 28–34 29–51 24–19 36–41 29–22 37–31 — 36–36 16–38 24–25 35–52 32–23
Old Halesonians 21–41 5–14 36–7 17–26 28–34 22–45 25–42 — 14–47 31–15 7–41 10–14
Oxford Harlequins 47–25 50–5 97–7 38–26 34–10 37–25 53–17 36–17 — 41–21 18–13 40–19
Stoke-on-Trent 50–45 36–17 48–10 36–34 24–20 41–10 33–38 31–19 10–7 — 24–32 5–21
Stourbridge 66–12 32–29 60–8 31–28 57–10 42–33 36–16 36–16 22–27 60–10 — 34–25
Syston 36–12 27–22 53–3 10–14 51–5 39–33 34–32 53–15 8–50 20–17 32–35 —
Updated to match(es) played on 6 April 2024. Source: Regional 1 Midlands
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

2022–23

[edit]

Dudley Kingswinford won the league and were promoted to National League 2 West. Lichfield (11th) and Nuneaton (12th) were relegated to Regional 2 North Midlands and Regional 2 East Midlands respectively.[4]


Participating teams and locations

[edit]

Final league table

[edit]
Regional 1 Midlands 2022–23
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
P Dudley Kingswinford 22 17 0 5 671 372 299 13 4 85
2 Bridgnorth 22 16 0 6 631 499 132 13 5 82
3 Syston 22 16 0 6 761 414 347 13 2 79
4 Bromsgrove 22 13 1 8 666 480 186 14 7 75
5 Kenilworth 22 14 0 8 621 507 114 11 4 71
6 Burton 22 9 0 13 560 595 −35 12 7 55
7 Oundle 22 9 0 13 481 617 −136 12 6 54
8 Derby 22 10 1 11 562 691 129 9 2 53
9 Stoke-on-Trent 22 8 0 14 607 699 −92 13 6 51
10 Broadstreet 22 8 0 14 504 698 −194 9 5 46
R Lichfield 22 6 0 16 544 836 −292 10 3 37
R Nuneaton 22 5 0 17 485 685 −200 8 7 35
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places
Updated: 12 April 2023
Source: "Regional 1 Midlands". England Rugby.

Results

[edit]
Home \ Away BRI BRD BRM BUR DER DUD KEN LCH NUN OUN STO SYS
Bridgnorth — 26–19 43–37 20–14 27–23 29–17 31–28 41–12 47–40 40–17 29–23 14–12
Broadstreet 14–25 — 14–22 49–36 29–15 26–29 22–37 17–22 25–22 32–27 38–25 17–90
Bromsgrove 25–19 43–21 — 38–7 40–15 25–27 31–19 22–27 37–13 67–7 45–26 8–10
Burton 12–18 26–24 27–21 — 31–33 3–27 20–29 47–19 20–21 27–10 36–29 19–45
Derby 10–36 28–24 26–26 31–30 — 28–41 24–47 23–27 20–17 38–35 66–29 36–48
Dudley Kingswinford 44–10 41–5 11–16 20–14 46–14 — 19–14 38–14 53–7 45–0 26–13 19–20
Kenilworth 35–45 25–27 50–28 20–19 38–8 27–21 — 57–21 24–19 22–17 27–17 15–16
Lichfield 14–50 30–32 28–36 50–38 26–32 22–42 39–22 — 21–34 33–36 22–34 14–51
Nuneaton 20–13 26–31 24–37 27–32 15–27 17–36 37–15 39–50 — 6–12 31–52 14–35
Oundale 18–14 38–24 24–22 12–31 21–23 22–25 12–20 24–10 29–32 — 63–12 28–19
Stoke-on-Trent 45–40 21–7 28–31 26–37 31–14 22–27 23–25 45–15 27–19 21–24 — 37–27
Syston 20–14 44–7 14–9 26–34 27–28 24–17 11–25 76–28 42–5 54–5 50–21 —
Updated to match(es) played on 25 March 2023. Source: Regional 1 Midlands
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

2021–22

[edit]

Participating teams and locations

[edit]

Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by one relegated side, Scunthorpe (from National League 2 North), while the three teams promoted into the division are Dudley Kingswinford (from Midlands 1 West, Oundle and Syston (both from Midlands 1 East. Last seasons champions, Bournville were promoted into National League 2 North. Teams relegated from the division were Kettering and Peterborough (who drop to Midlands 1 East). Also not returning are South Leicester who withdrew from the league during the 2019–20 season[6] and drop to Midlands 4 East (South) for the coming season.

