38-469: 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 . 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
76-488: A distinction between regional rugby union and the National Leagues above. Other changes that season saw London 3 North East be replaced by two new leagues - London 3 Eastern Counties and London 3 Essex - with teams transferred depending on location. In 2020, it was announced that a new league structure would be implemented in the community game from 2022–23. The new structure which was partly in response to
114-700: A level transfer, while runners-up Sheffield went into National League 2 North , having won their playoff game. Teams relegated from the league included Bedford Athletic and Syston , with Sandbach given a reprieve by the RFU in light of the London Welsh 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 London & South East Premier , while Doncaster Phoenix were level transferred into Midlands Premier from North Premier to address an imbalance of teams in
152-458: A place in the next season's Premiership. The new National League structure includes: The National League 1 was decreased from 16 to 14 teams. This resulted in a 26-game season on a home and away basis. The champions are promoted to the level 2 RFU Championship, and the bottom three sides are relegated to the level 4 National League 2 East , National League 2 West or National League 2 North depending on geographical location. The fourth tier
190-470: 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. First season as National 3 Midlands. When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Midlands 1) contained the following teams: 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 . For
228-473: A select number of clubs bouncing between the leagues. (For example, each season between 2005–06 and 2008–09 saw the club relegated to National Division One earning promotion to the Premiership the following season, and also either the promotion or relegation of Leeds Carnegie ). Debate still continues over the question of promotion and relegation, but with the strict criteria fears are reduced. From 2023–24,
266-456: 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
304-400: Is increased to three leagues of 14 teams each. The three league champions are promoted, with the bottom two in each league relegated to their respective regional division. With the restructuring, levels 5–11 became the new regional system. There are now 6 Regional 1 leagues, which are connected to the national leagues by promotion and relegation. The table below shows the current structure of
342-440: The 2012–13 season , the second group stage was discontinued. The top four teams at the end of the home-and-away season entered play-offs to determine the league champion, which earned promotion providing Premiership entry standards were met. The bottom team at the end of home-and-away season was relegated to, and replaced by the champions of, the third tier National League 1 . From 2017–18 through to 2019–20 and from 2021–22 ,
380-693: The COVID-19 pandemic will be reviewed every three years and saw the following changes: Below level 6 leagues sizes will depend on number of teams and geographical location. In February 2021, the RFU approved a moratorium on relegation from both the Premiership and Championship in response to uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also confirmed that league structure and minimum standards criteria for promotion were being reviewed. The moratorium only covered relegation and did not include promotion from
418-634: The Rugby Football Union (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 . Oxford Harlequins are the current champions and are promoted to National League 2 West . Old Halesonians (11th) and Broadstreet (12th) are relegated. The club that finishes as champions
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#1732794382420456-599: 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 ). 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 Midlands 1 East and Midlands 1 West ) At
494-466: 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. 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
532-468: The Championship may be reduced to 10. A summary of changes is outlines below: Promotion remains subject to minimum standards which have been reviewed and include several factors. Premiership Rugby is the top level league in England, containing the best 10 professional clubs. The premiership still includes strict ground criteria and a salary cap that must be met by all participants. Promotion from
570-462: The Championship meaning the Premiership expanded to 13 teams with the Championship reduced to 11 in 2021–22 with the promotion of Saracens . In June 2021, as part of the wider review the moratorium was extended by a further two years in the Premiership and also included relegation from the Championship in 2021–22 and promotion from the Championship following the 2022–23 season. This means the Premiership may be further expanded to 14 teams in 2022–23 and
608-477: The Championship remains (subject to eligibility), however the bottom side have not been relegated since the end of the 2019–20 season. The club seeking promotion must meet the minimum standards criteria. The champion is the top team in the RFU Championship after the league season. A play-off system was previously in place to decide which team were crowned champions. It was hoped this would bring to an end
646-507: The Greater Birmingham Merit Leagues) as they became an amateur club. Last seasons champions, Scunthorpe were promoted into National League 2 North, along with Luctonians who won their play-off game against North Premier runners up Blaydon . Teams relegated from the division included Derby and Syston (who drop to Midlands 1 East ) and Lichfield (who fall to Midlands 1 West ). Nine of
684-468: The Midlands Premier. Promotion continued to National League 2 North and relegation to either Midlands 1 East or Midlands 1 West . 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 National League 2 North . The team with the superior league record had home advantage. At the end of
722-499: The Premiership, is professional . Beneath the two professional leagues, the National Leagues were restructured to include a new 16 team National League 1 , 16 team National League 2 South and 16 team National League 2 North . The four top regional leagues became part of National League 3 at level five. For the 2017-18 season, the National League 3 leagues were renamed to have Premier as part of their title in order to make
760-506: The RFU allowed the creation of regional merit leagues with the most significant ones being the North, Midlands, South West and London merit leagues. In 1984 the RFU approved the creation of two national merit tables where clubs had to play a minimum of eight games against the clubs in their division. 1985 saw the creation of a third national merit league. In 1987 this was formed into a true national league system. The format and competitiveness of
