RFL President's Cup

The RFL President's Cup is an annual competition for men's and women's representative teams drawn from the British Rugby league structure and is run by the Rugby Football League (RFL). It was previously known as the RFL Association's Cup.

RFL President's Cup

Sport	Rugby league
Formerly known as	RFL Association's Cup
Instituted	2014
Number of teams	7 - (4 Men, 3 Women)
Country	Great Britain (RFL)

History

The RFL Associations Cup was founded in 2014 following the previous year's Rugby League Festival Of World Cups (the series of Rugby League World Cups for women, wheelchair, police, armed forces and students) with a view to better preparing each of the competing British entries ahead of their inclusion in future World Cups.^[1]

Speaking at the launch of the competition, David Gent, the RFL's Director of Participation stated "This competition is about a regular fixed competition for these associations, but it is vital we support these squads in their attempts to win their respective World Cups." ^[2]

Additional benefits for the women's team would be to give England selectors the opportunity to scout players from all sections of the women's game, to create higher intensity fixtures than the domestic competition at the time provided and to select players to the national women's squad.^[3]

The first season saw the men's competition involving Great Britain Students, Great Britain Armed Forces, Great Britain Teachers and Great Britain Police and the women's competition featuring England Students, Great Britain Armed Forces, Great Britain Teachers and The Lionesses - a team made up of players from the women's domestic league who were not eligible for any of the other three teams.

In 2015 England Universities replaced Great Britain Students in the men's competition following the movement of the Student Rugby League Four Nations Competition from the Easter period to a summer slot.

No men's or women's competition took place in 2017 owing to teams participating in the Festival of World Cups in Australia.^[4] During this year, Great Britain Armed Forces re-branded to become UK Armed Forces.^[5]

For the 2018 season, the competition was renamed RFL President's Cup. ^[6][7] The women's competition was discontinued following the RFL revamping the international player pathway process and introducing a National Performance Programme with a focus on talent identification, player skill development, physical competences and the creation of a performance coaching environment^[8] in advance of the RFL opening a National Rugby League Centre in Manchester^[9] which will provide facilities for the England Women's team to train at. An Origin Game was also introduced to recreate international competition to develop the elite players.^[10]

The 2020 and 2021 seasons were cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 global pandemic, but the competition returned in 2022 which also saw the return of a women's competition, this time for only 3 teams; England Students, Great Britain Teachers and UK Armed Forces.

Format

Each team plays each other once in a single round-robin competition, with the team finishing at the top of the league table being crowned champions.

Competition points are scored as follows:

• Win: 2 points
• Draw: 1 point
• Loss: 0 points
• Default on game: 0 points (with 24-0 score-line awarded to the opposition).

Where teams are tied on competition points, points difference (the cumulative number of points scored in all games minus the cumulative number of points conceded in all games) is used to determine league positions.

The Pankhurst Trophy, previously played for annually and awarded to the winner of the England Students v UK Armed Forces women's game, continues to be awarded to the winner of the fixture.^[11]

Men's Competition

2022 season

The fixtures for the 2022 season are:

Home	Score	Away	Match information
			Date and time	Venue
UK Armed Forces	52–00	Great Britain Police	30 March 2022, 6:00pm	Saddleworth Rangers
England Universities	32–12	Great Britain Teachers	30 March 2022, 8:00pm	Saddleworth Rangers
Great Britain Police	38–32	England Universities	27 April 2022, 6:00pm	Lock Lane
Great Britain Teachers	18-40	UK Armed Forces	27 April 2022, 8:00pm	Lock Lane
Great Britain Teachers	32–40	Great Britain Police	25 May 2022, 6:00pm	Leigh Miners Rangers
UK Armed Forces	14–26	England Universities	25 May 2022, 8:00pm	Leigh Miners Rangers

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	UK Armed Forces	3	2	0	1	106	44	+62	4
2	England Universities	3	2	0	1	90	64	+26	4
3	Great Britain Police	3	2	0	1	78	116	−38	4
4	Great Britain Teachers	3	0	0	3	62	112	−50	0

Source:

2021 season

Competition did not take place.

