Midlands 2 West (North) is a level 7 English
Rugby Union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...
league and level 2 of the
Midlands League, made up of clubs from the northern part of the
West Midlands
West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth.
Etymology
The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some ...
region including
Shropshire
Shropshire (; alternatively Salop; abbreviated in print only as Shrops; demonym Salopian ) is a landlocked historic county in the West Midlands region of England. It is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire to ...
,
Staffordshire, parts of
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
and the
West Midlands
West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth.
Etymology
The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some ...
and occasionally
Cheshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands West 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, lead to the current name of Midlands 2 West (North).
Promoted teams tend to move up to
Midlands 1 West
Midlands 1 West is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the western region of the Midlands, including sides from Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Birmingham and the West Midlands, Worceste ...
with the league champions going up automatically and the runners up having to play a playoff against the runners up from
Midlands 2 West (South) for their place. Demoted teams typically drop to
Midlands 3 West (North)
Midlands 3 West (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Mi ...
. Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the
RFU Intermediate Cup
The RFU Intermediate Cup is a rugby union national knockout cup competition in England run by the Rugby Football Union. It is contested by teams at level 7 of the English rugby union system. While the competition is a national one, it is howeve ...
- a level 7 national competition.
2021-22
2020–21
Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
2019–20
2018–19
2017–18
Teams 2016-17
*Camp Hill
*Kidderminster Carolians
*Leek (relegated from
Midlands 1 West
Midlands 1 West is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the western region of the Midlands, including sides from Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Birmingham and the West Midlands, Worceste ...
)
*Newcastle (Staffs) (promoted from
Midlands 3 West (North)
Midlands 3 West (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Mi ...
)
*Old Saltleians
*Old Yardleians
*Shrewsbury
*Stafford
*
Stourbridge Lions
*
Tamworth (promoted from
Midlands 3 West (North)
Midlands 3 West (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Mi ...
)
*Veseyans
Teams 2015-16
*Camp Hill
*
Handsworth (promoted from
Midlands 3 West (North)
Midlands 3 West (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Mi ...
)
*Harborne (promoted from
Midlands 3 West (North)
Midlands 3 West (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Mi ...
)
*Kidderminster Carolians
*
Moseley Oak
*Old Saltleians
*Old Yardleians (transferred from
Midlands 2 West (South))
*Shrewsbury
*Stafford
*
Stourbridge Lions
*Veseyans
*Wolverhampton
Teams 2014-15
*
Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England. The River Severn splits it into High Town and Low Town, the upper town on the right bank and the lower on the left bank of the River Severn. The population at the 2011 Census was 12,079.
Histor ...
*Camp Hill
*Kidderminster Carolians (transferred from
Midlands 2 West (South))
*Ludlow
*
Moseley Oak
*Old Saltleians
*Shrewsbury (promoted from
Midlands 3 West (North)
Midlands 3 West (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Mi ...
)
*Stafford
*
Stourbridge Lions
*
Tamworth RFC
*Veseyans (promoted from
Midlands 3 West (North)
Midlands 3 West (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Mi ...
)
*Wolverhampton
Teams 2013-14
*Aston Old Edwardians
*
Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England. The River Severn splits it into High Town and Low Town, the upper town on the right bank and the lower on the left bank of the River Severn. The population at the 2011 Census was 12,079.
Histor ...
*Camp Hill (relegated from
Midlands 1 West
Midlands 1 West is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the western region of the Midlands, including sides from Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Birmingham and the West Midlands, Worceste ...
)
*Crewe & Nantwich
*Leek
*Ludlow
*
Moseley Oak
*Old Saltleians
*Stafford
*
Tamworth RFC
*Willenhall (promoted from
Midlands 3 West (North)
Midlands 3 West (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Mi ...
)
*Wolverhampton
Teams 2012–13
*Aston Old Edwardians
*
Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England. The River Severn splits it into High Town and Low Town, the upper town on the right bank and the lower on the left bank of the River Severn. The population at the 2011 Census was 12,079.
Histor ...
*Leek
*Lordswood Dixonians
*
Moseley Oak
*Old Saltleians
*
Silhillians RFC (transferred from
Midlands 2 West (South))
*Spartans (Midlands)
*Stafford
*
Tamworth RFC
*Veseyans
*Wolverhampton
Teams 2011–12
*Aston Old Edwardians
*
Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England. The River Severn splits it into High Town and Low Town, the upper town on the right bank and the lower on the left bank of the River Severn. The population at the 2011 Census was 12,079.
