Counties 4 Midlands East (North West) / (North East) (formerly Midlands 5 East (North)) are level 10 English Rugby Union leagues and level 5 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occasional team from Leicestershire, with home and away matches played throughout the season.
Formed in 2006, the league was originally split into 2 regional divisions – Midlands 6 East (North-East) and Midlands 6 East (North-West) - but, by the 2009-10 season, the league merged into a single division. Promoted teams typically moved up to Midlands 4 East (North) and there is no relegation due to it being one of the basement divisions for Midlands rugby. At the end of the 2017-18 season the division was abolished with the majority of teams moving up into Midlands 4 East (North). The league was reinstated in two divisions - North West and North East - ahead of the 2025-26 season.
2026-27
North West
Departing were Meden Vale promoted to Counties 3 Midlands East (North East)
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Amber Valley Lower Somercotes Alfreton, Derbyshire 7th Belper II Strutts Playing Field Belper, Derbyshire New entry Castle Donington Spital Park Pavilion Castle Donington, Derbyshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (North West) Chesterfield Panthers Dunston Road 2,000 Chesterfield, Derbyshire 4th East Retford Ordsall Road Retford, Nottinghamshire 2nd Ilkeston II The Stute Ilkeston, Derbyshire 6th Mansfield II Eakring Road 1,000 Mansfield, Nottinghamshire 5th Matlock II Cromford Meadows Cromford, Matlock, Derbyshire 3rd Worksop Stubbing Lane Worksop, Nottinghamshire 8th
North East
Departing were East Leake promoted to Counties 3 Midlands East (North West).
Nottingham Casuals II (8th in 2025-26) were originally allocated to the league but withdrew before it started with their place being taken by Spalding 2XV.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Horncastle The Wong Horncastle, Lincolnshire 7th Kesteven II Woodnook Grantham, Lincolnshire 4th Lincoln II Longdales Park Lincoln, Lincolnshire 5th Mellish II War Memorial Ground Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 6th Nottingham Moderns II Ferryfields Wilford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 3rd Paviors II The Ron Rossin Ground Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 2nd Skegness Wainfleet Road Skegness, Lincolnshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (North East) Spalding II Memorial Field Spalding, Lincolnshire New entry
2025-26
After a seven year hiatus the league was reinstated in two divisions.
North West
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Amber Valley Lower Somercotes Alfreton, Derbyshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (North West) Chesterfield Panthers Dunston Road 2,000 Chesterfield, Derbyshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (North West) East Retford Ordsall Road Retford, Nottinghamshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (North East) Ilkeston II The Stute Ilkeston, Derbyshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central) Mansfield II Eakring Road 1,000 Mansfield, Nottinghamshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (North West) Matlock II Cromford Meadows Cromford, Matlock, Derbyshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (North West) Meden Vale Elkesley Road Meden Vale, Nottinghamshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (North East) Worksop Stubbing Lane Worksop, Nottinghamshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (North East)
North East
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season East Leake Costock Road Playing Fields East Leake, Nottinghamshire New entry Horncastle The Wong Horncastle, Lincolnshire Re-entry Kesteven II Woodnook Grantham, Lincolnshire New entry Lincoln II Longdales Park Lincoln, Lincolnshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (North East) Mellish II War Memorial Ground Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central) Nottingham Casuals II Weir Field Recreation Ground Beeston, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire New entry Nottingham Moderns II Ferryfields Wilford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (Central) Paviors II The Ron Rossin Ground Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands East (North West)
2018-25
Not contested
2017–18
Participating teams & locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Amber Valley Lower Somercotes Alfreton, Derbyshire Relegated from Midlands 4 East (North) (9th) Bingham The Pavilion Bingham, Nottinghamshire 7th Cleethorpes KGV Playing Fields Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire 3rd Gainsborough Roses Sports Fields Gainsborough, Lincolnshire 5th Keyworth Willoughby Road Widmerpool, Nottinghamshire 2nd Mansfield Woodhouse Slate Lane Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire 8th Meden Vale Elkesley Road Meden Vale, Nottinghamshire Relegated from Midlands 4 East (North) (10th) North Hykeham One NK North Hykeham, Lincolnshire 4th Nottinghamians Adbolton Lane Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire 6th
Teams 2016-17 Bingham Cleethorpes (relegated from Midlands 4 East (North)) Gainsborough Keyworth North Hykeham (relegated from Midlands 4 East (North)) Nottinghamians Skegness (relegated from Midlands 4 East (North)) Woodhouse Giants
Teams 2015-16 Barton & District Bingham (relegated from Midlands 4 East (North)) Creswell Crusaders Gainsborough Keyworth (relegated from Midlands 4 East (North)) Meden Vale Nottinghamians Ollerton Skegness (relegated from Midlands 4 East (North)) Woodhouse Giants
Teams 2014-15 Barton & District Birstall Creswell Crusaders Gainsborough Leesbrook (relegated from Midlands 4 East (North)) Meden Vale North Hykeham Nottinghamians (relegated from Midlands 4 East (North)) Ollerton Woodhouse Giants
