Counties 3 Midlands East (South North) / (South South) (formerly Midlands 4 East (South) area level 9 English Rugby Union leagues and level 4 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire, all of whom play home and away matches throughout the season. Each year, some of the clubs in this division also take part in the RFU Junior Vase – a level 9–12 national competition.
Formed for the 2006-07 season, the division was originally known as Midlands 5 East (South) but changed to its present name for the 2008-09 season due to league restructuring. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, saw it changed to Midlands 4 East (South) and post the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022–23 it adopted its current name. From 2023–24 the league was split into South and Central divisions.
Promoted teams move up to Counties 2 Midlands East (South) and since Midlands 5 East (South) was abolished, there has been no relegation.
2026–27
South North
Departing were Leicester Lions II (champions), promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South).
Departing were Rugby St Andrews (3rd), Market Harborough II (5th) and Rugby Welsh (10th) who moved on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands East (South South).
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aylestone Athletic Victoria Road Leicester, Leicestershire Level transfer from South (6th) Aylestone St James Covert Lane Leicester, Leicestershire New entry Birstall Co-Op Sports Ground Birstall, Leicestershire 6th Loughborough II Derby Road Playing Fields Loughborough, Leicestershire New entry Oakham Rutland Showground Oakham, Rutland 7th Quorn Rawlins Academy Sports Facilities Quorn, Leicestershire New entry Sileby Platts Lane Cossington, Leicestershire 2nd South Leicester Welford Road Ground Leicester, Leicestershire 11th Stamford II Hambleton Road Stamford, Lincolnshire New entry Stamford College Old Boys Stamford Welland Academy Stamford, Lincolnshire 8th Syston III Barkby Road Queniborough, Leicestershire 4th Vipers II Vipers Ground Whetstone, Leicestershire 9th
South South
Departing were Old Northamptonians II promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South).
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Ampthill IV Dillingham Park 3,000 Ampthill, Bedfordshire 2nd Bedford Athletic II Putnoe Woods 500 Bedford, Bedfordshire 4th Daventry II Daventry & District Sports Club Daventry, Northamptonshire 5th Huntingdon & District Huntingdon Racecourse Brampton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) Kettering II Waverley Road Kettering, Northamptonshire 3rd Market Harborough II The Rugby Ground Market Harborough, Leicestershire Level transfer from (North) (5th) Newbold on Avon II Parkfield Road Newbold-on-Avon, Warwickshire Promoted from Counties 4 Midlands West (South East) (runners-up) Northampton BBOB Saint Andrew's Road Northampton, Northamptonshire Re-entry Olney II East Street Olney, Buckinghamshire 6th Rugby Lions Webb Ellis Road 3,200 (200 seats) Rugby, Warwickshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) (12th) Rugby St Andrews Ashlawn Road Rugby, Warwickshire Level transfer from (North) (3rd) Rugby Welsh Alwyn Road Rugby, Warwickshire Level transfer from (North) (10th)
2025–26
Ahead of the new season the Central league was rebranded South (North) and the South league rebranded South (South).
South North
Departing were West Bridgford II (champions), promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South).
The rest of the teams in the previous season's league were level transferred with Long Eaton II (runners-up), Castle Donington (6th), Leesbrook (7th), Melbourne II (5th), Nottinghamians (8th) all moving to the Counties 3 Midlands East (North West) division; while Bingham (3rd) and Southwell II (4th) moved to the Counties 3 Midlands East (North East) division.
Ilkeston II (9th), Mellish II (10th) and Nottingham Moderns II (11th) did not return for the new season.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aylestone Athletic Victoria Road Leicester, Leicestershire Level transfer from South (6th) Birstall Co-Op Sports Ground Birstall, Leicestershire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (North) (9th) Leicester Lions II Westleigh Park 2,000 Blaby, Leicestershire New entry Market Harborough II The Rugby Ground Market Harborough, Leicestershire New entry Oakham Rutland Showground Oakham, Rutland Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) (10th) Rugby St Andrews Ashlawn Road Rugby, Warwickshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) (9th) Rugby Welsh Alwyn Road Rugby, Warwickshire Level transfer from South (4th) Sileby Platts Lane Cossington, Leicestershire Level transfer from South (7th) South Leicester Welford Road Ground Leicester, Leicestershire Level transfer from South (10th) Stamford College Old Boys Stamford Welland Academy Stamford, Lincolnshire Level transfer from South (8th) Syston III Barkby Road Queniborough, Leicestershire New entry Vipers II Vipers Ground Whetstone, Leicestershire New entry
South South
Departing were Leighton Buzzard (champions) and Rugby Lions (runners-up), both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South) while Luton (3rd) were promoted to the newly re-branded Counties 2 Hertfordshire (formerly Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex).
Also leaving on a level transfer to the South (North) division were Aylestone Athletic (6th), Rugby Welsh (4th), Sielby (7th), South Leicester (10th) and Stamford College Old Boys (8th).
Deepings (11th) and Northampton Men's Own (9th) did not return for the new season.
