National League Cup
Encyclopedia
The Championship Cup, known as the Northern Rail Cup due to sponsorship by Northern Rail
, is a rugby league football competition for clubs in the United Kingdom
's Championship and Championship 1
leagues, formerly known as the Rugby League National Leagues. (The one French club in the Championship, Toulouse Olympique
, does not participate in the cup at present.) The competition was founded in 2002, with Northern Rail buying the naming rights in 2005.
was a short-lived competition for professional British rugby league clubs outside Super League. It was played for during the period in which all non-Super League professional clubs were grouped into a single competition, the Northern Ford Premiership.
As part of the redevelopment of the Northern Ford Premiership competition; the National League cup was first held in 2002. It was known as the Buddies Cup, after its sponsors, a soft drink
s manufacturer. Eighteen teams took part divided into three groups of six (East, West and Central).
The Northern Ford Premiership was replaced by National Leagues One and Two in 2003. The competition was known as the Arriva Trains Cup after sponsors Arriva Trains Northern
). The twenty National League teams were divided into four groups (North, East, West and Central) of five teams each, while in 2004 there were five groups (North, East, West, Pennine, Yorkshire) of four teams each.
Northern Rail
became the competitions sponsors in 2005 and the name Northern Rail Cup was adopted. Four teams from the then National League Three
also entered the competition. There were no cross-group games in the 2005 competition
; each team therefore played only six games in the group stages, with the top team from each of the first five groups progressing to the quarter-final directly. The second-placed team in each of these groups, plus the top team from group six (the group of teams from National League 3) played an additional round to determine the remaining three spots in the quarter-finals.
For 2006 there were seven groups. Groups one to six comprised the 22 teams in National Leagues One and Two and the two southern National League Three teams, Hemel Stags
and St Albans Centurions
. There were four teams in each regional division. The top two teams from groups one to six and the best three third-placed teams qualified for the last sixteen knock out stage along with the winner of group seven. Group seven comprised northern National League Three teams that choose to enter, and included three teams: Bramley Buffaloes
, Warrington Wizards
and Dewsbury Celtic
.
In 2007 the competition adopted a new points system: Win – three points; Draw – two points; Loss by 12 points or fewer - one point. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/national_league/6248231.stm
In 2009, the Northern Rail Nines
tournament was started. Teams not involved in the Northern Rail Cup Final will enter a rugby league nines
event with the trophy and plate final to be played as curtain raisers to the Northern Rail Cup Final at Bloomfield Road
, Blackpool
.
Most tries
Most goals
Most goals in a final
Most points
Highest score
Highest away score
Closest score
Most Final Appearances (Club)
Most Competition Wins (Club)
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
, is a rugby league football competition for clubs in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Championship and Championship 1
Championship 1
Championship 1, known as The Co-operative Championship 1 due to sponsorship by The Co-operative Group, is a rugby league competition based in the United Kingdom. It acts as the country's third-tier competition behind the Championship, with which it has a system of promotion and relegation. It is...
leagues, formerly known as the Rugby League National Leagues. (The one French club in the Championship, Toulouse Olympique
Toulouse Olympique
Toulouse Olympique are a French professional rugby league team from Toulouse, in the southwest of France. They were founded on 22 October, in 1937 two years after the founding of the French Rugby League Federation. Between 1995 and 2002 the club were known as Spacers de Toulouse, due to links with...
, does not participate in the cup at present.) The competition was founded in 2002, with Northern Rail buying the naming rights in 2005.
History
The Trans-Pennine CupTrans-Pennine Cup
The Trans-Pennine Cup was a short-lived competition for professional British rugby league clubs outside Super League. It was played for during the period in which all non-Super League professional clubs were grouped into a single competition, the Northern Ford Premiership: 1998-2001.The competition...
was a short-lived competition for professional British rugby league clubs outside Super League. It was played for during the period in which all non-Super League professional clubs were grouped into a single competition, the Northern Ford Premiership.
As part of the redevelopment of the Northern Ford Premiership competition; the National League cup was first held in 2002. It was known as the Buddies Cup, after its sponsors, a soft drink
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
s manufacturer. Eighteen teams took part divided into three groups of six (East, West and Central).
The Northern Ford Premiership was replaced by National Leagues One and Two in 2003. The competition was known as the Arriva Trains Cup after sponsors Arriva Trains Northern
Arriva
Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...
). The twenty National League teams were divided into four groups (North, East, West and Central) of five teams each, while in 2004 there were five groups (North, East, West, Pennine, Yorkshire) of four teams each.
Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
became the competitions sponsors in 2005 and the name Northern Rail Cup was adopted. Four teams from the then National League Three
Rugby League Conference National Division
The Rugby League Conference National Division is the highest division in the Rugby League Conference. Between 2003 and 2006, it was known as National League Three.-National League Three:...
also entered the competition. There were no cross-group games in the 2005 competition
2005 Northern Rail Cup
The 2005 National League Cup in British rugby league was sponsored by train operating company Northern Rail, and was therefore known as the Northern Rail Cup...
; each team therefore played only six games in the group stages, with the top team from each of the first five groups progressing to the quarter-final directly. The second-placed team in each of these groups, plus the top team from group six (the group of teams from National League 3) played an additional round to determine the remaining three spots in the quarter-finals.
For 2006 there were seven groups. Groups one to six comprised the 22 teams in National Leagues One and Two and the two southern National League Three teams, Hemel Stags
Hemel Stags
Hemel Stags are a rugby league team based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire playing in the National Division of the Rugby League Conference.The club has played in a number of leagues over the years, from the London League, MASWARLA, National Conference League and the Alliance League...
and St Albans Centurions
St Albans Centurions
St Albans Centurions is a rugby league club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire.Founded in 1996, they first played in various local leagues and the Rugby League Conference, and then, from 2003 to 2006, in National League 3. From 2007 to date, they play in the Rugby League Conference South Premier...
. There were four teams in each regional division. The top two teams from groups one to six and the best three third-placed teams qualified for the last sixteen knock out stage along with the winner of group seven. Group seven comprised northern National League Three teams that choose to enter, and included three teams: Bramley Buffaloes
Bramley Buffaloes
Bramley Buffaloes is a rugby league club from the Bramley area of West Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Previously known simply as Bramley RLFC, the club is a famous name in rugby league, having existed prior to the formation of the Northern Union in 1895...
, Warrington Wizards
Warrington Wizards
Warrington Wizards are a British rugby league team. They play in the National Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:Warrington Woolston Rovers, a National Conference League team were invited to be founder members of the new National League Three, the 4th tier of British rugby league in...
and Dewsbury Celtic
Dewsbury Celtic
Dewsbury Celtic is a rugby league club in the town of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. They play in the National Division of the Rugby League Conference and have a thriving junior section...
.
In 2007 the competition adopted a new points system: Win – three points; Draw – two points; Loss by 12 points or fewer - one point. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/national_league/6248231.stm
In 2009, the Northern Rail Nines
Northern Rail Nines
The Northern Rail Nines is a rugby league nines tournament held in Lytham St Annes and Blackpool Lancashire, England as part of a celebration weekend encompassing the Northern Rail Cup Final....
tournament was started. Teams not involved in the Northern Rail Cup Final will enter a rugby league nines
Rugby league nines
Rugby league nines is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played in festivals, as its shorter game play allows for a tournament to be...
event with the trophy and plate final to be played as curtain raisers to the Northern Rail Cup Final at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
, Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
.
Records
Below is a list of National League Cup records.Most tries
- 5 Paul Salmon (Barrow Raiders) v Workington Town 2002
- 5 Neil Turley (Leigh Centurions) v Swinton 2003
- 5 Neil Turley (Leigh Centurions) at Chorley Lynx 2004
- 5 Jon Steel (Hull K.R.) at London Skolars 2005
- 5 Byron Ford (Hull K.R.) v York City Knights 2006
Most goals
- Gareth Moore (Batley Bulldogs RLFC) V Gateshead Thunder 2010
Most goals in a final
- 10 John Wilshire (Salford City Reds) v Doncaster 2008 equaling the all time record for goals kicked in any final
Most points
- 42 (5 tries, 11 goals) Neil Turley (Leigh Centurions) at Chorley Lynx 2004
Highest score
- Gateshead Thunder 4 v 100 Batley Bulldogs RLFC – 2010
Highest away score
- Gateshead Thunder 4 v 100 Batley Bulldogs RLFC – 2010
Closest score
- Batley Bulldogs 25 v Widnes Vikings 24 – 2010
Most Final Appearances (Club)
- Both Hull KR and Leigh Centurions have contested 4 Championship Cup Finals. Hull KR's 4th Final appearance was in 2006, whilst Leigh Centurions made their 4th appearance in 2011. Hull KR have not entered the competition since 2006 due to their Super League promotion, whilst Leigh Centurions have played the competition every season with the exception of their 2005 season in Super League.
Most Competition Wins (Club)
- Leigh Centurions have won 3 Championship Cup Finals, from 4 final appearances.
