National Conference League
Encyclopedia
The National Conference League is the top league in the pyramid of amateur rugby league
s run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association
(BARLA). Unlike the professional game, the majority of amateur rugby league in Great Britain
is played in the winter months, and the National Conference is a 'winter' league.
, the Yorkshire League
, the North West Counties League
, the Cumberland League
and the Hull & District League
. There is also a Barrow & District League
, however this is nearly all reserve sides with the odd team that can not afford the travelling costs involved in competing in the North West Counties League. Teams from these regional leagues can apply for election to the National Conference League if they meet stringent minimum criteria.
Somewhat confusingly, the main amateur competition for clubs that wish to play a summer season is also titled conference: the Rugby League Conference
(RLC). The NCL is seen as being the top division for 'traditional' clubs from the 'heartland' areas of rugby league, whilst the RLC consists mostly of clubs from other areas of the country, although there are a number of traditional teams now playing in the RLC.
There is no formal link from the NCL to any semi-professional league, as all professional rugby league in the UK
is now played in the summer. Some NCL clubs have however chosen to "move across" to the summer structure in order to progress towards the professional ranks, one example of this being Warrington Wizards
(who formerly competed in the NCL as Woolston Rovers) and Featherstone Lions
(accepted by National League three). Bradford Dudley Hill
have applied to switch from National League Three back to the NCL, with their application accepted in summer 2006.
Many of the players from the amateur BARLA teams go on to play for teams in Super League
, the Championship or Championship 1, though this is not as common as in the past as professional sides now run their own academy sides rather than relying on recruitment from local BARLA clubs.
The league added a second division in 1989, and expanded to three divisions (now named premier, first and second as opposed to first and second) along with a rebrand to the current name of National Conference League in 1993.
The National Conference League launched a series of Summer Divisions in 2009 but failed to repeat its summer experiment in 2010 leading three clubs: East Leeds, Milford Marlins and Shaw Cross Sharks to join the Rugby League Conference
.
(*) Askam withdrew before the start of the season
A proposed Eastern division featuring Normanton Knights, Castleford Lock Lane, West Hull and East Hull failed to materialise after Castleford Lock Lane and then East Hull pulled out and the other two teams declined the chance to join another division. Shaw Cross Sharks were initially scheduled to take part in the West Yorkshire Division but they withdrew to be replaced by Thornhill Trojans.
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...
s run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association
British Amateur Rugby League Association
The British Amateur Rugby League Association is the governing body for social and recreational rugby league in the United Kingdom...
(BARLA). Unlike the professional game, the majority of amateur rugby league in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
is played in the winter months, and the National Conference is a 'winter' league.
Relationship between NCL and other leagues
The five regional leagues beneath the NCL are the Pennine LeaguePennine League
The Pennine Amateur Rugby League, or Pennine League is a rugby league competition for amateur open-age clubs that runs from September to April. The clubs are drawn from West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and the east of Lancashire....
, the Yorkshire League
CMS Yorkshire league
The CMS Yorkshire League is a series of rugby league divisions in the traditional county of Yorkshire.The league is run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association...
, the North West Counties League
North West Counties
The North West Counties A.R.L. are a series of rugby league regional leagues covering the following age groups in the North West of England:-* Age 8 to 12* Age 13 to 15* Age 16 to 18* Open Age...
, the Cumberland League
Cumberland League
The Cumberland League is a series of rugby league divisions in the traditional county of Cumberland.The league is run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association . Teams from the Cumberland league can apply for election to the National Conference League if they meet minimum...
and the Hull & District League
Hull & District League
The Hull & District Youth League is a series of rugby league divisions in and around Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire.The league is run by a volunteer League Management Committee who are elected annually by the youth leagues member clubs...
. There is also a Barrow & District League
Barrow & District League
The Barrow & District League is a series of rugby league divisions in and around Barrow-in-Furness.The league is run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association . Officially, teams from the Barrow & District League can apply for election to the National Conference League if they meet minimum...
