National Conference League
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For current information on this topic, see National Conference League |
| National Conference League | |
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| Sport | Rugby League |
| Founded | 1986 |
| No. of teams | 38 |
| Country(ies) |  England |
| Most recent champion(s) |
East Hull |
The National Conference League is the top league in the pyramid of amateur rugby leagues 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.
[edit] Relationship between NCL and other leagues
The five regional leagues beneath the NCL are the Pennine 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 comepeting 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 being accepted in summer 2006.
Many of the players from the amateur BARLA teams go on to play for teams in the national leagues or Super League 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.
[edit] 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 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.
[edit] 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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[edit] Past winners
[edit] 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
[edit] 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
[edit] 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
[edit] 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
[edit] 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
[edit] 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 |
[edit] See also
- British Amateur Rugby League Association
- British rugby league system
- CMS Yorkshire league
- Pennine League
- North West Counties
- Cumberland League
- Hull & District League
- Barrow & District League
- Rugby League National Leagues
- Rugby League Conference
[edit] External links
- Official site
- BARLA Official Website
- NCL Founder Member Millom RLFC
- NCL Member Brighouse Rangers RLFC
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