London Skolars
Encyclopedia
London Skolars are a rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

 club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green
Wood Green
Wood Green is a district in north London, England, located in the London Borough of Haringey. It is situated north of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of the metropolitan centres in Greater London.-History:...

, Haringey
London Borough of Haringey
The London Borough of Haringey is a London borough, in North London, classified by some definitions as part of Inner London, and by others as part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 by the amalgamation of three former boroughs. It shares borders with six other London boroughs...

 in North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...

. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One. They also run an A-team (formerly known as Haringey Hornets) that play in the South Premier
Rugby League Conference South Premier
The Rugby League Conference South Premier is a division in the Rugby League Conference. It is the highest level of amateur rugby league in the South of England...

 Division of the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...

.

London Skolars also host the Mx9s (Middlesex 9s
Middlesex 9s
Middlesex 9s is a rugby league nines tournament that is hosted by the London Skolars rugby league club at their New River Stadium in North London, and held in August....

) tournament which is competed for annually. In 2006 this became an international tournament.

Skolars Tag Rugby is held at Finsbury Park
Finsbury Park
Finsbury Park is a 46 hectare public park in the London Borough of Haringey. Officially part of the London area of Harringay, it is also adjacent to Stroud Green, the Finsbury Park district and Manor House. It was one of the first of the great London parks laid out in the Victorian...

, London during the summer of 2008 for open age men's teams.http://www.skolars.com/news/feature.php?Id=0003 and at the Honourable Artillery Club in the City of London annually.

History

Student Rugby League Old Boys were founded in 1995 by Ian "Hector" McNeil. They were initially created for post-university graduates in London, with a number of ex-student international rugby league players. The team originally played at Hackney Marshes
Hackney Marshes
Hackney Marshes is an area of grassland on the western bank of the River Lea in the London Borough of Hackney. It was incorporated into the Lee Valley Park in 1967...

. The club quickly went "open"; relying on players from the student game and London-based antipodeans as well as local players.

The club name was changed to London Skolars two years later as they nearly got a big sponsorship from Skol
Skol
Skol was initially created to be a global beer brand. Allied Breweries , Labatt , Pripps-Bryggerierna and Unibra formed a new company called Skol International in 1964. Its aim was the creation of a world-wide beer brand, Skol, which could be licensed, manufactured and marketed across the world...

. After initial success in the London League
London League (rugby league)
The London, South and East Merit League is a rugby league competition founded in 1965. It is also known as the London League , London & South East Merit League, London Amateur Rugby League and London Merit League ....

, in 1997 the club became a founder member of the Southern Conference League (the forerunner to the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...

), under the name North London Skolars, and won the inaugural competition. They also moved to New River Stadium. Later in 1997, they entered the National Conference League
National Conference League
The National Conference League is the top league in the pyramid of amateur rugby leagues run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association...

 and were the only club south of Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...

 in the competition for four consecutive seasons.

In 1998 Skolars hosted Strella XIII, the first time a team from Tatarstan
Tatarstan
The Republic of Tatarstan is a federal subject of Russia located in the Volga Federal District. Its capital is the city of Kazan, which is one of Russia's largest and most prosperous cities. The republic borders with Kirov, Ulyanovsk, Samara, and Orenburg Oblasts, and with the Mari El, Udmurt,...

 had toured Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

. During the 1999 season, the Skolars toured Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

, the first time that an amateur club had toured the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

.

Skolars first team won the Southern Division of the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...

 in 2000 and the second team won the London League that same year. The second team won the London League again in 2001.

In 2002 the club applied to join the National Leagues
Rugby League National Leagues
The Championship, known as Co-operative Championship due to sponsorship by The Co-operative Group, is a professional rugby league competition based in the United Kingdom. It is currently contested by ten teams from England. It acts as Europe's second-tier competition below the Super League, and has...

 and was accepted, the first club in eighty years to make the transition from the amateur ranks to the professional leagues. The A team joined the Conference and won the London & South Division in its first year.

In 2003, the Skolars first season in National League 2, they finished with 1 win and a draw and made further progress in 2004. They won the Middlesex 9s
Middlesex 9s
Middlesex 9s is a rugby league nines tournament that is hosted by the London Skolars rugby league club at their New River Stadium in North London, and held in August....

 whilst the A team won the London League and the RL Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....

. The club dropped "North" from their name to become London Skolars. The appointment of Latham Tawhai
Latham Tawhai
Latham Tawhai is a rugby league coach and former player from New Zealand. He has also represented his country in softball.-Playing career:...

 as a full-time coach at the end of the 2005 season marked another step forward in the club's progress.

Tawhai left Skolars at the end of 2007 to become assistant coach at Harlequins Rugby League and was replaced by Tony Benson
Tony Benson
Tony Benson is a rugby league coach from New Zealand. Since the 2008-2009 season he has been the head coach of Oldham Roughyeds in the British Rugby League National Championship 1.-New Zealand:...

.

Tony Benson left his job at London Skolars at the end of the season due to the inconvenience of travelling from his home in Leigh, Greater Manchester
Leigh, Greater Manchester
Leigh is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Wigan, and west of Manchester. Leigh is situated on low lying land to the north west of Chat Moss....

