Rugby League Conference Scotland Division
Encyclopedia
The Rugby League Conference Scotland Division, also known as the Scottish conference, is the Scottish domestic league for the sport of rugby league
. It also forms a division of the Rugby League Conference
competition which covers all of Great Britain
. Many of the teams run junior teams in the National Youth League
.
The Scottish Conference was founded with five teams in 1997 as a stand-alone competition. That same year the Rugby League Conference
was founded as the Southern Conference League; it began as a 10-team pilot league for teams in the South of England and English Midlands
but would later expand into the North of England and Wales
.
The Scottish Conference briefly had two divisions in 2002 before reverting to one division. The league became administratively associated with the Rugby League Conference
in 2006 and became a full division of the Conference a year later.
Jordanhill Phoenix and Kirkcaldy failed to start the 2010 season and Forth & Clyde Nomads were brought in as replacements.
The Scotland Premier is the highest level of amateur rugby league in Scotland. Above the Scotland Division is the National Division
which sides from around the UK are able to join. To date, no Scottish side has played in the National Division.
NB: While these are the dates that the clubs were founded as open age clubs, some existed previously as junior clubs.
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...
. It also forms a 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...
competition which covers all of 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...
. Many of the teams run junior teams in the National Youth League
National Youth League (Scotland)
The National Youth League is a Scottish rugby league competition competed for at under-15 and under-17 level. It is administered by Scotland Rugby League...
.
History
The first Scottish club of modern times was Forth & Clyde Nomads who played in the North East League in 1995-96. However, after this one season, they folded.The Scottish Conference was founded with five teams in 1997 as a stand-alone competition. That same year 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...
was founded as the Southern Conference League; it began as a 10-team pilot league for teams in the South of England and English Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
but would later expand into the North of England and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
The Scottish Conference briefly had two divisions in 2002 before reverting to one division. The league became administratively associated with 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 2006 and became a full division of the Conference a year later.
Jordanhill Phoenix and Kirkcaldy failed to start the 2010 season and Forth & Clyde Nomads were brought in as replacements.
Rugby League Conference Pyramid
- RLC NationalRugby League Conference National DivisionThe 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:...
- RLC Scotland Premier
- RLC Scottish 1st Division
The Scotland Premier is the highest level of amateur rugby league in Scotland. Above the Scotland Division is the National Division
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:...
which sides from around the UK are able to join. To date, no Scottish side has played in the National Division.
2010 Structure
| Club | Founded | Location | RLC Honours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayrshire Storm | 2010 | Irvine Irvine, North Ayrshire Irvine is a new town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. According to 2007 population estimates, the town is home to 39,527 inhabitants, making it the biggest settlement in North Ayrshire.... , North Ayrshire North Ayrshire North Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland with a population of roughly 136,000 people. It is located in the south-west region of Scotland, and borders the areas of Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire to the north-east and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the East and South... |
|
| Carluke Tigers Carluke Tigers Carluke Tigers are an amateur rugby league team. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference. The team is the only premier rugby league side in Lanarkshire... |
2008 | Carluke Carluke The town of Carluke lies in the heart of the Lanarkshire countryside in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, 5.4 miles northwest of Lanark and 4 miles southeast of Wishaw.... , Lanarkshire Lanarkshire Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland... |
Scottish Shield: 2008 Scottish Conference: 2010 |
| Easterhouse Panthers Easterhouse Panthers Easterhouse Panthers are an amateur rugby league team based in Easterhouse in the East End of Glasgow. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
2005 | Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... |
|
| Edinburgh Eagles Edinburgh Eagles The Edinburgh Eagles are a semi-professional rugby league team based in Edinburgh, Scotland. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
1998 | Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... |
Scottish Conference: 1999, 2001-3, 2007-9, 2011 |
| Falkirk RFC Falkirk RFC Falkirk RFC is a rugby union based in Falkirk, ScotlandFalkirk currently competes in the Scottish Premiership Division 2.... |
20101 | Falkirk Falkirk Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow.... |
|
| Fife Lions Fife Lions Fife Lions ARLFC are a rugby league club located in the east of Scotland. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference.The Fife Lions in recent years have been one of the dominant teams in the SRLC... |
1997/20022 | Fife Fife Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire... |
Scottish Conference: 2004, 2006 |
| Forth and Clyde Nomads | |||
| Moray Eels | 2005 | Lossiemouth Lossiemouth Lossiemouth is a town in Moray, Scotland. Originally the port belonging to Elgin, it became an important fishing town. Although there has been over a 1,000 years of settlement in the area, the present day town was formed over the past 250 years and consists of four separate communities that... , Moray Moray Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :... |
|
- 1 Falkirk RFC was formed in 1972, though was original started in 1962 in GrangemouthGrangemouthGrangemouth is a town and former burgh in the council area of Falkirk, Scotland. The town lies in the Forth Valley, on the banks of the Firth of Forth, east of Falkirk, west of Bo'ness and south-east of Stirling. Grangemouth had a resident population of 17,906 according to the 2001...
