National Conference League Division Three Explained

National Conference League Division Three
Current Season:2024 National Conference League season
Sport:Rugby league
Teams:10
Promotion:National Conference League Division Two
Relegation:Regional leagues
Levels:7
Domestic Cup:Challenge Cup
BARLA National Cup
Champions:East Leeds
(2nd title)
Most Champs:East Leeds
(2 titles)

The National Conference League Division Three is the fourth level of the National Conference League and sits in the seventh tier of the British rugby league system.

It is the entry league for the NCL and sits above the Conference League South although there is no promotion and relegation between the two or the regional leagues. Any club wanting to compete in the NCL has to send an application to the league.

Background

In 2011, NCL clubs voted to switch from playing in winter to summer [1] which resulted in a reorganisation of the amateur pyramid. The current summer competition, the Rugby League Conference, was to be scrapped with its National Division effectively become part of the NCL while most of its regional divisions would continue as they were.

NCL Division Three was the NCLs most geographically diverse division with six out of the ten clubs competing being located outside the north of England. There was no promotion in the leagues first season, only a top six playoff was played to determine the winners. Of the ten clubs who competed in the first season only two, Coventry Bears and Underbank Rangers, returned the following season.

Clubs in 2025

ClubFoundedLocation
Bentley1963Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Beverley1883Beverley, Hull, East Yorkshire
DistingtonDistington, Cumbria
Eastmoor Dragons1873Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Featherstone Lions1994
Leigh East1977Leigh, Greater Manchester
Millom1873Millom, Cumbria
MilfordKirkstall, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Myton Warriors1997Hull, East Yorkshire
Saddleworth Rangers1930Saddleworth, Greater Manchester
Seaton Rangers1890Seaton, Workington, Cumbria

Results

SeasonWinnersRunners upPlayoff WinnerScorePlayoff Runner upBottom team
2012Hemel StagsUnderbank RangersHemel Stags17-10Underbank RangersSouth Wales Hornets
2013KellsPilkington RecsPeterlee Pumas
2014Featherstone LionsBlackbrookeUnderbank Rangers20-6CrosfieldPeterlee Pumas
2015Hunslet Club ParksideThornhill TrojansStanningley20-17DrighlingtonEastmoor Dragons
2016CrossfieldsDrighlingtonDrighlington32-18Woolston RoversGateshead Storm
2017West BowlingStanningleyDewsbury Moor16-10Woolston RoversWaterhead Warriors
2018BeverleyBarrow IslandClock Face Miners16-12MillomStanley Rangers
2019Woolston RoversHunslet WarriorsDewsbury Celtic30-16HeworthSalford City Roosters
2020colspan=6
2021colspan=6
2022East LeedsWaterhead WarriorsShaw Cross Sharks30-18Oldham St Annes Eastmoor Dragons
2023Oldham St AnnesEllenboroughMillom20-6Leigh EastSeaton Rangers
2024East Leeds (2)HensinghamDrighlington17-10DistingtonFeatherstone Lions

Winners

ClubWinsRunners upWinning years
East Leeds202022, 2024
Hemel Stags102012
Kells12013
Featherstone Lions12014
Hunslet Club Parkside12015
Crosfield12016
West Bowling12017
Beverley12018
Woolston Rovers12019

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rugby-League.com . 2019-12-11 . www.rugby-league.com.