798-422: 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 Premier was not contested. 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 National League 2 North ), while
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#1732794382420836-399: The championship play-off was eliminated. The league-season champions earned automatic promotion (again, assuming that they meet Premiership standards). Relegation criteria did not change. However, there was a moratorium placed on relegation in both 2020–21 and 2021–22 . From 2023–24 the winner (subject to eligibility) will contest a playoff with the bottom placed team in the Premiership for
874-459: The division included Old Halesonians , Longton and Newbold-on-Avon who all drop to Midlands 1 West . Nine of the fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. Scunthorpe were relegated from National League 2 North while the three teams promoted into the division included Newbold-on-Avon , Newport (Salop) and Bournville . Last seasons champions, Broadstreet , were promoted into National League 2 South following
912-458: The division were Kettering and Peterborough (who drop to Midlands 1 East ). 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. On 30 October 2020
950-558: 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 Midlands 1 East and Midlands 1 West ). 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). The division
988-569: The fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by Luctonians and Sheffield (relegated from National League 2 North ), Broadstreet (relegated from National League 2 South ), while the two teams promoted into the division are Burton and Syston . Last seasons champions Birmingham & Solihull were promoted into National League 2 South following a level transfer, while runners up Peterborough Lions RFC were promoted into National League 2 North after winning their play-off game against Hull . Teams relegated from
1026-403: The fourteen teams participated in last season's competition. They are joined by one relegated side, Scunthorpe (from National League 2 North ), while the three teams promoted into the division are Dudley Kingswinford (from Midlands 1 West , Oundle and Syston (both from Midlands 1 East . Last seasons champions, Bournville were promoted into National League 2 North . Teams relegated from
1064-449: The last placed team from the Premiership will playoff against the Championship winner (subject to promotion eligibility) for a place in the following season's Premiership. The new RFU Championship was formed in 2009–10 to provide a second tier of professional competition. The former National Division One was decreased from 16 clubs to 12 to accommodate the new fixture structure. For the first three seasons this included: Starting with
1102-576: The leagues has changed greatly since the leagues were first formed and a widespread and global restructuring of the leagues was announced in November 2008, for implementation from the 2009–10 season. Under this new structure, the top league remained the 12-team Gallagher Premiership . The second tier league was rebranded and restructured as the RFU Championship which replaced the old National Division One. This league also had 12 teams, and like
1140-593: The matches contribute points to the league table as follows: Departing were Stoke-on-Trent who finished fifth in 2023-24 and were level transferred to Regional 1 North West for the new season, Oxford Harlequins who were promoted to National League 2 East , while Old Halesonians and Broadstreet were relegated. Dudley Kingswinford won the league and were promoted to National League 2 West . Lichfield (11th) and Nuneaton (12th) were relegated to Regional 2 North Midlands and Regional 2 East Midlands respectively. Ten of
1178-484: The previous season. Scunthorpe (champions) and Hinckley (play-off) were promoted into National League 2 North while Old Northamptonians were relegated to Midlands 1 East and Sutton Coldfield and Newport (Salop) both dropped to Midlands 1 West . In order to address a league imbalance due to only one team coming down from National League 2 South, Bromsgrove (who had finished 11th), were level transferred to National League 3 South West . Each season,
Regional 1 Midlands - Misplaced Pages Continue
1216-434: 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. Despite leading the table for most of the season Hinckley lost 13 – 23 on the final week-end of the season to Scunthorpe , to finish in second place for
1254-437: 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 Sutton Coldfield . Each season, the runners-up in the National League 3 Midland, and National League 3 North participate in
1292-451: The system. Women's Rugby union in England consists of 26 leagues, which includes a national semi-professional league at the highest level, down to amateur regional leagues. Promotion and relegation are in place throughout the system, with the exception of the Women's Premiership . Historically, there were no leagues allowed as these were seen as a sign of professionalism. In the 1970s
1330-1382: The system. For each division, its official name, sponsorship name (which differs from its historic name) and number of clubs is given. At levels 1–3, each division promotes to the national division(s) that lie directly above it and relegates to the national division(s) that lie directly below it. Below that level, clubs relegate to the nearest local league. Level 1 Premiership Rugby 10 clubs 2 RFU Championship 12 clubs 3 National League 1 14 clubs 4 National League 2 North 14 clubs National League 2 East 14 clubs National League 2 West 14 clubs 5 Regional 1 North East 12 clubs Regional 1 North West 12 clubs Regional 1 South East 12 clubs Regional 1 South Central 12 clubs Regional 1 South West 12 clubs Regional 1 Midlands 12 clubs 6 Regional 2 North 12 clubs Regional 2 North East 12 clubs Regional 2 North West 12 clubs Regional 2 Anglia 12 clubs Regional 2 South East 12 clubs Regional 2 Thames 12 clubs Regional 2 South Central 12 clubs Regional 2 South West 12 clubs Regional 2 Severn 12 clubs Regional 2 Midlands West 12 clubs Regional 2 Midlands North 12 clubs Bromsgrove RFC Bromsgrove Rugby Football Club
1368-512: The three divisions. Birmingham & Solihull won the title on 7 April. 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 , Derby and Towcestrians (who were level transferred from the south-west league on promotion) – as well as Sheffield who were level transferred from National League 3 North having finished 7th
1406-414: The three teams promoted into the division are Bromsgrove , Kettering 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 . Birmingham & Solihull were initially relegated into the division from National League 2 South but decided to drop out of the league system altogether (joining
1444-493: 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 National League 2 North (formerly National League 3 North) and relegation to either Midlands 1 East or Midlands 1 West (formerly Midlands 2 East / Midlands 2 West). 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
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