Rugby Football League Championship Second Division

The Rugby Football League Championship Second Division was founded in 1902 and was the second tier of professional rugby league in the UK until 2003.

RFL Championship Second Division
SportRugby league
Instituted1902-1995 (as Second Division)
1996-1998 (as Division One)
1999-2002 (as Northern Premiership)
Ceased2002
Replaced byChampionship
Country England
Most titles Leigh Centurions
Salford Red Devils
Oldham
(3 titles)
Related competitionChallenge Cup
Promotion toFirst Division
Relegation toThird Division

During the 1990s a third division was established and there is automatic promotion between the second and third division.

History

The Second Division was formed in 1902 by splitting the RFL Championship into two divisions of 18. After three seasons the Second Division was abolished and not resurrected until 1962. Two seasons later in 1964 the Second Division was scrapped for the second time.

The division was resurrected again in 1973 and has been played every season since. During the 1991-92 season, a third division was established and, for the first time, two teams were relegated. There was no regular relegation from the Second Division until 2003.

In 1995, in anticipation for the Super League starting in 1996, six teams were relegated from the RFL Championship, five were relegated to the Second Division and one was relegated to form the Third Division. Controversy was caused as London Broncos, who finished 4th in the Second Division, were elected to the Championship ahead of Keighley, Batley and Huddersfield.

In 2003, the divisions under Super League were reorganised into the National Leagues with Second and Third Divisions becoming National League One and National League Two.

Results

Year Champions[1] Promoted Relegated
1902-03
Keighley
Keighley
Leeds
No Relegation
1903-04
Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity
St. Helens
1904-05
Dewsbury
Dewsbury
Barrow
1905-1962: No Second Division
1962-63
Hunslet
Hunslet
Keighley
No Relegation
1963-64
Oldham
Oldham
Leigh
1964-1973: No Second Division
1973-74
Bradford
Bradford
York
Keighley
Salford
No Relegation
1974-75
Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Hull Kingston Rovers
Oldham
Swinton
1975-76
Barrow
Barrow
Rochdale Hornets
Workington
Leigh
1976-77
Hull F.C.
Hull
Dewsbury
Bramley
Hunslet
1977-78
Leigh
Leigh
Barrow
Rochdale Hornets
Huddersfield
1978-79
Hull F.C.
Hull
Hunslet
York
Blackpool
1979-80
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers
Halifax
Oldham
Barrow
1980-81
York
York
Wigan
Fulham
Whitehaven
1981-82
Oldham
Oldham
Carlisle
Workington
Halifax
1982-83
Fulham
Fulham
Wakefield Trinity
Salford
Whitehaven
1983-84
Barrow
Barrow
Workington
Hunslet
Halifax
1984-85
Swinton
Swinton
Salford
York
Dewsbury
1985-86
Leigh
Leigh
Barrow
Wakefield Trinity
1986-87
Hunslet
Hunslet
Swinton
1987-88
Oldham
Oldham
Featherstone Rovers
Wakefield Trinity
1988-89
Leigh
Leigh
Barrow
Sheffield
1989-90
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Rochdale Hornets
Oldham
1990-91
Salford
Salford
Halifax
Swinton
1991-92
Sheffield
Sheffield
Leigh
Ryedale-York
Workington
1992-93
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers
Oldham
No Relegation
1993-94
Workington
Workington
Doncaster
1994-95
Keighley
London Broncos
Hull Kingston Rovers
Ryedale-York
Hunslet
Leigh
Swinton
Bramley
Carlisle
Barrow
Liverpool Stanley
1995-96
Salford
No Promotion
No Relegation
1996
Salford
Salford
Rochdale Hornets
Batley
1997
Hull F.C.
Hull
Huddersfield
Widnes
Workington
1998
Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity
No Relegation
1999
Hunslet Hawks
No Promotion
2000
Dewsbury
2001
Widnes
Widnes
2002
Huddersfield
Huddersfield

Winners

ClubWinsWinning Year
1 Leigh Centurions 3 1976-77, 1985–86, 1988–89
2 Salford Red Devils 3 1990-91, 1995–96, 1996
3 Oldham 3 1963-64, 1981–82, 1987–88
= Barrow Raiders 2 1975-76, 1983–84
= Featherstone Rovers 2 1979-80, 1992–93
= Hull Kingston Rovers 1 1989-90
= Sheffield Eagles 1 1991-92
7 Keighley Cougars 2 1902-03, 1994–95
= Dewsbury Rams 2 1904-05, 2000
= Hunslet 2 1986–87, 1999
= Wakefield Trinity 2 1903-04, 1998
= Huddersfield Giants 2 1974-75, 2002
= Hull F.C. 2 1976-77, 1978–79
14 Bradford Bulls 1 1973-74
= York City Knights 1 1980-81
= Hunslet (1883) 1 1962-63
= London Broncos 1 1982-83
= Swinton Lions 1 1984-85
= Workington Town 1 1993-94
= Widnes Vikings 1 2001

See also

References

  1. "Second Tier Champions". 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009.
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