. They did not start playing rugby league until 2010 - 2 Linlithgow Lions were formed in 1997, and they became Fife Lions after relocating in 2002
NB: While these are the dates that the clubs were founded as open age clubs, some existed previously as junior clubs.
Premier
- Ayrshire Storm
- Carluke TigersCarluke TigersCarluke Tigers are an amateur rugby league team. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference. The team is the only premier rugby league side in Lanarkshire...
- Edinburgh EaglesEdinburgh EaglesThe Edinburgh Eagles are a semi-professional rugby league team based in Edinburgh, Scotland. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
- Fife LionsFife LionsFife Lions ARLFC are a rugby league club located in the east of Scotland. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference.The Fife Lions in recent years have been one of the dominant teams in the SRLC...
- Moray Eels
1st Division
- Aberdeen WarriorsAberdeen WarriorsThe Aberdeen Warriors are a Scottish rugby league team currently playing in the Scotland Rugby League Conference Division One.-History:The club was founded in 2011 by Craig Parslow , Tom Lee and Ray Hall . In the 2011 season, the Warriors won the Rugby League Conference Divisional 1...
- Easterhouse PanthersEasterhouse PanthersEasterhouse Panthers are an amateur rugby league team based in Easterhouse in the East End of Glasgow. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
- Falkirk RFCFalkirk RFCFalkirk RFC is a rugby union based in Falkirk, ScotlandFalkirk currently competes in the Scottish Premiership Division 2....
- Moray Titans
League standings
| Current Teams | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carluke Tigers Carluke Tigers Carluke Tigers are an amateur rugby league team. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference. The team is the only premier rugby league side in Lanarkshire... |
x | x | 2nd | 2nd |
| Easterhouse Panthers Easterhouse Panthers Easterhouse Panthers are an amateur rugby league team based in Easterhouse in the East End of Glasgow. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
||||
| Edinburgh Eagles Edinburgh Eagles The Edinburgh Eagles are a semi-professional rugby league team based in Edinburgh, Scotland. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
1st | 1st | 1st | |
| Fife Lions Fife Lions Fife Lions ARLFC are a rugby league club located in the east of Scotland. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference.The Fife Lions in recent years have been one of the dominant teams in the SRLC... |
1st | 2nd | ||
| Glasgow Bulls | DNF | DNS | x | |
| Hillfoot Rams | x | x | x | |
| Jordanhill Phoenix | x | x | ||
| Moray Eels | 2nd | |||
| Paisley Hurricanes Paisley Hurricanes The Paisley Hurricanes are an amateur rugby league team. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference. The club is currently based at the in Paisley, home of Paisley Rugby Union Club.... |
x | |||
