Midlands Merit League
Encyclopedia
The Midlands Merit League, was a summer rugby league
tournament in England
held between 2006 and 2009. It was a feeder league to the Rugby League Conference
and had a season that runs from April to August. In its last season of 2009, it was also known as the RL Merit League.
It was superseded by the Midlands Rugby League
, Yorkshire & Humber Merit League
and North West Merit League
.
meant that it could be administered as part of the Rugby League Conference
set-up. Interest quickly gathered with 13 teams showing an interest in participating in the inaugural season - 8 eventually participated. The first ever game took place on April 8, 2006 at All Saints Sports College, Sheffield
, where the Sheffield Forgers
beat the Chesterfield Spires by 58 points to 8.
The first cross-league fixture was played in June 2007 when Nottingham Outlaws
Academy visited Northampton Casuals of the London League
. They also played a return fixture in July.
The 2007 season saw the introduction of an informal under-15 league based on Merit League principles. In 2008 the junior competition featured under-14 and under-16 divisions.
The league was renamed Rugby League Merit League (RLML) for the 2008 season due to its increased geographical spread with teams from the North of England taking part. 2009 saw the largest ever entry, with over 30 teams split into two pools; "Yorkshire and Humber" and "North West" with the Midlands Rugby League
becoming its own competition using merit league rules.
In 2010 the Yorkshire & Humber Merit League
and North West Merit League
became separate competitions.
(RLC) providing players or teams to the Midlands Merit 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...
tournament in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
held between 2006 and 2009. It was a feeder league 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...
and had a season that runs from April to August. In its last season of 2009, it was also known as the RL Merit League.
It was superseded by the Midlands Rugby League
Midlands Rugby League
The 3vSport.com Midlands Rugby League is a summer rugby league tournament in the Midlands region of England. It is a feeder league to the Rugby League Conference and a successor league to the Midlands Merit League...
, Yorkshire & Humber Merit League
Yorkshire & Humber Merit League
The Yorkshire & Humber Merit League is a rugby league competition for clubs in Yorkshire and the Humber. It is a feeder league for the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
and North West Merit League
North West Merit League
The North West Merit League is a rugby league competition for clubs in the North West of England. It is a feeder league for the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
.
History
The league was founded as the Midlands Merit League in late 2005 to support the growth of rugby league in non-heartland areas. Originally intended as a stand-alone league, support from the Rugby Football LeagueRugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
meant that it could be administered as part 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...
set-up. Interest quickly gathered with 13 teams showing an interest in participating in the inaugural season - 8 eventually participated. The first ever game took place on April 8, 2006 at All Saints Sports College, 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...
, where the Sheffield Forgers
Sheffield Forgers
Sheffield Forgers RLFC was a rugby league club in Sheffield, England. It has an Open Age team that plays in the summer in the Rugby League Conference and the Yorkshire & Humber Merit League and in the winter in the Pennine League It is also developing a junior section.-Foundation:The genesis of the...
beat the Chesterfield Spires by 58 points to 8.
The first cross-league fixture was played in June 2007 when Nottingham Outlaws
Nottingham Outlaws (rugby)
Nottingham Outlaws are a rugby league club from the city of Nottingham, England. They were founded in 1999 and their first team plays in the National Division. They have a junior section and in 2006 launched an academy team, which plays in the Midlands Rugby League. They play their home matches at...
Academy visited Northampton Casuals of 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 ....
. They also played a return fixture in July.
The 2007 season saw the introduction of an informal under-15 league based on Merit League principles. In 2008 the junior competition featured under-14 and under-16 divisions.
The league was renamed Rugby League Merit League (RLML) for the 2008 season due to its increased geographical spread with teams from the North of England taking part. 2009 saw the largest ever entry, with over 30 teams split into two pools; "Yorkshire and Humber" and "North West" with the Midlands Rugby League
Midlands Rugby League
The 3vSport.com Midlands Rugby League is a summer rugby league tournament in the Midlands region of England. It is a feeder league to the Rugby League Conference and a successor league to the Midlands Merit League...
becoming its own competition using merit league rules.
In 2010 the Yorkshire & Humber Merit League
Yorkshire & Humber Merit League
The Yorkshire & Humber Merit League is a rugby league competition for clubs in Yorkshire and the Humber. It is a feeder league for the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
and North West Merit League
North West Merit League
The North West Merit League is a rugby league competition for clubs in the North West of England. It is a feeder league for the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
became separate competitions.
Teams joining the Rugby League Conference
The league has also proved popular with clubs in the Rugby League ConferenceRugby 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...
(RLC) providing players or teams to the Midlands Merit League.
- 2007 South Humber RabbitohsSouth Humber RabbitohsSouth Humber Rabbitohs RLFC are a rugby league team from the county of Lincolnshire in England. They play in the Yorkshire & Humber Merit League.-History:...
- 2008 East RidingHaworth ParkHaworth Park are a rugby league team based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. They play in the Yorkshire Premier division of the Rugby League Conference with their A-team taking part in the Yorkshire & Humber Merit League.-History:...
and Sheffield ForgersSheffield ForgersSheffield Forgers RLFC was a rugby league club in Sheffield, England. It has an Open Age team that plays in the summer in the Rugby League Conference and the Yorkshire & Humber Merit League and in the winter in the Pennine League It is also developing a junior section.-Foundation:The genesis of the... - 2009 Nottingham Outlaws A, Moorends-Thorne Marauders A (failed to start season), Parkside Hawks(called up after one game), Wigan RiversidersWigan RiversidersWigan Riversiders are a rugby league team based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The first team play in the North West Premier division of the Rugby League Conference; the second team play in the North West regional division under the name Wigan Riversiders Eels; and the third play in the...
- 2010 BarnsleyBarnsley BroncosBarnsley Broncos is a rugby league team based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. They play in the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
, Chester GladiatorsChester GladiatorsChester Gladiators Rugby League Football Club is a rugby league club in Chester, England. They play in the North West Division of the Rugby League Conference, North West Counties and the North West Merit League.-History:...
, Crewe & Nantwich SteamersCrewe & Nantwich SteamersCrewe & Nantwich Steamers is a rugby league club in Nantwich, Cheshire. They play in the North West Division of the Rugby League Conference and run a second team in the North West Merit League.-History:...
, Mancunians RLMancunians RLMancunians RL is a rugby league club based in Manchester. They play in the North West Premier division of the Rugby League Conference. Their second team plays in the North West Merit League....
, Victoria Rangers, Wigan Riversiders Eels
Championship
| 2006 | South Humber Rabbitohs | 42-18 | Nottingham Outlaws Academy |
| 2007 | St Helens Wild Boars | 46-22 | German Exiles |
| 2008 | Moorends-Thorne Marauders ML | 28-18 | Wigan Riversiders |
| 2009 | Upton RL | 52-24 | Huyton Bulldogs |
Shield
| 2007 | East Riding RLC | 32-26 | Nottingham Outlaws Academy |
| 2008 | Nottingham Outlaws Academy | 34-32 | Sheffield Forgers |
North West pool
| 2009 | Huyton Bulldogs | 36-12 | Wigan Eels |
Yorkshire and the Humber pool
| 2009 | Upton RL | 30-22 | Victoria Rangers |
See also
- British rugby league system
- London League (rugby 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 ....
- Midlands Rugby LeagueMidlands Rugby LeagueThe 3vSport.com Midlands Rugby League is a summer rugby league tournament in the Midlands region of England. It is a feeder league to the Rugby League Conference and a successor league to the Midlands Merit League...
- Rugby League ConferenceRugby League ConferenceThe 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...