The teams competing in 2021–22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019–20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020–21.

Final league table

[edit]
Midlands Premier 2021–22
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
1 Newport (Salop) 26 23 0 3 1008 464 544 21 1 114
2 Sheffield 26 21 0 5 742 340 402 14 3 101
3 Syston 26 17 0 9 741 423 318 14 7 89
4 Bridgnorth 26 16 2 8 742 655 87 16 3 87
5 Sandbach 26 16 1 9 733 537 196 12 4 82
6 Bromsgrove 26 15 0 11 774 582 192 15 4 79
7 Burton 26 12 1 13 721 695 26 18 5 73
8 Scunthorpe 26 14 1 11 627 786 −159 11 2 71
9 Broadstreet 26 10 0 16 565 698 −133 8 3 51
10 Dudley Kingswinford 26 10 0 16 509 674 −165 5 4 49
11 Nuneaton 26 9 0 17 559 754 −195 10 2 48
12 Doncaster Phoenix 26 7 0 19 465 763 −298 7 4 39
13 Paviors 26 5 2 19 438 860 −422 5 3 32
14 Oundale 26 3 1 22 470 863 −393 6 9 29
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion places. Pink background No relegation due to league reorganisation
Updated: 5 June 2022
Source: "Midlands Premier". England Rugby.

2020–21

[edit]

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Midlands Premier was not contested.[7]

2019–20

[edit]

Participating teams and locations

[edit]

Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by two relegated sides; Peterborough Lions and South Leicester (relegated from National League 2 North), while the three teams promoted into the division are Bromsgrove, Kettering and Paviors.[8][9][10][11][12] In order to address an imbalance of teams at level 5, Bedford Athletic have been level transferred into the division from London & South East Premier. Birmingham & Solihull were initially relegated into the division from National League 2 South but decided to drop out of the league system altogether (joining the Greater Birmingham Merit Leagues) as they became an amateur club.[13][14]

Last seasons champions, Scunthorpe were promoted into National League 2 North, along with Luctonians who won their play-off game against North Premier runners up Blaydon. Teams relegated from the division included Derby and Syston (who drop to Midlands 1 East) and Lichfield (who fall to Midlands 1 West).

2018–19

[edit]

Participating teams and locations

[edit]

Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Luctonians and Sheffield (relegated from National League 2 North), Broadstreet (relegated from National League 2 South), while the two teams promoted into the division are Burton and Syston.[15][16][17][18][19] Last seasons champions Birmingham & Solihull were promoted into National League 2 South following a level transfer, while runners up Peterborough Lions RFC were promoted into National League 2 North after winning their play-off game against Hull. Teams relegated from the division included Old Halesonians, Longton and Newbold-on-Avon who all drop to Midlands 1 West.

2017–18

[edit]

Participating teams and locations

[edit]

Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. Scunthorpe were relegated from National League 2 North while the three teams promoted into the division included Newbold-on-Avon, Newport (Salop) and Bournville.[20][21][22][23][24] Last seasons champions, Broadstreet, were promoted into National League 2 South following a level transfer, while runners-up Sheffield went into National League 2 North, having won their playoff game.[25][26] Teams relegated from the league included Bedford Athletic and Syston, with Sandbach given a reprieve by the RFU in light of the London Welsh liquidation, by virtue of being the best ranked third bottom side in tier 5 for 2016–17.[27][28] Finally Towcestrians were level transferred from Midlands Premier into London & South East Premier, while Doncaster Phoenix were level transferred into Midlands Premier from North Premier to address an imbalance of teams in the three divisions.[29] Birmingham & Solihull won the title on 7 April.