, however this is nearly all reserve sides with the odd team that can not afford the travelling costs involved in competing in the North West Counties League. Teams from these regional leagues can apply for election to the National Conference League if they meet stringent minimum criteria.
Somewhat confusingly, the main amateur competition for clubs that wish to play a summer season is also titled conference: 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...
(RLC). The NCL is seen as being the top division for 'traditional' clubs from the 'heartland' areas of rugby league, whilst the RLC consists mostly of clubs from other areas of the country, although there are a number of traditional teams now playing in the RLC.
There is no formal link from the NCL to any semi-professional league, as all professional rugby league in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
is now played in the summer. Some NCL clubs have however chosen to "move across" to the summer structure in order to progress towards the professional ranks, one example of this being Warrington Wizards
Warrington Wizards
Warrington Wizards are a British rugby league team. They play in the National Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:Warrington Woolston Rovers, a National Conference League team were invited to be founder members of the new National League Three, the 4th tier of British rugby league in...
(who formerly competed in the NCL as Woolston Rovers) and Featherstone Lions
Featherstone Lions
Featherstone Lions are an amateur rugby league club from Featherstone, West Yorkshire who play in the Rugby League Conference National Division and the CMS Yorkshire league Division 3. The under-18 team play in the Gilette National Youth League....
(accepted by National League three). Bradford Dudley Hill
Bradford Dudley Hill
Bradford Dudley Hill Rugby League Club is an English rugby league team based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, now playing in the National Conference League.-History:...
have applied to switch from National League Three back to the NCL, with their application accepted in summer 2006.
Many of the players from the amateur BARLA teams go on to play for teams in 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...
, the Championship or Championship 1, though this is not as common as in the past as professional sides now run their own academy sides rather than relying on recruitment from local BARLA clubs.
History
The league was founded as the BARLA National League for the 1986/1987 season with 10 teams: Dudley Hill, Egremont Rangers, Heworth, Leigh Miners Welfare (now Leigh Miners Rangers), Milford Marlins, Millom, Pilkington Recs, West Hull, Wigan St Patrick's and Woolston Rovers. The original NCL concept was one team per town.The league added a second division in 1989, and expanded to three divisions (now named premier, first and second as opposed to first and second) along with a rebrand to the current name of National Conference League in 1993.
The National Conference League launched a series of Summer Divisions in 2009 but failed to repeat its summer experiment in 2010 leading three clubs: East Leeds, Milford Marlins and Shaw Cross Sharks to join 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...
.
Structure
The National Conference League consists of three divisions of up to fourteen teams each, titled the Premier Division, Division One and Division Two. There is promotion and relegation between each division of three up and three down. The bottom two teams from Division Two face re-election, but usually they are both re-elected as enough teams resign from the league to allow new teams entry.
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(*) Askam withdrew before the start of the season
Summer Divisions 2009
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A proposed Eastern division featuring Normanton Knights, Castleford Lock Lane, West Hull and East Hull failed to materialise after Castleford Lock Lane and then East Hull pulled out and the other two teams declined the chance to join another division. Shaw Cross Sharks were initially scheduled to take part in the West Yorkshire Division but they withdrew to be replaced by Thornhill Trojans.
