Rugby Football League Championship Third Division
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1991-1993 (as Third Division) 1995-1998 (as Division Two) |
| Ceased | 1998 |
| Replaced by | League 1 |
| Country | England |
| Most titles | Hull Kingston Rovers (2 titles) |
| Related competition | Challenge Cup |
| Promotion to | Second Division |
The Rugby Football League Championship Third Division was founded in 1991 and was the third tier of professional rugby league in the UK until 1998.
History
The RFL Championship Third Division was founded in 1991 to make the top two divisions more competitive. The competition ran for two seasons until it was scrapped in 1993. The third division was resurrected in 1995 and ran for another three seasons although there was no promotion in 1995–96. In 1999 the Second and Third Divisions were merged to create the Northern Ford Premiership, the third division was recreated again in 2003.
In 2003 rugby league beneath Super League were completely re-organised into the Rugby League National Leagues. The Third Division was renamed National League Two.
Results
| Year | Champions[1] | Promoted | Bottom | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 | Huddersfield | Huddersfield Bramley |
Nottingham City | [2] |
| 1992–93 | Keighley | Second and Third Division merged | Nottingham City | [2][3] |
| 1993–1995: No Third Division | ||||
| 1995–96 | Hull Kingston Rovers | No Promotion | Highfield | [4] |
| 1996 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Hull Kingston Rovers Swinton |
Prescot Panthers | [5] |
| 1997 | Hunslet | Hunslet Rochdale Leigh |
Prescot Panthers | [6] |
| 1998 | Lancashire Lynx | Division One and Two merged | Doncaster | [7] |
| 1999-2002: No Third Division | ||||
- In 1993, Chorley Borough, Blackpool Gladiators and Nottingham City were relegated to the National Conference League.[3]
Winners
| Club | Wins | Winning years | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hunslet | 1 | 1997 |
| 2 | Keighley Cougars | 1 | 1992–93 |
| 3 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 2 | 1995–96, 1996 |
| 6 | Huddersfield Giants | 1 | 1991–92 |
| 5 | Lancashire Lynx § | 1 | 1998 |
- § Denotes club now defunct
See also
References
- ^ "Third Tier Champions". 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009.
- ^ a b Fletcher & Howes 1995, pp. 302–3.
- ^ a b "1992-93 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 23 August 2006.
- ^ "1995-96 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 23 August 2006.
- ^ "1996 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 25 August 2006.
- ^ "1997 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 23 August 2006.
- ^ "1998 Season summary". Cherry and White. Archived from the original on 25 August 2006.
Sources
- Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1995). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1995-96. London: Headline Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-7472-7817-7.