2016–17

[edit]

Participating teams and locations

[edit]

Eight of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Broadstreet who were relegated from National 2 North while four teams were promoted into the league – Bedford Athletic, Bridgnorth, Derby and Towcestrians (who were level transferred from the south-west league on promotion) – as well as Sheffield who were level transferred from National League 3 North having finished 7th the previous season. Scunthorpe (champions) and Hinckley (play-off) were promoted into National League 2 North while Old Northamptonians were relegated to Midlands 1 East and Sutton Coldfield and Newport (Salop) both dropped to Midlands 1 West. In order to address a league imbalance due to only one team coming down from National League 2 South, Bromsgrove (who had finished 11th), were level transferred to National League 3 South West.[30]

Final league table

[edit]
National League 3 Midlands 2016–17
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
1 Broadstreet (P) 26 20 1 5 759 412 347 13 3 98
2 Sheffield (P) 26 19 0 7 717 434 283 16 4 96
3 Nuneaton 26 19 1 6 737 441 296 12 4 94
4 Peterborough Lions 26 16 2 8 627 515 112 11 4 83
5 Birmingham & Solihull 26 17 1 8 545 445 100 7 0 77
6 Bridgnorth 26 13 0 13 511 485 26 5 6 63
7 Lichfield 26 11 1 14 593 775 −182 11 6 63
8 Old Halesonians 26 12 0 14 590 638 −48 11 3 62
9 Derby 26 10 0 16 646 715 −69 12 7 59
10 Towcestrians 26 10 1 15 526 625 −99 11 5 58
11 Longton 26 10 0 16 632 789 −157 11 3 54
12 Sandbach 26 9 2 15 564 678 −114 5 7 52
13 Bedford Athletic (R) 26 5 1 20 606 704 −98 12 12 46
14 Syston (R) 26 5 2 19 381 778 −397 2 3 29
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 29 April 2017
Source: "National League 3 Midlands". England Rugby.

Promotion play-off

[edit]

Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 Midlands, and National League 3 North participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 North. The team with the best playing record, in this case Rossendale, hosted the match and lost to their opponents Sheffield, 31 – 32.

Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
Rossendale 26 21 0 5 852 443 409 14 1 99
Sheffield (P) 26 19 0 7 717 434 283 16 4 96
29 April 2017
15:00
Rossendale31 – 32Sheffield
Marl Pits

2015–16

[edit]

Participating teams and locations

[edit]

Despite leading the table for most of the season Hinckley lost 13 – 23 on the final week-end of the season to Scunthorpe, to finish in second place for the second season in a row. Scunthorpe started the day four points behind and finished top due to winning one more match over the season.[31] Two of last seasons promoted teams were relegated; Newport (Salop) to Midland 1 West and Old Northamptonians to Midland 1 East. The third relegated team is Sutton Coldfield.

Final league table

[edit]
See also: 2015–16 National League 3 Midlands
National League 3 Midlands 2015–16
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
1 Scunthorpe (C) 26 23 0 3 766 343 423 14 2 108
2 Hinckley (P) 26 22 1 3 790 343 447 16 2 108
3 Old Halesonians 26 18 0 8 630 408 222 13 6 91
4 Peterborough Lions 26 15 0 11 593 464 129 10 4 69
5 Nuneaton 26 14 0 12 573 463 110 8 5 69
6 Syston 26 13 0 13 538 562 −24 11 4 67
7 Birmingham & Solihull 26 13 0 13 500 475 25 8 6 66
8 Longton 26 11 1 14 530 577 −47 12 3 61
9 Bromsgrove 26 12 0 14 559 670 –111 8 3 59
10 Sandbach 26 11 0 15 546 591 −45 9 4 57
11 Lichfield 26 9 0 17 600 683 −83 12 7 55
12 Old Northamptonians (R) 26 9 0 17 498 702 −204 6 7 49
13 Newport (Salop) (R) 26 8 0 18 451 738 –287 6 0 38
14 Sutton Coldfield (R) 26 3 0 23 412 967 –555 2 4 18
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Blue background is the play-off place. Pink background are relegation places.
Updated: 27 April 2016
Source: "National League 3 Midlands". England Rugby.

