Rugby Football League Championship Second Division

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

Year	Champions<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Promoted	Relegated
1902-03	Template:Leagueicon Keighley {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Keighley Template:Leagueicon Leeds	No Relegation
1903-04	Template:Leagueicon Wakefield Trinity {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Wakefield Trinity Template:Leagueicon St. Helens
1904-05	Template:Leagueicon Dewsbury {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Dewsbury Template:Leagueicon Barrow
1905-1962: No Second Division
1962-63	Template:Leagueicon Hunslet {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Hunslet Template:Leagueicon Keighley	No Relegation
1963-64	Template:Leagueicon Oldham {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Oldham Template:Leagueicon Leigh
1964-1973: No Second Division
1973-74	Template:Leagueicon Bradford {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Bradford Template:Leagueicon York Template:Leagueicon Keighley Template:Leagueicon Salford	No Relegation
1974-75	Template:Leagueicon Huddersfield {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Huddersfield Template:Leagueicon Hull Kingston Rovers Template:Leagueicon Oldham Template:Leagueicon Swinton
1975-76	Template:Leagueicon Barrow {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Barrow Template:Leagueicon Rochdale Hornets Template:Leagueicon Workington Template:Leagueicon Leigh
1976-77	Template:Leagueicon Hull F.C. {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Hull Template:Leagueicon Dewsbury Bramley Template:Leagueicon Hunslet
1977-78	Template:Leagueicon Leigh {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Leigh Template:Leagueicon Barrow Template:Leagueicon Rochdale Hornets Template:Leagueicon Huddersfield
1978-79	Template:Leagueicon Hull F.C. {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Hull Template:Leagueicon Hunslet Template:Leagueicon York Template:Leagueicon Blackpool
1979-80	Template:Leagueicon Featherstone Rovers {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Featherstone Rovers Template:Leagueicon Halifax Template:Leagueicon Oldham Template:Leagueicon Barrow
1980-81	Template:Leagueicon York {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon York Template:Leagueicon Wigan Template:Leagueicon Fulham Template:Leagueicon Whitehaven
1981-82	Template:Leagueicon Oldham {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Oldham Carlisle Template:Leagueicon Workington Template:Leagueicon Halifax
1982-83	Template:Leagueicon Fulham {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Fulham Template:Leagueicon Wakefield Trinity Template:Leagueicon Salford Template:Leagueicon Whitehaven
1983-84	Template:Leagueicon Barrow {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Barrow Template:Leagueicon Workington Template:Leagueicon Hunslet Template:Leagueicon Halifax
1984-85	Template:Leagueicon Swinton {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Swinton Template:Leagueicon Salford Template:Leagueicon York Template:Leagueicon Dewsbury
1985-86	Template:Leagueicon Leigh {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Leigh Template:Leagueicon Barrow Template:Leagueicon Wakefield Trinity
1986-87	Template:Leagueicon Hunslet {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Hunslet Template:Leagueicon Swinton
1987-88	Template:Leagueicon Oldham {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Oldham Template:Leagueicon Featherstone Rovers Template:Leagueicon Wakefield Trinity
1988-89	Template:Leagueicon Leigh {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Leigh Template:Leagueicon Barrow Template:Leagueicon Sheffield
1989-90	Template:Leagueicon Hull Kingston Rovers {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Hull Kingston Rovers Template:Leagueicon Rochdale Hornets Template:Leagueicon Oldham
1990-91	Template:Leagueicon Salford {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Salford Template:Leagueicon Halifax Template:Leagueicon Swinton
1991-92	Template:Leagueicon Sheffield {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Sheffield Template:Leagueicon Leigh	Template:Leagueicon Ryedale-York Template:Leagueicon Workington
1992-93	Template:Leagueicon Featherstone Rovers {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Featherstone Rovers Template:Leagueicon Oldham	No Relegation
1993-94	Template:Leagueicon Workington {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Workington Template:Leagueicon Doncaster
1994-95	Template:Leagueicon Keighley {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon London Broncos {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Hull Kingston Rovers Template:Leagueicon Ryedale-York Template:Leagueicon Hunslet Template:Leagueicon Leigh Template:Leagueicon Swinton Bramley Carlisle Template:Leagueicon Barrow Liverpool Stanley
1995-96	Template:Leagueicon Salford {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
1996	Template:Leagueicon Salford {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Salford {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Rochdale Hornets Template:Leagueicon Batley
1997	Template:Leagueicon Hull F.C. {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Hull Template:Leagueicon Huddersfield	Template:Leagueicon Widnes Template:Leagueicon Workington
1998	Template:Leagueicon Wakefield Trinity {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Wakefield Trinity {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	No Relegation
1999	Template:Leagueicon Hunslet Hawks {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	No Promotion	No Relegation
2000	Template:Leagueicon Dewsbury {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2001	Template:Leagueicon Widnes {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Widnes {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2002	Template:Leagueicon Huddersfield {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Template:Leagueicon Huddersfield {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}

Winners

	Club	Wins	Winning Year
1	Template:Leagueicon Leigh Centurions	3	1976-77, 1985–86, 1988–89
=	Template:Leagueicon Salford Red Devils	3	1990-91, 1995–96, 1996
=	Template:Leagueicon Oldham	3	1963-64, 1981–82, 1987–88
4	Template:Leagueicon Barrow Raiders	2	1975-76, 1983–84
=	Template:Leagueicon Featherstone Rovers	2	1979-80, 1992–93
=	Template:Leagueicon Keighley Cougars	2	1902-03, 1994–95
=	Template:Leagueicon Dewsbury Rams	2	1904-05, 2000
=	Template:Leagueicon Hunslet	2	1986–87, 1999
=	Template:Leagueicon Wakefield Trinity	2	1903-04, 1998
=	Template:Leagueicon Huddersfield Giants	2	1974-75, 2002
=	Template:Leagueicon Hull F.C.	2	1976-77, 1978–79
12	Template:Leagueicon Hunslet (1883)	1	1962-63
=	Template:Leagueicon Bradford Bulls	1	1973-74
=	Template:Leagueicon York	1	1980-81
=	Template:Leagueicon Fulham	1	1982-83
=	Template:Leagueicon Swinton Lions	1	1984-85
=	Template:Leagueicon Hull Kingston Rovers	1	1989-90
=	Template:Leagueicon Sheffield Eagles	1	1991-92
=	Template:Leagueicon Workington Town	1	1993-94
=	Template:Leagueicon Widnes Vikings	1	2001

• § Denotes club now defunct

See also

• Rugby Football League Championship
• Rugby Football League Championship Third Division