Teams 2013-14 Birstall Creswell Crusaders Gainsborough Horncastle (relegated from Midlands 4 East (North)) Meden Vale North Hykeham Nottingham Corsairs Ollerton Rolls-Royce Sileby Town Woodhouse Giants
Teams 2012–13 Bingham Castle Donington Creswell Crusaders East Leake Leesbrook Meden Vale North Hykehan Ollerton Rolls-Royce
Teams 2008–09 Belper Castle Donington Chesterfield Panthers East Leake East Retford Leesbrook Melbourne Nottinghamians Rolls-Royce Worksop
Teams 2007–08 Barton & District Chesterfield Pythons Dronfield East Leake East Retford Melbourne Nottingham Casuals Nottinghamians Rolls-Royce University Of Derby
Original teams
When this division was introduced in 2006 it was split into two separate divisions - Midlands 6 East (North-East) and Midlands 6 East (North-West) - containing the following teams:
Midlands 6 East (North-East) Barton & District – N/A (new to league) Bourne - transferred from Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire (7th) Cleethorpes - transferred from Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire (2nd) Gainsborough - transferred from Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire (9th) Horncastle – N/A (new to league) North Hykeham – N/A (new to league) Nottingham Corsairs - transferred from Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire (3rd) Ollerton - transferred from Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire (5th) Skegness - transferred from Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire (4th)
Midlands 6 East (North-West) All Spartans Old Boys Belper - transferred from Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (4th) Buxton – relegated from Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (10th) Chesterfield Panthers (2nd XV) – N/A (new to league) Leesbrook - transferred from Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (7th) Meden Vale - transferred from Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire (6th) Melbourne - transferred from Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (6th) Rolls-Royce - transferred from Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (5th) Tupton - transferred from Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (8th) Uttoxeter - transferred from Derbyshire/North Leicestershire (3rd)
Midlands 5 East (North) honours
Midlands 6 East (North-East) / (North-West) / South (2006–2009)
The league was originally divided into two sub-divisions known as Midlands 6 East (North-East) and Midlands 6 East (North-West). These divisions were introduced along with their counterpart Midlands 6 East (South) at tier 10 to replace the discontinued East Midlands/South Leicestershire 2, Derbyshire/North Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 5 East (North) and there was no relegation.
Midlands 6 East (North-East & North-West)SeasonNo. of teamsChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsLeague nameReference 2006–07 9 Barton & District Cleethorpes No relegation Midlands 6 East (North-East) 10 Melbourne Rolls-Royce No relegation Midlands 6 East (North-West) 2007–08 6 Worksop Ollerton No relegation Midlands 6 East (North-East) 10 Belper Leesbrook No relegation Midlands 6 East (North-West) 2008–09 5 Cleethorpes Skegness No relegation Midlands 6 East (North-East) 8 Uttoxeter Dronfield No relegation Midlands 6 East (North-West) Green backgrounds are promotion places.
Midlands 5 East (North) (2009–present)
Midlands 6 East (North-East / North-West) were remerged into a single division ahead of the 2009–10 season known as Midlands 5 East (North), which remained a tier 10 league along with its counterpart Midlands 5 East (South) (formerly Midlands 6 East (South)). Promotion was now to Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly the old Midlands 5 East (North)) and there was no relegation. The league was discontinued at the end of the 2017–18 season.
Midlands 5 East (North)SeasonNo. of teamsChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsReference 2009–10 8 Tupton Nottingham Corsairs No relegation 2010–11 8 Long Eaton Horncastle No relegation 2011–12 8 Boston Keyworth No relegation 2012–13 8 Bingham Leesbrook No relegation 2013–14 9 Sileby Town Rolls-Royce No relegation 2014–15 10 Birstall North Hykeham No relegation 2015–16 10 Ollerton Meden Vale No relegation 2016–17 8 Skegness Keyworth No relegation 2017–18 9 Cleethorpes North Hykeham No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.
Promotion play-offs
Between 2008 and 2009 there was a promotion playoff between the runners-up of Midlands 5 East (North-East) and Midlands 5 East (North-West) for the third and final promotion place to Midlands 4 West (North), with the team with the superior league record having home advantage in the tie. The playoffs were dissolved at the end of the 2008-09 season when Midlands 5 East (North) became one division. By the end of the promotion play-offs the Midlands 5 East (North-West) teams won all both playoff games and the home team has also won promotion both times.
Midlands 5 East (North-East) v Midlands 5 East (North-West) promotion play-off resultsSeasonHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttendance 2007–08 Leesbrook (NW) 50–10 Ollerton (NE) Asterdale Sports Centre, Spondon, Derby, Derbyshire 2008–09 Dronfield (NW) 37–0 Skegness (NE) Gosforth Fields, Dronfield Woodhouse, Dronfield, Derbyshire Green background is the promoted team. NE = Midlands 5 East (North-East) (formerly Midlands 6 East (North-East)) and NW = Midlands 5 East (North-West) (formerly Midlands 6 East (North-West))
Number of league titles
Cleethorpes (2) Barton & District (1) Belper (1) Bingham (1) Birstall (1) Boston (1) Long Eaton (1) Melbourne (1) Ollerton (1) Sileby Town (1) Skegness (1) Tupton (1) Uttoxeter (1) Worksop (1)
See also Leicestershire RU Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire RFU English rugby union system Rugby union in England
Notes
References