Promotion play-off

[edit]

Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 Midland, and National League 3 North participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 North. The team with the best playing record, in this case Hinckley, host the match and they beat their opponents Wirral 33 – 20.

Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points
Hinckley (P) 26 22 1 3 790 343 447 16 2 108
Wirral Rugby Club 26 19 0 7 677 486 191 13 4 93
30 April 2016
15:00
Hinckley33 – 20Wirral
Report
Leicester Road
Attendance: 650

2014–15

[edit]

2013–14

[edit]

2012–13

[edit]

2011–12

[edit]

2010–11

[edit]

2009–10

[edit]

First season as National 3 Midlands.

2007–08

[edit]

Original teams

[edit]

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Midlands 1) contained the following teams:

Midlands Premier honours

[edit]

Midlands 1 (1987–1992)

[edit]

The original Midlands 1 was a tier 5 league with promotion to Area League North and relegation to either Midlands 2 East or Midlands 2 West.

Midlands Division 1
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runner-up Relegated teams Reference
1987–88 11 10 Stoke-on-Trent Barkers Butts Peterborough, Hinckley, Stafford [34]
1988–89 11 10 Walsall Hereford Wolverhampton [34]
1989–90 11 10 Hereford Birmingham & Solihull No relegation [34]
1990–91 11 10 Towcestrians Barkers Butts Sutton Coldfield, Stockwood Park, Paviors [35]
1991–92 11 10 Stoke-on-Trent Syston No relegation[b] [36]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 1 (1992–1993)

[edit]

For the 1991–92 season Midlands 1 remained a tier 5 league with promotion to Area League North. However, restructuring of the Midlands leagues meant that relegation was now to Midlands 2 (formerly Midlands 2 East and Midlands 2 West).

Midlands 1
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runner-up Relegated teams Reference
1992–93 14 13 Birmingham & Solihull Barkers Butts Vipers, Paviors, Newark [37]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 1 (1993–1996)

[edit]

The top six teams from Midlands 1 and the top six from North 1 were combined to create National 5 North. Midlands 1 dropped to become a tier 6 league and was one of two feeder leagues for National 5 North. Relegation continued to Midlands 2 (currently Midlands 1 East and Midlands 1 West)

Midlands Division 1
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runner-up Relegated teams Reference
1993–94 13 12 Barkers Butts Worcester Leighton Buzzard [38]
1994–95 13 12 Worcester Burton Derby, Towcestrians, Bedworth [39]
1995–96 13 12 Hereford Burton No relegation[c] [40]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 1 (1996–2000)

[edit]

At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands 1 returned to being a tier 5 league. Promotion was now to National 4 North (currently National League 2 North), while relegation continued to Midlands 2 (currently split into Midlands 1 East and Midlands 1 West).

Midlands 1
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runner-up Relegated teams Reference
1996–97 17 16 Hinckley Burton Stockwood Park, Leamington, Stafford [41]
1997–98 17 16 Whitchurch Banbury Derby [42]
1998–99 17 16 Bedford Athletic Scunthorpe Leighton Buzzard, Mansfield, Wolverhampton [43]
1999–00 17 16 Dudley Kingswinford Scunthorpe Belgrave, Lichfield, Hinckley, Syston [44]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 1 (2000–2009)

[edit]

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands 1 remain a tier 5 league but promotion was now to National 3 North (formerly National 4 North) and relegation to either Midlands 2 East or Midlands 2 West (both formerly Midlands 2).

