East Men's League
| East Rugby League | |
|---|---|
Current season or competition: 2014 | |
| Sport | Rugby league football |
| Formerly known as | Rugby League Conference Eastern division |
| Instituted | 1997 |
| Country |
 England |
| Holders | North Herts Crusaders (2013) |
| Related competition | East Merit League, Rugby League Conference |
The East Rugby League is a tier 4 amateur rugby league competition structure with sides from the East of England and sometimes the South East of England and East Midlands. It was previously the East Division of the Rugby League Conference, which was set up in 1997.
Structure
The East Rugby League is undergoing a 3-year plan to improve the standard of the game and level of enjoyment for all participants.
The East Premier was set up for the 2013 season with an East Entry League below this for emerging clubs and second teams. 2013 is also the inaugural year for the East Cup. The competition operates for all tier 4 clubs in the East. Tier 2 and 3 clubs may enter a side but games must be played on the same day as their respective first team to ensure that competition is maintained at tier 4 standard.
In 2014, it is planned to add a new division between the Premier and Entry level. This will be the East Division 1 and will consist of clubs who wish to compete on a more structured level but who cannot compete with the standard of the established East Premier. Promotion and relegation will also be trialed in 2014.
History
The Rugby League Conference was founded in 1997 as the Southern Conference, a 10-team pilot league for teams in the South of England and the English Midlands. The initial line-up of divisions included an Eastern Division and this has been a feature of the Conference ever since.
The Premier Divisions were set up in 2005 for teams who had achieved a certain playing standard and where able to travel further afield to find stronger opposition.
The Eastern Division became the East Division in 2009.
The RFL restructured amateur rugby league in 2012 and the East Division became the East Men's League.
Community game pyramid
- National Conference League
- Conference League South
- East Premier League
- East Entry League
The East Merit League is the lowest level on the pyramid for clubs in the East of England. Above this, is the East Men's League; there is no Eastern premier division but sides from the East of England have taken part in both the South and Midlands Premiers. Currently only the South Premier.
Representative Side
From 2014, the East will have a representative side at the end of each season. The side will be made up of the best players from clubs within the East structure. They are likely to play other representative sides from other regions as well as services such as the Police, Fire brigade, Army etc.
Participating teams by season
Eastern Division
- 1997: Bedford Swifts, Ipswich Rhinos, Kingston, North London Skolars, West London
- 1998: Bedford Swifts, Cambridge Eagles, Ipswich Rhinos, Northampton (failed to start season), South Norfolk Saints
- 1999: Bedford Swifts, Cambridge Eagles, Hemel Stags, Ipswich Rhinos, South Norfolk Saints
- 2000: Bedford Swifts, Cambridge Eagles, Hemel Stags, Ipswich Rhinos, South Norfolk Saints, St Albans Centurions
- 2001: Bedford Swifts, Cambridge Eagles, Ipswich Rhinos, South Norfolk Saints, St Albans Centurions
- 2002: Bedford Swifts, Cambridge Eagles, Ipswich Rhinos, Luton Vipers, St Albans Centurions
- 2003: Cambridge Eagles, Essex Eels, Ipswich Rhinos, Luton Vipers, South Norfolk Saints, St Ives Roosters
- 2004: Cambridge Eagles, Hemel Stags 'A', Ipswich Rhinos, Luton Vipers, Middlesex Lions, North London Skolars 'A', South Norfolk Saints, St Ives Roosters
- 2005: Bedford Tigers, Cambridge Eagles, Luton Vipers 'A', South Norfolk Saints, St Albans Centurions 'A', St Ives Roosters
- 2006: Bedford Tigers, Cambridge Eagles, Colchester Romans, Northampton, South Norfolk Saints, St Ives Roosters
- 2007: Bedford Tigers, Cambridge Eagles, Colchester Romans, Greenwich Admirals, St Ives Roosters, Thetford Titans
- 2008: Cambridge Eagles, Colchester Romans, Greenwich Admirals, Hainault Bulldogs, Northampton Casuals, St Ives Roosters, Thetford Titans
East Division
- 2009: Bury Titans, Cambridge Eagles, Colchester Romans, Hainault Bulldogs A, St Ives Roosters, Northampton Casuals, Norwich City Saxons
- 2010: Bedford Tigers, Bury Titans, Northampton Casuals, Norwich City Saxons, St Albans Centurions A, St Ives Roosters
- 2011: Bedford Tigers, Bury Titans, Northampton Demons A, Norwich City Saxons, St Ives Roosters, Sudbury Gladiators
East Rugby League Premier Division
- 2012: Bedford Tigers, Bury Titans, King's Lynn Black Knights, Milton Keynes Wolves, North Herts Crusaders, St Ives Roosters
- 2013: Bedford Tigers, King's Lynn Black Knights, Milton Keynes Wolves, North Herts Crusaders, St Ives Roosters (Stowmarket Titans failed to complete the season)
Winners
Rugby League Conference Eastern Division
- 1997 North London Skolars (now London Skolars)
- 1998 South Norfolk Saints (now Bury Titans)
- 1999 Ipswich Rhinos (now Eastern Rhinos)
- 2000 Hemel Stags
- 2001 Ipswich Rhinos (now Eastern Rhinos)
- 2002 Luton Vipers
- 2003 South Norfolk Saints (now Bury Titans)
- 2004 Ipswich Rhinos (now Eastern Rhinos)
- 2005 St Albans Centurions 'A'
- 2006 Bedford Tigers
- 2007 Bedford Tigers
- 2008 Hainault Bulldogs
Rugby League Conference East Division
- 2009 Northampton Casuals (now Northampton Demons)
- 2010 Northampton Demons
- 2011 Sudbury Gladiators
East Premier League
- 2012 North Herts Crusaders
- 2013 North Herts Crusaders
- 2014
East Division 1
- 2014
East Entry League
- 2013 Bedford Tigers "A"
- 2014
East Community Challenge Cup
- 2013 North Herts Crusaders
- 2014
East 9's
- 2013 Kings Lynn Black Knights
External links
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