The RFL Championship, formally the Rugby Football League Championship, is the second highest tier of rugby league in Britain. It was introduced in 2003 as National League One, replacing the existing Second Division, and it took the name Championship when the National Leagues were rebranded in 2009. Until the end of the 2025 season it was made up of 13 or 14 clubs, with the winner decided by a playoff, and ahead of the 2026 season it was merged with the third division, League One, into a single second tier below Super League. Between 2009 and 2014 a licensing system meant there was no automatic promotion and relegation between it and Super League, and its matches are governed by the laws set out by the Rugby Football League. Clubs such as Widnes Vikings have been promoted from it to Super League.
Facts
Founding Year Frequency
Frequency (category) Connections
Competitors Include
Source Halifax Panthers (Wikipedia)
Source Keighley Cougars (Wikipedia)
Source Widnes Vikings (Wikipedia)
Derived From
Source RFL Championship (Wikipedia)
Features
Source RFL Championship (Wikipedia)
Governs
Source RFL Championship (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Took Place In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject took place.
Source RFL Championship (Wikipedia)LeadQuote, Lead
is the second highest tier of rugby league in Britain
Sources
1. RFL Championship (Wikipedia)
Lead
is the second highest tier of rugby league in Britain
History
have been in place annually since 1973
Lead, founding year
Introduced in 2003 as National League One
Lead, format
the league consisted of 13 or 14 teams, with the winner decided by a playoff
Governs: Rugby Football League, Match officials
All rugby league matches are governed by the laws set out by the RFL
Derived From: Rugby Football League Championship Second Division, Lead, predecessor
it replaced the existing Second Division
View the SourceWidnes Vikings (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Widnes Vikings, LeadQuote, Competitors Include: Widnes Vikings, Lead
which competes in the RFL Championship
Halifax Panthers (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Halifax Panthers, LeadQuote, Competitors Include: Halifax Panthers, Lead
compete in the Championship, the second tier of British rugby league
Keighley Cougars (Wikipedia)
Competitors Include: Keighley Cougars, History, 2001-2017: lower leagues and administrationsQuote, Competitors Include: Keighley Cougars, History, 2001-2017: lower leagues and administrations
Under March the Cougars played in the Championship until 2014
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