Sport Rugby union Number of teams 14 Most titles Broadstreet (3 titles) | Instituted 1987 Country England | |
 | ||
Holders Scunthorpe (2nd title) (2015–16
promoted to National League 2 North) | ||
National League 3 Midlands (known before September 2009 as Midlands 1) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of four leagues at this level, with its counterparts, National League 3 London & SE, National League 3 North and National League 3 South West. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following reorganisation by the Rugby Football Union.
Contents
- 201617
- 201516
- Promotion play off
- 201415
- 201314
- 201213
- 201112
- 201011
- 200910
- 200708
- National League 3 Midlands honours
- Promotion play offs
- References
National League 3 Midlands is the highest regional rugby union league in the English Midlands and the champion club is automatically promoted to National League 2 North. The runner-up meets the second placed team of National League 3 North in a play-off with the winner also gaining promotion. Relegated teams drop down to either Midlands 1 East or Midlands 1 West depending on location, and other factors such as the location of relegated and promoted teams in other divisions.
2016–17
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 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.
2015–16
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 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.
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 their opponents are Wirral.
2014–15
2013–14
2012–13
2011–12
2010–11
2009–10
First season as National 3 Midlands
2007–08
National League 3 Midlands honours
The top six teams from Midlands Division One and the top six from North Division One were combined to create National 5 North. Midland Division One was now the name of a tier six league and was one of two feeder leagues for National 5 North, the other being North Division One.
The leagues were reorganised at the end of 1995–96 with the top four divisions increased in size. The fifth tier National 5 North was split and reverted to Midland Division One and North Division One. Wharfedale, the champions, were promoted to National Division Three and all of the other teams, bar Broughton Park, were transferred to the fourth tier, National 4 North.
Promotion play-offs
Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the league runners-up of National League 3 North and National League 3 Midlands for the third and final promotion place to National League 2 North. The team with the superior league record has home advantage and the home team has won twelve of the sixteen ties and the Northern teams have been stronger with twelve wins to the Midlands four.