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London Men's League

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London Mens League
Current season or competition:
2024 London Mens League season
SportRugby league
Formerly known asRLC Southern Premier
Instituted2005
Country England
ChampionsLondon Chargers A (2023)
Related competitionLondon Merit League, London & South East Men's League

The London Men's League is a summer rugby league competition for amateur teams in London and the surrounding area. The competition was formed in 2005 as the RLC Southern Premier.[1] It's name changed following the 2012 restructure of amateur rugby league in Great Britain.

History[edit]

See also: History of the Rugby League Conference

The Rugby League Conference was born in 1997 as the Southern Conference.

The Premier Division was 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.[2]

Prior to the 2005 season National League Three side South London Storm announced that they were joining the South Premier; the other founder members came from the Conference regional divisions.

After the 2006 season with other teams withdrawing from National League Three, St Albans Centurions also decided to join the Premier South.

In 2012 it became a standalone league run by the RFL with the introduction of Summer Rugby in the amateur ranks. St Albans Centurions returned to playing nationally in National Conference League division three

It has a merit league attached to it enabling smaller clubs to develop before entering the league to see if they are able to meet the demands of player numbers and competing fixtures throughout a regular season. Some larger clubs have fielded an A team in this league to bolster numbers and create opportunities for less experienced players to play.

Position in Pyramid[edit]

See also: British rugby league system

Clubs[edit]

As of 2024: Brighton & Hove RL, Brixton Bulls, Elmbridge Eagles, London Chargers, Medway Dragons, Wests Warriors A.[3]

League Standings[edit]

Teams 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Bedford Tigers x x x x 6th x x x x
Eastern Rhinos 3rd 2nd 5th 3rd 4th 4th 3rd 3rd 4th
Elmbridge Eagles 2 x 5th 6th 7th 9th x x 5th 6th
Essex Eels x DNF x x x x x x x
Greenwich Admirals 6th x x x x x x x x
Hainault Bulldogs x x x x 8th 6th DNF x x
Hammersmith Hills Hoists x x x x x 2nd 1st 2nd 1st
Hemel Stags A x x x x x x x x 5th
Kent Ravens x x 7th DNF x x x x x
London Skolars A 3 4th 4th 3rd 6th 7th 8th 5th5 1st 3rd
Luton Vipers 5th DNF x x x x x x x
Portsmouth Navy Seahawks x x x 5th 5th 7th x x x
St Albans Centurions x x 1st 4th 3rd 1st 2nd x x
South London Storm 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 1st 5th 6th 4th x
South West London Chargers4 x x x x x x x x 2nd
West London Sharks 2nd 3rd 4th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th DNF x
  • 1 competed as Ipswich Rhinos between 2005 and 2009
  • 2 competed as Kingston Warriors between 2005 and 2007 and Elmbridge in 2008.
  • 3 competed as Haringey Hornets in 2006
  • 4 a merger of South London Storm and West London Sharks
  • 5 midseason replacements for Hainault Bulldogs

Key[edit]

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

Grand Finals[edit]

Source from 2017[4]
Year Winners Score Runners-up Venue
2005 South London Storm 24–8 West London Sharks Storm Park
2006 South London Storm 52–10 Ipswich Rhinos Storm Park
2007 St Albans Centurions 18–10 South London Storm Twickenham Stoop
2008 West London Sharks 24–20 South London Storm Grasshoppers RFC
2009 West London Sharks 26–16 South London Storm Storm Park
2010 St Albans Centurions 54–4 West London Sharks Cotlandswick
2011 Hammersmith Hills Hoists 18–16 St Albans Centurions Hemel Hempstead
2012 Hammersmith Hills Hoists 46–8 Eastern Rhinos
2013 South West London Chargers 20–10 Hammersmith Hills Hoists Chiswick RFC
2014 South West London Chargers 46–6 Eastern Rhinos Wasps RFC
2015 South West London Chargers 32–12 London Skolars A Old Blues RFC
2016 Brixton Bulls Richmond Warriors
2017 Hammersmith Hills Hoists 25–18 London Chargers New River Stadium
2018 Hammersmith Hills Hoists 20–8 London Chargers
2019 West Warriors A 38–22 London Skolars A New River Stadium
2020 No competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Medway Dragons 38–18 Brixton Bulls Rosslyn Park RFC
2022 Brixton Bulls 34–30 Elmbridge Eagles New River Stadium
2023 London Chargers A 38–16 Medway Dragons London Skolars

Titles[edit]

See also: Rugby League Conference trophy winners
London Mens League Champions
Position Team Number of Wins Years
1 = Hammersmith Hills Hoists 4 2011, 2012, 2017, 2018
1 = London Chargers 4 2013, 2014, 2015, 2023
3 = Brixton Bulls 2 2016, 2022
3 = St Albans Centurions 2 2007, 2010
3 = West London Sharks 2 2008, 2009
3 = South London Storm 2 2005, 2006
7 = Medway Dragons 1 2021
7 = West Warriors 1 2019

London Cup[edit]

  • 2013: South West London Chargers

Harry Jepson Trophy games[edit]

Ceased 2011
Year Game RLC Southern Premier Team Result Opponent Venue
2005 Semi-final South London Storm 18–34 Bridgend Blue Bulls Cheltenham
2006 Semi-final South London Storm 32–12 Bridgend Blue Bulls Hemel
Grand Final South London Storm 30–0 East Lancs Lions Coventry
2007 Semi-final St Albans Centurions 42–16 Bridgend Blue Bulls
Grand Final St Albans Centurions 28–20 Coventry Bears
2008 Semi-final West London Sharks 32–30 Valley Cougars
Grand Final West London Sharks 8–28 Nottingham Outlaws Derby

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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

External links[edit]

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