Midlands 1
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runner-up Relegated teams Reference
2000–01 12 22 Scunthorpe Leicester Lions Stoke-on-Trent, Burton, Newbold-on-Avon [45]
2001–02 12 22 Broadstreet Walsall Banbury, Camp Hill, Hereford [46]
2002–03 12 22 Longton Luctonians Barkers Butts, Kenilworth, Hinckley, Malvern [47]
2003–04 12 22 Bedford Athletic Kettering Luton, Old Laurentians, Spalding [48]
2004–05 12 22 Leicester Lions Kettering Mansfield, Broadstreet, Derby [49]
2005–06 12 22 Rugby Lions Bedford Athletic Bromsgrove, Burton, Kettering [50]
2006–07 12 22 Luton Dudley Kingswinford Market Bosworth, Walsall [51]
2007–08 12 22 Loughborough Students Luctonians Dudley Kingswinford, Scunthorpe, Dunstablians [52]
2008–09 12 22 Broadstreet Chester No relegation[d] [53]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

National League 3 Midlands (2009–2017)

[edit]

The division was renamed National League 3 Midlands following a restructuring of the national leagues which led to changes at all levels. It remained a tier 5 league with promotion to National League 2 North (formerly National League 3 North) and relegation to either Midlands 1 East or Midlands 1 West (formerly Midlands 2 East / Midlands 2 West).

National League 3 Midlands
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runner-up Relegated teams Reference
2009–10 14 26 No champion [e] Luctonians, Hinckley Bedford Athletic, Malvern [56]
2010–11 14 26 Bromsgrove Sheffield Tigers Burton, Kenilworth, Peterborough Lions [57]
2011–12 14 26 Rugby Lions[f] Dudley Kingswinford Manchester, Old Northamptonians, Hereford [59]
2012–13 14 26 Ampthill Sutton Coldfield Derby, Mansfield [60]
2013–14 14 26 Broadstreet Sutton Coldfield Bedford Athletic, Syston, Newport (Salop) [61]
2014–15 14 26 South Leicester Hinckley Dudley Kingswinford, Burton, Bournville [62]
2015–16 14 26 Scunthorpe Hinckley Sutton Coldfield, Newport (Salop), Old Northamptonians [63]
2016–17 14 26 Broadstreet Sheffield Syston, Bedford Athletic [64]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands Premier (2017–2022)

[edit]

For the 2017–18 season, all the divisions at tier 5 were renamed from National League 3 to Premier resulting in National League 3 Midlands now named the Midlands Premier. Promotion continued to National League 2 North and relegation to either Midlands 1 East or Midlands 1 West.

Midlands Premier
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runner-up Relegated teams Reference
2017–18 14 26 Birmingham & Solihull Peterborough Lions Old Halesonians, Longton, Newbold-on-Avon [65]
2018–19 14 26 Scunthorpe Luctonians Derby, Lichfield, Syston [66]
2019–20 13[g] 20[h] Bournville Newport (Salop) Peterborough Lions, Kettering [70]
2020–21 14 26 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22 14 26 Newport (Salop) Sheffield No relegation due to league reorganisation.
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Regional 1 Midlands (2022– )

[edit]
Regional 1 Midlands
Season No of teams No of matches Champions Runner–up Relegated teams Ref
2022–23 12 22 Dudley Kingswinford Bridgnorth Lichfield (11th) and Nuneaton (12th)
2023–24 12 22 Oxford Harlequins Stourbridge Old Halesonians (11th) and Broadstreet (12th) [71]
Green background is the promotion place.

Promotion play-offs

[edit]

Between 2000–01 and 2019–20 there was a play-off between the league runners-up of Midlands Premier and North Premier for the third and final promotion place to National League 2 North. The team with the superior league record had home advantage. At the end of the 2019–20 season, the northern teams have been stronger with twelve wins to the Midlands seven, while the home team has won thirteen times compared to the away teams six.

