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[edit]
This user is English.
enThis user is a native speaker of the English language.
LDSThis user supports Leeds Rhinos
RLThis user loves Rugby League
SLThis user enjoys watching
Super League
NRLThis user enjoys watching the
National Rugby League
This user is a participant in
WikiProject Rugby league

RLWC

[edit]
Ed Year Host Final Third/ fourth place Number of teams
Winners Score Runners-up Third place Fourth place
1 1954  France
Great Britain
16–12
France

Australia
round-robin
New Zealand
4
2 1957  Australia
Australia
round-robin
Great Britain

New Zealand
round-robin
France
4
3 1960  England
Great Britain
round-robin
Australia

New Zealand
round-robin
France
4
4 1968  Australia
 New Zealand

Australia
20–2
France

Great Britain
round-robin
New Zealand
4
5 1970  England
Australia
12–7
Great Britain

France
round-robin
New Zealand
4
6 1972  France
Great Britain
10–10
(a.e.t.)[a]

Australia

France
round-robin
New Zealand
4
7 1975 trans continental[b]
Australia
round-robin[c]
England

Wales
round-robin
New Zealand
5
8 1977  Australia
 New Zealand

Australia
13–12
Great Britain

New Zealand
round-robin
France
4
9 1985–1988 home-and-away basis
Australia
25–12
New Zealand

Great Britain
round-robin
Papua New Guinea
5
10 1989–1992 home-and-away basis
Australia
10–6
Great Britain

France
round-robin
New Zealand
5
Losing semi finalists[d]
11 1995  England
 Wales

Australia
16–8
England
 New Zealand and  Wales 10
12 2000  England
 France
 Ireland
 Northern Ireland
 Scotland
 Wales

Australia
40–12
New Zealand
 England and  Wales 16
13 2008  Australia
New Zealand
34–20
Australia
 England and  Fiji 10
14 2013  England
 Wales[e]

Australia
34–2
New Zealand
 England and  Fiji 14
15 2017  Australia
 New Zealand
 Papua New Guinea[1]

Australia
6–0
England
 Fiji and  Tonga 14
16 2021[f]  England
Australia
30–10
Samoa
 England and  New Zealand 16
17 2026[g] TBA TBD TBD Future events 10
18 2030 TBA Future events Future events 16

Results

[edit]
Keys
Year Host Final Third/ Fourth place Number of teams
Winners Score Runners-up Third place Fourth place
1954  France
Great Britain
16–12
France

Australia
round-robin
New Zealand
4
1957  Australia
Australia
round-robin
Great Britain

New Zealand
round-robin
France
4
1960  England
Great Britain
round-robin
Australia

New Zealand
round-robin
France
4
1968  Australia
 New Zealand

Australia
20–2
France

Great Britain
round-robin
New Zealand
4
1970  England
Australia
12–7
Great Britain

New Zealand
round-robin
France
4
1972  France
Great Britain
10–10
(a.e.t.)[h]

Australia

France
round-robin
New Zealand
4
1975 trancontinental
Australia
round-robin
England

Wales
round-robin
New Zealand
5
1977  Australia
 New Zealand

Australia
13–12
Great Britain

New Zealand
round-robin
France
4
1985–1988 home-and-away basis
Australia
25–12
New Zealand

Great Britain
round-robin
Papua New Guinea
5
1989–1992 home-and-away basis
Australia
10–6
Great Britain

New Zealand
round-robin
France
5
Losing semi-finalists[i]
1984  England
 Wales

France
2–0
Spain
 Denmark and  Portugal 8
1988  West Germany
Netherlands
2–0
Soviet Union
 Italy and  West Germany 8
1992  Sweden
Denmark
2–0
Germany
 Netherlands and  Sweden 8
1996  England
Germany
2–1 (g.g.)
Czech Republic
 England and  France 16
2000  Belgium
 Netherlands

France
2–1 (g.g.)
Italy
 Netherlands and  Portugal 16
2004  Portugal
Greece
1–0
Portugal
 Czech Republic and  Netherlands 16
2008  Austria
  Switzerland

Spain
1–0
Germany
 Russia and  Turkey 16
2012  Poland
 Ukraine

Spain
4–0
Italy
 Germany and  Portugal 16
Year Host Final Third/ Fourth place Number of teams
Winners Score Runners-up Third place Fourth place
1989–1992 home-and-away basis
Australia
10–6
Great Britain

France
round-robin
New Zealand
5
Losing semi-finalists[j]
1995  England Wales
Australia
16–8
England
 New Zealand and  Wales 10
2000  England
 France
 Ireland
 Northern Ireland
 Scotland
 Wales

Australia
40–12
New Zealand
 England and  Wales 16
2008  Australia
New Zealand
34–20
Australia
 England and  Fiji 10
2013  England
 Wales[k]

Australia
34–2
New Zealand
 England and  Fiji 14
2017  Australia
 New Zealand
 Papua New Guinea[2]

Australia
6–0
England
 Fiji and  Tonga 14
2021[l]  England
Australia
30–10
Samoa
 England and  New Zealand 16
2026[m] TBA TBD TBD Future events 10
2030 TBA Future events Future events 16

Summary

[edit]

In total, 21 teams have competed at the World Cup. Of these, only three have won the World Cup, with Australia being by far the most successful with 12 titles. Great Britain has won three titles, however since 1995 have competed separately as England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. New Zealand became only the third team to win the World Cup in 2008.

England, France and Samoa are the only teams to have played in the final and not won. Wales' best result was third under the old format and have made the semi-finals twice while Fiji have appeared in three while Tonga have made the semi-finals just once.

Papua New Guinea achieved fourth place under the old format and have made it to three quarter-finals. Four other teams; Ireland, Lebanon, Scotland and the USA have all made the quarter-finals bringing the total amount of teams to reach the knockout stage to 14.

