Rugby League Conference
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The Rugby League Conference (RLC) (also known as the TotalRL Conference as a result of sponsorship from totalrl.com) is a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England and Wales. In England there are eleven divisions (3 Premier: North, Midlands, South; and 8 Regional: North, North East, Cheshire, Yorkshire, North Midlands & South Yorkshire, South West & West Midlands, Central & East, South East) and in Wales there are two divisions (East and West).
The aim of the RLC is to provide regular fixture for new clubs based outside the 'heartland' of rugby league, although as the standards have raised it now also accepts teams from the 'heartlands'. The hope is that at least some of these clubs will eventually progress to become semi-professional clubs that could one day join the 'traditional' clubs in the national leagues to date only London Skolars have done so.
Confusingly, the top (winter) league administered by BARLA is also titled conference: the National Conference League. Although many of the clubs are affiliated to BARLA, the RLC is run, not by them, but by the Rugby Football League.
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[edit] History
The Southern Conference League was a 10-team pilot league founded in 1997. It had grown out of the defunct Midlands and South West Amateur Rugby League (MASWARLA). It included some teams that were temporarily playing in the East Midland League (EMARLA), and some of the top teams in the London Amateur Rugby League (LARL). One team, West London, was a joint venture between two LARL clubs and Bedford Swifts were the first ever cross code club. North London Skolars were the winners of the first and only Southern Conference.
The Rugby League Conference was founded in 1998 with 14 teams. The East Midland League (EMARLA) and the North East League (NEARLA) were eventually absorbed, with the latter giving teams to the Northern Rugby League Summer Conference, which existed in 2000 before being incorporated into the Rugby League Conference. The best of the London League was gradually included, with the rest reforming as a summer merit league for new clubs, police/prison sides and second and third teams.
The Conference expanded into Wales for the first time in 2001 when Cardiff Demons joined the Central South Division. Teesside beat Coventry Bears by a narrow margin in the grand final at Webb Ellis Road, Rugby.
In 2002 London Skolars were accepted into National League two, the first club in eighty years to make the transition from the amateur ranks to the professional leagues. In September, last year's losing finalist Coventry Bears beat Hemel in the grand final held at Cheltenham.
Hemel Stags, St Albans Centurions, Coventry Bears, Manchester Knights, South London Storm and Teesside Stealers joined the newly formed National League three in 2003. A Welsh Conference was formed in 2003 as the conference continued to expand.
The following season saw Birmingham Bulldogs, Carlisle Centurions, Gateshead Storm and Essex Eels leave the Conference to join National League three.
The RLC Premier North, Midlands (formerly Central), South and Wales divisions were set up in 2005 to include the stronger teams in those areas who were able to travel further to play away games. South London Storm resigned from National League three to join the RLC Premier South. Coventry Bears, Essex Eels and Birmingham Bulldogs also quit National League three to join the RLC Premier for the 2006 season with Carlisle joining the RLC Regional.
In 2006 a new league was founded as a feeder league to the RLC in the Midlands and South Yorkshire. The Midlands RL Merit League was based on the principles of the successful London League and consists of new clubs who are not ready for the full commitment of the Conference season together with RLC clubs' 'A' teams. It is hoped that other regions can set up merit leagues on a similar basis to the existing two.
From 2006 the Rugby League Conference provided administrative and promotional support to the Scottish domestic league as a pilot scheme which aims to have a Scottish division of eight teams as a full part of the Conference for the 2007 season. Gloucestershire Warriors became the first Conference side to beat a 'traditional' amateur side when they beat Pennine League team Illingworth 25-24 away from home in the 2006 Challenge Cup. South London Storm were crowned RLC National Champions after beating East Lancashire Lions 30-0 in the final at Broadstreet RUFC.
In 2007, Bradford Dudley Hill withdrew from National League three to return to the National Conference League and St Albans Centurions decided to join the RLC Premier South. Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks had previously re-entered the Rugby League Conference for the 2006 season after resigning from National league three a few weeks into the season. Hemel Stags were left as the only southern team and National League three was absorbed into the Rugby League Conference as the Rugby League Conference National Division with the addition of three teams from the Premier North Division: Leeds Akkies, Cottingham Phoenix and East Lancashire Lions. As a result of these team moving up and other teams dropping out there will no longer be a Premier North division in 2007.
[edit] Season and playoff format
[edit] Premier divisions
The Premier North and the two Welsh Premier divisions play home and away fixtures against each of the teams in their division, with the exception of the Midlands and Premier South Divisions, where teams will play one team from the other division home and away to make fourteen fixtures.
The top two teams in each Welsh division will enter the semi-finals to determine the Welsh champion. Each of the three English Premier Divisions will feature a top three play-off series to determine the winner, each of whom will join the Welsh champion in the Harry Jepson Trophy semi-finals.
[edit] Regional divisions
In the Regional Divisions, the eight team divisions are split into sub-divisions for fixture purposes. In the South West / West Midlands and the Cheshire Divisions the teams in each half play each other twice, and play the teams in the other half once giving ten fixtures. In the North and North East Division, teams play their half of the division twice, and two teams from the other half twice, giving twelve fixtures. All other divisions play home and away fixtures against each of the teams in their division.
