Regional 1 Midlands (until 2021–22 known as Midlands Premier and up until 2016–17 known as National League 3 Midlands) is a level five semi-professional league in the

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 consi ...

. It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 it was known as Midlands Division 1. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following a reorganisation by the

Rugby Football Union The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the Sports governing body, 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 ...

(RFU), and the name change from National League 3 to Premier was introduced for the 2017–18 season by the RFU in order to lessen confusion for what is a series of regional leagues. Regional 1 Midlands is the highest regional rugby union league in the

English Midlands The Midlands is the central region of England, to the south of Northern England, to the north of southern England, to the east of Wales, and to the west of the North Sea. The Midlands comprises the ceremonial counties of Derbyshire, Herefordshi ...

Syston Syston ( ) is a town and civil parish in the district of Charnwood in Leicestershire, England. The population was 11,508 at the 2001 census, rising to 12,804 at the 2011 census. Overview There has been a settlement on the site for over 1,000 ...

are the current champions and are promoted to National League 2 West.

Format

The club that finishes as champions is automatically promoted to National League 2 West. Relegated teams drop down to either, Regional 2 East Midlands, Regional 2 North Midlands or Regional 2 West Midlands, depending on their location, and other factors such as the location of relegated and promoted teams in other divisions. The season runs from September to April and comprises twenty-two rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league table as follows: * 4 points are awarded for a win * 2 points are awarded for a draw * 0 points are awarded for a loss, however * 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer * 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match

2025-26

Departing were

promoted to National 2 West while Silhillians and

Kenilworth Kenilworth ( ) is a market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Warwick (district), Warwick District of Warwickshire, England, southwest of Coventry and north of both Warwick and Leamington Spa. Situated at the centre of t ...

were both relegated to Regional 2 Midlands West. Also leaving were Burton (4th),

Derby Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...

(9th) and

Long Eaton Long Eaton is a town in the Borough of Erewash, Erewash district of Derbyshire, England, just north of the River Trent, about south-west of Nottingham and south-east of Derby. The town population was 37,760 at the 2011 census. It has been part ...

(8th) all on a level transfer to Regional 1 North West.

Participating teams and locations

2024–25

Departing were Oxford Harlequins who were promoted to

National League 2 East National League 2 East is a rugby union league at level four in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in London, South East England and the East of England. The remainder of England is covered by t ...

. Old Halesonians and Broadstreet were relegated to Regional 2 Midlands West and Regional 2 Midlands East respectively.

Stoke-on-Trent Stoke-on-Trent (often abbreviated to Stoke) is a city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Staffordshire, England. It has an estimated population of 259,965 as of 2022, making it the largest settlement in Staffordshire ...

(5th) left on a level transfer to Regional 1 North West.

Participating teams and locations

League table

2023–24

Departing were Dudley Kingswinford, promoted to National League 2 West.

Lichfield Lichfield () is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is situated south-east of the county town of Stafford, north-east of Walsall, north-west of ...

and

Nuneaton Nuneaton ( ) is a market town in Warwickshire, England, close to the county border with Leicestershire to the north-east.OS Explorer Map 232 : Nuneaton & Tamworth: (1:25 000) : Nuneaton's population at the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 censu ...

were relegated to Regional 2 Midlands North and Regional 2 Midlands East respectively.

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 ...

(7th) left on a level transfer to

Regional 1 South East Regional 1 South East (formerly known as London & South East Premier and National League 3 London & South East) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 ...

Participating teams and locations

League table

Results

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. Departing were Newport (Salop) (champions), promoted to National League 2 West together with

Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...

(runners up) promoted to

National League 2 North National League 2 North is one of three level four leagues in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in Northern England. The remainder of England is covered by the two counterpart leagues National L ...

Scunthorpe Scunthorpe () is an industrial town in Lincolnshire, England, and the county's third most populous settlement after Lincoln, England, Lincoln and Grimsby, with a population of 81,286 in 2021. It is the administrative centre and largest settleme ...

(8th), Doncaster Phoenix (12th) and Paviors (13th) all left on a level transfer to

Regional 1 North East Regional 1 North East is a level five league in the English rugby union system, with the twelve teams drawn from across North East England and the East Midlands. The other level five leagues are Regional 1 Midlands, Regional 1 North West, Re ...

while

Sandbach Sandbach (pronounced ) is a market town and civil parish in the Cheshire East borough of Cheshire, England. The civil parish contains four settlements: Sandbach, Elworth, Ettiley Heath and Wheelock, Cheshire, Wheelock. At the 2021 United Kingd ...

(5th) moved to Regional 1 North West. With six teams leaving and four joining the league was reduced from 14 clubs to 12.