Top four finishes
Team Champions Runners-up Third / Fourth / Losing Semi-finalists
 Australia 12 (1957, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1988, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2013, 2017, 2021) 3 (1960, 1972, 2008) 1 (1954)
 Great Britain 3 (1954, 1960, 1972) 4 (1957, 1970, 1977, 1992) 2 (1968, 1988)
 New Zealand 1 (2008) 3 (1985–88, 2000, 2013) 11 (1954, 1957, 1960, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1992, 1995, 2021)
 England 3 (1975, 1995, 2017) 4 (2000, 2008, 2013, 2021)
 France 2 (1954, 1968) 6 (1957, 1960, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1992)
 Samoa

1 (2021)

 Wales

3 (1975, 1995, 2000)

 Fiji

3 (2008, 2013, 2017)

 Papua New Guinea

1 (1988)

 Tonga

1 (2017)

  • Tournaments between 1954–1992 did not feature semi-final and quarter-final rounds.

League table

[edit]

League table

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Leigh Centurions (P) 18 14 0 4 686 407 +279 28 Semi-final
2 Whitehaven 18 14 0 4 552 312 +240 28
3 Hull Kingston Rovers 18 10 0 8 466 428 +38 20 Elimination Semi-final
4 Oldham 18 10 0 8 482 503 −21 20
5 Featherstone Rovers 18 9 1 8 500 491 +9 19
6 Doncaster Dragons 18 9 1 8 468 502 −34 19
7 Batley Bulldogs 18 8 0 10 503 534 −31 16
8 Rochdale Hornets 18 7 1 10 472 587 −115 15
9 Halifax 18 7 0 11 426 482 −56 14 Qualification for Relegation Playoff
10 Keighley Cougars (R) 18 1 0 17 366 708 −342 2 Relegated to National League Two
Source: [1]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Div 2

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Barrow Raiders 18 14 1 3 521 346 +175 29 Semi-final
2 York City Knights 18 13 0 5 630 308 +322 26
3 Sheffield Eagles 18 12 0 6 569 340 +229 24 Elimination Semi-final
4 Swinton Lions 18 12 0 6 547 460 +87 24
5 Workington Town 18 10 0 8 597 479 +118 20
6 Hunslet Hawks 18 10 0 8 475 394 +81 20
7 Chorley Lynx 18 7 2 9 460 522 −62 16
8 London Skolars 18 3 1 14 361 583 −222 7
9 Dewsbury Rams 18 3 1 14 284 595 −311 7
10 Gateshead Thunder 18 1 0 17 298 715 −417 2
Source: [2]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;

Third Division

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Leeds 34 26 1 7 334 98 +236 53 Joined the NRFU Second Division
2 Manningham 34 14 5 15 141 170 −29 33
3 Keighley 34 27 2 5 270 92 +178 56
4 Wakefield Trinity 34 18 2 14 263 196 +67 38
5 Holbeck 34 20 5 9 213 83 +130 45
6 Dewsbury 34 8 5 21 123 245 −122 21
7 York 34 11 4 19 111 190 −79 26
8 Normanton 34 12 4 18 160 228 −68 28
9 Bramley 34 16 4 14 179 151 +28 36
10 Castleford 34 9 4 21 105 268 −163 22
11 Heckmondwike 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Resigned from league
12 GOO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 SBR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 LIV 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: [3]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;

2nd div small

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Featherstone Rovers (C, P) 28 24 1 3 966 352 +614 49 Promoted to First Division
Qualified for Divisional Premiership second round
2 Oldham (P) 28 20 1 7 753 503 +250 41
3 Huddersfield 28 15 0 13 565 548 +17 30 Qualified for Divisional Premiership second round
4 Rochdale Hornets 28 14 0 14 622 607 +15 28
5 London Crusaders 28 12 2 14 534 562 −28 26
6 Swinton 28 10 0 18 409 636 −227 20
7 Carlisle 28 6 3 19 454 721 −267 15
8 Bramley 28 7 1 20 328 732 −404 15
Source: [3]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

League leaders

[edit]
British rugby league League Leaders'
Country England
 France
History
First award1906–07
Most wins St. Helens
(15 titles)
Most recent2023
Wigan Warriors
(14th title)

The British rugby league League Leaders are the team finishing top of the league at the end of the regular season when a playoff system is used to crown the league champions.

History

[edit]

For the first six seasons of the Championship, first past the post was used to crown the Champions. However, as the competition grew and added more teams not every club was able to fulfil all their fixtures, this creating an uneven fixture list. Due to some teams playing more games than others it was decided ahead of the 1906–07 season that the Championship would be decided by a playoff.

The club finishing top of the table at the end of the regular season would become known as the League Leaders and the winners of the Playoffs would be crowned the Champions.

Between 1906 and 1973 there were only four seasons when the playoff system was not used (excluding unofficial completions during the First and Second World Wars)

It wasn’t until 1964 that the league leaders were awarded with an official trophy, the RFL Championship League Leaders Trophy. This was awarded for 9 seasons until the playoffs were abolished in 1973. For the following 25 seasons the team finishing top were crowned Champions.

In 1998 the RFL decided to reintroduce a playoff system despite the first two seasons of Super League being decided by first past the post. No official trophy was awarded until 2003 when the league leaders were given the League Leaders Shield.


