Rugby League Reserve Team Championship
Encyclopedia
The Rugby League Reserve Team Championship is a rugby league
competition for the reserve teams of the British based Super League
clubs. Having a reserve team is a compulsory part of the minimum criteria to hold a Super League license, but Catalans Dragons
have dispensation to run their reserve team in the French Elite League
for logistical reasons.
The Rugby League Reserve Team First Division is a rugby league competition for the reserve teams of Championship
clubs, although there is no longer an obligation for clubs in the Championship to enter a reserve team.
and Blackpool Gladiators.
The current competition was formed in 2006 as a replacement for the Senior Academy competition for under-21s. Unlike the Senior Academy, which had a grading phase to divide teams into the Championship and First Division based on playing strength of the Senior Academy side, the Reserve Team Championship is exclusively for the reserve teams of Super League clubs and the Reserve Team First Division is exclusively for the reserve teams of Championship clubs.
In 2007 and 2008 there was an obligation for National League One (but not National League Two) clubs to run a reserve team (with Celtic Crusaders getting dispensation in 2008 to run theirs in the Rugby League Conference National Division
, this has been dropped for the 2009 season, resulting in a smaller First Division.
In 2010 the Championship will change to a Super League under-20s (featuring the 12 English Super League sides, Crusaders have withdrawn following the move to Wrexham with most of the players joining South Wales Scorpions
) and the First Division will remain as a Championship Reserve division.
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...
competition for the reserve teams of the British based Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
clubs. Having a reserve team is a compulsory part of the minimum criteria to hold a Super League license, but Catalans Dragons
Catalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
have dispensation to run their reserve team in the French Elite League
Elite One Championship
The Elite One Championship is the top tier French professional domestic rugby league competition....
for logistical reasons.
The Rugby League Reserve Team First Division is a rugby league competition for the reserve teams of Championship
Rugby League National Leagues
The Championship, known as Co-operative Championship due to sponsorship by The Co-operative Group, is a professional rugby league competition based in the United Kingdom. It is currently contested by ten teams from England. It acts as Europe's second-tier competition below the Super League, and has...
clubs, although there is no longer an obligation for clubs in the Championship to enter a reserve team.
History
The previous competition for reserve teams was known as the Alliance and on occasion featured the first teams of non-league semi-professional clubs including Hemel StagsHemel Stags
Hemel Stags are a rugby league team based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire playing in the National Division of the Rugby League Conference.The club has played in a number of leagues over the years, from the London League, MASWARLA, National Conference League and the Alliance League...
and Blackpool Gladiators.
The current competition was formed in 2006 as a replacement for the Senior Academy competition for under-21s. Unlike the Senior Academy, which had a grading phase to divide teams into the Championship and First Division based on playing strength of the Senior Academy side, the Reserve Team Championship is exclusively for the reserve teams of Super League clubs and the Reserve Team First Division is exclusively for the reserve teams of Championship clubs.
In 2007 and 2008 there was an obligation for National League One (but not National League Two) clubs to run a reserve team (with Celtic Crusaders getting dispensation in 2008 to run theirs in the Rugby League Conference 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:...
, this has been dropped for the 2009 season, resulting in a smaller First Division.
In 2010 the Championship will change to a Super League under-20s (featuring the 12 English Super League sides, Crusaders have withdrawn following the move to Wrexham with most of the players joining South Wales Scorpions
South Wales Scorpions
South Wales Scorpions Rugby League Football Club is a professional rugby league club formed in 2009, based in Neath, Wales. They are owned by a consortium of South Wales businessmen, led by Phil Davies...
) and the First Division will remain as a Championship Reserve division.
2011 Championship Reserve U23 Competition
- Dewsbury RamsDewsbury RamsDewsbury Rams RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They are arguably most famous for becoming Champions in 1972-73 after finishing the regular season in 8th place. In the playoffs they beat Featherstone away, Warrington away, and then Leeds in the...
Reserves - Featherstone RoversFeatherstone RoversFeatherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
Reserves - HalifaxHalifax RLFCHalifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
Reserves - Keighley CougarsKeighley CougarsKeighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...
Reserves - Leigh CenturionsLeigh CenturionsLeigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
Reserves - OldhamOldham RoughyedsOldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
Reserves - Sheffield EaglesSheffield EaglesSheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....
Reserves - WhitehavenWhitehaven RLFCWhitehaven RLFC is a rugby league club playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...
Reserves - Widnes VikingsWidnes VikingsWidnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
Reserves - York City KnightsYork City KnightsYork City Knights Rugby League Club is a British professional rugby league club hailing from York. They play at the Huntington Stadium, situated to the north of York city centre...
