South West Rugby League: Difference between revisions
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The '''South West Rugby League''' is a league with 2 divisions in rugby league's tier 4. It was formerly part of the [[Rugby League Conference]]. At present it is competed for by teams in the [[South West of England]] though it has in previous times included teams from other parts of the UK. |
The '''South West Rugby League''' (SWRL) is a league with 2 divisions in rugby league's tier 4. It was formerly part of the [[Rugby League Conference]]. At present it is competed for by teams in the [[South West of England]] though it has in previous times included teams from other parts of the UK. |
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For the 2011 season a '''Rugby League Conference West of England Division''' was created and administered by the South West Rugby League. There is also a [[Bristol Junior Rugby League]]. In 2012 the league became standalone retaining 2 divisions |
For the 2011 season a '''Rugby League Conference West of England Division''' was created and administered by the South West Rugby League. There is also a [[Bristol Junior Rugby League]]. In 2012 the league became standalone retaining 2 divisions. |
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The SWRL is a semi-autonomous league with a six member committee under an [[RFL]] appointed Chairman. The SWRL has six member clubs from Devon, Somerset and Cornwall. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Revision as of 10:30, 5 May 2013
The South West Rugby League (SWRL) is a league with 2 divisions in rugby league's tier 4. It was formerly part of the Rugby League Conference. At present it is competed for by teams in the South West of England though it has in previous times included teams from other parts of the UK.
For the 2011 season a Rugby League Conference West of England Division was created and administered by the South West Rugby League. There is also a Bristol Junior Rugby League. In 2012 the league became standalone retaining 2 divisions.
The SWRL is a semi-autonomous league with a six member committee under an RFL appointed Chairman. The SWRL has six member clubs from Devon, Somerset and Cornwall.
History
The Rugby League Conference was founded in 1997 as the Southern Conference, a 10-team pilot league for teams in the South of England and the English Midlands.
The conference made the leap from 30 to 52 teams in 2003 and a South West Division appeared for the first time. It disappeared in 2004 as South West teams took part in the Western Division and Cardiff Demons joined the newly created Welsh Division.
The Premier divisions saw a change in boundaries leaving the North Premier division covering a larger area to give the English Midlands clubs their own premier division without having to face heartland teams, this left the West Midlands division with too few teams to run, resulting in a merged West Midlands and South West Division.
After a campaign by the RFL to form new clubs in the South West, a new South West division was created in 2007 for teams from the West Country. By 2010, there were enough teams to have a South West conference split into two pools.
For the 2011 season, there will be an RLC South West division and also a new RLC West of England.
The South Western Rugby League was formed in February 2013 to organise and administer the South West Mens League following the switch of the majority of community clubs in England to a summer season and the ending of the Rugby League Conference in 2011.
Rugby League Conference Pyramid
- National Conference League
- South West League; West of England League
This is officially the highest tier 4 league that South West clubs can play in. Nonetheless Gloucestershire Warriors play in the Midlands Rugby League Premier Division. Bristol Sonics previously have but now play in National Conference League Division 3.
2013 South Western League
| Club | Founded | Location | RLC Honours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornish Rebels | 2013 | Cambourne, Cornwall | |
| Devon Sharks | 2006 | Torquay, Devon | RLC South West: 2009, 2012 |
| Exeter Centurions | 2007 | Exeter, Devon | |
| North Devon Raiders | 2009 | Barnstaple, Devon | |
| Plymouth Titans | 1985 | Plymouth, Devon | RLC South West: 2007, 2011 |
| Somerset Vikings A | 2003 | North Petherton, Somerset | RLC Western: 2004 RLC South West: 2011 |
RLC West of England
The initial line-up for the 2012 season is:-
| Club | Founded | Location | RLC Honours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Sonics 'A' | 2002 | Bristol | |
| Gloucestershire Warriors 'A' | 1997 | Gloucester | RLC Western: 1999 RLC South West: 2005
RLC West Midlands and South West: 2006 RLC West of England: 2011 |
| Oxford Cavaliers | 1995 | Oxford | |
| Somerset Vikings | 2003 | North Petherton, Somerset | RLC Western: 2004 RLC South West: 2011 |
| Swindon St George | 2007 | Swindon, Wiltshire | |
| Wiltshire Wyverns | 2010 | Corsham, Wiltshire |
- NB: Wiltshire Wyverns never started the season
South West Cup
The South West cup is a knock-out competition played for by members of the South West Division. It was originally known as the Devon Cup.
- 2006: East Devon Eagles (as Devon Cup)
- 2007: East Devon Eagles (as Devon Cup)
- 2008: Plymouth Titans (as Devon Cup)
- 2009: East Devon Eagles
- 2010: Devon Sharks
- 2011: Plymouth Titans
- 2012: Exeter Centurions
South West Nines
The South West Nines is a rugby league nines competition. It is competed for by RLC South West and RLC West of England teams and local student rugby league sides.
- 2007 East Devon Eagles
- 2008 Exeter University
- 2009 Exeter University
- 2010 Exeter University
South West County Championship Festival
In 2010, a one-off match was played between Devon and Cornwall with Devon winning 44-20. [1] This made national news on the BBC and was widely covered by the rugby league press. The first South West County Championship took place on the May Bank Holiday weekend in 2011 at Aretians RFC in Bristol.
- 2010 Devon 1
- 2011 Hampshire
1 a one-off challenge match between Devon and Cornwall
Participating teams by season
- 2003: Bristol Sonics, Cardiff Demons, Gloucestershire Warriors, Oxford Cavaliers, Somerset Vikings, Worcestershire Saints
- 2005: Bristol Sonics, Gloucestershire Warriors, Oxford Cavaliers, Plymouth, Somerset Vikings, Thames Valley
- 2007: Devon Sharks, East Devon Eagles, Exeter Centurions, Plymouth Titans, Somerset Vikings 'A'
- 2008: Devon Sharks, East Devon Eagles, Exeter Centurions, Plymouth Titans, Somerset Vikings
- 2009: Devon Sharks, East Devon Eagles, Exeter Centurions, Plymouth Titans, Somerset Vikings, South Dorset Giants
- 2010: Devon Sharks, East Devon Eagles, Exeter Centurions, North Devon Raiders, Plymouth Titans, Somerset Vikings, South Dorset Giants, South Somerset Warriors
- 2011: Devon Sharks, East Devon Eagles, Exeter Centurions, North Devon Raiders, Plymouth Titans, Somerset Vikings, South Dorset Giants, (South Somerset Warriors withdrew mid-season)
- 2012: Devon Sharks, Exeter Centurions, Exmouth Saints, North Devon Raiders, Plymouth Titans
West of England
- 2011: Bristol Sonics 'A', Gloucestershire Warriors, Oxford Cavaliers, Swindon St George, Wiltshire Wyverns
- 2012: Bristol Sonics 'A', Gloucestershire Warriors 'A', Oxford Cavaliers, Somerset Vikings, Swindon St George
Winners
- 2003 Cardiff Demons
- 2005 Gloucestershire Warriors
- 2007 Plymouth Titans
- 2008 East Devon Eagles
- 2009 Devon Sharks
- 2010 East Devon Eagles
- 2011 Somerset Vikings
- 2012 Devon Sharks
West of England
- 2011 Gloucestershire Warriors
- 2012 Oxford Cavaliers