Yorkshire Men's League

Last updated

Yorkshire Men's League
Founded2012
CountryEngland
Number of teams98 (2024)
Level on pyramid5
Promotion to National Conference League
Domestic cup(s) Challenge Cup
Current championsNewsome Panthers (1st title)
Website
Current: 2023

The Yorkshire Men's League is an amateur rugby league competition for clubs in Yorkshire.

Contents

It is a successor league for the Rugby League Conference also comprising clubs from the CMS Yorkshire league, Pennine League and Hull & District League.

History

Following the formation of the British Amateur Rugby League Association in 1973 clubs from local leagues in both Yorkshire and Lancashire formed the Pennine League. A solely based Yorkshire competition was not formed until 1978 when the CMS Yorkshire League was established.

Following the formation of the National Leagues in 2003, the Conference League South was expanded to include Northern clubs and renamed National League Three, becoming the highest level of amateur rugby league played in the summer. In 2008 National League Three was rebranded to the Rugby League Conference and expanded to include several regional competitions including the RLC Yorkshire Premier, which grew to three divisions.

Many clubs playing in the traditional winter leagues began to switch to the summer RLC, which contributed to its rapid growth. As a result of this, in 2011 the National Conference League, the largest winter league in the country, voted to switch to summer. Subsequently the RLC National Division became NCL Division Three in 2012.

Following the switch to summer the CMS Yorkshire League folded with clubs wanting to continue playing in winter joining the Pennine League. Yorkshire based clubs who wished to play summer rugby were entered into the newly formed Yorkshire Men's League.

Pyramid

The Yorkshire Men's League currently runs seven divisions with promotion and relegation between them.

The YML also runs two separate leagues separate from the main competition:

Clubs

Premier Division

Premier Division clubs
ClubCity
Batley Boys Batley, West Yorkshire
Bentley Bentley, South Yorkshire
Beverley Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire
East Hull Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
New Earswick All Blacks York, North Yorkshire
Norland Sharks Norland, West Yorkshire
Nottingham Outlaws Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Queensbury Bradford, West Yorkshire
Siddal Academy Halifax, West Yorkshire

Division 1

Division 1 clubs
ClubCity
Birstall Victoria Batley, West Yorkshire
Hull Wyke Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Mirfield Stags Mirfield, West Yorkshire
Milford Marlins Leeds, West Yorkshire
Oulton Raiders A Leeds, West Yorkshire
Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks Sheffield, South Yorkshire
York Acorn York, North Yorkshire

Division 2

Division 2 clubs
ClubCity
Garforth Tigers Leeds, West Yorkshire
King Cross Park Halifax, West Yorkshire

Division 3

Division 3 clubs
ClubCity
Bradford Victoria Rangers Bradford, West Yorkshire
Knottingley Worms Leeds, West Yorkshire
Keighley Cougars Keighley, West Yorkshire
Leeds Akkies Leeds, West Yorkshire
Ossett Trinity Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Slaithwaite Saracens Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Stanningley A Leeds, West Yorkshire
York Locomotive York, North Yorkshire

Division 4

Division 4 clubs
ClubCity
Castleford Lock Lane Castleford, West Yorkshire
Guiseley Rangers Leeds, West Yorkshire
Mirfield Stags A Mirfield, West Yorkshire
Scarborough Pirates A Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Siddal B Halifax, West Yorkshire
Stanley Rangers A Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Results

Champions

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision FourDivision FiveDivision Six
2012Fryston Warriors
2013 West Hull A
2014 Bramley Buffaloes Scarborough Pirates Shaw Cross Sharks A
2015Sharlston Rovers Siddal A Shaw Cross Sharks AKnottingley Worms Lock Lane A
2016 West Bowling Bentley Leeds Akkies Hunslet Club Parkside ABirstall VictoriaOdsal Sedbergh
2017 Siddal A Norland Sharks Bramley Buffaloes Cutsyke RaidersStaniland StagsEastmoor Dragons A
2018Batley Boys Heworth A West Hull A Brighouse Rangers WykeFarnley Falcons
2019BentleyEllandWykeFarnley FalconsGreetland All RoundersDodworth Miners
2020Season cancelled due to Covid-19 lockdown
2021 Siddal Academy Westgate CommonAlmondbury Spartans Hunslet Club Parkside ANewsome PanthersThree Tuns
2022Westgate CommonAlmondbury SpartansNewsome PanthersKeighley Albion Stanley Rangers ASeacroft Sharks East Leeds A
2023Newsome Panthers Stanley Rangers A Bradford Dudley Hill Seacroft Sharks

See also

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