Cumbria League

Cumbria League (formerly Cumbria 1) is a competitive rugby union league at tier 8 of the English rugby union system run by the English Rugby Football Union for club sides based in Cumbria.[1] It was previously a tier 7 league but the creation of North 2 West has demoted it to level 8. Promoted teams typically go up to North 2 West and since Cumbria 2 was cancelled at the end of the 2018-19 season there is no relegation. Each season a team from Cumbria 1 is picked to take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a national competition for clubs at level 8. The original Cumbria league was formed at the start of the 1992–93 season when the North-West North 1 division was cancelled.

Cumbria League
Current season or competition:
2020–21 Cumbria League
SportRugby union
Instituted1992 (1992)
Number of teams13
Country England
HoldersSt. Benedict's (1st title) (2019–20)
(promoted to North 2 West)
Most titlesKeswick (5 titles)
WebsiteEngland RFU

Up until the end of the 2017-18 season the Cumbria League was a single division involving 10 clubs and ranked at tier 8 of the English rugby union system. The champions were automatically promoted to the now discontinued North Lancashire/Cumbria league and up until the 2016-17 season the second placed team faced the runner up from Lancashire (North) for the final promotion place until Lancashire (North) was cancelled. There was no relegation due to it having been the lowest competitive league for Rugby Union in Cumbria. It ran alongside the Cumbria 2 North & West and Cumbria 2 South & East Merit Leagues.[2][3]

This changed for the 2018-19 season due to RFU having to restructuring the northern leagues after 19 Lancashire based clubs withdrew from the league system to form their own competition. The result was that the Cumbrian clubs based in North Lancashire/Cumbria joined the top 3 Cumbria League sides in Cumbria 1, while the rest of the Cumbrian League sides along with a handful of 2nd XV teams formed Cumbria 2.[4][5]

Another change to the structure from the 2018-19 season was that the division would play two stages - the first involving all eight teams to decide who would be contesting promotion and relegation during the second stage when the division was divided into two mini leagues (one promotion/one relegation).

Teams 2019–20

Cumbria honours

Cumbria (1993-1996)

The Cumbria league was formed from teams from the old North-West North 1 division when it was disbanded at the end of the 1991–92 season. Promotion was to Cumbria/Lancs North and as the basement division for clubs in the region there was no relegation. Initially a tier 10 league, the creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Cumbria/Lancs North dropped to become a tier 11 league.

Cumbria Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1992–939Smith BrothersNo relegation
1993–949Keswick[lower-alpha 1]No relegation
1994–959CarnforthNo relegation
1995–969AmblesideNo relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Cumbria (1996-2000)

The league system was restructured from top to bottom by the Rugby Football Union for the start of the 1996–97 season. The cancellation of National 5 North and creation of North West 3 meant that Cumbria remained a tier 11 league, with promotion into North Lancs/Cumbria (formerly Cumbria/Lancs North).

Cumbria Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1996–978FurnessWhitehavenNo relegation
1997–988AmblesideMoresbyNo relegation
1998–99[6]8MillomMoresbyNo relegation
1999–00[7]8Moresby[lower-alpha 2]SillothNo relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Cumbria (2000-2018)

Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999–00 season saw the cancellation of North West 1, North West 2 and North West 3 (tiers 7-9). This meant that Cumbria became a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to North Lancs/Cumbria. As the lowest ranked league for clubs in the region there was no relegation until the introduction of Cumbria 2 at the end of the 2017–18 season.

Cumbria 1 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–01[8]13Hawcoat ParkSt. Benedict'sNo relegation
2001–02[9]13Hawcoat ParkWindermereNo relegation
2002–03[10]15NetherhallWindermereNo relegation
2003–04[11]13Egremont[lower-alpha 3]NetherhallNo relegation
2004–05[13]12NetherhallMoresbyNo relegation
2005–06[14]14WhitehavenKirkby Lonsdale[lower-alpha 4]No relegation
2006–07[15]14WorkingtonKeswickNo relegation
2007–08[16]14KeswickNetherhallNo relegation
2008–09[17]12NetherhallSt. Benedict'sNo relegation
2009–10[18]10WhitehavenEgremontNo relegation
2010–11[19]9MillomEgremontNo relegation
2011–12[20]10KeswickWhitehavenNo relegation
2012–13[21]10Hawcoat ParkSillothNo relegation
2013–14[22]12FurnessEgremontNo relegation
2014–15[23]13SillothWorkingtonNo relegation
2015–16[24]10WorkingtonEgremontNo relegation
2016–17[25]10KeswickWhitehavenNo relegation
2017–18[26]10Upper Eden[lower-alpha 5]WhitehavenMultiple teams[lower-alpha 6]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Cumbria 1 (2018-2019)

Restructuring of the north-west leagues at the end of the 2017–18 season, including the cancellation of North Lancs/Cumbria and the introduction of Cumbria 2, meant that Cumbria was renamed to Cumbria and became a tier 7 league. Promotion was now up to North West 1 while relegation was to the new Cumbria 2.