.http://www.lasttackle.com/news.php/3747/benson-to-leave-skolars.html Callum Irving took over as head coach at the club, Irving was Tony Benson's number two in the 2008 season. He resigned in July 2009, citing personal reasons. Injured player Jermaine Coleman took over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The club appointed its first full-time Chief Executive Officer in 2009, Phillip Browne, who was replaced in 20010 by Howard Kramer. The Skolars finished the 2009 in 10th position of the Championship One table, taking the wooden spoon
Wooden spoon (award)
A wooden spoon is a mock or real award, usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition, but sometimes also to runners-up. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous events...

 with just one win all season and five points. London Skolars announced that James Massara
James Massara
James Massara is the head coach of Championship One side London Skolars. He is the former coach development manager for the Rugby Football League in London....

, a Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...

 born thirty-two year old will take the reins as head coach at New River Stadium in 2010. In October 2010 the London Skolars appointed former Harlequins Rugby League player Joe Mbu
Joe Mbu
Joe Mbu is a rugby league coach and former professional player. Mbu played for Harlequins Rugby League in the Super League. He is the current coach of the London Skolars.-Playing career:Joe Mbu's usual position was...

 as their head coach.

2011 Squad

No Nat |Player Position Former Club
1   Neil Thorman Full Back London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

2   Smokey Junor Wing London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

3   James Anthony
James Anthony
James Anthony is a Canadian guitarist. He started playing the guitar at age nine.-Career:...

Centre London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

4   Luke May
Luke May
Luke May , is an English rugby league player for London Skolars in the Co-operative Championship One competition. He plays as a . He previously played in Super League with Harlequins.-External links:*...

Centre Harlequins RL
5   Ade Adebisi
Ade Adebisi
Ade Adebisi is a Nigerian born English rugby league footballer who currently plays for London Skolars as a .Ade started playing for London Broncos and had a spell at Hull, training full time with the Super League side...

Wing Whitehaven
Whitehaven RLFC
Whitehaven RLFC is a rugby league club playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...

6   Jymel Coleman Stand Off London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

7   Dylan Skee
Dylan Skee
Dylan Skee is an Australian born English rugby league player for London Skolars in the Co-operative Championship One. He plays as a or . He previously played for Harlequins and Whitehaven.-External links:**...

Half Back Whitehaven
Whitehaven RLFC
Whitehaven RLFC is a rugby league club playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...

8   Tony Williams
Tony Williams (rugby league)
Tony Williams is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League...

Prop London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

9   Gareth Honor
Gareth Honor
Gareth Honor born 1 October 1981 in Farnborough, London, England is a rugby league player for London Skolars in National League Two.Gareth Honor's position of choice is as a .He was with the London Broncos in the Super League.-External links:*...

Hooker London Broncos
10   Jason Hart Prop London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

11   Matt Thomas
Matt Thomas (rugby league)
Matt Thomas , is a Welsh rugby league player for the London Skolars in Co-operative Championship 1. He plays as a centre or as a second-row forward. He is a current Welsh international. Matt attended the University of Luton and is a qualified sports therapist and personal trainer.-External links:*...

Second Row London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

12   Oliver Bloom Second Row London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

13   Stephen Ball
Stephen Ball
Stephen Ball is a former English cricketer. Ball was a left-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium pace. He was born at Brandon, County Durham....

Loose Forward London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

14   Jason Cook Second Row London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

15   Oliver Purslow Second Row London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

16   James Simon Hooker London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

17   Dave Arnot Wing London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

18   Aaron Small
Aaron Small
Aaron James Small is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is probably best remembered for his short successful stint as a starter for the New York Yankees in ....

Prop London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

19   Jermaine Coleman Stand Off London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

20   Dave Williams
Dave Williams (rugby league)
Dave Williams born in London, England is a rugby league player for Harlequins Rugby League in the European Super League. He plays as a prop.He has signed a new 2 year deal to start from the 2009 season.-External links:**...

Loose Forward Harlequins RL - Dual Reg
21   Guy Aldam Full Back London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

22   Sam Gee Stand Off London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

23   Jamie Boston Prop London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

24   Austen Aggrey Wing London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

25   Cariern C-Pascal Second Row London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

26   Dave Samson Loose Forward London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

27   Olu Iwenofu Centre London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

28   Jaroslaw Obuchowski Prop London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

29   John Paxton
John Paxton
John Paxton was an American screenwriter.-Biography:Some of his films include Murder, My Sweet in 1944, Cornered in 1945, Crossfire in 1947...

Full Back London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

30   Liam Prescott Stand Off London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

31   Saqib Murtza Prop London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

32   Daniel Burke Scrum Half London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

33   Ben Bolger
Ben Bolger
Benjamin Bolger is a professional rugby league footballer from Chingford, East London who currently plays for Harlequins RL in Super League. He previously played as a youth and an amateur for Conference South side St Albans Centurions, starting as a 13-year-old, as well as playing for Saracens...

Centre London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...

34   Dave McMeeken Wing London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...


Juniors

Skolars run under-12s, under-14s and under-16s teams who all compete in the London Junior League
London Junior League
The London Junior League is a rugby league competition for clubs in London and the South East of England.The season runs from February through to September. It is competed for at under-16, under-14, under-13 and under-12 level. There is also a Rugby League Conference Academy league for the under-18...

.

Club honours

  • Harry Jepson Trophy: 1997
  • RLC Eastern Division: 1997* (The tournament was known as the Southern Conference in 1997)
  • RLC Southern Division: 2000
  • RLC London & South Division: 2002
  • Middlesex 9s: 2003
  • RLC Challenge Cup: 2004
  • London League: 2000, 2001, 2004

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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