THE Rugby Football League have refuted claims that, under the National Community Rugby League strategy for the men’s amateur open-age game, there will be no room for the winter-based Pennine League at the end of the current season.
Adverse weather conditions last week, which led to Leeds City Council declaring all pitches, in all sports, under its jurisdiction unfit for play, led to what would have been the Pennine’s closing fixtures for 2025-26, which has comprised three divisions, being rescheduled for this week.
But the forthcoming Division Three game, on Saturday, February 7, between Farnley Falcons and Boothtown Terriers, will – according to the Pennine League board – bring the curtain down on more than half a century of action for a competition which was, in effect, the ‘flagship league’ for the British Amateur Rugby League, which was successfully launched in 1973.
Secretary Sue Taylor last Tuesday emailed League Express, on behalf of herself and fellow board members Steven Addy, Keith Bell, Stuart Brown, Anita and Fred Halliwell and John Taylor, stating: “It is with a heavy heart that the management have to announce that under the recent National Community Rugby League structure, under the helm of Martin Coyd MBE, it has been decided there is no longer room for the Pennine ARL.
“The Pennine Rugby League was formed in 1974 when local District Leagues got together and pooled their experience and resources to provide competitive structured Rugby League within the Pennine Area (Yorkshire and Lancashire).
“In its prime, the league management compiled their own league fixtures for no fewer than 118 teams, compiled league tables and appointed match officials, all on a voluntary basis.
“The league conducted their own strict discipline and ran three cup competitions – the President’s Cup, the Andrew Bennett Memorial Trophy and the Supplementary Cup. And the league was the first to implement player ID cards.”
She concluded: “On behalf of the management committee, past and present, a sincere thank you to all the clubs, players, volunteers and match officials who have contributed to the league’s 52 years of history. We wish you all well for the future in Rugby League, whatever it may hold.”
However Marc Lovering, the RFL’s director of participation and development, told League Express on Friday evening: “That is incorrect – all parties will keep under review the demand for a specific winter offer.”