Rugby National League History

The National League or the Championship as it is now known has only existed since 2003, but the idea of a two-tier league system dates back to the early 20th century.

At first teams were divided by regions into the Yorkshire League and Lancashire League, but that idea lasted just four years before they were decided on merit and not geography.

At first the most successful sides in the Yorkshire and Lancashire Leagues broke away to form a single competition, with the rest making up a Second Division.

However, in 1905 they joined together again and clubs went back to playing opposition from their own county home and away, with all results being collated into a single table for the Championship.

In 1973-74 the League went back to being two divisions and became known as the Rugby League Premiership, with promotion and relegation being introduced.

That lasted until 1996, when the Super League was introduced and the division below the Super League became known as the Premiership.

Seven years later it was all change again as a further division was introduced, the top 10 sides from the Premiership competing in National League One and the bottom nine in National League Two.

However, in 2009 French side Toulouse were introduced into the League and so with the name 'National League' no longer appropriate, the divisions became known as the Championship and Championship One.