Midlands 5 West (South)

Counties 4 Midlands West (South)

Current season or competition: 2022-23 Counties 4 Midlands West (South)
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	2006; 18 years ago (2006) (as Midlands 6 West (South-East & South-West)
Number of teams	11
Country	England
Most titles	Birmingham Exiles, Rugby Welsh, Stoke Old Boys (2 titles)
Website	England RFU

Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (formerly Midlands 5 West (South)) is a level 10 English Rugby Union league and level 5 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and even (on occasion) Cheshire and Oxfordshire, 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.

Formed in 2006 originally the league was divided into two regional divisions – Midlands 6 South-East and South-West – but was merged into a single division for the 2010–11 season. In its present state promoted teams typically move up to either Midlands 4 West (North) or Midlands 4 West (South) with there being no relegation as it is the basement division for Midlands rugby. There was also another regional tier 5 Midlands league - Midlands 5 West (North) - but this league was discontinued at the end of the 2018–19 season, with most teams transferred into a new-look Midlands 5 West (South). Further restructuring followed in the wake of the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it has been known as Counties 4 Midlands West (South).

Departing were Upton-upon-Severn and Malvern II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South). Warley (4th) left on a level transfer to Counties 4 Midlands West (North).

Joining were Old Leamingtonians II, Kidderminster Carolians II and Trinity Guild.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands 5th Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 8th Droitwich II Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground 3,000 Droitwich, Worcestershire 3rd Evesham II Lower Albert Road Evesham, Worcestershire 10th Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire 12th Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 6th Kidderminster Carolians II Marlpool Lane Kidderminster, Worcestershire New entry Old Halesonians II Wassell Grove Hagley, Stourbridge, Worcestershire 7th Old Leamingtonians The Crofts Blackdown, Warwickshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (12th) Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 9th Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 11th Trinity Guild Rowley Road Baginton, Warwickshire Re-entry

B'ham Exiles Bishop's Castle Keresley Leamingtonians Trinity Guild class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Midlands West (South) teams Droitwich II Evesham II Five Ways Kidderminster II Halesonians II Redditch Stourport class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2024-25 Counties 4 Midlands West (South) teams in Worcestershire

Departing were Hereford II and Worcester II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South).

Joining were Upton-on-Severn, Birmingham Exiles, Warley and Old Halesonians II.

With two leaving and four joining the league was restored to twelve clubs from ten.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (10th) Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 8th Droitwich II Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground 3,000 Droitwich, Worcestershire 6th Evesham II Lower Albert Road Evesham, Worcestershire 10th Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire 7th Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 5th Malvern II Spring Lane Malvern, Worcestershire 4th Old Halesonians II Wassell Grove Hagley, Stourbridge, Worcestershire New entry Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 9th Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 3rd Upton-upon-Severn Banwell Park Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (11th) Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) (10th)

B'ham Exiles Bishop's Castle Keresley Warley class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Midlands West (South) teams Droitwich II Evesham II Five Ways Halesonians II Malvern II Redditch Stourport Upton class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2023-24 Counties 4 Midlands West (South) teams in Worcestershire

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

Departing were Birmingham & Solihull, Cannock and Greyhound, all promoted. Leaving on a level transfer to Counties 4 Midlands West (North) were Stone (5th), Bloxwich (7th), St Leonards (8th) and Atherstone (11th).

Joining were Hereford II, Worcester II, Malvern II, Evesham and Droitwich II.

With seven leaving and five joining the league was reduced in size from twelve clubs to ten.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 9th Droitwich II Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground 3,000 Droitwich, Worcestershire New entry Evesham II Lower Albert Road Evesham, Worcestershire New entry Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire 12th Hereford II Wyeside Hereford, Herefordshire New entry Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 10th Malvern II Spring Lane Malvern, Worcestershire New entry Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 6th Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 4th Worcester II Offerton Lane Worcester, Worcestershire New entry

Bishop's Castle Hereford II Keresley class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Midlands West (South) teams Droitwich II Evesham II Five Ways Malvern II Redditch Stourport Worcester II class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2022-23 Counties 4 Midlands West (South) teams

Dixonians, who finished 11th in 2019-20, did not return for the current season.

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire 6th Birmingham & Solihull Portway Portway, Birmingham, West Midlands Promoted from Greater Birmingham Merit League Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 10th Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands 8th Cannock Morgan Ground Huntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (12th) Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire 5th Greyhound Hereford City Sports Club Hereford, Herefordshire 9th Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 7th Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 3rd St Leonards Universal Sports and Social Club Stafford, Staffordshire Promoted from Staffordshire Merit Table Division 1 Stone Stone Hockey Club Aston By Stone, Staffordshire Promoted from Staffordshire Merit Table Division 1 Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 4th

Atherstone B&S Bishop's Castle Bloxwich Cannock Five Ways Greyhound Keresley Redditch St Leonards Stone Stourport class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2021–22 Midlands 5 West (South) teams

