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
Instituted1902-1996 (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

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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

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

Winners

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Club Wins Winning Year
1   Leigh Centurions 3 1976-77, 1985–86, 1988–89
=   Salford Red Devils 3 1990-91, 1995–96, 1996
=   Oldham 3 1963-64, 1981–82, 1987–88
4   Barrow Raiders 2 1975-76, 1983–84
=   Featherstone Rovers 2 1979-80, 1992–93
=   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
12   Hunslet (1883) 1 1962-63
=   Bradford Bulls 1 1973-74
=   York 1 1980-81
=   Fulham 1 1982-83
=   Swinton Lions 1 1984-85
=   Hull Kingston Rovers 1 1989-90
=   Sheffield Eagles 1 1991-92
=   Workington Town 1 1993-94
=   Widnes Vikings 1 2001

See also

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References

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