South East Rugby League Restructure

 

There are exciting developments within the structure of Rugby League in the South East.

For the 2025 season changes in the structure of the leagues and divisions have been introduced with an amalgamation of the East Rugby League with the London and South East Premier Division and the introduction of a Southern Conference League (SCL) A team division along with an enhanced Merit League including Brighton and Hove and the return of St. Ives Roosters.

The SCL ‘A’ Division will feature 7 of the 8 SCL first team clubs. These teams will play their ‘A’ team fixtures as double headers on first team match days.

The London & East Premier Division will be as follows:

Premier Division

Anglian Vipers

Brixton Bulls

Elmbridge Eagles

Hemel Stags

London Skolars

Medway Dragons

These teams will play a Home & Away season into a playoff knockout set of fixtures with the winner of the London & East Premier Division Final playing the winner of the Midlands Premier Final in the Harry Jepson Trophy. A full fixture list should be available soon on the RFL matches pages.

The teams listed in the Merit League below will play a flexible set of fixtures across the season.

Merit Teams

Anglian Vipers A

Brighton & Hove

Canvey Knights

Eastern Rhinos A

North Herts Crusaders A

St Albans Centurions

St Ives Roosters

The teams listed in the Merit Teams above may also seek fixtures against other developing teams in the region.

RFL Competitions have said that "As this is the first year that will feature an SCL A Division, there will be more flexibility with fixture fulfilment, we will then review the season and how we can enhance the competition further going into 2026 and beyond"

North Herts Crusaders

North Herts Crusaders, a Rugby League club based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, has been a prominent name in southern England's rugby league since its establishment in 2012.

It is a community-focused club offering a wide range of sporting opportunities.

Initially, the Crusaders were formed with the simple intention of having fun during the summer months. However, the club rapidly grew beyond this initial purpose, developing into a significant entity with a distinctive identity. Eleven years on from its inception, the North Herts Crusaders have expanded their operations significantly, they now field two senior teams, a women's section, and a flourishing junior section.

The first team, the Crusaders, competes in the Southern Conference League, which is the fourth tier of Rugby League and one step below National League 1. The development team, the Knights, plays in the Eastern Premier League.

In 2021, the club marked a significant milestone by becoming the first multi-sport club in the area. This expansion included the establishment of a Netball club under the North Herts Crusaders banner and the launch of their first Women's Rugby League side.

The club’s values are paramount for it’s success both on and off the field and court, it has strong relationships with the community around it and is committed to using our platform for good. Known for more than just its sporting achievements, the club has developed a strong identity and community presence over the years. Fundamental to the club's ethos are its core values and its strong relationships with the local community. The Crusaders are committed to using their platform for the greater good, fostering a spirit of inclusivity and inspiration both in sport and in their broader societal role.

The North Herts Crusaders' journey has been marked by numerous awards and honours, highlighting their success and impact both on and off the field. These accolades include being named the Best Newcomer at the Hertfordshire Sports Awards in 2012, multiple Comet Sports Awards nominations and victories, several league and cup wins, and recognition for their multiple sports activities.

North Herts are actively seeking new players and the next generation of local talent. The club has a healthy outlook on social media and can be contacted through:

https://www.facebook.com/NorthHertsCrusaders/

https://www.instagram.com/nhcrusaders/

Phone:   07960776409

Email:   nhcrusaders1@outlook.com

 

The club plays and trains at:

King George Playing Fields, Old Hale Way, Hitchin SG5 1XL

 

Wests Warriors

Wests Warriors was established in 2014 and is London’s youngest club. After being granted entry to compete in The London and South East Merit League going onto win the league including the London Challenge Cup in their inaugural season.

 They are a community-based Rugby League Club playing out of Wasps FC in Acton West London and currently compete in the Southern Conference League (tier 4) and with a second team in the London and SE Premier League, tier 5, of the British Rugby League system.

Since the club’s inception in 2014 it has been lucky enough to have a huge number of players chuck the boots on, wear our badge with pride and become part of our ever-growing rugby league family. We are fortunate to have never had to forfeit a match since we started and that’s a credit to all our players who sacrifice a lot to help grow our club and rugby league in London. Primarily a club with a focus on New Zealand players from London we do not discriminate and anyone who wishes to join us to experience Rugby League in the SE UK is welcome.

What started off as a seemingly impossible task soon become a reality and with hard work, blood, sweat and tears the club is very proud and privileged to be in a position where they can field a Southern Conference League and a London Premier league side each week. Now the club is one of the strongest teams in the SCL, regularly reaching the end of season playoffs and going on to play in many finals. Proof of the club’s success is the partnership with Cornwall RLFC and the record shows what a good club Wests have become:

SCL Champions - 2021, 2022

London Men's Premier Champions - 2016, 2019, 2024

London Merit League Champions - 2014

London Challenge Cup Champions - 2014

London 9s Champions - 2013, 2018

Harry Jepson Champions - 2016, 2019

Rotterdam 9s Champions - 2017

Budapest 9s Champions - 2016, 2017, 2018

14 Challenge Cup appearances 

 2025 is proving to be another excellent start to the year. Following their previous 14 appearances in the Challenge Cup, this year they have reached round 3 and now will face Super League team Leeds Rhinos. It’s going to be a fantastic occasion for the club and the club would appreciate all support.

