28 replies to this topic

[MidlandsRugbyLeague]

There will be at least 80 teams participating in Rugby League this summer in the Midlands, currently representing 18 teams. We are expecting further entries into the Men's Division 2 (Entry League) which will further push on the numbers. Breakdown is as follows:

RFL Wheelchair Super League
Wolverhampton Rhinos

Conference League 3
Coventry Bears
Nottingham Outlaws

RFL Women's Premier League
Coventry Bears
Nottingham Outlaws

Midlands Men's Premier
Leicester Storm
Northampton Demons
Birmingham Bulldogs
Gloucestershire Warriors
Coventry Bears A

Midlands Men's Division 1
NEW Ravens
Telford Raiders
Leamington Royals
Wolverhampton
Coventry Dragons
Sleaford Spartans
Nottingham Outlaws A
Leicester Storm A
Northampton Demons A

Midlands Men's Division 2 (Entry League)
Dronfield Drifters
Hope Valley Hawks
Nottingham Outlaws B
Telford Raiders A
Birmingham Bulldogs A
Leamington Royals A
Coventry Warriors
North Derbyshire Chargers
Bridgnorth

Midlands Under 18's League
Birmingham Bulldogs
Coventry Bears
NEW Ravens
Northampton Demons
Gloucestershire All Golds
Leicester Storm

Midlands Under 16's League
Derby City
Nottingham Outlaws
Leicester Storm
Northampton Knights
Northampton Patriots
Telford Raiders
Coventry Bears
Birmingham Bulldogs
Glouecestershire All Golds
NEW Ravens

Yorkshire Junior Under 15's League
North Derbyshire Chargers

Midlands Under 14's
Derby City
Nottingham Outlaws
Leicester Storm
Northampton Knights
Telford Raiders
Coventry Bears
Birmingham Bulldogs
North Derbyshire Chargers
NEW Ravens
Wolverhampton Wasps

Midlands Under 13's
Derby City
Notingham Outlaws
Leicester Storm
Northampton Knights
Telford Raiders
Birmingham Bulldogs
Coventry Bears
North Derbyshire Chargers
NEW Ravens
Wolverhampton Wasps
Leamington Royals

Midlands Under 11's
Derby City
Nottingham Outlaws
Leicester Storm
Northampton Knights
Telford Raiders
Coventry Bears
Birmingham Bulldogs
North Derbyshire Chargers
NEW Ravens
Wolverhampton Wasps

Midlands Under 9's
Derby City
Nottingham Outlaws
North Derbyshire Chargers
Telford Raiders

[The 4 of Us]

Well done to all. Full stop.

[bowes]

Given the poor state of the game in the midlands as recently as 2008 I'd say the wages of you and the rest of the team are money well spent.

[MidlandsRugbyLeague]

The credit goes to the volunteers Bowes - I of course know the thoudands of paid man hours that have gone into the region, but all those clubs have just as many hours invested in them by good people with the same aims and objectives. They're the real heroes and the ones who actually make it happen.

[bowes]

The credit goes to the volunteers Bowes - I of course know the thoudands of paid man hours that have gone into the region, but all those clubs have just as many hours invested in them by good people with the same aims and objectives. They're the real heroes and the ones who actually make it happen.

That's true. Really having both was what was needed IMO with staff to enable volunteers. Then again without Tim's efforts to run a precursor of Midlands Rugby League single handedly you'd have had to start that entirely from scratch and without volunteers at clubs you'd have had nothing.

Edited by bowes, 07 March 2012 - 10:30 PM.

[MidlandsRugbyLeague]

And technically if Sheffield Forgers hadnt been so poor and needed a league creating to play in, Timmy might not have bothered at all! That club is responsible for a lot........!!

[tim2]

The assistance of full time staff at the RFL has been invaluable in enabling the volunteers to get on with what they need to do - get people into clubs to volunteer and play.

The devolution of control to Regional Leagues from 2012 onwards is a major step - the RLC has been a great competition but now it's time to develop one game under one overall structure.

[bowes]

And technically if Sheffield Forgers hadnt been so poor and needed a league creating to play in, Timmy might not have bothered at all! That club is responsible for a lot........!!

Weren't they your club as well? Though think you were there as a player in those days unless I'm mistaken?

Edited by bowes, 08 March 2012 - 07:05 AM.

[tim2]

And technically if Sheffield Forgers hadnt been so poor and needed a league creating to play in, Timmy might not have bothered at all! That club is responsible for a lot........!!

Forgers and Spires. I needed 2 victims to get it started.

