Midlands 3 East (South) 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 it ...
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
Bedfordshire (; abbreviated Beds) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council ...
,
Leicestershire,
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire (; abbreviated Northants.) is a county in the East Midlands of England. In 2015, it had a population of 723,000. The county is administered by
two unitary authorities: North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. It is ...
and occasionally
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a county in the East of England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the ...
and
Oxfordshire, all of whom play home and away matches 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)
Midlands 4 East (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 East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occa ...
and Midlands 4 East (South) 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 (South).
Promoted teams tend to move up to
Midlands 2 East (South)
Midlands 2 East (South) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 2 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occ ...
while demoted teams typically drop to
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, Linc ...
. 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 identi ...
, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
2019–20
Participating teams & locations
2018–19
Participating teams & locations
2017–18
Participating teams & locations
Teams 2016-17
*Aylestone St James (transferred from
Midlands 3 East (North)
Midlands 3 East (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 East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occa ...
)
*
Biggleswade
Biggleswade ( ) is a market town and civil parish in Central Bedfordshire in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the River Ivel, 11 miles (18 km) south-east of Bedford. Its population was 16,551 in the 2011 United Kingdom census, and its e ...
(relegated from
Midlands 2 East (South)
Midlands 2 East (South) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 2 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occ ...
)
*Daventry
*
Dunstablians
*Leicester Forest (relegated from
Midlands 2 East (South)
Midlands 2 East (South) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 2 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occ ...
)
*Long Buckby
*Northampton BBOB
*Northampton Casuals
*Northampton Men's Own (promoted from
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, Linc ...
)
*St Ives (Midlands)
*
St Neots
*Stewarts & Lloyds
Teams 2015-16
*Daventry
*
Dunstablians (relegated from
Midlands 2 East (South)
Midlands 2 East (South) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 2 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occ ...
)
*Long Buckby
*Northampton BBOB
*Northampton Casuals
*Old Newtonians (promoted from
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, Linc ...
)
*Oundle
*Rugby St Andrews
*Stockwood Park
*St Ives (Midlands)
*
St Neots (promoted from
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, Linc ...
)
*Stewarts & Lloyds (relegated from
Midlands 2 East (South)
Midlands 2 East (South) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 2 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occ ...
)
Teams 2014-15
*Bedford Queens
*Daventry
*Long Buckby (promoted from
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, Linc ...
)
*Northampton BBOB (relegated from
Midlands 2 East (South)
Midlands 2 East (South) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 2 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occ ...
)
*Northampton Casuals
*Northampton Mens Own
*Oundle (promoted from
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, Linc ...
)
*Rugby St Andrews
*
Rushden & Higham (relegated from
Midlands 2 East (South)
Midlands 2 East (South) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 2 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occ ...
)
*St Ives (Midlands)
*Stockwood Park
*Vipers
Teams 2013-14
*Bedford Queens
*
Biggleswade
Biggleswade ( ) is a market town and civil parish in Central Bedfordshire in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the River Ivel, 11 miles (18 km) south-east of Bedford. Its population was 16,551 in the 2011 United Kingdom census, and its e ...
(relegated from
Midlands 2 East (South)
Midlands 2 East (South) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 2 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occ ...
)
*Brackley (promoted from
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, Linc ...
)
*Daventry
*Deepings
*Northampton Casuals
*Northampton Mens Own
*Rugby St Andrews
*St Ives (Midlands) (promoted from
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, Linc ...
)
*Stewarts & Lloyds
*Stockwood Park
*Vipers (relegated from
Midlands 2 East (South)
Midlands 2 East (South) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 2 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occ ...
)
Teams 2012–13
*Bedford Queens
*Daventry
*Deepings
*Long Buckby
*Northampton Casuals
*Northampton Mens Own
*Old Newtonians
*Rugby St Andrews
*
Rushden & Higham
*Stamford
*Stewarts & Lloyds
*Stockwood Park
Teams 2011–12
*Bedford Queens
*Bedford Swifts
*
Biggleswade
Biggleswade ( ) is a market town and civil parish in Central Bedfordshire in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the River Ivel, 11 miles (18 km) south-east of Bedford. Its population was 16,551 in the 2011 United Kingdom census, and its e ...
*Brackley
*Daventry
*Deepings
*Northampton BBOB
*Northampton Casuals
*Rugby St Andrews
*
Rushden & Higham
*Stamford
*Stewarts & Lloyds
Teams 2010–11
*Bedford Queens
*Bedford Swifts
*Brackley
*Daventry
*Deepings
*Long Buckby
*Northampton Casuals
*Northampton Mens Own
*Oadby Wyggestonians
*Old Newtonians
*Rugby St Andrews
*
Rushden & Higham
Teams 2008–09
*Aylestone St James
*Banbury
*Huntingdon & District
*Leicester Forest
*Lutterworth
*Northampton BBOB
*Northampton Old Scouts
*Old Newtonians
*
Old Northamptonians
*Stewarts & Lloyds
*
Towcestrians
*Vipers
Original teams
Teams in
Midlands 3 East (North)
Midlands 3 East (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 East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occa ...
and Midlands 3 East (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 2 East, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:
*
Coalville
Coalville is an industrial town in the district of North West Leicestershire, Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England, with a population at the 2011 census of 34,575. It lies on the A511 trunk road between Leicester and Burton upon Tr ...
- promoted from
East Midlands/Leicestershire (6th)
*
Glossop - 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 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) and relegated teams drop ...