Reserves
2010 Championship Reserve Competition
- Dewsbury RamsDewsbury RamsDewsbury Rams RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They are arguably most famous for becoming Champions in 1972-73 after finishing the regular season in 8th place. In the playoffs they beat Featherstone away, Warrington away, and then Leeds in the...
Reserves - Featherstone RoversFeatherstone RoversFeatherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
Reserves - Hunslet HawksHunslet HawksHunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...
Reserves - Keighley CougarsKeighley CougarsKeighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...
Reserves - Leigh CenturionsLeigh CenturionsLeigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
Reserves - OldhamOldham RoughyedsOldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
Reserves - Sheffield EaglesSheffield EaglesSheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....
Reserves - WhitehavenWhitehaven RLFCWhitehaven RLFC is a rugby league club playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...
Reserves - Widnes VikingsWidnes VikingsWidnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
Reserves - York City KnightsYork City KnightsYork City Knights Rugby League Club is a British professional rugby league club hailing from York. They play at the Huntington Stadium, situated to the north of York city centre...
Reserves
- NB: Barrow RaidersBarrow RaidersBarrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
Reserves entered but failed to complete the season
Championshiphttp://www.therfl.co.uk/~therflc/tables/table.php?id=94&z=superleague
- Bradford BullsBradford BullsBradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
Reserves - Castleford TigersCastleford TigersCastleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
Reserves - Crusaders Reserves
- Harlequins Reserves
- Huddersfield GiantsHuddersfield GiantsHuddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
Reserves - Hull Reserves
- Hull Kingston RoversHull Kingston RoversHull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
Reserves - Leeds RhinosLeeds RhinosLeeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
Reserves - St Helens Reserves
- Salford City RedsSalford City RedsSalford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
Reserves - Wakefield Trinity WildcatsWakefield Trinity WildcatsWakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
Reserves - Warrington WolvesWarrington WolvesWarrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
Reserves - Wigan WarriorsWigan WarriorsWigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
Reserves
First Divisionhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/~therflc/tables/table.php?id=95&z=nationalleague
- Barrow RaidersBarrow RaidersBarrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
Reserves - Dewsbury RamsDewsbury RamsDewsbury Rams RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They are arguably most famous for becoming Champions in 1972-73 after finishing the regular season in 8th place. In the playoffs they beat Featherstone away, Warrington away, and then Leeds in the...
Reserves - Doncaster Reserves
- Featherstone RoversFeatherstone RoversFeatherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
Reserves - Hunslet HawksHunslet HawksHunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...
Reserves - Keighley CougarsKeighley CougarsKeighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...
Reserves - Leigh CenturionsLeigh CenturionsLeigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
Reserves - OldhamOldham RoughyedsOldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
Reserves - Sheffield EaglesSheffield EaglesSheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....
Reserves - WhitehavenWhitehaven RLFCWhitehaven RLFC is a rugby league club playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...
Reserves - Widnes VikingsWidnes VikingsWidnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
Reserves - York City KnightsYork City KnightsYork City Knights Rugby League Club is a British professional rugby league club hailing from York. They play at the Huntington Stadium, situated to the north of York city centre...
Reserves
2006
- Championship: Bradford Bulls, Castleford Tigers, Harlequins, Huddersfield Giants, Hull FC, Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Salford City Reds, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors
- First Division: Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Rams, Doncaster Lakers, Featherstone Rovers, Halifax, Hull Kingston Rovers, Hunslet Hawks, Keighley Cougars, Leigh Centurions, Whitehaven, Widnes Vikings, York City Knights (Gateshead Thunder entered a reserve team but they withdrew before the season started)
2007
- Championship: Bradford Bulls, Harlequins, Huddersfield Giants, Hull FC, Hull Kingston Rovers Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Salford City Reds, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors
- First Division: Barrow Vikings, Batley Bulldogs, Castleford Tigers, Dewsbury Rams, Doncaster Lakers, Featherstone Rovers, Halifax, Hunslet Hawks, Keighley Cougars, Leigh Centurions, Rochdale Hornets, Sheffield Eagles, Swinton Lions, Whitehaven, Widnes Vikings, Workington Town, York City Knights (Doncaster Lakers Reserves resigned mid-season when the club went into administration)
2008
- Championship: Bradford Bulls, Castleford Tigers Harlequins, Huddersfield Giants, Hull FC, Hull Kingston Rovers Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors
- First Division: Barrow Vikings, Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Rams, Featherstone Rovers, Halifax, Hunslet Hawks, Keighley Cougars, Leigh Centurions, Oldham, Rochdale Hornets, Salford City Reds, Sheffield Eagles, Whitehaven, Widnes Vikings, Workington Town, York City Knights