Counties 4 Midlands West (South West) / (South East) (formerly Midlands 5 West (South)) are level 10 English Rugby Union leagues and level 5 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and even (on occasion) Cheshire and Oxfordshire, with home and away matches played 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 in 2006 originally the league was divided into two regional divisions – Midlands 6 South-East and South-West – but was merged into a single division for the 2010–11 season. In its present state promoted teams typically move up to either Midlands 4 West (North) or Midlands 4 West (South) with there being no relegation as it is the basement division for Midlands rugby. There was also another regional tier 5 Midlands league - Midlands 5 West (North) - but this league was discontinued at the end of the 2018–19 season, with most teams transferred into a new-look Midlands 5 West (South). Further restructuring followed in the wake of the RFU's Adult Competition Review, from season 2022-23 it has been known as Counties 4 Midlands West (South).
2026-27
Ahead of the new season the South division was redesignated South West and the East division redesignated South East.
South West
Departing were Kings Norton and Worcester II both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South).
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Alcester II Birmingham Road Alcester, Warwickshire Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (East) (6th) Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) Bromsgrove III Finstall Park Bromsgrove, Worcestershire 8th Bromyard II Clive Richards Sports Ground Bromyard, Herefordshire Promoted from North Midlands Merit Chaddesley Corbett Fox Lane Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire 5th Malvern II Spring Lane Malvern, Worcestershire 3rd Old Halesonians II Wassell Grove Hagley, Stourbridge, Worcestershire 6th Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 9th Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 4th Tenbury Wells Penlu Sports Club Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire 7th
South East
Departing were champions Shipston-on-Stour II were promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (East) while runners-up Newbold on Avon II were promoted to Counties 3 Midlands East (South South) and third place Camp Hill II were promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South).
Also leaving on a level transfer to Counties 4 Midlands West (South West) were Alcester II (6th).
Old Saltleians II (8th) did not return for the new season.
Originally Old Edwardians II were scheduled to compete in the league, however a week before the new season started Old Edwardians withdrew from Regional 2 West Midlands due to "unforeseen circumstances" and so instead the club's 1XV took the place of the reserve side in this league.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands 10th Coventrians The Black Pad Holbrooks, Coventry, West Midlands 9th Edwardians Memorial Ground Solihull, West Midlands Reallocated from Regional 2 West Midlands Harbury II Waterloo Fields Harbury, Warwickshire 4th Manor Park II Griff & Coton Nuneaton, Warwickshire Promoted from Warwickshire 2 merit league Nuneaton II Liberty Way Nuneaton, Warwickshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (East) Old Leamingtonians II The Crofts Blackdown, Warwickshire 5th Silhillians II The Memorial Ground Solihull, West Midlands 7th Trinity Guild Rowley Road Baginton, Warwickshire 11th
2025-26
Ahead of the new season an East division was included for the first time with teams level transferred from the South and new sides added.
South
Departing were Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley (champions), Evesham II (runners up) and Droitwich II (4th), all promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South) while Keresley (3rd) were promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (East).
Also leaving on a level transfer to the new East division were Birmingham Exiles (9th), Old Leamingtonians II (8th) and Trinity Guild (12th).
Five Ways Old Edwardians (10th in 2024-25) did not return for the new season.
Kidderminster Carolians II started but subsequently withdrew from the league leaving ten sides to complete the outstanding fixtures.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Bromsgrove III Finstall Park Bromsgrove, Worcestershire New entry Chaddesley Corbett Fox Lane Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire New entry Kings Norton Hopwood Park Hopwood, Worcestershire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) Malvern II Spring Lane Malvern, Worcestershire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) Old Halesonians II Wassell Grove Hagley, Stourbridge, Worcestershire 7th Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 11th Stourbridge III Stourton Park Stourbridge, West Midlands New entry Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 5th Tenbury Wells Penlu Sports Club Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire New entry Worcester II Offerton Lane Worcester, Worcestershire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (South)
East
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Alcester II Birmingham Road Alcester, Warwickshire New entry Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (9th) Camp Hill II The Shrine Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands New entry Coventrians The Black Pad Holbrooks, Coventry, West Midlands Re-entry Harbury II Waterloo Fields Harbury, Warwickshire New entry Newbold on Avon II Parkfield Road Newbold-on-Avon, Warwickshire New entry Old Leamingtonians II The Crofts Blackdown, Warwickshire Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (8th) Old Saltleians II Watton Lane Water Orton, Warwickshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (East) (11th) Shipston-on-Stour II Mayo Road 600 Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire New entry Silhillians II The Memorial Ground Solihull, West Midlands New entry Stratford-upon-Avon II Loxley Road Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire New entry Trinity Guild Rowley Road Baginton, Warwickshire Level transfer from Counties 4 Midlands West (South) (12th)
2024-25
Departing were Upton-upon-Severn and Malvern II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South). Warley (4th) left on a level transfer to Counties 4 Midlands West (North).
