The National Conferences are five conference leagues that sit of the third level of the National Community Rugby League.
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. While most clubs were not in favour of the initiative, the clubs decided to agree to the proposal "for the good of the sport". The NCL clubs met on 19 January and agreed to dissolve the NCL.
Several clubs hit out at being placed in conferences as some wanted to remain playing in national leagues while Barrow based clubs were unhappy at being placed in the National Conference Cumbria, as they had been playing in the North West Men's League for years.
Clubs from the old NCL Divisions Two and Three were put into the conferences as well as six clubs from the Yorkshire Premier Division; Fryston Warriors, King Cross Park, Mirfield Spartans, Newsome Panthers, Stanley Rangers, Siddal Academy as well as three clubs from Yorkshire Division 1; Bradford Dudley Hill, Kippax Welfare and Moldgreen.
From the North West Premier Division, five clubs were promoted to the National Conference North-West; Ashton Bears, Blackbrook, Haresfinch, Orrell St James, and Shevington Sharks. While Dalton were placed into the National Conference Cumbria along with Hindpool Tigers and Ulverston joined from North West Division 1.
The Conference League South folded for clubs to join the National Conference Southern.
System Clubs play in one of the five Conferences; Cumbria, North West, Southern, Yorkshire A or Yorkshire B. At the end of the regular season, winners of each Conference enter the playoffs to decide on promotion to National League One.
National Conference Cumbria Clubs National Conference Cumbria Name Year founded Location Barrow Island 1925 Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria Dalton 1963 Dalton-in-Furness Distington 1986 Distington, Cumbria Ellenborough Rangers 1900 Maryport, Cumbria Hensingham 1900 Hensingham, Whitehaven, Cumbria Hindpool Tigers 1971 Barrow-in-Furness Maryport 1968 Maryport, Cumbria Millom 1873 Millom, Cumbria Seaton Rangers 1968 Seaton, Cumbria Ulverston Ulverston, Cumbria
Results Year Winners Pts Runners-up Pts2026Dalton34Hensingham 28
National Conference North-West Clubs National Conference North-West Name Year founded Location Ashton Bears 1987 Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester Blackbrook 1952 Blackbrook / Sutton, St Helens, Merseyside Clock Face Miners 1921 Clock Face, St Helens, Merseyside Crosfields 1901 Warrington, Cheshire Haresfinch 1979 St Helens, MerseysideInce Rose Bridge 2001 Ince-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester Leigh East 1977 Leigh, Greater Manchester Orrell St James 1984 Orrell, Wigan, Greater Manchester Saddleworth Rangers 1930 Greenfield, Saddleworth, Oldham. Woolston Rovers 1959 Woolston, Warrington, Cheshire
Results Year Winners Pts Runners-up Pts2026Orrell St James27Ince Rose Bridge23
National Conference Southern Clubs National Conference Southern Name Year founded LocationBristol All Golds 2013 BristolBedford Tigers 2004 BedfordBrentwood Eels 2004 Brentwood, EssexEastern Rhinos 1992 ColchesterHammersmith Hills Hoists 2008 Chiswick, LondonLondon Chargers 2013 Chiswick, LondonNorth Herts Crusaders 2012 HitchinWests Warriors 2014 Acton, London
Results Year Winners Pts Runners-up Pts2026Hammersmith Hills Hoists26Wests Warriors22
National Conference Yorkshire A Clubs National Conference Yorkshire A Name Year founded Location Beverley 1883 Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire Bradford Dudley Hill 1947 Bradford, West Yorkshire Drighlington 1973 Drighlington, West Yorkshire Keighley Albion 1948 Keighley, West Yorkshire King Cross Park 1919 Halifax, West Yorkshire Mirfield Spartans 2026 Mirfield, West Yorkshire Moldgreen ARLFC Huddersfield, West Yorkshire Myton Warriors 1997 Myton, Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire Stanley Rangers 1919 Stanley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire Thornhill Trojans 1988 Thornhill, West Yorkshire
Results Year Winners Pts Runners-up Pts2026Keighley Albion29Mirfield Spartans
National Conference Yorkshire B Clubs National Conference Yorkshire B Name Year founded Location Bentley 1962 Bentley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire Featherstone Lions 1994 Featherstone, West Yorkshire Fryston Warriors 1944 Castleford, West Yorkshire Hull Dockers 1880 Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire Kippax Welfare 1948 Kippax, West Yorkshire Milford 2001 Kirkstall, Leeds, West Yorkshire Newsome Panthers 1995 Newsome, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire Normanton Knights 1879 Normanton, West Yorkshire Siddal Academy 2017 Siddal, Halifax, West Yorkshire Skirlaugh 1980 Skirlaugh, East Riding of Yorkshire
Results Year Winners Pts Runners-up Pts2026Featherstone Lions31Skirlaugh30
Playoffs Cross-Conference final Year Winners Score Runners-up Venue2026TBDTBDOdsal Stadium, Bradford
Shield final Year Winners Score Runners-up Venue2026TBDTBDOdsal Stadium, Bradford
References