RFL Wheelchair Super League
The RFL Wheelchair Super League is the highest level of wheelchair rugby league in England and Wales.
Current season, competition or edition: 2023 RFL Wheelchair Super League | |
| Sport | Wheelchair rugby league |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country |  England Wales |
| Most recent champion(s) |  Wigan Warriors |
| Most titles |  Halifax Panthers(2 titles) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Wheelchair Challenge Cup |
| Official website | |
The Wheelchair Super League was founded in 2019, whilst the wheelchair competition was played in Great Britain prior to this, 2019 was the first official Super League season.
The league operates a promotion and relegation system with the second tier RFL Wheelchair Championship.
Background
Plans were unveiled in 2011 for a Wheelchair Super League and Championship. The competition would feature Wigan Warriors, Halifax Panthers, Mersey Vikings, and Bury Jigsaw in the Super League, and Bradford Bulls, Mersey Vikings A, Wakefield Trinity, and Medway Dragons in the Championship. Small festival tournaments would also take place for clubs not yet ready to join the top divisions.[1] Despite this, the Super League did not come into effect until the 2019 season with the top tier being called the "National Championship" and the "Wheelchair Premier League" beforehand.[2]
Format
Likes the men's and women's running competition, the league operates a round robin system to determine the League Leaders' Shield before a playoff series leading to a grand final.
Teams
Current Super League teams are:[2]
- Halifax Panthers (2019-2023) (M)
Hull FC (2020-2023) (M)
Leeds Rhinos (2019-2023) (M, W)- London Roosters (2022-2023)
Warrington Wolves (2022-2023) (M, W)- Wigan Warriors (2022-2023) (M, W)
Teams to have previously played in Super League are:[2]
- Argonauts (2019-2021)[lower-alpha 1]
- Hereford Harriers (2019)
- Leyland Warriors (2020-2021)[lower-alpha 1]
North Wales Crusaders (2019-2022) (M)
St Helens (2019) (M, W)
Results
The following is a summary of Wheelchair Super League seasons:[2]
Pre Super League seasons
In 2013, the National Championship was decided using a three team round-robin format in which Bury Jigsaw defeated Halifax and Mersey Storm to win the title.[4][5] The same format was used for the finals day in 2014 when Leyland Warriors won the competition.[6] Halifax won the Premier League title in 2015 and retained it in 2016 when they beat Leeds Rhinos 68 points to 54 in the Grand Final.[7] Halifax won the title again in 2017, also by defeating Leeds in the final.[8] The 2018 Grand Final saw Leeds Rhinos beat Halifax 54 points to 44.[9][8]
2019 season
The first Super League season saw six teams compete: Argonauts, Halifax, Hereford Harriers, Leeds Rhinos, North Wales Crusaders, and St Helens.
- Grand Final
- Leeds Rhinos 42–50 Halifax[10][11]
- (19 September 2019; 19:00; Medway Park Sports Centre, Gillingham)
2020 season
The 2020 season saw Leyland Warriors and Hull F.C. promoted to Super League, whilst Hereford Harriers and St Helens were relegated.[12] The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]
| POS | CLUB | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leyland Warriors | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 112 | 28 | 84 | 2 |
| 2 | Argonauts | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 26 | 34 | 2 |
| 3 | Leeds Rhinos | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 32 | 28 | 2 |
| 4 | Halifax | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | North Wales Crusaders | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 60 | -28 | 0 |
| 6 | Hull FC | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 172 | -118 | 0 |
2021 season
With the 2020 season being cancelled due to the pandemic, no new teams were included in the 2021 Super League.[14]
| POS | CLUB | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds Rhinos (C) | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 622 | 206 | 416 | 18 |
| 2 | Argonauts | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 224 | 110 | 114 | 8 |
| 3 | Halifax Panthers | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 312 | 316 | -4 | 8 |
| 4 | Leyland Warriors | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 348 | 372 | -24 | 8 |
| 5 | North Wales Crusaders | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 103 | 322 | -219 | 0 |
| 6 | Hull FC | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 81 | 364 | -283 | 0 |
- Playoffs
- Semi Finals
- Grand Final
- Leeds Rhinos 52–36 Leyland Warriors[16]
- (19 September 2021; 3:15pm; Medway Park Sports Centre, Gillingham; Sky Sports Arena)[17][18]
2022 season
For the 2022 season, Warrington Wolves were promoted from the championship whilst London Roosters were formed from clubs Argonauts and Leyland Warriors merging.[3] Wigan Warriors were also granted a Super League position in their first season.[19][20]
- Phase 1
| POS | CLUB | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halifax Panthers | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 416 | 268 | 148 | 10 |
| 2 | Wigan Warriors | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 522 | 274 | 248 | 9 |
| 3 | Leeds Rhinos | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 432 | 228 | 204 | 9 |
| 4 | London Roosters | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 296 | 258 | 38 | 8 |
| 5 | North Wales Crusaders (R) | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 273 | 404 | -131 | 2 |
| 6 | Hull FC | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 216 | 444 | -228 | 2 |
| 7 | Warrington Wolves | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 207 | 486 | -279 | 2 |
- Phase 2
| POS | CLUB | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds Rhinos | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 384 | 271 | 113 | 10 |
| 2 | Halifax Panthers (C) | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 259 | 218 | 41 | 6 |
| 3 | Wigan Warriors | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 316 | 268 | 48 | 6 |
| 4 | London Roosters | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 138 | 340 | -202 | 0 |
- Playoffs
- Semi Finals
- Grand Final
- Leeds Rhinos 48–52 Halifax Panthers[22][23][24]
- (1 October 2022; 3:30pm; Belle Vue Sports Village, Manchester; Sky Sports Arena)[25]
2023 season
For the 2023 season, North Wales Crusaders were relegated to the Championship. A magic round was incorporated into the wheelchair game for the first time, occurring on 15 April at the University of Birmingham.[26][27] Magic round was broadcast live on The Sportsman.[28] Following the success of magic round, further magic rounds were implemented through the season.[29]