Season
League Leaders Runners up
1895–96 Manningham Halifax
18961901: County Championships
1901–02 Broughton Rangers Salford
1902–03 Halifax Salford
1903–04 Bradford F.C. Salford
1904–05 Oldham Bradford F.C.
1905–06 Leigh Hunslet
1906–07 Halifax Oldham
1907–08 Oldham Hunslet
1908–09 Wigan Halifax
1909–10 Oldham (2) Salford
1910–11 Wigan (2) Oldham
1911–12 Huddersfield Wigan
1912–13 Huddersfield (2) Wigan
1913–14 Huddersfield (3) Salford
1914–15 Huddersfield (4) Wigan
1915–1918: Official competition suspended due to First World War
1918–19 County Championship
1919–20 Huddersfield (5) Hull F.C.
1920–21 Hull Kingston Rovers Hull F.C.
1921–22 Oldham (3) Wigan
1922–23 Hull F.C. Huddersfield
1923–24 Wigan (3) Batley
1924–25 Swinton Hull Kingston Rovers
1925–26 Wigan (4) Warrington
1926–27 St Helens Recs Swinton
1927–28 Swinton (2) Leeds
1928–29 Huddersfield (6) Hull Kingston Rovers
1929–30 St Helens Huddersfield
1930–31 Swinton (3) Leeds
1931–32 Huddersfield (7) St Helens
1932–33 Salford Swinton
1933–34 Salford (2) Wigan
1934–35 Swinton (4) Warrington
1935–36 Hull F.C. (2) Liverpool Stanley
1936–37 Salford (3) Warrington
1937–38 Hunslet Leeds
1938–39 Salford (4) Castleford
19391945 Official competition suspended due to Second World War
1945–46 Wigan Huddersfield
1946–47 Wigan Dewsbury
1947–48 Wigan (5) Warrington
1948–49 Warrington Wigan
1949–50 Wigan (6) Huddersfield
1950–51 Warrington (2) Wigan
1951–52 Bradford Wigan
1952–53 St. Helens (2) Halifax
1953–54 Halifax (2) Warrington
1954–55 Warrington (3) Oldham
1955–56 Warrington (4) Halifax
1956–57 Oldham (4) Hull F.C.
1957–58 Oldham (5) St. Helens
1958–59 St. Helens (3) Wigan
1959–60 St. Helens (4) Wakefield Trinity
1960–61 Leeds Warrington
1961–62 Wigan (7) Wakefield Trinity
1962–63 Swinton St. Helens
1963–64 Swinton Wigan
1964–65 St. Helens (5) Wigan
1965–66 St. Helens (6) Swinton
1966–67 Leeds (2) Hull Kingston Rovers
1967–68 Leeds (3) Wakefield Trinity
1968–69 Leeds (4) St. Helens
1969–70 Leeds (5) Castleford
1970–71 Wigan (8) St. Helens
1971–72 Leeds (6) Bradford
1972–73 Warrington (5) Featherstone Rovers
1973–74 Salford St. Helens
1974–75 St. Helens Wigan
1975–76 Salford Featherstone Rovers
1976–77 Featherstone Rovers St. Helens
1977–78 Widnes Bradford Northern
1978–79 Hull Kingston Rovers Warrington
1979–80 Bradford Northern Widnes
1980–81 Bradford Northern Warrington
1981–82 Leigh Hull F.C.
1982–83 Hull F.C. Hull Kingston Rovers
1983–84 Hull Kingston Rovers Hull F.C.
1984–85 Hull Kingston Rovers St. Helens
1985–86 Halifax Wigan
1986–87 Wigan St. Helens
1987–88 Widnes St. Helens
1988–89 Widnes Wigan
1989–90 Wigan Leeds
1990–91 Wigan Widnes
1991–92 Wigan St. Helens
1992–93 Wigan St. Helens
1993–94 Wigan Bradford Northern
1994–95 Wigan Leeds
1995–96 Wigan Leeds
1996 St. Helens Wigan
1997 Bradford London
1998 Wigan (9) Leeds
1999 Bradford (2) St. Helens
2000 Wigan (10) St. Helens
2001 Bradford (3) Wigan
2002 St. Helens (7) Bradford
2003 Bradford (4) Leeds
2004 Leeds (7) Bradford
2005 St. Helens (8) Leeds
2006 St. Helens (9) Hull F.C.
2007 St. Helens (10) Leeds
2008 St. Helens (11) Leeds
2009 Leeds (8) St. Helens
2010 Wigan (11) St. Helens
2011

Warrington (6)

Wigan
2012 Wigan (12)

Warrington

2013 Huddersfield (8)

Warrington

2014 St. Helens (12) Wigan
2015 Leeds (9) Wigan
2016 Warrington (7) Wigan
2017 Castleford Leeds
2018 St. Helens (13) Wigan
2019 St. Helens (14) Wigan
2020 Wigan (13) St Helens
2021 Catalans St Helens
2022 St Helens (15) Wigan
2023 Wigan (14) Catalans
Club Wins Runners
up
Winning Years
St. Helens 15 10 1929-30, 1952-53, 1958-59, 1959-60, 1964-65, 1965-66, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2022
Wigan Warriors 14 18 1908-08, 1910-11, 1923-24, 1925-26, 1947-48, 1949-50, 1961-62, 1970-71, 1998, 2000, 2010, 2012, 2020, 2023
Leeds Rhinos 9 9 1960-61, 1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1971-72, 2004, 2009, 2015
Huddersfield Giants 8 3 1911-12, 1912-13, 1913-14, 1914-15, 1919-20, 1928-29, 1931-32, 2013
Warrington Wolves 7 8 1948-49, 1950-51, 1954-55, 1955-56, 1972-73, 2011, 2016
Oldham 5 3 1907-08, 1909-10, 1921-22, 1956-57, 1957-58
Salford Red Devils 4 8 1932-33, 1933-34, 1936-37, 1938-39
Swinton Lions 3 1924-25, 1927-28, 1930-31, 1934-35
Bradford Bulls 1951-52, 1999, 2001, 2003
Hull F.C. 2 4 1922-23, 1935-36
Halifax Panthers 1 3 1906-07
Hull Kingston Rovers 2 1920-21
Castleford Tigers 2017
Hunslet F.C. 1 1937-38
Catalans Dragons 2021
St Helens Recs 0 1926-27
Wakefield Trinity 0 3
Batley Bulldogs 1
Liverpool Stanley
Featherstone Rovers

Current clubs

[edit]
Club First season in
top division
First season in
Super League
Seasons
in top
division
Seasons
in Super
League
Titles
(Most
recent top
division title)
Castleford Tigersa 1926-27 1996 91 27 0 (N/A)
Catalans Dragons 2007 2007 18 18 0 (N/A)
Huddersfield Giantsc 1895-96 1998 90 27 7 (1961-62)
Hull FCc 1895-96 1998 107 27 6 (1982-83)
Hull Kingston Rovers 1902-03 2007 89 17 5 (1984-85)
Leeds Rhinosabc 1895-96 1996 113 29 11 (2017)
Leigh Leopardsc 1895-96 2005 71 5 2 (1981-82)
London Broncosa 1981-82 1996 24 21 0 (N/A)
Salford Red Devils 1901-02 1997 82 26 6 (1975-76)
St Helensabc 1895-96 1996 113 29 17 (2022)
Warrington Wolvesabcd 1895-96 1996 115 29 3 (1954-55)
Wigan Warriorsabc 1895-96 1996 113 29 23 (2023)
Notes
a: Founding member of the Super League
b: Appeared in every Super League season since 1996
c: One of the original 22 RFL teams
d: appeared in every top flight season since 1895-96
Current Champions

RFL Champ history

[edit]

1895–1905: Foundations

[edit]

Following the 22 rebel clubs’ decision to split from the Rugby Football Union, the newly formed Northern Rugby Football Union formed its own league which kicked off in 1895 with Manningham winning the first Championship.

As a result of a successful first season, eight more clubs resigned from the RFU and joined the Northern Union. After concerns over travel and the uncertainty of being able to organise a 30 team league it was decided from 1896 that the competition would be split into two separate County Championships in Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The County Championships were played until 1901 when 12 clubs resigned from their respective leagues to form a new league called the Northern Rugby Football League. The new league was initially met with protest from the Yorkshire Senior Competition, however after negotiations with the NRFL it was agreed a Second Division would be established for clubs to join with promotion and relegation between the two divisions.

By 1905 the Second Division had been abolished with clubs merging to create a single division. Due to not every club completing their fixtures, positions were decided by win percentage rather than points.

1906-1920: Introduction of Championship Final

[edit]

Due to the 1905-06 season being decided by win percentages due to the uneven fixture list, it was decided the Championship would be decided by a playoff. The new Championship Final was inaugurated in the 1906-07 season with the top four clubs entered the playoffs. The first final was held at Fartown between League Leaders Halifax and Oldham with Halifax running out 18-3 winners.

By the 1910s Huddersfield began to dominate the Championship, finishing League Leaders four years in a row and winning three titles.

Despite the First World War starting in 1914, the RFL did not suspend the league until the following year. A Wartime Emergency League was organised in 1915-16 with clubs mostly playing other clubs in close proximity to reduce travel. Due to this the league was not considered an official competition and clubs winning the league are not considered official titles.

Following the end of the war in 1918 no national competition took place in 1918-19 and clubs took part in their County Championships. The Championship officially restarted the next year in 1919-20.

Inter War years: 1920-1945

[edit]

Following the First World War the Championship continued as it had before with the title being decided by the Championship Final. Between 1920 and 1940, nice different clubs won the Championship.

The 1939-40 season was suspended due to the outbreak of the Second World War. Sport was eventually allowed to restart and the RFL organised another Wartime Emergency League where clubs were organised into County Championships with the winners of the Yorkshire and Lancashire leagues playing a two legged final in which Bradford Bulls beat Swinton. Like previous Wartime Emergency Leagues these titles did not count as official Championships. The same structure was repeated again until 1941-42 where clubs played in a single league with a playoff at the end of the season.

1945-1960: Post War years

[edit]

Following the end of the Second World War the Championship restarted normally as it had done before with 27 teams taking part.

The league continued to grow and be competitive. By the 1950s the league grew to 31 teams with only Wigan and Warrington being able to win back to back titles.

1962-1973: Failed Second Division

[edit]

By 1961 the 30 club Championship was deemed too big and was split into two divisions for the first time since 1905. The bottom 14 Championship teams in 1961-62 went on to create the new Second Division the following season.

The introduction of an even league meant the Championship Final was abolished and the League Leaders were crowned Champions. Swinton were the first clubs to be crowned Championship by finishing top of the league since the 1900s with Hunslet and Keighley promoted from the Second Division. Swinton retained their title the following season, however there was no promotion or relegation with the RFL deciding to merge the two divisions back into a single Championship.

The Championship Final was resurrected in 1964-65 with an expanded playoff format. Leeds began to dominate the division in the late 60s and early 70s, finishing League Leaders four years in a row between 1966-1970 the first club to do so since Huddersfield in the 1910s. They were unable to win as many Championships however, winning two of the four they made it to with their 1973 final being a shock defeat to Dewsbury.

1962-1973: Failed Second Division

[edit]

By 1961 the 30 club Championship was deemed too big and was split into two divisions for the first time since 1905. The bottom 14 Championship teams in 1961-62 went on to create the new Second Division the following season.

The introduction of an even league meant the Championship Final was abolished and the League Leaders were crowned Champions. Swinton were the first clubs to be crowned Championship by finishing top of the league since the 1900s with Hunslet and Keighley promoted from the Second Division. Swinton retained their title the following season, however there was no promotion or relegation with the RFL deciding to merge the two divisions back into a single Championship.

The Championship Final was resurrected in 1964-65 with an expanded playoff format. Leeds began to dominate the division in the late 60s and early 70s, finishing League Leaders four years in a row between 1966-1970 the first club to do so since Huddersfield in the 1910s. They were unable to win as many Championships however, winning two of the four they made it to with their 1973 final being a shock defeat to Dewsbury.

1973-1988: Reintroduction of Second Division

[edit]

By 1973 the RFL had once again decided a 30 team league was too large and reintroduced the Second Division. The bottom 14 clubs of the 1972-73 season split to form the new Second Division. As was done the last time the were two divisions the Championship Final was done away with.

