Rugby Football League Championship Second Division

RFL Championship Second Division
Country  England
Founded 1902-03
Number of teams 12
Level on pyramid 2
Promotion to RFL Championship
Relegation to Third Division
Domestic cup(s) Challenge Cup
Current champions
Leigh Centurions (7th Tiltle)
Most championships
Leigh Centurions (7 Titles)
TV partners Sky Sports
Website Rugby League Kingstone Press Leagues

Within British rugby league there have been periods when the Championship has been divided into two divisions, with promotion and relegation between the two. For more on the varying structure of rugby league, see Rugby Football League Championship.

During certain periods, from the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season, a third division has also existed.

History

The Second Division was formed in 1902 and only lasted three seasons till 1905 when it was abolished and all teams competed in the RFL Championship. The Second Division was resurrected in 1962 and played regularly every season with teams being promoted and relegated between the Second Division and RFL Championship. In 1991 a Third Division was formed and teams could be promoted and relegated from the Third Division to the Second Division.

In 1996, 11 clubs resigned from the RFL Championship to form Super League; the remaining clubs initially continued to play in the Second Division. In 2003 rugby league beneath Super League were completely re-organised into the National Leagues, now known as the Championships.

In 2008 automatic promotion and relegation between the Second Division and Super League was abolished and teams would have to apply for a license every four years if they wanted to try and gain entry to Super League. This lasted until 2014 when the league structure was changed again.

Second Division Championship winners

For completeness, this table includes champions from National League One (2003–2008) and the Co-operative Championship (2009-present)

SeasonWinners[1]Promoted
(to First Division/Super League)
1902-03 Keighley Keighley, Leeds
1903-04 Wakefield Wakefield, St Helens
1904-05 Dewsbury Dewsbury, Barrow
1905-62No Second Division
1962-63 Hunslet Hunslet, Keighley
1963-64 Oldham Oldham, Leigh
1964-73No Second Division
1973-74 Bradford Bradford, York, Keighley, Salford
1974-75 Huddersfield Huddersfield, Hull KR, Oldham, Swinton
1975-76 Barrow Barrow, Rochdale, Workington Town, Leigh
1976-77 Hull Hull, Dewsbury, Bramley, Hunslet
1977-78 Leigh Leigh, Barrow, Rochdale, Huddersfield
1978-79 Hull Hull, Hunslet, York, Blackpool
1979-80 Featherstone Featherstone, Halifax, Oldham, Barrow
1980-81 York York, Wigan, Fulham, Whitehaven
1981-82 Oldham Oldham, Carlisle, Workington Town, Halifax
1982-83 Fulham Fulham, Wakefield, Salford, Whitehaven
1983-84 Barrow Barrow, Workington Town, Hunslet, Halifax
1984-85 Swinton Swinton, Salford, York, Dewsbury
1985-86 Leigh Leigh, Barrow, Wakefield
1986-87 Hunslet Hunslet, Swinton
1987-88 Oldham Oldham, Featherstone, Wakefield
1988-89 Leigh Leigh, Barrow, Sheffield
1989-90 Hull KR Hull KR, Rochdale, Oldham
1990-91 Salford Salford, Halifax, Swinton
1991-92 Sheffield Sheffield, Leigh
1992-93 Featherstone Featherstone, Oldham
1993-94 Workington Town Workington Town, Doncaster
1994-95 Keighley N/A
1995-96 SalfordN/A
1996 Salford Salford
1997 Hull Hull, Huddersfield
1998 Wakefield Wakefield
1999 Hunslet N/A
2000 Dewsbury N/A
2001 Widnes Widnes
2002 Huddersfield Huddresfield
2003 Salford Salford
2004 Leigh Leigh
2005 Castleford Castleford
2006 Hull KR Hull KR
2007 Castleford Castleford
2008 Salford Salford, Crusaders
2009 Barrow N/A
2010 Halifax N/A
2011 Featherstone Widnes
2012 Sheffield N/A
2013 Sheffield N/A
2014 Leigh N/A
2015 Leigh N/A
2016 Leigh Leigh

Winners

ClubWinsWinning Year
1 Leigh Centurions 7 1976-77, 1985-86, 1988-89, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2016
2 Salford Red Devils 5 1990-91, 1995-96, 1996, 2003, 2008
3 Sheffield Eagles 3 1991-92, 2012, 2013
4 Oldham 3 1963-64, 1981-82, 1987-88
5 Barrow Raiders 3 1975-76, 1983-84, 2009
6 Featherstone Rovers 3 1979-80, 1992-93, 2011
7 Keighley Cougars 2 1902-03, 1994-95
8 Dewsbury Rams 2 1904-05, 2000
9 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 2 1903-04, 1998
10 Hunslet Hawks 2 1962-63, 1999
11 Huddersfield Giants 2 1974-75, 2002
12 Hull F.C. 2 1976-77, 1978-79
13 Hull KR 2 1989-90, 2006
14 Castleford Tigers 2 2005, 2007
15 Bradford Bulls 1 1973-74
16 York 1 1980-81
17 London Broncos 1 1982-83
18 Swinton Lions 1 1984-85
19 Workington Town 1 1993-94
20 Widnes Vikings 1 2001
21 Halifax RLFC 1 2010

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Second Tier Champions". 13 July 2009.
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