| POS | CLUB | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds Rhinos | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 710 | 298 | 412 | 16 |
| 2 | London Roosters | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 566 | 306 | 260 | 16 |
| 3 | Wigan Warriors | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 605 | 361 | 244 | 10 |
| 4 | Halifax Panthers | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 519 | 351 | 168 | 10 |
| 5 | Hull FC | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 344 | 514 | -170 | 8 |
| 6 | Warrington Wolves | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 138 | 1052 | -914 | 0 |
- Playoffs
- Semi Finals
- Grand Final
- Leeds Rhinos 42–50 Wigan Warriors[33]
- (15 October 2023; 5:30pm; Belle Vue Sports Village, Manchester; Sky Sports Arena)[34]
Titles
| Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up | League Leaders' Shield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 |
Halifax Panthers |
50–42 | Leeds Rhinos |
Leeds Rhinos |
2020 |
Tournament abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||
2021 |
Leeds Rhinos |
52–36 | Leyland Warriors | Leeds Rhinos |
2022 |
Halifax Panthers |
52–48 | Leeds Rhinos |
Leeds Rhinos |
2023 |
Wigan Warriors |
50–42 | Leeds Rhinos |
Leeds Rhinos |
Champions
| Club | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Halifax Panthers | 2 | 2019, 2022 |
| Leeds Rhinos | 1 | 2021 |
| Wigan Warriors | 1 | 2023 |
League Leaders' Shield
| Club | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds Rhinos | 4 | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
European Club Challenge
Staring in 2023, the previous year's Super League Champions will play the previous year's French league Champions in the European Club Challenge in a similar concept to the World Club Challenge in the running game.[35] Like the Super League, the European Club Challenge was originally proposed in 2011.[1]
Results
- 2023
Titles
| Club | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
 Catalans Dragons | 1 | 2023 |
| Halifax Panthers | 1 | 2023 |
Italics indicates shared title
Notes
- Argonauts and Leyland Warriors merged to become London Roosters in 2022[3]
References
- http://www.sportfocus.com/newspub/story.cfm?id=39826
- "Match Centre". Rugby-League.com.
- "Wheelchair Super League expands to seven teams for 2022 in World Cup year". BBC Sport. 20 February 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Wheelchair rugby league season reaches thrilling climax". Activity Alliance. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "News". Wheelchair Rugby League. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013.
- "Warriors are just champion". Rugby-League.com. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "Halifax claim Wheelchair RL double". Rugby-League.com. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Leeds Rhinos claim first-ever Grand Final title". Rugby-League.com. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Wheelchair Rugby League Grand Final 2018 - Full Game - Halifax v Leeds". YouTube.
- "Wheelchair Super League Grand Final 2019 – Leeds Rhinos vs Halifax – 7pm KO". YouTube.
- "Wheelchair finals are just grand for Halifax and Hull". Rugby-League.com. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Wheelchair Rugby League to be launched for 2020". Rugby-League.com. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Our League and Twitch to show Wheelchair Super League openers". Rugby-League.com. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Wheelchair Super League round-up". Rugby-League.com. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Leeds Rhinos and Leyland Warriors reach Wheelchair Grand Final". Rugby-League.com. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Leeds Rhinos win Wheelchair Super League Grand Final". 19 September 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Wheelchair Super League Grand Final: Leeds Rhinos take on Leyland Warriors, live on Sky Sports". Sky Sports. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Medway Park to host the Wheelchair Rugby Grand Final live on Sky Sports". Medway Council. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Wheelchair Super League expands to seven teams for 2022 in World Cup year". Total Rugby League. 20 February 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Warriors launch Wheelchair team". Wigan Warriors. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Betfred Wheelchair Super League Grand Final Preview: Leeds Rhinos vs Halifax Panthers". Rugby-League.com. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Wheelchair Super League Grand Final: Halifax Panthers win thriller final 52-48 vs Leeds Rhinos". Sky Sports. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Wheelchair Super League Grand Final: Halifax Panthers beat Leeds Rhinos to win title". BBC Sport. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Leeds Rhinos come up short in thrilling Wheelchair Grand Final against Halifax despite sensational comeback". Serious About Rugby League. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Wheelchair Super League Grand Final Preview: Leeds Rhinos vs Halifax Panthers". Everything Rugby League. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Taking World Cup winning momentum outside the heartlands for Magic round". Love Rugby League. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "The first Magic Round of the 2023 Betfred Wheelchair Super League is here!". Rugby-League.com. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "The Sportsman To Show Betfred Wheelchair Super League Triple-Header". The Sportsman. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- https://www.rugby-league.com/article/61971/wheelchair-rugby-league-all-set-for-medway-magic
- https://www.leedsrhinosfoundation.org/match-report-leeds-rhinos-54-halifax-panthers-44/
- https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2023/10/09/wheelchair-side-reach-grand-final/
- https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/67048022.amp
- https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/67118747.amp
- https://www.skysports.com/amp/rugby-league/news/12196/12983838/wheelchair-super-league-grand-final-leeds-rhinos-and-wigan-warriors-fall-back-on-experience-for-title-clash
- https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62011/halifax-panthers-to-represent-england-in-inaugural-european-wheelchair-rugby-league-club-championship
- https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62078/wheelchair-rugby-league-european-club-challenge