Midlands 4 West (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 West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire 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 - a level 9-12 national competition.
Current season or competition: 2019–20 Midlands 4 West (South) | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2006 (as Midlands 5 West (South)) |
| Number of teams | 11 |
| Country |  England |
| Holders | Tenbury (1st title) (2019–20) (promoted to Midlands 3 West (South)) |
| Most titles | Woodrush (2 titles) |
| Website | England RFU |
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) while relegated teams drop to Midlands 5 West (South).
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 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))
- Keresley (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
- Kings Norton
- Pershore (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
- Redditch
- Stoke Old Boys
Teams 2015-16
- Alcester (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
- Atherstone
- Birmingham Civil Service (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
- Claverdon
- Coventrians
- Coventry Welsh
- Kings Norton
- Manor Park (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
- Redditch
- Stoke Old Boys
- Upton-on-Severn (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
Teams 2014-15
- Atherstone
- Claverdon
- Coventrians
- Coventry Welsh
- Evesham (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
- Five Ways Old Edwardians
- Kings Norton (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
- Redditch
- Rugby Lions (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
- Stoke Old Boys
- Warwickian (promoted from Midlands 5 West (South))
Teams 2013-14
- Alcester
- Atherstone
- Barton-under-Needwood
- Birmingham Civil Service
- Claverdon
- Coventrians
- Coventry Welsh
- Harbury
- Redditch (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
- Stoke Old Boys
- Woodrush (relegated from Midlands 3 West (South))
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 - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (7th)
- Bredon Star - transferred from North Midlands (South) 1 (6th)
- Coventry Technical - promoted from Warwickshire 2 (champions)
- Coventry Welsh - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (4th)
- Harbury - relegated from Midlands 4 West (South) (10th)
- Rugby St Andrews - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (5th)
- Southam - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (3rd)
- Stoke Old Boys - transferred from Warwickshire 1 (6th)
- Upton-upon-Severn - 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 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 4 West (South) and relegation to Midlands 6 West (South-East) or Midlands 6 West (South-West).
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | 10 | Woodrush | Southam | Coventry Technical, Bredon Star, Stoke Old Boys | [1] | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | 10 | Rugby St Andrews | Upton-on-Severn | Tenbury, Alcester | [2] | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | 10 | Redditch | Harbury | Copsewood, Coventrians | [3] | |||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
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) (formerly Midlands 4 West (South)) and relegation to Midlands 5 West (South) (formerly two regional divisions known as Midlands 6 West (South-East) and Midlands 6 West (South-West)).
| ||||||||||||||
| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 10 | Evesham | Coventry Welsh | Dudley Wasps[a] | [5] | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | 11 | Pinley | Keresley | Stoke Old Boys, Trinity Guild | [6] | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | 11 | Old Wheatleyans | Ledbury | Rugby Welsh, Birmingham Exiles | [7] | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | 11 | Old Yardleians | Manor Park | Keresley, Warwickian | [8] | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | 10 | Woodrush | Harbury | Alcester | [9] | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | 10 | Rugby Lions | Evesham | Five Ways Old Edwardians | [10] | |||||||||
| 2015–16 | 10 | Manor Park | Upton-on-Severn | Birmingham Civil Service | [11] | |||||||||
| 2016–17 | 11 | Bromyard | Alcester | Kings Norton, Keresley | [12] | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | 11 | Stoke Old Boys | Coventry Welsh | Tenbury, Birmingham Civil Service | [13] | |||||||||
| 2018–19 | 11 | Burbage | Bedworth | Redditch, Greyhound | [14] | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | 11 | Tenbury | Bromyard | Kings Norton | [15] | |||||||||
| 2020–21 | 11 | |||||||||||||
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. | ||||||||||||||
Number of league titles
- Woodrush (2)
- Evesham (1)
- Bromyard (1)
- Burbage (1)
- Manor Park (1)
- Old Yardleians (1)
- Old Wheatleyans (1)
- Pinley (1)
- Redditch (1)
- Rugby Lions (1)
- Rugby St Andrews (1)
- Stoke Old Boys (1)
- Tenbury (1)
Notes
See also
References
- English RFU (2008). "Rugby First". RFU. Archived from the original on 28 April 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
- 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.