Rugby League Conference
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2008-07-11T23:28:12Z
IceUnshattered
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/82.1.101.63|82.1.101.63]] to last version by JoelUK (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
{{Infobox sports league
| current_season =
| logo = RLC logo.jpg
| pixels = 125px
| caption = Rugby League Conference competition logo
| sport = [[Rugby league]]
| founded = 1997
| ceo =
| teams = 88
| country = {{ENG}}<br> {{SCO}}<br> {{WAL}}<br>
| champion = [[Featherstone Lions]]
| TV =
| website = [http://www.rugbyleagueconference.co.uk/ rugbyleagueconference.co.uk]
}}
The '''Rugby League Conference''' (RLC) (also known as the '''Co-operative Rugby League Conference''' as a result of sponsorship from the [[Co-operative Group]], is a series of regionally based divisions of amateur [[rugby league]] teams spread throughout [[England]], [[Scotland]] and [[Wales]]. There will be 13 divisions in 2008 (1 National, 4 Premier (Northern, Midlands, Southern and Welsh) and 8 Regional (Scotland, North West, Cheshire, Yorkshire, South Yorkshire & Lincolnshire, West and West Midlands, South West and East).
The RLC was founded as the 10 team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the south east, but has subsequently, rebranded and expanded both geographically and numberswise to include around 90 teams stretched across almost the whole of Great Britain from Lossiemouth in northern Scotland down to Plymouth.
The aim of the RLC was initially to provide regular fixtures for new clubs based outside the 'heartland' of rugby league, although as the playing standards have raised it now also accepts teams from the 'heartlands'. The hope is that at least some of these clubs will eventually progress to become semi-professional clubs that could one day join the 'traditional' clubs in the [[Rugby League National Leagues|national leagues]] to date only [[London Skolars]] have done so.
Confusingly, the top (winter) league administered by [[BARLA]] is also titled ''conference'': the [[National Conference League]]. Although many of the clubs are affiliated to BARLA, the RLC is run, not by them, but by the [[Rugby Football League]].
==History==
{{seemain|History of the Rugby League Conference}}
The Southern Conference League was founded as a 10-team competition in 1997. The following season it was rebranded as the Rugby League Conference due to its intentions to include teams from all non-heartland parts of the country and its even then inclusion of several teams outside the South. The league steadily expanded over the first few seasons right up to the fringes of the heartlands, before expanding into Wales for the first time in 2001 with the addition of Cardiff Demons. The league expanded into the North East that same season.
In 2003 National League Three was founded including some of the stronger Rugby League Conference clubs and some BARLA clubs. This same season massive expansion of the Rugby League Conference including an entire Welsh division. The league also pushed its borders further including more teams from the less rugby league playing areas of the counties considered the heartlands and went as far south west as Somerset. The league expanded further in 2004 by allowing entry to heartland clubs. For the 2005 season the competition was split into two tiers, with Premier divisions being created for above the existing regional divisions. The next major changes were in 2007 when National League Three (as the National Division) and the Scottish League became integral parts of the Rugby League Conference structure.
==Season and play-off format==
There is no promotion or relegation between divisions, teams may apply to join higher divisions and may or may not be accepted based on different criteria.
In the event of a default, the game is awarded 24-0 to the non-defaulting side.
===National Division===
The ten teams play each other on a home and away basis providing eighteen games. The top six teams then enter the end of season play-offs in the same format as the play-offs for the [[Super League (Europe)|Super League]] and [[Rugby League National Leagues|National leagues]]
===Premier divisions===
There are three English divisions and one Welsh division with seven to ten teams per division. Teams play fourteen games each in the English divisions and just seven games in the Welsh division. Each division then has its own play-off series to determine the champion with the four divisional winners entering the semi-finals of the play-offs for the Harry Jepson Trophy.
The premier divisions were added in the 2005 season to provide for clubs wanting to play a longer season and the development of those clubs within the Conference.
There is a minimum criteria attached to membership including the organization of at least one junior team. There will also be a requirement over time to add additional teams at junior level and to register for clubmark. It is also recommended to have a second open age team.
