Midlands 1 West is an English
level 6 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 ...
regional league for rugby clubs in the western region of the
Midlands, including sides from
Herefordshire
Herefordshire () is a county in the West Midlands of England, governed by Herefordshire Council. It is bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh counties of Monmouthsh ...
,
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,
Warwickshire
Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, and the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Av ...
,
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,
Worcestershire
Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a county in the West Midlands of England. The area that is now Worcestershire was absorbed into the unified Kingdom of England in 927, at which time it was constituted as a county (see H ...
and occasionally
Cheshire,
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 ...
,
Leicestershire and
Oxfordshire. When this division began in 1987 it was known as Midlands 2 West, and has been restructured several times, most notably as a single division known as Midlands 2 between 1992 and 2000, before regionalising again to its present format.
The league champions are promoted to
Midlands Premier
Regional 1 Midlands (until 2022–23 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. It is one of six leagues at this level. When ...
and the runner-up play against the second placed team from
Midlands 1 East
Regional 2 East Midlands is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the eastern region of the Midlands, including sides from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and occasion ...
for the second promotion place. The bottom three teams are relegated to
Midlands 2 West (North) or
Midlands 2 West (South) depending on geographical location.
2021–22
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.
2020–21
On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced
that due to the
coronavirus 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 identifie ...
a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (
National League 1
National One (last season known as National League 1 and previously known before September 2009 as National Division Two), is the third of three national leagues in the domestic rugby union competition of England. It was known as Courage Leagu ...
and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Midlands 1 West was not contested.
Teams 2019–20
Teams 2018–19
Teams 2017–18
2016-17
*
Bournville
*
Burton
*Crewe & Nantwich
*
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 ...
*
Hereford
*
Kenilworth
Kenilworth ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Warwick District in Warwickshire, England, south-west of Coventry, north of Warwick and north-west of London. It lies on Finham Brook, a tributary of the River Sowe, which joins the ...
*
Moseley Oak (promoted from
Midlands 2 West (North))
*
Newport (Salop) (relegated from
National League 3 Midlands)
*
Stoke-on-Trent
*Stratford upon Avon
*
Sutton Coldfield (relegated from
National League 3 Midlands)
*
Whitchurch
*Wolverhampton (promoted from
Midlands 2 West (North))
*
Worcester Wanderers
Worcester Wanderers are an English rugby union team and part of the club known as Worcester Rugby Football Club. The club was born in 1871 and from it rose former English Premiership (rugby union), Gallagher Premiership team Worcester Warriors. ...
2015–16
Participating teams and locations
2014–15
*
Barkers Butts
*Berkswell & Balsall
*Crewe and Nantwich (promoted from
Midlands 2 West (North))
*Earlsdon (promoted from
Midlands 2 West (South))
*
Hereford
*
Kenilworth
Kenilworth ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Warwick District in Warwickshire, England, south-west of Coventry, north of Warwick and north-west of London. It lies on Finham Brook, a tributary of the River Sowe, which joins the ...
*Leek (promoted from
Midlands 2 West (North))
*
Newport (Salop) RFC (relegated from
National League 3 Midlands)
*
Silhillians
*
Stoke-on-Trent
*Stratford Upon Avon
*
Walsall
Walsall (, or ; locally ) is a market town and administrative centre in the West Midlands County, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, it is located north-west of Birmingham, east of Wolverhampton and from Lichfield.
Walsall is th ...
*
Whitchurch
*
Worcester Wanderers
Worcester Wanderers are an English rugby union team and part of the club known as Worcester Rugby Football Club. The club was born in 1871 and from it rose former English Premiership (rugby union), Gallagher Premiership team Worcester Warriors. ...
(relegated from
National League 3 South West)
2013–14
*
Barkers Butts
*Berkswell & Balsall
*
Burton
*
Hereford
*
Kenilworth
Kenilworth ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Warwick District in Warwickshire, England, south-west of Coventry, north of Warwick and north-west of London. It lies on Finham Brook, a tributary of the River Sowe, which joins the ...