Wests are always looking for new players and can be contacted through these social media channels:

 Web: westswarriors.com

https://www.facebook.com/wests.warriors

https://www.instagram.com/wests_warriors/

X: wests_warriors

Home for Wests Warriors is:

Twyford Avenue Sports Ground
Twyford Ave
London, W3 9QA

email: info@westswarriors.com
t: +44 (0) 7966656480

 

All Golds Rugby League

 

All Golds Rugby League Football Club’s roots can be traced back to New Zealand’s historic rugby league tour in England. This tour led to the famous match on February 15, 1908, at Cheltenham’s Athletic Ground, where New Zealand defeated England 8–5. This tour is what gave Cheltenham the title “Birthplace of International Rugby League.”

 Recently the club has announced that from 2025 they have secured a 10 year partnership agreement with Lockleaze Sports Centre to be the home for the two senior teams the Bristol All Golds (men) and Bristol Golden Ferns (women). This provides security for the club to continue its development and growth of rugby league in Bristol and surrounding areas. At the moment, All Golds are the only club in the South West UK to be included in the Southern Conference league which is the highest level of amateur Rugby League in the UK. The club is building it’s foundations well with a strong and growing Youth (boys and girls) and Primary section of the club.

 Currently the club has a Senior Men’s team, a senior Women’s team plus Boys teams at U12, U14 & U16 and Girls U13, U15 & U17 teams. The primary section has teams at U9 and U11.

The club is also partnered University of Gloucestershire Rugby League and are very keen for students to join the club.

All Golds RLFC Seniors train and play matches at: 

Lockleaze Sport Centre
Off Bonnington Walk
Lockleaze
Bristol
BS7 9XF

All Golds RLFC Juniors train and play matches at:

Oaklands
Almondsbury
Bristol
BS32 4AG

Bristol All Golds (Men) the Golden Ferns (Women) and all teams of the North Bristol All Golds (Juniors) are seeking new players for the 2025 season. There are teams for all ages, genders and abilities so whatever your level of experience playing rugby league or union get along to this great club and experience Rugby League. The club are also on the lookout for volunteers to help run the club in all manner of roles. There are also opportunities for sponsorship (advertising) to help the club financially.

To contact the club visit the club’s website https://allgoldsrugby.co.uk/ or through the All Golds Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AllGoldsRugbyLeague?locale=en_GB  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/allgoldsrugby/?hl=en and “X” social media sites.

 

 

Brentwood Eels

Brentwood Eels were founded in 2004, as a primary Rugby League club named Brentwood Elvers, to feed into the professional side Essex Eels which only lasted a season or two before being rebranded in  2012 by Carl Horsman to Brentwood RLFC “The Eels”

 

The club continued to focus on developing their youth section and in 2014 the first youth players came of age to play men’s rugby league and merged with a few players from the folded Barking and Dagenham (formerly Hainault) Bulldogs. The club has continued to grow introducing Ladies Rugby League in 2022, Primary, Girl’s youth and Wheelchair RL in 2023.

 The club have always tried to produce young passionate sides that have played together since they were young and encourage their players to enjoy the physical side of the game with a strong emphasis on teamwork, commitment, fitness plus giving the opportunity to nurture young players into responsible adults in a competitive environment within the local community.

 The Eels have had the same Open Age Coach since our inception in 2014 and he coached the club in the Challenge Cup 2023 first round win with a team of 100% home grown starting line-up with only one player that wasn’t produced from the club’s youth setup and, even then, that player came from the local area of Essex. Even now most players in the Open Age squad have been at the club playing adult rugby for more than 10 years but are still only in their mid to late 20s. 

Over the years, there has been a very good success rate for players going through the player pathways, mainly through the London Broncos Academy (currently not running) to the professional level of Rugby League. Notably; Alex Walker, Joe Keyes and Femi Sanya who had a brief stint at an NRL before picking an injury. Currently there are several players with professional contracts including; Sam Winney at London Broncos who may have the opportunity, soon, to come up against Mike Ogunwole at Goole Vikings in the Challenge Cup match as well as Tommy Porter at Swinton Lions and Max Clarke who has recently signed for Carcassonne. Eels currently have 18 youth players who have trialled or play for international sides including England Community Lions.

 

As with many clubs, Brentwood suffered with a loss of players over the last few years due to Covid and are recovering their player numbers through their youth setup and remain extremely keen to grow the club back to the levels of pre 2020 across all teams within the club. Brentwood boast good connections within the game and hope to continue to provide a base for trials, coaching courses and wheelchair matches.

 The club are always looking for people who want to assist running the club, in any way, and keep RL an option for everyone in the area. The best way to get in touch is by contacting info@brentwoodrlfc.co.uk 

 The Eels train and play their home matches at: Old Brentwood’s Club, Ashwell’s Road, Brentwood Essex CM15 9SE and all are welcome to watch. Wheelchair matches and train Brentwood Centre.