The Midlands Leagues structure for next season has been confirmed after an RFU panel dismissed Melbourne’s’ appeal against their relegation from Midlands One West.
Melbourne will play in Midlands Two East North next season with ten North Midlands clubs in the 14-club Midlands One West.
Kidderminster Carolians have been level-transferred from Midlands Two West North to Midlands Two West South where they will face ten clubs from Warwickshire.
Places have been left open for Oswestry, who are considering returning to the Midlands Leagues from the North where there has been league restructuring, and also Dixonians who have successfully regrouped after a period playing merit table and social rugby.
If Oswestry, who were in South Lancashire/Cheshire Two last season, decide to return to the Midlands they will compete in Midlands Four West North. Dixonians would rejoin in Midlands Five West North.
Bredon Star and Ross on Wye will again play their league rugby in the South West in the Gloucestershire Leagues.
Birmingham & Solihull, who won the Midlands Premier title last season, will play in National Two South next season with Stourbridge remaining in National Two North and Birmingham Moseley in National One.
Three North Midlands clubs, Birmingham Barbarians, Five Ways OE and Dudley Wasps will continue to play their rugby outside of the league structure.
Midlands Leagues structure 2018/19
Midlands Premier: BOURNVILLE, BRIDGNORTH, Broadstreet, Burton, Derby, Doncaster Phoenix, Lichfield, LUCTONIANS, NEWPORT, Nuneaton, Sandbach, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Syston.
Midlands One West: BROMSGROVE, DROITWICH, DUDLEY KINGSWINFORD, HEREFORD, Longton, MALVERN, MOSELEY OAK, Newbold-on-Avon, OLD HALESONIANS, Stoke, STOURBRIDGE LIONS, Sutton Coldfield, WHITCHURCH, WORCESTER.
Midlands Two West North: CAMP HILL, Crewe & Nantwich, Leek, LUDLOW, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Spartans, Stafford, Tamworth, TELFORD HORNETS, VESEYANS, Walsall, Wolverhampton.
Midlands Two West South: Barkers’ Butts, Earlsdon, EVESHAM, Kenilworth, KIDDERMINSTER CAROLIANS, Leamington, Nuneaton OE, Old Coventrians, Old Laurentians, Rugby St Andrews, Silhillians, Southam.
Midlands Three West North: Burntwood, Cannock, CLEOBURY MORTIMER, Eccleshall, EDWARDIANS, Handsworth, HARBORNE, OLD SATLEIANS, SHREWSBURY, Trentham, Uttoxeter, Wednesbury.
Midlands Three West South: Alcester, Berkswell & Balsall, Coventry Welsh, Dunlop, LEDBURY, Manor Park, Old Leamingtonians, OLD YARDLEIANS, Pinley, Shipston on Stour, Stoke OB, UPTON ON SEVERN, WOODRUSH.
Midlands Four West North: ALDRIDGE, ASTON OE, Barton under Needwood, Bloxwich, CLEE HILL, Essington, Linley, MARKET DRAYTON, OSWESTRY (tbc), Rugeley, Willenhall, YARDLEY & DISTRICT.
Midlands Four West South: Bedworth, BROMYARD, Burbage, Claverdon, Coventrians, GREYHOUND, Harbury, KINGS NORTON, Old Wheatleyans, PERSHORE, REDDITCH.
Midlands Five West North: BISHOPS CASTLE, CHADDESLEY CORBETT, CHURCH STRETTON, DIXONIANS (tbc), STOURPORT, TENBURY, WARLEY.
Midlands Five West South: AEI Rugby (tbc), Atherstone, BIRMINGHAM CS, BIRMINGHAM EXILES, Keresley, Rugby Welsh, Trinity Guild.