2007 saw the first junior merit league with about 6 teams at U14 (I think). That became U14 and U16 in 2008 and official leagues in 2009. Now there are playing opportunities at U9, U11, U13, U14, U16 and U18, service areas in East and West, scholarships at U14 and U15, the "Origin" game, the U18s are touring Serbia and there will be an U18 Academy in 2013. With due respect to the Open Age guys, this is what really matters and I think the same rate of junior growth from 2013-2018 would, by default, give a massive boost to the Open Age structure. This is the "bottom up" development that will hopefully meet in the middle with the top down strategy that will see Northampton and hopefully Coventry playing professionally. I just hope that the Midlands can avoid the kind of disconnect between the professional/performance teams and the grass roots that has blighted the game in the North.

[bowes]

Last few years has seen Leicester, Northampton and to some extent Birmingham come on leaps and bounds with Coventry and Nottingham moving on to tier 3. It's not long since Leicester and Northampton were joke clubs with just one unreliable team of RU players.

[tim2]

Last few years has seen Leicester, Northampton and to some extent Birmingham come on leaps and bounds with Coventry and Nottingham moving on to tier 3. It's not long since Leicester and Northampton were joke clubs with just one unreliable team of RU players.

"Joke" is a litte harsh. Leicester's previous poor reputation was based around their somewhat aggressive attitude whilst Northampton were a development team that have grown organically through the Merit League, RLC Regional (champions), RLC Premier and are now linked to a local pro club with an array of junior sides and a schools development programme.

[bowes]

"Joke" is a litte harsh. Leicester's previous poor reputation was based around their somewhat aggressive attitude whilst Northampton were a development team that have grown organically through the Merit League, RLC Regional (champions), RLC Premier and are now linked to a local pro club with an array of junior sides and a schools development programme.

They were both getting smashed and forfeiting multiple games a year though. Leicester to be fair had banned the thugs and had hardly any players left. All makes it more meaningful what they've achieved from 2009 onwards though.

Edited by bowes, 08 March 2012 - 04:56 PM.

[mmp]

Just to add...

the lack of an 'entrance league' system in the traditional regions has held the game back up here. As a new side, we at Bury had no way of testing the water when we first got going...

we genuinely looked at joining the Midlands Merit League in our first year as our route to getting developed and would have entered in our year 2 if it hadnt been for the NW merit league being established. Once again, worth saying how much of a difference it's made!

[bowes]

Chester Gladiators, Wigan Riversiders, St Helens Wildboars and Haworth Park (originally East Riding) have gone on to full season leagues off the back of merit leagues and lots of sides (most notably Northampton Demons who as Northampton Casuals started in the London League) are currently in short season structured leagues from one.

Edited by bowes, 09 March 2012 - 09:24 AM.

[tim2]

Chester Gladiators, Wigan Riversiders, St Helens Wildboars and Haworth Park (originally East Riding) have gone on to full season leagues off the back of merit leagues and lots of sides (most notably Northampton Demons who as Northampton Casuals started in the London League) are currently in short season structured leagues from one.

Leamington Royals, Coventry Dragons, Sleaford Spartans, Scunthorpe Barbarians

[bowes]

Hammersmith, Southampton and Greenwich as well originated in a merit league as well as some second teams. Plenty of clubs have regrouped there at one time or another

There's loads that have gone into a short season. From London League as well. Fewer that have made the transition to a full season. I expect Northampton Demons to be one soon though when they make tier 3 sooner or later. Possibly Hammersmith.

Edited by bowes, 09 March 2012 - 01:33 PM.

[Martinsh]

Chester Gladiators, Wigan Riversiders, St Helens Wildboars and Haworth Park (originally East Riding) have gone on to full season leagues off the back of merit leagues and lots of sides (most notably Northampton Demons who as Northampton Casuals started in the London League) are currently in short season structured leagues from one.

Also useful for clubs who aren't certain if they have enough resources to commit to a second team or not.

Such an obviously good idea I'm surprised no-one thought of / adopted it before.

[bowes]

Also useful for clubs who aren't certain if they have enough resources to commit to a second team or not.

Such an obviously good idea I'm surprised no-one thought of / adopted it before.

London have done it since 2000 and RU have done it since the 70s but yeah seems odd BARLA never have.

The North West's full season merit league is a very good idea especially as clubs wanting a short season can just book fixtures there. Lots of clubs are running 2nd and 3rd teams that would never have dreamed of it otherwise and it has lots of development sides and clubs that would have otherwise folded that need to regroup.

[bowes]

Is it likely we'll go back to leagues in the younger age groups any time soon or is it staying festivals?

[tim2]

Is it likely we'll go back to leagues in the younger age groups any time soon or is it staying festivals?

Festivals is the way forward