Counties 4 Midlands West (North)/(Central) (formerly Midlands 5 West (North)) was a level 10 English Rugby Union league and level 5 of the Midlands League, that was made up of teams from the northern part of the West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and even Cheshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. Each year some of the clubs in this division took part in the RFU Junior Vase - a level 9-12 national competition.
The league was formed in 2005 and was originally known as Midlands 6 West (North) prior to the Midlands league restructure at the end of the 2008–09 season. Promoted teams typically moved up to Counties 3 Midlands West (North) and there was relegation due to it being one of the basement divisions for Midlands rugby. At the end of the 2018–19 season the league was discontinued, with the majority of teams transferred to Midlands 5 West (South). However, following the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 the league was reinstated with the new name Counties 4 Midlands West (North).
2026-27
Ahead of the new season the league was split out with the introduction of a new 'Central' division.
North
Departing were Whitchurch II(champions) and Bloxwich (runners-up), both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (North). There was no relegation.
Leaving on a level transfer to the newly formed Central division were Wednesbury, Burntwood II, Telford Hornets II and Essington.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Barton-under-Needwood II Holland Sports Club Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire Burton III Battlestead Croft, Tatenhill 5,500 (600 seats Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire Cannock Morgan Ground Huntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) Congleton Congleton Park Congleton, Cheshire Relegated from Counties 3 ADM Lancashire & Cheshire (11th) Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire 8th Newcastle (Staffs) III Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 10th Penkridge Penkridge Sports & Recreation Centre Penkridge, Staffordshire Promoted from Staffordshire merit leagues Shrewsbury II Sundorne Castle Uffington, Shrewsbury, Shropshire Stafford II The County Ground Stafford, Staffordshire 9th Trentham II New Inn Lane Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire 6th
Central
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Burntwood II The Sportsway Burntwood, Staffordshire 4th Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire 7th Moseley Oak II Billesley Common 5,000 (1,300 seats) Moseley, Birmingham, West Midlands Old Saltleians II Watton Lane Water Orton, Warwickshire Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (East) Sutton Coldfield II Roger Smoldon Ground Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands Tamworth II Wigginton Park Tamworth, Staffordshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (East) (12th) Telford Hornets II Hinkshay Road Telford, Shropshire 5th Wednesbury Woden Road North Wednesbury, West Midlands 3rd Willenhall II Bognop Road Essington, Staffordshire
2025-26
Departing were Newport (Salop) III (champions) and St Leonards (runners-up), both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (North). Warley (3rd) were promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South).
Aldridge re-entered the league having withdrawn from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) in season 2024–25 but subsequently withdrew part way through the season as did Stoke-on-Trent II (relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North)) leaving ten clubs to contest the outstanding fixtures.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands 6th Burntwood II The Sportsway Burntwood, Staffordshire 5th Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire 10th Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire 9th Newcastle (Staffs) III Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 7th Stafford II The County Ground Stafford, Staffordshire New entry Telford Hornets II Hinkshay Road Telford, Shropshire 8th Trentham II New Inn Lane Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire New entry Wednesbury Woden Road North Wednesbury, West Midlands 4th Whitchurch II Edgeley Park Whitchurch, Shropshire New entry
2024-25
Departing were Burton III and Stoke-on-Trent II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (North). Atherstone were promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (East).
Joining were Newport (Salop) III, Telford Hornets II and Warley.
Whittington (9th in 23–24) and Erdington (12th in 23–24) started the season but withdrew due to an inability to fulfil fixtures.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands 4th Burntwood II The Sportsway Burntwood, Staffordshire 7th Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire 6th Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire 11th Newcastle (Staffs) III Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 10th Newport (Salop) III The Old Showground Newport, Shropshire New entry St Leonards Universal Sports and Social Club Stafford, Staffordshire 8th Telford Hornets II Hinkshay Road Telford, Shropshire New entry Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (4th) Wednesbury Woden Road North Wednesbury, West Midlands 5th
2023-24
Departing were Stone, promoted whilst Longton II (11th) returned to the Staffordshire merit leagues.
