DO we have closure?
After several weeks of absolute turmoil in the men’s amateur game, that might possibly be so.
At least that’s as far as teams in what until only a few weeks ago was known as the National Conference League are concerned, although I know that there are many dissenting voices, not least from the NCL management which, seven days ago, revealed that it was “contemplating legal action against the Rugby Football League” over the latter’s plans to restructure the grassroots and, with that, dismantle the flagship competition.
The RFL issued, on Friday, opening fixtures for the 2026 season and, early on Sunday morning, NCL chair Mike Denning emailed me stating: “Following more deliberation and meetings with member clubs, a decision has been made to avert the proposed action against the RFL – for the good of the sport in the UK.
“The clubs have voted to begrudgingly proceed with the proposed NCRL structure for 2026.”
He confirmed: “We put all the information to the members about the ramifications of legal action; how this potentially could delay the start or postpone the season, which was too great a risk for many to take.
“There is very clearly resentment to the changes and that is a bridge that the RFL will have to build moving forward.
“The Cumbrian leagues still remains an issue. A number of clubs, having received fixtures, are contemplating withdrawal, which is completely against the ethos for change (which is to get as many male adults playing the game as possible).
“Clubs have been encouraged by the NCL board to embrace the change, and we wish them well for their future in the community game.
“We will, in early 2026 and once the dust has settled, call an emergency general meeting with a view to dissolution of the NCL after 39 years.”
He concluded: “As we approach the Christmas season, it’s a time for being with family and enjoying the time together.
“We wish all of our members and all of those involved in our great sport a very merry and peaceful Christmas. The end of year has been very long and difficult but everybody will move on and look forward to 2026.”
As Denning stated, folk in Cumbria are pretty much resigned to accepting the RFL’s National Community Rugby League initiative.
In all honesty, that’s about as good as it gets for the RFL (despite their gung-ho press release on Friday) as their drive for a pyramid structure in the men’s grassroots game edges closer to becoming reality.
In fact, other than Lionel Hurst at Bristol All Golds, I’ve had no one at all getting in touch with me to say they are in favour.
The very first thing that struck me, on reading the RFL’s release in which opening-day fixtures for early March were revealed, was that one or two teams weren’t listed in the divisions I’d expected.
Lock Lane, for example, are at home to Hunslet ARLFC in the National Premier (to be dubbed in 2026, I believe, National Conference Premier in recognition of what would have been the NCL’s 40th birthday) despite having finished third-bottom (and in the relegation zone) of the Premier Division last time.
The reason, it turns out – as far as I can see anyway – is because Ince Rose Bridge, who earned promotion by edging Stanningley in last October’s Division One play-off decider, have opted for the National Conference North West section, more localised rugby apparently being the preference of most of their present squad.
Oulton Raiders, another beneficiary of Ince’s decision, stay in the National Leagues rather than being demoted from the old Division One to one of the Yorkshire Conferences.
Quite a few, though, find themselves back in regional Rugby League. The clubs in that situation are Barrow Island, Hensingham, Distington, Ellenborough Rangers and Millom, who are in the National Conference Cumbria, together with National Conference NorthWest teams Clock Face Miners, Crosfields, Ince Rose Bridge, Leigh East, Saddleworth Rangers and Woolston Rovers.
The two National Conference Yorkshire sections have, in their listings, Bentley, Beverley, Drighlington, Featherstone Lions, Hull Dockers, Keighley Albion, Milford, Myton Warriors, Normanton Knights, Skirlaugh and Thornhill Trojans, all of whom were in the National Conference League in 2025, while King Cross Park and Kippax Welfare, who are in National Conference Yorkshire A and Yorkshire B respectively, had been approved for membership of the NCL by the competition’s management group and were preparing for a vote for inclusion – which has normally been a rubberstamping exercise – by existing clubs.
Regardless of the rights or wrongs of what has been a sorry saga, we at least appear to have arrived at what could be a conclusion.
Hensingham – the only NCL club to respond to my email of last Friday in which I requested clubs’ thoughts on the RFL’s press release – perhaps articulated the feelings of many when secretary Graham Broatch said: “We have effectively been left with no choice but to accept changes that are being imposed upon us if we wish to continue playing Rugby League. This is not consultation; it is coercion.
“We remain highly sceptical of both the motives behind these decisions and the tangible benefits they are claimed to bring to the sport as a whole.
“Our club has worked tirelessly over a number of years to build sustainably, and to progress both on and off the field.
“That progress has been undermined by a process that offers clubs no voice and no genuine opportunity to influence decisions that directly affect their future.
“Nevertheless, despite these obstacles, we will continue to push forward and do everything within our power to secure our rightful place back in a national competition where we have always belonged alongside many other clubs who share our frustration and determination.”
Hmm … food for thought there.
Much is, for sure, troubling about our grassroots game, and not only at club level.
I received some Champion Schools results late last week and, of the ten scores that came in, six were 24-0, which is traditionally a walkover result. There should have been another result, as well, from Cumbria, I am led to believe. That didn’t surface at all, which suggests, hopefully wrongly, another unfulfilled fixture.
As this is the last League Express of 2025, however, I hope that readers will join me in hoping amateur Rugby League will prosper, at all levels, in 2026 and beyond.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!