Midlands 1 West
# Midlands 1 West

Midlands 1 West is an English level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the western region of the Midlands, including sides from Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Birmingham and the West Midlands, Worcestershire and occasionally Cheshire, Derbyshire, 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 and the runner-up play against the second placed team from Midlands 1 East 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 a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Midlands 1 West was not contested.

## 2016-17

* Bournville
* Burton
* Crewe & Nantwich
* Dudley Kingswinford
* Hereford
* Kenilworth
* 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

## 2015–16

### Participating teams and locations

| Team | Ground | City/Area | Previous season |
| - | - | - | - |
| Bournville | | Birmingham, West Midlands | relegated from National League 3 Midlands |
| Bridgnorth | | Bridgnorth, Shropshire | promoted from Midlands 2 West (North) |
| Burton | Peel Croft | Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire | relegated from National League 3 Midlands |
| Crewe & Nantwich | Vagrants Sports Ground | Willaston, Cheshire | |
| Dudley Kingswinford | Heathbrook | Kingswinford, West Midlands | relegated from National League 3 Midlands |
| Hereford | Wyeside | Hereford, Herefordshire | |
| Kenilworth | | Kenilworth, Warwickshire | |
| Leek | Post and Time Park | Cheddleton, Staffordshire | |
| Silhillians | Memorial Ground | Solihull, West Midlands | |
| Stoke-on-Trent | | Staffordshire | |
| Stratford upon Avon | Pearcecorft | Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire | |
| Walsall | Broadway Ground | Walsall, West Midlands | |
| Whitchurch | Edgeley Park | Whitchurch, Shropshire | |
| Worcester Wanderers | Sixways | Worcester, Worcestershire | |

## 2014–15

* Barkers Butts
* Berkswell & Balsall
* Crewe and Nantwich (promoted from Midlands 2 West (North))
* Earlsdon (promoted from Midlands 2 West (South))
* Hereford
* Kenilworth
* Leek (promoted from Midlands 2 West (North))
* Newport (Salop) RFC (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
* Silhillians
* Stoke-on-Trent
* Stratford Upon Avon
* Walsall
* Whitchurch
* Worcester Wanderers (relegated from National League 3 South West)

## 2013–14

* Barkers Butts
* Berkswell & Balsall
* Burton
* Hereford
* Kenilworth (promoted from Midlands 2 West (South))
* Lichfield
* Malvern (relegated from National League 3 South West)
* Market Bosworth (transferred from Midlands 1 East)
* Old Laurentians
* Silhillians (promoted from Midlands 2 West (North))
* Stoke-on-Trent
* Stratford Upon Avon
* Walsall
* Whitchurch

## 2012–13

* Barkers Butts
* Berkswell & Balsall
* Burton
* Camp Hill
* Hereford (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
* Lichfield
* Ludlow
* Northwich
* Old Halesonians
* Stoke-on-Trent (promoted from Midlands 2 West (North)
* Stratford Upon Avon
* Walsall
* Whitchurch
* Worcester Wanderers

## 2011–12

* Bedworth
* Bournville
* Burton (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
* Camp Hill
* Dunlop
* Kenilworth (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
* Lichfield
* Ludlow
* Old Halesonians RFC
* Stratford Upon Avon
* Sutton Coldfield
* Walsall
* Whitchurch
* Worcester Wanderers

## 2010–11

* Banbury
* Bournville
* Camp Hill
* Dudley Kingswinford
* Leamington
* Lichfield
* Nuneaton Old Edwardians
* Old Halesonians
* Old Laurentians
* Stratford Upon Avon
* Sutton Coldfield
* Walsall
* Whitchurch
* Worcester Wanderers

## Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Midlands 2 West) contained the following teams:

* Bromsgrove
* Burton
* Dixonians
* Dudley Kingswinford
* Evesham
* Hereford
* Leamington
* Newbold-on-Avon
* Sutton Coldfield
* Tamworth
* Worcester

## Midlands 1 West honours

### Midlands 2 West (1987–1992)

The original Midlands 2 West (along with its counterpart Midlands 2 East) was a tier 6 league with promotion to Midlands Premier and relegation to either North Midlands 1 or Staffordshire/Warwickshire.

