Midlands 3 East (North) is a level 8 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 its m ...
league and level 3 of the
Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of nine official regions of England at the first level of ITL for statistical purposes. It comprises the eastern half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It consists of Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Li ...
region including clubs from
Derbyshire
Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands, England. It includes much of the Peak District National Park, the southern end of the Pennine range of hills and part of the National Forest. It borders Greater Manchester to the nor ...
,
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-west, Leicestershire ...
,
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire (; abbreviated Notts.) is a landlocked county in the East Midlands region of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west. The traditi ...
and the occasional team from
Leicestershire
Leicestershire ( ; postal abbreviation Leics.) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East Midlands, England. The county borders Nottinghamshire to the north, Lincolnshire to the north-east, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire t ...
, with home and away matches played 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)
Midlands 4 East (South) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Lincol ...
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 (North).
Promoted teams tend to move up to
Midlands 2 East (North) while demoted teams typically drop to
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
. Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the
RFU Senior Vase
The RFU Senior Vase is a rugby union national knockout cup competition in England run by the Rugby Football Union, which has been competed for since the 2006–07 season. It is contested for by teams at level 8 of the English rugby union system, ...
- a level 8 national competition.
2021–22
Participating teams & locations
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 identif ...
, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
2019–20
Participating teams & locations
2018–19
Participating teams & locations
2017–18
Participating teams & locations
Teams 2016-17
*Ashby
*Ashfield
*Bakewell Mannerians (relegated from
Midlands 2 East)
*Belper
*
Birstall (promoted from
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
)
*Buxton (promoted from
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
)
*
Chesterfield Panthers
*
Grimsby
Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town and the administrative centre of North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, England. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes directly to the south-east forming a conurbation. Grimsby is north-east of Linco ...
*Lincoln
*
Mansfield
Mansfield is a market town and the administrative centre of Mansfield District in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the largest town in the wider Mansfield Urban Area (followed by Sutton-in-Ashfield). It gained the Royal Charter of a market tow ...
(relegated from
Midlands 2 East)
*
Rolls-Royce (promoted from
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
)
*Sleaford
Teams 2015-16
*Ashby (relegated from
Midlands 2 East (North))
*Ashfield (promoted from
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
)
*Aylestone St James
*Belper (promoted from
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
)
*
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
*
Chesterfield Panthers
*
Grimsby
Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town and the administrative centre of North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, England. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes directly to the south-east forming a conurbation. Grimsby is north-east of Linco ...
*Kesteven
*Lincoln
*
Loughborough (relegated from
Midlands 2 East (North))
*
Nottingham Moderns
*Sleaford
Teams 2014-15
*Amber Valley (promoted from
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
)
*Aylestone St James
*
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
*
Chesterfield Panthers (promoted from
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
)
*
Grimsby
Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town and the administrative centre of North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, England. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes directly to the south-east forming a conurbation. Grimsby is north-east of Linco ...
*Kesteven (relegated from
Midlands 2 East (North))
*Lincoln
*Mellish
*Melton Mowbray
*
Nottingham Moderns RFC
*Sleaford
*Southwell
Teams 2013-14
*Ashby
*Aylestone St James (relegated from
Midlands 2 East (North))
*
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
(promoted from
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
)
*East Retford
*
Grimsby
Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town and the administrative centre of North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, England. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes directly to the south-east forming a conurbation. Grimsby is north-east of Linco ...
*Lincoln
*Mellish
*
Nottingham Moderns
*Skegness (promoted from
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
)
*Sleaford (relegated from
Midlands 2 East (North))
*Southwell
*
West Bridgford
Teams 2012–13
*Amber Valley
*Ashby
*Belper
*East Retford (promoted from
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
)
*
Grimsby
Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town and the administrative centre of North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, England. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes directly to the south-east forming a conurbation. Grimsby is north-east of Linco ...
*Kesteven
*Lincoln
*Melbourne
*Mellish
*
Nottingham Moderns (relegated from
Midlands 2 East (North))
*Southwell (promoted from
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
)
*
West Bridgford RFC
West Bridgford Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire whose first team plays in the Regional 2 North Midlands following their relegation from Regional 1 North East at the end of 2022–23 season
History
W ...
(relegated from
Midlands 2 East (North))
Teams 2011–12
*Amber Valley
*Ashby
*Belper
*Dronfield
*
Grimsby
Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town and the administrative centre of North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, England. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes directly to the south-east forming a conurbation. Grimsby is north-east of Linco ...
*Kesteven
*Lincoln
*Melbourne
*Mellish
*Nottingham Boots Corsairs
*Sleaford
*Worksop
Teams 2010–11
*Amber Valley
*Ashbourne
*Ashfield
*Dronfield (promoted from
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
)
*
Grimsby
Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town and the administrative centre of North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, England. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes directly to the south-east forming a conurbation. Grimsby is north-east of Linco ...
*Kesteven
*Melbourne
*Mellish
*Nottingham Casuals
*Sleaford
*Southwell
*Worksop
Teams 2008–09
*Ashbourne
*Bakewell Mannerians
*Coalville
*
Grimsby
Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town and the administrative centre of North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, England. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes directly to the south-east forming a conurbation. Grimsby is north-east of Linco ...
*Ilkeston
*Lincoln
*
Loughborough
*Melton Mowbray
*
Nottingham Moderns
*Sleaford
*Spalding
*
West Bridgford
Original teams
Teams in Midlands 3 East (North) and
Midlands 3 East (South)
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 o ...
were originally part of a single division called Midlands 2 East, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:
*
Coalville - promoted from
East Midlands/Leicestershire (6th)
*
Glossop
Glossop is a market town in the Borough of High Peak, Derbyshire, England. It is located east of Manchester, north-west of Sheffield and north of the county town, Matlock. Glossop lies near Derbyshire's borders with Cheshire, Greater Manches ...
