National Community Rugby League
| Founded | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Divisions |
|
| Level on pyramid | 3–6 |
| Domestic cup | Challenge Cup |
| League cup | National Cup |
| Website | NCRL |
The National Community Rugby League (NCRL) is part of the British rugby league system at the top end of the amateur pyramid below the professional Championship. It comes under the jurisdiction of the Rugby Football League (RFL). The NCRL consists of the National Leagues (two National divisions and five regional conferences), the Regional Leagues (sitting below the National Leagues), and the Women's National Championship and regional leagues as well as related youth and junior competitions.
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 NCL clubs met on 19 January and agreed to dissolve the NCL.[2] The NCL leagues became the National Leagues of the NCRL as part of a restructuring that saw a total of 23 divisions incorporated into the unified league system.[3]
System
The NCRL National Leagues comprise two national divisions; National Premier League and National League One. Beneath them are five regional conferences; National Conference Cumbria, National Conference North West, National Conference Southern, National Conference Yorkshire A and National Conference Yorkshire B.
In each division clubs play each other twice, once at their home stadium and once at their opponents. Teams receive two points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. Teams are ranked by competition points, points difference (points scored less points conceded), and points scored.
At the end of the season in the National Premier League, the top six teams enter the play-offs with the winner being crowned NCRL champions. The bottom three clubs are relegated to National League One.
| RFL Tier | NCRL Level | League | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3[4] | 1 | National Premier League 12 clubs | |||
| 2 | National League One 12 clubs | ||||
| 3 | National Conference Cumbria 10 clubs |
National Conference Southern 8 clubs |
National Conference North West 10 clubs |
National Conference Yorkshire A + B 20 clubs | |
| 4 | 4 | Regional Leagues | |||
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.
- ^ "The 2026 Community Season Launches Under New National Community Rugby League Structure (NCRL)". RFL. 6 March 2026. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ^ "Tier 3 - National Leagues Competition Rules 2026" (PDF). RFL. Retrieved 25 March 2026.