Midlands 3 West (South) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the southern part of the West Midlands region including clubs from parts of Birmingham and the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and sometimes Oxfordshire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands West 2, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 4 West (North) and Midlands 4 West (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, led to the current name of Midlands 3 West (South).
Teams in Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 2 West, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:
At the start of the 2004–05 season Midlands 4 West (South) remained at tier 8 of the league system, with promotion continuing to Midlands 3 West (South). However, the restructuring of the leagues below meant that relegation was now to either North Midlands (South) 1[k] or Warwickshire 1.
At the start of the 2006–07 season Midlands 4 West (South) remained at tier 8 of the league system, with promotion continuing to Midlands 3 West (South). The cancellation of Warwickshire 1 league meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands 5 West (South).
League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 4 West (North) and Midlands 4 West (South) were renamed as Midlands 3 West (North) and Midlands 3 West (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 8. Promotion was now to Midlands 2 West (South) (formerly Midlands 3 West (North)) and relegation to Midlands 4 West (South).
^As Midlands West 2 was to split up into two regional leagues there was no relegation. Clubs that were not promoted were transferred into either Midlands 4 West (North) or Midlands 4 West (South).
^Midlands West 2 is mistakenly referred to as Midlands 4 East (South) on RFU website for 1999–00 season.