Counties 2 Midlands East (South) (formerly Midlands 3 East (South)) is a level 8 English

Rugby Union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the

East Midlands The East Midlands is one of nine official regions of England. It comprises the eastern half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It consists of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire (except for North Lincolnshire and North East ...

region including clubs from

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated ''Beds'') is a Ceremonial County, ceremonial county in the East of England. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Hertfordshire to the south and the south-east, and Buckin ...

Leicestershire Leicestershire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire to the north, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire to the south-east, Warw ...

Northamptonshire Northamptonshire ( ; abbreviated Northants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Leicestershire, Rutland and Lincolnshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshi ...

and occasionally

Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfor ...

and

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire ( ; abbreviated ''Oxon'') is a ceremonial county in South East England. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Glouceste ...

, 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) Counties 3 Midlands East (North East) / (North West) (formerly Midlands 4 East (North)) are level 9 English Rugby Union leagues and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including cl ...

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). Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 East (South) and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it adopted its current name. Promoted teams move up to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) while demoted teams drop into Counties 3 Midlands East North West, Counties 3 Midlands East North East, Counties 3 Midlands East Central or Counties 3 Midlands East South depending on location.

2025-26

Departing were Long Buckby and Dunstablians, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) as champions and runners-up respectively. Rugby St Andrews (9th) and Oakham (10th) were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East South (North) while Northampton BBOB (11th) were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East South (South).

Participating teams & locations

2024-25

Departing were

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, This figur ...

and Stewarts & Lloyds, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South). Luton (11th) and Bedford Queens (12th) were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East (South). Bedford Swifts (10th) elected to withdraw from the leagues and instead play merit table rugby for 2024-25. Joining were Long Buckby and Oakham, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South), together with Northampton BBOB and Rugby St Andrews, both promoted. With five teams departing and four joining the league was reduced in size from twelve clubs to eleven.

Participating teams & locations

2023-24

Departing were Daventry and Spalding, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South). Melton Mowbray (6th) moved on a level transfer to Counties 2 Midlands East (North). Northampton BBOB and Northampton Men's Own were relegated. Joining were St Ives, Dunstablians and Northampton Casuals, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South), together with Bedford Swifts and Brackley, both promoted.

Participating teams & locations

2022-23

This was the first season following 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 prom ...

Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 2 Midlands East (South)). Departing were Stockwood Park, Dunstablians and Bourne, all promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South). Joining were

, Northampton BBOB and

St Neots St NeotsPronunciation of the town name: Most commonly, but variations that ''saint'' is said as in most English non-georeferencing speech, the ''t'' is by a small minority of the British pronounced and higher traces of in the final syllable ...

, all promoted.

Participating teams & locations

2021–22

Participating teams & locations

2020–21

Due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, 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) Counties 2 Midlands East (North) (formerly Midlands 3 East (North)) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands r ...

) *

(relegated from

Midlands 2 East (South) Counties 1 Midlands East (South) (formerly Midlands 2 East (South)) is a level 7 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the English Rugby Union Midland Division, Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands r ...

) *Daventry * Dunstablians *Leicester Forest (relegated from

) *Long Buckby *Northampton BBOB *Northampton Casuals *Northampton Men's Own (promoted from

Midlands 4 East (South) Counties 3 Midlands East (South North) / (South South) (formerly Midlands 4 East (South) area level 9 English Rugby Union leagues and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including ...

) *St Ives (Midlands) *

*Stewarts & Lloyds

Teams 2015-16

*Daventry * Dunstablians (relegated from

) *Long Buckby *Northampton BBOB *Northampton Casuals *Old Newtonians (promoted from

) * Oundale *Rugby St Andrews *Stockwood Park *St Ives (Midlands) *

(promoted from

) *Stewarts & Lloyds (relegated from

)

Teams 2014-15

*Bedford Queens *Daventry *Long Buckby (promoted from

) *Northampton BBOB (relegated from

) *Northampton Casuals *Northampton Mens Own * Oundale (promoted from

) *Rugby St Andrews * Rushden & Higham (relegated from

) *St Ives (Midlands) *Stockwood Park *Vipers

Teams 2013-14

*Bedford Queens *

(relegated from

) *Brackley (promoted from

) *Daventry *Deepings *Northampton Casuals *Northampton Mens Own *Rugby St Andrews *St Ives (Midlands) (promoted from

) *Stewarts & Lloyds *Stockwood Park *Vipers (relegated from

)

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 *

*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

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 a town in the district of North West Leicestershire in Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. In 2011, it had a population of 34,575. It lies on the A511 road, A511 between Leicester and Burton upon Trent, close to junct ...

- promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire (6th) *

Glossop Glossop is a market town in the borough of High Peak (borough), High Peak, Derbyshire, England, east of Manchester, north-west of Sheffield and north of Matlock, Derbyshire, Matlock. Near Derbyshire's borders with Cheshire, Greater Mancheste ...