This period in the leagues history was the longest it had gone without a playoff to decide the Champions. Featherstone Rovers and Widnes became the last new teams the win the title.

The structure largely stayed the same with 16 clubs, four of who were relegated each year until 1985-86 when only three were relegated due to the expansion of the Second Division. Four clubs were again relegated in 1986-87 with only two promoted from the second tier due to the First Division being reduced to 14 clubs.

1990-1996: Wigan dominance and Super League

[edit]

list of British rl 2nd tier champions

[edit]
English League (2nd tier)
Rugby Football League Second Division (1902–1996)
Division One (1996–1998)
Premiership (1999–2002)
National League One (2003–2007)
Championship (2008–present)
Country
 England
 France
Founded
1902
Number of teams
12
Current champions
London Broncos (2023)
Most successful club
Leigh Leopards
(8 titles)

History

[edit]

Following the first rugby league season in 1895, the national competition was dissolved with clubs opting to play county league competitions due to the cost of travel. In 1901, 14 clubs came together to reform a national championship. The following season, 22 clubs from the Yorkshire and Lancashire Championships opted to join the national Championship with clubs being organised into two divisions for the first time.

The first incarnation of a Second Division only lasted for three seasons with clubs being reorganised into one National Championship again in 1905. The Championship would not be split again until 1962 when a 14 team division was created. This however only lasted for two seasons.

Come 1974 the Second Division was reformed for a third time with 14 clubs where the top four teams were promoted to the First Division. In 1990 only three teams were promoted with the bottom 13 clubs being relegated to form a new Third Division. This had a major impact on the 1991-92 season with the second tier only being made up of eight clubs playing 28 games with two teams promoted and two relegated. There was no relegation in 1992-93 with the Third Division being abolished and the remaining clubs rejoining the Second Division.

The 1994-95 became to be one of the most controversial seasons in the sports history. With the Rugby Football League and bSkyb agreeing to form a Super League competition in 1996, a league restructure began. The bottom 9 clubs were relegated to reform the Third Division. Despite finishing seventh, London Broncos were chosen over league champions Keighley Cougars to be promoted to the First Division and effectively be included in the first season of Super League. The following 1995-96 season was shortened due to the sports switch from winter to summer and no clubs were promoted or relegated.

In 1996 the Second Division was rebranded as Division One, featuring eleven teams with the bottom two relegated and the winners being promoted to Super League. The following 1997 season the top two were promoted and in 1998 promotion and the league title was decided by a playoff for the first time, in which Wakefield Trinity beat Featherstone Rovers.

The second tier was rebranded again in 1999 as the Premiership but was more commonly known as the Northern Ford Premiership due to sponsorship. The Third Division was for a third time abolished and the Premiership featured 18 teams again with a playoff and Grand Final. Hunslet and Dewsbury Rams made the Grand Final in 1999 but neither could be promoted due to their stadiums not meeting Super League minimum standards. This was again the case in 2000 when Dewsbury Rams won the final although runners up Leigh Leopards were also denied promotion. The following two years Widnes Vikings and Huddersfield Giants were both promoted.

For the 2003 season the league was split again with the creation of a 10 team second and third tier, now known as National League One and National League Two. Again the winners and promotion were decided by a playoff and Grand Final. By 2009 promotion was scrapped in favour of licensing and the league was rebranded as the Championship. The league retained the Grand Final but the winning team was not promoted

RFL Second Division (1902-1996)

[edit]
Year Champions[4] Pts Runners up Pts
1902-03 56 Leeds 53
1903-04 55 St. Helens 49
1904-05 46 Barrow 44
1905-1962: No Second Division
1962-63 44 Keighley 42
1963-64 43 Leigh 34
1964-1973: No Second Division
1973-74 48 York 42
1974-75 42 Hull Kingston Rovers 41
1975-76 43 Rochdale Hornets 41
1976-77 45 Dewsbury 40
1977-78 42 Barrow 42
1978-79 52 Hunslet F.C. 43
1979-80 44 Halifax 41
1980-81 46 Wigan 43
1981-82
Oldham (2)
60 Carlisle 56
1982-83 55 Wakefield Trinity 52
1983-84
Barrow (2)
64 Workington 50
1984-85 49 Salford 43
1985-86
Leigh (2)
66 Barrow 54
1986-87 50 Swinton 47
1987-88
Oldham (3)
47 Featherstone 44
1988-89
Leigh (3)
52 Barrow 43
1989-90 50 Rochdale Hornets 48
1990-91 53 Halifax 48
1991-92 43 Leigh 42
1992-93 49 Oldham 41
1993-94 46 Doncaster 45
1994-95 48 46
1995-96
Salford (2)
35 28

Division One (1996-1998)

[edit]
Year Champions[5] Pts Runners up Pts
1996
Salford (3)
36 30
1997 37 Huddersfield 32
Year Champions[6] Score Runners up
1998 24-22 Featherstone

Premiership (1999-2002)

[edit]
Year Champions[7] Score Runners up
1999
Hunslet (2)
12-11
2000 13-12
2001 24-14
2002 38-16

National League One/ Championship (2003-present)

[edit]
Year Champions Score Runners up
2003 Salford (4) 31–14 Leigh
2004 Leigh (4) 32–16 Whitehaven
2005 Castleford 36–8 Whitehaven
2006 Hull Kingston Rovers (2) 29–16 Widnes
2007 Castleford (2) 42–10 Widnes
2008 Salford (5) 36–18 Crusaders
2009 Barrow (3) 26–18 Halifax
2010 Halifax 23–22 Featherstone
2011 Featherstone (3) 40–4 Sheffield
2012 Sheffield (2) 20–16 Featherstone
2013 Sheffield (3) 19–12 Batley
2014 Leigh (5) 36–12 Featherstone
2015 Leigh (6) N/A Bradford
2016 Leigh (7) London
2017 Hull Kingston Rovers (3) London
2018 Toronto London
2019 Toronto (2) 24–6 Featherstone
2020 Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Leigh elevated to Super League
2021 Toulouse 34–12 Featherstone
2022 Leigh (8) 44–12 Batley
2023 London (2) 18-14 Toulouse