- promoted from
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 3 East (North), Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) ...
(6th)
*
Kesteven
The Parts of Kesteven ( or ) are a traditional division of Lincolnshire, England. This division had long had a separate county administration (quarter sessions), along with the two other Parts of Lincolnshire, Lindsey and Holland.
Etymology
Th ...
- promoted from
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 3 East (North), Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) ...
(9th)
*
Kettering
Kettering is a market and industrial town in North Northamptonshire, England. It is located north of London and north-east of Northampton, west of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene. The name means "the place (or territory) of Ket ...
- promoted from
East Midlands/Leicestershire (7th)
*
Lincoln - promoted from
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 3 East (North), Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) ...
(10th)
*
Long Buckby - promoted from
East Midlands 1
East Midlands 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and parts of Cambridgeshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 3 East (North), Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2 ...
(champions)
*
Lutterworth
Lutterworth is a market town and civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England. The town is located in southern Leicestershire, close to the borders with Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. It is located north of Rugby, ...
- promoted from
East Midlands/Leicestershire (10th)
*
Market Rasen & Louth - promoted from
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 2 (runners up)
*
Northampton BBOB - promoted from
East Midlands/Leicestershire (9th)
*
South Leicester - promoted from
Leicestershire 1 (champions)
*
Southwell - promoted from
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 3 East (North), Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) ...
(7th)
*
Stamford - promoted from
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 3 East (North), Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) ...
(8th)
*
Wellingborough - promoted from
East Midlands/Leicestershire (8th)
*
Worksop - promoted from
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 2 (champions)
Midlands 3 East (North) honours
Midlands East 2 (1992–1993)
Midlands 3 East (North) and
Midlands 3 East (South)
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 o ...
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
East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 (formerly East Midlands/Leicestershire) was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Bedfordshire, parts of Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Mid ...
or
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 3 East (North), Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) ...
.
Midlands East 2 (1993–1996)
The top six teams from Midlands 1 and the top six from
North 1
North Premier was a level five league in the English rugby union system, with the fourteen teams drawn from across Northern England. The other leagues at this level were London & South East Premier, Midlands Premier and South West Premier. The ...
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
East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 (formerly East Midlands/Leicestershire) was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Bedfordshire, parts of Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Mid ...
or
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 3 East (North), Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) ...
.
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
East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 (formerly East Midlands/Leicestershire) was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Bedfordshire, parts of Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Mid ...
or
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 3 East (North), Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) ...
.
Midlands 4 East (North) (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)
Midlands 4 East (South) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Lincol ...
. Promotion was now to
Midlands 3 East (North) and relegation to either
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 East or
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 West.
Midlands 4 East (North) (2006–2009)
Midlands 4 East (North) continued to be a tier 8 league with promotion up into
Midlands 3 East (North). However, the cancellation of
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 East and
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 West at the end of the 2005–06 season meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced
Midlands 5 East (North).
Midlands 3 East (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 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South) were renamed as Midlands 3 East (North) and
Midlands 3 East (South)
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 o ...
, with both leagues remaining at tier 8. Promotion was now to
Midlands 2 East (North) (formerly Midlands 3 East (North)) and relegation to
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (North) is a level 9 English Rugby Union league and level 4 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincol ...
(formerly Midlands 5 East (North)).
Number of league titles
*
Ashbourne (2)
*
Ashby (2)
*
Grimsby
Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town and the administrative centre of North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, England. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes directly to the south-east forming a conurbation. Grimsby is north-east of Linco ...
(2)
*
Oakham (2)
*
Bakewell Mannerians (1)
*
Dronfield (1)
*
Dunstablians
Dunstablians Rugby Union Football Club are an amateur rugby union club based in Bedfordshire, who play their rugby in Midlands 3 East (South), an eight tier league in the English rugby union system. Their ground is located just outside nearby H ...
(1)
*
Ilkeston
Ilkeston is a town in the Borough of Erewash, Derbyshire, England, on the River Erewash, from which the borough takes its name, with a population at the 2011 census of 38,640. Its major industries, coal mining, iron working and lace making/texti ...
(1)
*
Kesteven
The Parts of Kesteven ( or ) are a traditional division of Lincolnshire, England. This division had long had a separate county administration (quarter sessions), along with the two other Parts of Lincolnshire, Lindsey and Holland.
Etymology
Th ...
(1)
*
Kettering
Kettering is a market and industrial town in North Northamptonshire, England. It is located north of London and north-east of Northampton, west of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene. The name means "the place (or territory) of Ket ...
(1)
*
Lincoln (1)
*
Long Buckby (1)
*
Long Eaton (1)
*
Loughborough Students (1)
*
Lutterworth
Lutterworth is a market town and civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England. The town is located in southern Leicestershire, close to the borders with Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. It is located north of Rugby, ...
(1)
*
Luton
Luton () is a town and unitary authority with borough status, in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 census, the Luton built-up area subdivision had a population of 211,228 and its built-up area, including the adjacent towns of Dunstable an ...
(1)
*
Market Bosworth (1)
*
Market Rasen & Louth (1)
*
Matlock (1)
*
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
(1)
*
Mellish (1)
*
Melton Mowbray (1)
*
Northampton Men's Own (1)
*
Nottingham Casuals (1)
Notes
See also
*
Midlands RFU
*
Leicestershire RU
*
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire RFU
*
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
References
{{Rugby union in England
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