French rugby league system
Encyclopedia
The major national club competition in France is the Elite one championship, below this is the Elite two championship and a number of regional leagues. The teams in each competition will change each year depending on final standings and relegation / promotion.
There is no set structure for promotion and relegation. If a club wants to go up or down a level then they will consult the Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII
who will make the decision.
French clubs can also apply to the Rugby Football League
for a European Super League
franchise.
Super League
Catalans Dragons
are France's only representatives in the otherwise British Super League. They were awarded a place in Super League on a franchise basis, there is no automatic promotion and relegation between Super League and French domestic leagues.
Other teams such as Toulouse Olympique
may join Super League in future.
Championship
Toulouse Olympique will commence playing in The Championship, a predominantly English competition, in the 2009 season. This is part of a long term strategy to secure a future Super League franchise (potentially from 2012).
Elite One Championship
There are eleven French rugby league teams playing in the Elite One Championship, the top tier of rugby league in France above the Elite Two Championship.
Elite Two Championship
The Elite Two Championship is the second tier of rugby league in France below the Elite One Championship, but above the National Division East and West. There are nine teams playing in Elite 2 in 2008.
Elite 2 was created in 2007 and replaced National League One, divided two pools East and West, as the second tier. Elite 2 was intended to bridge the gap between the top division and the rest of the clubs.
National Division 1
The National Division is the third tier of French rugby league. It is normally divided into two equal divisions East and West. However, in 2008 it is a single pool of 11 teams
Federal Leagues
There are several regional leagues below the National Division 1. In 2008 there are the following 6:
There is no set structure for promotion and relegation. If a club wants to go up or down a level then they will consult the Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII
Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII
The French Rugby League Federation is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in France. The Federation was formed during 1934 and since then has organized and governed the French rugby league championship, the Lord Derby Cup and all of the clubs that are contained within those...
who will make the decision.
French clubs can also apply to the Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
for a European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
franchise.
Hierarchy
- Super League
- Championship
- Elite One
- Elite Two
- National Division (East and West)
- Federal Leagues
Super LeagueSuper LeagueSuper League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
Catalans DragonsCatalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
are France's only representatives in the otherwise British Super League. They were awarded a place in Super League on a franchise basis, there is no automatic promotion and relegation between Super League and French domestic leagues.
Other teams such as Toulouse Olympique
Toulouse Olympique
Toulouse Olympique are a French professional rugby league team from Toulouse, in the southwest of France. They were founded on 22 October, in 1937 two years after the founding of the French Rugby League Federation. Between 1995 and 2002 the club were known as Spacers de Toulouse, due to links with...
may join Super League in future.
ChampionshipRugby League National LeaguesThe Championship, known as Co-operative Championship due to sponsorship by The Co-operative Group, is a professional rugby league competition based in the United Kingdom. It is currently contested by ten teams from England. It acts as Europe's second-tier competition below the Super League, and has...
Toulouse Olympique will commence playing in The Championship, a predominantly English competition, in the 2009 season. This is part of a long term strategy to secure a future Super League franchise (potentially from 2012).Elite One ChampionshipElite One ChampionshipThe Elite One Championship is the top tier French professional domestic rugby league competition....
There are eleven French rugby league teams playing in the Elite One Championship, the top tier of rugby league in France above the Elite Two Championship.Elite Two ChampionshipElite Two ChampionshipThe Elite Two Championship is the second tier semi-professional rugby league competition in France below the Elite One Championship, but above the National Division East and West....
The Elite Two Championship is the second tier of rugby league in France below the Elite One Championship, but above the National Division East and West. There are nine teams playing in Elite 2 in 2008.Elite 2 was created in 2007 and replaced National League One, divided two pools East and West, as the second tier. Elite 2 was intended to bridge the gap between the top division and the rest of the clubs.
National Division 1National Division 1National Division 1 is the third tier of rugby league in France, after Elite 1 and Elite 2. The winner of National Division 1 is promoted to Elite 2 subject to having adequate finances and facilities.-Teams:-Past winners:...
The National Division is the third tier of French rugby league. It is normally divided into two equal divisions East and West. However, in 2008 it is a single pool of 11 teamsFederal LeaguesNational Division 2National Division 2 is the fourth tier of rugby league in France, after Elite 1, Elite 2 and National Division 1. This tier was formerly known as the Federal Championship...
There are several regional leagues below the National Division 1. In 2008 there are the following 6:- Île-de-France/Pays de la Loire
- Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Rhône-Alpes
- Languedoc-Roussillon (2 pools)
- Midi-Pyrénées
- Aquitaine