Midlands Rugby League Premier Division
Founded2006
Country England
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid5
Promotion toConference League South
Relegation toMidlands Rugby League Division One
Domestic cup(s)Challenge Cup
Current championsCoventry Dragons

The Midlands Rugby League Premier Division is the highest level of amateur rugby league in the English Midlands. It was previously the Midlands Premier Division of the Rugby League Conference. Many of the clubs run juniors in the Midlands Junior League.

History

The Rugby League Conference was born in 1997, then known as the Southern Conference. The Premier Division were set up in 2005 for teams who had achieved a certain playing standard and were able to travel further afield to find stronger opposition.

The new Premier Divisions included the North Premier, the South Premier, the Central Premier and the Welsh Premier. The Central Premier had two Midlands clubs Telford Raiders and Nottingham Outlaws and the rest of the clubs were from Yorkshire or Lancashire.

The Midlands Premier was created one season later in 2006. The founder members were Coventry Bears, Telford Raiders, Nottingham Outlaws, Derby City, Birmingham Bulldogs, Leicester Phoenix and Wolverhampton Wizards.

In 2012 the Rugby League Conference will be disbanded and the Midlands Premier will continue as Midlands Rugby League Premier Division.

Community game pyramid

2015 structure

  • Birmingham Bulldogs
  • Boston Buccaneers
  • Buxton Bulls
  • Coventry Dragons
  • Derby City
  • Leamington Royals
  • Leicester Storm A
  • North East Worcestershire Ravens
  • Northampton Demons
  • Nottingham Outlaws A
  • Sherwood Wolf Hunt
  • Telford Raiders

2014 structure

  • Birmingham Bulldogs
  • Coventry Dragons
  • Derby City
  • Leamington Royals
  • Leicester Storm A
  • North Derbyshire Chargers (failed to complete the season)
  • North East Worcestershire Ravens
  • Northampton Demons
  • Nottingham Outlaws A
  • Telford Raiders

2013 structure

  • Birmingham Bulldogs
  • Coventry Bears A
  • Coventry Dragons
  • Leicester Storm A
  • North Derbyshire Chargers
  • North East Worcestershire Ravens
  • Northampton Demons A
  • Nottingham Outlaws A
  • Sleaford Spartans
  • Telford Raiders

2012 structure

Club Founded Location RLC Honours
Birmingham Bulldogs A1989BirminghamWestern Division: 2000, Midlands Division: 2003
Coventry Bears A1998Coventry
Gloucestershire Warriors1997GloucesterWestern Division: 1999, South West Division: 2005, West Midlands and South West Division: 2006, West of England: 2011
Leicester Storm1986LeicesterCentral Division: 1997, South Midlands Division: 2004
Northampton Demons2007NorthamptonEast Division: 2009, 2010, RLC Regional: 2009, 2010

Teams play each other three times culminating in a grand final.

League standings

Current Teams 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Bedford Tigersxx3rdxx
Birmingham Bulldogs6th6th6th4th
Bristol Sonicsxxx3rd
Coventry Bears2nd1st2nd1st
Derby City4th5th5th2nd
Gloucestershire Warriorsx3rd4th6th
Leicester Phoenix3rd8th7th5th
Nottingham Outlaws1st2nd1stxx
Redditch RavensxxxDNFx
Somerset Vikingsx4thxxx
Telford Raiders5th7thx7thx
Wolverhampton Wizards7thxxxx

Key

DNF Did not complete the season
x Did not participate
Divisional winner
Qualified for divisional play-off
Finished bottom

Titles

RLC Midlands Premier

Midlands Rugby League Premier Division

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