Midlands 2 West :

| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1987–88 | 11 | Hereford | Dixonians | Evesham, Leamington |
| 1988–89 | 11 | Sutton Coldfield | Bedworth | Worcester, Tamworth |
| 1989–90 | 11 | Camp Hill | Wolverhampton | Dixonians |
| 1990–91 | 11 | Leamington | Keresley | Dudley Kingswinford, Old Yardleians |
| 1991–92 | 11 | Bedworth | Wolverhampton | Bromsgrove, Sutton Coldfield, Newbold-on-Avon |
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |||||||||||

### Midlands 2 (1992–1993)

Restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 1992–93 season saw Midlands 2 West and Midlands 2 East combined in a single tier 6 division known as Midlands 2. Promotion continued to Midlands 1 while relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands West 1.

Midlands 2 :

| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1992–93 | 12 | Burton | Worcester | Biggleswade, Nottingham Moderns | |
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |||||||||||

### 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 and Midlands West 1.

Midlands 2 :

| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1993–94 | 13 | Whitchurch | Stafford | Vipers |
| 1994–95 | 13 | Leighton Buzzard | Broadstreet | Willenhall, Newark, Peterborough |
| 1995–96 | 13 | Scunthorpe | Hinckley | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |||||||||||

### 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 and Midlands West 1.

Midlands 2 :

| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1996–97 | 17 | Banbury | Kenilworth | Bedworth, Matlock, Long Buckby, Keresley |
| 1997–98 | 17 | Bedford Athletic | Dudley Kingswinford | Paviors |
| 1998–99 | 17 | Longton | Newbold-on-Avon | Leamington, Towcestrians, Stafford |
| 1999–00 | 17 | Malvern | Bromsgrove | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are the promotion places. |||||||||||

### 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. Promotion continued to Midlands 1 while relegation was now to either Midlands 3 West (North) or Midlands 3 West (South) (both formerly part of Midlands West 1).

Midlands 2 West :

| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2000–01 | 12 | Malvern | Luctonians | Lichfield, Belgrave, Moseley Oak |
| 2001–02 | 12 | Bromsgrove | Old Laurentians | Newport, Stoke-on-Trent, Shrewsbury |
| 2002–03 | 12 | Old Laurentians | Derby | Lordswood Dixonians, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury |
| 2003–04 | 12 | Bromsgrove | Derby | Bedworth, Hereford, Barkers Butts |
| 2004–05 | 12 | Burton | Malvern | Nuneaton Old Edwardians, Old Coventrians, Aston Old Edwardians |
| 2005–06 | 12 | Broadstreet | Kenilworth | Old Laurentians, Leamington, Stoke-on-Trent |
| 2006–07 | 12 | Kenilworth | Newport | Stafford, Camp Hill, Bridgnorth |
| 2007–08 | 12 | Malvern | Hereford | Newbold-on-Avon, Barkers Butts, Lichfield |
| 2008–09 | 12 | Bromsgrove | Hereford | No relegation |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

### 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, 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).

Midlands 1 West :

| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2009–10 | 13 | Burton | Bournville | Cheltenham North, Stoke-on-Trent |
| 2010–11 | 14 | Dudley Kingswinford | Sutton Coldfield | Leamington, Banbury, Old Laurentians |
| 2011–12 | 14 | Sutton Coldfield | Bournville | Dunlop, Bedworth, Kenilworth |
| 2012–13 | 14 | Old Halesonians | Worcester Wanderers | Camphill, Northwich, Ludlow |
| 2013–14 | 14 | Lichfield | Burton | Market Bosworth, Malvern, Old Laurentians |
| 2014–15 | 14 | Newport (Salop) | Worcester Wanderers | Berkswell & Balsall, Earlsdon, Barkers Butts |
| 2015–16 | 14 | Bridgnorth | Bournville | Walsall, Silhillians, Leek |
| 2016–17 | 14 | Newport (Salop) | Bournville | Kenilworth, Crewe & Nantwich, Whitchurch |
| 2017–18 | 14 | Burton | Dudley Kingswinford | Wolverhampton, Camp Hill, Melbourne |
| 2018–19 | 14 | Bromsgrove | Dudley Kingswinford | Moseley Oak, Malvern, Longton |
| 2019–20 | 14 | Dudley Kingswinford | Kenilworth | Kidderminster Carolians, Stourbridge Lions |
| 2020-21 | 14 | |
| Green backgrounds are promotion places. |||||||||||

## Promotion play-offs

From 2000–01 until 2018–19 there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Midlands 1 East 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.

Midlands 1 East v Midlands 1 West promotion play-off results :

| Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2000–01 | Luctonians (W) | 20–13 | Wellingborough (E) | Mortimer Park, Kingsland, Herefordshire | |
| 2001–02 | Old Laurentians (W) | 10–32 | Spalding (E) | Fenley Field, Rugby, Warwickshire | |
| 2002–03 | Luton (E) | 16–11 | Derby (W) | Newlands Road, Luton, Bedfordshire | |
| 2003–04 | Derby (W) | 29–12 | Hinckley (E) | Haslams Lane, Derby, Derbyshire | |
| 2004–05 | Market Bosworth (E) | 40–7 | Malvern (W) | Cadeby Lane, Market Bosworth, Warwickshire | |
| 2005–06 | Peterborough (E) | 23–21 | Kenilworth (W) | Fortress Fengate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire | 1,000 |
| 2006–07 | Newport (Salop) (W) | 20–5 | Matlock (E) | The Old Showground, Newport, Shropshire | 500 |
| 2007–08 | Hereford (W) | 13–43 | Hinckley (E) | Wyeside, Hereford, Herefordshire | |
| 2008–09 | Scunthorpe (E) | 9–16 | Hereford (W) | Heslam Park, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire | |
| 2009–10 | Bournville (W) | AWO | Old Northamptonians (E) | Rowheath, Bournville, Birmingham, West Midlands | N/A |
| 2010–11 | Sutton Coldfield (W) | 27–33 | Mansfield (E) | Roger Smoldon Ground, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands | |
| 2011–12 | Bournville (W) | 42–11 | Paviors (E) | Bournbrook, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands | |
| 2012–13 | Worcester Wanderers (W) | 27–17 (aet) | Ilkeston (E) | Weston's Field, Worcester, Worcestershire | |
| 2013–14 | Burton (W) | 24–20 | Derby (E) | Peel Croft, Burton, Staffordshire | 1,000 |
| 2014–15 | Old Northamptonians (E) | 20–5 | Worcester Wanderers (W) | Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion, Northampton, Northamptonshire | |
| 2015–16 | Derby (E) | 28–23 | Bournville (W) | Haslams Lane, Derby, Derbyshire | 200 |
| 2016–17 | Kettering (E) | 19–55 | Bournville (W) | Waverley Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire | |
| 2017–18 | Dudley Kingswinford (W) | 33–37 | Syston (E) | Heathbrook, Swindon Road, Wall Heath, Kingswinford | |
| 2018–19 | Paviors (E) | 33–30 | Dudley Kingswinford (W) | The Ron Rossin Ground, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire | |
| 2019–20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up – Oundle (E) – promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up – Oundle (E) – promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up – Oundle (E) – promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up – Oundle (E) – promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up – Oundle (E) – promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up – Oundle (E) – promoted instead. |
| Green background is the promoted team. E = Midlands 1 East (formerly Midlands 2 East) and W = Midlands 1 West (formerly Midlands 2 West) |||||||||||

## Number of league titles

* Burton (4)
* Bromsgrove (4)
* Malvern (3)
* Dudley Kingswinford (2)
* Lichfield (2)
* Newport (Salop) (2)
* Sutton Coldfield (2)
* Banbury (1)
* Bedford Athletic (1)
* Bedworth (1)
* Bridgnorth (1)
* Broadstreet (1)
* Camp Hill (1)
* Hereford (1)
* Kenilworth (1)
* Leamington (1)
* Leighton Buzzard (1)
* Longton (1)
* Old Halesonians (1)
* Old Laurentians (1)
* Scunthorpe (1)
* Whitchurch (1)