| Victoria Knights | x | x | x | |
Key
| DNF | Did not complete the season |
| DNS | Entered but did not start the season |
| x | Did not participate |
| Divisional winner | |
| Qualified for divisional play-off | |
| Finished bottom | |
Participating teams by season
- 1997: Central Centurions, Inverness, Linlithgow Lions, Lomond Valley Raiders, Whitecraigs
- 1998: Border Eagles, Edinburgh Eagles, Glasgow North, Kinloss Hunters, Linlithgow Lions, Rhu Raiders
- 1999: Border Eagles, Edinburgh Eagles, Glasgow Bulls, Linlithgow Lions, Portobello Playboys, Rhu Raiders
- 2000: Border Eagles, Edinburgh Eagles, Glasgow Bulls, Linlithgow Lions, Portobello Playboys, Rhu Raiders
- 2001: Border Eagles, Clyde Buccaneers, Edinburgh Eagles, Glasgow Bulls, Lanarkshire Storm, Rhu Raiders (Portobello Playboys and Linlithgow Lions took the year out due to foot and mouth)
- 2002: Division 1: Dunbartonshire Dragons, Edinburgh Eagles, Glasgow Bulls, Portobello Playboys
- Division 2:Border Eagles, Clyde Buccaneers, Fife Lions, Lanarkshire Storm
- 2003: Border Eagles, Clyde Buccaneers, Edinburgh Eagles, Fife Lions, Glasgow Bulls, Portobello Playboys
- 2004: Edinburgh Eagles, Clyde Bulls, Fife Lions, Portobello Playboys
- 2005: Edinburgh Eagles, Clyde Bulls, Easterhouse Panthers, Fife Lions, Moray Eels, Royal Scots Steelers
- 2006: Easterhouse Panthers, Edinburgh Eagles, Fife Lions, Glasgow Bulls, Moray Eels, Paisley Hurricanes
- 2007: Easterhouse Panthers, Edinburgh Eagles, Fife Lions, Moray Eels, Paisley Hurricanes (Glasgow Bulls entered but failed to complete the season)
- 2008: Carluke Tigers, Easterhouse Panthers, Edinburgh Eagles, Fife Lions, Jordanhill Phoenix, Moray Eels, Paisley Hurricanes (Glasgow Bulls entered but failed to start the season)
- 2009: Carluke Tigers, Easterhouse Panthers, Edinburgh Eagles, Fife Lions, Hillfoot Rams
- 2010: Ayrshire Storm, Carluke Tigers, Easterhouse Panthers, Edinburgh Eagles, Falkirk RFC, Fife Lions, Forth and Clyde Nomads, Moray Eels (Jordanhill Phoenix and Kirkcaldy entered but failed to start the season)
Grand Finals Winners
| Year | Champions | Runners Up |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Lomond Valley Raiders | Central Centurions |
| 1998 | Border Eagles | Edinburgh Eagles |
| 1999 | Edinburgh Eagles | Portobello Playboys |
| 2000 | Glasgow Bulls | Edinburgh Eagles |
| 2001 | Edinburgh Eagles | Glasgow Bulls |
| 2002 | Edinburgh Eagles | Portobello Playboys |
| 2003 | Edinburgh Eagles | Fife Lions |
| 2004 | Fife Lions | Edinburgh Eagles |
| 2005 | Royal Scots Steelers | Fife Lions |
| 2006 | Fife Lions | Moray Eels |
| 2007 | Edinburgh Eagles | Fife Lions |
| 2008 | Edinburgh Eagles | Fife Lions |
| 2009 | Edinburgh Eagles | Carluke Tigers |
| 2010 | Carluke Tigers | Edinburgh Eagles |
| 2011 | Edinburgh Eagles | Ayrshire Storm |
Number of wins
- Edinburgh Eagles 8
- Fife Lions 2
- Border Eagles 1
- Carluke Tigers 1
- Glasgow Bulls 1
- Lomond Valley Raiders 1
- Royal Scots Steelers 1