Winners

[edit]
Club Wins Runners
up
Winning Years
1 Leigh Leopards 8 5 1977-78, 1985-86, 1988-89, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022
2 Salford Red Devils 5 1 1990-91, 1995-96, 1996, 2003, 2008
3 Featherstone Rovers 3 7 1979-80, 1992-93, 2011
Barrow Raiders 3 1975-76, 1983-84, 2009
Oldham 2 1963-64, 1981-82, 1987-88
Hull Kingston Rovers 1 1989-90, 2006, 2017
Sheffield Eagles 1991-92, 2012, 2013
Hull F.C. 0 1976-77, 1978-79, 1997
4 Keighley Cougars 2 3 1902-03, 1994-95
London Broncos 1981-82, 2023
Dewsbury Rams 2 1904-05, 2000
Wakefield Trinity 1 1903-04, 1998
Huddersfield Giants 1974-75, 2002
Hunslet 0 1986-87, 1999
Castleford Tigers 2005, 2007
Toronto Wolfpack 2018, 2019
5 Halifax Panthers 1 4 2010
Hunslet F.C. 1 1962-63
York 1980-81
Swinton Lions 1984-85
Workington Town 1993-94
Bradford Bulls 1973-74
Toulouse Olympique 2021
6 Batley Bulldogs 0 3 N/A
Rochdale Hornets 2
Whitehaven
St Helens 1
Wigan Warriors
Carlisle
Doncaster
Crusaders

List of Finals

[edit]
Season Winners Score Runners-up Venue Attendance
1896–97 Batley 10 – 3 St Helens Headingley, Leeds 13,492
1897–98 Batley (2) 7 – 0 Bradford FC 27,941
1898–99 Oldham 19 – 9 Hunslet Fallowfield, Manchester 15,763
1899–1900 Swinton 16 – 8 Salford 17,864
1900–01 Batley (3) 6 – 0 Warrington Headingley, Leeds 29,563
1901–02 Broughton Rangers 25 – 0 Salford Athletic Ground, Rochdale 15,006
1902–03 Halifax 7 – 0 Salford Headingley, Leeds 32,507
1903–04 Halifax (2) 8 – 3 Warrington The Willows, Salford 17,041
1904–05 Warrington 6 – 0 Hull Kingston Rovers Headingley, Leeds 19,638
1905–06 Bradford FC 5 – 0 Salford 15,834
1906–07 Warrington (2) 17 – 3 Oldham Wheater's Field, Salford 18,500
1907–08 Hunslet 14 – 0 Hull FC Fartown, Huddersfield 18,000
1908–09 Wakefield Trinity 17 – 0 Hull FC Headingley, Leeds 23,587
1909–10 Leeds 7 – 7 Hull FC Fartown, Huddersfield 19,413
Leeds 26 – 12 Hull FC 11,608
1910–11 Broughton Rangers (2) 4 – 0 Wigan The Willows, Salford 8,000
1911–12 Dewsbury 8 – 5 Oldham Headingley, Leeds 15,271
1912–13 Huddersfield 9 – 5 Warrington 22,754
1913–14 Hull FC 6 – 0 Wakefield Trinity Thrum Hall, Halifax 19,000
1914–15 Huddersfield (2) 37 – 3 St Helens Watersheddings, Oldham 8,000
1919–20 Huddersfield (3) 21 – 10 Wigan Headingley