Histor ...
*Burntwood (promoted from
Midlands 3 West (North)
Midlands 3 West (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Mi ...
)
*Edgbaston Dixonians
*Leek
*
Moseley Oak (promoted from
Midlands 3 West (North)
Midlands 3 West (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Mi ...
)
*Old Saletians
*Shrewsbury
*Spartans
*Stafford
*
Stoke-on-Trent (relegated from
Midlands 1 West
Midlands 1 West is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the western region of the Midlands, including sides from Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Birmingham and the West Midlands, Worceste ...
)
*
Stourbridge Lions
*
Tamworth
Teams 2010-11
*Aston Old Edwardians
*
Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England. The River Severn splits it into High Town and Low Town, the upper town on the right bank and the lower on the left bank of the River Severn. The population at the 2011 Census was 12,079.
Histor ...
*Leek
*Lordswood Dixonians
*Ludlow
*Old Saltleians
*Shrewsbury
*Stafford
*
Stoke-on-Trent
*
Stourbridge Lions
*
Tamworth
*Willenhall
Original teams
Teams in Midlands 2 West (North) and
Midlands 2 West (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 1 West, which contained the following sides when in was introduced in 1992:
*
Bromsgrove - relegated from
Midlands 2 West (11th)
*
Dudley Kingswinford
Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union football club based in Kingswinford in the West Midlands. The club currently plays in the fifth tier of English club rugby, participating in the Midlands Premier. The club runs s ...
- promoted from
North Midlands 1
North Midlands (South) 1 (formerly North Midlands 1) was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegated te ...
(runners up)
*
Kings Norton
Kings Norton, alternatively King's Norton, is an area of Birmingham, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in Worcestershire, it was also a Birmingham City Council ward (politics), ward within the Government of Birmingham, Engl ...
- promoted from
North Midlands 1
North Midlands (South) 1 (formerly North Midlands 1) was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegated te ...
(4th)
*
Leek - promoted from
Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1
Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Staffordshire and Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands West 2 and relegated teams dropped to either Staffordshire 1 or Warwickshire ...
(4th)
*
Ludlow
Ludlow () is a market town in Shropshire, England. The town is significant in the history of the Welsh Marches and in relation to Wales. It is located south of Shrewsbury and north of Hereford, on the A49 road which bypasses the town. The ...
- promoted from
North Midlands 1
North Midlands (South) 1 (formerly North Midlands 1) was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegated te ...
(5th)
*
Newbold-on-Avon - relegated from
Midlands 2 West (9th)
*
Newcastle (Staffs) - promoted from
Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1
Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Staffordshire and Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands West 2 and relegated teams dropped to either Staffordshire 1 or Warwickshire ...
(runners up)
*
Old Halesonians - promoted from
North Midlands 1
North Midlands (South) 1 (formerly North Midlands 1) was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegated te ...
(3rd)
*
Old Leamingtonians - promoted from
Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1
Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Staffordshire and Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands West 2 and relegated teams dropped to either Staffordshire 1 or Warwickshire ...
(5th)
*
Old Longtonians - promoted from
Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1
Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Staffordshire and Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands West 2 and relegated teams dropped to either Staffordshire 1 or Warwickshire ...
(champions)
*
Old Yardleians - promoted from
North Midlands 1
North Midlands (South) 1 (formerly North Midlands 1) was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegated te ...
(champions)
*
Sutton Coldfield - relegated from
Midlands 2 West (10th)
*
Willenhall
Willenhall is a market town situated in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, in the West Midlands, England, with a population taken at the 2011 census of 28,480. It is situated between Wolverhampton and Walsall, historically in the county of ...
- promoted from
Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1
Staffordshire/Warwickshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Staffordshire and Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands West 2 and relegated teams dropped to either Staffordshire 1 or Warwickshire ...
(3rd)
Midlands 2 West (North) honours
Midlands West 1 (1992–1993)
Midlands 2 West (North) and
Midlands 2 West (South) were originally part of a single tier 7 division called Midlands West 1. Promotion was to
Midlands 2 and relegation to
Midlands West 2.
