Rugby League Conference Midlands Premier
Encyclopedia
The Rugby League Conference Midlands Premier is a division in the Rugby League Conference
. It is the highest level of amateur rugby league
in the English Midlands
.
It was first contested in 2006. Many of the clubs run juniors in the Midlands Junior League
.
For the 2011 season, there will be two phases, the first played in a grading phase with mostly regional games. The top four teams will then compete for the premier title and the remaining teams for the regional title.
was born in 1997, then known as the Southern Conference. The Premier Division 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 new Premier Divisions included the North Premier, the South Premier, the Central Premier and the Welsh Premier. The Central Premier had two Midlands clubs Telford Raiders
and Nottingham Outlaws and the rest of the clubs were from Yorkshire
or Lancashire
.
The Midlands Premier was created one season later in 2006. The founder members were Coventry Bears, Telford Raiders, Nottingham Outlaws, Derby City, Birmingham Bulldogs, Leicester Phoenix
and Wolverhampton Wizards. Coventry had stepped down from National League Three
to join the Midlands Premier, Birmingham Bulldogs had dropped out of National League 3 midseason (and regrouped in the West Midlands division) Nottingham Outlaws and Telford Raiders had joined from the Central Premier Division, Derby City had joined from the North Midlands division and Wolverhampton Wizards and Leicester Phoenix joined from the West Midlands division.
Wolverhampton Wizards dropped down to the regionals in 2007 to be replaced by promoted sides Gloucestershire Warriors and Somerset Vikings.
The 2008 season saw Telford Raiders and Somerset Vikings return to the Regionals but the elevation of Bedford Tigers from the Eastern division.
Nottingham Outlaws joined a reconstituted NL3 in the form of the National Division
for the 2009 season and Bedford Tigers switched to the Premier Division South. However, the division became an 8-team league with Telford Raiders, Bristol Sonics and Redditch Ravens all joining from the regionals as part of a restructure. Telford Raiders and Redditch Ravens failed to complete the season.
The remaining 6 teams played in the 2010 season but Derby City failed to complete the season.
The South Premier is the highest level of amateur rugby league in the Midlands
. Above the Midlands Premier is the National Division
and below are two regional divisions (East and North Midlands). Below the regional divisions is the Midlands Rugby League
.
Other Premier divisions are the South
, Welsh
, Yorkshire
and North West
.
The first six weeks of the Midlands division will be a qualifying phase with each team playing the others in their group twice; two cross group games and a randomly drawn game for Midlands Magic held on 18 June 2011 for a total of 9 games.
There will then be a split into regional and premier; the top two in each division combine to form a
Premier division with the rest of the teams forming the regional division. Each team plays the two teams from the opposite group twice for a total of four games and then the top two in both divisions play a Grand final to determine the champion.
The Premier and Regional champions will progress to the quarter-finals of the national play-offs for the Harry Jepson Trophy and RLC Regional trophy.
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...
. It is the highest level of amateur rugby league
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...
in the English Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
.
It was first contested in 2006. Many of the clubs run juniors in the Midlands Junior League
Midlands Junior League
The Midlands Junior League is an age group rugby league competition for club in the English Midlands. It is run by the Midlands Rugby League.Many of the teams taking part also run open-age sides in the Rugby League Conference or Midlands Rugby League....
.
For the 2011 season, there will be two phases, the first played in a grading phase with mostly regional games. The top four teams will then compete for the premier title and the remaining teams for the regional title.
History
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...
was born in 1997, then known as the Southern Conference. The Premier Division 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 new Premier Divisions included the North Premier, the South Premier, the Central Premier and the Welsh Premier. The Central Premier had two Midlands clubs Telford Raiders
Telford Raiders
Telford Raiders ARLFC are a rugby league club based in the town of Telford in Shropshire, England. Their first team plays in the Midlands Regional division of the Rugby League Conference and they have a development team in the Midlands Rugby League as well as an active junior development...
and Nottingham Outlaws and the rest of the clubs were from Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
or Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
The Midlands Premier was created one season later in 2006. The founder members were Coventry Bears, Telford Raiders, Nottingham Outlaws, Derby City, Birmingham Bulldogs, Leicester Phoenix
Leicester Phoenix Rugby League Football Club
Leicester Storm are an amateur community rugby league football club based in Leicester, England. They compete in Midlands Premier division of the Rugby League Conference and their Academy Team compete in the 3v SportMidlands Rugby League. The club's home is Phoenix Park which is in the suburb of...
and Wolverhampton Wizards. Coventry had stepped down from National League Three
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:...
to join the Midlands Premier, Birmingham Bulldogs had dropped out of National League 3 midseason (and regrouped in the West Midlands division) Nottingham Outlaws and Telford Raiders had joined from the Central Premier Division, Derby City had joined from the North Midlands division and Wolverhampton Wizards and Leicester Phoenix joined from the West Midlands division.
