Counties 1 Midlands East (North) (formerly Midland 2 East (North)) is a level 7 English rugby union league and at level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region, including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occasional team from Leicestershire. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 1, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) ahead of the 2000âÂÂ01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009âÂÂ10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 2 East (North) and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022âÂÂ23 it adopted its current name
The current champions are Belgrave, who are promoted to Regional 2 Midlands North.
The first-placed team (or runner-up if a reserve team wins the league) is promoted to Regional 2 North Midlands. Teams are relegated to either Counties 2 Midlands East (North) or Counties 2 Midlands West (West), depending on location; with the number of teams relegated depending on feedback following promotion and relegation in the leagues above.
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 the matches contribute points to the league as follows:
Departing were Belgrave, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands North while Burton 2XV (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands West (West) together with Loughborough (10th) and Mansfield (11th), both relegated to Counties 2 Midlands East (North). Also leaving were Manor Park (8th) who returned on a level transfer to Counties 1 Midlands West (South), together with Nuneaton Old Edwardians (6th) and Hinckley 2XV (runner-up) who both moved on a level transfer to Counties 1 Midlands East (South).
Departing were Ilkeston, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands North as runners-up; Hinckley Staghounds (2XV) finished top but were not permitted to be promoted to level 6, owing to the league rules on reserve teams in the RFU leagues. Boston and Birstall were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands East (North). Joining were Kesteven and Nottingham Moderns promoted from Counties 2 Midlands East (North), whilst Manor Park moved on a level transfer from Counties 1 Midlands West (South).
Departing were Mellish, promoted to Regional 2 Midlands North as runners-up (Hinckley Staghounds (2XV) finished top but were not permitted to be promoted on Level 6 owing to league rules on reserve teams in the RFU leagues). Ashbourne and Ashby and were relegated to Counties 2 Midlands East (North) whilst Coalville dropped to Counties 2 Midlands West (East).
Joining were Belgrave and Nuneaton Old Edwardians, both relegated from Regional 2 Midlands North, whilst Boston and Mansfield were both promoted from Counties 2 Midlands East (North).
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 1 Midlands East (North).
Departing were Long Eaton, Melbourne, Matlock and Newark â all promoted to Regional 2 Midlands North. Joining were Mellish and Birstall, both promoted from Midlands 3 East (North), together with Burton 2XV and Hinckley 2XV, both new entries.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020âÂÂ21 season was cancelled.
Market Rasen and Louth have won the league this season and are promoted to Midlands 1 East as champions for the season 2011âÂÂ12. Loughborough finished second and also gained promotion by beating Peterborough Lions, who placed 2nd in Midlands 2 East (South) in the promotion play-off. Lincoln and Ashby finished in the bottom two positions and have therefore been relegated for the coming season.
Teams in Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 1 East, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:
Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South) were originally part of a single tier 7 division called Midlands East 1. Promotion was to Midlands 2 and relegation to Midlands East 2.
The top six teams from Midlands 1 and the top six from North 1 were combined to create National 5 North, meaning that Midlands 1 East became a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands 2 and Midlands East 2.
At the end of the 1995âÂÂ96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands East 1 returned to being a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands 2 and Midlands East 2.
Restructuring ahead of the 2000âÂÂ01 season saw Midlands East 1 split into two tier 7 regional leagues â Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South). Promotion was now to Midlands 2 East (formerly Midlands 2) and relegation to Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands East 2).
League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were renamed as Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 7. Promotion was now to Midlands 1 East (formerly Midlands 2 East) and relegation to Midlands 3 East (North) (formerly Midlands 4 East (North)).
Following league reorganisation, Midland 2 East (North) is renamed Counties 1 Midlands East (North) and continues to be a tier 7 league. Promotion is to Regional 2 North Midlands and relegation to either Counties 2 Midlands East (North) or Counties 2 Midlands West (West), depending on location.
Since the 2000âÂÂ01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South) for the third and final promotion place to Midlands 1 East (aside from 2008âÂÂ09 which was played between the runners-up of Midlands 2 West (South) and Midlands 2 East (North) due to RFU restructuring). The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019âÂÂ20 season the Midlands 2 East (South) teams have ten wins to the Midlands 2 East (North) teams eight; and the home team won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams five.
As mentioned above the 2008âÂÂ09 promotion play-off in Midlands 3 were different due to RFU restructuring for the following season. The two runners-up with the worst league records in the four regional divisions at this level played each other for the final promotion spot, with the team with the superior league record having home advantage.