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

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire 5th Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire Transferred from Midlands 5 West (North) (3rd) Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands Relegated from Midlands 4 WN (11th) Chaddesley Corbett Fox Lane Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire Transferred from Midlands 5 West (North) (5th) Dixonians Rowheath Park Birmingham, West Midlands Greater Birmingham Merit League (champions) Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire Joined league Greyhound Hereford City Sports Club Hereford, Herefordshire Relegated from Midlands 4 WS (10th) Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 4th Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire Relegated from Midlands 4 WS (11th) Rugby Welsh Alwyn Road Rugby, Warwickshire 3rd Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire Transferred from Midlands 5 West (North) (8th)

Atherstone Bishop's Castle Bloxwich Dixonians Greyhound Keresley Rugby Welsh class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 5 West (South) teams Chaddesley Corbett Five Ways Redditch Stourport class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2019–20 Midlands 5 West (South) teams in Worcestershire

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire 4th Birmingham Civil Service Land Rover Social Club Solihull, West Midlands Relegated from Midlands 4 West (South) (10th) Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands 6th Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 5th Rugby Welsh Alwyn Road Rugby, Warwickshire 3rd

Atherstone B'ham CS B'ham Exiles Keresley R Welsh class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2018–19 Midlands 5 West (South) teams in Warwickshire

Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season Aldridge Bourne Vale Aldridge, West Midlands Transferred from Midlands 5 West (North) (4th) Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire 5th Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands 3rd Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (10th) Kings Norton Hopgood Park Hopwood, Worcestershire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (11th) Rugby Welsh Alwyn Road Rugby, Warwickshire 4th Trinity Guild Rowley Road Baginton, Warwickshire 6th

Aldridge B'ham Exiles Kings Norton Atherstone Keresley R Welsh Trinity class=notpageimage| Locations of the 2017–18 Midlands 5 West (South) teams

• Atherstone (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
• Birmingham Civil Service (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
• Birmingham Exiles
• Copsewood
• Rugby Welsh
• Trinity Guild
• Wellesbourne

• Birmingham Exiles
• Copsewood
• Five Ways Old Edwardians (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
• Keresley
• Rugby Welsh
• Trinity Guild
• Wellesbourne

• Alcester (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
• Birmingham Civil Service (relegated from Midlands 4 West (South))
• Birmingham Exiles
• Copsewood
• Coventry Technical
• Keresley
• Rugby Welsh
• Trinity Guild
• Wellesbourne

• Birmingham Exiles
• Copsewood
• Coventry Technical
• Keresley
• Rugby Lions
• Rugby Welsh
• Trinity Guild
• Warwickian
• Wellesbourne

• Birmingham Exiles
• Copsewood
• Coventry Technical
• Greyhound
• Rugby Welsh
• Stoke Old Boys
• Trinity Guild
• Wellesbourne

• Copsewood
• Coventrians
• Coventry Welsh
• Dudley Wasps
• Evesham
• Harbury
• Keresley
• Manor Park
• Pinley
• Redditch
• Stoke Old Boys
• Worcester Students

Worcester Students withdrew from the league after failing to field 15 players regularly.

When this division was introduced in 2006 it was split into two separate divisions - Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West) - containing the following teams:

Midlands 6 West (South-East)

• Atherstone - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (5th)
• Coventrians - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (runners up)
• Coventry Saracens - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (9th)
• Manor Park - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (9th)
• Old Wheatleyans - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (4th)
• Pinley - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (8th)
• Rugby Welsh - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (3rd)
• Standard - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (8th)
• Trinity Guild - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (10th)
• Warwickian - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (6th)

Midlands 6 West (South-West)

• Birmingham Civil Service - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (5th)
• Birmingham Exiles - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (8th)
• Bromyard - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (6th)
• Chaddesley Corbett - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (runners up)
• Claverdon - transferred from Warwickshire 2 (7th)
• Clee Hill - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (4th)
• Dudley Wasps^[a] - transferred from North Midlands (South) 2 (3rd)
• Redditch - transferred from North Midlands (South) 1 (7th)
• Warley - relegated from Midlands 5 West (North) (8th)

The league was originally divided into two sub-divisions known as Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West). These divisions were introduced along with their counterpart Midlands 6 West (North) at tier 10 to replace the discontinued North Midlands 2, Warwickshire 1 and Warwickshire 2 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 5 West (South) and there was no relegation.

Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 6 West (South-East / South-West) and their counterpart Midlands 6 West (North) were renamed as Midlands 5 West (South-East / South-West) and Midlands 5 West (North), with all leagues remaining at tier 10. Promotion was now to Midlands 4 West (South) (formerly Midlands 5 West (South)) and there was no relegation.

Midlands 5 West (South-East / South West) were remerged into a single tier 10 division ahead of the 2010–11 season. Promotion continued to Midlands 4 West (South) and there was no relegation.

Between 2007 and 2010 there was a promotion playoff between the runners-up of Midlands 5 West (South-East) and Midlands 5 West (South-West) for the third and final promotion place to Midlands 4 West (South), with the team with the superior league record having home advantage in the tie. The playoffs were dissolved at the end of the 2009-10 season when Midlands 5 West (South) became one division. By the end of the promotion play-offs the Midlands 5 West (South-East) teams won all four playoff games and the home team has also won promotion on all four occasions.

• Midlands RFU
• North Midlands RFU
• Warwickshire RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

• English RFU (2008). "Rugby First". RFU. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. 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.