Largest Settlement to NOT have hosted top-level rugby league

[SouthBedfordshireFan]

After enquiring about Cheltenham I started to think about which is the largest settlement that has not hosted top-level rugby league.

I guess the task to do before that is determine boundaries of each settlement before ranking in population and define what top-level means.

In terms of top-level I guess the top 3 divisions, Challenge Cup matches, and each match on a tour.

 

[JonM]

In the UK? Belfast would be my guess. In England, probably one of the south coast towns and cities, Portsmouth, Southampton, Brighton.

[Cumbrian Fanatic]

16 minutes ago, JonM said:

In the UK? Belfast would be my guess. In England, probably one of the south coast towns and cities, Portsmouth, Southampton, Brighton.

Belfast hosted a game during the 2000 world cup I think 

 

Think

[Damien]

9 minutes ago, Cumbrian Fanatic said:

Belfast hosted a game during the 2000 world cup I think 

 

Think

They did.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Edit. Half asleep when I wrote this at 2am...

Edited March 7 by The Hallucinating Goose

[Douglas]

5 hours ago, Cumbrian Fanatic said:

Belfast hosted a game during the 2000 world cup I think 

 

Think

Thanks for reminding me!!!

id just about gotten over it.

[Douglas]

Depending on boundaries I’d guess either Derby, Plymouth or Brighton.

[SouthBedfordshireFan]

1 hour ago, Douglas said:

Depending on boundaries I’d guess either Derby, Plymouth or Brighton.

Plymouth hosted RL matches before but they were exhibitions so perhaps not top level

[Just Browny]

Plymouth (Home Park) hosted an England v Wales match in 1913.

 

[The Hallucinating Goose]

What games has there been in Nottingham and Leicester?

[Tommygilf]

Probably a fair few that have hosted a single random international or World cup game over the past 130 years. A significant list less than 10 too I'd imagine.

I did think Leicester but apparently Welford Road hosted London vs Hull FC one year?l

[Tommygilf]

2 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

What games has there been in Nottingham and Leicester?

Presumably Nottingham City's 3rd division games?

Leicester hosted London vs Hull in Super League one year apparently!

[The Hallucinating Goose]

3 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Presumably Nottingham City's 3rd division games?

Leicester hosted London vs Hull in Super League one year apparently!

Upon research, I can confirm this. I wasn't aware there'd ever been a team in Nottingham. Before my time!

[Douglas]

13 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

What games has there been in Nottingham and Leicester?

Nottingham city RFLC and welford road hosted a “on the road” game in the late 90’s.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Leeds. Mic drop.  

[Griff]

8 hours ago, SouthBedfordshireFan said:

After enquiring about Cheltenham I started to think about which is the largest settlement that has not hosted top-level rugby league.

I guess the task to do before that is determine boundaries of each settlement before ranking in population and define what top-level means.

In terms of top-level I guess the top 3 divisions, Challenge Cup matches, and each match on a tour.

 

Tokio? Dhaķa?

[Damien]

1 hour ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

What games has there been in Nottingham and Leicester?

Leicester definitely had an on the road game when we did those.

[gingerjon]

4 minutes ago, Damien said:

Leicester definitely had an on the road game when we did those.

Bradford beat London 42-0 at Welford Road in 2001.

[paul hicks]

did hull kr not play a game at Nottingham in the 80s. may have been a friendly

[Cumbrian Fanatic]

Looking at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_primary_urban_areas_in_England_by_population_(2001_data) if you consider the wider urban area, Bournemouth & Poole looks a good shout or, depending on population changes, maybe Stoke. Has there ever been a professional level game in Stoke?

[Mr Plow]

2 minutes ago, Cumbrian Fanatic said:

Looking at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_primary_urban_areas_in_England_by_population_(2001_data) if you consider the wider urban area, Bournemouth & Poole looks a good shout or, depending on population changes, maybe Stoke. Has there ever been a professional level game in Stoke?

I was thinking Stoke. Most northern town never to have hosted rugby league? 

[Douglas]

Wolverhampton?

[Just Browny]

Can't see any in Stoke or Derby. I wouldn't say either is on my tourism bucket list, but it also seems wild we have never taken games to two cities which are a quick scoot on the motorway from RL-land.

Edited March 7 by Just Browny

[Hopping Mad]

1 minute ago, Just Browny said:

Can't see any in Stoke or Derby. I wouldn't say either is on my tourism bucket list, but it also seems wild we have never taken games to two cities which are a quick scoot on the motorway from RL-land.

Stoke and Derby are completely soccer-centric. May have something to do with it.

[Douglas]

7 minutes ago, Cumbrian Fanatic said:

Looking at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_primary_urban_areas_in_England_by_population_(2001_data) if you consider the wider urban area, Bournemouth & Poole looks a good shout or, depending on population changes, maybe Stoke. Has there ever been a professional level game in Stoke?

You’re opening up a whole new can of worms with that list that has Wigan, Salford, Oldham and Rochdale under Manchester and St Helens under Liverpool for the big city super league proponents.