Rugby Football League Championship Second Division

Last updated

RFL Championship Second Division
Sport Rugby league
Instituted1902-1996 (as Second Division)
1996-1998 (as Division One)
1999-2002 (as Northern Premiership)
Ceased2002
Replaced by Championship
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Most titles Leigh colours.svg Leigh Centurions
Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils
Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
(3 titles)
Related competition Challenge Cup
Promotion to First Division
Relegation to Third Division

The Rugby Football League Championship Second Division was founded in 1902 and was the second tier of professional rugby league in the UK until 2003.

Contents

During the 1990s a third division was established and there is automatic promotion between the second and third division.

History

The Second Division was formed in 1902 by splitting the RFL Championship into two divisions of 18. After three seasons the Second Division was abolished and not resurrected until 1962. Two seasons later in 1964 the Second Division was scrapped for the second time.

The division was resurrected again in 1973 and has been played every season since. During the 1991–92 season, a third division was established and, for the first time, two teams were relegated. There was no regular relegation from the Second Division until 2003.

In 1995, in anticipation for the Super League starting in 1996, six teams were relegated from the RFL Championship, five were relegated to the Second Division and one was relegated to form the Third Division. Controversy was caused as London Broncos, who finished 4th in the Second Division, were elected to the Championship ahead of Keighley, Batley and Huddersfield.

In 2003, the divisions under Super League were reorganised into the National Leagues with Second and Third Divisions becoming National League One and National League Two.

Results

YearChampions [1] PromotedRelegated
1902-03 Cougscolours.svg Keighley
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds
No Relegation
1903-04 Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity
Saintscolours.svg St. Helens
1904-05 Ramscolours.svg Dewsbury
Barrowcolours.svg Barrow
1905-1962: No Second Division
1962-63 Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet
Cougscolours.svg Keighley
No Relegation
1963-64 Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
Leigh colours.svg Leigh
1964-1973: No Second Division
1973-74 Bullscolours.svg Bradford
YorkRLFCcolours.png York
Cougscolours.svg Keighley
Redscolours.svg Salford
No Relegation
1974-75 Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
Swintoncolours.svg Swinton
1975-76 Barrowcolours.svg Barrow
Rochdale colours.svg Rochdale Hornets
Workingtoncolours.svg Workington
Leigh colours.svg Leigh
1976-77 Hullcolours.svg Hull
Ramscolours.svg Dewsbury
Bramley
Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet
1977-78 Leigh colours.svg Leigh
Barrowcolours.svg Barrow
Rochdale colours.svg Rochdale Hornets
Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
1978-79 Hullcolours.svg Hull
Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet
YorkRLFCcolours.png York
Blackpoolcolours.svg Blackpool
1979-80 Fevcolours.svg Featherstone Rovers
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
Barrowcolours.svg Barrow
1980-81 YorkRLFCcolours.png York
Wigancolours.svg Wigan
Broncoscolours.png Fulham
Haven colours.svg Whitehaven
1981-82 Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
Carlisle
Workingtoncolours.svg Workington
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
1982-83 Broncoscolours.png Fulham
Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity
Redscolours.svg Salford
Haven colours.svg Whitehaven
1983-84 Barrowcolours.svg Barrow
Workingtoncolours.svg Workington
Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
1984-85 Swintoncolours.svg Swinton
Redscolours.svg Salford
YorkRLFCcolours.png York
Ramscolours.svg Dewsbury
1985-86 Leigh colours.svg Leigh
Barrowcolours.svg Barrow
Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity
1986-87 Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet
Swintoncolours.svg Swinton
1987-88 Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
Fevcolours.svg Featherstone Rovers
Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity
1988-89 Leigh colours.svg Leigh
Barrowcolours.svg Barrow
Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield
1989-90 HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
Rochdale colours.svg Rochdale Hornets
Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
1990-91 Redscolours.svg Salford
Faxcolours.svg Halifax
Swintoncolours.svg Swinton
1991-92 Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield
Leigh colours.svg Leigh
YorkRLFCcolours.png Ryedale-York
Workingtoncolours.svg Workington
1992-93 Fevcolours.svg Featherstone Rovers
Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham
No Relegation
1993-94 Workingtoncolours.svg Workington
Doncaster colours.svg Doncaster
1994-95 HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers
YorkRLFCcolours.png Ryedale-York
Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet
Leigh colours.svg Leigh
Swintoncolours.svg Swinton
Bramley
Carlisle
Barrowcolours.svg Barrow
Liverpool Stanley
1995-96
No Promotion
No Relegation
1996 Rochdale colours.svg Rochdale Hornets
Batley colours.svg Batley
1997 Hullcolours.svg Hull
Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield
Widnes colours.svg Widnes
Workingtoncolours.svg Workington
1998 No Relegation
1999 No PromotionNo Relegation
2000
2001
2002

Winners

ClubWinsWinning Year
1 Leigh colours.svg Leigh Centurions 31976-77, 1985–86, 1988–89
= Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils 31990-91, 1995–96, 1996
= Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham 31963-64, 1981–82, 1987–88
4 Barrowcolours.svg Barrow Raiders 21975-76, 1983–84
= Fevcolours.svg Featherstone Rovers 21979-80, 1992–93
= Cougscolours.svg Keighley Cougars 21902-03, 1994–95
= Ramscolours.svg Dewsbury Rams 21904-05, 2000
= Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet 21986–87, 1999
= Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity 21903-04, 1998
= Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants 21974-75, 2002
= Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. 21976-77, 1978–79
12 Hunsletcolours.svg Hunslet (1883) 11962-63
= Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 11973-74
= YorkRLFCcolours.png York 11980-81
= Broncoscolours.png Fulham 11982-83
= Swintoncolours.svg Swinton Lions 11984-85
= HKRcolours.svg Hull Kingston Rovers 11989-90
= Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles 11991-92
= Workingtoncolours.svg Workington Town 11993-94
= Widnes colours.svg Widnes Vikings 12001

See also

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References

  1. "Second Tier Champions". 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009.