===Regional divisions===
There are eight regional divisions (seven English and one Scottish) in 2007 with four to eight teams and six to twelve fixtures per team with varying fixture formats. Each division has play-offs with varying formats with the winners entering the quarter-finals of the play-offs for the national title.
==Representative fixtures==
After the end of the RLC season a series of games between the different English regions (as defined by [[Sport England]]) are held. These regional teams draw upon players from the clubs in their region. After this a selection is made for the North versus South origin game as well as [http://englandlionhearts.co.uk/?c=News England Lionhearts] who represent England in a competition against national amateur sides from Wales, Scotland (players drawn from RLC teams) and Ireland (players from their own national amateur championship).
==2008 Structure==
===National===
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=99%
|-
!width=40%|Club
!width=10%|Founded
!width=30%|Location
!width=20%|RLC Honours
|-
| [[Bramley Buffaloes]]|| [[1879]] || [[Leeds]] || National Champions: 2006
|-
| [[Celtic Crusaders]] Colts|| [[2008]] || [[Bridgend]] || -
|-
| [[Dewsbury Celtic]]|| [[1879]] || [[Dewsbury]], [[Kirklees]] || -
|-
| [[East Lancashire Lions]]|| [[2003]] || [[Darwen]], [[Blackburn with Darwen]] || Shield winners: 2003 (as Bolton Le Moors)
|-
| [[Featherstone Lions]]|| [[1994]] || [[Featherstone]], [[Wakefield]] || National Champions: 2007
|-
| [[Gateshead Storm]]|| [[2002]] || [[Newcastle-upon-Tyne]] || -
|-
| [[Hemel Stags]]|| [[1981]] || [[Hemel Hempstead]], [[Hertfordshire]] ||
|-
| [[Huddersfield Underbank Rangers]]|| [[1989]] || [[Huddersfield]], [[Kirklees]] || -
|-
| [[Liverpool Buccaneers]]|| [[2002]] || [[Liverpool]] || Regional Champions: 2006
|-
| [[Warrington Wizards]]|| [[2003]] || [[Warrington]] || National League Three champions: 2003 (as Warrington Woolston Rovers)
|}
===Northern Premier===
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=99%
|-
!width=40%|Club
!width=10%|Founded
!width=30%|Location
!width=20%|RLC Honours
|-
| [[Carlisle Centurions]]|| [[2003]] || [[Carlisle]], [[Cumbria]] || -
|-
| [[Durham Tigers]]|| - || [[Bishop Auckland]], [[County Durham]] || -
|-
| [[Jarrow Vikings]]|| - || - || -
|-
| [[Leeds Akkies]]|| [[2003]] || [[Bramhope]], [[Yorkshire]] || -
|-
| [[Newcastle Knights (UK)|Newcastle Knights]]|| - || - || -
|-
| [[Peterlee Pumas]]|| - || [[Peterlee]], [[County Durham]] || -
|-
| [[Sunderland Nissan]]|| - || - || -
|-
| [[Whitley Bay Barbarians]]|| - || - || -
|}
===Midlands Premier===
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=99%
|-
!width=40%|Club
!width=10%|Founded
!width=30%|Location
!width=20%|RLC Honours
|-
| [[Bedford Tigers]]|| [[2004]] || [[Bedford]], [[Bedfordshire]] || -
|-
| [[Birmingham Bulldogs]]|| [[1989]] || [[Perry Barr]], [[Birmingham]] || -
|-
| [[Coventry Bears]]|| [[1998]] || [[Coventry]] || RLC champions: 2002, NL3 champions: 2004
|-
| [[Derby City RLFC|Derby City]]|| [[1990]] || [[Derby]] || -
|-
| [[Gloucestershire Warriors]]|| [[1997]] || [[Churchdown, Gloucestershire|Churchdown]], [[Gloucestershire]] || -
|-
| [[Leicester Phoenix]]|| [[1986]] || [[Leicester]] || -
|-
| [[Nottingham Outlaws (rugby league team)|Nottingham Outlaws]]|| [[1999]] || [[Nottingham]] || -
|}
===Southern Premier===
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=99%
|-
!width=40%|Club
!width=10%|Founded
!width=30%|Location
!width=20%|RLC Honours
|-
| [[Kingston Warriors|Elmbridge]]|| - || [[Esher]], [[Surrey]] || -
|-
| [[Ipswich Rhinos]]|| [[1992]] || [[Ipswich]], [[Suffolk]] || -
|-
| [[London Skolars]] A || - || [[Wood Green]], [[Haringey]] || -
|-
| [[St Albans Centurions]]|| [[1996]] || [[St Albans]], [[Hertfordshire]] || Premier champions: 2007
|-
| [[South London Storm]]|| [[1997]] || [[Thornton Heath]], [[Croydon]] || Premier champions: 2005 Shield winners: 2002
|-
| [[Gosport and Fareham Vikings|Portsmouth Navy Seahawks]]|| [[2003]] || - || -
|-
| [[West London Sharks]]|| [[1997]] || [[Isleworth]], [[Hounslow]] || -
|}
<td valign=top width=25%>
<table border=1 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%>
<tr style=background:#efefef><th>Northern Premier</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Carlisle Centurions]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Durham Tigers]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Jarrow Vikings]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Leeds Akkies]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Newcastle Knights (UK)|Newcastle Knights]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Peterlee Pumas]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Sunderland Nissan]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Whitley Bay Barbarians]]</td></tr>
</table>
</td>
<td valign=top width=25%>
<table border=1 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%>