(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 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) and relegated teams drop ...
(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 ...
- promoted from
East Midlands/Leicestershire (7th)
*
Lincoln
Lincoln most commonly refers to:
* Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the sixteenth president of the United States
* Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England
* Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S.
* Lincol ...
- 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 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) and relegated teams drop ...
(10th)
*
Long Buckby
Long Buckby is a large village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England. In 2020 the parish of Long Buckby, which includes the hamlet of Long Buckby Wharf, was estimated to have a population of 4,303.
Long Buckby is hill top village, ...
- promoted from
East Midlands 1 (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
Leicestershire 1 was a tier 10 English Rugby Union league with teams from Leicestershire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 and relegated teams dropped to Leicestershire 2. The league ran for two spells betwe ...
(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 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) and relegated teams drop ...
(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 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) and relegated teams drop ...
(8th)
*
Wellingborough
Wellingborough ( ) is a large market and commuter town in the unitary authority area of North Northamptonshire in the ceremonial county of Northamptonshire, England, 65 miles from London and from Northampton on the north side of the River Nen ...
- promoted from
East Midlands/Leicestershire (8th)
*
Worksop
Worksop ( ) is a market town in the Bassetlaw District in Nottinghamshire, England. It is located east-south-east of Sheffield, close to Nottinghamshire's borders with South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, on the River Ryton and not far from th ...
- promoted from
Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 2 (champions)
Midlands 3 East (South) honours
Midlands East 2 (1992–1993)
Midlands 3 East (North)
Midlands 3 East (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 East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occa ...
and Midlands 3 East (South) 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 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 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) and relegated teams drop ...
.
Midlands East 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 East dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to
Midlands East 1 while relegation was to either
East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 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 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) and relegated teams drop ...
.
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 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 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2) and relegated teams drop ...
.
Midlands 4 East (South) (2000–2006)
Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands East 2 split into two tier 8 regional leagues -
Midlands 4 East (North)
Midlands 4 East (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 East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occa ...
and Midlands 4 East (South). Promotion was now to
Midlands 3 East (North)
Midlands 3 East (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 East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occa ...
and relegation to
East Midlands 1.
Midlands 4 East (South) (2006–2009)
Midlands 4 East (South) continued to be a tier 8 league with promotion up into
Midlands 3 East (South). However, the cancellation of
East Midlands 1 at the end of the 2005–06 season meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced
Midlands 5 East (South).
Midlands 3 East (South) (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)
Midlands 3 East (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 East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occa ...
and Midlands 3 East (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 8. Promotion was now to
Midlands 2 East (South)
Midlands 2 East (South) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 2 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including sides from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occ ...
(formerly Midlands 3 East (South)) and relegation to
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, Linc ...
(formerly Midlands 5 East (South)).
Number of league titles
*
Leicester Forest
Leicester Forest was a Royal Forest that existed to the West of Leicester.
Site and history
The forest occupied an area fourteen miles long and four miles wide between the River Soar and Rothley Brook, and covered 5,000 acres.Fox, Levi & Russell, ...
(2)
*
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 ...
(2)
*
Market Harborough
Market Harborough is a market town in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England, in the far southeast of the county, forming part of the border with Northamptonshire.
Market Harborough's population was 25,143 in 2020. It is the adm ...
(2)
*
Rushden & Higham (2)
*
Stamford (2)
*
Aylestone St James (1)
*
Biggleswade
Biggleswade ( ) is a market town and civil parish in Central Bedfordshire in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the River Ivel, 11 miles (18 km) south-east of Bedford. Its population was 16,551 in the 2011 United Kingdom census, and its e ...
(1)
*
Bugbrooke
Bugbrooke is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England, on a ridge overlooking the valley of the River Nene.
Location
Bugbrooke is situated about south west of Northampton and 5 miles (8 km) north of Towcester. The M1, one o ...
(1)
*
Coalville
Coalville is an industrial town in the district of North West Leicestershire, Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England, with a population at the 2011 census of 34,575. It lies on the A511 trunk road between Leicester and Burton upon Tr ...
(1)
*
Dunstablians (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)
*
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 ...
(1)
*
Long Buckby
Long Buckby is a large village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England. In 2020 the parish of Long Buckby, which includes the hamlet of Long Buckby Wharf, was estimated to have a population of 4,303.
Long Buckby is hill top village, ...
(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 a ...
(1)
*
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 ...
(1)
*
Northampton BBOB (1)
*
Northampton Men's Own (1)
*
Oadby Wyggestonians (1)
*
Oundle
Oundle () is a market town on the left bank of the River Nene in North Northamptonshire, England, which had a population of 5,735 at the time of the 2011 census. It is north of London and south-west of Peterborough. The town is home to Ound ...
(1)
*
St Ives (Midlands) (1)
*
Stewarts & Lloyds (1)
*
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors LimitedCompany No. 00135767. Incorporated 12 May 1914, name changed from Vauxhall Motors Limited to General Motors UK Limited on 16 April 2008, reverted to Vauxhall Motors Limited on 18 September 2017. () is a British car compa ...
(1)
*
Vipers
The Viperidae (vipers) are a family of snakes found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, and various other isolated islands. They are venomous and have long (relative to non-vipers), hinged fangs th ...
(1)
Notes
See also
*
Midlands RFU
*
East Midlands RFU
*
Leicestershire 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
*
*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
8
4
Rugby union in Bedfordshire
Rugby union in Northamptonshire
Rugby union in Leicestershire