York Acorn ARLC

THE new structure for rugby league ahead of the inaugural summer-based season for the traditional amateur game has been announced – with National Conference League chairman Trevor Hunt calling it an “exciting new dawn” for the game.

More than 80 per cent of all rugby league teams in this country will be playing between March and November in this newly-aligned four-tier pyramid structure, following the switch by the National Conference League (NCL) – the amateur game’s heartland elite – and some regional league teams from the traditional winter season.

This follows the switch made some years ago by the professional game.

Super League is tier one, with the Championships, featuring York City Knights, at tier two, and these pro seasons remain the same. Below these are the amateur tiers.

The new-look tier three is the Conference featuring the three NCL divisions – premier, one and two, which include York Acorn and Heworth – which will continue to be administered by the NCL committee. But this tier will also comprise a Conference division three, which will consist of teams from the current Co-operative Rugby League (Summer) Conference National and continue to be administered by the Rugby Football League.

A key difference is that these summer-based Conference Three clubs now have the opportunity to work towards attaining minimum criteria for membership of the NCL with the long-term goal of Conference Three becoming an NCL equivalent Conference South.

Tier four comprises regional leagues, which will have premier divisions plus other divisions depending on the number of teams and playing standards. Regional leagues will feature teams from the Co-operative Rugby League Conference Premier and Regional summer competitions, such as York Lokomotive, as well as clubs that have switched from winter competitions, including Acorn and Heworth’s reserves.

The existing winter-based competitions, such as the Pennine League, which features New Earswick All Blacks and Selby Warriors, will also be incorporated into tier four and will continue to be administrated and supported as at present.

The RFL’s director of participation, David Gent, said: “The RFL will make a concerted effort to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible and that the essence of the Rugby League Conference continues as a successful development competition to expand the sport nationally with opportunities at all levels.”

Hunt said: “It’s a new dawn for rugby league and one we all hope meets the demands of players, administrators and spectators intent on enjoying a sport for the 21st century.

“As far as the switch to summer for heartland clubs is concerned, all eyes will be on those 40 NCL clubs who have opted to make the switch, to see just how successful they will be in this whole new world.

“It’s as exciting a challenge at grassroots level as anything that has gone before and we will all be working flat out to make it a success not just for 2012 but for the very future of rugby league.”