1997 Super League (UK) season

Last updated
Super League II
League Super League
Duration22 Rounds
Teams12
Highest attendance19,137
Leeds Rhinos vs Bradford Bulls (29 July)
Lowest attendance500
Paris Saint-Germain vs Salford Reds (2 July)
Broadcast partners Sky Sports
1997 Season
Champions Bradford Bulls
1st Super League title
3rd British title
Premiership winners Wigan Warriors
Man of Steel Flag of England.svg James Lowes
Top point-scorer(s) Flag of England.svg Andrew Farrell (243)
Top try-scorer(s) Flag of New Zealand.svg Nigel Vagana (17)
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from Division One Huddersfield Giants
Hull Sharks
Relegated to Division One Oldham Bears
Resigned from League
Dissolved Paris Saint-Germain

Stones Bitter Super League II was the official name for the year 1997's Super League championship season, the 103rd season of top-level professional rugby league football in Britain, and the second to be played in summer.

Contents

Teams

Twelve teams were selected to play in the second Super League season, however Salford Reds were promoted into the League, taking the place of relegated Workington Town.

Legend
 Reigning Champions
 Challenge Cup Holders
 Promoted
TeamStadiumCapacityCity/Area
Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls Odsal 27,000Bradford, West Yorkshire
Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers Wheldon Road 11,750Castleford, West Yorkshire
Faxcolours.svg Halifax Blue Sox Thrum Hall 9,832Halifax, West Yorkshire
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos Headingley 21,500Leeds, West Yorkshire
Broncoscolours.png London Broncos The Stoop 11,000Twickenham, Greater London
Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham Bears Boundary Park 13,500Oldham, Greater Manchester
France colours.svg Paris Saint-Germain Sébastien Charléty Stadium 20,000Paris, France
Redscolours.svg Salford Reds The Willows 11,363Salford, Greater Manchester
Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles Don Valley Stadium 25,000Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens Knowsley Road 17,500St Helens, Mersyside
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves Wilderspool 9,200Warrington, Cheshire
Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors Central Park 18,000Wigan, Greater Manchester

Season summary

For this season, the Leeds club added 'Rhinos' to their name for the first time.

During the year a secondary title, known as the Stone's Premiership, was also played for the last time on Sunday 28 September, with the final being contested between Wigan Warriors and St. Helens with Wigan coming out victorious 33-20 after a Harry Sunderland Trophy-winning performance by captain Andy Farrell. [1]

At the end of the season Bradford Bulls were crowned League champions by virtue of finishing the season at the top of the table. [2]

At the end of the 1997 season the Paris Saint-Germain club was dissolved. Oldham suffered a similar fate - they finished bottom of the league and were relegated to the First Division, but by the end of October had entered liquidation and were dissolved with over £1m in debts. The club's assets including its name and history were retained for a second Oldham club which entered the Third Division for the 1998 season.

A post-season Super League Test series between Australia and Great Britain was also held in England.

Table

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsRelegation
1 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls (C)222002769397+37240
2 Broncoscolours.png London Broncos 221534616418+19833
3 Saintscolours.svg St Helens 221417592506+8629
4 Wigancolours.svg Wigan 221408683398+28528
5 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 221318544463+8127
6 Redscolours.svg Salford Reds 22110114284956722
7 Faxcolours.svg Halifax Blue Sox 2282125245492518
8 Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles 22901341557415918
9 Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 22801443764721016
10 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers 22521533451518112
11 France colours.svg Paris Saint-Germain 22601636257221012
12 Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham Bears (R)2241174616311709Relegated to Division One
Source: Rugby League Project
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Premiership

All 12 teams qualified for and competed in a knockout play-off series for the Premiership Trophy. Wigan defeated St Helens in the last final at Old Trafford. Following this season it was abolished and replaced with the Super League Grand Final which would determine the Champions rather than the current first past the post system.

See also

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References

  1. Dave Hadfield (29 September 1997) Farrell keeps Wigan's trophy cabinet stocked The Independent
  2. "Bradford Bulls Honours List". Bradford Bulls official website. 2007-01-26. Archived from the original on 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2007-08-02.