2020 season

Competition did not take place.

2019 season

The fixtures for the 2019 season are:^[12]

Home	Score	Away	Match information
			Date and time	Venue
UK Armed Forces	38–6[13]	Great Britain Police	10 April 2019, 6:00pm	Leigh Miners Rangers
England Universities	54–8[13]	Great Britain Teachers	10 April 2019, 8:00pm	Leigh Miners Rangers
Great Britain Police	6–16[14]	England Universities	8 May 2019, 6:00pm	Siddal A.R.L.F.C.
Great Britain Teachers	0–22[14]	UK Armed Forces	8 May 2019, 8:00pm	Siddal A.R.L.F.C.
Great Britain Teachers	16–30	Great Britain Police	20 June 2019, 6:00pm	Sheffield Hallam Sports Park
UK Armed Forces	24–22	England Universities	20 June 2019, 8:00pm	Sheffield Hallam Sports Park

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	UK Armed Forces	3	3	0	0	84	26	+58	6
2	England Universities	3	2	0	1	90	38	+52	4
3	Great Britain Police	3	1	0	2	42	70	−28	2
4	Great Britain Teachers	3	0	0	3	24	106	−82	0

Updated to match(es) played on 6 June 2019. Source: "President's Cup". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3, 169. 15 April 2019. p. 31.

2018 season

Fixtures & results:

Home	Score	Away	Match information
			Date and time	Venue
England Universities	48–10	Great Britain Police	18 April 2018, 7:00pm	Rochdale Mayfield
UK Armed Forces	0–24	Great Britain Teachers	Game defaulted[15]	N/A
Great Britain Teachers	10–46	England Universities	2 May 2018, 6:00pm	Wigan St Judes
Great Britain Police	8–40[16]	UK Armed Forces	2 May 2018, 8:00pm	Wigan St Judes
Great Britain Police	36–36[17]	Great Britain Teachers	20 June 2018, 6:00pm	Rochdale Mayfield
England Universities	40–22[18]	UK Armed Forces	20 June 2018, 8:00pm	Rochdale Mayfied

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	England Universities	3	3	0	0	134	42	+92	6
2	Great Britain Teachers	3	1	1	1	80	82	−2	3
3	UK Armed Forces	3	1	0	2	62	72	−10	2
4	Great Britain Police	3	0	1	2	54	124	−70	1

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

2017 season

Competition did not take place.

2016 season

Fixtures & results:

Home	Score	Away	Match information
			Date and time	Venue
Great Britain Armed Forces	52–18[19]	Great Britain Police	20 April 2016, 6:00pm	Stanningley ARLFC
England Universities	32–16[19]	Great Britain Teachers	20 April 2016, 8:00pm	Stanningley ARLFC
Great Britain Police	4–58	England Universities	11 May 2016, 6:00pm	Wigan St Patrick's
Great Britain Teachers	24–44	Great Britain Armed Forces	11 May 2016, 8:00pm	Wigan St Patrick's
Great Britain Police	36–6[20]	Great Britain Teachers	8 June 2016, 6:00pm	Post Office Road, Featherstone
England Universities	36–26[20]	Great Britain Armed Forces	8 June 2016, 8:00pm	Post Office Road, Featherstone

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	England Universities	3	3	0	0	126	46	+80	6
2	Great Britain Armed Forces	3	2	0	1	122	78	+44	4
3	Great Britain Police	3	1	0	2	58	116	−58	2
4	Great Britain Teachers	3	0	0	3	46	112	−66	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

2015 season

Fixtures & results:

Home	Score	Away	Match information
			Date and time	Venue
England Universities	72–8	Great Britain Police	29 April 2015, 6:00pm	Stanningley ARLFC
Great Britain Armed Forces	50–6	Great Britain Teachers	29 April 205, 8:00pm	Stanningley ARLFC
Great Britain Teachers	14–36	England Universities	27 May 2015, 6:00pm	Wigan St Patrick's
Great Britain Police	28–32[21]	Great Britain Armed Forces	27 May 2015, 8:00pm	Wigan St Patrick's
Great Britain Police	18–34	Great Britain Teachers	10 June 2015, 6:00pm	Post Office Road, Featherstone
England Universities	4–28	Great Britain Armed Forces	10 June 2015, 8:00pm	Post Office Road, Featherstone