Cumbria 1 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2018–19[27][28]8KeswickAspatriaNo relegation[29]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Cumbria (2019–present)

After just one season Cumbria 2 was cancelled and Cumbria 1 reverted back to being a single division named Cumbria, while the introduction of North 2 West for the 2019–20 season meant that Cumbria dropped back to being a tier 8 league with promotion into this new division and no relegation.

Cumbria 1 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2019–20[30]13[lower-alpha 7]St. Benedict'sCockermouthNo relegation
2020–2113
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

From the 2018-19 season onwards there will be a play-off between the runners-up of Cumbria 1 and North 2 West for the third and final promotion place to North 1 West. Previously Cumbria League sides had a play-off against Lancashire (North) for a place in the discontinued North Lancashire/Cumbria division (see following sub section). As of 2019–20 North 2 West sides have one win to Cumbria's zero; and the home side has one win to the away side's zero.

Cumbria 1 v North 2 West promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2018–19[31]Bowdon (LC)HWO[lower-alpha 8]Aspatria (C)[lower-alpha 9]Clay Lane, Timperley, Altrincham, Greater ManchesterN/A
2019–20Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Both runners up - Cockermouth (C) and Glossop (NW) - promoted.

Discontinued promotion play-offs

Between the 2000–01 and 2016-17 seasons there was a play-off between the runners-up of the Cumbria League and Lancashire (North) for the third and final promotion place to North Lancashire/Cumbria. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2016–17 season the Lancashire (North) teams have been the most successful with eleven wins to the Cumbria League team's four; and the home team has won promotion on twelve occasions compared to the away team's three. Since the cancellation of Lancashire (North) the play-off has been discontinued.

Cumbria League v Lancashire (North) promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[33]Tyldesley (L)47-26Hawcoat Park (C)[lower-alpha 10]St George's Park, Tyldesley, Manchester
2001–02[34]Bury (L)20-3Windermere (C)Bury Sports Club, Bury, Greater Manchester
2002–03[35]Didsbury Toc H (L)17-29Upper Eden (C)[lower-alpha 11]Ford Lane, Didsbury, Manchester
2003–04[36]Egremont (C)[lower-alpha 12]27-19Didsbury Toc H (L)Bleach Green, Egremont, Cumbria
2004–05[37]Burnage (L)60-0Moresby (C)Varley Park, Stockport, Greater Manchester
2005–06[38]Kirkby Lonsdale (C)20-23Didsbury Toc H (L)Raygarth, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria
2006–07[39]Tarleton (L)28-7Keswick (C)Carr Lane, Tarleton, Lancashire
2007–08[40]Netherhall (C)0-20Burnley (L)Netherhall Road, Maryport, Cumbria
2008–09[41]No promotion playoff[lower-alpha 13]
2009–10[42]Didsbury Toc H (L)42-10Millom (C)[lower-alpha 14]Ford Lane, Didsbury, Manchester
2010–11[43]Egremont (C)19-18Trafford MV (L)Bleach Green, Egremont, Cumbria
2011–12[44]Whitehaven (C)33-22Trafford MV (L)The Playground, Whitehaven, Cumbria
2012–13[45]Bolton (L)27-7Silloth (C)Avenue Street, Bolton, Greater Manchester
2013–14[46]No promotion playoff[lower-alpha 15]
2014–15[47]Ashton-under-Lyne (L)17-5Workington (C)Gambrel Bank, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester
2015–16[48]Littleborough (L)37-3Egremont (C)Rakewood Road, Littleborough, Rochdale, Greater Manchester
2016–17[49]Burnley (L)94-0Whitehaven (C)Holden Road, Burnley, Lancashire
Green background is the promoted team. C = Cumbria League and L = Lancashire (North) (formerly North Lancashire 1)

Number of league titles
  • Keswick (5)
  • Hawcoat Park (3)
  • Netherhall (3)
  • Ambleside (2)
  • Furness (2)
  • Millom (2)
  • Whitehaven (2)
  • Workington (2)
  • Carnforth (1)
  • Egremont (1)
  • Moresby (1)
  • Silloth (1)
  • Smith Brothers (1)
  • St. Benedict's (1)
  • Upper Eden (1)
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See also