<tr style=background:#efefef><th>Midlands Premier</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bedford Tigers]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Birmingham Bulldogs]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Coventry Bears]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Derby City]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Gloucestershire Warriors]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Leicester Phoenix]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Nottingham Outlaws (rugby league team)|Nottingham Outlaws]]</td></tr>
</table>
</td>
<td valign=top width=25%>
<table border=1 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%>
<tr style=background:#efefef><th>Southern Premier</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Kingston Warriors|Elmbridge]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Ipswich Rhinos]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[London Skolars]] A</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[St Albans Centurions]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[South London Storm]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Gosport and Fareham Vikings|Portsmouth Navy Seahawks]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[West London Sharks]]</td></tr>
</table>
</td>
<td valign=top width=25%>
<table border=1 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%>
<tr style=background:#efefef><th>Welsh Premier</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Blackwood Bulldogs]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bridgend Blue Bulls]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Cardiff Demons]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Neath Port Talbot Steelers]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Newport Titans]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Torfaen Tigers]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Valley Cougars]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[West Wales Sharks]]</td></tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign=top width=25%>
<table border=1 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%>
<tr style=background:#efefef><th>Scotland</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Carluke Tigers]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Easterhouse Panthers]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Edinburgh Eagles]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Fife Lions]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Jordanhill Phoenix]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Moray Eels]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Paisley Hurricanes]]</td></tr>
</table>
</td>
<td valign=top width=25%>
<table border=1 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%>
<tr style=background:#efefef><th>North West</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Barrow Vikings]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Blackpool Sea Eagles]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[New Broughton Rangers]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Widnes Saints]]</td></tr>
</table>
</td>
<td valign=top width=25%>
<table border=1 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%>
<tr style=background:#efefef><th>Cheshire</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Lymm Wolves]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Winnington Park|Northwich Stags]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[North Wales Coasters|Rhyl Coasters]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Runcorn RLC]]</td></tr>
</table>
</td>
<td valign=top width=25%>
<table border=1 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%>
<tr style=background:#efefef><th>Yorkshire</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bridlington Bulls]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[East Riding]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Leeds Akkies]] A</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Northallerton Stallions]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Scarborough Pirates ARLFC|Scarborough Pirates]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[York Lokomotive]]</td></tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign=top width=25%>
<table border=1 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%>
<tr style=background:#efefef><th>South Yorkshire & Lincolnshire</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Lincoln City Knights]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Moorends-Thorne Marauders RLFC|Moorends-Thorne Marauders]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Rossington Sharks]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Rotherham Giants]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Scunthorpe Barbarians]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Sheffield Forgers]]</td></tr>
</table>
</td>
<td valign=top width=25%>
