The Rugby Football League Championship Second Division was founded in 1902 and was the second tier of professional rugby league in the UK until 2003.
During the 1990s a third division was established and there is automatic promotion between the second and third division.
History The Second Division was formed in 1902 by splitting the RFL Championship into two divisions of 18. After three seasons the Second Division was abolished and not resurrected until 1962. Two seasons later in 1964 the Second Division was scrapped for the second time.
The division was resurrected again in 1973 and has been played every season since. During the 1991–92 season, a third division was established and, for the first time, two teams were relegated. There was no regular relegation from the Second Division until 2003.
In 1995, in anticipation for the Super League starting in 1996, six teams were relegated from the RFL Championship, five were relegated to the Second Division and one was relegated to form the Third Division. Controversy was caused as London Broncos, who finished 4th in the Second Division, were elected to the Championship ahead of Keighley, Batley and Huddersfield.
In 2003, the divisions under Super League were reorganised into the National Leagues with Second and Third Divisions becoming National League One and National League Two.
Results YearChampionsPromotedRelegated Ref 1902-03 Keighley Keighley Leedsrowspan=3 1903-04 Wakefield Trinity Wakefield Trinity St. Helens 1904-05 Dewsbury1905-1962: No Second Division 1962-63 Hunslet Hunslet Keighleyrowspan=2 1963-64 Oldham1964-1973: No Second Division 1973-74 Bradford Northern Bradford Northern York Keighley Halifaxrowspan=17 1974-75 Huddersfield Huddersfield Hull Kingston Rovers Oldham Swinton 1975-76 Barrow Barrow Rochdale Hornets Workington Leigh 1976-77 Hull F.C. Hull Dewsbury Bramley New Hunslet 1977-78 Leigh Leigh Barrow Rochdale Hornets Huddersfield 1978-79 Hull F.C. Hull New Hunslet York Blackpool 1979-80 Featherstone Rovers Featherstone Rovers Halifax Oldham Barrow 1980-81 York York Wigan Fulham Whitehaven 1981-82 Oldham OldhamCarlisle Workington Halifax 1982-83 Fulham Fulham Wakefield Trinity Salford Whitehaven 1983-84 Barrow Barrow Workington Hunslet Halifax 1984-85 Swinton Swinton Salford York Dewsbury 1985-86 Leigh Leigh Barrow Wakefield Trinity 1986-87 Hunslet Hunslet Swinton 1987-88 Oldham Oldham Featherstone Rovers Wakefield Trinity 1988-89 Leigh Leigh Barrow Sheffield Eagles 1989-90 Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers Rochdale Hornets Oldham 1990-91 Salford Salford Halifax Swinton 1991-92 Sheffield Sheffield Leigh Ryedale-York Workington 1992-93 Featherstone Rovers Featherstone Rovers Oldham 1993-94 'Workington Workington Doncaster 1994-95 Keighley London Broncos 1995-96 Salford Reds 1996 Salford Reds Salford Reds Rochdale Hornets Batley 1997 Hull Hull Huddersfield Widnes Workington 1998 Wakefield Trinity Wakefield Trinity 1999 Hunslet Hawks rowspan=2 rowspan=4 2000 Dewsbury 2001 Widnes Widnes 2002 Huddersfield Huddersfield
Winners ClubWinsWinning Year1 Leigh Centurions31976-77, 1985–86, 1988–89= Salford Red Devils31990-91, 1995–96, 1996= Oldham31963-64, 1981–82, 1987–884 Barrow Raiders21975-76, 1983–84= Featherstone Rovers21979-80, 1992–93= Keighley Cougars21902-03, 1994–95= Dewsbury Rams21904-05, 2000= Hunslet21986–87, 1999= Wakefield Trinity21903-04, 1998= Huddersfield Giants21974-75, 2002= Hull F.C.21976-77, 1978–7912 Hunslet (1883)11962-63= Bradford Bulls11973-74= York11980-81= Fulham11982-83= Swinton Lions11984-85= Hull Kingston Rovers11989-90= Sheffield Eagles11991-92= Workington Town11993-94= Widnes Vikings12001
§ Denotes club now defunct
See also Rugby Football League Championship Rugby Football League Championship Third Division
References
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