National League First Division Champions
- 1986-87 Heworth
- 1987-88 Milford
- 1988-89 West Hull
- 1989-90 Dudley Hill
- 1990-91 Leigh East
- 1991-92 Wigan St Patricks
- 1992-93 Saddleworth Rangers
National Conference League Premier Division Champions
- 1993-94 Woolston Rovers
- 1994-95 Woolston Rovers
- 1995-96 Woolston Rovers
- 1996-97 West Hull
- 1997-98 Egremont Rangers
- 1998-99 West Hull
- 1999-00 West Hull
- 2000-01 West Hull
National Conference League Grand Final Champions
- 2001-02 West Hull
- 2002-03 Siddal
- 2003-04 Siddal
- 2004-05 Leigh Miners Rangers
- 2005-06 Oulton Raiders
- 2006-07 Skirlaugh
- 2007-08 East Hull
- 2008-09 Siddal
- 2009-10 Leigh East
- 2010-11 Thatto Heath Crusaders
National Conference League First Division Champions
- 1993-94 Heworth
- 1994-95 Millom
- 1995-96 Beverley
- 1996-97 Askam
- 1997-98 Skirlaugh
- 1998-99 Redhill
- 1999-00 Oulton Raiders
- 2000-01 Leigh East
- 2001-02 West Bowling
- 2002-03 Thatto Heath Crusaders
- 2003-04 Wath Brow Hornets
- 2004-05 Shaw Cross Sharks
- 2005-06 West Hull
- 2006-07 Rochdale Mayfield
- 2007-08 Wigan St. Judes
- 2008-09 Wath Brow Hornets
- 2009-10 Thatto Heath Crusaders
National Conference League Second Division Champions
- 1989-90 Saddleworth Rangers
- 1990-91 Barrow Island
- 1991-92 West Hull
- 1992-93 Mayfield
- 1993-94 Oldham St Annes
- 1994-95 Eastmoor Dragons
- 1995-96 Wigan St Judes
- 1996-97 Redhill
- 1997-98 Featherstone Lions
- 1998-99 Ideal Isberg
- 1999-00 Eastmoor Dragons
- 2000-01 Thatto Heath Crusaders
- 2001-02 Crosfields
- 2002-03 Wath Brow Hornets
- 2003-04 East Hull
- 2004-05 Ince Rose Bridge
- 2005-06 Castleford Panthers
- 2006-07 Waterhead
- 2007-08 Millom
- 2008-09 Myton Warriors
National Conference League Challenge Cup
| 1987-88 | Leigh Miners Rangers | 15-0 | Milford |
| 1988-89 | Egremont Rangers | 2-0 | Wigan St Patricks |
| 1989-90 | Wigan St Patricks | 11-6 | Askam |
| 1990-91 | Millom | 14-13 | Dudley Hill |
| 1991-92 | Wigan St Patricks | 14-12 | Saddleworth Rangers |
| 1992-93 | Saddleworth Rangers | 25-10 | Askam |
| 1993-94 | Heworth | 22-4 | Blackbrook |
See also
- British Amateur Rugby League AssociationBritish Amateur Rugby League AssociationThe British Amateur Rugby League Association is the governing body for social and recreational rugby league in the United Kingdom...
- British rugby league system
- CMS Yorkshire leagueCMS Yorkshire leagueThe CMS Yorkshire League is a series of rugby league divisions in the traditional county of Yorkshire.The league is run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association...
- Pennine LeaguePennine LeagueThe Pennine Amateur Rugby League, or Pennine League is a rugby league competition for amateur open-age clubs that runs from September to April. The clubs are drawn from West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and the east of Lancashire....
- North West CountiesNorth West CountiesThe North West Counties A.R.L. are a series of rugby league regional leagues covering the following age groups in the North West of England:-* Age 8 to 12* Age 13 to 15* Age 16 to 18* Open Age...
- Cumberland LeagueCumberland LeagueThe Cumberland League is a series of rugby league divisions in the traditional county of Cumberland.The league is run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association . Teams from the Cumberland league can apply for election to the National Conference League if they meet minimum...
- Hull & District LeagueHull & District LeagueThe Hull & District Youth League is a series of rugby league divisions in and around Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire.The league is run by a volunteer League Management Committee who are elected annually by the youth leagues member clubs...
- Barrow & District LeagueBarrow & District LeagueThe Barrow & District League is a series of rugby league divisions in and around Barrow-in-Furness.The league is run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association . Officially, teams from the Barrow & District League can apply for election to the National Conference League if they meet minimum...
- Championship and Championship 1 (formerly the National Leagues)
- Rugby League ConferenceRugby League ConferenceThe 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...