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Great Britain Armed Forces	3	3	0	0	110	38	+72	6
2	England Universities	3	2	0	1	112	50	+62	4
3	Great Britain Teachers	3	1	0	2	54	104	−50	2
4	Great Britain Police	3	0	0	3	54	138	−84	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

2014 season

Fixtures & results:

Home	Score	Away	Match information
			Date and time	Venue
Great Britain Police	30–44	Great Britain Armed Forces	10 May 2014, 2:00pm	RAF Cranwell
Great Britain Students	52–0	Great Britain Police	4 June 2014, 6:00pm	Stanningley ARLFC
Great Britain Armed Forces	36–6	Great Britain Teachers	4 June 2014, 8:00pm	Stanningley ARLFC
Great Britain Teachers	2–52	Great Britain Students	21 June 2014,12:00	Select Security Stadium, Widnes
Great Britain Students	32–24	Great Britain Armed Forces	17 July 2014, 6:00pm	Select Security Stadium, Widnes
Great Britain Police	24–16	Great Britain Teachers	17 July 2014, 8:00pm	Select Security Stadium, Widnes

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Great Britain Students	3	3	0	0	136	26	+110	6
2	Great Britain Armed Forces	3	2	0	1	104	68	+36	4
3	Great Britain Police	3	1	0	2	54	112	−58	2
4	Great Britain Teachers	3	0	0	3	24	112	−88	0

Source: "Associations Cup". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2924. 21 July 2014. p. 30.

Women's Competition

2022 season

Fixtures & results:

Home	Score	Away	Match information
			Date and time	Venue
UK Armed Forces	34-10	Great Britain Teachers	13 April 2022, 7:00pm	Saddleworth Rangers
Great Britain Teachers		England Students	11 May 2022, 7:00pm	Lock Lane
England Students		UK Armed Forces	1 June 2022, 7:00pm	Leigh Miners

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Great Britain Armed Forces	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Great Britain Teachers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	England Students	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: ^{[citation needed]}

2016 season

Fixtures & results:

Home	Score	Away	Match information
			Date and time	Venue
England Students	10–16[22]	Great Britain Teachers	22 May 2016, 1:00pm	Stanningley ARLFC
Great Britain Armed Forces	0–62[22]	The Lionesses	22 May 2016, 3:00pm	Stanningley ARLFC
England Students	21–16[23]	Great Britain Armed Forces	26 June 2016, 3:00pm	Wigan St Patrick's
The Lionesses	38–10[23]	Great Britain Teachers	26 June 2016, 1:00pm	Wigan St Patrick's
Great Britain Teachers	32–14[24]	Great Britain Armed Forces	10 July 2016, 1:00pm	Post Office Road, Featherstone
The Lionesses	36–14[24]	England Students	10 July 2016, 3:00pm	Post Office Road, Featherstone

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	The Lionesses	3	3	0	0	136	24	+112	6
2	Great Britain Teachers	3	2	0	1	58	62	−4	4
3	England Students	3	1	0	2	45	68	−23	2
4	Great Britain Armed Forces	3	0	0	3	30	115	−85	0

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: ^{[citation needed]}

2015 season

Fixtures & results:

Home	Score	Away	Match information
			Date and time	Venue
The Lionesses	52–10[25]	Great Britain Armed Forces	7 June 2015, 1:00pm	Stanningley ARLFC
Great Britain Teachers	14–46[25]	England Students	7 June 2015, 3:00pm	Stanningley ARLFC
The Lionesses	36–18[26]	Great Britain Teachers	28 June 2015, 3:00pm	Wigan St Patrick's
Great Britain Armed Forces	10–50[26]	Great Britain Students	28 June 2015, 12:15pm	Odsal Stadium, Bradford
Great Britain Armed Forces	18–24[26]	Great Britain Teachers	19 July 2015, 1:00pm	Post Office Road, Featherstone
England Students	20–26[26]	The Lionesses	19 July 2015, 3:00pm	Post Office Road, Featherstone