(promoted from
Midlands 2 West (South))
*
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 ...
*
Malvern (relegated from
National League 3 South West)
*
Market Bosworth
Market Bosworth is a market town and civil parish in western Leicestershire, England. At the 2001 Census, it had a population of 1,906, increasing to 2,097 at the 2011 census. It is most famously near to the site of the decisive final battle o ...
(transferred from
Midlands 1 East
Regional 2 East Midlands is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the eastern region of the Midlands, including sides from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and occasion ...
)
*Old Laurentians
*
Silhillians (promoted from
Midlands 2 West (North))
*
Stoke-on-Trent
*Stratford Upon Avon
*
Walsall
Walsall (, or ; locally ) is a market town and administrative centre in the West Midlands County, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, it is located north-west of Birmingham, east of Wolverhampton and from Lichfield.
Walsall is th ...
*
Whitchurch
2012–13
*
Barkers Butts
*Berkswell & Balsall
*
Burton
*Camp Hill
*
Hereford (relegated from
National League 3 Midlands)
*
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 ...
*Ludlow
*Northwich
*Old Halesonians
*
Stoke-on-Trent (promoted from
Midlands 2 West (North)
*Stratford Upon Avon
*
Walsall
Walsall (, or ; locally ) is a market town and administrative centre in the West Midlands County, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, it is located north-west of Birmingham, east of Wolverhampton and from Lichfield.
Walsall is th ...
*
Whitchurch
*
Worcester Wanderers
Worcester Wanderers are an English rugby union team and part of the club known as Worcester Rugby Football Club. The club was born in 1871 and from it rose former English Premiership (rugby union), Gallagher Premiership team Worcester Warriors. ...
2011–12
*Bedworth
*
Bournville
*
Burton (relegated from
National League 3 Midlands)
*Camp Hill
*Dunlop
*
Kenilworth
Kenilworth ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Warwick District in Warwickshire, England, south-west of Coventry, north of Warwick and north-west of London. It lies on Finham Brook, a tributary of the River Sowe, which joins the ...
(relegated from
National League 3 Midlands)
*
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 ...
*Ludlow
*Old Halesonians RFC
*Stratford Upon Avon
*
Sutton Coldfield
*
Walsall
Walsall (, or ; locally ) is a market town and administrative centre in the West Midlands County, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, it is located north-west of Birmingham, east of Wolverhampton and from Lichfield.
Walsall is th ...
*
Whitchurch
*
Worcester Wanderers
Worcester Wanderers are an English rugby union team and part of the club known as Worcester Rugby Football Club. The club was born in 1871 and from it rose former English Premiership (rugby union), Gallagher Premiership team Worcester Warriors. ...
2010–11
*Banbury
*
Bournville
*Camp Hill
*
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 ...
*Leamington
*
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 ...
*Nuneaton Old Edwardians
*Old Halesonians
*Old Laurentians
*Stratford Upon Avon
*
Sutton Coldfield
*
Walsall
Walsall (, or ; locally ) is a market town and administrative centre in the West Midlands County, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, it is located north-west of Birmingham, east of Wolverhampton and from Lichfield.
Walsall is th ...
*
Whitchurch
*
Worcester Wanderers
Worcester Wanderers are an English rugby union team and part of the club known as Worcester Rugby Football Club. The club was born in 1871 and from it rose former English Premiership (rugby union), Gallagher Premiership team Worcester Warriors. ...
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Midlands 2 West) contained the following teams:
*
Bromsgrove
*
Burton
*
Dixonians
*
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 ...
*
Evesham
*
Hereford
*
Leamington
*
Newbold-on-Avon
*
Sutton Coldfield
*
Tamworth
*
Worcester
Worcester may refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England
** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament
* Worcester Park, London, Engla ...
Midlands 1 West honours
Midlands 2 West (1987–1992)
The original Midlands 2 West (along with its counterpart
Midlands 2 East
Regional 2 East Midlands is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the eastern region of the Midlands, including sides from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and occasion ...