Each RLC Regional Division will feature a top four play-off series with the winners entering the RLC Regional play-offs. The North East winners have a bye to the semi-finals and will play their grand final as a quarter final. There is an optional RLC Shield for the teams that don't make their divisions' play-offs.
All other divisions (including the two Welsh divisions) will simply play home and away, with the exception of the Midlands and South Premier Divisions, where teams will play one team from the other division home and away to make fourteen fixtures.
[edit] Representative fixtures
After the end of the RLC season a series of games between the different English regions (as defined by Sport England) are held. These regional teams draw upon players from the clubs in their region. After this a selection is made for the England Lionhearts who represent England in a competition against national amateur sides from Wales (players drawn from Welsh RLC teams), Scotland and Ireland (players from their own national amateur championship).
[edit] 2007 Rugby League Conference National
(formerly National League Three)
- Bramley Buffaloes
- Cottingham Phoenix
- Dewsbury Celtic
- East Lancashire Lions
- Featherstone Lions
- Gateshead Storm
- Hemel Stags
- Huddersfield Underbank Rangers
- Leeds Akkies
- Warrington Wizards
[edit] 2006 structure
[edit] Northern Premier
Note: Huddersfield Sharks and West Cumbria resign from the division; their results have not been expunged from the table |
[edit] Midlands Premier
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[edit] Southern Premier
Note: Essex Eels and Luton Vipers resigned mid-season. Their results have been expunged. |
[edit] Welsh PremierEastern Division
Western Division
Note: Pembrokeshire Panthers resigned pre-season. |
[edit] North
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[edit] North East
Note:Gateshead Winlaton Vulcans withdrew from the league pre-season to be replaced by Gateshead Storm 'A'. Catterick Panthers withdrew from the league mid-season. Their results have not been expunged from the table. |
[edit] Cheshire
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[edit] Yorkshire
Note:Ossett Trinity have resigned from the league with effect from the end of the regular season and will not take part in the playoffs. |
[edit] North Midlands/ South Yorkshire
Note: Worksop Sharks are known locally as Rossington-Worksop Sharks, but the name change has not been ratified by the RLC. Mansfield Storm resigned from the league mid-season and their results have not been expunged. |
[edit] South West and West Midlands |
[edit] Central/East
Note:Northampton resigned from the league pre-season. |
[edit] South East
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[edit] Past winners
[edit] Rugby League Conference National
- 2003 Warrington Woolston Rovers (as National League three)
- 2004 Coventry Bears (as National League three)
- 2005 Bradford Dudley Hill (as National League three)
- 2006 Bramley Buffaloes (as National League three)
[edit] Harry Jepson Trophy
The Harry Jepson trophy was competed for by all the Conference sides up to 2004. From 2005, it has been competed for only by the RLC Premier divisions.
- 1997 North London Skolars (as Southern Conference)
- 1998 Crawley Jets
- 1999 Chester Wolves
- 2000 Crawley Jets
- 2001 Teesside Steelers
- 2002 Coventry Bears
- 2003 Bridgend Blue Bulls
- 2004 Widnes Saints
- 2005 Bridgend Blue Bulls
- 2006 South London Storm
[edit] RLC Regional
The RLC Regional is open to English sides that are in the regional divisions rather than the Premier divisions. It was introduced in 2005.
- 2005 Wetherby Bulldogs
- 2006 Liverpool Buccaneers
[edit] RLC Shield
The RLC Shield is an optional secondary competition for regional sides that don't make their divisions' play-offs. Prior to 2005, it was for teams not making the play-offs of the Harry Jepson trophy.
- 2002 South London Storm
- 2003 Bolton Le Moors (now East Lancashire Lions)
- 2004 Cardiff Demons
- 2005 Blackpool Sea Eagles
- 2006 Not contested
[edit] Welsh Premier
Competed for by the RLC Wales division since 2005.
- 2005 Bridgend Blue Bulls
- 2006 Bridgend Blue Bulls
[edit] Welsh Shield
Secondary Welsh competition for teams who don't make the play-offs for the Welsh Premier.
- 2005 Newport Titans
- 2006 Not contested
[edit] Scotland
Scottish regional tier, introduced 2006.
- 1997 Lormond Valley Raiders (as Scottish domestic championship)
- 1998 Border Eagles (as Scottish domestic championship)
- 1999 Edinburgh Eagles (as Scottish domestic championship)
- 2000 Glasgow Bulls (as Scottish domestic championship)
- 2001 Edinburgh Eagles (as Scottish domestic championship)
- 2002 Edinburgh Eagles (as Scottish domestic championship)
- 2003 Edinburgh Eagles (as Scottish domestic championship)
- 2004 Fife Lions (as Scottish domestic championship)
- 2005 Royal Scot Steelers (as Scottish domestic championship)
- 2006 Fife Lions (not as full members of the RLC)
[edit] Northern Conference
North Eastern regional league, introduced 2000. Incorporated into the RLC 2001
- 2000 Teesside Steelers
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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