National League 3 Midlands

National League 3 Midlands
Current season or competition:: 2016–17 National League 3 Midlands
Sport	Rugby union
Instituted	1987
Number of teams	14
Country	England
Holders	Broadstreet (4th title) (2016–17 promoted to National League 2 North)
Most titles	Broadstreet (4 titles)
Website	clubs.rfu.com

National League 3 Midlands (known before September 2009 as Midlands 1) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of four leagues at this level, with its counterparts, National League 3 London & SE, National League 3 North and National League 3 South West. National League 3 Midlands is the highest regional rugby union league in the English Midlands and the champion club is automatically promoted to National League 2 North. The runner-up meets the second placed team of National League 3 North in a play-off with the winner also gaining promotion. Relegated teams drop down to either Midlands 1 East or Midlands 1 West depending on location, and other factors such as the location of relegated and promoted teams in other divisions. The format of the league was changed at the beginning of the 2009–10 season following a reorganisation by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

The current champions are Broadstreet, who won the league by two points over the runner-up, Sheffield. Sheffield won at Rossendale in the promotion play-off and will join Broadstreet, who were relegated last season, in National League North. Subject to confirmation by the RFU three clubs are relegated; Sandbach, Bedford Athletic and Syston.

The fourteen teams in this league are drawn from across the midlands with the league champions being promoted to National League 2 North and the runner-up going into a play-off with the second placed team from National League 3 North with the winner also being promoted. The league's bottom three teams are relegated to either Midlands 1 East or Midlands 1 West depending on their geographic location.

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