Midlands Rugby League

The Midlands Rugby League is a series of summer rugby league competition for amateur teams in the Midlands. The competition was formed in 2006 as the RLC Midlands Premier.[1] It's name changed following the 2012 restructure of amateur rugby league in Great Britain

Midlands Rugby League
Founded2006
Country England
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid5
Domestic cup(s)Challenge Cup

At current the league operates the Midlands Rugby League Premier Division and Midlands Rugby League Championship, in addition to a Midlands Cup and Plate.[2]

History
See also: History of the Rugby League Conference

The Rugby League Conference (RLC) was born in 1997, then known as the Southern Conference.

The RLC Midlands Division (now Midlands Rugby League Championship) was first created in 2001 and lasted until 2003 as the league was split in two parallel divisions due to it being oversubscribed.

The RLC Premier Divisions were set up in 2005 for teams who had achieved a certain playing standard and were 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.[3]

The Midlands Premier was created one season later in 2006, and placed between the existing RLC Midlands Division and the RLC National Division. The founder members were Coventry Bears, Telford Raiders, Nottingham Outlaws, Derby City, Birmingham Bulldogs, Leicester Phoenix and Wolverhampton Wizards.

A Midlands Merit League (now defunct) was founded in late 2005 as a feeder league for the RLC Midlands Division, this later Midlands Rugby League Division Two before folding.

In 2012 the Rugby League Conference was disbanded and all divisions adopting the name Midlands Rugby League.

Position in Pyramid
See also: British rugby league system

Clubs

As of 2024: Birmingham Bulldogs, Coventry Bears, Leamington Royals, Oxford Cavaliers, Nottingham Outlaws, Sherwood Wolf Hunt, Swindon St George, Telford Raiders.[4]

League standings

Premier Division
Current Teams 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Bedford Tigersxx3rdxx
Birmingham Bulldogs6th6th6th4th
Bristol Sonicsxxx3rd
Coventry Bears2nd1st2nd1st
Derby City4th5th5th2nd
Gloucestershire Warriorsx3rd4th6th
Leicester Phoenix3rd8th7th5th
Nottingham Outlaws1st2nd1stxx
Redditch RavensxxxDNFx
Somerset Vikingsx4thxxx
Telford Raiders5th7thx7thx
Wolverhampton Wizards7thxxxx

Key
DNF Did not complete the season
x Did not participate
Divisional winner
Qualified for divisional play-off
Finished bottom

Titles
See also: Rugby League Conference trophy winners

RLC Midlands Premier era

Midlands Rugby League Premier Division era

RLC Midlands Division era

RLC Midlands Regional era

Midlands Rugby League Division One era

Midlands Rugby League Championship era

RLC Midlands Merit League era
  • 2006 South Humber Rabbitohs
  • 2007 St Helens Wild Boars
  • 2008 Moorends-Thorne Marauders ML
  • 2009 Birmingham Bulldogs A
  • 2010 Leicester Storm A
  • 2011 Hope Valley Hawks

Midlands Rugby League Division Two era
  • 2012 Hope Valley Hawks
  • 2013 Leamington Royals
  • 2014 Unknown
  • 2015 Unknown
  • 2016 Unknown

References
  1. "RL Conference breaks 100 team barrier". Love Rugby League. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  2. https://www.rugby-league.com/competitions/community-leagues/midlands
  3. "Conference set for further expansion". Warrington Guardian. 31 January 2005. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  4. https://www.rugby-league.com/match-centre
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