Midlands 4 West (South) is a level 9 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 4 of the
Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the
West Midlands region including clubs from 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,
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 ...
,
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 ...
,
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 even on occasion
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
The RFU Junior Vase is a rugby union national knockout cup competition in England run by the Rugby Football Union, which has been competed for since 1990. It is mostly contested by 1st XV teams at level 9 of the English rugby union system, alth ...
- a level 9-12 national competition.
Formed for the 2006-07 season, the division was originally known as Midlands 5 West (South) but changed to its present name for the 2008-09 season due to league restructuring. Promoted teams tend to move up to
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 ...
while relegated teams drop to
Midlands 5 West (South)
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, Sta ...
.
2021-22
Participating teams & locations
Birmingham Civil Service, who finished 10th in 2019-20, did not return for the current season.
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
*Alcester
*Bromyard
*Claverdon
*Coventrians
*Coventry Welsh
*Harbury (relegated from
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 ...
)
*Keresley (promoted from
Midlands 5 West (South)
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, Sta ...
)
*
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 ...
*Pershore (relegated from
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 ...
)
*Redditch
*Stoke Old Boys
Teams 2015-16
*Alcester (promoted from
Midlands 5 West (South)
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, Sta ...
)
*Atherstone
*Birmingham Civil Service (promoted from
Midlands 5 West (South)
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, Sta ...
)
*Claverdon
*Coventrians
*Coventry Welsh
*
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 ...
*Manor Park (relegated from
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 ...
)
*Redditch
*Stoke Old Boys
*Upton-on-Severn (relegated from
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 ...
)
Teams 2014-15
*Atherstone
*Claverdon
*Coventrians
*Coventry Welsh
*Evesham (relegated from
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 ...
)
*Five Ways Old Edwardians
*
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 ...
(relegated from
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 ...
)
*Redditch
*
Rugby Lions (promoted from
Midlands 5 West (South)
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, Sta ...
)
*Stoke Old Boys
*
Warwickian (promoted from
Midlands 5 West (South)
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, Sta ...
)
Teams 2013-14
*Alcester
*Atherstone
*Barton-under-Needwood
*Birmingham Civil Service
*Claverdon
*Coventrians
*Coventry Welsh
*Harbury
*Redditch (relegated from
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 ...
)
*Stoke Old Boys
*Woodrush (relegated from
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 ...
)
Teams 2012–13
*Alcester
*Atherstone
*Birmingham C.S.
*Claverdon
*Coventrians
*Coventry Welsh
*Harbury
*Keresley
*Manor Park
*Old Yardleians
*
Warwickian
Teams 2008–09
*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.
Original teams
When this division was introduced in 2006 as Midlands 5 West (South), it contained the following teams:
*
Alcester
Alcester () is a market town and civil parish of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow in the Stratford-on-Avon District in Warwickshire, England, approximately west of Stratford-upon-Avon, and 7 miles south of Reddit ...
- transferred from
Warwickshire 1
Warwickshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegated sides dropped to Warwickshire 2. Warwickshire 1 was cancelled at the end of the ...
(7th)
*
Bredon Star - transferred from
North Midlands (South) 1 (6th)
*
Coventry Technical - promoted from
Warwickshire 2 (champions)
*
Coventry Welsh - transferred from
Warwickshire 1
Warwickshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegated sides dropped to Warwickshire 2. Warwickshire 1 was cancelled at the end of the ...
(4th)
*
Harbury
Harbury is a village and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. It is about west-southwest of Southam and about southeast of Royal Leamington Spa. The parish includes the hamlet of Deppers Bridge. The 2011 C ...
- relegated from
Midlands 4 West (South) (10th)
*
Rugby St Andrews - transferred from
Warwickshire 1
Warwickshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegated sides dropped to Warwickshire 2. Warwickshire 1 was cancelled at the end of the ...
(5th)
*
Southam
Southam () is a market town and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. Southam is situated on the River Stowe (called 'The Brook' by many locals), which flows from Napton-on-the-Hill and joins Warwickshire's ...
- transferred from
Warwickshire 1
Warwickshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegated sides dropped to Warwickshire 2. Warwickshire 1 was cancelled at the end of the ...
(3rd)
*
Stoke Old Boys - transferred from
Warwickshire 1
Warwickshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegated sides dropped to Warwickshire 2. Warwickshire 1 was cancelled at the end of the ...
(6th)
*
Upton-upon-Severn
Upton-upon-Severn (or Upton on Severn, etc. and locally simply Upton) is a town and civil parish in the Malvern Hills District of Worcestershire, England. Lying on the A4104 (formerly A440), the 2011 census recorded a population of 2,881 for th ...
- transferred from
North Midlands (South) 1 (runners up)
*
Woodrush - transferred from
North Midlands (South) 1 (5th)
Midlands 4 West (South) Honours
Midlands 5 West (South) (2006–2009)
League restructuring ahead of the 2006–07 season saw the introduction of Midlands 5 West (South) at tier 9 to replace the discontinued
North Midlands 1 and
Warwickshire 1
Warwickshire 1 was a tier 9 English Rugby Union league with teams from Warwickshire taking part. Promoted teams moved up to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegated sides dropped to Warwickshire 2. Warwickshire 1 was cancelled at the end of the ...
leagues. Promotion was to
Midlands 4 West (South) and relegation to
Midlands 6 West (South-East) or
Midlands 6 West (South-West).
Midlands 4 West (South) (2009–present)
Further league restructuring by the
RFU meant that Midlands 5 West (North) and Midlands 5 West (South) were renamed as
Midlands 4 West (North) and Midlands 4 West (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 9. Promotion was now to
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 ...
(formerly Midlands 4 West (South)) and relegation to
Midlands 5 West (South)
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, Sta ...
(formerly two regional divisions known as Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West)).
Number of league titles
*
Woodrush (2)
*
Evesham (1)
*
Bromyard
Bromyard is a town in Herefordshire, England, in the valley of the River Frome. It lies near the county border with Worcestershire on the A44 between Leominster and Worcester. Bromyard has a number of traditional half-timbered buildings, inc ...
(1)
*
Burbage (1)
*
Manor Park (1)
*
Old Yardleians (1)
*
Old Wheatleyans (1)
*
Pinley (1)
*
Redditch
Redditch is a town, and local government district, in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district has a population of 85,000 as of 2019. In the 19th century, it became the international centre for the ...
(1)
*
Rugby Lions (1)
*
Rugby St Andrews (1)
*
Stoke Old Boys (1)
*
Tenbury
Tenbury Wells (locally Tenbury) is a market town and civil parish in the northwestern extremity of the Malvern Hills District of Worcestershire, England. Its northern border adjoins Shropshire, and at the 2011 census it had a population of 3,777. ...
(1)
Notes
See also
*
Midlands RFU
*
North Midlands RFU
*
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
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