NATIONAL LEAGUE THREE RE-VAMP

PRESS RELEASE

NATIONAL LEAGUE THREE RE-VAMP

The top tier of summer rugby league outside the professional ranks will have a new look for 2007.

Formally known as National League Three, the ten team competition will go into its fifth season re-branded as ‘Rugby League Conference National’.

Three new sides will make their debut; all promoted from last season’s ‘Rugby League Conference Northern Premier’; Leeds Akkies, Cottingham Phoenix from near Hull and last season’s Harry Jepson Trophy runners-up, East Lancashire Lions based at Darwen.

They will replace Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks, Bradford Dudley Hill Demons who have reverted back to being a winter club and St Albans Centurions.

The Centurions have chosen to join the likes of former National Three clubs South London Storm, Birmingham Bulldogs and Coventry Bears in opting to play in the Premier League where they will concentrate on developing and promoting local talent.

Current reigning National Three Champions Bramley Buffaloes have fully endorsed the new RLC National concept, their Chairman Martin Cheney commenting, “We are really looking forward to the forthcoming season and aiming to defend our title in what looks like being a quality competition.”

“We are eagerly anticipating locking horns with the three new sides who have proved their pedigree moving through the Conference ranks and who promise to bring something new and innovative to the league.”

“Coach Paul Cook is excited by the challenge and has already formulated his plans for the 2007 campaign, with player retention a priority and the majority of last season’s squad returning.”

Runners up in 2006, Hemel Stags – who along with Bramley, Warrington Wizards and Dewsbury Celtic will also play in the Northern Rail Cup - are preparing for their 26th season and are equally impressed with the way RLCN is shaping up.

“All the clubs have an air of optimism and a willingness to work together to make sure the new-look league is a success” said their Chairman, long serving Bob Brown.

“We are passionately committed to this league which gives us the ideal length of season and the right quality of opposition to continue to build and make further progress in the Hertfordshire area.”

“The numbers attracted and coming through and profile generated have been excellent for us and, combined with a development officer for the area due to be appointed early in the New Year, that progress can only be enhanced by this move.”

Plans are well advanced for the remainder of the 2007 Rugby League Conference structure which will see the nationwide competition, featuring sides from all over England together with Wales and Scotland, celebrate its tenth anniversary.

Significant interest in new geographical areas has been expressed with the likelihood that four Premier Leagues will sit underneath the National League, with eight Regional Divisions supporting them.

Underpinning that will be a number of highly successful area merit leagues which will act as proving grounds for new and aspiring clubs eager to try the code.

Full details of the RLC are scheduled to be unveiled early in January, while it is envisaged that the RLCN Grand Final will still be staged as part of a triple header alongside those of National League One and Two.

The Rugby League Conference National regular season will consist of 18 rounds commencing on the 7th April and running through to the 8th September, followed by play offs.

RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE NATIONAL

WEEK ONE FIXTURES –

Sat.7th April 2006

Dewsbury Celtic v Hemel Stags

Featherstone Lions v Leeds Akkies

Huddersfield Underbank Rangers v Warrington Wizards

East Lancashire Lions v Gateshead Storm

Cottingham Phoenix v Bramley Buffaloes