Joining were Old Leamingtonians II, Kidderminster Carolians II and Trinity Guild.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands 5th Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 8th Droitwich II Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground 3,000 Droitwich, Worcestershire 3rd Evesham II Lower Albert Road Evesham, Worcestershire 10th Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire 12th Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 6th Kidderminster Carolians II Marlpool Lane Kidderminster, Worcestershire New entry Old Halesonians II Wassell Grove Hagley, Stourbridge, Worcestershire 7th Old Leamingtonians II The Crofts Blackdown, Warwickshire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (12th) Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 9th Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 11th Trinity Guild Rowley Road Baginton, Warwickshire Re-entry
2023-24
Departing were Hereford II and Worcester II, both promoted to Counties 3 Midlands West (South).
Joining were Upton-on-Severn, Birmingham Exiles, Warley and Old Halesonians II.
With two leaving and four joining the league was restored to twelve clubs from ten.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Birmingham Exiles Old Damson Lane Elmdon, West Midlands Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (10th) Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 8th Droitwich II Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground 3,000 Droitwich, Worcestershire 6th Evesham II Lower Albert Road Evesham, Worcestershire 10th Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire 7th Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 5th Malvern II Spring Lane Malvern, Worcestershire 4th Old Halesonians II Wassell Grove Hagley, Stourbridge, Worcestershire New entry Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 9th Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 3rd Upton-upon-Severn Banwell Park Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (South) (11th) Warley Tatbank Road Oldbury, West Midlands Relegated from Counties 3 Midlands West (North) (10th)
2022-23
This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review with the league adopting its new name of Counties 4 Midlands West (South).
Departing were Birmingham & Solihull, Cannock and Greyhound, all promoted. Leaving on a level transfer to Counties 4 Midlands West (North) were Stone (5th), Bloxwich (7th), St Leonards (8th) and Atherstone (11th).
Joining were Hereford II, Worcester II, Malvern II, Evesham and Droitwich II.
With seven leaving and five joining the league was reduced in size from twelve clubs to ten.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 9th Droitwich II Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground 3,000 Droitwich, Worcestershire New entry Evesham II Lower Albert Road Evesham, Worcestershire New entry Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire 12th Hereford II Wyeside Hereford, Herefordshire New entry Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 10th Malvern II Spring Lane Malvern, Worcestershire New entry Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 6th Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 4th Worcester II Offerton Lane Worcester, Worcestershire New entry
2021–22
Dixonians, who finished 11th in 2019-20, did not return for the current season.
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season Atherstone Atherstone Town Cricket Club Atherstone, Warwickshire 6th Birmingham & Solihull Portway Portway, Birmingham, West Midlands Promoted from Greater Birmingham Merit League Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley Bishop's Castle Community College Bishop's Castle, Shropshire 10th Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands 8th Cannock Morgan Ground Huntington, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire Relegated from Midlands 4 West (North) (12th) Five Ways Old Edwardians Ash Lane Hopwood, Worcestershire 5th Greyhound Hereford City Sports Club Hereford, Herefordshire 9th Keresley John E. Radford Fields Corley, Warwickshire 7th Redditch Bromsgrove Road Redditch, Worcestershire 3rd St Leonards Universal Sports and Social Club Stafford, Staffordshire Promoted from Staffordshire Merit Table Division 1 Stone Stone Hockey Club Aston By Stone, Staffordshire Promoted from Staffordshire Merit Table Division 1 Stourport Walshes Meadow Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire 4th
2020–21 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.
2019–20