South Premier

The South Premier, also known as the London Premier, is a division in rugby league's tier 4. It was the highest level of amateur rugby league in the South of England until the creation in 2013 of Conference League South. It was first contested in 2005 as the South Premier division of the Rugby League Conference but is currently a standalone league run by London Rugby League.

South Premier
Current season or competition:
2015 South Premier season
SportRugby league
Formerly known asRugby League Conference South Premier Division
Instituted2005
Country England
ChampionsSouth West London Chargers (2015)
Related competitionLondon League, London & South East Men's League

Many of the clubs run juniors in the London Junior League.

History
See also: History of the Rugby League Conference

The Rugby League Conference was born in 1997 as the Southern Conference.

The Premier Division was set up in 2005 for teams who had achieved a certain playing standard and were able to travel further afield to find stronger opposition. The new Premier Divisions included the North Premier, the South Premier, the Central Premier and the Welsh Premier.

Prior to the 2005 season National League Three side South London Storm announced that they were joining the South Premier; the other founder members came from the Conference regional divisions.

After the 2006 season with other teams withdrawing from National League Three, St Albans Centurions also decided to join the Premier South.

In 2012 it became a standalone league and St Albans Centurions returned to playing nationally in National Conference League division three

Community game pyramid
See also: British rugby league system

Above the London Premier is the Conference League South and the National Conference League. Below is the London, South East and East Entrance League.

2014 Structure
Club Founded Location RLC Honours
Eastern Rhinos1992Colchester, EssexEastern Division: 1999, 2001
Hemel Stags A1981Hemel Hempstead
London Skolars A1995Wood Green, HaringeyHarry Jepson Trophy: 1997
Eastern Division: 1997
RLC Challenge Cup: 2004
St Albans Centurions1997St AlbansSouth Premier 2007, 2010
Harry Jepson Trophy 2007, 2010
South West London Chargers2013Clapham CommonSouth Premier: 2013, 2014
Harry Jepson Trophy: 2013, 2014, 2015
  • NB: Staines Titans entered but failed to complete the season

Teams play each other on a home-and-away basis. Each Premier division then has its own play-off series to determine the champion with the five divisional winners entering the national play-offs. The winner of the national play-offs is awarded the Harry Jepson Trophy.

  • NB: West London Sharks & South London Storm merged to form South West London Chargers

Past League Standings
Teams 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Bedford Tigers xxxx6thxxxx
Eastern Rhinos3rd2nd5th3rd4th4th3rd3rd4th
Elmbridge Eagles 2 x5th6th7th9thxx5th6th
Essex Eels xDNFxxxxxxx
Greenwich Admirals6thxxxxxxxx
Hainault Bulldogs xxxx8th6thDNFxx
Hammersmith Hills Hoists xxxxx2nd1st2nd1st
Hemel Stags A xxxxxxxx5th
Kent Ravensxx7thDNFxxxxx
London Skolars A 3 4th4th3rd6th7th8th5th51st3rd
Luton Vipers 5thDNFxxxxxxx
Portsmouth Navy Seahawks xxx5th5th7thxxx
St Albans Centurionsxx1st4th3rd1st2ndxx
South London Storm1st1st2nd2nd1st5th6th4thx
South West London Chargers4xxxxxxxx2nd
West London Sharks2nd3rd4th1st2nd3rd4thDNFx
  • 1 competed as Ipswich Rhinos between 2005 and 2009
  • 2 competed as Kingston Warriors between 2005 and 2007 and Elmbridge in 2008.
  • 3 competed as Haringey Hornets in 2006
  • 4 a merger of South London Storm and West London Sharks
  • 5 midseason replacements for Hainault Bulldogs

Key
DNF Did not complete the season
x Did not participate
Divisional winner
Qualified for divisional play-off
Finished bottom

Grand Finals
Year Winner Defeated Score Venue
2005 South London Storm West London Sharks 24–8 Storm Park
2006 South London Storm Ipswich Rhinos 52–10 Storm Park
2007 St Albans Centurions South London Storm 18–10 Twickenham Stoop
2008 West London Sharks South London Storm 24–20 Grasshoppers RFC
2009 West London Sharks South London Storm 26–16 Storm Park
2010 St Albans Centurions West London Sharks 54–4 Cotlandswick
2011 Hammersmith Hills Hoists St Albans Centurions 18-16 Hemel Hempstead
2012 Hammersmith Hills Hoists Eastern Rhinos 46-8
2013 South West London Chargers Hammersmith Hills Hoists 20-10

Titles
See also: Rugby League Conference trophy winners
  • Hammersmith Hill Hoists: 2
  • South London Storm: 2
  • St Albans Centurions: 2
  • West London Sharks: 2
  • South West London Chargers: 3

London Cup
  • 2013: South West London Chargers

National Play-offs
Year Team Opponent Result Game Venue
2005 South London Storm Bridgend Blue Bulls 18–34 National Semi-final Cheltenham
2006 South London Storm Bridgend Blue Bulls 32–12 National Semi-final Hemel
2006 South London Storm East Lancs Lions 30–0 Grand Final Coventry
2007 St Albans Centurions Bridgend Blue Bulls 42–16 National Semi-final
2007 St Albans Centurions Coventry Bears 28–20 Grand Final
2008 West London Sharks Valley Cougars 32–30 National Semi-final
2008 West London Sharks Nottingham Outlaws 8–28 Grand Final Derby

See also

References
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