Wolverhampton Wizards dropped down to the regionals in 2007 to be replaced by promoted sides Gloucestershire Warriors and Somerset Vikings.
The 2008 season saw Telford Raiders and Somerset Vikings return to the Regionals but the elevation of Bedford Tigers from the Eastern division.
Nottingham Outlaws joined a reconstituted NL3 in the form of the 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:...
for the 2009 season and Bedford Tigers switched to the Premier Division South. However, the division became an 8-team league with Telford Raiders, Bristol Sonics and Redditch Ravens all joining from the regionals as part of a restructure. Telford Raiders and Redditch Ravens failed to complete the season.
The remaining 6 teams played in the 2010 season but Derby City failed to complete the season.
Rugby League Conference Pyramid
- RLC NationalRugby League Conference National DivisionThe 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:...
- RLC Midlands Premier
- RLC East and RLC North Midlands
- Midlands Rugby LeagueMidlands Rugby LeagueThe 3vSport.com Midlands Rugby League is a summer rugby league tournament in the Midlands region of England. It is a feeder league to the Rugby League Conference and a successor league to the Midlands Merit League...
The South Premier is the highest level of amateur rugby league in the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
. Above the Midlands Premier is the 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 below are two regional divisions (East and North Midlands). Below the regional divisions is the Midlands Rugby League
Midlands Rugby League
The 3vSport.com Midlands Rugby League is a summer rugby league tournament in the Midlands region of England. It is a feeder league to the Rugby League Conference and a successor league to the Midlands Merit League...
.
Other Premier divisions are the South
Rugby League Conference South Premier
The Rugby League Conference South Premier is a division in the Rugby League Conference. It is the highest level of amateur rugby league in the South of England...
, Welsh
Rugby League Conference Welsh Premier
The Rugby League Conference Wales is the higher of two Welsh domestic leagues for the sport of rugby league. It forms a Premier division of the Rugby League Conference competition which covers all of Great Britain.-History:...
, Yorkshire
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 North West
Rugby League Conference North West Premier
The Rugby League Conference North West Premier is a division in the Rugby League Conference for teams in the North West of England.It was first contested in 2008 following the break-up of the previous North Premier into the North West and Yorkshire Premiers....
.
Midlands East
| Club | Founded | Location | RLC Honours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Bulldogs Birmingham Bulldogs Birmingham RLFC are a rugby league team based in Birmingham. They play in the Midlands Premier division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:Birmingham Bulldogs were founded in 1989... A |
1989 | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
Western Division: 2000, Midlands Division: 2003 |
| Leicester Storm | 1986 | Leicester Leicester Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest... |
Central Division: 1997, South Midlands Division: 2004 |
| Northampton Demons | 2007 | Northampton Northampton Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is... |
East Division: 2009, 2010, RLC Regional: 2009, 2010 |
| Nottingham Outlaws A | 1999 | Nottingham Nottingham Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group... |
North Midlands Division: 2003, 2004; Midlands Premier: 2006, 2008; Harry Jepson Trophy: 2008 |
Midlands West
| Club | Founded | Location | RLC Honours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Bulldogs Birmingham Bulldogs Birmingham RLFC are a rugby league team based in Birmingham. They play in the Midlands Premier division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:Birmingham Bulldogs were founded in 1989... |
1989 | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
Western Division: 2000, Midlands Division: 2003 |
| Bristol Sonics Bristol Sonics Bristol Sonics are a rugby league club based in Bristol in the South West of England.The Sonics play in the Midlands Premier division of the Rugby League Conference. Bristol Sonics A play in the RLC West of England.- 2002-2004: Early Days :... |
2002 | Bristol Bristol Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007... |
West Midlands Division: 2007, 2008 |
| Leamington Royals Leamington Royals Leamington Royals are a rugby league team based in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England. They play in the Midlands Division of the Rugby League Conference-History:... |
2009 | Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire Warwickshire Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare... |
Midlands regional: 2010 |
| Telford Raiders Telford Raiders Telford Raiders ARLFC are a rugby league club based in the town of Telford in Shropshire, England. Their first team plays in the Midlands Regional division of the Rugby League Conference and they have a development team in the Midlands Rugby League as well as an active junior development... |
2003 | Telford Telford Telford is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, approximately east of Shrewsbury, and west of Birmingham... , Shropshire Shropshire Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west... |
The first six weeks of the Midlands division will be a qualifying phase with each team playing the others in their group twice; two cross group games and a randomly drawn game for Midlands Magic held on 18 June 2011 for a total of 9 games.