Notes
  1. Due to further restructuring of the league system at the end of the 1993–94 season there was no promotion from the Cumbria division.
  2. Moresby not promoted due to Cumbria League restructure with division due to increase from 8 to 13 teams for the following season.
  3. Despite winning the league Egremont had to take part in the promotion playoff against the runners up from North Lancashire 1 which they subsequently won.[12]
  4. Kirkby Lonsdale were transferred to North Lancs 1 the following season.
  5. Due to RFU restructuring of the Cumbria and Lancashire leagues, Upper Eden were not promoted despite finishing as champions.[4][5]
  6. Due to RFU restructuring of the Cumbria and Lancashire leagues, 7 of the 10 Cumbria League teams were relegated to the new Cumbria 2 division.[4][5]
  7. The cancellation of Cumbria 2 saw the league expand from 8 to 13 teams.
  8. Bowdon won the 2018–19 promotion playoff by default as Aspatria were unwilling to take part.[32]
  9. Despite losing the playoff, Aspatria would later also be promoted due to the restructuring of the northern leagues.
  10. Despite finishing at the top of the 2000-01 Cumbrian League according to the RFU website, Hawcoat Park actually went into the playoff rather than runners up St. Benedict's. Reasons for this are not clear, although St. Benedict's did play one less game than Hawcoat Park and were level on points but with a weaker for/against record, so maybe an average points total was used to determine the champions.[8]
  11. Despite finished third in the 2002-03 Cumbrian League, Upper Eden went into the promotion playoff as champions Netherall were not promoted, with second placed Windermere going up instead.[10]
  12. Despite winning the 2003-04 Cumbrian League, Egremont had to take part in the promotion playoff usually reserved for league runners up.[11]
  13. Due to changes to English rugby union league system by the RFU there would be no promotion playoff at the end of 2008-09 season. Instead the champions and runners up from both leagues would be automatically promoted.
  14. Despite finishing the 2009-10 Cumbrian League in third place, Millom went into the promotion playoff game instead of runners up Egremont. Millom had actually played two less games and were only two points off the runner up spot so this may explain why they qualified for the playoff.[18]
  15. Due to restructuring of the north-west leagues by the RFU there would be no promotion playoff at the end of 2013-14 season. Instead the champions and runners up from both leagues would be automatically promoted.

References
  1. English Rugby Football Union, SSE Northern Division, [online], 2012, Available from:http://www.rfu.com/FixturesAndResults/Version/Northern.aspx Archived 6 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine [Last Accessed 16:19 16 April 2012]
  2. English Rugby Football Union, SSE Northern Division, [online], 2012, Available from:http://www.rfu.com/FixturesAndResults/Version/Northern.aspx Archived 6 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine [Last Accessed 16:49 17 April 2012]
  3. English Rugby Football Union, North Adult Merit Leagues, [online], 12 February 2013, Available from: "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) [Last Accessed 17:00 16 April 2012]
  4. "North West league restructuring (June 14 2018)". RFU North. 14 June 2018.
  5. "League structure for Cumbria 2018-19". Cumbria Rugby Union. 20 July 2018.
  6. "1998-99 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  7. "1999-00 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  8. "2000-01 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  9. "2001-02 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  10. "2002-03 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  11. "2003-04 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  12. "2003-04 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  13. "2004-05 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  14. "2005-06 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  15. "2006-07 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  16. "2007-08 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  17. "2008-09 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  18. "2009-10 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  19. "2010-11 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  20. "2011-12 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  21. "2012-13 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  22. "2013-14 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  23. "2014-15 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  24. "2015-16 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  25. "2016-17 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  26. "2017-18 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  27. "2018-19 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  28. "2018-19 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  29. "2018-19 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  30. "Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  31. "North Play Offs". England Rugby. 27 April 2019.
  32. "North One West". Rolling Maul. 29 April 2019.
  33. "2000-01 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 2 June 2001.
  34. "2001-02 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 18 May 2002.
  35. "2002-03 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
  36. "2003-04 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  37. "2004-05 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 28 May 2005.
  38. "2005-06 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 6 May 2006.
  39. "2006-07 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  40. "2007-08 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  41. "2008-09 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  42. "2009-10 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 8 May 2010.
  43. "Play-off promotion victory for Egremont". News & Star. 3 May 2011.
  44. "2011-12 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 28 April 2012.
  45. "2012-13 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 27 April 2013.
  46. "2013-14 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2014.
  47. "2014-15 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 25 April 2015.
  48. "2015-16 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 7 May 2016.
  49. "2016-17 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 29 April 2017.
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