Participating teams and locations

Final league table

Results

2021–22

Participating teams and locations

Ten of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by one relegated side,

(from

), while the three teams promoted into the division are Dudley Kingswinford (from

Midlands 1 West Regional 2 Midlands West is an English English rugby union system, level 6 rugby union league for rugby clubs in the western region of the The Midlands, Midlands. It includes sides from Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, War ...

and

(both from

Midlands 1 East Regional 2 Midlands East is an English List of English rugby union teams, level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the eastern region of the The Midlands, Midlands, including sides from Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestersh ...

. Last season's champions,

Bournville Bournville () is a 19th century model village on the southwest side of Birmingham, England, founded by the Quaker Cadbury family for employees at its Cadbury's factory, and designed to be a "garden" (or "model") village where the sale of alc ...

were promoted into

. Teams relegated from the division were

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- ...

and

Peterborough Peterborough ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in the City of Peterborough district in the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, England. The city is north of London, on the River Nene. A ...

(who drop to

). Also not returning are South Leicester who withdrew from the league during the 2019–20 season and drop to Midlands 4 East (South) for the coming season. 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.

Final league table

2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced that due to the

coronavirus 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 ...

a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (

National League 1 National One, up until 2023 known as National League 1 and previously known before September 2009 as National Division Two), is the third of three national leagues in the domestic rugby union competition of England. It was known as Courage Lea ...

and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Midlands Premier was not contested.

2019–20

Participating teams and locations

Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by two relegated sides; Peterborough Lions and South Leicester (relegated from

), while the three teams promoted into the division are

Bromsgrove Bromsgrove is a town in Worcestershire, England, about north-east of Worcester and south-west of Birmingham city centre. It had a population of 34,755 in at the 2021 census. It gives its name to the wider Bromsgrove District, of which it is ...

and Paviors. In order to address an imbalance of teams at level 5, Bedford Athletic have been level transferred into the division from

London & South East Premier Regional 1 South East (formerly known as London & South East Premier and National League 3 London & South East) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 ...

. Birmingham & Solihull were initially relegated into the division from

National League 2 South National League 2 South (known before September 2009 as National Division Three South) was a level four league in the English rugby union system until the end of season 2021–22. It was one of two leagues at this level, with its counterpart, N ...

but decided to drop out of the league system altogether (joining the Greater Birmingham Merit Leagues) as they became an amateur club. Last season's champions,

were promoted into National League 2 North, along with Luctonians who won their play-off game against North Premier runners up

Blaydon Blaydon is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England, and historically in County Durham. Blaydon, and neighbouring Winlaton, which Blaydon is now contiguous with, form the town of Blaydon-on-Tyne. The Blaydon/Winl ...

. Teams relegated from the division included

and

(who drop to

) and

(who fall to

2018–19

Participating teams and locations

Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Luctonians and

(relegated from

), Broadstreet (relegated from

), while the two teams promoted into the division are Burton and

. Last season's champions Birmingham & Solihull were promoted into

following a level transfer, while runners up Peterborough Lions RFC were promoted into

after winning their play-off game against

Hull Hull may refer to: Structures * The hull of an armored fighting vehicle, housing the chassis * Fuselage, of an aircraft * Hull (botany), the outer covering of seeds * Hull (watercraft), the body or frame of a sea-going craft * Submarine hull Ma ...

. Teams relegated from the division included Old Halesonians, Longton and Newbold-on-Avon who all drop to

2017–18

Participating teams and locations

Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition.

were relegated from

while the three teams promoted into the division included Newbold-on-Avon, Newport (Salop) and

. Last season's champions, Broadstreet, were promoted into

following a level transfer, while runners-up

went into

, having won their playoff game. Teams relegated from the league included Bedford Athletic and

, with

given a reprieve by the

in light of the

London Welsh London Welsh Rugby Football Club () was a rugby union club formed in 1885. Based in Old Deer Park, Richmond-upon-Thames, London Welsh RFC played in the English Premiership in the 2012–13 and 2014–15 seasons, after gaining promotion from ...

liquidation, by virtue of being the best ranked third bottom side in tier 5 for 2016–17. Finally Towcestrians were level transferred from Midlands Premier into

, while Doncaster Phoenix were level transferred into Midlands Premier from North Premier to address an imbalance of teams in the three divisions. Birmingham & Solihull won the title on 7 April.

2016–17

Participating teams and locations

Eight of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Broadstreet who were relegated from National 2 North while four teams were promoted into the league – Bedford Athletic,

Bridgnorth Bridgnorth is a market town and civil parish in Shropshire, England. The River Severn splits it into High Town and Low Town, the upper town on the right bank and the lower on the left bank of the River Severn. The population at the United Kingd ...

and Towcestrians (who were level transferred from the south-west league on promotion) – as well as

who were level transferred from National League 3 North having finished 7th the previous season.