- promoted from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (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 T ...

- promoted from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (9th) *

Kettering Kettering is a market town, market and industrial town, industrial town in the North Northamptonshire district of Northamptonshire, England, west of Cambridge, England, Cambridge, southwest of Peterborough, southeast of Leicester and north- ...

- promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire (7th) *

Lincoln Lincoln most commonly refers to: * Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the 16th president of the United States * Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England * Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S. * Lincoln (na ...

- promoted from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (10th) *

Long Buckby Long Buckby is a large village and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in West Northamptonshire, England. In the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census the parish of Long Buckby, which includes the hamlet of Long Buckby Wharf, was recorded ...

- promoted from East Midlands 1 (champions) *

Lutterworth Lutterworth is an historic market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Harborough District, Harborough district of Leicestershire, England. The town is located in southern Leicestershire, close to the borders with Warwicks ...

- 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 (7th) * Stamford - promoted from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1 (8th) *

Wellingborough Wellingborough ( ) is a market town in the North Northamptonshire, Unitary Authority area, England, from London and from Northampton, north of the River Nene. Originally named "Wendelingburgh" (the stronghold of Wændel's people), the Anglo ...

- promoted from East Midlands/Leicestershire (8th) *

Worksop Worksop ( ) is a market town in the Bassetlaw District in Nottinghamshire, England. It is located south of Doncaster, south-east of Sheffield and north of Nottingham. Located close to Nottinghamshire's borders with South Yorkshire and Derbys ...

- promoted from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 2 (champions)

Midlands 3 East (South) honours

Midlands East 2 (1992–1993)

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.

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.

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.

Midlands 4 East (South) (2000–2006)

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands East 2 split into two tier 8 regional leagues -

and Midlands 4 East (South). Promotion was now to

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

meant that Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South) were renamed as

and Midlands 3 East (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 8. Promotion was now to

(formerly Midlands 3 East (South)) and relegation to

(formerly Midlands 5 East (South)).

Number of league titles

* Leicester Forest (2) *

(2) *

Market Harborough Market Harborough is a market town in the Harborough District, Harborough district of Leicestershire, England, close to the border with Northamptonshire. The population was 24,779 at the United Kingdom census, 2021, 2021 census. It is the ad ...

(2) * Rushden & Higham (2) * Stamford (2) * Aylestone St James (1) *

(1) *

Bugbrooke Bugbrooke is a village and civil parish in West 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, ...

(1) *

(1) * Dunstablians (1) *

Ilkeston Ilkeston ( ) is a town located in the Borough of Erewash in Derbyshire, England, with a population of 40,953 at the 2021 census. Its major industries, coal mining, iron working and lace making/textiles, have now all but disappeared. Part of t ...

(1) *

Luton Luton () is a town and borough in Bedfordshire, England. The borough had a population of 225,262 at the 2021 census. Luton is on the River Lea, about north-west of London. The town's foundation dates to the sixth century as a Saxon settleme ...

(1) *

Market Bosworth Market Bosworth ( ) is a market town and civil parish in 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 of the ...

(1) * Northampton BBOB (1) * Northampton Men's Own (1) * Oadby Wyggestonians (1) *

Oundle Oundle () is a market town and civil parish on the left bank of the River Nene in North Northamptonshire, England, which had a population of 6,254 at the time of the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census. It is north of London and south-wes ...

(1) * St Ives (Midlands) (1) *

Stewarts & Lloyds Stewarts & Lloyds was a steel tube manufacturer with its headquarters in Glasgow at 41 Oswald Street. The company was created in 1903 by the amalgamation of two of the largest iron and steel makers in Britain: A. & J. Stewart & Menzies, Coatbridg ...

(1) *

Vauxhall Motors Vauxhall Motors Limited , ;Company 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 Automoti ...

(1) *

Vipers Vipers are snakes in the family Viperidae, found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, New Zealand, Ireland, and various other isolated islands. They are venomous and have long (relative to non-viper ...

(1)

Notes

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

2025-26

Participating teams & locations

2024-25

Participating teams & locations

2023-24

Participating teams & locations

2022-23

Participating teams & locations

2021–22

Participating teams & locations

2020–21

2019–20

Participating teams & locations

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

Teams 2016-17

Teams 2015-16

Teams 2014-15

Teams 2013-14

Teams 2012–13

Teams 2011–12

Teams 2010–11

Teams 2008–09

Original teams

Midlands 3 East (South) honours

Midlands East 2 (1992–1993)

Midlands East 2 (1993–1996)

Midlands East 2 (1996–2000)

Midlands 4 East (South) (2000–2006)

Midlands 4 East (South) (2006–2009)

Midlands 3 East (South) (2009–present)

Number of league titles

Notes

See also

References