South Premier


The South Premier, also known as the London Premier, is a division in rugby league's tier 4. It was the highest level of amateur rugby league in the South of England until the creation in 2013 of Conference League South. It was first contested in 2005 as the South Premier division of the Rugby League Conference but is currently a standalone league run by London Rugby League.
Many of the clubs run juniors in the London Junior League.

History

The Rugby League Conference was born in 1997 as the Southern Conference.
The Premier Division was set up in 2005 for teams who had achieved a certain playing standard and were able to travel further afield to find stronger opposition. The new Premier Divisions included the North Premier, the South Premier, the Central Premier and the Welsh Premier.
Prior to the 2005 season National League Three side South London Storm announced that they were joining the South Premier; the other founder members came from the Conference regional divisions.
After the 2006 season with other teams withdrawing from National League Three, St Albans Centurions also decided to join the Premier South.
In 2012 it became a standalone league and St Albans Centurions returned to playing nationally in National Conference League division three

Community game pyramid

Above the London Premier is the Conference League South and the National Conference League. Below is the London, South East and East Entrance League.

2014 Structure

Teams play each other on a home-and-away basis. Each Premier division then has its own play-off series to determine the champion with the five divisional winners entering the national play-offs.
The winner of the national play-offs is awarded the Harry Jepson Trophy.
Teams200520062007200820092010201120122013
Bedford Tigersxxxx6thxxxx
Eastern Rhinos3rd2nd5th3rd4th4th3rd3rd4th
Elmbridge Eagles 2x5th6th7th9thxx5th6th
Essex EelsxDNFxxxxxxx
Greenwich Admirals6thxxxxxxxx
Hainault Bulldogsxxxx8th6thDNFxx
Hammersmith Hills Hoistsxxxxx2nd1st2nd1st
Hemel Stags Axxxxxxxx5th
Kent Ravensxx7thDNFxxxxx
London Skolars A 34th4th3rd6th7th8th5th51st3rd
Luton Vipers5thDNFxxxxxxx
Portsmouth Navy Seahawksxxx5th5th7thxxx
St Albans Centurionsxx1st4th3rd1st2ndxx
South London Storm1st1st2nd2nd1st5th6th4thx
South West London Chargers4xxxxxxxx2nd
West London Sharks2nd3rd4th1st2nd3rd4thDNFx

Grand Finals

YearWinnerDefeatedScoreVenue
2005South London StormWest London Sharks24–8Storm Park
2006South London StormIpswich Rhinos52–10Storm Park
2007St Albans CenturionsSouth London Storm18–10Twickenham Stoop
2008West London SharksSouth London Storm24–20Grasshoppers RFC
2009West London SharksSouth London Storm26–16Storm Park
2010St Albans CenturionsWest London Sharks54–4Cotlandswick
2011Hammersmith Hills HoistsSt Albans Centurions18-16Hemel Hempstead
2012Hammersmith Hills HoistsEastern Rhinos46-8
2013South West London ChargersHammersmith Hills Hoists20-10

Titles

YearTeamOpponentResultGameVenue
2005South London StormBridgend Blue Bulls18–34National Semi-finalCheltenham
2006South London StormBridgend Blue Bulls32–12National Semi-finalHemel
2006South London StormEast Lancs Lions30–0Grand FinalCoventry
2007St Albans CenturionsBridgend Blue Bulls42–16National Semi-final
2007St Albans CenturionsCoventry Bears28–20Grand Final
2008West London SharksValley Cougars32–30National Semi-final
2008West London SharksNottingham Outlaws8–28Grand FinalDerby