) was a tier 6 league with promotion to
Midlands Premier
Regional 1 Midlands (until 2022–23 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. It is one of six leagues at this level. When ...
and relegation to either
North Midlands 1 or
Staffordshire/Warwickshire.
Midlands 2 (1992–1993)
Restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 1992–93 season saw Midlands 2 West and
Midlands 2 East
Regional 2 East Midlands is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the eastern region of the Midlands, including sides from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and occasion ...
combined in a single tier 6 division known as Midlands 2. Promotion continued to
Midlands 1
Regional 1 Midlands (until 2022–23 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. It is one of six leagues at this level. When ...
while relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands West 1.
Midlands 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 dropped to become a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to
Midlands Premier
Regional 1 Midlands (until 2022–23 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. It is one of six leagues at this level. When ...
and Midlands West 1.
Midlands 2 (1996–2000)
At the end of the 1995–96 season
National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands 2 returned to being a tier 6 league. Promotion and relegation continued to
Midlands Premier
Regional 1 Midlands (until 2022–23 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. It is one of six leagues at this level. When ...
and Midlands West 1.
Midlands 2 West (2000–2009)
Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands 2 split back into two tier 6 regional leagues – Midlands 2 West and
Midlands 2 East
Regional 2 East Midlands is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the eastern region of the Midlands, including sides from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and occasion ...
. Promotion continued to
Midlands 1
Regional 1 Midlands (until 2022–23 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. It is one of six leagues at this level. When ...
while relegation was now to either
Midlands 3 West (North) or
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 ...
(both formerly part of Midlands West 1).
Midlands 1 West (2009–2022)
League restructuring by the
RFU meant that Midlands 2 West and Midlands 2 East were renamed as Midlands 1 West and
Midlands 1 East
Regional 2 East Midlands is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the eastern region of the Midlands, including sides from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and occasion ...
, with both leagues remaining at tier 6. Promotion was now to
National League 3 Midlands (formerly Midlands 1) and relegation to either
Midlands 2 West (North) or
Midlands 2 West (South).
Promotion play-offs
From 2000–01 until 2018–19 there has been a play-off between the runners-up of
Midlands 1 East
Regional 2 East Midlands is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the eastern region of the Midlands, including sides from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and occasion ...
and Midlands 1 West for the third and final promotion place to
National League 3 Midlands. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2018–19 season the Midlands 1 East teams have been the most successful with eleven wins to the Midlands 1 West teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.
Number of league titles
*
Burton (4)
*
Bromsgrove (4)
*
Malvern (3)
*
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 ...
(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)
*
Newport (Salop) (2)
*
Sutton Coldfield (2)
*
Banbury
Banbury is a historic market town on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, South East England. It had a population of 54,335 at the 2021 Census.
Banbury is a significant commercial and retail centre for the surrounding area of north Oxfordshir ...
(1)
*
Bedford Athletic (1)
*
Bedworth (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)
*
Broadstreet (1)
*
Camp Hill (1)
*
Hereford (1)
*
Kenilworth
Kenilworth ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Warwick District in Warwickshire, England, south-west of Coventry, north of Warwick and north-west of London. It lies on Finham Brook, a tributary of the River Sowe, which joins the ...
(1)
*
Leamington (1)
*
Leighton Buzzard (1)
*
Longton (1)
*
Old Halesonians (1)
*
Old Laurentians (1)
*
Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe () is an industrial town and unparished area in the unitary authority of North Lincolnshire in Lincolnshire, England of which it is the main administrative centre. Scunthorpe had an estimated total population of 82,334 in 2016. A ...
(1)
*
Whitchurch (1)
Notes
See also
*
Midlands RFU
*
North Midlands RFU
*
Staffordshire RU
*
Warwickshire 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
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
*
* 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.
{{Rugby union in England
6
2
Recurring sporting events established in 1987
Sports leagues established in 1987