(champions) and

Hinckley Hinckley is a market town in south-west Leicestershire, England, administered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. Hinckley is the third largest settlement in Leicestershire, after Leicester and Loughborough, and is about halfway between L ...

(play-off) were promoted into National League 2 North while Old Northamptonians were relegated to

and

Sutton Coldfield Sutton Coldfield or the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield ( ), is a town and civil parish in the city of Birmingham, West Midlands County, West Midlands, England. The town lies around 8 miles northeast of Birmingham city centre, 9 miles south of L ...

and Newport (Salop) both dropped to

. In order to address a league imbalance due to only one team coming down from National League 2 South,

(who had finished 11th), were level transferred to National League 3 South West.

Final league table

Promotion play-off

Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 Midlands, and National League 3 North participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 North. The team with the best playing record, in this case Rossendale, hosted the match and lost to their opponents Sheffield, 31 – 32. ----

2015–16

Participating teams and locations

Despite leading the table for most of the season

lost 13 – 23 on the final week-end of the season to

, to finish in second place for the second season in a row. Scunthorpe started the day four points behind and finished top due to winning one more match over the season. Two of last seasons promoted teams were relegated; Newport (Salop) to Midland 1 West and Old Northamptonians to Midland 1 East. The third relegated team is

Final league table

Promotion play-off

Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 Midland, and National League 3 North participate in a play-off for promotion to National League 2 North. The team with the best playing record, in this case Hinckley, host the match and they beat their opponents Wirral 33 – 20. ---- ----

2014–15

(relegated from National 2 North) * Burton (promoted from

) * Dudley Kingswinford (relegated from National 2 North) *

(promoted from

) * Longton *

* Old Halesonians * Peterborough Lions (promoted from

) *

* South Leicester *

2013–14

* Bedford Athletic (promoted from

) *

* Broadstreet RFC *

* Longton *

Lymm Lymm ( ) is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Warrington, Cheshire, England. It incorporates the hamlets of Booths Hill, Broomedge, Church Green, Deansgreen, Heatley, Heatley Heath, Little Heatley, Oughtrington, Reddish, Rushgreen and ...

(transferred from National League 3 North) * Newport (Salop) RFC *

* Old Halesonians (promoted from

) *

* South Leicester *

2012–13

Ampthill Ampthill () is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England. It lies between Bedford, Bedfordshire, Bedford and Luton. At the 2021 census it had a population of 8,825. Histor ...

(transferred from National League 3 London/South East) *

(promoted from

) * Broadstreet RFC *

(promoted from

) *

* Longton *

Mansfield Mansfield is a market town and the administrative centre of the Mansfield District in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the largest town in the wider Mansfield Urban Area and the second largest settlement in Nottinghamshire (following the city ...

* Newport (Salop) RFC *

(relegated from National Division 2 North) *

(promoted from North 1 West) *

* South Leicester *

(promoted from

) *

2011–12

* Broadstreet * Dudley Kingswinford (promoted from

) *

Hereford Hereford ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of the ceremonial county of Herefordshire, England. It is on the banks of the River Wye and lies east of the border with Wales, north-west of Gloucester and south-west of Worcester. With ...

(relegated) *

* Longton *

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

(relegated from

) *

(promoted from

) * Newport (Salop) * Old Northamptonians *

Rugby Lions The Rugby Lions RFC, nicknamed ''The Lions'', is an English rugby union club based in Rugby, Warwickshire. The club plays its home matches at Webb Ellis Road. Its developmental squad is known as the Crusaders. The club also has a ladies team ...

* South Leicester *

(promoted from

)

2010–11

* Broadstreet *

* Burton (promoted from

) *

* Longton *

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 ...

* Malvern * Newport (Salop) * Old Northamptonians (promoted from

) *

(promoted from

) * Sheffield Tigers * South Leicester

2009–10

First season as National 3 Midlands. *

(promoted from

) * Bedford Athletic *

* Longton * Luctonians *

* Malvern * Newport RUFC *

* South Leicester

2007–08

* Bedford Athletic * Broadstreet * Dudley Kingswinford * Dunstablians *

Kingswinford Kingswinford is a town of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the English West Midlands (county), West Midlands, situated west-southwest of central Dudley. In 2011 the area had a population of 25,191, down from 25,808 at the 2001 Census. T ...

* Longton * Loughborough Students * Luctonians * Newport (Salop) *

* South Leicester

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Midlands 1) contained the following teams: * Barkers Butts *

* Paviors *

Stafford Stafford () is a market town and the county town of Staffordshire, England. It is located about south of Stoke-on-Trent, north of Wolverhampton, and northwest of Birmingham. The town had a population of 71,673 at the 2021–2022 United Kingd ...