There will then be a split into regional and premier; the top two in each division combine to form a
Premier division with the rest of the teams forming the regional division. Each team plays the two teams from the opposite group twice for a total of four games and then the top two in both divisions play a Grand final to determine the champion.
The Premier and Regional champions will progress to the quarter-finals of the national play-offs for the Harry Jepson Trophy and RLC Regional trophy.
League standings
| Current Teams | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Tigers Bedford Tigers Bedford Tigers RLFC is a rugby league club based in Bedford, England. The first team plays in the Rugby League Conference, with a second team in the London League.- History :... |
x | x | 3rd | x | x |
| Birmingham Bulldogs Birmingham Bulldogs Birmingham RLFC are a rugby league team based in Birmingham. They play in the Midlands Premier division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:Birmingham Bulldogs were founded in 1989... |
6th | 6th | 6th | 4th | |
| Bristol Sonics Bristol Sonics Bristol Sonics are a rugby league club based in Bristol in the South West of England.The Sonics play in the Midlands Premier division of the Rugby League Conference. Bristol Sonics A play in the RLC West of England.- 2002-2004: Early Days :... |
x | x | x | 3rd | |
| Coventry Bears Coventry Bears Coventry Bears are a rugby league club, formed in 1998. They have a proud history pioneering rugby league in the Midlands, their major honours include winning the National League 3 title in 2004 and the Rugby League Conference in 2002... |
2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | |
| Derby City Derby City RLFC Derby City RLFC are an amateur rugby league club based in Derby, England. They were founded in 1990 and currently compete in the Midlands Premier Division of the Rugby League Conference. They have been ground sharing with Derby RFC at Haslams Lane since 2008.... |
4th | 5th | 5th | 2nd | |
| Gloucestershire Warriors Gloucestershire Warriors Gloucestershire Warriors RLFC are a rugby league team from the county of Gloucestershire in England. They play in the RLC West of England division of the Rugby League Conference and in 2006 made their debut in the Challenge Cup.-History:... |
x | 3rd | 4th | 6th | |
| Leicester Phoenix | 3rd | 8th | 7th | 5th | |
| Nottingham Outlaws | 1st | 2nd | 1st | x | x |
| Redditch Ravens Redditch Ravens North East Worcestershire Ravens, also known as NEW Ravens, are a rugby league club based in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. They play in the Midlands Premier division of the Rugby League Conference and Midlands Rugby League.-History:... |
x | x | x | DNF | x |
| Somerset Vikings Somerset Vikings Somerset Vikings RLFC are a rugby league team from the county of Somerset in England. They play in the South West Division of the Rugby League Conference.The team play at North Petherton rugby club... |
x | 4th | x | x | x |
| Telford Raiders Telford Raiders Telford Raiders ARLFC are a rugby league club based in the town of Telford in Shropshire, England. Their first team plays in the Midlands Regional division of the Rugby League Conference and they have a development team in the Midlands Rugby League as well as an active junior development... |
5th | 7th | x | 7th | x |
| Wolverhampton Wizards | 7th | x | x | x | x |
Key
| DNF | Did not complete the season |
| x | Did not participate |
| Divisional winner | |
| Qualified for divisional play-off | |
| Finished bottom | |
Titles
- 2006 Nottingham Outlaws
- 2007 Coventry BearsCoventry BearsCoventry Bears are a rugby league club, formed in 1998. They have a proud history pioneering rugby league in the Midlands, their major honours include winning the National League 3 title in 2004 and the Rugby League Conference in 2002...
- 2008 Nottingham Outlaws
- 2009 Coventry BearsCoventry BearsCoventry Bears are a rugby league club, formed in 1998. They have a proud history pioneering rugby league in the Midlands, their major honours include winning the National League 3 title in 2004 and the Rugby League Conference in 2002...
48 Derby CityDerby City RLFCDerby City RLFC are an amateur rugby league club based in Derby, England. They were founded in 1990 and currently compete in the Midlands Premier Division of the Rugby League Conference. They have been ground sharing with Derby RFC at Haslams Lane since 2008....
16 - 2010 Coventry BearsCoventry BearsCoventry Bears are a rugby league club, formed in 1998. They have a proud history pioneering rugby league in the Midlands, their major honours include winning the National League 3 title in 2004 and the Rugby League Conference in 2002...
- 2011 Bristol SonicsBristol SonicsBristol Sonics are a rugby league club based in Bristol in the South West of England.The Sonics play in the Midlands Premier division of the Rugby League Conference. Bristol Sonics A play in the RLC West of England.- 2002-2004: Early Days :...