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	The Lionesses	3	3	0	0	114	48	+66	6
2	England Students	3	2	0	1	116	50	+66	4
3	Great Britain Teachers	3	1	0	2	56	100	−44	2
4	Great Britain Armed Forces	3	0	0	3	38	126	−88	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

2014 season

Fixtures & results:

Home	Score	Away	Match information
			Date and time	Venue
England Students	16–30	The Lionesses	8 June 2014, 1:00pm	Rochdale Mayfield
Great Britain Teachers	36–4	Great Britain Armed Forces	8 June 2014, 3:00pm	Rochdale Mayfield
England Students	20–20	Great Britain Teachers	21 June 2014, 2:00pm	Select Security Stadium, Widnes
Great Britain Armed Forces	4–40	The Lionesses	21 June 2014, 4:00pm	Select Security Stadium, Widnes
England Students	44–26	Great Britain Armed Forces	20 July 2014, 1:00pm	Stanningley ARLFC
Great Britain Teachers	16–32	The Lionesses	20 July 2014, 3:00pm	Stanningley ARLFC

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	The Lionesses	3	3	0	0	102	36	+66	6
2	Great Britain Teachers	3	1	1	1	72	56	+16	3
3	England Students	3	1	1	1	80	76	+4	3
4	Great Britain Armed Forces	3	0	0	3	34	120	−86	0

Source: "Associations Cup". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2924. 21 July 2014. p. 30.

References

1. "The RFL". 25 October 2016. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
2. "Four year international plan announced - News - Teachers Rugby League". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
3. "Navy Captain has been invited to be part of the National Women's Squad - News - Royal Navy Rugby League". www.royalnavyrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
4. "England Universities announce final training squad". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
5. "New Season New Name for Forces RL - News - UK Armed Forces Rugby League". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
6. "RFL Presidents Cup 2018 - News - UK Armed Forces Rugby League". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
7. Hodgson, Phil (17 April 2018). "Mayfield to host President's Cup match". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
8. Hodgson, Phil (22 February 2017). "RFL confirms upgraded Performance Pathways". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
9. "Etihad Campus: RFL to relocate with creation of new National Rugby League Centre". BBC Sport. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
10. "High fives for all as Bulls well represented in Roses clash". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
11. "Women's Right to Vote and Rugby League". Total Rugby League. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
12. "Amateur News". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3, 166. 25 March 2019. p. 31.
13. "President's Cup". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3, 169. 15 April 2019. p. 31.
14. "President's Cup". Rugby Leaguer * League Express. No. 3, 173. 13 May 2019. p. P32.
15. Staff Reporter (13 July 2018). "Royal Air Force News". Retrieved 4 January 2019.
16. "RFL Presidents Cup - UKAF RL v GB Police RL - News - UK Armed Forces Rugby League". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
17. "Report | GB Teachers 36-36 GB Police". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
18. "England Universities win President's Cup". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
19. Hodgson, Phil (11 May 2016). "An intriguing Association!". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
20. Hodgson, Phil (9 June 2016). "Students pass with flying colours". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
21. "Forces Rugby League Players Evade The Long Arm Of The Law". Forces Network. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
22. Powell, Jennie (25 May 2016). "GB Teachers & Lionesses notch wins in Associations Cup". 4 The Love Of Sport. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
23. Powell, Jennie (27 June 2016). "Late drama in the Associations Cup". 4 The Love Of Sport. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
24. Powell, Jennie (12 July 2016). "Lionesses win the Associations Cup". 4 The Love Of Sport. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
25. Powell, Jennie (8 June 2015). "Women's Rugby League – Associations Cup". 4 The Love Of Sport. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
26. Powell, Jennie (21 July 2015). "Rugby League – Associations Cup – 19 July 2015 – Update". 4 The Love Of Sport. Retrieved 27 December 2018.

External links

• University Rugby League
• Police Sport UK Rugby League^[usurped]
• Teachers Rugby League Association
• UK Armed Forces Rugby League