Stockwood Park Stockwood Park is a large urban park in Luton, Bedfordshire, in the Farley Hill, Bedfordshire, Farley Hill estate. With period formal gardens, leading crafts museums, Stockwood Park Rugby Club and extensive golfing facilities, it is about 100 h ...

Walsall Walsall (, or ; locally ) is a market town and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. Historic counties of England, Historically part of Staffordshire, it is located ...

* Westleigh *

Wolverhampton Wolverhampton ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands of England. Located around 12 miles (20 km) north of Birmingham, it forms the northwestern part of the West Midlands conurbation, with the towns of ...

Midlands Premier honours

Midlands 1 (1987–1992)

The original Midlands 1 was a tier 5 league with promotion to Area League North and relegation to either Midlands 2 East or Midlands 2 West.

Midlands 1 (1992–1993)

For the 1991–92 season Midlands 1 remained a tier 5 league with promotion to Area League North. However, restructuring of the Midlands leagues meant that relegation was now to Midlands 2 (formerly Midlands 2 East and Midlands 2 West).

Midlands 1 (1993–1996)

The top six teams from Midlands 1 and the top six from North 1 were combined to create National 5 North. Midlands 1 dropped to become a tier 6 league and was one of two feeder leagues for National 5 North. Relegation continued to Midlands 2 (currently

and

)

Midlands 1 (1996–2000)

At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands 1 returned to being a tier 5 league. Promotion was now to National 4 North (currently National League 2 North), while relegation continued to Midlands 2 (currently split into

and

Midlands 1 (2000–2009)

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands 1 remain a tier 5 league but promotion was now to National 3 North (formerly National 4 North) and relegation to either Midlands 2 East or Midlands 2 West (both formerly Midlands 2).

National League 3 Midlands (2009–2017)

The division was renamed National League 3 Midlands following a restructuring of the national leagues which led to changes at all levels. It remained a tier 5 league with promotion to

(formerly National League 3 North) and relegation to either

(formerly Midlands 2 East / Midlands 2 West).

Midlands Premier (2017–2022)

For the 2017–18 season, all the divisions at tier 5 were renamed from National League 3 to Premier resulting in National League 3 Midlands now named the Midlands Premier. Promotion continued to

and relegation to either

Regional 1 Midlands (2022– )

Promotion play-offs

Between 2000–01 and 2019–20 there was a play-off between the league runners-up of Midlands Premier and North Premier for the third and final promotion place to

. The team with the superior league record had home advantage. At the end of the 2019–20 season, the northern teams have been stronger with twelve wins to the Midlands seven, while the home team has won thirteen times compared to the away teams six.

Number of league titles

* Broadstreet (4) *

(3) * Bedford Athletic (2) * Birmingham & Solihull (2) * Dudley Kingswinford (2) *

(2) *

(1) * Barkers Butts (1) *

(1) *

Leicester Lions Leicester Lions are a speedway team which originally operated from 1968 until 1983Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. and again from 2011. The team race at the Beaumont Park Stadium (or Hydroscand Arena for sponsorsh ...

(1) * Longton (1) * Loughborough Students (1) *

(1) * Oxford Harlequins (1) * Newport (Salop) (1) *

Rotherham Rotherham ( ) is a market town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies at the confluence of the River Rother, South Yorkshire, River Rother, from which the town gets its name, and the River Don, Yorkshire, River Don. It is the largest settlement ...

(1) * South Leicester (1) *

(1) * Towcestrians (1) *

(1) * Whitchurch (1)

Notes

References

{{Rugby union in England 5 1 Sports leagues established in 1987 1987 establishments in England

Format

2025-26

Participating teams and locations

2024–25

Participating teams and locations

League table

2023–24

Participating teams and locations

League table

Results

2022–23

Participating teams and locations

Final league table

Results

2021–22

Participating teams and locations

Final league table

2020–21

2019–20

Participating teams and locations

2018–19

Participating teams and locations

2017–18

Participating teams and locations

2016–17

Participating teams and locations

Final league table

Promotion play-off

2015–16

Participating teams and locations

Final league table

Promotion play-off

2014–15

2013–14

2012–13

2011–12

2010–11

2009–10

2007–08

Original teams

Midlands Premier honours

Midlands 1 (1987–1992)

Midlands 1 (1992–1993)

Midlands 1 (1993–1996)

Midlands 1 (1996–2000)

Midlands 1 (2000–2009)

National League 3 Midlands (2009–2017)

Midlands Premier (2017–2022)

Regional 1 Midlands (2022– )

Promotion play-offs

Number of league titles

See also

Notes

References