Midlands Rugby League
Encyclopedia
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. Its season runs from April to August.
The Midlands Rugby League is also the name of the organisation that controls the Midlands Junior League
and the Midlands Rugby League open-age competition as well as the RL Merit League.
based on Merit League principles. In 2008 the junior competition featured under-14 and under-16 divisions.
The league was renamed RL Merit League (RLML) for the 2008 season due to its increased geographical spread with teams from the North of England taking part. 2009 saw the largest ever entry, with over 30 teams split into two Northern pools; "Yorkshire and Humber" and "North West" and the stand-alone Midlands Rugby League.
The Midlands Rugby League is the lowest level on the Rugby League Conference pyramid for clubs in the Midlands.
Win: 3 points
Draw: 2 points
Defeat not conceded: 1 point
Default on game within three days of fixture: 0 points, with 24-0 score-line awarded to the opposition.
The average number of points scored per game, rather than the total, determines positions in the league table. Teams who have played 6 or more games will be placed higher in the table than those who haven't. If the average is the same, total games played followed by points difference will determine the placings.
Inter-league games between members of the Midlands Rugby League and the London League
or RL Merit League can be counted as competitive matches, whilst both leagues are in season. These fixtures will need to be confirmed a week in advance to be guaranteed inclusion as regular season games.
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...
tournament 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...
region of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is a feeder league 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...
and a successor league to the Midlands Merit League. Its season runs from April to August.
The Midlands Rugby League is also the name of the organisation that controls 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....
and the Midlands Rugby League open-age competition as well as the RL Merit League.
History
The Midlands Merit League was founded in late 2005 to support the growth of rugby league in non-heartland areas. The 2007 season saw the introduction of an informal under-15 league Midlands Junior LeagueMidlands 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....
based on Merit League principles. In 2008 the junior competition featured under-14 and under-16 divisions.
The league was renamed RL Merit League (RLML) for the 2008 season due to its increased geographical spread with teams from the North of England taking part. 2009 saw the largest ever entry, with over 30 teams split into two Northern pools; "Yorkshire and Humber" and "North West" and the stand-alone Midlands Rugby League.
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 PremierRugby League Conference Midlands PremierThe 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....
- RLC Yorkshire & Lincolnshire and RLC Midlands
- Midlands Rugby League
The Midlands Rugby League is the lowest level on the Rugby League Conference pyramid for clubs in the Midlands.
Participating clubs
The anticipated line-up for 2011 is:
|
Participating teams by season
- 2009: Birmingham Bulldogs A, Burntwood Barbarians, Coventry Bears A, Leamington Royals, Leicester Phoenix A, Northampton Casuals A, North Derbyshire Chargers, Nottingham Outlaws, Redditch Ravens, Telford Raiders A, Wolverhampton Warlords, Wolverhampton Wizards
- For information prior to the split see: History of the RL Merit LeagueHistory of the RL Merit LeagueThe Midlands Merit League was a summer rugby league tournament in England. In its final two years, it was known as the RL Merit League.It was superseded by the Midlands Rugby League, North West Merit League and Yorkshire & Humber Merit League.- Background :...
Teams joining the Rugby League Conference
- 2010: Birmingham BulldogsBirmingham BulldogsBirmingham 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, 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...
A, Leamington RoyalsLeamington RoyalsLeamington 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:...
, Redditch RavensRedditch RavensNorth 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:... - 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 :...
A, Northampton Demons A
Format
The scoring system for 2010 for the Midlands Rugby League men's competition was as follows:Win: 3 points
Draw: 2 points
Defeat not conceded: 1 point
Default on game within three days of fixture: 0 points, with 24-0 score-line awarded to the opposition.
The average number of points scored per game, rather than the total, determines positions in the league table. Teams who have played 6 or more games will be placed higher in the table than those who haven't. If the average is the same, total games played followed by points difference will determine the placings.
Inter-league games between members of the Midlands Rugby League and the London League
London League (rugby league)
The London, South and East Merit League is a rugby league competition founded in 1965. It is also known as the London League , London & South East Merit League, London Amateur Rugby League and London Merit League ....
or RL Merit League can be counted as competitive matches, whilst both leagues are in season. These fixtures will need to be confirmed a week in advance to be guaranteed inclusion as regular season games.
Midlands Merit League Championship
| 2006 | South Humber Rabbitohs | 42-18 | Nottingham Outlaws Academy |
| 2007 | St Helens Wild Boars | 46-22 | German Exiles |
| 2008 | Moorends-Thorne Marauders ML | 28-18 | Wigan Riversiders |
Midlands Merit League Shield
| 2007 | East Riding RLC | 32-26 | Nottingham Outlaws Academy |
| 2008 | Nottingham Outlaws Academy | 34-32 | Sheffield Forgers |
Midlands Rugby League
| 2009 | 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 | 26-12 | North Derbyshire Chargers North Derbyshire Chargers North Derbyshire Chargers RLFC are a rugby league club who play in the Midlands Rugby League at open age and junior level. Shortly after formation a merger was agreed with the Chesterfield Spires club.-History of rugby league in North Derbyshire:... |
| 2010 | Leicester Storm A | 24-22 | North Derbyshire Chargers North Derbyshire Chargers North Derbyshire Chargers RLFC are a rugby league club who play in the Midlands Rugby League at open age and junior level. Shortly after formation a merger was agreed with the Chesterfield Spires club.-History of rugby league in North Derbyshire:... |
| 2011 | Hope Valley Hawks | 72-32 | Sleaford Spartans |
See also
- British rugby league system
- RL Merit League
- London League (rugby league)London League (rugby league)The London, South and East Merit League is a rugby league competition founded in 1965. It is also known as the London League , London & South East Merit League, London Amateur Rugby League and London Merit League ....
- Rugby League ConferenceRugby League ConferenceThe 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...