Leeds Akkies
Encyclopedia
Leeds Akkies are a rugby league
team based in The Old Modernians Sports Club, Cookridge Lane, Leeds
, LS16 7ND, West Yorkshire
. They play in the Yorkshire Regional division of the Rugby League Conference
, their A side plays in the Yorkshire & Humber Merit League
.
in 2003, playing out of West Park Bramhope RUFC. This was to pave the way for a huge influx of truly heartland teams the following season, drastically changing the face of the Conference.
Leeds won the North East Division in 2003 and the newly formed Yorkshire Division in 2004.
Leeds Akademiks had to change their moniker to Akkies due to a legal challenge from an American clothing brand named Akademik in 2005. The newly renamed Leeds Akkies joined the newly created Central Premier Division which they won. Leeds Akkies were defeated by the Bridgend Blue Bulls
in the Grand Final of the Harry Jepson Trophy.
In 2007 the club joined the newly renamed RLC National Division
and fielded three open age teams during a season at Weetwood, whilst redevelopment work took place at West Park. The club ended the season a tour to Barcelona - becoming the first British side to face local opposition on Spanish soil when they defeated a Catalan Universities XIII in Girona.
The Akkies launched its first women's team in 2008 whilst the men's team dropped to the Premier North. The club again fielded men's sides in the RLC Yorkshire Premier
and Regional divisions in 2009. The club's women's side came within points difference of claiming the WRLC
Yorkshire minor premiership and a place in the national play-offs. Leeds Mongrels RL were formed in 2009 by Leeds Akkies club member Carl Brown as an opportunity to play rugby league at a social level. They became part of the Akkies in 2010.
In 2010 the club ended its seven-year association with West Park Leeds RUFC in order to accept an invitation to join the Old Modernians Association in Cookridge, north-west Leeds.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
team based in The Old Modernians Sports Club, Cookridge Lane, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, LS16 7ND, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
. They play in the Yorkshire Regional division of the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...
, their A side plays in the Yorkshire & Humber Merit League
Yorkshire & Humber Merit League
The Yorkshire & Humber Merit League is a rugby league competition for clubs in Yorkshire and the Humber. It is a feeder league for the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
.
History
Leeds Akademiks were founded in 2003 by students from the three Universities of Leeds to provide a pathway from student rugby league to open age amateur rugby league. They were admitted into the North East Division of the Rugby League ConferenceRugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...
in 2003, playing out of West Park Bramhope RUFC. This was to pave the way for a huge influx of truly heartland teams the following season, drastically changing the face of the Conference.
Leeds won the North East Division in 2003 and the newly formed Yorkshire Division in 2004.
Leeds Akademiks had to change their moniker to Akkies due to a legal challenge from an American clothing brand named Akademik in 2005. The newly renamed Leeds Akkies joined the newly created Central Premier Division which they won. Leeds Akkies were defeated by the Bridgend Blue Bulls
Bridgend Blue Bulls
Bridgend Blue Bulls RLFC are a rugby league side based in Porthcawl, Wales. They play in the Welsh Premier of the Rugby League Conference. They are the most successful amateur rugby league team in Wales, having won the Welsh Premier a record five times, as well as winning the Harry Jepson Trophy...
in the Grand Final of the Harry Jepson Trophy.
In 2007 the club joined the newly renamed RLC National Division
Rugby League Conference National Division
The Rugby League Conference National Division is the highest division in the Rugby League Conference. Between 2003 and 2006, it was known as National League Three.-National League Three:...
and fielded three open age teams during a season at Weetwood, whilst redevelopment work took place at West Park. The club ended the season a tour to Barcelona - becoming the first British side to face local opposition on Spanish soil when they defeated a Catalan Universities XIII in Girona.
The Akkies launched its first women's team in 2008 whilst the men's team dropped to the Premier North. The club again fielded men's sides in the RLC Yorkshire Premier
Rugby League Conference Yorkshire Premier
The Rugby League Conference Yorkshire Premier is a division in the Rugby League Conference for teams in the Yorkshire area.It was first contested in 2008 following the break-up of the previous North Premier into the North West and Yorkshire Premiers....
and Regional divisions in 2009. The club's women's side came within points difference of claiming the WRLC
Women's Rugby League Conference
The Women's Rugby League Conference is a rugby league competition for female teams in Britain. It began in 2008.The men's equivalent is the Rugby League Conference.-2011 structure:...
Yorkshire minor premiership and a place in the national play-offs. Leeds Mongrels RL were formed in 2009 by Leeds Akkies club member Carl Brown as an opportunity to play rugby league at a social level. They became part of the Akkies in 2010.
In 2010 the club ended its seven-year association with West Park Leeds RUFC in order to accept an invitation to join the Old Modernians Association in Cookridge, north-west Leeds.
Club honours
- RLC North East Division: 2003
- RLC Yorkshire Division: 2004
- RLC Central Premier: 2005
- Women's RLC Plate: 2011