Midlands West 1 (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 1 West dropped to become a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to
Midlands 2 and
Midlands West 2.
Midlands West 1 (1996–2000)
At the end of the 1995–96 season
National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands West 1 returned to being a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to
Midlands 2 and
Midlands West 2.
Midlands 3 West (North) (2000–2009)
Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands West 1 split into two tier 7 regional leagues - Midlands 3 West (North) and
Midlands 3 West (South)
Midlands 3 West (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 West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Herefords ...
. Promotion was now to
Midlands 2 West (formerly Midlands 2) and relegation to
Midlands 4 West (North)
Midlands 4 West (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Mi ...
(formerly Midlands West 2).
Midlands 2 West (North) (2009–present)
League restructuring by the
RFU
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for rugby union in England. It was founded in 1871, and was the sport's international governing body prior to the formation of what is now known as World Rugby (WR) in 1886. It pro ...
meant that Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) were renamed as Midlands 2 West (North) and
Midlands 2 West (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 7. Promotion was now to
Midlands 1 West
Midlands 1 West is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the western region of the Midlands, including sides from Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Birmingham and the West Midlands, Worceste ...
(formerly Midlands 2 West) and relegation to
Midlands 3 West (North)
Midlands 3 West (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including Shropshire, Staffordshire, parts of Birmingham and the West Mi ...
(formerly Midlands 4 West (North)).
Promotion play-offs
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Midlands 2 West (North) and
Midlands 2 West (South) for the third and final promotion place to
Midlands 1 West
Midlands 1 West is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the western region of the Midlands, including sides from Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Birmingham and the West Midlands, Worceste ...
(asides from 2008-09 which was played between the runners up of Midlands 2 West (South) and Midlands 2 East (North) due to RFU restructuring). The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the Midlands 2 West (South) teams had ten wins to Midlands 2 West (North) teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on eleven occasions compared to the away teams seven.
Number of league titles
*
Camp Hill (2)
*
Lichfield
Lichfield () is a cathedral city and civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is situated roughly south-east of the county town of Stafford, south-east of Rugeley, north-east of Walsall, north-west of Tamworth and south-west o ...
(2)
*
Ludlow
Ludlow () is a market town in Shropshire, England. The town is significant in the history of the Welsh Marches and in relation to Wales. It is located south of Shrewsbury and north of Hereford, on the A49 road which bypasses the town. The ...
(2)
*
Moseley Oak (2)
*
Aston Old Edwardians (1)
*
Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England. The River Severn splits it into High Town and Low Town, the upper town on the right bank and the lower on the left bank of the River Severn. The population at the 2011 Census was 12,079.
Histor ...
(1)
*
Burton (1)
*
Leek (1)
*
Longton (1)
*
Lordswood Dixonians (1)
*
Luctonians (1)
*
Malvern (1)
*
Newbold-on-Avon (1)
*
Newport (Salop) (1)
*
Old Halesonians (1)
*
Sandbach
Sandbach (pronounced ) is the name of a historic market town and a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East, Cheshire, England. The civil parish contains four settlements: Sandbach itself as the largest, Elworth, Ettiley Heath a ...
(1)
*
Shrewsbury (1)
*
Silhillians (1)
*
Stoke-on-Trent (1)
*
Stourbridge Lions (1)
*
Sutton Coldfield (1)
*
Whitchurch (1)
*
Willenhall
Willenhall is a market town situated in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, in the West Midlands, England, with a population taken at the 2011 census of 28,480. It is situated between Wolverhampton and Walsall, historically in the county of ...
(1)
*
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton () is a city, metropolitan borough and administrative centre in the West Midlands, England. The population size has increased by 5.7%, from around 249,500 in 2011 to 263,700 in 2021. People from the city are called "Wulfrunians ...
(1)
Notes
See also
*
Midlands RFU
*
North Midlands RFU
*
Staffordshire RU
*
English rugby union system
Men's Rugby union in England consists of 106 leagues, which includes professional leagues at the highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout the system.
Women's Rugby union in England cons ...
*
Rugby union in England
Rugby union in England is one of the leading professional and recreational team sports. In 1871 the Rugby Football Union, the governing body for rugby union in England, was formed by 21 rugby clubs, and the first international match, which invo ...
References
External links
Current League Table
{{Rugby union in England
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3