NCRL National Premier League
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2026 |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Country | England |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Relegation to | National League One |
| Domestic cups | Challenge Cup National Cup |
| Official website | Official website |
The National Premier League is the highest level of amateur rugby league in Britain. It is also the top tier of the National Community Rugby League
History
In November 2025, the RFL launched its National Community Rugby League initiative which proposed replacing the National Conference League (NCL) with two national leagues and a number of regional leagues.[1] While most clubs were not in favour of the initiative, the clubs decided to agree to the proposal "for the good of the sport".[1] The member clubs met on 19 January and agreed to dissolve the NCL.[2]
The National Premier League effectively replaced the NCL Premier Division. Confusingly its inaugural season was known as both National Premier League and NCL40 to celebrate forty years since the NCL was founded.
Clubs
| National Premier League | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Founded | Location | ||||||
| Heworth | 1922 | York, North Yorkshire | ||||||
| Hunslet ARLFC | 2022 | Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire | ||||||
| Castleford Lock Lane | 2001 | Castleford, West Yorkshire | ||||||
| Rochdale Mayfield | 1958 | Castleton, Greater Manchester | ||||||
| Siddal | 1908 | Halifax, West Yorkshire | ||||||
| Thatto Heath Crusaders | 1981 | Thatto Heath, St Helens, Merseyside | ||||||
| Waterhead Warriors | 1920 | Oldham, Greater Manchester | ||||||
| Wath Brow Hornets | 1898 | Cleator Moor, Cumbria | ||||||
| West Bowling | 1950 | Bradford, West Yorkshire | ||||||
| West Hull | 1961 | Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire | ||||||
| Wigan St Judes | 1980 | Wigan, Greater Manchester | ||||||
| York Acorn | 1973 | Acomb, York, North Yorkshire | ||||||
References
- ^ a b "Talking Grassroots: NCL 'begrudgingly' back restructure as legal action averted – Total Rugby League". Total RL. No. 21 December 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
- ^ "Talking Grassroots". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3516. 26 January 2026. p. 25.