<table border=1 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%>
<tr style=background:#efefef><th>West and West Midlands</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Bristol Sonics]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Coventry Bears]] A</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Oxford Cavaliers (Rugby)|Oxford Cavaliers]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Redditch Ravens]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Swindon St George]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Telford Raiders]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Wolverhampton Wizards Rugby Football League Club|Wolverhampton Wizards]]</td></tr>
</table>
</td>
<td valign=top width=25%>
<table border=1 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%>
<tr style=background:#efefef><th>South West</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Devon Sharks]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[East Devon Eagles]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Exeter Centurions]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Plymouth R.L.F.C|Plymouth Titans]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Somerset Vikings]]</td></tr>
</table>
</td>
<td valign=top width=25%>
<table border=1 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=100%>
<tr style=background:#efefef><th>East</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Cambridge Eagles]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Colchester Romans]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Greenwich Admirals]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Hainault Bulldogs]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Northampton Casuals]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[St Ives Roosters]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Thetford Titans]]</td></tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
NB:Kent Ravens (South Premier Division), Glasgow Bulls (Scottish Division), Manchester Jets (North West Division) and Macclesfield Titans (Cheshire Division) have all either resigned or been struck from the fixture lists
==Past winners==
===Rugby League Conference National===
* 2003 Warrington Woolston Rovers (as National League three)
* 2004 Coventry Bears (as National League three)
* 2005 Bradford Dudley Hill (as National League three)
* 2006 Bramley Buffaloes (as National League three)
* 2007 Featherstone Lions
===Harry Jepson Trophy===
The Harry Jepson trophy was competed for by all the Conference sides up to 2004. From 2005, it has been competed for only by the RLC Premier divisions.
* 1997 [[London Skolars|North London Skolars]] (as Southern Conference)
* 1998 Crawley Jets
* 1999 Chester Wolves
* 2000 Crawley Jets
* 2001 Teesside Steelers
* 2002 [[Coventry Bears]]
* 2003 [[Bridgend Blue Bulls]]
* 2004 Widnes Saints
* 2005 [[Bridgend Blue Bulls]]
* 2006 [[South London Storm]]
* 2007 [[St Albans Centurions]]
===RLC Regional===
The RLC Regional is open to English sides that are in the regional divisions rather than the Premier divisions. It was introduced in 2005.
* 2005 Wetherby Bulldogs
* 2006 Liverpool Buccaneers
* 2007 [[Widnes Saints]]
===RLC Shield===
The RLC Shield is an optional secondary competition for regional sides that do not make their divisions' play-offs. Prior to 2005, it was for teams not making the play-offs of the Harry Jepson trophy.
* 2002 South London Storm
* 2003 Bolton Le Moors (now East Lancashire Lions)
* 2004 Cardiff Demons
* 2005 Blackpool Sea Eagles
* 2006 Not contested
===Welsh Premier===
Competed for by the RLC Wales division since 2004.
* 2004 Bridgend Blue Bulls
* 2005 Bridgend Blue Bulls
* 2006 Bridgend Blue Bulls
* 2007 Bridgend Blue Bulls
===Welsh Shield===
Secondary Welsh competition for teams who do not make the play-offs for the Welsh Premier.
* 2004 Cardiff Demons
* 2005 Newport Titans
* 2006 Not contested
===Scotland===
Scottish regional tier, introduced 2006.
* 2006 Fife Lions (not as full members of the RLC)
* 2007 Edinburgh Eagles
(For previous Scottish champions see: [[Scotland Rugby League]])
==References==
''Beyond the Heartlands - The History of the Rugby League Conference'' Julian Harrison
==See also==
* [[British rugby league system‎]]
* [[Rugby League National Leagues]]
* [[National Conference League]]
* [[London League (rugby league)|London League]]
* [[RL Merit League]]
* [[Scotland Rugby League]]
==External links==
* [http://www.rugbyleagueconference.co.uk Official website]
* [http://rugbyleagueconference.rugbyleague.org/ Unofficial RLC website]
* [http://www.rugbyleagueconference.co.uk/directory/index.php Club directory on official site]
* [http://www.rugbyleagueconference.co.uk/fixtures/table.php Official tables]
* [http://www.rugbyleagueconference.co.uk/fixtures/thisweek.php Fixture lists]
* [http://leaguenews.co.uk/content/category/22/53/369/ Fixtures and results on leaguenews.co.uk]
{{British_Rugby_League_links}}
[[Category:British rugby league competitions]]