Leeds

14,000
1920–21 Leigh 13 – 0 Halifax Wheater's Field, Salford 25,000
1921–22 Rochdale Hornets 10 – 9 Hull FC Headingley, Leeds 32,596
1922–23 Leeds (2) 28 – 3 Hull FC Belle Vue, Wakefield 29,335
1923–24 Wigan 21 – 4 Oldham Athletic Ground, Rochdale 41,831
1924–25 Oldham (2) 16 – 3 Hull Kingston Rovers Headingley, Leeds 28,335
1925–26 Swinton (2) 9 – 3 Oldham Athletic Ground, Rochdale 27,000
1926–27 Oldham (3) 26 – 7 Swinton Central Park, Wigan 33,448
1927–28 Swinton (3) 5 – 3 Warrington 33,909
1928–29 Wigan (2) 13 – 2 Dewsbury Wembley Stadium, London 41,500
1929–30 Widnes 10 – 3 St Helens 36,544
1930–31 Halifax (3) 22 – 8 York 40,365
1931–32 Leeds (3) 11 – 8 Swinton Central Park, Wigan 29,000
1932–33 Huddersfield (4) 21 – 17 Warrington Wembley Stadium, London 41,874
1933–34 Hunslet (2) 11 – 5 Widnes 41,280
1934–35 Castleford 11 – 8 Huddersfield 39,000
1935–36 Leeds (4) 18 – 2 Warrington 51,250
1936–37 Widnes (2) 18 – 5 Keighley 47,699 8 May 1937
1937–38 Salford 7 – 4 Barrow 51,243
1938–39 Halifax (4) 20 – 3 Salford 55,453
1940–41 Leeds (5) 19 – 2 Halifax Odsal, Bradford 28,500
1941–42 Leeds (6) 15 – 10 Halifax 15,250
1942–43 Dewsbury 16 – 9 Leeds Crown Flatt, Dewsbury 10,470
Dewsbury 0 – 6 Leeds Headingley, Leeds 16,000
1943–44 Bradford Northern 3 – 0 Wigan Central Park, Wigan 22,000
Bradford Northern 8 – 0 Wigan Odsal, Bradford 30,000
1944–45 Huddersfield (5) 7 – 4 Bradford Northern Fartown, Huddersfield 9,041
Huddersfield (5) 6 – 5 Bradford Northern Odsal, Bradford 17,500
1945–46 Wakefield Trinity (2) 13 – 12 Wigan Wembley Stadium, London 54,730
1946–47 Bradford Northern (2) 8 – 4 Leeds 77,605
1947–48 Wigan (3) 8 – 3 Bradford Northern 91,465
1948–49 Bradford Northern (3) 12 – 0 Halifax 95,050
1949–50 Warrington (3) 19 – 0 Widnes 94,249
1950–51 Wigan (4) 10 – 0 Barrow 94,262
1951–52 Workington Town 18 – 10 Featherstone Rovers 72,093
1952–53 Huddersfield (6) 15 – 10 St Helens 89,588
1953–54 Warrington 4 – 4 Halifax 81,841
Warrington (4) 8 – 4 Halifax Odsal, Bradford 102,569
1954–55 Barrow 21 – 12 Workington Town Wembley Stadium, London 66,513
1955–56 St Helens 13 – 2 Halifax 79,341
1956–57 Leeds (7) 9 – 7 Barrow 76,318
1957–58 Wigan (5) 13 – 9 Workington Town 66,109
1958–59 Wigan (6) 30 – 13 Hull FC 79,811
1959–60 Wakefield Trinity (3) 38 – 5 Hull FC 79,773
1960–61 St Helens (2) 12 – 6 Wigan 94,672
1961–62 Wakefield Trinity (4) 12 – 6 Huddersfield 81,263
1962–63 Wakefield Trinity (5) 25 – 10 Wigan 84,492
1963–64 Widnes (3) 13 – 5 Hull Kingston Rovers 84,488
1964–65 Wigan (7) 20 – 16 Hunslet 89,016
1965–66 St Helens (3) 21 – 2 Wigan 98,536
1966–67 Featherstone Rovers 17 – 12 Barrow 76,290
1967–68 Leeds (8) 11 – 10 Wakefield Trinity 87,100
1968–69 Castleford (2) 11 – 6 Salford 97,939
1969–70 Castleford (3) 7 – 2 Wigan 95,255
1970–71 Leigh (2) 24 – 7 Leeds 85,514
1971–72 St Helens (4) 16 – 13 Leeds 89,495
1972–73 Featherstone Rovers (2) 33 – 14 Bradford Northern 72,395
1973–74 Warrington (5) 24 – 9 Featherstone Rovers 77,400
1974–75 Widnes (4) 14 – 7 Warrington 85,098
1975–76 St Helens (5) 20 – 5 Widnes 89,982
1976–77 Leeds (9) 16 – 7 Widnes 80,871
1977–78 Leeds (10) 14 – 12 St Helens 96,000
1978–79 Widnes (5) 12 – 3 Wakefield Trinity 94,218
1979–80 Hull Kingston Rovers 10 – 5 Hull FC 95,000
1980–81 Widnes (6) 18 – 9 Hull Kingston Rovers 92,496
1981–82 Hull FC 14 – 14 Widnes 92,147
Hull FC (2) 18 – 9 Widnes Elland Road, Leeds 41,171
1982–83 Featherstone Rovers (3) 14 – 12 Hull FC Wembley Stadium, London 84,969
1983–84 Widnes (7) 19 – 6 Wigan 80,116
1984–85 Wigan (8) 28 – 24 Hull FC 97,801
1985–86 Castleford (4) 15 – 14 Hull Kingston Rovers 82,134
1986–87 Halifax (5) 19 – 18 St Helens 91,267
1987–88 Wigan (9) 32 – 12 Halifax 94,273
1988–89 Wigan (10) 27 – 0 St Helens 78,000
1989–90 Wigan (11) 36 – 14 Warrington 77,729
1990–91 Wigan (12) 13 – 8 St Helens 75,532
1991–92 Wigan (13) 28 – 12 Castleford 77,386
1992–93 Wigan (14) 20 – 14 Widnes 77,684
1993–94 Wigan (15) 26 – 16 Leeds 78,348
1994–95 Wigan (16) 30 – 10 Leeds 78,550
1996 St Helens (6) 40 – 32 Bradford Bulls 75,994
1997 St Helens (7) 32 – 22 Bradford Bulls 78,022
1998 Sheffield Eagles 17 – 8 Wigan Warriors 60,669
1999 Leeds Rhinos (11) 52 – 16 London Broncos 73,242
2000 Bradford Bulls (4) 24 – 18 Leeds Rhinos Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 67,247
2001 St Helens (8) 13 – 6 Bradford Bulls Twickenham Stadium, London 68,250
2002 Wigan Warriors (17) 21 – 12 St Helens Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 62,140
2003 Bradford Bulls (5) 22 – 20 Leeds Rhinos Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 71,212
2004 St Helens (9) 32 – 16 Wigan Warriors 73,734
2005 Hull FC (3) 25 – 24 Leeds Rhinos 74,213
2006 St Helens (10) 42 – 12 Huddersfield Giants Twickenham Stadium, London 65,187
2007 St Helens (11) 30 – 8 Catalans Dragons Wembley Stadium, London 84,241
2008 St Helens (12) 28 – 16 Hull FC 82,821
2009 Warrington Wolves (6) 25 – 16 Huddersfield Giants 76,560
2010 Warrington Wolves (7) 30 – 6 Leeds Rhinos 85,217
2011 Wigan Warriors (18) 28 – 18 Leeds Rhinos 78,482
2012 Warrington Wolves (8) 35 – 18 Leeds Rhinos 79,180
2013 Wigan Warriors (19) 16 – 0 Hull FC 78,137
2014 Leeds Rhinos (12) 23 – 10 Castleford Tigers 77,914
2015 Leeds Rhinos (13) 50 – 0 Hull Kingston Rovers 80,140
2016 Hull FC (4) 12 – 10 Warrington Wolves 76,235
2017 Hull FC (5) 18 – 14 Wigan Warriors 68,525
2018 Catalans Dragons 20 – 14 Warrington Wolves 50,672
2019 Warrington Wolves (9) 18 – 4 St Helens 62,717
2020 Leeds Rhinos (14) 17 – 16 Salford Red Devils N/A
2021 St Helens (13) 26 – 12 Castleford Tigers 40,000
(Restricted attendance)
2022 Wigan Warriors (20) 16 – 14 Huddersfield Giants Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London 51,628