Cup final results
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner Up | Match Information | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date & Time | Referee | Venue | Attendance | ||||
| 2002 | Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C.... |
32 – 6 | Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006... |
Chris Moyles Stadium Post Office Road Post Office Road, currently styled as the Bigfellas Stadium for sponsorship purposes , is a rugby league ground in Featherstone, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England... |
4,352 | ||
| 2003 | Salford City Reds Salford City Reds Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup... |
36 – 19 | Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in... |
Spotland Stadium Spotland Stadium Spotland Stadium is a sports venue located at Willbutts Lane in the Spotland area of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. It is currently home to Rochdale AFC and Rochdale Hornets RLFC... |
6,486 | ||
| 2004 | Leigh Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in... |
42 – 14 | Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006... |
Spotland Stadium Spotland Stadium Spotland Stadium is a sports venue located at Willbutts Lane in the Spotland area of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. It is currently home to Rochdale AFC and Rochdale Hornets RLFC... |
4,383 | ||
| 2005 2005 Northern Rail Cup The 2005 National League Cup in British rugby league was sponsored by train operating company Northern Rail, and was therefore known as the Northern Rail Cup... |
Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006... |
18 – 16 | Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'... |
Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000... |
9,400 | ||
| 2006 | Leigh Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in... |
22 – 18 | Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006... |
Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000... |
7,547 | ||
| 2007 2007 Northern Rail Cup -2007 season:The 2007 season of the National League Cup is sponsored by Northern Rail as was the previous years. Various teams from the National leagues of England compete. The winners are usually National league One teams... |
Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward... |
54 – 6 | Whitehaven RLFC 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... |
Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000... |
8,326 | ||
| 2008 | Salford City Reds Salford City Reds Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup... |
60 – 0 | Doncaster RLFC | Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000... |
6,328 | ||
| 2009 | Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward... |
34 - 18 | Barrow Raiders Barrow Raiders Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria.... |
12 July 2009 at 17:15 | Gareth Hewer | Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000... |
8,720 |
| 2010 2010 National League Cup The 2010 Championship Cup, named the 2010 Northern Rail Cup due to sponsorship from Northern Rail, is a rugby league football competition for clubs in Great Britain's Co-operative Championship and Championship One, formerly known as the Rugby League National Leagues. The 2010 edition of this cup... |
Batley Bulldogs Batley Bulldogs Batley Bulldogs are an English professional rugby league club from Batley, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Batley is one of the original twenty-two rugby football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895... |
25 - 24 | Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward... |
18 July 2010 at 16:00 | Robert Hicks | Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000... |
8,138 |
| 2011 2011 National League Cup The 2011 Championship Cup, named the 2011 Northern Rail Cup due to sponsorship from Northern Rail, is a rugby league football competition for clubs in Great Britain's Co-operative Championship and Championship One, formerly known as the Rugby League National Leagues. The 2011 edition of this cup... |
Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in... |
20 - 16 | Halifax RLFC Halifax RLFC Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town... |
17 July 2011 at 17:00 | Matt Thomason | Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000... |
8,822 |
Total titles won
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in... |
|
|
2004, 2006, 2011 |
| Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward... |
|
|
2007, 2009 |
| Salford City Reds Salford City Reds Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup... |
|
|
2003, 2008 |
| Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006... |
|
|
2005 |
| Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C.... |
|
|
2002 |
| Batley Bulldogs Batley Bulldogs Batley Bulldogs are an English professional rugby league club from Batley, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Batley is one of the original twenty-two rugby football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895... |
|
|
2010 |
See also
- Co-operative Championship
- Championship One
- Northern Ford Premiership
- Rugby League Challenge CupChallenge CupThe 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....
- 2005 Northern Rail Cup2005 Northern Rail CupThe 2005 National League Cup in British rugby league was sponsored by train operating company Northern Rail, and was therefore known as the Northern Rail Cup...
- Trans-Pennine CupTrans-Pennine CupThe Trans-Pennine Cup was a short-lived competition for professional British rugby league clubs outside Super League. It was played for during the period in which all non-Super League professional clubs were grouped into a single competition, the Northern Ford Premiership: 1998-2001.The competition...
- Northern Rail NinesNorthern Rail NinesThe Northern Rail Nines is a rugby league nines tournament held in Lytham St Annes and Blackpool Lancashire, England as part of a celebration weekend encompassing the Northern Rail Cup Final....
- 2010 National League Cup2010 National League CupThe 2010 Championship Cup, named the 2010 Northern Rail Cup due to sponsorship from Northern Rail, is a rugby league football competition for clubs in Great Britain's Co-operative Championship and Championship One, formerly known as the Rugby League National Leagues. The 2010 edition of this cup...