Rugby League Premiership
The Rugby League Premiership was a competition for British rugby league clubs that operated between 1973 and 1995. As the Super League Premiership the competition continued to operate until 1997.[1]
Sport | Rugby league |
---|---|
Inaugural season | 1973–74 |
Ceased | 1995–96 |
Replaced by | Grand Final |
Country | ![]() |
Last winners | ![]() |
Most titles | ![]() ![]() |
Qualification | World Club Challenge |
History
From 1909 until 1973 (except for the period 1962–64) the Rugby Football League Championship had utilised a play-off format to determine the overall league champions. For the 1973–74 season the league was split into two divisions, and a play-off system was no longer used. In order to maintain interest towards the end of the season a new competition, the "Club Championship", was introduced to replace the championship play-offs. The Harry Sunderland Trophy, which had until then been awarded to the man-of-the-match in the championship final, would instead be awarded to the man-of-the-match in the premiership final.[2]
The first season saw 16 teams take part: the top 12 of the first division and the top four from the second division.[1] The following season saw the title change to "Premiership", and the format was altered so that only the top eight teams in the first division would compete. A similar competition was later instituted for clubs in the lower league(s). The Premiership continued to be played in this fashion until 1995–96, at the time of the switch to a summer sport, when the competition was abandoned to allow the 1996 Super League season to commence in the spring.[3]
A top-four play-off leading to a final, the Super League Premiership, was instituted as part of the Super League competition. In 1998 this was replaced by a return to a play-off for the championships, with the Harry Sunderland Trophy being the award for the Grand Final's man-of-the-match.
Premiership winners
For completeness, this table includes the 1973–74 Club Championship, and premiership winners from the Super League era.
See also
References
- "Premiership title". Rugby League Project.
- "Harry Sunderland Trophy Facts". Rugby League.com.
- "Super League split the Rugby League world in two, but the stars still shone brightly on the field in both hemispheres". Total Rugby League.