Counties 2 Midlands East (South) (formerly Midlands 3 East (South)) is a level 8 English rugby union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire, all of whom play home and away matches throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 2, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South) ahead of the 2000âÂÂ01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009âÂÂ10 season, led to the current name of Midlands 3 East (South). Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009âÂÂ10 season saw it changed to Midlands 2 East (South). After the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022âÂÂ23 it adopted its current name.
Promoted teams move up to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) while demoted teams drop into Counties 3 Midlands East North West, Counties 3 Midlands East North East, Counties 3 Midlands East Central or Counties 3 Midlands East South depending on location.
Departing were Long Buckby and Dunstablians, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South) as champions and runners-up respectively.
Rugby St Andrews (9th) and Oakham (10th) were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East South (North) while Northampton BBOB (11th) were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East South (South).
Departing were Biggleswade and Stewarts & Lloyds, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South). Luton (11th) and Bedford Queens (12th) were relegated to Counties 3 Midlands East (South). Bedford Swifts (10th) elected to withdraw from the leagues and instead play merit table rugby for 2024âÂÂ25.
Joining were Long Buckby and Oakham, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South), together with Northampton BBOB and Rugby St Andrews, both promoted.
With five teams departing and four joining the league was reduced in size from twelve clubs to eleven.
Departing were Daventry and Spalding, promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South). Melton Mowbray (6th) moved on a level transfer to Counties 2 Midlands East (North). Northampton BBOB and Northampton Men's Own were relegated.
Joining were St Ives, Dunstablians and Northampton Casuals, relegated from Counties 1 Midlands East (South), together with Bedford Swifts and Brackley, both promoted.
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 2 Midlands East (South)).
Departing were Stockwood Park, Dunstablians and Bourne, all promoted to Counties 1 Midlands East (South).
Joining were Biggleswade, Northampton BBOB and St Neots, all promoted.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020âÂÂ21 season was cancelled.
Teams in Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 2 East, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:
Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were originally part of a single tier 8 division called Midlands East 2. Promotion was to Midlands East 1 and relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.
The top six teams from Midlands 1 and the top six from North 1 were combined to create National 5 North, meaning that Midlands 2 East dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Midlands East 1 while relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.
At the end of the 1995âÂÂ96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands East 2 returned to being a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to Midlands East 1 while relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.
Restructuring ahead of the 2000âÂÂ01 season saw Midlands East 2 split into two tier 8 regional leagues - Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South). Promotion was now to Midlands 3 East (North) and relegation to East Midlands 1.
Midlands 4 East (South) continued to be a tier 8 league with promotion up into Midlands 3 East (South). However, the cancellation of East Midlands 1 at the end of the 2005âÂÂ06 season meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands 5 East (South).
League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South) were renamed as Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 8. Promotion was now to Midlands 2 East (South) (formerly Midlands 3 East (South)) and relegation to Midlands 4 East (South) (formerly Midlands 5 East (South)).