Yorkshire Men's League

The Yorkshire Men's League is a summer rugby league competition for amateur teams in Yorkshire.

The competition was formed in 2012 after the Rugby League Conference Yorkshire Premier folded. The league was renamed to its current name following the 2012 restructure of amateur rugby league in Great Britain.

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.

Structure

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

• Premier Division
• Division 1
• Division 2
• Division 3
• Division 4
• Division 5
• Division 6
• Division 7
• Entry Division
• Merit Division

Clubs

Premier Division

• Brighouse Rangers
• Dodworth Miners
• Doncaster Toll Bar
• East Hull
• Hunslet ARLFC A
• Ossett Trinity Tigers
• Newcastle Lightning
• West Bowling A

Division 1

• Birstall Victoria
• Emley Moor
• Seacroft Sharks
• Sharlston Rovers
• Upton
• Wibsey Warriors
• Wyke
• York Barbarians

Division 2

• Castleford Panthers
• Cutsyke Raiders
• Dearne Valley Bulldogs
• Derby Elks
• Eastmoor Dragons
• Goole Vikings A
• Lindley St Josephs
• West Hull A

Division 3

• Birkinshaw Bluedogs
• Bramley Buffaloes
• Dewsbury Moor A
• Drighlington A
• Moortown Mambas
• Oulton Raiders A
• Queensbury
• Underbank Rangers

Division 4

• Batley ARLFC
• Hemsworth Dragons
• Keighley Albion A
• Kings Cross Park A
• Newsome Panthers A
• Ossett Trinity Tigers A
• Sherburn Bears
• Stanningley A

Division 5

• Crigglestone All Blacks
• Farnley Falcons
• Harrogate Hawks
• Hull Wyke
• Methley Warriors
• New Earswick All Blacks
• Shaw Cross Sharks A
• York Acorn A

Division 6

• Garforth Tigers
• Guiseley Rangers
• Knottingley Mustangs
• Milford A
• Moldgreen Rams
• Moorends Thorne Maroons
• Rycroft Hammers
• Sheffield Hawks

Division 7

• Bentley A
• Boothtown Terriers
• Dewsbury Celtic A
• Featherstone Lions A
• Normanton Knights A
• Thornhill Trojans A
• Upton A
• York Barbarians A

Entry Division

• Clayton
• Dearne Valley Bulldogs A
• East Leeds A
• Heworth A
• Hull Knights
• Illingworth
• Lock Lane A
• Odsal Sedburgh
• Scarborough Pirates
• Skirlaugh Bulls A
• Stainland Stags
• Woodhouse Warriors

Merit Division

• Beverley A
• Bradford Dudley Hill A
• Dodworth Miners A
• Doncaster Toll Bar A
• Emley Moor A
• Hull Dockers A
• Kippax Welfare A
• Lindley St Josephs A
• Mirfield Spartans A
• Myton Warriors A
• Rotherham Forges
• Sharlston Rovers A
• Stanley Rangers A
• Wetherby Bulldogs

Premier Division

Source:

Division 1

Division 2

Division 3

Division 4

Division 5

Division 6

Cup Results

YML Cup

YML Trophy

YML Shield

See also

• Cumbria Rugby League
• North West Men's League
• British rugby league system

External links

• 30 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine