As far as I'm aware, Warrington is the only club team in association or rugby football, never to be relegated and the longest continual top flight presence of a league team sport in the World.

We continue to be record breakers every day. I think that is a measure of success!

Add Celtic & Aberdeen to that list.

Guess it depends on your measurement of success.

It certainly won't show up on any honours list which is where it counts and where real success is measured.

It's more a cutesy side story.

In the absence of a Grand Final trophy, a cutesy side story will have to do at the mo

If I was more specific I ought to have said original teams...but that would still leave Celtic.
Not a bad shout though.

Incorrect on both counts I'm afraid: both Leeds and St Helens have longer runs in the top flight than us, by virtue of the fact that we didn't compete in the Wartime league. Catalans have never been relegated (yet!); technically I'm not sure Leeds have-I'd have to check, and might be wrong here, but think their season out of the top flight was due to the breakaway forming the NRFL in 1902, when they weren't part of the top 14, which left them in the Yorks Snr Comp and then the 2nd division. Or maybe this was what happened to Saints: I can check if anyone's that bothered!!

I've said before our claim is tenuous and often mis-quoted: we're not the only club never to have been relegated, & other teams have played more seasons in the top flight (Wigan, Saints and Leeds); some Aussie clubs can claim to have played every season in the top flight, as can Catalans (we cannot).

The claim we can accurately make is that we are the only British RL team never to have started a season outside the top flight. As I said, tenuous, and I'm sure Leeds, Saints & Wigan fans wouldn't be lining up to swap many of their titles for this 'honour'; I doubt Cas fans would even swap this season for it TBH. I'd certainly give it up for a GF win (as long as we didn't 'do a Bradford')!

Quote: NtW "Incorrect on both counts I'm afraid 1903-1904 ...2nd division www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/ ... e=1903%204

Quote: NtW "Incorrect on both counts I'm afraid 1903-1904 ...2nd division www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/ ... e=1903%204

We are the only team. Until SL Widnes and Cas also were with us.

We are the only team what?? Never to be relegated? Did you bother reading my post?!

Yes.

And I read Bulls after it.

It's not my opinion, but an accepted statistical fact.

In WWI, the NRFU decided to abandon competitive matches following the completion of the 1914/5 season. Games played during this period do not count in official records, as matches are classed as friendlies (newspapers did produce 'merit tables' based on their results though, interestingly).

In contrast, following the outbreak of WWII the RFL decided to run wartime emergency leagues; part of the rationale was to boost morale and provide some sense of normality for those remaining on the home front or on leave from active duty. The RL Record Keepers Club classify such games and competitions as first grade matches (which I think is consistent with soccer).

Registration rules were relaxed during the period, so players from clubs that were not playing could guest for others; some Wire players did this.

It's just a statement of truth then to say that our unbroken run of top flight seasons starts at 1945/6, as we didn't play in the 1944/5 season. Equally, it's right that clubs that won these wartime competitions list them in their honours (usually these as separated out, due to the competition being distinct from peacetime leagues).

None of this should be taken to disrespect the efforts of those who fought, and in some cases made the ultimate sacrifice, in both these conflicts. The heritage wall in the south stand does a great job at remembering those Wire players who sacrificed their life for king and country, and is well worth a look at, if anyone hasn't seen it.