Midlands Premier v North Premier promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance Reference
2000–01 Blaydon (N) 31–12 Leicester Lions (M) Crow Trees, Swalwell, County Durham [72]
2001–02 Hull Ionians (N) 35–22 Walsall (M) Brantingham Park, Brantingham, East Riding of Yorkshire [73][74]
2002–03 Luctonians (M) 3–17 Macclesfield (N) Mortimer Park, Kingsland, Herefordshire 1,000 [75][76]
2003–04 Cleckheaton (N) 23–10 Kettering (M) Cleckheaton Sports Club, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire 900 [77][78]
2004–05 Hull Ionians (N) 19–18 Kettering (M) Brantingham Park, Brantingham, East Riding of Yorkshire [79][80]
2005–06 Bedford Athletic (M) 17–24 West Park St Helens (N) Putnoe Woods, Bedford, Bedfordshire [81][82][83]
2006–07 Beverley (N) 7–3 Dudley Kingswinford (M) Beaver Park, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire [84][85]
2007–08 Huddersfield (N) 22–7 Luctonians (M) Lockwood Park, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire [86][87]
2008–09 Hull (N) 40–15 Chester (M) Ferens Ground, Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire [88][89]
2009–10 Stockport (N) 10–18 Luctonians (M) The Memorial Ground, Stockport, Greater Manchester 350 [90][91]
2010–11 Sheffield Tigers (M) 16–14 Chester (N) Dore Moor, Sheffield, South Yorkshire [92][93]
2011–12 Dudley Kingswinford (M) 36–27 Rossendale (N) Heath Brook, Kingswinford, West Midlands 1,000 [94][95]
2012–13 Sutton Coldfield (M) 13–28 Harrogate (N) Roger Smoldon Ground, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands 650 [96][97][98]
2013–14 Stockport (N) 52–22 Sutton Coldfield (M) The Memorial Ground, Stockport, Greater Manchester [99][100]
2014–15 Sandal (N) 20–10 Hinckley (M) Milnthorpe Green, Sandal Magna, Wakefield, West Yorkshire 200 [101][102]
2015–16 Hinckley (M) 33–20 Wirral (N) Leicester Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire 650 [103][104]
2016–17 Rossendale (N) 31–32 Sheffield (M) Marl Pits, Rawtenstall, Lancashire 413 [26]
2017–18 Hull (N) 22–31 Peterborough Lions (M) Ferens Ground, Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire [105]
2018–19 Luctonians (M) 33–17 Blaydon (N) Mortimer Park, Kingsland, Herefordshire 1,757 [106]
2019–20 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Harrogate (N) - promoted instead.
2020–21 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22 No play-off due to league reorganisation
Green background represent the promoted teams. (M) stands for the Midlands teams while (N) stands for the Northern teams.

Number of league titles

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Westleigh RFC would later merge with Wigston RFC in 1998 to form Leicester Lions RFC.[32][33]
  2. ^ Due to the merging of Midlands 2 East and Midlands 2 West into Midlands 2 for the 1992–93 season, there was no relegation.
  3. ^ Widespread restructuring of the national leagues for the following season meant there was no relegation.
  4. ^ No relegation due to nationwide league restructuring.
  5. ^ A breach of regulations by Ampthill during the Luctonians game on 1 May 2010 led to Ampthill being denied promotion and transferred to National League 3 London & SE. By the time of the ruling Luctonians had already won their play-off against the runner-up of National 3 North so Hinckley were also promoted, despite finishing third.[54][55]
  6. ^ Rugby Lions went into liquidation during the summer due to unpaid debts. The club was thrown out of the league, rejoining the league system in 2013–14 in Midlands 5 West (South).[58]
  7. ^ League reduced to 13 teams part way through the season after South Leicester decide to drop out of the league due to a lack of suitable playing strength and shortage of front row players.[67]
  8. ^ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom the RFU cancelled all rugby below the Premiership with most clubs in Midlands Premier having played 20 games, and a best playing record formula was used to decide the final table.[68][69]

References

[edit]
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