Formed in 2006, the league was originally split into 2 regional divisions – Midlands 6 East (North-East) and Midlands 6 East (North-West) - but, by the 2009-10 season, the league merged into a single division. Promoted teams typically moved up to Midlands 4 East (North) and there is no relegation due to it being one of the basement divisions for Midlands rugby. At the end of the 2017-18 season the division was abolished with the majority of teams moving up into Midlands 4 East (North).
When this division was introduced in 2006 it was split into two separate divisions - Midlands 6 East (North-East) and Midlands 6 East (North-West) - containing the following teams:
Midlands 6 East (North-East / North-West) were remerged into a single division ahead of the 2009–10 season known as Midlands 5 East (North), which remained a tier 10 league along with its counterpart Midlands 5 East (South) (formerly Midlands 6 East (South)). Promotion was now to Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly the old Midlands 5 East (North)) and there was no relegation. The league was discontinued at the end of the 2017–18 season.
Between 2008 and 2009 there was a promotion playoff between the runners-up of Midlands 5 East (North-East) and Midlands 5 East (North-West) for the third and final promotion place to Midlands 4 West (North), with the team with the superior league record having home advantage in the tie. The playoffs were dissolved at the end of the 2008-09 season when Midlands 5 East (North) became one division. By the end of the promotion play-offs the Midlands 5 East (North-West) teams won all both playoff games and the home team has also won promotion both times.
Midlands 5 East (North-East) v Midlands 5 East (North-West) promotion play-off results
Green background is the promoted team. NE = Midlands 5 East (North-East) (formerly Midlands 6 East (North-East)) and NW = Midlands 5 East (North-West) (formerly Midlands 6 East (North-West))
^Last season as Midlands 6 East (North-East). All teams not promoted would transfer to the new look Midlands 5 East along with teams from Midlands 6 (North-West) for the following season.
^Last season as Midlands 6 East (North-West). All teams not promoted would transfer to the new look Midlands 5 East along with teams from Midlands 6 (North-East) for the following season.
^As the league was to be abolished the majority of teams in the division were promoted into Midlands 4 East (North).
^One of Cleepthorpes titles was won when division was split into Midlands 6 East (North-East) and Midlands 6 East (North-West).
^Barton & Districts title was won when division was split into Midlands 6 East (North-East) and Midlands 6 East (North-West).
^Belper's title was won when division was split into Midlands 6 East (North-East) and Midlands 6 East (North-West).
^Melbourne's title was won when division was split into Midlands 6 East (North-East) and Midlands 6 East (North-West).
^Uttoxeter's title was won when division was split into Midlands 6 East (North-East) and Midlands 6 East (North-West).
^Worksop's title was won when division was split into Midlands 6 East (North-East) and Midlands 6 East (North-West).