London and South East Rugby League

Last updated

London and South East Rugby League
Sport Rugby league
Formerly known asRLC Southern Premier
Instituted2005
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
ChampionsWests Warriors A (2024)

The London and South East Rugby 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] Its name changed following the 2012 restructure of amateur rugby league in Great Britain.

Contents

History

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

Clubs

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

In 2025: Anglian Vipers, Brixton Bulls, Elmbridge Eagles, Hemel Stags, London Skolars, Medway Dragons [3]

League Standings from 2005 to 2013

Teams200520062007200820092010201120122013
Bedfordtigerscolours.png Bedford Tigers xxxx6thxxxx
Canterbury colours.svg Eastern Rhinos 3rd2nd5th3rd4th4th3rd3rd4th
Canberra colours.svg Elmbridge Eagles 2x5th6th7th9thxx5th6th
Balmain colours.svg Essex EelsxDNFxxxxxxx
Parramatta colours.svg Greenwich Admirals 6thxxxxxxxx
Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Hainault Bulldogs xxxx8th6thDNFxx
Hammersmith Hills Hoists xxxxx2nd1st2nd1st
Hemel Stags Axxxxxxxx5th
Canberra colours.svg Kent Ravens xx7thDNFxxxxx
Western Suburbs colours.svg London Skolars A 34th4th3rd6th7th8th5th51st3rd
Brisbane colours.svg Luton Vipers5thDNFxxxxxxx
Canterbury colours.svg Portsmouth Navy Seahawks xxx5th5th7thxxx
Parramatta colours.svg St Albans Centurions xx1st4th3rd1st2ndxx
Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg South London Storm 1st1st2nd2nd1st5th6th4thx
Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg South West London Chargers 4xxxxxxxx2nd
Brisbane colours.svg West London Sharks 2nd3rd4th1st2nd3rd4thDNFx

Key

DNFDid not complete the season
xDid not participate
Divisional winner
Qualified for divisional play-off
Finished bottom

Grand Finals

Source from 2017 [4]
YearWinnersScoreRunners-upVenue
2005South London Storm24–8West London SharksStorm Park
2006South London Storm52–10Ipswich RhinosStorm Park
2007St Albans Centurions18–10South London StormTwickenham Stoop
2008West London Sharks24–20South London StormGrasshoppers RFC
2009West London Sharks26–16South London StormStorm Park
2010St Albans Centurions54–4West London SharksCotlandswick
2011Hammersmith Hills Hoists18–16St Albans CenturionsHemel Hempstead
2012Hammersmith Hills Hoists46–8Eastern Rhinos
2013South West London Chargers20–10Hammersmith Hills HoistsChiswick RFC
2014South West London Chargers46–6Eastern RhinosWasps RFC
2015South West London Chargers32–12London Skolars AOld Blues RFC
2016Brixton BullsRichmond Warriors
2017Hammersmith Hills Hoists25–18London ChargersNew River Stadium
2018Hammersmith Hills Hoists20–8London Chargers
2019Wests Warriors A38–22London Skolars ANew River Stadium
2020No competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021Medway Dragons38–18Brixton BullsRosslyn Park RFC
2022Brixton Bulls34–30Elmbridge EaglesNew River Stadium
2023London Chargers A38–16Medway DragonsNew River Stadium
2024Wests Warriors A24–20Brixton BullsWasps FC, Twyford Avenue
2025Medway DragonsvElmbridge EaglesMedway Dragons

Titles

London Men's League Champions
PositionTeamNumber of WinsYears
1 =Hammersmith Hills Hoists42011, 2012, 2017, 2018
1 =London Chargers42013, 2014, 2015, 2023
3 =Brixton Bulls22016, 2022
3 =St Albans Centurions22007, 2010
3 =West London Sharks22008, 2009
3 =South London Storm22005, 2006
3 =Wests Warriors22019, 2024
8Medway Dragons12021

London Cup

Harry Jepson Trophy games

Ceased 2011
YearGameRLC Southern Premier TeamResultOpponentVenue
2005Semi-finalSouth London Storm18–34Bridgend Blue BullsCheltenham
2006Semi-finalSouth London Storm32–12Bridgend Blue BullsHemel
Grand FinalSouth London Storm30–0East Lancs LionsCoventry
2007Semi-finalSt Albans Centurions42–16Bridgend Blue Bulls
Grand FinalSt Albans Centurions28–20Coventry Bears
2008Semi-finalWest London Sharks32–30Valley Cougars
Grand FinalWest London Sharks8–28Nottingham OutlawsDerby

See also

References

  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. 1 2 "Match Centre".
  4. "London and South East".