NORTH Midlands 18-Group rugby clubs will launch their Midlands Championship campaign with a local derby against Staffordshire at Dudley Kingswinford's Heathbrook ground on Sunday (2pm).

North Midlands, who had a moderate campaign last season, have enjoyed mixed fortunes in their build-up to the championship, beating Lancashire but losing two other friendlies to Dorset & Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

They will select their side from the extended squad that was involved in the three warm-up matches with final selection taking place after a training session on Wednesday, October 24.

North Midlands will follow the Staffordshire match with goals against East Midlands at Bedford Swifts on November 4, Notts, Lincs and Derbyshire at Portway on November 11, Leicestershire at Silhillians on November 18 and Warwickshire at Coventry on November 25.

A Midlands side will then be selected to play in the Divisional Festival at the Castlecroft complex in Wolverhampton from January 4 to 6 which will form part of the selection process for the England side which will compete in the Home Nations Championship in Yorkshire from March 30 to April 5.

North Midlands 18-Group Clubs squad: Backs - Christopher Abrahams (Bromsgrove), Alex Church (Old Halesonians), Darren Day (Moseley), Frazer Higgins (Bromsgrove), Joe Hodges (Moseley), David Holmes (Stourbridge), Ian Hughes (Newport), Ian Kilner (Droitwich), James Malcolmson (Luctonians), Edward Nicholls (Dudley Kingswinford), David Roberts (Sutton Coldfield), Ross Rochelle (Yardley & District), Martin Tilley (Malvern), Craig Walker (Worcester), Matt Williams (Bromsgrove).

Forwards - Aaron Adshead (Old Halesonians), Steven Blackburn (Bromsgrove); Adam Blackford (Dudley Kingswinford), Richard Blaize (Moseley), David Booth (Worcester), Adam Bowser (Stourbridge), Simon Clarke (Moseley), Adam Clements (Hereford), Daniel Grant (Old Halesonians), James Hines (Kidderminster Carolians), Tom Livingstone (Moseley), Stephen McGrath (Yardley (District), Simon Metaxas (Stourbridge), Robert Pearce (Worcester), Paul Phipps (Dudley Kingswinford), Alex Ward (Old Halesonians).