Southern Conference League To End

[Jasper]

Just seen this press release from RFL -

Following a planned review of the Southern Conference League on the conclusion of its third full season, a decision has been made by the Southern RL Competition Management Group to move from its current two regional divisions (East & West) into one Southern Premier Division. As such, the management group are now accepting applications from interested clubs from across any of the current Southern Leagues. This includes all existing clubs. The competition would aim to provide playing opportunities that pit the best clubs from the regional leagues against each other on a weekly basis, at a higher intensity and level of rugby, and potentially, a longer playing season for those players who wish to play at a higher level.It is hoped that the proposals will also allow the regional leagues to flourish as new teams will be able to enter the competition without the fear of having to play the well-established teams. It will also reinvigorate those leagues as new teams will have an opportunity to win their competitions, which may have been dominated by the same teams over the last few years.

On social media, I see that the biggest concern is that the RFL have not mentioned helping with travel, and as this league will mean clubs from Wales, Gloucester, Devon, London, Essex, Bedfordshire and Suffolk to name but a few travelling to each other over a much longer season, a few clubs are worried they won't be able to afford it.  Whilst this is a good idea on paper, I wonder if the RFLhave thought it through re distances involved, cost and player pools over a longer season.  Anyone heard anything more about this?  Cheers.

[JM2010]

Maybe a pre cursor to a League 1 South???

[Eddie]

Agreed, the travel sounds crazy for an amateur league. It will certainly put some clubs (cost) and players (time) off. 

[bbfaz]

The travel was already crazy for an amateur league.  However, the issues remain the same.  All the best players in the South of England are in London and spread across a three clubs.  Every year, nobody is realistically able to compete with them.  Teams have been in certain leagues based on their own choice rather than what makes sense.  The sport is way below a minimum viable model to sustain itself, let alone be successful.  Players are flaky in the summer because summer is the time for holidays and hanging out with friends.  However, nobody has the guts to go back to playing in winter.

 

SCL failing isn't the problem but a symptom of a much-larger problem.

[Number 16]

This is simply just another example of the RFL being utterly clueless about what to do with the grassroots away from the M62. And we've had twenty-five years of this incompetence. 

First, in 1998, a standards driven RLC, then a huge expansion, then NL3 and RLC Regional Premiers and leagues, then each area became autonomous, then Southern Conference Regions... now... this.

And I'm sure I've missed a step or two out. 

Stop Effing around with the format and maybe they'll see real growth.

[Jasper]

I have been told that the clubs that are forming the new Southern Premier Division have now been told who's in and who hasn't been accepted.  Anybody heard anything? Can't find any reference to it in any of the league sites. (Or are they keeping it a secret until some big announcement event ???)

[bbfaz]

The RFL love an announcement so it's likely they've all been asked to keep schtum.

[gingerjon]

On 26/01/2023 at 14:41, bbfaz said:

The RFL love an announcement so it's likely they've all been asked to keep schtum.

Announcement

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/61392/harry-jepson-trophy-returns-in-new-look-scl-structure?fbclid=IwAR02imrV7ESz1__sb7gtGK6j1tq8zo9ZOymzQ7PTBJjOr0IFrWMFUPv5adM

[Bedford Roughyed]

On 08/02/2023 at 11:01, gingerjon said:

Announcement

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/61392/harry-jepson-trophy-returns-in-new-look-scl-structure?fbclid=IwAR02imrV7ESz1__sb7gtGK6j1tq8zo9ZOymzQ7PTBJjOr0IFrWMFUPv5adM

How will a cup and league double header work if the same team or teams reach the final?

[Archie Gordon]

51 minutes ago, Bedford Roughyed said:

How will a cup and league double header work if the same team or teams reach the final?

It's not clear from the news item but the SCL sides won't be in the Harry Jepson Trophy - that will be a Cup for the league winners below the SCL.

[bbfaz]

So the new format is what's left over from the old London Premier from 2019 plus Bedford, North Herts, Bristol and Brentwood.

Essentially, we've destroyed two generations of community clubs to preserve a Kiwi club, an Aussie club and a club with no ground that has made zero contribution to the wider world of Rugby League.

Clubs have been sacrificed to "compete" with these teams.  Personally, I'm kind of angry.

[Impartial Observer]

Which community clubs have been destroyed?

[Jamie_]

So in an attempt to merge the West and East divisions into one, they've ended up with just the entire West Division plus the All Golds, with the rest dropping back down into Tier 5. Not an amazing result.