NCRL
WHAT IS THE NCRL?
The RFL has introduced the National Community League (NCRL) ahead of the 2026 season.
The National Community Rugby League (NCRL) is the national framework for community rugby league across England. It brings together Primary Rugby League, Youth & Junior competitions, and Open Age competitions for men and women into one aligned, club-centred system.
The NCRL exists to make community rugby league easy to access, well organised, safe, and enjoyable, while reducing unnecessary complexity for clubs and volunteers. It provides a single, consistent approach to how the community game is delivered, supported, and developed.
WHY THE NCRL EXISTS:
Community Rugby League has historically been delivered through multiple local approaches, each with different rules, expectations, and processes. While built with good intentions, this created:
- inconsistent experiences for players and parents
- duplication of administration for clubs and volunteers
- unclear pathways and variable standards
- outdated processes that made delivery harder than it needed to be
The NCRL brings the community game together under one national framework to ensure:
- consistent rules and minimum standards
- safe, inclusive, development-focused environments
- clear pathways for players, coaches, and match officials
- reduced administrative burden on clubs and volunteers
- stronger support and oversight from the RFL and regional delivery groups
The aim is a modern, aligned, club centred system that protects the heritage of the community game while improving how it is delivered.
NATIONAL LEAGUES:
REGIONAL LEAGUES:
WOMEN & GIRLS:
YOUTH & JUNIORS:
