Midlands Merit League

The Midlands Merit League, was a summer rugby league tournament in England held between 2006 and 2009. It was a feeder league to the Rugby League Conference and had a season that runs from April to August. In its last season of 2009, it was also known as the RL Merit League.

Rugby League Merit League
RLML logo
SportRugby league
Instituted2006
ChairTim Fellows
Number of teams21
Country England
ChampionsUpton (2009)
Websitemidlandsrugbyleague.co.uk
Related competitionMidlands Rugby League, North West Merit League, Yorkshire & Humber Merit League

It was superseded by the Midlands Rugby League, Yorkshire & Humber Merit League and North West Merit League.

History
Main article: History of the Midlands Merit League

The league was founded as the Midlands Merit League in late 2005 to support the growth of rugby league in non-heartland areas. Originally intended as a stand-alone league, support from the Rugby Football League meant that it could be administered as part of the Rugby League Conference set-up. Interest quickly gathered with 13 teams showing an interest in participating in the inaugural season – 8 eventually participated. The first ever game took place on 8 April 2006 at All Saints Sports College, Sheffield, where the Sheffield Forgers beat the Chesterfield Spires by 58 points to 8.

The first cross-league fixture was played in June 2007 when Nottingham Outlaws Academy visited Northampton Casuals of the London League. They also played a return fixture in July.

The 2007 season saw the introduction of an informal under-15 league based on Merit League principles. In 2008 the junior competition featured under-14 and under-16 divisions.

The league was renamed Rugby League Merit League (RLML) for the 2008 season due to its increased geographical spread with teams from the North of England taking part. 2009 saw the largest ever entry, with over 30 teams split into two pools; "Yorkshire and Humber" and "North West" with the Midlands Rugby League becoming its own competition using merit league rules.

In 2010 the Yorkshire & Humber Merit League and North West Merit League became separate competitions.

Teams joining the Rugby League Conference
See also: History of the Rugby League Conference

The league has also proved popular with clubs in the Rugby League Conference (RLC) providing players or teams to the Midlands Merit League.

Past winners

Championship
2006South Humber Rabbitohs42–18Nottingham Outlaws Academy
2007St Helens Wild Boars46–22German Exiles
2008Moorends-Thorne Marauders ML28–18Wigan Riversiders
2009Upton RL52–24Huyton Bulldogs

Shield
2007East Riding RLC32–26Nottingham Outlaws Academy
2008Nottingham Outlaws Academy34–32Sheffield Forgers

North West pool
2009Huyton Bulldogs36–12Wigan Eels

Yorkshire and the Humber pool
2009Upton RL30–22Victoria Rangers
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See also
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