All Time Super League table

[edit]

( Seasons correct to 22)

  • Correct up to end of 2021 season
  • Does not include games in The Qualifiers
Pos. Club Seasons P W D L Pts
1 St. Helens 27 711 507 15 189 1,027
2 Wigan 27 716 477 24 215 972
3 Leeds 27 699 433 18 248 884
4 Warrington 27 705 372 14 319 758
5 Hull F.C. 25 669 324 22 323 669
7 Castleford 25 659 306 20 333 632
6 Bradford 19 509 308 17 184 617
8 Huddersfield 24 635 277 15 343 569
9 Wakefield 24 630 234 7 399 471
11 Salford 24 615 212 8 395 424
12 Catalans 17 440 211 11 218 433
10 London 20 538 195 20 323 410
13 Hull KR 15 367 155 10 202 320
14 Widnes 11 292 97 8 187 202
15 Halifax 8 209 76 4 129 154
16 Sheffield 4 97 37 3 57 77
17 Gateshead § 1 30 19 1 10 39
18 Crusaders* § 3 81 21 0 60 38
19 Oldham 2 44 13 2 29 28
21 Leigh 3 73 10 1 62 21
20 Paris § 2 44 9 1 34 19
22 Toulouse 1 27 5 0 22 10
23 Workington 1 22 2 1 19 5
24 Toronto 1 Withdrew after 7 rounds

England history

[edit]

Other

[edit]

FIFA

[edit]

Northern Wonder
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-08-28) 28 August 1997 (age 26)
Place of birth Leeds, West Yorkshire
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Aston Villa
Number 30
Youth career
2010-2014 Farsley Celtic
2014-2015 Leeds United
2015-2016 Notts County
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Notts County 92 (35)
2019-2023 Southampton 108 (29)
2019-2020Leeds United (loan) 38 (7)
2023 Leicester City 17 (3)
2023-2027 West Ham United 157 (47)
2027-2028 Liverpool 43 (23)
2028-2030 Dortmund 22 (7)
2029Blackburn Rovers (loan) 11 (4)
2029-2030Charlton Athletic (loan) 25 (8)
2030- Everton 0 (0)
2031Aston Villa (loan) 14 (2)
International career
2018-2020 England U21 4 (0)
2021-2029 England 52 (21)
Medal record
Representing  England
Men's Football
Winner FIFA World Cup 2022
Winner UEFA European Championship 2024
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 05:34, 30 January 2017 (UTC)

Stats

[edit]
Club Season Career
Division Apps Goals
Notts County 2016-2017 League Two 38 14
2017-2018 League One 28 11
2018-2019 Championship 26 11
Total 92 35
Southampton 2018-2019 Premier League 4 2
2019-2020 Premier League 0 0
2020-2021 Premier League 38 12
2021-2022 Premier League 46 14
2022-2023 Premier League 20 1
Total 108 29
Leeds United
(loan)
2019-2020 Championship 38 7
Leicester City 2022-2023 Premier League 16 3
2023-2024 Premier League 1 0
Total 17 3
West Ham United 2023-2024 Premier League 34 12
2024-2025 Premier League 45 13
2025-2026 Premier League 41 11
2026-2027 Premier League 37 11
Total 157 47
Liverpool 2027-2028 Premier League 43 23
Dortmund 2028-2029 Bundesliga 22 7
2029-2030 Bundesliga 0 0
Total 22 7
Blackburn Rovers
(loan)
2029 Championship 11 4
Charlton Athletic
(loan)
2029-2030 League One 25 7
Everton 2030- Premier League 0 0
Aston Villa
(loan)
2031 Premier League

Honours

[edit]

Overview

[edit]
  • Domestic Leagues
  • Domestic Cups
  • Continental Cups
  1. ^ Despite the 1972 Final ending in a draw, Great Britain were awarded the World Cup having finished top in the group stage.
  2. ^ All five participants hosted matches, including; Australia, England, France, New Zealand and Wales
  3. ^ Despite a game being played after the final Group game, this was not a Final as Australia had already been crowned Champions.
  4. ^ Until 1995 the world cup was a round robin system with the top two playing in the final. From 1995 the world cup changed to a groups and knockout format.
  5. ^ Despite England and Wales were sole designated hosts, some matches were played in Ireland and France
  6. ^ Postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  7. ^ Intended for 2025, but postponed due to the withdrawal of France as hosts nation.
  8. ^ Despite the 1972 Final ending in a draw, Great Britain were awarded the World Cup having finished top in the group stage.
  9. ^ No third place play-off has been played since 1980; losing semi-finalists are listed in alphabetical order.
  10. ^ No third place play-off has been played since 1980; losing semi-finalists are listed in alphabetical order.
  11. ^ Despite England and Wales being official hosts some games were played in Ireland and France
  12. ^ Postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  13. ^ Intended for 2025, but postponed due to the withdrawal of France as hosts nation.
  1. ^ "Papua New Guinea to co-host Rugby League World Cup in 2017". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Australian Associated Press. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  2. ^ "Papua New Guinea to co-host Rugby League World Cup in 2017". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Australian Associated Press. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  3. ^ a b Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1995-96. London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 302. ISBN 978-0-7472-7817-7.
  4. ^ "Second Tier Champions". 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Second Tier Champions". 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009.
  6. ^ "Second Tier Champions". 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009.
  7. ^ "Second Tier Champions". 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009.