Rugby League Conference North West Division
Encyclopedia
The Rugby League Conference North West Division is a division in the Rugby League Conference
for teams in the North West of England.
was born in 1997 as the Southern Conference, a 10-team pilot league for teams in the South of England and English Midlands
. The first North West team to join the new league were the Chester Wolves; more teams from the North West joined the following season and a Northern Division was set up with teams from the North West and the North Midlands. Following a big expansion to the Rugby League Conference
in 2003, the North West got its own regional division.
In the 2005 season, there were enough Cumbrian teams to have a separate Cumbrian division. 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. In 2006, the RLC North West was renamed the Cheshire division as many Lancastrian and Cumbrian teams joined the Premiers leaving a division dominated by teams based in Cheshire. Between 2007 and 2008, there were enough teams in the North West of England to run a Cheshire division alongside the North West Division.
The North West Premier came into existence in 2009 when the North Premier was replaced by the North West and Yorkshire Premiers, the creation of a separate North West Premier division meant that there were not enough teams to run a North West regional division that year but the regional division made a come back in 2010.
North West based teams had been playing in the Midlands Merit League
and RL Merit League since 2007 but the North West got its own North West Merit League
in 2010 to create a three-tier Premier, regional and merit league structure.
Above the North West division is the RLC North West Premier
and the National Division
and below is the North West Merit League
.
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...
for teams in the North West of England.
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 as the Southern Conference, a 10-team pilot league for teams in the South of England and 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...
. The first North West team to join the new league were the Chester Wolves; more teams from the North West joined the following season and a Northern Division was set up with teams from the North West and the North Midlands. Following a big expansion to 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...
in 2003, the North West got its own regional division.
In the 2005 season, there were enough Cumbrian teams to have a separate Cumbrian division. 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. In 2006, the RLC North West was renamed the Cheshire division as many Lancastrian and Cumbrian teams joined the Premiers leaving a division dominated by teams based in Cheshire. Between 2007 and 2008, there were enough teams in the North West of England to run a Cheshire division alongside the North West Division.
The North West Premier came into existence in 2009 when the North Premier was replaced by the North West and Yorkshire Premiers, the creation of a separate North West Premier division meant that there were not enough teams to run a North West regional division that year but the regional division made a come back in 2010.
North West based teams had been playing in the Midlands Merit League
Midlands Merit League
The Midlands Merit League, was a summer rugby league tournament in England held between 2006 and 2009. It was a feeder league to the Rugby League Conference and had a season that runs from April to August...
and RL Merit League since 2007 but the North West got its own North West Merit League
North West Merit League
The North West Merit League is a rugby league competition for clubs in the North West of England. It is a feeder league for the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
in 2010 to create a three-tier Premier, regional and merit league structure.
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 North West PremierRugby League Conference North West PremierThe 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....
- RLC North West
- North West Merit LeagueNorth West Merit LeagueThe North West Merit League is a rugby league competition for clubs in the North West of England. It is a feeder league for the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
Above the North West division is the RLC North West Premier
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....
and 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 is the North West Merit League
North West Merit League
The North West Merit League is a rugby league competition for clubs in the North West of England. It is a feeder league for the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
.
2011 structure
- Blackpool Sea EaglesBlackpool Sea EaglesBlackpool Sea Eagles are a rugby league team based in Blackpool, Lancashire. They play in the North West Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
- Cadishead Rhinos
- Chester GladiatorsChester GladiatorsChester Gladiators Rugby League Football Club is a rugby league club in Chester, England. They play in the North West Division of the Rugby League Conference, North West Counties and the North West Merit League.-History:...
- Chorley Panthers
- Crewe & Nantwich SteamersCrewe & Nantwich SteamersCrewe & Nantwich Steamers is a rugby league club in Nantwich, Cheshire. They play in the North West Division of the Rugby League Conference and run a second team in the North West Merit League.-History:...
- Rochdale Cobras
Titles
- 2003 Carlisle CenturionsCarlisle CenturionsEast Cumbria Crusaders is a rugby league club based in Carlisle, Cumbria. They play in the North East Division of the Rugby League Conference. Their home ground is Creighton RUFC....
(now East Cumbria Crusaders) - 2004 Widnes SaintsWidnes SaintsWidnes Saints are a rugby league team based in Widnes, Cheshire. They play in the North West Premier Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
- 2004 Penrith Pumas (Cumbrian Division)
- 2005 Rochdale Spotland Rangers
- 2006 Liverpool Buccaneers (Cheshire Division)
- 2007 Widnes SaintsWidnes SaintsWidnes Saints are a rugby league team based in Widnes, Cheshire. They play in the North West Premier Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
- 2007 Macclesfield Titans (Cheshire Division)
- 2008 Widnes SaintsWidnes SaintsWidnes Saints are a rugby league team based in Widnes, Cheshire. They play in the North West Premier Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
- 2008 Northwich Stags (Cheshire Division)
- 2010 Mancunians RLMancunians RLMancunians RL is a rugby league club based in Manchester. They play in the North West Premier division of the Rugby League Conference. Their second team plays in the North West Merit League....
- 2011 Rochdale Cobras