For the current incarnation of the Second Division, see Championship (rugby league).
RFL Championship Second Division
SportRugby league
Founded1902-1996 (as Second Division)
1996-1998 (as Division One)
1999-2002 (as Northern Premiership)
Folded2002
ReplacedChampionship
HeadquartersLeeds, United Kingdom
ChampiontagChampions
Most champsLeigh Centurions
Salford Red Devils
Oldham
Count3
Related compsChallenge Cup
Promotion toFirst Division
Relegation toThird 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.

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

YearChampions[1]PromotedRelegatedRef
1902-03KeighleyKeighley
Leeds		rowspan=3[2]
1903-04Wakefield TrinityWakefield Trinity
St. Helens		[2]
1904-05Dewsbury[2][3]
1905-1962: No Second Division
1962-63HunsletHunslet
Keighley		rowspan=2[4]
1963-64Oldham[5]
1964-1973: No Second Division
1973-74Bradford NorthernBradford Northern
York
Keighley
Halifax		rowspan=17[6]
1974-75HuddersfieldHuddersfield
Hull Kingston Rovers
Oldham
Swinton		[7]
1975-76BarrowBarrow
Rochdale Hornets
Workington
Leigh		[8]
1976-77Hull F.C.Hull
Dewsbury
Bramley
New Hunslet		[9]
1977-78LeighLeigh
Barrow
Rochdale Hornets
Huddersfield		[10]
1978-79Hull F.C.Hull
New Hunslet
York
Blackpool		[11]
1979-80Featherstone RoversFeatherstone Rovers
Halifax
Oldham
Barrow		[12]
1980-81YorkYork
Wigan
Fulham
Whitehaven		[13]
1981-82OldhamOldham
Carlisle
Workington
Halifax		[14]
1982-83FulhamFulham
Wakefield Trinity
Salford
Whitehaven		[15]
1983-84BarrowBarrow
Workington
Hunslet
Halifax		[16]
1984-85SwintonSwinton
Salford
York
Dewsbury		[17]
1985-86LeighLeigh
Barrow
Wakefield Trinity		[18]
1986-87HunsletHunslet
Swinton		[19]
1987-88OldhamOldham
Featherstone Rovers
Wakefield Trinity		[20]
1988-89LeighLeigh
Barrow
Sheffield Eagles		[21]
1989-90Hull Kingston RoversHull Kingston Rovers
Rochdale Hornets
Oldham		[22]
1990-91SalfordSalford
Halifax
Swinton		[23][24]
1991-92SheffieldSheffield
Leigh		Ryedale-York
Workington		[23]
1992-93Featherstone RoversFeatherstone Rovers
Oldham		[23]
1993-94'WorkingtonWorkington
Doncaster		[23]
1994-95KeighleyLondon Broncos[25]
1995-96Salford Reds[26]
1996Salford RedsSalford RedsRochdale Hornets
Batley		[27]
1997HullHull
Huddersfield		Widnes
Workington		[28]
1998Wakefield TrinityWakefield Trinity[29]
1999Hunslet Hawksrowspan=2rowspan=4[30]
2000Dewsbury[31]
2001WidnesWidnes[32]
2002HuddersfieldHuddersfield[33]

Winners

ClubWinsWinning Year
1Leigh Centurions31976-77, 1985–86, 1988–89
=Salford Red Devils31990-91, 1995–96, 1996
=Oldham31963-64, 1981–82, 1987–88
4Barrow Raiders21975-76, 1983–84
=Featherstone Rovers21979-80, 1992–93
=Keighley Cougars21902-03, 1994–95
=Dewsbury Rams21904-05, 2000
=Hunslet21986–87, 1999
=Wakefield Trinity21903-04, 1998
=Huddersfield Giants21974-75, 2002
=Hull F.C.21976-77, 1978–79
12Hunslet (1883)11962-63
=Bradford Bulls11973-74
=York11980-81
=Fulham11982-83
=Swinton Lions11984-85
=Hull Kingston Rovers11989-90
=Sheffield Eagles11991-92
=Workington Town11993-94
=Widnes Vikings12001

See also

References

  1. ^ "Second Tier Champions". 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009.
  2. ^ Fletcher & Howes 1995, pp. 260–1.
  3. ^ "1905-06 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2009-08-26.
  4. ^ "1962-63 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  5. ^ "1963-64 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2009-08-26.
  6. ^ "1973-74 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-23.
  7. ^ "1974-75 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2009-08-27.
  8. ^ "1975-76 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-23.
  9. ^ "1976-77 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-23.
  10. ^ "1977-78 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-23.
  11. ^ "1978-79 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  12. ^ "1979-80 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2009-08-27.
  13. ^ "1980-81 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  14. ^ "1981-82 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  15. ^ "1982-83 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  16. ^ "1983-84 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  17. ^ "1984-85 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  18. ^ "1985-86 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  19. ^ "1986-87 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  20. ^ "1987-88 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  21. ^ "1988-89 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  22. ^ "1989-90 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  23. ^ Fletcher & Howes 1995, pp. 302–3.
  24. ^ "1990-91 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  25. ^ "1994-95 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  26. ^ "1995-96 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-23.
  27. ^ "1996 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  28. ^ "1997 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-23.
  29. ^ "1998 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  30. ^ "1999 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-23.
  31. ^ "2000 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.
  32. ^ "2001 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-23.
  33. ^ "2002 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 2006-08-25.

Sources