Bedford Queens (5th) were initially placed in the league but withdrew before the season began. Similarly Northampton BBOB were relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) (11th) into this league but also withdrew before the season began.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Ampthill IV Dillingham Park 3,000 Ampthill, Bedfordshire New entry Bedford Athletic II Putnoe Woods 500 Bedford, Bedfordshire Relegated from Counties 2 Eastern Counties (7th) Daventry II Daventry & District Sports Club Daventry, Northamptonshire New entry Kettering II Waverley Road Kettering, Northamptonshire New entry Old Northamptonians II Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion Northampton, Northamptonshire New entry Olney II East Street Olney, Buckinghamshire New entry
2024–25
Central
Departing were Keyworth, promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South) together with Asbourne II, North Hykeham, Paviors II, Rolls-Royce and Sleaford who all returned to the Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East and West divisions.
Joining were Bingham, Castle Donington, Ilkeston II, Leesbrook and Nottingham Moderns II.
Spalding II (new entry) started but did not complete the season withdrawing to leave the remaining eleven sides to contest the remaining fixtures.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Bingham The Pavilion Bingham, Nottinghamshire Re-entry Castle Donington Spital Park Pavilion Castle Donington, Derbyshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (South) (4th) Ilkeston II The Stute Ilkeston, Derbyshire New entry Leesbrook Asterdale Sports Centre Spondon, Derby, Derbyshire Re-entry Long Eaton II West Park 1,000 Long Eaton, Derbyshire 6th Melbourne II Cockshut Lane 2,000 Melbourne, Derbyshire 4th Mellish II War Memorial Ground Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 12th Nottinghamians Adbolton Lane Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire 11th Nottingham Moderns II Ferryfields Wilford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire New entry Southwell II Pentelowes Southwell, Nottinghamshire 9th West Bridgford II The Memorial Ground West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire 2nd
South
Departing were Northampton BBOB and Rugby St Andrews, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South). Castle Donington left on a level transfer to Counties 3 Midlands East (Central).
Joining were Luton and Bedford Queens, both relegated into the league together with Aylestone Athletic, a re-entry, and Leighton Buzzard who had withdrawn from Regional 2 Thames mid-way through the previous season.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Aylestone Athletic Victoria Road Leicester, Leicestershire Re-entry Bedford Queens Putnoe Woods 500 Bedford, Bedfordshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) Deepings Spalding Road Deeping St James, Lincolnshire 10th Leighton Buzzard Wright's Meadow Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire Re-entry Luton Newlands Road Luton, Bedfordshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) Northampton Men's Own Stoke Road Ashton, Northamptonshire 5th Rugby Lions Webb Ellis Road 3,200 (200 seats) Rugby, Warwickshire 7th Rugby Welsh Alwyn Road Rugby, Warwickshire 3rd Sileby Platts Lane Cossington, Leicestershire 6th South Leicester Welford Road Ground Leicester, Leicestershire 9th Stamford College Old Boys Stamford Welland Academy Stamford, Lincolnshire 8th
2023–24
Ahead of the new season a new Central division was introduced.
Central
This newly created league was formed in the majority of sides on a level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East and West divisions plus the addition of Melllish 2XV.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Ashbourne II Recreation Ground Ashbourne, Derbyshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) West (10th) Keyworth Willoughby Road Widmerpool, Nottinghamshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) West (2nd) Long Eaton II West Park 1,000 Long Eaton, Derbyshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) West (11th) Melbourne II Cockshut Lane 2,000 Melbourne, Derbyshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) West (5th) Mellish II War Memorial Ground Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire New entry North Hykeham Ruston Sports and Bar North Hykeham, Lincolnshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East (5th) Nottinghamians Adbolton Lane Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East (8th) Paviors II The Ron Rossin Ground Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East (7th) Rolls-Royce Moor Lane Derby, Derbyshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) West (8th) Sleaford David Williams Pavilion Sleaford, Lincolnshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East (6th) Southwell II Pentelowes Southwell, Nottinghamshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) East (4th) West Bridgford II The Memorial Ground West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands East (North) West (7th)
South
Departing were Bedford Swifts and Brackley, both promoted to Counties 2 Midlands East (South). Thorley (7th) were relegated into the Cambridgeshire reserve leagues.
Joining were Castle Donington, Northampton BBOB, Northampton Men's Own, Rugby St Andrews, Rugby Welsh and Sielby.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Castle Donington Spital Park Pavilion Castle Donington, Derbyshire Re-entry Deepings Spalding Road Deeping St James, Lincolnshire 6th Northampton BBOB Saint Andrew's Road Northampton, Northamptonshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) Northampton Men's Own Stoke Road Ashton, Northamptonshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) Rugby Lions Webb Ellis Road 3,200 (200 seats) Rugby, Warwickshire 3rd Rugby St Andrews Ashlawn Road Rugby, Warwickshire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands West (East) (10th) Rugby Welsh Alwyn Road Rugby, Warwickshire Level transfer from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (6th) Sileby Platts Lane Cossington, Leicestershire Relegated from Counties 2 Midlands East (South) South Leicester Welford Road Ground Leicester, Leicestershire 4th Stamford College Old Boys Stamford Welland Academy Stamford, Lincolnshire 5th
2022–23