Joining were Whittington, Wednesbury and Burntwood II.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire 6th Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands 3rd Burton III Battlestead Croft, Tatenhill Burton, Staffordshire 7th Burntwood II The Sportsway Burntwood, Staffordshire New entry Erdington Spring Lane Playing Fields Erdington, West Midlands 9th Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire 5th Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire 8th Newcastle (Staffs) II Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 2nd St Leonards Universal Sports and Social Club Stafford, Staffordshire 4th Stoke-on-Trent Hartwell Lane Barlaston, Staffordshire 10th Wednesbury Woden Road North Wednesbury, West Midlands Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) (10th) Whittington Eastern Avenue Lichfield, Staffordshire Re-entry
2022-23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 4 Midlands West (North).
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (11th) Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (7th) Burton III Battlestead Croft, Tatenhill Burton, Staffordshire New entry Erdington Spring Lane Playing Fields Erdington, West Midlands Re-entry Essington High Hill Centre Essington, Staffordshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire Re-entry Longton II Trentham Fields Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire New entry Newcastle (Staffs) II Lilleshall Road Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire New entry St Leonards Universal Sports and Social Club Stafford, Staffordshire Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (8th) Stoke-on-Trent II Hartwell Lane Barlaston, Staffordshire New entry Stone Stone Hockey Club Aston By Stone, Staffordshire Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (5th)
2019-2022
Not contested
2018–19
Participating teams & locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 3rd Chaddesley Corbett Fox Lane Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire 5th Dixonians Rowheath Park Birmingham, West Midlands Greater Birmingham Merit League (champions) Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 8th Tenbury Penlu Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (South) (11th) Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands 6th
2017–18
Participating teams & locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (11th) Chaddesley Corbett Fox Lane Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire 5th Gnosall Gnosall Family Sports Club Gnosall, Staffordshire Staffordshire Merit Leagues Greyhound Hereford City Sports Club Hereford, Herefordshire 3rd Linley & Kidsgrove Kidsgrove Cricket Club Kidsgrove, Staffordshire Transferred from South Lancs/Cheshire 3 (14th) St Leonards Brian Westhead Pavilion Stafford, Staffordshire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (12th) Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 6th Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands 7th
Participating Clubs 2016-17 Acton Nomads Aldridge (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North)) Chaddesley Corbett Greyhound Market Drayton (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North)) Stourport Tenbury Warley
Participating Clubs 2015-16 Chaddesley Corbett Essington Greyhound (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North)) Tenbury (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North)) St Leonards Stourport Warley
Participating Clubs 2014-15 Aldridge Birmingham Barbarians Chaddesley Corbett Church Stretton Essington St Leonards Stourport Warley (relegated from Midlands 4 West (North)) Whittington
Participating Clubs 2013-14 Aldridge Birmingham Barbarians Chaddesley Corbett Essington Rugeley Stourport Telford Hornets Whittington
Participating clubs 2012–13 Aldridge Birmingham Barbarians Essington Rugeley St Leonards Stourport Warley Whittington
Participating clubs 2010–11 Aldridge Birmingham Civil Service Bromyard Five Ways Old Edwardians Hanford Old Griffinians Stourport Tenbury Wheaton Aston Whittington
Original teams
When this division was introduced in 2005 as Midlands 6 West (North) it contained the following teams:
Barton-under-Needwood - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (3rd) Eccleshall - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (8th) Gnosall - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (9th) Hanford - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (8th) Market Drayton - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (6th) Rugley - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (7th) St Leonards - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (runners up) Stone - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (4th) Wheaton Aston & Penkridge - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (11th) Whittington - transferred from Staffordshire 2 (5th)
Midlands 5 West (North) honours
Midlands 6 West (North) (2005–2009)
Midlands 6 West (North) was introduced ahead of the 2005–06 season as a tier 10 league to replace the discontinued North Midlands (North) and Staffordshire 1 leagues. Promotion was to Midlands 5 West (North) and there was no relegation.
Midlands 6 West (North)SeasonNo of TeamsChampionsRunners–upRelegated TeamsReference2005–06 10 St Leonards Rugley No relegation 2006–07 10 Handsworth Eccleshall No relegation 2007–08 9 Barton-Under-Needwood Yardley & District No relegation 2008–09 8 Essington Rugeley No relegation Green backgrounds are promotion places.
Midlands 5 West (North) (2009–2019)
Further league restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 6 West (North) and their counterparts Midlands 6 West (South-East / South-West) were renamed as Midlands 5 West North and Midlands 5 West (South-East) and Midlands 5 West (South-West), with all leagues remaining at tier 10. Promotion was now to Midlands 4 West (North) (formerly Midlands 5 West (North)) and there was no relegation. At the end of 2018–19 season Midlands 5 West (North) was cancelled.