London Amateur Rugby League

 

Hello and welcome to the official website of the London ARL. This website contains information on our competition, member clubs, and the current season.

About the London ARL
The London League was founded in 1965 and throughout most of it's history ran throughout the traditional winter season. However, with Rugby League increasingly becoming a summer sport the switch was made in 2000. The competition now works as a development league, operating one level below the ever-expanding and highly successful Rugby League Conference. The League aims to provide for clubs who are in the first stages of building a team, along with various Armed Forces, Police, and Prison sides who for various reasons are unable to commit to a full fixture list. We also have a number of 2nd and 3rd teams from clubs higher up the pyramid. Since adopting it's current format the London League has provided seven of the RLC's current teams: Greenwich Admirals, London Skolars II and St Ives Roosters (2002); Bedford Tigers (2004); Colchester Romans (2005), and Hainault Bulldogs and Northampton Casuals (2007).

In order to accommodate everybody’s needs, the league operates a “merit table” system, under which teams are free to arrange as many or few games amongst themselves as they wish, with the results compiled into a league table based on average scores. The top 6 teams are then invited into a play-off system to determine the champion club.

The reigning champions of the competition are Hainault Bulldogs, who defeated Eastern Raiders 30-4 in last season’s Grand Final.

For latest news check the Season 2008 section.
From the 2007 London ARL Season. Left: Hainault Bulldogs line up prior to their first ever match against Kent Ravens II. The Bulldogs went on to have a remarkably successful season, losing just one match all year on their way to becoming champions. They have been promoted to the RLC East division this season. Right: Kevin Reith and Ian Lovett display the Gordon Anderton Trophy after Hainault's Grand Final win. Ex London Broncos Academy player Reith formed the club in the early part of 2007, while former London Skolars prop Lovett provided valuable experience on the field.

This video is from a London ARL match between Bedford Tigers II and Northampton Casuals last season. Bedford's reserve side are now in their third season in the competition. Their first team have progressed rapidly since beginning life in the London League in 2004, and were national finalists in the RLC Regional competition last year. Northampton meanwhile were a newly formed club for 2007. While not as successful on the field initially as their counterparts from Hainault, they seem to be well on their way to establishing a strong presence for Rugby League in the town, and will be joining Hainault in the RLC East division this year.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Last update: 30/06/08